After a few card games and sharing stories about the past weeks, the conversation died down. I looked outside and the sun was about to set. I put it off long enough. Beckett had to know.

We were both leaning against the kitchen counter watching Callum and Himari play an intense game of crazy eight. The kitchen was warm and smelled of chocolate. Blaire was baking while she hummed mindlessly to herself. "Can we talk for a minute?" I nudged Beckett.

"Yeah sure."

I moved to the glass sliding door and he followed me outside. The wind was icy and usually, my teeth would be chattering but the nerves kept me warm. The sky was quickly darkening only a little hue of orange now visible on the horizon.

I sat down under the tree with my back against the trunk. Beckett sat in front of me. He had a smile on his face and it just made things even harder knowing that I was going to wipe it off in less than minutes.

"Hey what's up?" He patted my knee. "You look disturbed. I've never seen you make that face before."

I looked up at him and swallowed a lump in my throat. I never had to do this to someone before. "I think it's time for us to have that conversation."

He nodded, biting onto his bottom lip. The smile remained on his face. "So you've thought about it?"

"Yes and Beckett you must know you have become my best friend," I smiled at him and he smiled back. "But I can't see beyond those lines." The smile instantly vanished from his face and he dropped his eyes running a hand through his hair.

"Oh." His eyebrows scrunched together and he went silent for a while as he stared at the ground. "Tell me something, Liz." His voice was soft no hint of anger yet. "Is it because Luca is the one that's blocking your sight?"

I swallowed hard. I wasn't planning on telling him about Luca as yet I wanted to see how he took the first part. "Beckett-"

"He is. Isn't he?" He laughed shaking his head. He immediately moved to stand and I grabbed his hand.

His eyes hardened and he looked away. "Please don't go." I stood with him and he ran a hand through his hair again. His eyes, not meeting mine.

"Liz I don't even understand. I thought he had a girlfriend why would you let him be the one that stops us from being together?" he asked. "You are hurting yourself. Callum told me he is attached to that girl. He won't break up with her."

I gulped hard at those words. The guilt of Luca leaving Allison creeping up on me again. "Beckett he broke up with her." Those words hung in the air as Beckett's eyes snapped back up at my face, searching.

"Liz you still didn't answer my earlier question. What was Luca doing here?" I didn't answer. The answer would put all the puzzle pieces Beckett was working with together and he already looked like he was having a hard time with accepting what I was telling him. "Got it," He turned around and began walking away.

"Beckett please wait," I called after him.

"No Liz. I don't want to talk anymore you made your decision now just- " His voice was defeated and then I heard the sliding door open.

Callum walked out with a confused look on his face. Blaire and Himari were less confused because they probably knew what ticked Beckett off.

"What happened to Beckett?" Cullum asked.

"Callum I'm so sorry can you please go talk to him." Callum nodded and ran after Beckett. I felt terrible. Maybe there was a different way I should have done it. I tried to soften my words as best as I could.

Blaire came over to me and wrapped her arms around me. "Lizzy it's freezing out here. Let's go inside okay." She wiped away tears that I didn't even know I shed as she walked me back into the house and made me sit at the kitchen table.

"Don't be upset it's not your fault," Himari said and sat down next to me. She gave my hand a gentle squeeze and I sighed.

"Himi is right Liz. Callum told Beckett not to tell you about his feelings until after you came back from England."

"Callum knew something like this was going to happen?" I croaked out.

Blaire rubbed my back. "He just said that he's never seen Luca stare at one girl for longer than ten seconds and the way Luca looked at you he wouldn't be surprised if he actually liked you and then Beckett said he had to let you know how he felt before you left."

I sat forward in my chair. "Well, he didn't mention that part."

Blaire pulled up a seat next to me. "So what did happen between you and Luca?" She grinned from ear to ear and I laughed a little.

"I love him, Blaire."

Both Himari and Blaire's jaw fell open. "Love him," Blaire almost choked on the words. "Does he know? Have you told him?" She asked excitedly and I nodded. "What's he said?"

"Let her breathe," Himari chuckled and Blaire glared at her. That was the first time I saw Blaire look angry at Himari.

"We love each other," I answered her question though my earlier thoughts were still reeling.

"See Himi some people don't keep secrets from their best friend." Blaire cocked an eyebrow at Himari.

Himari bit the corner of her lip. "That's not important right now Blaire." She stood up from her seat and I looked at the both of them in curiosity. What was Blaire on about.  "Well ladies it's after dark and I have something I need to do.

"You can't be serious Himi," Blaire shook her head.

"Oh, I'm dead serious. I'm putting an end to the mystery once and for all."

I looked at both of their faces. I was so confused. Blaire was anxious and Himari moved around the kitchen pulling open the cupboards. She got a rope and a piece of cloth. "Wait what is going on?" I asked taking in the things in Himari's hands.

"Himi thinks that there isn't a problem with the electric cables in the housing but someone is switching the power off purposely," Blaire explained.

"I don't think I know. I spoke to Kimberly and she was at the housing the entire break. She said the lights never went off once. But on boxing day when students started returning it started again. I am positive that someone is doing it and the reason for avoiding homework and classes doesn't make sense since we on break."

"Himi be reasonable. You don't know if it's one person or a group. You can get hurt doing this by yourself. Just call security."

Himari laughed and I knew she wasn't going to listen to anything me or Blaire said so I remained silent. She already looked determined. "If I call security there is no chance of the person getting caught. The person might see the cars."

"Fine then I'm coming with you," Blaire said and stood.

"I'm coming too," I stood. I could use the distraction from my thoughts.

"Look girls I don't think that's a good idea. I can handle myself." Blaire moved and began rummaging through the cupboards. She pulled out two bottles of pepper spray.

"Liz and I are good," she smiled not showing an ounce of fear.

"Fine but you two listen to everything I tell you," she said sternly and Blaire and I both nodded.

Himari lead the way to her car. We got in and she pulled out of the driveway. She drove deeper into the campus housing and made a few turns until she parked her car in the bushes. She got out of the car and we followed her to a locked gate that had a warning sign on it.

Himari looked around examining the fence. "See I told you a student wouldn't be able to access this," Blaire said.

"Unless they have a key or there is another way in." Himari walked along the fence examining it with her hands. She stopped suddenly and pushed a cut-out piece of the fence back, and gestured for us to follow her.

Blaire and I followed after her through the fence. "This place is creepy," Blaire shuddered. The place was shrouded in darkness. We had to use our phone lights to see. The grass was overgrown and the bushes and hedges were thick.

"Shhh," Himari sounded.

We hid behind a bush and my adrenaline was pumping. I was mostly afraid of getting caught by the security than by anyone else.

"Now what?" Blaire asked.

"We wait." We switched off our phone lights and I could only see the outline of Blaire and Himari. Himari was crouched down like a tiger waiting patiently to pounce.

As we waited I started thinking about Beckett. Was today the end of our friendship? Did he want nothing to do with me at all. Does he regret being friends with me from the beginning.

I didn't know how much time passed hiding in the bush and I absentmindedly started playing with a blade of grass."No one is coming Himi," Blaire whispered.

Himari shook her head and held her hand up. Suddenly we heard the sound of the fence and footsteps hitting the grass.

Himari placed one finger on her lip to tell us to keep silent while one hand covered Blaire's mouth to stop her from screaming. She removed her hand slowly from Blaire's mouth and started to peek through the bush. I peeked with her to see someone in a dark hoodie interfering with the power box. Himari kept low as she slowly stalked behind the person.

She caught him from behind jumping on his back and wrapping her legs around his torso. I heard the man scream and struggle before he collapsed on the ground.

I didn't understand how Himari brought him down so easily he was bigger than her. Blaire and I ran out of the bush just in time to see Himari pick him up and throw him like a sack of potatoes over her shoulder. With no time to marvel at Himari's immense human strength, she gestured with her head for us to follow her.

"Girls to the car now," she ordered and Blaire and I rushed with her to the car. As we walked out and into the light I started to see the man's face clearly.

That son of a...

"Himi you were right. But I can't believe it's Trent," Blaire voiced my thoughts.

Trent. I've never hated anyone the way I hated him. He made my skin crawl and if it wasn't for Luca... I didn't want to think about what would have happened to me on my first day here. The thought had my insides clenching in disgust.

Himari threw him into the trunk of the car. The sickening thud of his body made a chill run down my spine. She slammed the lid of the trunk down and moved to get into the car.

Were we kidnapping Trent?

"Liz quick," Himari called and bile raised in the back of my throat. I guess we were kidnapping the slimeball after all.

Himari sped back to the house. She got out of the car and looked around to make sure no one was watching as she moved to the trunk and popped the lid. She picked up Trent and threw him over her shoulder again.

Blaire moved to open the house door for her and I closed the trunk. I  looked over my shoulder to ensure no one was watching us before I went into the house.

"What are we going to do with him?" I asked, entering the house and shutting the door. I looked out the windows again before I followed them into the kitchen.

Himari put Trent to sit on the chair. His head was lolling around. She took the duck tape and stuck him to the chair and for extra precaution, she bonded him with rope.

I was feeling like a criminal. We just kidnapped someone, but I reminded myself it was Trent. Himari left him in the kitchen and gestured for us to follow her out before switching off the lights.

"Why did you switch the light off?" Blaire asked.

"Just to scare him a bit. Ambiance and stuff," Himari laughed.

I stared at her face in shock. I clearly didn't know my housemate's capabilities.

We sat on the couch in the living room neither one of us able to say anything. "You scary Himi. It's like I don't know you sometimes," Blaire broke the silence.

"Himi how did you take him down to the ground like that?" I asked remembering how she wrapped her legs around him and brought him down.

She looked between me and Blaire. "Ur-" she stuttered. "It's a sleeper hold. It only took seconds before I cut off his oxygen and he fell asleep." I felt like she answered my question but didn't.

"How did you pick him up like that?" Blaire questioned and that was the second question on my mind. Trent was bigger than Himari for sure and she picked him up like nothing.

She smirked about to say something but the sound of screaming cut her off. "What where am I?" We heard Trent's voice. "Someone help!" Trent screamed and we ran into the kitchen. Himari switched on the light and we all smirked at Trent. "You three. What?" Trent was confused. He began struggling against his restraints.

"Good evening Trent," Himari's smile was sinister and she began circling his chair like a vulture.

"What have y'all done to me?" Trent struggled against his bonds.

"We'll ask the questions Trent and if we are satisfied with the answers we'll call campus security and put you out of your misery. If not let's just say you'll be missing for a few days."

"Fine what. You girls must think y'all real smart."

"Firstly why are you switching off the power?" Himari asked getting up in his face and Trent looked nervous.

"Ur- ur SOMEONE HELP!" Trent yelled. "These bitches are crazy!"

Himari held her head. "Ayy," she groaned and moved behind him putting her arm around his neck. Trent immediately stopped screaming and his breaths came out slow as his head dropped. I didn't look to see if Blaire's jaw was on the floor like mine. "He should sleep through the night now," Himari said.

"Himi maybe we should just report him to the security," Blaire tried to reason with her.

"No. If we do and don't get the truth we might never hear it and they will sweep the situation under the rug so the housing doesn't lose credibility due to creeps like Trent. We not letting him go unless he speaks."

"But how do we get him to speak?" I asked. "He is friends with the guys do you think they knew he was the one switching off the power?"

Blaire pulled out her phone. "I'm calling Callum. Maybe he'll be able to get something out of Trent," Blaire dialed on her phone and put it to her ear. "Voice mail," she sighed after a while.

I ran a hand through my hair. "He must be with Beckett."

"Call Luca," she told me and I looked at Trent's sleeping form. I didn't know if that was a good idea. I remembered how Luca had his hand wrapped around Trent's throat a few months ago and I didn't want him to do anything that would get him in trouble.

But Trent couldn't stay here and if we held him hostage overnight we would be in deeper trouble.

I took my phone out of my pocket knowing that I wasn't going to get any sleep with Trent in the house, even if he was tied to a chair.

I called Luca and he answered on the third ring. "You miss me already love?" He asked. His voice filled with smugness.

"Luca, me and my friends did something kind of bad I think," I told him and he went silent.

"What did you do love?" He asked his tone was light.

"Can you come over I don't want to explain over the phone?"

"Okay. I'll see you soon."

I looked up to see Blaire and Himari staring at Trent's sleeping form. It was already nine pm and I wondered what time Luca would get here.

Blaire's phone suddenly rang in the silent house and both of us jumped. "It's Callum," she said and I didn't miss the relief in her voice.

"Well tell him to come over," Himari told her and she nodded. Blaire told Callum almost the same thing I explained to Luca before hanging up.

"Is everything okay with Beckett?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Yeah. They on the road. Beckett went for a drive to clear his head and Callum followed him. They coming back now."

I let out a breath of relief. It was too much for one day and I felt like I was going to pass out. Around ten pm we heard the sounds of cars in our driveway. We peeked through the curtains. The boys got out of their cars and I wished they didn't all have to park here and draw attention.

I was surprised to see Beckett at all, but it warmed my heart that he came anyway. Blaire pulled open the door for them and ushered them all into the living room.

Luca came over to me and wrapped his arms around me. "What happened?" Luca searched my face. His eyes were frantic. "Why do you look so pale?" He asked and I shook my head.

My voice seemed to be stuck in my throat. He looked around the room and Blaire's facial expression must have mirrored my own.

"What did you three do?" Callum asked humor alight his voice.

"We kind of kidnapped someone-" Blaire's voice was small it was barely a whisper.

"Kidnapped?" Beckett repeated.

Luca looked down at me. "Did you kidnap someone?" He smiled.

"Yes, we all did," I admitted and the three boys looked at us in amusement.

Callum chuckled and put his arm around Blaire kissing her temple. "Do you expect me to believe that my little pony and her friends kidnapped someone?"

Luca shook his head while his chest vibrated with laughter and I moved out of his hold. "We serious," Blaire said stomping her foot.

"Okay, who is this kidnapped victim then?" Beckett asked.

"Before we tell you," I said getting their attention. "You have to promise not to hurt him." I looked at Luca mostly when I said that. It was bad enough Trent was bound to a chair. I shuddered to think what Luca would do to him when Trent couldn't defend himself.

"You girls are the craziest bitches I've ever seen!" Trent yelled, "don't you dare put me to sleep again! I'll have all your scrawny asses for this!"

The smiles on the boy's faces vanished and they moved to go into the kitchen. We followed behind them. Trent was glaring at Himari when we entered. His face lit up when he saw the boys. "Men gentlemen I'm glad y'all here please get me out of here," Trent's voice was hysterical.

The three of them burst out into uncontrollable laughter at the sight in front of them. Beckett was in tears with laughter and Callum clutched onto the kitchen counter. Even Luca couldn't control his laughter as he held onto his stomach and laughed.

"What's so fucking funny get me out of here!" Trent screamed again and the hair on my body stood on edge. I was afraid someone might hear him and call security.

"You got kidnapped by girls," Beckett was in stitches he could barely get the words out.

"And not just any girls. These three," Callum couldn't control himself, tears rolled down his cheeks.

I was starting to get annoyed. Okay, I'll give them that me and Himari were too introverted for this kind of thing and that Blaire did have the voice of a my little pony character but that didn't mean we couldn't be tough if the occasion called for it. Besides Himari did most of the work. We were just moral support.

Accomplices.

"Haha do not underestimate them," Trent rolled his eyes. "They are psychotic especially this one," he said gesturing with his head to Himari. "Do not be fooled by them. conniving whor-"

"Easy," Luca growled.

"Get me out of here!" Trent shouted fighting against his restraints. Unfortunately, because he struggled the chair fell back. "Shit!" He groaned and I cringed.

"Why are you girls holding him hostage?" Beckett asked trying to control his laughter. I was so happy to see him smiling.

"Because he is refusing to tell us why he was switching the power off," Blaire growled.

"If he could just tell us why he was doing it we'd call security and be done with this," Himari explained.

The boys looked at each other for a moment and then moved to put the chair upright again. "You okay buddy?" Callum asked and Trent nodded he looked emotional.

"Tell us why you were cutting off the power Trent and we'll let you go," Beckett told him.

"Fuck," Trent groaned fighting against the restraints again. "Fine. It was a stupid thing I do to get out of submitting homework. No power and then we didn't have to do homework for some of our credits."

"You lying piece of shit. That could be part of it. But the semester hasn't started yet," Himari said.

"Tell the truth Trent," Luca growled.

"Fine. Remember that day my car broke down outside your house?" Trent asked and then his eyes suddenly fell on me and he smirked. I squirmed under his penetrative stare and Luca glared at him and moved to stand in front of me.

How could I forget the storm was terrible that night and then Trent showed up and we let him stay the night. "Yes," Blaire said.

"Well, it didn't break down. It's just something I did so girls could let me in their house and then when they did you know it's dark there are candles perfect mood-" before he could complete his sentence Luca grabbed him by his shirt and Trent gulped. The chair scraped against the tiles as Luca picked him off the ground. I quickly moved and put my hand on Luca's shoulder.

"I'll fucking kill you!" Luca's jaw was clenched.

We were probably in trouble. If Trent had any physical injuries we'd be in deeper.

"You fucking piece of shit," Beckett moved to go grab him and Callum held him back.

"Beckett calm down," Callum told him.

"He's sick!" Beckett yelled.

"Blaire please call campus security," Callum said through his clenched jaw. He let go of Beckett and then moved to help me pull Luca off Trent.

"Bro he's not worth the court case," Callum reasoned with Luca.

"Let him go please," I said and Luca turned to look at me. I wonder if he saw how scared I was but he abruptly let go of Trent letting him fall back to the floor with the chair. The wooden leg on the chair gave up and he fell back again.

I pulled Luca a few paces away and he put his arms around me holding me close to him as if he was afraid that I was standing in the same kitchen with Trent.

"You six are in deep shit. When security gets here," Trent laughed. "Six against one."

"But you confessed," Himari said.

"No one will believe you," he laughed again. He was truly a disgusting man that deserved to be punished.

Himari held up her phone. "Well, it didn't break down. It's just something I did so girls could let me in their house-" she played the track on repeat and then laughed to herself.

"This sounds like a confession to me," Himari smiled that same scary smile and Trent's face paled.

"You know what fuck all of you!" Trent growled.

Soon campus security showed up and luck wasn't on Trent's side because the head of security was a woman. Himari played over Trent's confession. She luckily had her phone recording for ten minutes.

It had started to snow a little bit. The security loaded Trent in the back of the car and assured us that he would be kicked out of the housing and his behavior reported to the university.

I was relieved that we weren't in any trouble. The head of security warned us never to do anything like this again and call her if we suspected anything else going on in the housing.

Luca wrapped his arm around my shoulders giving it a gentle squeeze. "I have to admit you are full of surprises," he whispered in my ear and I wrapped my arms around his waist. He was so warm and comforting. He kissed my hair and then I checked the time on my phone.

It was midnight. Callum walked up to us with Blaire. Beckett left as soon as Trent was in handcuffs. "This will take some getting used to," Callum chuckled looking between us and Luca smiled.

Callum and Blaire walked into the house and I looked up at the grey starless sky. "Is James packing?"

"Yeah and you phoned me just in time. He was getting all emotional. One more hour and we'd be braiding each other's hair and trading secrets." He made a face at that thought.

I laughed. "You don't have to be so mean you know he loves you a lot."

Luca nodded his smile faltering a little. "He's my brother. I don't know how to show affection without being a jerk."

I stood on my toes and kissed his cheek. "Maybe you should be getting back to him," I told him.

He sighed. "He can wait.  The oxygen in that apartment is a little thick with emotion."

"It was silly that I called you but Blaire couldn't get Callum because he went after Beckett," I explained.

"I'm glad you did call me. I guess Beckett didn't take the conversation well then?" He breathed.

"Yeah, he's not talking to me right now."

Luca's grip on me tightened. "Do you want me to talk to him?"

"No. Gosh no." I shook my head. That didn't seem like a very good idea. "I think you the last person he'd want to talk to right now after me."

Luca nodded. "Are you going to be okay?" He asked and I nodded. "Do you want to come home with me?"

I shook my head. I wanted to stay with Blaire and Himari. It's been a while since we all spoke and we had a lot to talk about. "No I think I should stay with the girls," I told him and he bent down and kissed me.

"Are you sure I can't change your mind?" I pushed him away playfully. "Okay fine. I'll see you in the morning." He kissed my forehead and let me go and the cold greeted me in its embrace instead.

He got into his car and started it. He shot me a wink and I giggled before he pulled out of the driveway. A part of me wanted to get into the passenger seat and go with him but another part told me that I needed to be here for now so him and James could reminisce.

I walked back to the house and Callum walked out. "Callum," I stopped him and he looked up at me with a smile on his face. I wondered if this entire thing with Beckett would change Callum's friendliness with me. "I'm sorry I never meant to hurt him."

Callum patted my shoulder. "Liz it's okay. My brother is just being dramatic. I'm going to kick his ass later and make him come back here and apologize. Blaire told me how upset you were and it's not your fault."

"I should have just told him no from the start though."

"You should have but you didn't want to hurt his feelings?" He asked and I nodded. "I think he is more hurt because the guy you chose is Luca. Luca is my best friend and I think that probably irritated him more because of that but he will come around."

"Thank you, Callum," I smiled.

"Now can you do me a favor?" He asked and I nodded. It was the first time Callum asked me for anything. "Just make sure you and your boyfriend are there for the party tonight," he smiled.

"He told you he would come."

"I know but he blows off most of my parties and I'm hoping now he won't."

I laughed. "Sure, Callum. Good night." I smiled at him.

"Good night Lizzy." He smiled back.

I turned and walked back into the house. I could smell the richness of chocolate coming from the kitchen and I knew that the night was far from over. Blaire was making hot chocolate.

*********************************************

A/N

I think this is the longest Chapter in this book so far. I hope you guys enjoyed it.

One more chapter and then the epilogue. ;)

So are you surprised at Himari and are you curious about what she is keeping from Blaire?

If you are then you should know I have something planned for my Himari and I hope you guys will give her your support like you did Lizzy.

So if I've sparked your interest keep an eye out for my next book Himari's Secret that will be released on 28/02/2021.

The Alien has her work cut out for her but first a nap.😴

💜P. A