CHAPTER 5

It was already dark by the time I got back home. I could see the porch lights on, and police cars filled my street.

 Mom.

Oh my god! Cole went after my mom. That was the only thought going through my mind as I started sprinting towards my house.

"Christina!"

 I was engulfed in a hug before I could react.

 "Mom?" I asked

 "Honey where the hell were you?" She screamed/asked

"Mom-" I started

"Into the house now." She ordered

I never have seen her so angry. I slowly made my way to the house, avoiding all the annoyed glares from my neighbors and the police officers. Thank the lord I put on my sweatshirt before coming back.  That would have been awkward...

I walk inside my house, and am about to go upstairs, when I hear her voice.

 "God damn it Christina!" She screamed, "Do you even understand how scared I was?"

I cringed. I was stupid for running away.

"I thought that maybe you were just a little late. but no- your friend Maddie comes with all your stuff, telling me that you weren't in school the whole fucking day!" She screams

 "You mean Mandy?" I asked stupidly.

 "You're horrible! You get in a fight your first day and you have messed up my life! If your dad saw you he would be so disapo-" She froze, eyes wide.

I shut down. Shoving past her I walked to the door, flinging it open.

"Don't go looking for me. I will be back later tonight or maybe tomorrow. I really don't think you care anyways." I said, coldness in my voice.

"Chris-" She started. 

I slammed the door close, running through the streets. I wasn't going to cry. I wouldn't let my walls come crashing down.

"Christina?"

I looked up, not recognizing the voice. 

"Hey Christina! It's me, Tyler." He said with a smile.

 "Tyler?" I said questioningly, "Oh! Your one of Cole's friends!"

He laughed and scratched his neck nervously, while I just stood there, enjoying the view of his flexing arms.

"Yeah that's me. So what are you doing out so late on a school night?" He asked

"Couldn't I ask you the same thing?" I replied nervously, not wanting to talk about what happened.

"Yeah I guess you could." He said laughing, "Want to come to my house for a bit? It's right over there." He pointed in the opposite direction of my house. 

"Sure." I needed to get away, but running away? That would be pointless. Anyways, Tyler seems like a really nice guy.

We talked a bit. I learned that he loved to play football, and was on the school team with Cole, Ian, and Tucker, the other guy in their group. They have been friends since middle school and that hasn't changed, even now in junior year.

"Has Cole always been so bi-polar?" I asked suddenly.  Tyler's face grew dark, and he didn't respond for a while.

"No." He muttered

"He's a jerk." I laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

"No he isn't. He is a good guy and it was you fault for what he did." Tyler snapped at me.

The look on my face must have said it all.

"Look I'm sorry. You don't have to come over anymore if you don't want to." Tyler said with a sad expression.

"No, its okay." I smiled reassuringly.

We walked in a comfortable silence for a little bit, then he stopped.

"We're here." He said smiling.

I stood there, mouth agape. This was no house- it was a freaking mansion!  There was a fancy gate in the front, the one that need a code to get by. Tyler opened the gate for us, while I still stayed in my state of shock.

"You want to come in?" He asked, now standing by the front door.

"S-S-Sure," I managed to choke out. Holy crap! Tyler must be loaded!

I smiled sweetly at him before walking through the front door.

"Tyler what took- Oh, why hello virgin bitch. Fancy seeing you here."

Are you serious?! Om my gosh this guy is everywhere I fucking go!

"Oh yeah... Christina, I live here with Cole and the guys." Tyler told me casually.

"Cool."

"Christina! Your excitement to see me, it's overwhelming!" Cole joked sarcastically.

I glared at him in return. I can't believe I have just walked into this death trap. Who knew they all lived together.

"I'm thirsty, want me to get you anything?" Tyler asked.

"No thanks." I said politely

Tyler shrugged and left the room. Yeah. He left me with Cole. Cole Mathews. The psychopath who says I'm "his" and that I'm nothing but a challenge to him. In all truth, I was scared of Cole. He could make me feel so safe yet put me a state of fear. Fear so strong I couldn't control myself around him.

 The thing is, if I let him see what he does to me, he would use and abuse me; he would be no different than the rest. But even now, while I'm holding him off so well on the outside, on the inside, I am struggling. Cole is going to get to me and there was nothing I could do about it.

"Hey babe, what are you thinking about?" Cole whispered huskily, leaning near my ear, standing to close for comfort.

Surprised, I took a step back. Whenever I was thinking about something, I blocked out the world, becoming even more oblivious that I already am.

"You okay?" He asked, crouching down a little to look into my eyes.

I looked at the ground avoiding his eyes.

 "Yeah I'm fine." I said quietly.

"Then why won't you look at me?" He asked

I didn't say anything, not trusting my voice, so instead I shrugged. I still stared at the ground though, fearful that he would be able to read me like a book.

Cole then cupped my chin with his hand and lifted it so I would look at him. I couldn't though, I was too scared to, so instead, I closed my eyes.

"Please don't do this to me." He said pleadingly.

Suddenly, I was engulfed in a hug. My head rested on his chest, his arms wrapped around me. Keeping me safe and secure. Never in my life have I felt so at peace. 

"I think I'm falling for you." I whispered.

Fuck.

Fuck fuck fuck fuck!

I can't believe I just said that! I'm such an idiot.

At that moment, Cole pulled away. Frantically I searched his face, hoping to see some kind of expression. Anything.

Instead he smirked.

I began to get nervous and took a step back. He took on a mischievous look and took a step forward.

Once again I was pinned up against the wall.

"You like me?" Cole asked, smirking again.

I didn't respond, the proximity made me nervous. 

"I knew it." He said cockily

I looked at him. Where was the once comforting guy? The one that made me feel so safe? So secure? 

"Damn Christina, you were just too easy."

My jaw dropped and his smirk grew wider. Well yeah, he won there, but I'm not going to let his victory last any longer, so I slapped him and shoved him hard. He growled at me, trying to regain the upper hand once again.

"Tell Tyler I had to go. " I snarled, walking out the front door, and slamming it shut.

I refused to think about how I lost myself right then. It won't happen again. There was only one thing on my mind-

Where the fuck was Tyler during all of that?!

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