Scarlett's P.O.V.

Everyone has been downstairs for hours, and I've been confined up here away from them. I knew Mom was present, and Jax. I wanted to see them and ask about Bea, but... this was so fucking unfair. I could able to talk briefly now, not for long, but enough to ask some simple questions. Groaning in frustration, I paced the length of my room.

I thought they'd grown to trust me, but apparently not! "Lettie?" Charlie called my name through the door. I dashed over, impatiently waiting for the door to open, "I have Jax here with me."

Excitement filled my body; "Send him in," I murmured softly, not wanting to undo the healing my throat had undergone. Charlie smiled as Jax engulfed me in his arms and hugged me tightly, "Jax," I mumbled in satisfaction. 

"Hey Lettie," He answered setting me down, so I stood infront of him, "You look good,"

I rolled my eyes at him knowing I  looked like a mess, "How is Bea?" I asked right away, "I haven't heard anything about her from anyone, and now Harden let me go to Uni to so I  thought to look  for her but-"

"Slow down," He chuckled, "Bea is good, she just wasnt feeling that well yesterday so she took a day."

I nodd, "Okay, I  was really worried about her." I took his hand and pulled him to my bed, "So, where is mom?"

"Dad won't let her come up," He said, "But there is someone else who wanted to see you." I furrowed my eyebrows confused. "Ace?" My body stiffened as I heard him call him. Ace awkwardly cleared his throat, as we made eye contact. 

"Hi," I said to him barely above a whisper. Why did he want to see me? When I was in the house I never even existed for him. 

"Hey," Ace answered staying a good distance away from me, "I just wanted to see how you  are."

My  gaze dropped to my hands, "I'm alittle better."  I was not fully healed, but writing on the notepad had gotten annoying, so now I speak only when it is absolutely mandatory otherwise I write what I need. 

The  room fell into silence, "Ace?" Jax urged him, "Anything else?"

"Fuck," He sighed, "Let's just go Jax,"  Something was really old about him, he seemed nervous but why do I care? 

I know he wasn't here willingly; Jax brought him up. "Go," I say to Jax with sadness. Archer has never loved me, and now I know why: I wasn't his sister, just proof that Mom had cheated on Ross. Archer has always been closer to Ross, and I'm not sure why, but I know he hated me as much as Ross did. Jax rolled his eyes, furious with Ace. "I am sure Ross is waiting for you two." I said, "I'll see you whenever." I didn't know when I'd get another chance to speak with Jax, and I wasn't comfortable doing so in front of him.

"Archer," Jax said firmly, "It's now or fucking never."

"Yeah well, I chose never." Ace said roughly, "I'm downstairs, hurry up." With that he left the room, leaving us alone. 

"What was that about?" I ask him confused, 

Jax seemed  hesitant but nevertheless said, "He had something prepared to say to you  but he chickened out."

"To me?"  Now this is a surprise. "What?"

Jax stood up adjusting his jacket, "That is for him to say, Lettie," He just said he will never say it. "I gotta go though, Dad said to keep it short."

I nodd, hugging him one last time, I bid him goodbye. Jax looked over at me lovingly one last time before disappearing down the hallway, leaning against the doorframe  I tried to think about what was it that Ace wanted to say to me but couldn't.

I don't think it could be anything nice. . . "Hey!" Eliza said glaring at me as she  stormed down the alley, "Get back in your  room freak." 

Rolling my eyes I wait for her to stand infront of me, "Eliza," I sigh, "How many times do I have to apologize to  you?" I had gone out of my way to say sorry to her after I came back from Uni yesterday but it seemed like it had no effect on her. "I  was in  fucking survival  mode, so sorry I stabbed you." 

Eliza exhaled heavily, "I didn't accept it." 

"Fine," I  had no energy to fight against her. "Once again  though, sorry." I turn to go back into my room, but she grabs my hand stopping me, I look at her confused. "What?"

"Sorry," Now that confused me even more, 

"Huh?"

"Sorry for  being a bitch," She mumbled, "Just, having a bad day." Squinting my eyes at her  I nodd understandingly,  but still kept my guard up. "Um, I won't say I totally forgive you because  there is a lot of shit that has been told about  you, so let's just  say that I forgive you partially." Okay, the mood thing that just happened, is making my head spin. "Is that okay?"

"Yeah," I answer her, "That's fine."

"Okay," She kept her head down and walked past me. 

I stand stunned, "What just happened?" I ask myself out loud. I had never seen a girl change moods so fast, ever in my life. She had charged at me like she was going to kill me, but ended up forgiving me? 

Do they say I'm weird? I think this is the weirdest fucking family I have ever encountered. 

Shaking my head to shake off whatever the fuck just happened I walk back into my room keeping the door open for some air circulation I pull out my university books, and begin to work on some assignments. . . .that required research.

There was no way they were going to let me get my hands on a computer, how the hell am I supposed to do this?

Fuck me!

. .  .

Struggling with my tasks, I push all of the paperwork to the ground, furious as fuck at not being able to understand anything without the help of technology. With a headache growing in the back of my skull, I decided to go for a walk outside my room, only to be immersed in darkness.

Had everyone gone to bed? I glanced over at the wall clock, which showed 1:00 a.m.; had I really been suffering for so long? Groaning, I walk downstairs to the kitchen and start searching through the fridge, but there is nothing to my liking, so I open the freezer. 

Finally, something I enjoy! There were two pints of coffee crunch ice cream; I enthusiastically took one out, grabbed a huge spoon, and started diving in. I moaned in delight as the ice trickled down my very painful throat, "Now that is something I never thought I would witness." I jump in horror, spinning around with the spoon in my mouth. Harden was resting against the kitchen counter; I could hardly see his features, but he appeared happy. I carefully removed the spoon from my mouth, saying, "No, please continue." He laughed at me: "I am sure everyone wants to hear you moaning while you eat ice cream."

Asshole. 

"My throat was killing me," I say to him irritated effectively wiping that amused smirk off his face, "So sorry if my pleasure is bothering you." I cover the pint of ice cream grudgingly, and throw the spoon in the sink, "Now if you excuse me." It wasn't only my throat annoying me, the fact that I had no phone, no laptop. . .all that grinded my fucking gears. 

"Wait," Harden said firmly grabbing my arm as I tried to slide past him. 

"What?" I ask taking my arm out of his grip, not wanting to be too close to him. "Want to fucking choke me again?"

"Watch it," He snapped narrowing his eyes, "I was going to say that you can eat the fucking ice cream, I'll leave."

"Then leave," I snapped back, walking back to the ice. cream I greedily begin eating it. This was my guilty pleasure, when I felt stressed, annoyed, or mad at anyone, Harden stood firmly, "Harden."

"How's school?" Since when he was interested? I kept quiet not listening to  him, "Scarlett?" He said my name firmly,  "Don't fucking ignore me."

"Fine," I respond shortly, "I cannot fucking do much because I dont have a laptop."

"I am not-"

"I know." I cut him off, "Not asking for one either." I understood how this worked; I was his captive, and he was not going to allow me to contact anyone without his consent. "Good night," I tried to walk by him, but he grabbed me again without my permission and set me on the kitchen counter. I glanced down at him with wide eyes as he separated my legs and stood between them. "What the fuck are you doing!" I went into a panic. I despised the kitchen, which only had one exit. "Back off,"

Harden moved forward, causing me to inch back to create space between us, "I do not like being spoken to in the way you speak to me." Similar to how I treat you, "I am sure you remember what happened the last time you tried to get smart with me." His fingers lightly brushed across the mark he had left on my neck, "So, Scarlett Clyde, I would suggest you pipe the fuck down with the attitude."

I narrowed my eyes at him and said, "I don't have an attitude; it's just frustration every time I have to deal with you. I appreciate it when you disappear and don't interact with me. That is the only positive aspect of this is your mother, at least she has the heart to communicate with me as a human being." His jaw snapped. "Just stay the fuck away from Harden, and then we won't have a problem." I set the ice cream to the side and tried to push him again, but he was too strong and didn't move. "Harden!"

His eyes swirled with rage. "You," he stated firmly, "do not deserve the kindness I was showing you." I maintain a firm position, "I've asked you several times not to talk to me that way, and you-"

"I don't care." I cut him, but he didn't take it well. He gripped my neck again and shoved me against the cabinets, this time gently but nearly threateningly. Harden moved forward farther, and I had nowhere to retreat; his gaze went to my lips. Panic gripped my body as I attempted to push him away. "Harden, stop."

"Let me show you, what I do to girls that try to fucking push my buttons." He whispered huskily,  he lifted me up off of the counter and threw me over his shoulder, my fists hit his back frantically.

"Harden, let me go!" I objected, but he paid no attention and marched right inside his room. "Harden!" He slammed the door shut and shoved me onto his bed. I frantically backed away from the headboard, trying to get space from him, but he caught the back of my ankle and yanked me back down as I flung around the bed. Harden managed to pin my legs down with one of his: "Harden, this is so fucking inappropriate. I am not consenting to any of this!" 

I tried to fight back in with my hands but to no avail. He was considerably larger than I was, trapping my wrists over my head with one hand while smirking down at me. "Not so tough now huh?"

"You are fucking sick." I spat out, "You cannot do this, this is rape!"

"Oh come on," He answered non-bluntly, "We both are adults-"

"I am saying no." I say firmly, "I swear to god, I will make your life. a living hell if you do anything I do not consent. too. You think this is bad, watch what I do to you if-" He cannot be serious right now. H-he won't do this right?

Right?!

"If I what?" His voice dropped to a husky tone,  his eyes darkened dangerously. I swallowed harshly completely vulnerable to him. "If I kiss you? Touch you?" 

My heart was beating a mile a minute, "Yes," Harden smirked leaning down as I flinched back digging myself deeper into the mattress if possible, "Harden" I tried to move my body but he had me completely immobilized,  and it scared me. 

"Next time, you decide to fuck with me," He whispered threateningly, "Remember this Scarlett, "I frantically search his eyes, "You are my hostage, and from what I understand whatever I say goes," Disgusting, "So really fucking watch it when you begin to push your limits."

"Let go,"

"Do you understand?" Harden said clenching his jaw, 

"I said let go!" 

"Scarlett," He snapped, 

"Yes, I fucking understand,  now let go!" I just wanted him off me, as soon as I said that, he released my hands and rolled off of me, as I sprung off of his bed, "You are so fucking disgusting!" I scream, "Noah was nothing fucking like you, I hate you!"

"Yeah, well so do I." He replied relaxing in his bed, "Now fuck off."

Stomping my foot I storm out of. his room and rush into mine locking the door behind me. I try to calm my heart rate down, as I could hear my blood flowing in my ears. . .

I hate him, more than anyone can imagine, I really do!