I quickly knocked on Amelia's door, knocking until the door finally opened. "Geez Nadia, I heard you after the first knock." Jay laughed. "Sorry." I giggled, peering past him. "Where's Amelia?" I excitedly asked.

"I'm here!" Amelia rushed over to the front door, hurriedly tying her dirty blonde hair into a high ponytail. "What's up?"

I walked inside her apartment as Jay shut the door behind him. "I need to talk to you, it's important." I turned back to Jay. "Jay do you mind if I steal Amelia away from you real quick?"

He chuckled. "Girl talk huh? Okay I get it." Amelia laughed. "Sorry Jay." I playfully grabbed her wrist running over to her room hearing her soft giggles. "Gosh Nadia what do you have to tell me? This feels like you're gonna tell me about a secret crush or something." She teased, closing her door behind her.

I plopped down onto her bed. "Christian invited me to Perry's." I breathlessly exclaimed.

Amelia opened her mouth in shock. "What? Perry's?" I quickly nodded as she took a seat next to me. "Oh my gosh, what for?"

"So, I just came back from talking to his parents at his place about finding Maia and everything right? And then before I left he was like, we should go to Perry's but strictly just to talk about our plans to go to Arizona."

Amelia laid down onto her bed. "Yeah, because Perry's definitely gives off date vibes." She sat up on her elbows. "Is Leo okay with it?"

I sighed, blowing a few curly locks away from my face. I glanced back at her. "I haven't told him."

Amelia raised an eyebrow at me. "Are you gonna tell him?"

I shrugged, feeling a bit squeamish. "I don't know. I mean I don't wanna ruin anything. I think it'll be better if I didn't bring it up."

Amelia completely sat back up now. "What are you going to tell him if he asks where you're headed?"

"Um, that I'm gonna have dinner alone? Or with a friend, I don't know maybe with you."

Amelia lightly scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Oh god Nadia, we're really doing this again?"

I exasperatedly sighed. "Amelia I just don't want things to be messy. Imagine me telling Leo I'm casually going to Perry's with Danny's brother. You really think he's gonna react well?"

Amelia glanced at me in defeat. "Fine. Just say you're going with me. But," She quickly put a firm hand up. "This is the last time I'm saving you Nadia. I thought the sneakiness and lies were over with." I could see the worrisome look in her eyes.

"They are I promise. Lying right now is just...necessary. I don't wanna cause any trouble. I just need to get through this one night."

...

I was already here.

Sitting in front of the same window slot staring through the glass in front of me with empty eyes. He wasn't here yet.

I lowered my head, picking at my nails as I waited for him. I heard an alarm and the sound of a heavy door opening and slamming shut. I looked up, seeing two guards holding onto his muscular arms as he was directed towards me. His wrists were trapped in handcuffs.

They let go of him once he was in front of the window slot. One of the guards unlocked his handcuffs and he sat down, rubbing his wrists from the pain. I could see the faint red markings the handcuffs left on his skin.

I picked up the wall phone as he did the same. He lopsidedly grinned at me. "Hey baby." He spoke softly.

"Hi Danny." I lightly smiled at him. "How are you holding up?"

He chuckled, tilting his head to the side as he gently tapped his fingers on the table. "It's not too bad in here."

His eyes slowly landed on me as his tongue swiped over the top row of his teeth. "You've got secrets baby." He menacingly whispered into the phone.

I grimaced a bit, picking up an eerie aura from him. I shifted in my seat. "What?" My voice was almost hushed. He narrowed his eyes, his intense gaze never tearing away from my apprehensive one.

"You used to be a good girl. What happened?"

I suddenly heard faint laughter in the distance. Laughter that sounded like...Danny and me.

I slowly turned my head to my right, as my eyes were met with a pair of windows I've never noticed before. I could see a meadow through the windows that was beautifully enhanced with multicolored flowers. The wind whirled through the grass as Danny carried me over his shoulder, leisurely spinning me around as if time had slowed down.

I saw the pure smile on his face, dimples showing and all as I laughed, playfully begging him to put me down. We were younger...

18.

A tear ran down my cheek as I stared at the nostalgic moment. I turned back to look at Danny as my eyes shimmered with tears.

"Don't act like you haven't changed too." I tightly held the phone as my voice trembled.

The corners of his mouth turned up in a minacious smile and the scar on his cheek progressively began to appear.

"Oh, I never said I haven't. We're all good at one point. But good people are capable of bad things...just like you and I."

Tears flooded my eyes as they quickly rushed down my face. I felt my throat burn, shaking my head at him as I disagreed with his words. I wasn't a bad person.

He leaned closer to the glass. Malice flickered in his heterochromic eyes.

"Be careful baby, you wouldn't want to hurt Leo again."

I gasped, snapping out of my dream as I choked out a sob. I sat up, breathing heavily, feeling the tears in my eyes.

Leo quickly woke up, reacting to my panicked state. "Hey, hey Sweetheart are you okay?"

I turned my head, glancing at him as the fear still lingered in my eyes. I could see the concern written all over his face but as I looked at him all I could hear was Danny's chilling words echo through my mind.

"I have to go." I whispered incoherently.

Leo furrowed his eyebrows. "What? Why? Nadia are you okay? What happened?"

I shook my head, sorrowfully gazing at him. "Don't worry about it. I-I just need to go home." I gently pulled the covers away from my body, getting out of his bed.

He faintly scoffed, staring at me in disbelief. "Nadia you know you can talk to me. I can help you out." I winced, hearing the pain in his voice.

I sighed, stopping in my tracks to look at him. "I don't need your help Leo. I'm fine."

"Fine?" He raised his voice, getting out of bed as he approached me.

"You think waking up gasping for air and crying is fine?" He angrily questioned out of concern.

I wiped my tears, slightly hugging myself as I felt threatened under his serious gaze.

"Nadia what's scaring you so bad?" He mumbled, gently taking hold of my hands. I looked away from him, feeling the woeful heaviness in my chest as I pressed my lips shut.

"Is it Danny?"

I vigorously shook my head, briefly closing my eyes as tears rolled down my cheeks.

"No." My voice broke, letting his hands go. 

My somber brown eyes finally met with his blue ones. "It's personal Leo. Please, just let me go home."