~ ~ Chapter Twelve ~ ~

Amberly sat at the kitchen table with a worried look on her face as her eyes followed me back and forth, she had been trying to distract me ever since last night, not even sleep would come to me, she rang Marty and said I wouldn't be able to make it in to work tonight and that she wouldn't be able to cover for me either, since that was the first thing Marty asked because she has tonight off.

Glancing at my reflection in a mirror hanging near the fridge I groaned, I had huge black bags under my eyes and they were bloodshot from all the crying I had been doing and the non existent sleep ever since Dougy's phone call. I was stressed, scared and freaking out.

Looking at the clock I could see it was two in the afternoon already, "Where the hell is he?" I hissed to myself.

Amberly sighed, "Just sit down please, all your pacing is giving me head spins." she muttered in a soft tone.

I shot her a look which I regretted instantly and felt bad for, "Sorry." I grumbled. She smiled softly back and said it was okay.

Just then there was a loud knock on the door, making me jump into the air as Amberly rushed to the door and opened it, I could see Baden through the lounge room from where I stood and immediately my eyes narrowed at him.

He was looking at Amberly though and hadn't noticed me yet, "Where's my girl?" he asked gruffly, still not one hundred percent on board with her when he didn't think I was around.

"I'm not your girl Baden!" I snapped angrily, shouting at him which caused his head to snap over and face me, his eyes widen in slight shock and then he stepped past Amberly, taking long strides over to where I stood, eyeing me up and down, "What happened to you? You look like crap Leila!" he demanded.

I was already on the edge and being told I looked like crap made me snap, I slung my arm back and pulled it forward quicker than he noticed and I slapped him straight across the face, "Stuff you!" I screamed angrily as tears formed in my eyes as a wave of different emotions swept through me again. I hated how easily he made me cry!

He looked stunned, then anger took over, "Why the hell did you just bitch slap me!" he shouted loudly, then stopped as he took me in again with his eyes and pulled his hand up, cupping my face instantly and wiping away my tears with his thumb but they were falling faster than he could wipe, "I'm sorry for yelling at you," he immediately responded, "What is going on?" he asked in a soft and caring tone.

A sob escaped my lips, "Why would you not tell me? I have the right to know that he is awake and walking around!" I cried as I hit him pathetically in the chest while subconsciously leaning in closer to him as I did.

His big hands caught my wrists instantly and he pulled me in right up against his chest and wrapped his arms around me, one hand resting on the back of my head as my body shook with my tears, I couldn't hold it back anymore but being here, in his arms, made me feel safe, like I could take on the world as long as his arms were around me and I broke down.

"I'm going to throttle Dougy!" he hissed as he rested his chin on top of my head, I gave a choked laugh as I shook my head into his chest, this wasn't helping and he realized it, "Hey." he soothed, "I won't let anything ever happen to you again Leila. I promise you that you will be safe from him."

I sniffed softly as I wiped my eyes, embarrassed at my little outburst, why does he have this stupid effect over me?

"How long have you known?" I asked quietly, my voice hitching a little still.

"Since before we met up." he responded in a neutral tone.

"Why would you not tell me?"

He sighed heavily as he hugged me to him tighter, "I didn't want this, I didn't want you worrying when I plan on taking care of him." he spoke softly and my body tensed.

"Y-you mean kill him?" my voice a hoarse whisper as I felt my body go limp, if it wasn't for his arms around me I would have fallen to the ground. I hated that thing but did I want him dead? I don't think so, maybe injured and put through pain like he did to me, but not dead, "B-Baden....." I trailed off, unable to continue my sentence.

"Don't worry about it bueatiful, forget you ever knew." he muttered a little too forceful.

I shook my head as I pushed back away from him, he refused to let me at first then budge a little, just enough so I could look up at his face, "I don't want you to kill him." my tone serious.

He lips turned into a tight line and he looked royally ticked, "You don't have a say, it's why I wasn't going to tell you, you would never have found out otherwise and could have gone on living your life."

Tears ran down my face, I can't believe he can be so cruel as to kill someone in cold blood, yeah he is a bad man but still, that's wrong, it's against the law and it's sadistic. Shoving my hands against his chest he finally allowed me to push myself away, "I don't want to hear anymore." I stated firmly.

Baden nodded, "Okay." then took my hand, I cringed slightly, unsure of what I feel about him now as he led me into the lounge room and pulled me down to sit beside him. Baden picked up the remote and flicked the TV on, it was some afternoon movie, "Your skipping work, right?"

I nodded slowly, then sighed softly, can I really act like that thing isn't walking around? I can't just forget what I know now, it's the only thing I have thought about since Dougy told me, why did he have to open his big fat mouth? I know he thought I had the right to know and so did I but now I'm going to be panicking that he is coming after me for some reason.

What if he comes into my work? What if I have to dance for him and what if he recognises me or I recognise him, it's been a few years and it was dark at the time but I still remember his features clearly, like a torch was shining on his face and allowing me to see everything.

"Um, Baden, do you know where he is roughly? Like, what state or city?" I asked quietly, staring blankly at the TV but not actually watching it as images flashed across the screen.

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me down onto his lap, resting my head there I curled up into a ball alongside him and closed my eyes, I was so tired and exhausted and knew I would be safe with Baden next to me while I slept.

"Back home still." he muttered as he gently stroked my cheek and brushed some strands of hair out of my face, tucking them behind my ear.

I smiled slightly to myself, good, that's a long way away from here.

Opening my eyes and stretching, I froze instantly then turned and relaxed, the panic going away immediately. I wasn't use to waking up with someone beside me in my bed.....how did I even get in my bed? I remember being on the lounge. I groaned softly as I realised Baden must have carried me in here at some point. I must have been really out of it to not wake up.

Sitting up I yawned and glanced out my window, it was dark outside, I scanned my room for my phone to check the time but I couldn't see it. There was a light coming in from my slightly ajar door and it washed over Baden's sleeping body.

Turning my head to look back at him I gasped, he was laying belly down on the bed, one arm spread across me which was now in my lap and his face was turned towards me but that's not what caught my attention - it was all the scars and marks on his tanned back that made me gasp.

Some were small and hardly noticeable but others were red ugly and long. One in particular just above his shoulder blade was roundish and raised up, I also noticed the major ones had been stitched badly, like a home job.

Reaching out slowly and touching one of the longer ones near his waist I softly trailed my finger along the raised skin, wincing at how much it would have hurt. What the hell happened to him? How had I never noticed these before? Thinking about it, I can only remember one time when I have seen him without a shirt on......when I saw him at my work and he stripped his shirt off to pull it on me but I only noticed his chest and that wasn't as bad as his back

Now that I wasn't in a hurry or shock, I could see the back of his torso properly and my heart went out to him. Who would do this to him? Why? I knew the answer right away - it would have something to do with his job but it didn't make me feel any better knowing people had inflicted pain upon him.

Suddenly a wave of anger swept through me as I stared at his scars, the thought of someone purposely hurting my Baden made me angry! Wait, my Baden? Did I seriously just think that? ........Yes, I did. I care for him deeply even though I'm scared of what will happen to me from being near him but I can't change the way I feel, the way I've always felt.

I love him.

A small startled scream escaped my lips as his eyes blinked open, instantly I pulled my hand back and turned away since my cheeks were heating up. What are the chances of him waking up just when I realised how much I truly do care for him. It's one in a thousand.

"Leila?" he murmured huskily as he tightened his arm around me and gently pulled me back down onto the bed, "What's wrong?" he yawned.

I shook my head as I looked at my bedroom wall, unable to face him while my cheeks were heated red still, he might see, even in the semi darkness and that would be embarrassing, "Nothing." my voice was small.

"Go back to sleep with me then." He murmured, I turned and looked at him quickly, his eyes were already closed again, so I snuggled into his warm chest and sighed softly. He was mine and I am his, we always were and always will be.

"Baden?" I asked softly, in case he had fallen back to sleep. He made a small 'mmm' sound which made me smile, "I'd like to go on that date now." I whispered then leaned in closer to him and kissed his forehead softly, my cheeks heating up even more at the knowledge I had just kissed him, even if it were a simple innocent one on the forehead and he was asleep.....

"Me too." he smiled, I screamed and went to pull away but his arm tightened around my waist even more so I couldn't move anywhere as he opened his eyes with a mischievous twinkle and smirked at me, "Your face is priceless." he chuckled sleepily.

I blushed some more, "You were meant to be asleep jerk." I muttered as I turned and buried my face into his chest since he wasn't letting me go and I didn't want him staring at me any longer.

"I was....until you started tracing sexy lines on my scars." he chuckled.

I groaned softly, "Shut up and go back to sleep."

"Okay beautiful." he spoke softly then kissed the top of my head, his lips lingering there for a few seconds before he smiled against my skin and pulled away, resting his head on top of mine and pulling me in even closer, I don't know how he did it because we were already pressed up tight against one another.

Sighing softly I fell back asleep with a smile on my face, I was happy again and it was all because of him coming back into my life unexpectedly, just like he did the first time I met him. I can only hope it doesn't end badly like last time, but I won't run away this time round and if he is foolish enough to get locked up again, I will seriously kick his ass.

Waking up properly I felt alone, reaching out I felt emptiness besides me and opened my eyes to the room lit up with daylight. He was gone. I sighed sadly as I stretched and climbed out of my bed, he will be back later, I'm sure of it. He hasn't gone one day without annoying me with his stalkerish presence since we met up again.

Rubbing my face I walked over to my bedroom door and stopped, stepping to the side as I could hear voices coming from the kitchen, they were male. Craning my neck I listened in closely then froze as I spotted Amberly standing in her slightly open bedroom door, she gave me a sheepish smile, I smiled back. We were as bad as each other eavesdropping.

'Who is it?' I mouthed and pointed towards the kitchen, I had already recognised Baden's voice but couldn't pick out the other one and they were speaking softly, too softly to make out any words.

'Baden' she mouthed back, I rolled my eyes well duh I thought sarcastically, she shook her head at me with a smile 'Jeff' she mouthed again. Ahhh, makes sense....wait, not really, who even let him in the flat?

Craning my neck even more, I tried desperately to hear what they were talking about but they were being too quiet, it was frustrating. Seriously, what's the point in having a conversation if other people can't overhear it? Suddenly I heard footsteps getting louder and Baden saying he'll be back in a minute.

My eyes flew open as I took a quick step back as I realised he was coming up the short hallway towards my door, taking a flying jump towards my bed, I was going to pretend I was asleep, until I hit the edge and fell straight on my butt on the floor with a loud, "Oomph!" and a groan.

"What are you doing?" an amused Baden asked from the doorway which he now filled with his big build.

I glared up at him, I'm going to pin it all on him,"If you were in the bed still, I wouldn't have rolled out and landed on my butt." I accused.

He smirked, "Want me back in your bed, hey?"

I rolled my eyes as I climbed to my feet, spotting Amberly laughing quietly with her hand over her mouth, still standing in her bedroom door. Baden turned to see what I was looking at. She stopped immediately and slammed her door shut. Busted.

"Spying were we?" he turned back to face me with a raised eyebrow.

I shook my head adamantly, "No." I muttered, "I can't even see the kitchen from my doorway." I added to defend myself some more.

He chuckled as he walked over and picked his jacket up of the chair in the corner of my room, "Fine. Trying to spy were we?"

I kept my face neutral, "Nope, already told you that." and I crossed my arms over my chest stubbornly.

He shook his head, then glanced at Amberly's closed door, "You both were, she was a dead give away standing there laughing and so was your flying jump onto the bed, only you missed."

Narrowing my eyes I felt annoyed, he was being irritating right now, "Whatever Baden, some of us aren't stalkers around here." then I walked out of my room with him laughing behind me, "Stop laughing at me." I snapped over my shoulder.

He came up behind me, snaking his arm around my waist and pulling me in close to his chest, I closed my eyes I felt his toned muscles against my back, he leaned down so I could feel his breath on my neck, "Be ready at six for our date." he murmured softly, his lips grazing my neck.

My legs went wobbly a little and I found it hard to concentrate, so I only nodded, Baden then kissed my neck softly and I found myself tilting my neck slightly so he could have better access without even realising what I was doing, then my thoughts snapped clear again, I stayed the same as a smile played on my face, "I have work tonight."

"Call in sick." he kissed further up my neck, not even missing a beat as he spoke. My heart started speeding up in my chest, why does he have such an effect over me? Damn this boy.

"I can't." I breathed as he kissed just under my earlobe with the same sweet tenderness as the other kisses. He was making me cave and he knew it.

"I'll call Marty myself then." he smiled as he pulled away, kissing my cheek lightly with a grin, "See you at six Leila." and then he walked off into the lounge room, moments later I heard the front door shut and I groaned, trying to turn my hormones down.

"Damn that boy." I muttered angrily under my breath.

"Yeah, I bet you're thinking other things about 'that boy'." Amberly giggled from behind me, making me spin around on my feet and blush.

"What are you talking about?" I muttered defensively, a little too quick.

She smiled, "He has it for you bad, I swear I was getting ready to run from the flat in case you two took over with your hormones." she fake shuddered, "My best friend and her boyfriend getting it on naked is not something I want to see."

I blushed again, "We weren't going to 'get it on' and he's not my boyfriend." I muttered quickly.

She rolled her eyes as she walked past me into the kitchen, "He is, you just haven't admitted it yet. You two were made for each other, it's so obvious."

Huffing I stormed off into the shower, I needed to clear my head and I was annoyed that she was right. It was only a matter of time before we got our acts together but this date tonight might be what seals it for us. I wonder where someone like him takes a girl on a date?