"Can Bella come over for a sleepover?"

There I asked. It was like ripping off a bandage. It's been nearly four weeks since the sleepover at their house. We spent the night watching movies and eating all kinds of food I'd never eaten before. We were supposed to go out the next day, but I got sick from eating all the sweets. Instead, Bella and I stayed in bed talking about random stuff. On Sunday Tyrone drove me home.

There has been a whole lot of make out sessions with Tyrone. Everyday I got bolder and the ache inside me grew. His hands would trace my skin but he never touched me in a sexual way. I've yet to kiss Michel and Bella, but I really enjoyed being around them.

"What are you? Five," Ellie muttered.

She snickered along with Damian.

Lucy frowned at her sibling. "You hav' 'em too."

Ellie's laughter died down. She pointed her fork at Lucy and muttered something I couldn't hear. Lucy huffed but continued to eat.

"I don't know how you and that girl are friends," Lauren said, shaking her head. "I don't want her in my house."

My shoulders sagged. I was never allowed to do anything I wanted!

"Of course you can invite Bella over for a sleepover."

My head snapped up. I stared at Draven with wide eyes.

"You're allowed to have friends over whenever you want."

Ellie gasped. "I'm only allowed to have friends over on weekends!"

"Sydney is older than you," he said. "Beside she doesn't have school to worry about."

"Maybe it's time she starts." We all glanced at Lauren. "Since you never completed high school, you won't be accepted in college. I already talked to the head of the college. Due to your track record he's sceptical about you joining." She cut off a piece of meat and glanced back up at me. "It's been agreed that if you go back to school and finish without any hassles, you'll be allowed in his college."

For a few seconds I was shocked into silence. Going back to high school? She really needed to go get her head fucking checked. "I'm not going back to school."

"Yes you are! You start on Monday!"

Dropping my fork on the plate, I pushed it away and stood. The urge to cry and stomp my foot was strong.

"I'm not going back to school!" I yelled at her.

A cry of pain fell from my lips as my head snapped to the side. The sound of the slap echoed around the kitchen.

"Lauren!" Draven yelled.

"She will not speak to me like that!" A chair scraped against the floor. "I've just about had enough of her back talking and attitude. Your father might've allowed you to do as you want, but for as long as you're staying under my roof, you'll do as I say!"

I glanced at Draven for help. He shrugged his shoulders and glanced down at the table. Pursing my lips, I turned and headed for the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" I ignored her. "Get back here you little brat!"

The moment I was outside, I ran. I kept on going until it was hard to catch my breath and my legs gave way beneath me. When I sank down on the ground, I allowed the tears to fall. I never wanted to go back. I should leave, that's what I'll do. Once they all go to bed, I'll sneak back in, grab some clothes and then leave.

I nodded as I wiped the tears from my cheeks.

***

"Sin."

I frowned. Something brushed my arm. My eyes snapped open. I blinked rapidity and stared at the figure hovering over me. It was darker than I remembered. The sound of the ocean slowly penetrated my ears and so did the feel of the sand beneath my body.

"Hey, sweet pea."

I sighed and pushed myself up. Michel wrapped his arm around my back to help. He moved the hair from my face and then cupped my cheek. Without meaning too, I flinched away. I thought I heard him suck in a breath, but I probably imagined it.

He pulled back and took a seat next to me. With his elbows on his bent knees, he stared out at the ocean. Soon it'll be too dark to see anything.

"What are you doing out here alone?"

"I ran," I whispered. "She wants me to go back to school."

"Why?"

"I can't go to college otherwise."

"And you don't want to go to school?" I shook my head. "Why not?"

"I dropped out of school. Father didn't care about it. He wanted me home. I hated school."

"Why did you hate school?" He shifted slightly. "Why did your father always want you home?"

I bit my lip to stop myself from blurting anything out. I'd known Michel for only a few weeks and I wasn't sure if I could trust him. I learned from a young age what trusting people meant. Father always found out. My fingers unconsciously traced the scars on my inner left thigh. I jumped when a hand pushed mine aside. Callused fingers brushed against my skin. I sucked in a sharp breath.

"Did he do this?"

I glanced up at him. My eyes widened when our noses brushed. His minty breath fanned my lips. Michel's fingers moved a little higher up my leg. He sucked in a sharp breath when he brushed another old scar.

"Sin—"

I wasn't ready to tell him about the hell I grew up in, so I did something else to shut him up. I closed the distance between us and pressed my lips against his. Michel tensed. I hesitated but didn't pull away. I continued to move my lips softly against his.

Michel groaned, and then buried his hand in my hair. He tilted my head in another direction and deepened the kiss. My lips parted and his tongue entered my mouth. He brushed the back of my teeth and then tentatively touched his tongue to mine.

I shuddered.

Reaching up, I gripped his shoulders and pressed myself closer to him. Michel groaned again. My heartbeat increased when he lowered me back to the sand. His body came down on top of me.

I tensed.

Michel broke the kiss. His finders brushed against my cheek. "You have nothing to be scared of sweet pea," he whispered. "We will never hurt you. Never."

"I think in my heart I know that, but in my head the fear is still there."

His lips brushed mine again. Before Michel could speak again, someone cleared his throat. Michel tensed but he didn't move off me.

"Stay quite," he whispered so softly that I barely heard him.

"I'm sorry to. . .interrupt," Draven said softly. "Have you guys seen Sydney? She ran off a while ago."

"No, she hasn't passed here," Michel said softly. "Maybe she's at the stables."

"Right. I haven't thought of checking there. Thank you."

Michel slowly relaxed. He leaned his forehead against mine and breathed out.

A giggle fell from my lips. It was such a strange and unexpected sound. My laughter instantly died down. When was the last time I laughed about anything? A few days ago when I talked to Bella on the phone. I couldn't even remember what she had said that made me laugh.

"Why would it be so bad to go back to school?"

I blinked up at him. I couldn't see his face clearly. "Because they will tease me again." I swallowed the lump in my throat. "It hurts when they do that."

"If you go back to school you'll have a chance to get a higher education. Once you have that you'll have a better chance at getting a job."

"That's not true," I whispered. "Even if I do that it's not a guarantee. I have a track record Michel. According to the world I'm sick. I'm mentally unstable."

"Why would they think that?"

"Because father made them believe that. I killed his friend and that was my punishment."

He was silent for a while. I could feel his eyes trailing over my face. Michel shifted slightly. His hand moved down to my hip. I reached out to grip his shirt when he was about to move away. The warmth of his skin seeped through the material.

"What does sex feel like?"

"You've had an orgasm before, haven't you?" he asked softly.

"Yes, but it's not the same." I licked my lips. "When I was at your house, I heard you and Bella. It sounded different, more. . .pleasurable."

"Did you watch us?"

I shook my head. "I wanted too. Tyrone said he'd spank me if I watched without permission."

"Sex is very pleasurable Sin." His lips brushed mine again. "I say it's high time we have a sleepover again."