The ground below my feet started to shift at his confession, my breath hitched and my brain became numb for a long couple of seconds. A tornado of thoughts was swirling through my skull making me immensely dizzy. 

Why did I have to meet him? Why did they abundant me? God, why me? I could feel a rebellious tear prick my left eye but I was stubborn enough to prevent it from escaping. 

I couldn't show this tyrant of a man my weakness, I needed to show him I was grateful because he abundant me and if he didn't I wouldn't have become who I am today.

 Although I went through a traumatic childhood, I was still glad that I didn't have to call him my father because a father would never leave his child. Just when I realised he could have been lying, I felt a Caleb's grip tighten around my small hand.

"KIRA... KIRA..." Shane's restless voiced pierced through the silent air as the clouds near the horizon roared in agony. I was grateful that the weather mirrored my internal emotions, it made me feel like I wasn't the only who felt grey and dull.

My feet were glued to the ground as I stared in those golden brown eyes intensely, trying to figure out what exactly was his reason for find me after all these years.

 I've been tossed and shoved around all my life and when I finally settle down with my real family, he swoops in from no where and expects me to welcome him with open arms. Before I could comprehend my surroundings, I felt a gush of air whirl past me and attack the man who claimed to be my father.

"Don't you dare talk to my sister you fucking prick." Shane punched the well suited man right in the jaw making him stumble back couple of steps away from me. 

Caleb released my hand only to wrap his arms around my waist protectively as he tried to pull me away from the scene. I tried calling out for Shane but to my dismay no sound escaped from my mouth.

"How can you hit your father, son? Didn't your mother teach you any better?" The man snickered making my blood rush to my ears at his words. If he's my father then...

"What the FUCK is going on?" I screamed jerking off Caleb's arms that were snaked around my waist. "I swear..." My whole body was shaking with fury and the tornado in my brain jumbled up my speech. I gritted my teeth while running a hand through my hair in frustration.

"Look K just ..." Shane turned with an apologetic look on his face. "Let's just go from here and I'll explain sis just ... please." His hands reached forward towards my upper arm but I quickly stepped back. 

Bumping into Caleb's chest as his arms immediately swirled around my waist like it was a computerised reflex for him to protect me. Right then I realised that we were still in the school's car park. 

There weren't a single soul around indicating that lessons have already started and somehow I've managed to not hear the bell. 

I mentally scolded myself for not caring enough to get to my lesson on time because if I did I wouldn't have had to suffer through this right now.

"Let's go." Caleb ordered and my whole body subconsciously followed his command. When I turned my body around to face Caleb I realised Lacey had been standing couple of steps behind us with a confused look on her face. 

Her eyes were swollen from the previous event, one of her hand was draped across her torso while the other was curled in a soft fist that was tightly pressed against her mouth. I nodded towards her before getting dragged by Caleb towards his car and being lightly shoved in to the passenger seat. 

I faintly heard Shane call my name but I just couldn't comprehend what was going on, my body instantly shut down when my small frame moulded itself against the cold leather seat. Before I lost my vision to darkness I felt someone's hand intertwine with my hand that rested lamely on my lap.

I knew it was Caleb, not because it was his car or he was the one who was taking me away from this mess but my body instantly recognises his presence, his touch and how his skin ignites blazing fire through my whole body. 

I remembered how Aden use to be able to create similar sensations but this was somehow intensified. I didn't know how because I was already messed up when I met Aden and he accepted me for who I was and I accepted him for who he was but with Caleb it's absolutely different.

 It's more passionate and relaxing, like I found comfort in his touch and how I didn't hesitate to trust him from the beginning. He's a changed person from what I can remember from before and there was something about the way he looked at me that scared me. 

It was so intense like he could see right through me and it scared me to death.

**

"You wanna talk about it?" Caleb asked curiously. I realised somehow I passed out in his car and ended up at the same spot where we first met. The cold sun was trying to peer through the roaring clouds that were making its way towards us from the horizon. 

I absolutely loved this place, although a great tragedy had brought me here but it was still beautiful. We were still in the car facing towards the greyish blue endless ocean's that curved down miles away from us.

"Thank you." I chocked out squeezing his hand that was still intertwined with mine. I wasn't brave enough to turn around to look at his beautiful face and his hypnotic eyes.

"Why are you saying thank you?" He questioned. I could physically feel the confused look on his face and that thought made my lips curve up into a side smile. Building up some courage I craned my neck to look at his squinted dark orbs; his whole eyes almost appeared black.

"For getting me out of there..." I trailed off.

"I guess I'm your personal saviour." A playful smirk appeared on his lips but I knew he wasn't joking. He would always come to my rescue even if it got him hurt and I didn't like the idea of how attached we were getting but I realised I was too deep get out of it. 

He already knew so much about me and yet accepted me which genuinely made me feel wanted. I stared at him intensely not knowing whether to pull my hand away from him or not.

"Kira?" His hands tightened around mine again like he was afraid to let me go of me and I definitely was too weak and venerable at that moment to let him go.

"Sorry..." I mumbled, I didn't feel self-conscious to show him my real emotions considering the fact he's already seen me at my weakest.

"I'm here for you." His sober eyes reflected honesty and his voice dripping with sincerity and that did it for me. I released my hand from his and unbuckled my seat belt fighting back the tears that were clawing at the back of my eyes because I hated people seeing me cry. 

I saw him unbuckle his seat belt ready to get out of the car, probably because he thought that I was going to run away from this situation but he was definitely wrong.

Instead, I climbed over the space that was separating us and I moulded my legs across his lap leaning up and twisting my body around to wrap my small arms around his neck. His arms immediately wrapped themselves around me and it surprised me how my body perfectly fit into his arms like a jigsaw puzzle.

"It's okay, baby...shh" He cooed in my ear softly while gently stroking my back with one hand and the other rested on my small back. I didn't realised I started crying which made me press myself further into him. 

He held me in his secure arms for a good 10 minutes before I pulled away to look at his concerned eyes. His expression was unfathomable while his eyes roamed over every inch of my face, his short warm breaths fanning across my face as his lips twitched.

"Thank you Caleb." I whispered resting my forehead against his before closing my eyes.

"Stop saying that." He spoke through his gritted teeth.

"I just dunno what else to say." I replied "What do you say when your... father shows up AND calls your cousin his son... what do say after that..." I pulled away leaning my back against the steering wheel. "What do you say after finding out the person you thought was your cousin is actually your brother... or half brother... or the person you thought was your aunty might be your mother..." I let out a frustrated sigh. "I don't even know what to think Caleb... how do you forgive that huh? They hid it from me for so long..." I could feel myself getting agitated. "See this is why I don't trust anyone..."

"No... Kira stop... you MUST trust people because that's what we are suppose to do and they have always protected you and you should let them explain at least before jumping into conclusion." He explained sternly.

"I... I'm too tired Caleb." I honestly felt drained and my body left limp.

"It's okay, we'll stay here as long as you want to." He smiled whole heartedly at me. "You know I hate this place but then again I love it." He changed the subject which I was thankful for. A small smile crept up to my lips knowing exactly what he meant.

"Yeah bitter sweet isn't it?" I asked resting my palms on his chest. I adored the lack of space there were between us that moment, it felt right.

"Yeah... The way I met you..." His eyes averted away from mine with clenched jaws. "But it's still just a beautiful place... I just..."

"My aunty ... well I don't know but yeah, she was in a car accident when she was coming to pick me up from kick boxing and I blamed it on myself... and people always leave me Caleb... all the time... I just..." I have never told this to anyone in my life before not even Aden, all he knew about me was I was a messed up child, moving from foster home to foster home but nothing too deep that sculpted my life.

"When I was 9, in New York, I lived in a foster home with this couple and the man's brother was an alcoholic..." I paused at the thought of his demonic face. "When they would go out to work, he would come by... And one day he came at me..."

"Don't..." Caleb instantly closed his eyes while his whole body tensed as he gripped my waist digging his fingers into my skin.

"No, no... nothing ever happened to me..." I reassured him before he lost control. "I use to share my room with this girl, she was 15 years old and she was like my guardian angel..." I gulped knowing what was coming next. 

"Her name was Hazel and she was beautiful, I always wanted to be like her when I grew up... we had this pink bunk bed and I had the top bunk while she had the bottom one." I smiled at the memory when she would play with me and help me with my homework. 

Seeing the light expression on my face, Caleb relaxed slightly with a faint smile dancing on his lips.

"So... when he came at me... Hazel stepped in and she said something to him but I was too young to remember the exact conversation... but from then on he'd come into our room late at night and..." I looked away from Caleb feeling guilty for bringing that on her.

 "...I didn't know what it meant at first because I was really young but after two years of her going through that torture... because she wanted to save me... she ended her life..." I gulped. 

"Caleb if I knew what it meant... I would have tried to stop it... I don't know how but it was my fault... anyone who I get close to always leaves me..." I let couple of water beads roll down my cheeks, only for them to be caught by his large hands that were cupping both of my cheeks making me turn to look into his hurtful eyes.

"It's not your fault..."

"But she ruined her life to save mine..." I interrupted him. "Sometimes I don't feel worthy enough..."

"No... shhh, you ARE worthy Kira... You always help everyone... you've changed your ways, you don't let the negative things reflect on your life like you use to before... you learn from it and turn into something positive, you put everyone's happiness above yours... You're an amazing person and you've been through hell and back, that's why you're bad as fuck and you know who you are" He quoted the last line.

"Really...? Drake?" I smiled from ear to ear forgetting the pain that over shadowed my heart couple of minutes ago.

"At least it made you smile." He was right, it did make me smile. "But you need to understand you have a purpose to fulfil... so don't give up on the people who depend on you okay?" He took one of my hands in his and left a lingering kiss on my knuckles without breaking eye contact.