Cole drove me back to the house after we were done go-carting. He said he'd be back later because of some things he had to do. I wasn't going to press the matter an further, I knew I wouldn't get anywhere doing so anyway. I was about to go upstairs, but Jake stopped me before the second step. "Diana, which one says 'let's bang' better?" He seriously asked while holding up two dress shirts. One was dark grey and the other was navy blue.

My lip curled in disgust. "I don't think that's a question for your sister to answer." I said.

He rolled his eyes. "Okay, say you're not my sister-"

"But I am,"

"Okay, but let's just say you're not. Which one would you rather have sex with me in? The grey or blue?" He asked once again as if that made this question anymore awkward.

I shrugged. "I'd be too distracted by your ugly face to have sex with you."

"Which damn shirt do you like better?" Jake asked yet again, obviously getting annoyed. This is fun.

I laughed. "They're both fine, why do you care?" Aren't guys supposed to not care about what they look like?

He groaned. "Because, I want to come off charming, sweet, mysterious. But I also want it to show my wilder, untamed, I'm a beast in bed side." He trailed off.

I gagged. "How is a shirt going to say this?"

He shrugged. "It's all about the look, Diana." He started. "You have to give them that award winning smile." He grinned, personally I think he looks like a molester but whatever. "Then the eyes, it's all about eye contact." He narrows his eyes slightly at me, but still grinning. "Then finally, it's all about the clothes, so which shirt?!"

"So it's pretty much all about persuasion?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

"Yes!" He said with a wide grin, proud of the progress he thinks I've made.

"That's stupid," The smile slips off his face and he stared at me blankly.

"You are no help!" He stomped up the stairs while muttering my inibility to be helpful or the fact that I have no intelligence. I winced at the sound of his bedroom door being slammed. Ok, big brother, whatever you say.

"I love you!" I called out after him, smirking.

I put my bag on my bed and started doing my homework. But I couldn't help but get side track as I thought about the day I had with Cole. It was surprisingly a lot of fun. Even though he beat me in all five races we did, I still found myself having a blast. I hadn't been to a fun center in ages! Seeing him race brought a warm feeling to my stomach. He looked so free, and I mean that in a 'no-cares-in-world-way'. He says he's free and does whatever he wants but I know that isn't entirely true. He's tied down to help his family.

After finishing my homework, I went downstairs into the kitchen to look for something to eat. I came up empty handed so I decided to go to the local grocery store down the road. It's only three, so there's plenty of time to go before dark. I put on my shoes and walked out the door with my wallet in hand.

Once I was in the store I grabbed a basket and walked around. I decided to be healthy and put in the frozen chicken nuggets. Hey, they had five grams of protein. Good enough for me. I was walking down the Mexican isle, looking for tortilla chips and was about to grab a bag, but before I could another hand did it for me. "Here you go." The familiar male voice said.

I lowered my hand and turned my head to see Trevor. He was smirking and looking me up and down like he had in Cole's house. I awkwardly grabbed the bag from him. "Uh, thanks."

"No problem. Where's Cole?" He asked causally.

I shrugged. "How should I know?"

"Well you are his girlfriend, right?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

I shook my head. "No."

His smirk grew and he took a step closer. "Oh, really?"

I took a step back. "Yeah, I have to go." I began to turn the other way but his rough hand clasped onto my wrist.

"Not so fast, I need you to do me a favor."

"What is it?" I asked warily.

"Tell Cole that he has ten days." He said then just walks away.

Ten days till what?

I immediately drop the basket and exit the store, and then I dialed Cole's number. He's got some explaining to do.

"Hey, Cupcake. Missed me?" He answered.

I scoffed. "No."

"What's wrong?" His voice is filled with concern.

"I ran into your brother today." I told him.

"What the hell do you mean you ran into my brother? Why aren't you at the house?"

"I'm allowed to leave the house, Cole. Basically I was as bored as a slut on her period so I went to the grocery store. He handed me the chips." Ok, I could have left out the last part.

"What? No, I don't care. You should have called me before leaving the house." What is he? My father?!

"Actually, I don't have to tell you anything!" I snapped. The old lady entering the store was looking at me weirdly. "Move along!" I shouted at her. She jumped slightly but walked into the store. I typically am not too fond of scaring the elderly, but right now was a moment I wasn't up for eavesdropping old women.

"What did he say?" Cole asks.

"He said that you have ten days. What does that even mean? Ten days till what?" The secrets keep piling up, but here I was with no answers.

He sighed. "Can I explain later? Are you still at the store?"

"Yeah."

"I'll be there in five minutes, don't move."

I rolled my eyes, even though he can't see me. "Whatever." I hung up, not giving him a chance to respond.

Finally Cole picked me up. I get into the passenger seat and he drove off. "Care to explain?" I asked, crossing my arms.

He sighed. " I haven't been honest with you."

I scoffed. "That's a first,"

"I'm serious."

"So am I!" I said, throwing my hands in the air. "You never tell me the truth, or you just don't talk."

"I know! I'm sorry, I've never been in a situation where I have to tell anyone." What the hell is he?! A robber, murder? So many things I don't know about him yet he's staying in my house. The scariest part is, is that I trust him with everything that's in me.

"Well, tell me." I push the topic.

"Trevor doesn't need my money to buy drugs." He admitted.

I raised my eyebrow. "Why did you lie?"

He took a long pause before replying. I can see he's debating on whether he should say or not. "Diana, I was in a gang."

I blink.

I mean, I knew he was the bad boy and all but... A gang?

"You're in a gang?!" I shout.

This is like 50 Shades of Grey and all those damn secrets!

I totally didn't read that book....

"Was, I was in a gang. I'm not anymore, and they're pissed." He explained.

"Why?"

"Because, you don't just get up and leave when you want. There is always a penalty. I basically snuck out and they haven't come for me yet because they're giving me a chance to come back. That's why he said I have ten days, ten days to come back." He said.

I gulped. "What happens if you don't come back?" I twiddled my thumbs nervously waiting for his answer.

"They'll kill me," He said, his face void of emotion.

I stared blankly in front of me, processing all the information he's told me... Cole dying? The thought actually hurts. Even though I've only known, like really known him for three weeks, it feels like I've known him my whole life. I feel like losing him would be like losing a best friend, or a family member. "What are you going to do?" My voice now sounding horse.

He shook his head. "I don't know," He whispered.

I placed my hand on his upper arm and rubbed it soothingly. "Cole, you're at my house. They don't know where I live, maybe that can buy us some time to figure this all out." I hope.

Cole turned his face towards me for a moment, he looked shocked. "You're still going to talk to me?" He asked.

I gave him the 'duh' look. "Yeah, why wouldn't I?"

He chuckled. "Maybe because I told you I'm a runaway gang member?" He gave me the 'duh' look.

I shrug. "People have issues, yours is extreme but we'll get through this." I tried to console. I can't even believe the words that are coming out of my mouth; it's even stranger that I mean every one of them.

"This is too dangerous of a situation for you to be in." He says, obviously trying to act like he can take this on by himself.

What is it with men and not asking for help?!

"Don't be an idiot. You're staying with my family and I. It's going to be alright." I say. He then pulls the car over on the side of the road. "What are you doing?" I ask.

"Get out." He shuts the door behind him. I do as he says and meet him on my side.

"Why are we-" Before I can finish, he has me in a bone crushing embrace. His arms tightly wrapped around me. My arms circle around his waist and I lean my head against his chest. Cole buries his face in the crook of my neck. I know that right now, Cole means a hell of a lot more than he did just an hour ago. Cole is literally like a drug to me, if I'm away from him, I know I'll break. That's a lot to say about someone you started talking to a week ago.

"Why would you do that for me?" He mumbles into my hair.

"Do what?" I ask.

"Help me. No one ever helps me." My heart breaks as the words leave his mouth.

No one ever helps me.

I feel sadness wash over me. "What about your mom?" I croaked out.

"She's always off an business." He told me. "I don't talk or see her often."

I squeezed him a bit tighter. "Well you have me." I whispered.

He pulls away slightly and we both look at each other and then he crashes his lips to mine. It's been way too long since I've kissed him. The kiss is tender, passionate, and hungry. He caresses his mouth with mine as we hold each other.

Once we pull away, we're both left panting. That kiss was hands down the best kiss we've shared.

"So all of that shit about your brother wanting your money for drugs was a lie?" I ask, not really caring about the answer because I'm still too dazed from the kiss we had just seconds before.

"Yes and no. He's into drugs, and wants money to take them. I'm not giving him anything he wants, he'll think he won and I just can't let that happen." Cole explains.

I nod, not wanting to press the situation farther than I have to.

"We should get home..." I say.

He nods and we both get into the car and drive back home.

By the time we got home it was already 7 o'clock. Luckily, dad was out with Lisa again so I only had to deal with Jake and possibly Jack.

"Where have you been?" Jake asks as I walk through the door. "I thought you were buying food! I'm starving." That's all he cares about, the damn food.

I shrug. "I got sidetracked. Cole picked me up and we just hung out for a bit." I say.

"I'm going out tonight." Jake says.

"On a Monday?"

"It's never a wrong time to get laid." He smirks and brings a fist out for Cole to bump.

Cole looks at it like he's scared to see my reaction. Slowly he does it, giving Jake an uncomfortable smile.

When Jake leaves the room I turn towards Cole. "You alright?"

He nods. "Yeah."

I hear someone coming down the stairs and my name. "Diana, you feel like going out for-" Jack stops his sentence once he sees Cole, then he just glares.

"What?" I ask confused.

Jack turns his attention back to me and grins. "I was wondering if you wanted to go out for pizza." His voice full of hope.

I look up at Cole to see him glaring at Jack. "Um, why don't us three all go?" I suggest.

Jack's face falls a bit but then turns his head up to smirk at Cole. "Yeah, the three of us." What the hell is going on...

"Fine, I'll drive." Cole says and then starts to walk away with me by holding my wrist. I hear Jack's footsteps behind me so I know he's following.

Since Cole has a small truck, there isn't a lot of room. Cole is in the driver's seat, I'm in he middle, and Jack's in the passenger seat. To say there isn't enough room is an understatement. I'm pressed on both of their sides, which I'm sure Cole doesn't mind considering he's a pervert.

"So..." I say awkwardly.

"If we would have taken my car we wouldn't have to be so close." Jack started, but then he slung an arm over me, causing Cole to tense up. "But I guess I don't really mind." Maybe Cole was right about Jack...

"Look a deer!" I lie, pointing out Jack's window. When he turns his head I quickly remove his arm. "Oh, false alarm." I can see Cole smirking in the corner of my eye.

"Oh..." Jack says, obviously disappointed that I moved his arm.

Finally sick of the awkward silence and tension that you can cut through with a knife, I spoke up. "What did you do today, Jack?" I don't bother asking Cole because I know what we did today.

He shrugged. "Went to the gym, then I got a job at the surf shop on the beach." If he loves the beach so much then why the hell did he move from Australia?!

I nod, not really interested in what he said. That may sound rude, but it's true. Oh my gosh, Cole is rubbing off of me.

"Yeah, I'll teach you to surf anytime." He offers yet again.

"I'm teaching her if you don't remember." Cole says to him.

I shake my head at their childish behavior.

Cole parked the car and we go out. Walking to the door to the pizza parlor, Jack quickly opened the door for me but after I walked in, he shut it before Cole entered. I rolled my eyes and walked towards an open booth. I slid in and Cole tried sitting next to me but I smiled and shook my head, placing my bag where he would have sat. He groaned and sat next to Jack on the other side. Those two need to learn to get along.

The waiter finally came to take our order. "Welcome, what can I get you folks today to drink?" The guys asks.

"I'll take a Pepsi." Cole says.

"I'll have a sprite, and so will she." Jack orders for both of us... "I remember that's what you always get when we went out to eat with Jake." He says.

I nod awkwardly. "Yeah." I've moved onto Root Beer but whatever...

"So I haven't got to talk to you much about Australia yet, how was it?" I ask Jack.

His face lights up at the question while Cole groans. "It was awesome. You've got to visit there sometime, you won't regret it. I brought some pictures to show you guys so when we get back I'll show you." Jack tells me.

"That sounds good." Who wouldn't want to look at pictures you'd wish you could go... Yippee.

Cole stands up. "I'll be right back." He says then walks away.

"Now that we have some time alone, I wanted to ask you something." Jack says.

I gulp. "What?"

"Do you uh, want to go out on uh... A date? Maybe Friday?" Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.

"Jack, I don't know. You're more like a brother to me..." I trail off, hoping he'll get what I'm saying.

"I want a chance to change that." He says.

I sigh, he's obviously not getting it. "That's like saying I'm going out on a date with Jake." I say, my face scrunched up in disgust. "I'm just not attracted to you in the 'like like' sort of way." I tell him honestly.

"I know you had a crush on me before." He tells me.

"I had a crush on you, yes, but not anymore." His face falls and I immediately feel guilty. "I'm sure you'll find someone else, someone better. And besides, Jake would kill you." I try and joke, but I know that Jake would seriously be pissed.

He sighs. "That's the thing, there isn't anyone else. When I left for Australia I only could think of you."

I give him a disbelieving look. "Really? Then what happened with that one girl you were dating while there."

Jake shrugs. "We broke up, I wasn't really into her." He tells me.

"I'm sorry, Jack, I can't date you." I'm not even hinting anymore, I'm straight up telling him no and he won't accept it!

He gives me a weary smile. "I'm going to try to change your mind."

I shake my head. "I really wish you wouldn't."

"And I really wish you wouldn't reject me."

I roll my eyes, I'm getting sick of this... "Maybe if you would have asked a couple years ago but things have changed." I say quietly.

"It's Cole isn't it?" He asks.

'Obviously!' I shout in my head. "No." I say too quickly. I'm a terrible liar...

He huffs. "It is... Diana, I am way better than him. I can make you happy." He tries to convince me.

I never realized how cocky Jack is...

"Jack will you give it a rest? I'm saying no." Pissed off is exactly what I am at the moment.

"I'm not giving up."

Twinkle twinkle little star, I want to hit you with my car.

My feelings about Jack at this moment.

I shake my head and I look around to see if Cole is anywhere. I see him walking back to our table and he sits down once again. "What'd I miss?" He asks, smirking at me.

I roll my eyes, I know exactly why he left. He knew Jack would try to get with me. "Nothing." I say. Boy is he going to get an earful when we get home.

Once we're in the house, I walk upstairs to my room, ignoring the both of them. I shut the door behind me and lock it. Cole can sleep on the couch for all I care. I grab my phone out of my pocket and call Molly. "Hello?" She answers.

"I'm living with a bunch of idiots!" I exclaim.

Molly laughs. "You just now realized that?"

I roll my eyes even though she can't see me. "Shut up, you like one of the idiots I live with."

"Shut up! He can hear you!" She hisses.

I laugh. "He's out tonight." Oh why did I say that?

There's a long pause before she speaks again. "He's out tonight?"

I sigh. "Molly, my brother is a slut, you know that." I say to her.

She grunts in frustration. "He's such a prick!"

"Agreed, all the men in this house are. Well, besides my dad. But even he is messed up. I mean, he lets Cole sleep in my room!" What can of father is he? I'm really not complaining I'm just surprised. Jake on the other hand is still pretty upset about it.

"Boys are like the gum on the bottom of your shoe." She huffs.

"What?"

"Ya know! When you get gum on the bottom of your shoe it never really comes off, you're stuck with it. Well once you start dating boys, you never really stop until you found the right one, unless you're a lesbian..."

I laugh at her comparison. "Never heard that one before but ok."

"You get what I'm saying! I have to go, I'll call you tomorrow."

"Ok, bye."

"Bye."

We both hang up and I plug my phone into charge and then there's a knock on my door. "Diana, let me in." Cole says.

"Go away." I say and lay on my bed while looking through my phone.

"Please." He's probably making that cute puppy face that always gets me. No Diana, resistance, resistance!

"Cole-" My phone cut me off. I looked at my caller I.D. and saw that it was Molly. "Hello?" I answered.

"Did Cole tell you what he did?!" She asks.

I stood up. "No, what did he do?"

"Diana, can I please come in?" Cole asked again.

I ignored it and continued my conversation with Molly. "He told everyone that you haven't been kissed till... Well, him." She informed me.

I literally choked on air.

I hung up the phone and opened the door. Cole was standing there. "Listen I'm sorry-" He started but I cut him off.

"Why the hell would you tell the whole school that I hadn't been kissed?!" I yell at him.

His face turns pale. "It slipped, I'm sorry. I was talking to Jade and she made me so angry-"

"Oh so you just happened to mention that you were my first kiss? That typically doesn't just come up in conversations, Cole!" I exclaim.

"Diana, it really isn't that big of a deal." He says.

"Maybe not for you! You've hooked up with almost every girl in the school! I'm pretty much the only one who hadn't been kissed and I tell you not to tell anyone and what do you do? You tell the whole school!"

"Jade did, I didn't."

"You're not getting it!" Is he stupid?! He must be. "You told Jade! Do you not think before you speak?!"

"She was calling you a whore and I wanted her to know you aren't! Calm down a bit." He tries to reason. "And I prefer not to think before I speak. I like being just as surprised as everyone else by what comes out of my mouth." He's an idiot.

I'm fuming with anger and frustration. You NEVER tell a girl to calm down. That's like trying to baptize a cat, it doesn't work!

"I don't give a shit what your reason was! And I surely don't give a shit to what Jade thinks of me." I slam the door in his face, not giving him the opportunity to reply.

First the Jack thing and now he told everyone I hadn't been kissed. Can I really trust Cole? I mean, he was in a gang. How do I know he isn't just using me? So many thoughts are running through my mind and they all involve Cole. Maybe helping him wasn't the best idea for me.

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