Scarlett.

A couple of weeks pass by and it is now a week before my birthday, October 19 and I will be turning eighteen. It is also going to be homecoming week, which explains why everyone is getting hyped up about the dance at school. At lunchtime, I make my way to the outdoor table to meet up with Nina and the group. Ryker looks pretty cute today, wearing skinny black jeans and a loose blue T-shirt. Ryker and I have been on a couple more dates and it has been fun. We even made out last weekend and it was exhilarating, just like Valerie had said it would be, but I didn't know where we stood. We haven't had that talk on whether or not we're a couple. I sit next to him and Nina and he puts his arm over me at the same time that Phoebe rolls her eyes at me and leans on Dean.

"So, your birthday is next week, what are we going to do?" Nina asks. I didn't mention my birthday to her even though we basically tell each other everything. In fact, I haven't mentioned it to anyone.

I was about to answer her when Dean answers, "I don't know. Do you guys want to hang out? Maybe go do something." He shrugs.

"When is your birthday?" I ask Dean.

"On the 16th. Tuesday." Dean's been short with me ever since that day at Nina's when he apologized for being a dick.

"Really? Well, you're just a few days older than I am." Nina almost breaks her neck to look at me, her mouth agape at the realization.

"What? Girl, how did I not know this? When is your birthday?" She asks, sounding shocked.

I give her a small smile and shrug my shoulders. "I turn 18 on Friday, the 19th." Nina looks over at Ryker as if wondering why he never mentioned anything, but I never told him either. To be honest, I haven't really thought about it. This will be my first birthday without my parents and I am not sure how to handle it.

"Hmmm. Ryker, Phoebe, do you guys want to do a double party for them? We can all do something that way." Nina looks at me, looking for any sign of resistance, and continues when I don't, "That is if you guys would want to."

I almost say that I will probably just stay home, but I stop myself. I don't think I really want to be at home with nothing to do. I mean, I enjoy hanging out with Seth and Valerie, but maybe being surrounded by friends won't be so bad. It could be a good distraction.

"Sure, that sounds like fun," I say, the same time Dean says, "I would be down for that."

I could literally feel Phoebe's eyes burning into me. "Well, what are we all going to do then?" She questions while crossing her arms across her chest in annoyance.

Ryker stands up from the table to throw away his lunch. "How about I score some beers and we drive down to the lake and all hangout?" He suggests, and I feel my body stiffen at even the word alcohol.

"I don't drink," I say sternly. I know no one here really knows the situation about what happened to my parents, except for Nina, so I don't get mad when Ryker brings up the alcohol. Before I can say anything else, Dean chimes in and suggests, "How about we go to Laser Tag?"

Phoebe starts laughing when I say that Laser Tag would be fun. I actually really like Laser Tag. "What are you guys, twelve? We should do something else." She snarls.

I almost reply to her bitchy remark when Nina says, "Phoebe, it is their birthday, not yours. Laser Tag is fun, and if you don't like it, you don't have to go." This is why I love my best friend. "Okay, so Laser Tag it is," Nina adds when Phoebe purses her lips and doesn't argue.

I usually do dinner and a movie with my parents every year for my birthday...or did. It's what they used to do for me. Around my birthday, new horror movies usually come out into theaters, and as much as they creep me out, I still enjoyed going. "Would you guys be up for a movie afterward? There is a new movie out that looks pretty scary." I look down as I fiddle with my fingers, not sure what response I am about to get.

"Laser Tag and a movie it is then." I hear a deep voice say. Dean's voice.

After school, I get home and start helping Valerie make dinner. As I am stirring the alfredo sauce, Seth sneaks his finger in the sauce and tastes it. "It's going to be hot," I try to warn him.

"Ow, shit," Seth shouts, sucking on his finger. Valerie and I start laughing.

"Just like dad. He never learned either." I tell him.

Once we sit down and start to eat dinner, I bring up my birthday and tell them about the plans I had made at school today with my friends.

"Scar, if that is what you want to do then do it. Just have fun. I mean your turning eighteen, why stay cooped up here you know?" I know Seth is completely fine with my plans and I am so grateful for it. Valerie has hinted he has been worried about my birthday with our parents being gone and how I will handle it. Unfortunately, this will be a never-ending battle, learning to go through things without them. Eventually, I would've had to do it, endure the loss.

"Thanks, Seth," is all I can manage to get out. I can feel my eyes start to water up, the tears threatening to spill over. Either way, my eighteenth birthday is going to be hard for me. Especially considering after my birthday, the major holidays are next. What are we going to do without my dad on Christmas? He was the one who wrapped everyone's gifts, including his own; they were always wrapped to perfection, almost as if straight from a magazine. Or my mother on Thanksgiving? No one can make mashed potatoes like her. They may be small things to a lot of people, but to Seth and me, it's just some of the most missed things we are going to have to face without them.

"So how are you and Ryker doing?" Valerie asks me, breaking me from my thoughts and I'm grateful for it.

"We are doing fine." I give them a small smile, but a small sigh escapes me.

"Just fine?" Valerie asks out of curiosity. "You guys official yet or?"

I shake my head. "No, we haven't exactly had that talk yet." Valerie lifts her brow as if to ask what talk. "You know, the talk where you're supposed to define the relationship. I don't know how this works. I haven't had a boyfriend before so I'm not even sure how to approach that sort of thing. I don't want to ask him, that would be awkward."

"Well, he better step up his game and ask before someone else does. I know that dance is next week on your birthday. He should ask you before then."

I roll my eyes and giggle at Valeries' comments, but at the same time, hoping she's right. I didn't even think of the dance today when we were talking about our birthday plans for Saturday. I wonder if anyone from our group is going. Just then I get a text message.

"Hey doll face come outside." He always calls me by these cute little nicknames. At first, I didn't like it. Maybe because I have never been called them before, but they have grown on me over the weeks.

"Be right there!" I reply.

I rush into my room and remove my polka dot pajama shirt. I can't find a replacement shirt quick enough, so I throw my hoodie over my bra, leave my leggings on, and walk out. When I get outside, I see the black car sitting by the curb, a window rolled down with an awaiting, smiling Ryker, signaling to come and get in.

"Hey, cutie." He says when I hop in, closing the door behind me. He leans over the center console, giving me a quick peck on the lips.

"Hey." I smile. "What are you doing here?" The car smells of cologne, more than he normally wears. Maybe he was nervous too, overdoing it with the musky scent, though it's kinda cute.

He shrugs his shoulders. "Wanted to see you. Want to go hang out for a little? My parents are gone for a couple of nights and I was wanting to hang out and talk to you about next weekend."

I get a little nervous thinking about being alone with Ryker at his house, but before I take the time to talk myself out of it I say "Okay." Besides, maybe I can talk to him to see where we stand. Am I his girlfriend? And maybe when he says he wants to talk about next weekend, maybe he will ask me to the dance. I text Seth and tell him I will be home later and that I am going to hang out with Ryker for a bit, leaving out the part that we will be alone.

"Alright, be safe. If you need me, call me."

We walk into Ryker's house and it's nice and colorful inside, different from the gray exterior. The beige walls are covered with paintings of various artists, and one wall has a collage of pictures of Ryker and his family. "You look cute here." I giggle as I notice Ryker act squeamish beside me as I point his toddler picture out. I could instantly tell it was him by the blonde curls and green eyes.

"My mom is a photographer and my dad works at the art exhibit, so that is why our house is plastered with all this crap." He gestures towards the painting of a rose with a petal that has fallen from the flower, on the verge of wilting. It's a beautiful painting, but almost sad-like.

"I actually like it. It could be a bit overwhelming, but I love this painting." I comment, pointing at the wilting rose.

"That's the one that Dean always looks at. I swear he is gay at times. I don't really like any of them, but if you do then that's cool." He sounds almost irritated. I can't help but smile at the painting knowing that yet it is another thing Dean and I have in common. "Want to watch a movie?" Ryker asks me. I turn around and see that he is standing by the couch with a handful of DVDs.

"Sure." He then hands me the movies as he goes to sit down on the L-shaped couch that fills the living room. I end up choosing Grease in hopes of hinting to the dance and also because I have seen the movie like a bazillion times. I'd be able to talk to him without missing something I haven't seen before. I join him on the couch after I put the movie into the DVD player, sitting close enough that our shoulders touch.

"Of course you would choose this movie. Straight from my mom's movie stash. You women and your John Travolta." He rolls his eyes but laughs sarcastically.

"Hey, this movie is a classic," I argue and add, "Besides, how can you not like those blue eyes?" I tease him.

"Oh, blue eyes huh? I would think green eyes are your thing." He smiles as he bats his green eyes. I lightly nudge him laughing and ignore the sting in my chest as I realize who else has blue eyes.

Changing the subject, I ask, "So you mentioned you wanted to talk about next weekend. What about it?"

"Hmm. Oh, yeah. Your birthday is on Friday, what do you want? You know, besides the plans we already made for Saturday."

I pause for a moment, considering his question and I shrug. "I don't really want anything. Although, I know a lot of people are going to the homecoming dance. Are you planning on going?" I look into his eyes for a brief second to search for answers before he looks away.

"Well, I don't normally go to those things, they're usually pretty boring." I look back to the television to hide my disappointment and watch the scene where Olivia Newton-John's character starts singing 'Hopelessly Devoted to You'. "Ugh, fine. If you want to go, I will take you." Ryker says impassively. I can't help but be excited though, despite the fact that he is only going because it's my birthday, but I still think it is sweet he would go just because of it.

"Yay, thank you!" I squeal. I can't contain my excitement, as I grab his face and pull him towards me, quickly kissing his lips.

Ryker grabs my arm and holding me in my position as he continues to kiss me. I can feel his tongue trying to enter my mouth, so I part it just enough so he can start massaging my tongue with his. I start to move my tongue around when I suddenly feel Ryker's hand go under my jacket trying to sneak up to my breast. With my other hand, I reach up, grabbing his wrist and I stop him from gliding his hand up farther when he reaches my belly button. He stops to look at me and then continues to kiss me once again, forcing his lips against mine. I don't part my mouth right away as I can feel his hand trying to move up again. This time I pull his hand out of my jacket completely.

"Stop," I tell him, pulling my head away from his. Ryker's hand still holding my arm.

"Why? What's wrong? I can't touch my girlfriend?" I want to smile at the choice of word that I have been waiting to hear, but at the same time, even if I am his girlfriend, if I am not ready to be touched, then I'm not ready. Period.

"It's not that. It's just..." Before I can finish my sentence, he slams his lips onto mine again and leans his body on me. His weight pushing me to lay flat on my back on the couch, his body lying on top of me, holding me down. I could feel Ryker's hands trying to move over my body. One hand I could feel trying to go under my jacket again, and the other is trying to hold my arm down from stopping him. I try to push him off with my other free hand and raise my voice, "Get off of me Ryker! Stop!"

He stops only for a brief moment, long enough for me to see that his eyes looked almost black. He then grabs both of my hands and pulls them above my head, tightening his grip on them with his one hand holding me in place. His free hand then starts to slide over my leggings, gliding his hand roughly over my sex. I feel my face burning up as my cheeks become soaked with tears I had not realized were falling down. Why is he doing this? This can't be happening.

"I am going to be the first man that gets into your panties and I am going to fuck your brains out. Stay still, that's what a good girlfriend would do." He grunts as he slides his palm into my leggings.

I whimper once more. "Get the fuck off of me Ryker, now!" I demand. I wiggle my leg out from beneath him and kick him in the groin, causing him to sit up and roll over to the floor in pain. This gives me just enough time to grab my phone and run outside.

I am halfway down the street when I call Nina. Seth does not need to know what almost just happened. He would do something stupid that would probably get him into trouble.

"Hey, Scarlett, what's up?" Nina answers the phone.

"Ni...Nina. Can you please pick me up?" I plead. I know I sound hysterical as I continue to cry, walking down the darkened street. I still can't believe what just happened, what almost happened if I wasn't able to get out of there.

"Scarlett, what's wrong? Are you okay? Of course, I will come and get you. Where are you?" Nina asks with concern, I hear the keys jingling over the phone.

I tell her where I am and she pulls up within ten minutes. Her eyes go wide as I get in the passenger seat, taking in my horrid appearance. I don't realize how bad I look until I look in the mirror and see that my cheeks are tear-stained, my leggings have a rip on the groin area, and my wrists are bruised with Ryker's fingerprints. I cringe at myself as I bury my face into my hands.

"Can I stay at your house tonight?" I ask, my voice cracking. She takes a moment to answer me, probably contemplating whether or not to take me home or call the police.

"Of course, but, Scarlett do you need me to take you to the cops? I mean, what the fuck happened?" She questions with a brittle voice.

"No, please just go to your house and I will tell you everything. I just need to shower." My voice comes out flat. Nina doesn't say anything, she just nods and drives towards her house.

When we get inside, I see Dean and Jake sitting on the couch playing a video game. I try to rush past them with Nina to avoid being seen, but Dean notices me right away when the front door closes. He doesn't stop to pause the game as he stands to his feet and looks at me up and down with terror in his eyes.

"Scarlett, what happened? Are you okay?" He looks down and catches me trying to cover my ripped leggings. "Who the fuck did this to you?" Jake stands up to look at me as well once Dean's voice raises.

Nina puts her hand up. "Guys, please leave her alone. Not right now okay?" Jake hesitates but then nods and sits back down and is understanding. Dean, however, looks completely lost.

As we get to Nina's room I hear the disembodied voice, "Jake, you need to ask your sister what the hell is going on..." It's Dean.

Nina doesn't ask me any more questions, she just hands me a pair of pajamas and a towel and I go to take a shower. I keep hoping the hot water running down my body will take this feeling away. The feeling of being helpless. The constant image of black eyes and desperate, rough hands on my body taking control of me, running through my mind. I don't understand why Ryker would try something like this. He has been very sweet these last few weeks and I would have never seen this coming. I continue to wash my body, allowing the hot water to relax my muscles, and that is when I feel my bare neck.

My necklace!