Arya's POV -

"Reason number 99!" James continues while I can barely keep my eyes open.

I'm still sitting on the couch with my chin on top of my hand, trying not to fall asleep as I listen to James.

Well, I'm barely even listening.

"Reason 100! The most important is that it keeps you healthy." He says before pretending to wipe sweat off his forehead, "Dang, aren't I a good teacher?" He asks with a smirk.

"Uh huh." I reply, "Can I go upstairs now?"

"Were you even paying attention?" He raises one of his brows and puts his hands on his hips.

I can't help but laugh at how he looks so offended right now.

"I was."

"What was reason number 39?"

I stare at him.

I stare for a few more seconds.

I make a run for the stairs.

"Arya! Get back here and let me repeat them!"

I wince at that thought and pretend I didn't hear him, racing for my room.

I'm breathing heavily as I make it to my room and lock the door before James can get to me.

Placing my backpack on the new white desk Rome had gotten me even though I said I didn't need one, I pull out the writing assignment I was given in English.

'This small writing assignment will be about how this thing or person gets you through tough times. It only has to be a few paragraphs.'

Recalling my professor's words I realize this assignment will be easy. I could write about Rome for hours. Heck I even wrote an essay about him that's due tomorrow.

Every time I read over it I find myself blushing or smiling like a madman.

I grab a blank piece of paper and my pencil then sit down at my chair.

I begin to write how Rome has gotten me through some things in life. I don't specify anything since the last thing I need is my professor questioning it.

'He's saved me more times than I can count.' I write.

'I don't think he knows it but he's the best thing that's ever happened to me.'

I finish the thing in no time and place the paper in my folder. Checking the time, I decide to have a shower.

A few minutes later I'm turning on the knob, water flying out of the top of the showerhead.

Once I get the pressure to my liking, I get undressed and into the shower.

Usually when I'm in the shower or my own world, my thoughts automatically drift off to Rome.

But for some reason, something was digging into the back of my mind.

I didn't know what it was, but I could feel it. It was odd.

My head then perked up slightly, mama and papa...

It's been a little bit of time since I tried to contact them.

I wonder how they're doing. What they're doing. If they're concerned about where I am.

Or...if they don't even care.

No, I know they do.

Maybe I'll try to call papa when I get out of the shower. I'd like to think we're on good terms.

Although the last time he saw me was when mama hurt me.

My nails dig into my skin slightly as I recall the memory.

My throat clogs up slightly at her words.

My chest constricts at how much she hurt me.

But for some reason I wanted to make some sort of amends.

I hadn't realized I've been in the shower for so long, because when there's a knock on the bathroom door I jump slightly.

"Arya? You've been in there for a while, are you okay?" I can hear Rome's voice, concern dripping through his tone.

"Oh! Yes I'm fine, I'll be out soon."

"Okay darling, James is starting dinner for all of us so once you're ready come down."

"Sounds good!" I yell and wait for a few moments of silence before sighing.

Turning off the shower, I get out and change into the clothes I picked out.

I have no desire to dry my hair right now, so I wrap it into a messy bun.

I can only hope it doesn't turn out awful in the morning.

After spending another 5 minutes at that with my arms literally dead I successfully get my hair into a bun.

I go back to my room, throw my towel into the laundry basket, and look at my phone that's on the desk. Rome had gotten me a new one after my other one cracked.

I grab it and go to my contacts, scrolling for papa's name.

My hands shake slightly as I press the call button and raise it to my ear.

The ringing goes on for a little bit.

It then goes on for a long time.

After another minute of waiting I hang up. He's most likely at work.

My eyes go back to the contacts and my thumb hovers over mama's name.

Will she even answer?

No, she most likely wont. So I exit out of the call app and go downstairs for dinner.

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UNKNOWN POV -

She's so pretty.

With those brown eyes.

Brown hair.

Tan skin.

I want her.

I want her so bad.

I'll have her.

I will have her.

I couldn't stay away when I saw her for the first time.

I'm not going to stay away.

She'll understand once I take her.

She'll want to be mine.

I can't stop watching her. There's just something there I haven't seen before.

Soon it will all work out in the end.

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Arya's POV -

I don't know why every time I see Elijah it surprises me.

I forget he lives here too, so I'm not sure why I'm shocked when he's sitting at the table along with James and Rome.

There's piles of food in the middle, along with plates and an empty chair next to Rome which I assume is for me.

I smile at Rome as I approach him, getting into the seat next to him.

"Have a good shower?" He asks and I nod.

"James made all of this?" I ask with my brows raised, my eyes trailing over the burgers, salad, hot dogs, and multiple other things.

The man scoffs, "What, you don't have any faith in me?"

I giggle, "No I do! I-I just,"

"Don't feel bad." Rome interrupts, "He definitely didn't make it all alone."

James' face turns into a glare as he looks at Rome.

"All three of you did?" I ask and they nod.

"Thank you," I say softly.

"It was mostly me." James says and the other two men just roll their eyes.

James and Elijah begin to fill up their plates, but Rome's eyes are on me.

"What would you like?" He asks and I bite my lip as I look over the options.

"And don't even say you're not hungry." He continues and my shoulders slump.

In the corner of my eye I can see Elijah glancing over at me briefly before he looks back to his plate.

"I'll have a burger." I say and he tilts his head as if he's saying 'what else?'

"And salad."

He nods and takes my plate, beginning to fill it up.

Soon all four of us are digging into our meals, but my head keeps going back to mama and papa.

I want to see them.

"Rome?" I question earning a hum from him.

I place down my fork and nervously look up at him, "When should I try to talk to my parents?"

All three of the men at the table stiffen up, while I'm left completely confused.

Was it so bad that I wanted to see them?

There's silence in the room but It's not a calm one.

It's one filled with tension. It's uncomfortable.

My eyes dart around the three of them as I try to understand what's happening.

"Is it not a good idea?" I attempt in a weak voice, and Rome sighs.

He grabs one of my hands, interlacing our fingers together.

"I just don't want you to get hurt, baby." He says softly, warm green eyes connecting with mine.

"But It's been a while, and I'm hoping mama has maybe calmed down by now. I...I don't want to just forget about them." I mumble, staring down at our hands.

"Maybe just wait a few more weeks or so and then you can possibly try to see them again?" He asks more like a question and I frown slightly.

A few more weeks?

I can't wait that long.

"Okay?" He asks, his other hand coming up to cup my cheek.

My fingers begin to trace over the tattoos that are showing on his wrist before I reply,

"Okay."

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Friday morning my eyes are filled with determination.

When I go downstairs Rome automatically came up to me with a plate of breakfast.

I tried to tell him I wasn't hungry, but he wouldn't budge until I ate something.

Eventually he agreed on just making me some toast since I refused to eat anything else.

I could tell that he was slightly annoyed but that just made it funnier.

Once he drove me to school, he gave me multiple kisses making me flustered before I got out of the car.

I turned in my Essay to my professor, and I talked to Izzy like I usually would.

The day goes by and as the bell rings for my last period which is film, I walk towards the exit instead of the correct direction of my class.

My body was shaking with nerves but my feet continued to walk down the pathway once I was out of the building.

I know I promised Rome I wouldn't try to contact them yet, but I couldn't help myself.

I tried to call papa this morning, but got no answer again.

I contemplated what to do all day, and in the end it was my mama and papa.

I had a right to see them.

So I left my last period to walk to my house.

I only wanted to talk to them for a little bit before going back to school before Rome gets there to pick me up.

Hopefully they were both there, but if only mama was, I'd talk to her.

I wanted to know why she thought it was okay to hit me.

What were her reasons?

Soon I made it to the neighborhood I haven't been in a while.

My feet slow down a bit as I see my home.

I make it to the front door, and my fist tightens into a fist before I lightly knock.

I wait.

I wait a bit longer.

Normally the door is unlocked, so when I reach for the doorknob I'm happy to find it unlocked.

Entering the house I expected to hear mama cleaning something in the kitchen or papa sitting in the living room watching a show.

However, I didn't expect this.

A gasp automatically leaves my mouth, my phone that was once in my hand dropping to the floor.

My home was completely trashed.

Someone broke in.