I didn't want him to have to go home, I like having Lincoln here. I knew that I needed to call Rosie and tell her my decision, my month was up but I wasn't going to let my time with Lincoln end or be passed on to one of the other teachers.

"I just have to call Rosie...wait here" I went upstairs to grab my phone. Dialling Rosie but when she didn't respond I just left her a voicemail. I walked back into the kitchen where Lincoln was finishing his coffee. "So what's the plan?" He looked at me and put down the cup. "Well apparently dinner last night got cancelled so mum was pissed so it's back on tonight" he looks stressed and I didn't blame him.

"Well until today why don't you and I go on an outing or something..." I trailed off and I felt suddenly nervous and sweaty (which was bad because white clothing). I refrained from covering my face in my hands as he thought but when he spoke I thought I might pass out of relief.

"Yeah I'd love to, where were you thinking?" I blinked because I was honestly stunned he agreed. "We could get coffee, or we could go the market or just for a walk...wherever you want to go" I felt a bit stupid, why did I say such dorky answers? I could have at least said something mainstream like the mall.

"I have the perfect place" I cocked my head at Lincoln and he smiled at me, a mischievous smile at that. "Go on and get a hat and a jacket then we can go" I was taken a back but a few minutes later I came back with a sun hat and my denim jacket. I also had a hat for Lincoln which I plopped on his head with a smirk.

"Okay come on" he grabbed my hands and it grabbed my keys and wallet on my way out and as we got out side he held out his hand. "Keys" I didn't even object as I handed him my set of keys, his grin still not wavering.

I guess he was in control now

---

We had been driving for half an hour when we came to a stop. We don't have many beaches in Pennsylvania instead we had stopped at a lake which was quiet and still, rocks gathered at the edges. "Wow" I had never been here before and I breathed in the air. It felt cleaner that back in the town where we lived.

"Pretty right?" He opened the door of my truck and I did the same as we walked towards the rocks. "It's so peaceful here..." I was mesmerised by the views and I was glad that Lincoln made me bring the jacket. "Alexandria?" His voice sounded so soft that I almost don't hear him call my name. "I need to tell you something-"

"LINCOLN ARCHER VALENTINE" we were both pulled into reality by a sharp voice which actually frightened me a little, not because it was a scary sound but just the fact I had been wrapped in what I was doing. "Rory?" I saw Lincoln widen his eyes at Rory who was accompanied by a girl who I recognised as Marissa Clegg, a plain little thing who I knew would be the next notch on Rory's belt if he could help it.

"Man what are you doing here!?" I watched Lincoln give Rory one of those bro hugs and I awkwardly waved to Marissa who looked just as uncomfortable as me. "Let's not talk about me Linky boy what about you? Your with black swan over here?" I didn't like the nickname very much because I was not a crazy ballet perfectionist, that and hasn't he seen the movie black swan?

Messed up stuff.

"She's just a friend..." I heard him say and I couldn't help but tense. "Well you two make an adorable couple I mean come on Sebastian Stappords baby sister? Score!" I heard Lincoln say tense words to Rory was make them start speaking in hushed whispers.

"Riiiight okay Lincoln whatever you say" was the last thing I head before Rory and Marissa walked away (we weren't interested in the sordid details of what they were going to do).

"We-, I-" Lincoln began sentences neither one coming to a beginning but we both knew what needed to be said, the fact that we had been reckless in whatever we were doing. We forgot there was an order to high school and we were against that order but yet we were so similar.

I was beginning to feel like we needed each other to survive. "My phones blowing up again... we need to go" I nodded sadly and we both went back to the truck, the heaviness in the air still prevalent.

Driving back to Lincolns house I don't  know what I was expecting but it wasn't the cute little two storey house. A well kept garden and even a picker fence, it was so unlike my cold, concrete home where everything was in disrepair...including me.

"Well this is it" we both got out of the truck and we cautiously made our way to the house like we wanted to stretch the few metres out forever. We didn't even need to knock before the door was thrown open. "Lincoln Valentine you are in so much trouble" his mother was exactly what I expected, tall and looked like a leader just like Lincoln but they didn't look very similar, her skin porcelain and glossy brown hair but she Lincoln did have the same periwinkle eyes.

"And you are?" She turned to me her eyes narrowed. "Alexandria Srappord" I stuck out my hand but she didn't take it. "Penelope" she turned away from the door after her introduction and walked back into the house. We followed her slowly and the inside matched the outside: cosy and cute.

"Well this is going to be fun"

Oh how wrong could I have been.

---

Ten days since the last update I'm sorry but I hope the long chapter makes up for it?

L xx