I can't stop smiling as I make my way to our new apartment with Emil following closely behind me.

Dustyn took me out to dinner. We spent nearly four hours just enjoying each others company. Talking about nothing and everything. Before we parted, we decided to settle the wedding gown issue after I complete some of my requirements for the finals.

I didn't think loving someone could be this beautiful. I didn't think I would like this. It's such a bliss. I feel content. Happy. Elated. I'm just on my own cloud nine. I don't think anything could ruin my mood right now.

I opened the door to the apartment and always stopped in my tracks when I saw Rory waiting in our living room with Alec in front of her. They seem to have had a nasty argument again basing on the fact that Rory refuses to meet my brother's hard stare.

"...Hi?" I said with uncertainty and a chuckle as both of them turned their heads towards me. "We could come back.. after you're done." I said, motioning my finger between the two of them.

It is no secret that I absolutely approve of Aurora for Alec. I just think that with Rory, Alec is happier than I have ever seen him. I knew my older brother could you some of that crazy colorful sunshine that Rory has going on in her life.

"She's here for you baby girl. I'll just be in my office." Alec said before standing up from his seat and walking to his office without another glance at Rory's direction. And just like that, I realized how thick the tension in the apartment was.

I look at Emil. "Could you give us a minute?" Emil nodded and locked the front door before going to their part of the apartment. "Hey Rory. Is everything alright?"

She sighed and wipes her hands on her jeans. Casual clothing has always been Rory's go to. I remembered her as someone who would always opt for jeans and shirts rather than skirts and dresses. "Do you know where I live, Mara?"

Confused, I shook my head no. I didn't know where she lives. Although if I ask Alec right I know he would know the answer to that question. It's no secret that he never moved on from what happened between him and Rory. Even I see it from time to time. Alec just has a tough exterior.

"I live in this building, Mara. Just below your floor." She said, shaking her head in disbelief. "I went to your Dad's house to give you some designs new designs for your dress and Jack said that you no longer lived there. I tried to call you and Dustyn but you guys weren't answering your phone, so I called him instead. "

"I didn't know Rory. I'm sorry." I said. Sincerely feeling bad for what my brother has done. I know Alec is borderline stalking Rory but I never thought he'd actually go as far as to buy an apartment in the same building where she lives.

Rory shakes her head. "I just don't understand why my xáderfos would sell this place to him of all people."

Her thick Greek accent could be heard clearly as she expressed her dismay at the situation. She begins to mutter a few harsh Greek words under her breathe. She runs a hand on her hair and sighs, effectively calming herself down.

"You okay?" I asked with a smile. "Let's get you something to drink." I said standing up to go to the fridge.

"No. It's okay. I'll just leave the sketches here and you just let me know what you decide."she said, putting down a folder on the coffee table and collecting her things on the couch.

I was quick on my feet to assist her. "Emil can help you." I suggested as I took notice of the pile of folders she's still holding in her arms.

She declines my offer and runs out of the apartment without another word or glance. I watch her press the elevator keys hurriedly, impatiently waiting for it to arrive. When it does, she quickly goes inside.

Closing the door softly behind me, I trudge my way down to Alec's office. The door is wide open when I arrived which means he's only reading some reports and is not in some important meeting. I enter the room without knocking, ready to fire questions at my brother. "What was that?" I asked him I as plop down on the chair in front of his table.

He looks at me briefly before going back to his reading. "Good evening to you too, baby girl."

"Alec.." I said exasperated at him.

Alec has always been secretive about his own problems. It doesn't matter how big or small they are, he tends to keep them all to himself as if that would solve all of it. It's hard to say what goes on in that genius head of his but I bet its chaotic right now.

"Mara, it's none of your business. Stay out of it." He said, dropping the paper down on his table and looking at me squarely in the eye. "Don't you have school work to do?"

I glared at him. "Oh, so you can have a say about my future but I can't say anything about yours?" I asked him, reminding him of what he just did to me a few months ago. I would say it was a blessing in disguise because now I am completely in love with Dy. Still, the knife plugged on my back by my own brother hurts a lot.

"Mara." He said, gritting his teeth together as if he can't control his anger anymore.

I shake my head at him. "You know what? Don't talk to me and I'll do the same. "I told him, completely giving up on talking to him about anything of relevance. If Alec doesn't want my opinion, then he won't hear any of it.

I was wrong. Something can dampen my mood, and Alec just did that marvellously.

I couldn't help but wish that I was somewhere else but here. It also doesn't help that Noah is two seats away from me to my left, with empty seats between us.

His eyes kept darting on me every few seconds and it is seriously irritating the hell out of me. He's kept his mouth shut the whole time but I doubt that'll last long enough to last until the end of this class.

"Listen up." Professor Mist said, her loud voice silencing everyone in class. She now has our full attention. "Before you all leave, I would like you each to pair up with a classmate and write a ten page paper on a certain topic we've discussed this semester. " She said, earning a lot of groans from each of us. She waves his hand to silence us. "That or you'll answer a one hundred question exam. Identification and fill in the banks."

"How do we know who to pair up with, professor?" A girl sitting up front asked curiously. Other students have already started talking with their friends to form their respective pairs. Unfortunately for me, I don't have friends in this particular subject. Being a two courser is a pain in so many ways since I always have to go from one building to another for my classes most days.

Professor Mist seemed to mull over the question before announcing her decision. "Your pair would be the person sitting on your left."

My eyes widen and I looked at Noah who is already looking at me with a smirk on his damn face. "Looks like we're partners, beautiful." He said sending a wink my way.

I didn't mind Noah's cocky attitude before. In fact, I considered him a friend at some point. It wasn't until he started calling me by that god forsaken nickname that made my skin crawl did I want him far away from me.

Once we were dismissed, I shoved my things in my backpack and left the room without a word to my so-called partner. I hurriedly walked down the hallway, pushing people out of the way as I do. I can hear Noah's voice behind me, calling my name. I would talk to him because I need to pass this course but I need to get to Emil first. I've told him to wait on the bench under the huge tree in front of this building.

A hand catches my arm, effectively stopping me from walking further away from Noah. "Leaving so fast, beautiful." Noah asked, as I slap his hand away from my arm. His eyes follow my movements closely before looking at me in the eyes again. "Something wrong?" He asked sounding amused as he does so.

I refused to meet his eyes, as I somehow found the post to our right quite interesting. "Nothing."

"Hmm.. Seems like you can't meet my eyes, can you?" He says. "Let's talk about this final requirement."

"We would. I just need to check in with Emil." I said as I check the time on my watch. Emil would only wait for five minutes, before he walks inside this building to find me. That was our deal. Right now, I couldn't be any more happier that I made that deal with him.

"Everything okay?" Emil's baritone voice asked from behind me. I almost wanted to lean on him for support as I feel my legs turn into jell-o as the relief of hearing his voice sinks in my system. I don't have to turn around to know that he's glaring down at the boy in front of me. "Miss Mara?"

"I don't feel well." I mumbled to him, hoping that it will help him understand how uncomfortable I have become around Noah.

It's that nickname.

Beautiful.

That was what he used to call me in a snickering manner whenever he decided it was time to beat me up to a pulp again. I hated it. It makes my skin crawl. It makes me cringe. And it makes me scared to my bones to hear someone call me that.

Maybe it was the trauma speaking, but I didn't care. At the moment I need to get away from this person. As far away as possible.

Emil is right on track as he puts a protective arm around my shoulders, guiding me out of the busy hallway with efficiency. It didn't take long for us to get out of the building.

"Hey. Wait up!" I heard Noah shouting after us even as Emil safely closes the backseat door of the car after getting me safely inside. "Man. I was talking to her." I could hear the irritation in his voice as Emil stands directly outside of the door, blocking him from seeing me.

"She's not feeling well." Emil simply said.

I can't stop the panic from creeping in. What if they're actually related? What if that's why I see him in Noah so much? What if.. What if he's planning to take me again?

I could feel my tear threatening to fall at the horror my thoughts conveyed. I'm scared, more than anything else that one day he'll come back and finish what he started. This time, Alec might not come to rescue me in time.

"She was fine before you stormed in and interrupted us!" Noah shouted at Emil. He's being so loud. He'll get everyone's attention. Where is Nica? Nica is Emil's new partner. After his previous one had to leave for a family emergency.

"What's going on?" As if on cue, I heard her voice from the outside. It's muffled but I can still hear her.

Alec is pulling a suitcase behind him when we arrived at the apartment. He's dressed in jeans and shirt. Casual clothing for him on a weekday. That's rare.

"Oh, good. You're back." He said, looking up from his phone. He takes one look at me and knew that something is wrong. "What happened?"

His face is hard. He looks pointedly at the two bodyguards behind me, particularly at Emil. He looks disappointed at them for not being able to protect me from whatever happened.

Truth is, it's been three days since we had that fight in his office. We were both avoiding each other so it wasn't that hard to stay away from. I'm still hurt over what happened. I don't think Alec realizes how much it hurt for him to do that to me.

I was acting like a spoiled brat but who the fuck cares? Everyone thinks I'm one. It won't be wrong to actually act like one especially when my brother is being a total ass.

"It's none of your business." I told him in a low voice. I didn't think I could still talk after what happened in class today.

I can see the fury in his eyes before he stalked forward. "You don't want to play this game with me, Tamara."

"Alec." I said, before side stepping him and walking up the stairs. I heard him dismiss Emil and Nica before his footsteps followed mine.

"Mara, stop." He said when he couldn't catch up to me fast enough. I closed the door behind me. Not caring if he just angrier by it. I want to put the barrier between us just like what he's been doing this past week. "Mara. Come on." He said, knocking twice on the door.

"What do you want?!" I shout at him. I lay down on my bed, covering my body with the blanket. I'm honestly wasn't in the mood to talk to him or anyone right now. I almost had a panic because of one stupid word.

"Talk to me." He said, sighing loudly. "I'll be gone for a few days but I'll be back for Mom's death anniversary. Okay? We'll visit her together like we've always done."

My breath hitched at the mention of our mother. I don't remember her. I was too young to remember what she was like or what she looked like. But Alec does. Alec told me everything he can about her. Dad did too, for a time. Before he married Amelia and erased mom's trace in the house without blinking an eye.

I never felt like I was missing something when I was young. Alec is always there for me, standing as both my parents and brother when need. He and Dy were always standing beside me, guiding me through everything despite their young age.

I hear him try to turn the doorknob. And despite finding out that it wasn't locked, Alec decided not to invade my room. "I have to go Mara. I.. I'm really sorry about what I said the other day baby girl. I'll call you when I arrive in Spain, okay?" I lay still in bed until his footsteps couldn't be heard anymore.

Spain.. I wonder why he's going there in such a short notice.