I RUSHED TO THE FRONT door as soon as I heard a car pull up. Ignoring my noisy sister in the living room I pulled the door open.

Stephen got out of the police cruiser phone pressed to his ear. Stepping out of the house my eyes trailed over him. He's dressed in his dark blue uniform, gun and everything else strapped to the belt around his hips. His hair is a mess, cheeks flushed red and green eyes flashing in anger.

He ended the call making his way towards me.

            "Hi." I whispered as he stopped in front of me.

His lips twitched. "Hi."

I couldn't say anything else, not because I didn't know what to say, but because my dad pulled up in the driveway. He looks ready to murder.

           "What the fuck are you doing here Daniels?" He roared glaring at Stephen as he came to a stop next to us.

            "I called."

My dad turned, eyes glaring down at me. "Get in the house."

Shaking my head I took a step closer to Stephen. He placed his hand on my hip eyes locked onto my dad.

            "We have some things to talk about." Stephen said softly glancing down at me.

           "Yes we do." Dad's eyes snapped to me narrowing slightly. "Get in the house."

Stephen gave my hip a squeeze nodding his head towards the house. I hesitated only slightly before making my way into the house. Entering the kitchen my eyes fell on Sam in her baby chair.

            "Your dad is on his way home." My mom said softly glancing up at me.

            "He's already here."

Walking over to her I cooed picking her up. I made funny faces at her smiling when she laughed. There's just something about a baby laughing that makes you want to laugh.

Her tiny hand closed around my nose making me winch. Pulling her hand from my face I turned finding Stephen standing in the doorway. He's looking at me strangely.

I smiled at him shifting Sam in my arms. The movement seemed to snap him back to reality, he entered the kitchen.

            "Good afternoon Mrs. Dune."

My mother froze head snapping up. I watched as surprise flashed through her eyes then pain. What's wrong with her?

            "Afternoon Stephen." She said softly glancing at me then down.

She's been acting strange all day. This morning I caught her staring at me while I ate breakfast.

My father entered the kitchen kissing my mom on the cheek before taking a seat at the table.

            "Sit down, all of you."

Stephen placed his hand on the small of my back leading me to the table. For a few minutes silence surrounded us until my father spoke up.

           "Care to explain why the hell I caught one of my men staring at a picture of my half naked daughter?"

My body froze, heartbeat increasing as he glanced between the two of us. Stephen had tensed his hands forming fists.

           "Dad-"

           "Shut up Alia." He snapped turning his cold eyes to me. "Ever since he got into town you've changed."

           "I've changed long before I met him." I said softly hearing my mother's in drawn breath. "He brings out the best in me-"

          "Alia." My mom said softly shaking her head.

Sam gurgled pulling at my ponytail. Freeing my hair from her hand I turned her around so she faced the table.

Stephen and my dad are glaring at each other.

          "Your mother said you can stay at a friends house this weekend." My dad said eyes turning to me. "Instead I find out through photo's that you've spend the weekend with my deputy."

          "Dad-"

         "Kate spend the night there with Derrick. My brother was also there the whole weekend." Stephen spoke up making me press my lips together.

Can't I just speak without someone cutting me off?

          "Doesn't look like that in the photo." He pulled a piece of folded paper from his pocket.

Unfolding it slowly he placed it on the table sliding it across to Stephen.

           "Doesn't prove anything." Stephen said softly keeping his eyes on my dad.

I reached out sliding the paper closer to me. It's the photo if us by the pool. My mom reached for the photo but I moved it out of her reach.

            "Give it to your mother, let her see what type of girl we raised." He grabbed the paper sliding it to her.

Tears filled my eyes as she looked at it. She said nothing, just stayed silent.

          "You're going for a virginity test. I've already made an appointment."

Panic washed through me making my breathing increase. Just like at the café. I felt my chest closing up, tears filling my eyes as I tried to suck in air.

I stood stumbling slightly. My arm around Sam tightened. Everything is blurry, it's spinning.

          "Alia." Hands grip my shoulders.

Someone takes Sam from my arms. The world is darkening.

          "Listen to me, I need you to breathe." Stephen said softly his face appearing in front of mine. "Breathe with me baby."

Taking my hand he placed it on his chest over his beating heart.

           "Breathe in, breathe out."

Squeezing my eyes shut I tried to concentrate only on his words. On his touch on my hand and on my back.

Minutes passed, maybe even an hour before my breathing finally slowed. My chest ached painfully, my head pounding. I'm tired.

            "You're okay." Stephen said softly one hand stroking my cheek. "Everything's okay."

Shifting my head on his shoulder I stared up at him. He's so beautiful. My eyes fluttered close, I snuggled closer to him gripping his shirt.

           "Don't leave me."

____________________

THE BED SHIFTED MAKING my eyes flutter open. My mom sat on the edge of the bed staring at the wall, her hand gripping mine tightly.

           "Mom?"

She turned giving me a small smile. "How are you feeling?"

           "Okay." I sat up leaning back against the pillows. "Where's Stephen?"

She sigh her eyes dropping to the floor before lifting to mine.

          "He left, your dad made him leave." She turned her body fully to face me. "Alia, I need you to be honest with me, have you and Stephen-" She paused her cheeks heating slightly. "Have you had sex?"

My mouth opened and closed cheeks heating at how straight forward she is. But then I remembered what Stephen said. He can be arrested for rape.

           "We haven't." I whispered looking up at her again. "Do I have to go for the test?"

        "Your father wants you to."

       "Why? I just told you that we haven't had sex." My eyes snapped to the door as it suddenly opened.

Dad stood there with his arms folded across his chest. His mouth is pressed in a stern line eyes narrowed.

           "Your appointment is tomorrow at nine."

         "I'm not going." I pushed the covers off me standing from the bed.

         "The hell you are! I want to know if my daughter is still a virgin. If you and that boy-"

           "I'm not a virgin anymore!" I yelled angrily spinning around to look at them. "I haven't been a virgin for a while, is that what you wanted to hear?"

My mom gasped shocked while my dad stepped into the room slamming the door shut.

          "It's not the eightieth century! Lots of kids do it and I'm no different, why can't you understand that?"

            "I'm having him arrested." He said through clenched teeth storming over to my desk. "Fucking bastard touching my daughter."

I watched as he picked up my laptop searching around for something.

           "You can't arrest him, you have no evidence." I said softly shrinking back as he span around. "I said I'm not a virgin anymore, it doesn't mean I've had sex."

I looked at my mom watching as her eyed widened as the words caught up.

           "Michael." She turned towards my dad giving him that look.

He ignored her walking over to me. My dad grabbed my phone from the bedside table then my car keys.

          "You're grounded for the next three weeks. You go to school, you come home. No friends, no going out. Nothing!"