But would just like to say thanks to everyone who has read, voted or left a comment - it means a lot to me! <3

~ ~ Chapter Ten ~ ~

Rushing through the back entrance door as I legged it down the hallway towards the changing rooms, dodging past some of the other girls as they slowly got in my way, I cursed under my breath, damn Baden for switching my alarm off before he left, I know he did it on purpose in the hopes I over slept and didn't make it to work on time. That boy seriously has to learn boundaries and so much for all the feelings of mine that had stirred last night, just to be replaced with annoyance for him this morning.

But damn was last night the best sleep I've had so far and I know it was because he was in bed with me, though nothing sexual happened. Just knowing he was there, having his safe arms wrapped around me innocently while we slept, I knew I was slowly falling for him, my walls were crumbling and it was all his doing.

"You're late Lee!" Marty sang loudly from his open office door as I ran past.

"Sue me!" I shouted as I ran into the change rooms and started stripping off before I got into my little cubicle where my outfits were already hanging up and waiting for me. Slipping my hair tie out, I ruffled my hair and gave it a sexy windblown look as I changed quickly.

Running in nine inch heels is not cool. I almost broke my ankle on the way to the stage. Baden would have been happy about that.

~~

"I need a shower badly." I groaned to Amberly as she just walked in, I was covered in sweat and glitter and felt disgusting.

"Me too." she smiled as she sat down next to me.

Staring at my reflection I'm surprised my make up is even still on my face.

"So, who is buying dinner tonight?" she laughed gently from besides me as she looked at me through our reflections on our mirrors.

I frowned for a second, trying to remember how much cash I had just made from customers, "Um, I think it was close to eight hundred tonight."

"Your shout then." she laughed.

I nodded, this was our game, on shifts when we both ended at the same time, whoever had made the most, shouted a feed afterwards.

"How about we go somewhere across town? Where we won't be found easily?" I suggested, not needing to mention who I was referring to.

"Yes, we can go into the city, late night shopping tonight." Amberly squealed with excitement.

It was weird to be able to go shopping at such a late time but the city is crazy and some shop owners are even crazier by staying open until ridiculous times - which suit us fine because we can go shop and spend our hard earned money now.

Thirty minutes later we are cruising down the road with the stereo cranked and singing along and laughing. It was good to finally have some girl time again, it's been ages now because I don't count that club trip as anything.

"Where to for dinner?" Amberly asked as her eyes darted left to right looking at all the food signs.

I shrugged, "Maccas?"

She laughed but nodded, "Yeah, alright."

We pulled into the car park then climbed out, deciding to eat inside. I had a pair of grey track pants on with thongs and a simple black singlet. Amberly wore some pink and white skirt with a white boob tube, she claimed the skirt was adorable - but pink wasn't really my thing.

"Ambo." I grinned as I held my burger in my hands and leaned over the table, "That guy is totally checking you out." I sang softly.

Her eyes went wide as she turned around and glanced at the cute brown head boy in the corner with two of his mates, I watched her cheeks go red as she blushed and giggled before turning back to look at me, "He is cute."

I nodded, "Go ask for his number - or better yet, give him yours." I nodded in his direction then grabbed her handbag and searched through it for a pen and handed it to her, "Go on." I laughed as she blushed even more.

"I'm not walking up to him like that!" she protested softly as I laughed hard, holding my stomach from the ache I now had.

"Oh, Ambo, you crack me up!"

"Well, you're about to crack me up in a minute." she suddenly looked very confident as a smug expression came across her face.

I stopped laughing and frowned at her, completely confused as to what she was on about, she was acting weird right now-.

"Hey beautiful."

I spun around in my seat so fast that I almost fell off, but it was his hand catching me by my arm that saved me as he smirked down at me, "Falling for me all over again, hey?"

I was the one who now blushed and it made me angry, only because he was right, I had started feeling things towards him again but it didn't mean I wanted him knowing that, at least not until I figure it out for myself.

"No." I muttered, then glanced at Jeff who stood behind Baden, looking around, his eyes rested on the guy who had been trying to get Amberly's attention, then he glanced at Amberly and froze, not for very long, but enough for me to notice. I smiled to myself.

"Do you have like a tracking device on me or something?" I asked, snapping out of my little spy session on Jeff the silent serial killer.

Baden chuckled, "I wish, but you never wear the same thing everyday, so it would be pointless."

I stared at him in slight shock, had he honestly considered using a tracking device on me? That boy is unbelievable!

Finally he seemed to notice Amberly and gave her a short nod, "Amberly." he greeted her but with no real emotion in his voice.

I wasn't going to stand for that, so I grabbed her bag and slung it over my shoulder as I stood up, "Well, we are off now, got places to go, people to see, things to buy, money to spend.' I smirked.

Baden smiled as he stood to his feet alongside me, "Will I be needing to knock out any security guards this time?" he winked at me.

The laugh escaped my mouth before I could stop it, remembering back to that day, it was actually pretty funny. Amberly frowned in confusion and both of us noticed this, Jeff rolled his eyes, he wasn't there but he has obviously heard about it and one too many times to by the look on his face.

"Years ago, I was walking along the side street and the next minute this scrawny little thing comes bolting around the corner and slams into me, I caught her before she fell, turns out she was a thief and some security guard was chasing her, so she runs off and he comes around the corner next, so I clothes lined him, Leila's face was priceless." Baden started laughing some more, I frowned at him. I didn't think my reaction was that funny.

Jeff groaned and rolled his eyes again, "He laughs every time." he muttered as he walked past me, eyeing off the boys in the corner one last time and proving my theory that he has heard this story too many times.

I smiled as I skipped up alongside him, Amberly said she had to go to the bathroom, so I was meeting her by the car and Baden was getting a coffee - or something? I don't know, I didn't really listen to him.

"Hey there Jeff." I smiled and used my 'happy' tone.

He glanced at me warily but said nothing.

I grinned, "So,what was up with the looks?" he stared at me blankly, so he was gonna pretend he didn't know what I was on about, huh?

"I saw you looking at them boys." I paused slightly for dramatic effect, grinning to myself the whole time, "Then I saw the way you checked Ambo out, she's cute, right?"

He stopped walking and actually properly looked down at me for real, "Why Baden doesn't think you're a pain in the ass, I don't know." he grunted, "From the very first time I saw you at that club, I knew you would be annoying." he smirked slightly.

Rolling my eyes and mimicking him silently, I groaned, "Gee, love you too Jeff but you are avoiding the question here, you think Ambo is hot?" he ignored me, "So does the boy in the corner chatting her up right now." I nodded back inside through the windows.

Amberly was standing near a table and the cute boy was in front of her, a smile on his face as they talked, she was blushing like a mad house - I could see it from here! I swear my cheeks were about to explode from grinning so much.

Suddenly an arm slid around my shoulders, "Babe, why do you look like you're high?"

I shook my head and pointed at Amberly, then nodded secretly at Jeff who was glaring at the guy who was writing what I presumed to be his number down onto her hand. Nudging Jeff in the back, "Go tell her to hurry up." I urged.

He glared at me angrily, I smiled sweetly, "Go on, we're ready to leave." I nodded eagerly.

"Just do it mate, I can see you're about to break bones if she stays in there any longer." Baden chuckled, I stared at up him in confusion as we sat down at the outside chair and table set, he handed me a hot drink.

"What's this for?" I asked curiously.

He smiled with a shrug, "Thought I would be nice."

"Hmmmm." I narrowed my eyes, still suspicious but changed the subject, "Thanks for turning my alarm off this morning."

He laughed as I glared at him, "How late were you, or did you ditch work tonight?" he smirked finally.

I shook my head, "Look, obviously you all aren't going to leave me alone but the least you can do is try and not get me fired, I want to make my own money and pay my own way, okay?"

He thought about it for a moment as he turned his coffee in his hands, staring at it, "Alright, for one date."

"Huh?" I asked like a freaking idiot.

He smirked at me as he looked up, his eyes meeting mine with such intensity that I had to look away, "You heard me Leila, one date, all I want is a chance."

Shaking my head softly, "I don't get it, why? I ruined your life, I'm the reason you went to prison for so long, how can you not hate me?" I asked quietly, refusing to look up at him.

"Leila." he sighed, "You didn't send me there, besides, I will always put your safety before mine, that will never change whether you give us a shot or not."

He sounded so serious and I couldn't help the swarm of giddy butterflies from flapping around in my stomach. I liked him. He cared about me. Why can't I get over it and give him a shot? ....... because I'm afraid of getting hurt because of what he does.

"Would you give it all up?" I asked softly.

He had heard me, I sneaked a peek and he seemed thoughtful, he knew what I had meant, but before he could answer, Amberly and Jeff came walking back out. Jeff trailing behind a very happy and bouncy Amberly.

"He gave me his number, his name is Chad and he is so cute! He is also a vet! How adorable is that? He saves cute little cats all day long!" she gushed, talking a hundred miles per hour, trust her to find out so much about one person in such a short amount of time, "He is twenty four, has two younger sisters who live in Canada with his parents, he moved here a few years ago."

"I doubt he saves 'cute little cats' all day long Ambo." I rolled my eyes at how naive she can be but she is precious at the same time, cute and precious and I wouldn't have her any other way.

Eventually I convinced Amberly it was time for us to go get some shopping in, she nodded and we walked over to the car with Baden and Jeff silently following behind. Amberly's phone suddenly rang and she quickly answered it, unlocking the car.

Jumping, I almost screamed as I felt someone stand real close behind me, spinning around I slapped Baden's arm, "Don't scare people like that!" I warned, as I held my hand over top of my racing heart.

He smirked, "Just wondering if we are allowed to come along on your little shopping trip?"

I raised an eyebrow, "Wow, you're actually asking and not just showing up unannounced like a creepy stalker?"

He laughed, "Do I have permission to tag along - like a creepy stalker?" he teased.

I nodded slowly, not knowing why they would want to come shopping with us, Amberly was going to kill them, she kills me every shopping trip, it's why I do it as seldom as possible, "Sure, but if you get too annoying, you're getting the boot."

Baden chuckled, then nodded, "Alright then, we'll follow you there," then he winked as he walked over to his car, Jeff had already climbed into the passenger seat, "Oh and Leila?" I turned to look back over at him as I was half in, half out of Amberly's car, "I would if you asked me to," and he closed the door.

Frowning, would he really? Would I even ask that much of him? Obviously he doesn't have a normal job for a reason, he must like it whatever he does, I can't ask him to give that up, or maybe he is playing me, so I will give up my job when he asks me again.

Smiling slightly to myself I shook my head as I climbed in properly, shut the door behind me and buckled up as Amberly started the car up, "Game on Baden." I muttered softly, two can play at that game, two can be controlling freaks, two can flirt like mad and two can be in love.

This was going to be fun, question is - who will crack first?