Nova's POV

I narrow my eyes at Kelly who avoids my gaze, looking at the tv. I cross my arms over my chest and huff in annoyance. She's ignoring me and I don't appreciate it one bit. If it was anyone else I would have a dagger to their neck.

"Can you stop it?" She mutters.

"Stop what?" I ask innocently.

"Looking at me like I murdered your cat!" She huffs, turning her head to me and pouting.

I don't even have a cat.

"Well stop ignoring me!" I roll my eyes.

"I'm not." She turns her head again. I give her a blank stare.

"You blatantly are," I mumble.

I stare at her again, a frown on my sour face. She groans pausing the tv and turning her body to me. I perk up and shuffle towards her. "Speak," I order.

"What do you want me to say?" She laughs.

"What are you hiding?" I look at her suspiciously. She bites the inside of her cheek letting out deep breaths.

"I kissed Nathan." She admits. My eyes widen and a smile starts to creep up on my face. "No! It's not good." She cries.

"What? Why not?" I cast her a confused look.

"Because I also kissed Liam." She sighs.

"I don't see the problem." I shake my head. Great! She kissed not just one hottie but two! I would say that something to be happy about.

"Ugh! Because it was in the space of 24 hours." She widened her eyes at me as if that proves her point.

I blink at her with a straight face. "I still don't see the problem." She groans, throwing a pillow in my face.

"Hey!" I take the pillow and throw it back at her. She glares at me and throws the pillow on the floor, away from both of us.

"I don't know who I like, Nova." She mumbles, wrapping her arms around her legs.

I sigh and shuffle closer towards her so I can bring her into a side hug. "What do you mean, kels?"

"I like Liam, I really do. I mean, he always says the right things to make me smile or blush. I really really like him." She trails off.

"But?"

"But, I don't know if I can be involved in a relationship with someone whose whole life is in danger twenty-four seven. I can't worry if he's still alive every day I'm with him." She rests her head on my shoulder as I rub her arm soothingly.

"You're involved in my life," I say, a pang of hurt hitting me.

"That's different. I've known you since we were little and you didn't even know what was to come. I nor you had a choice to back out. But I have a choice now, Nathan or Liam."

I look down at her and consider telling her what I really think. "Kelly?"

"Hum." She hums, looking out the window.

"I think you should choose-

A knock at the door stops me and both my and Kelly's head turn to the door. I scrunch my brows up in confusion. Who could that be? I huff and begrudgingly get up from my comfy spot and open the door.

I gasp as I see Grayson. Before I can even utter a single word he blurts out something I never thought I would ever hear Grayson Blackwell ever say in his life.

"Will you go on a date with me?"

I stare at him as he stands there, in front of me, with a bunch of yellow roses in his hands. A small hopeful smile on his face. I know he's slightly nervous, which is rare to see because his hand runs down his jaw. I let out a breathless laugh, not believing what I saw. "Is this a joke?" I ask.

He chuckles, stepping closer to me, so close I can smell his cologne. "No, Angel, it's not a joke." He pushes the roses closer to me. I softly take them out of his hands, his fingers brushing against mine as I do.

"Okay." I smile up at him. A grin breaks through and I smile even more at the rare sight.

"Really?" He asks.

"Yes." I laugh. "I'll go on a date with you." He wraps his arms around my waist, lifting me up and holding me close to him. I laugh at his reaction, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Your so beautiful." He whispers, his lips getting closer and closer towards mine.

I smile softly, brushing his hair back. "So are you." He rolls his eyes at me, making me laugh louder.

"I was thinking along the lines of, hot? Handsome? Sexy?" He smirks at me.

"Hmm, handsome, hot, and sexy. No way." I joke, a teasing smirk on my face.

"Well, you're going on date with this sexy man." He wiggles his brows with a smug grin.

I turn my nose up, flicking his forehead making his smile drop. "Did you just flick me?" His voice lowers and his eyes darken. I bite my lip, heat washes over me leaving a burning ache.

"What are you going to do about it?" I challenge him. He raises a brow, a smirk making its way up. His hand comes to the back of my neck as he leans down so his lips graze the shell of my ear.

He whispers lowly, "Nothing." I look at him confused, suddenly feeling self-conscious. Does he not like me like that anymore?

"What?" I ask.

"It's not that I don't want to. God, I would love to fuck you all night." He groans, his head falling back. I laugh and roll my eyes. "But, I want to do this properly. How I should have done it." He says softly, his hand pushing my hair behind my ear.

I internally melt into a puddle at his words. A smile graces my lips as I pull myself closer to him. "I think I'll like that," I whisper.

He smiles and plants a small soft kiss on my lips, his large hand caressing my cheek as his other stays wrapped around my waist tightly. He pulls back slowly as if he was hesitant. "Tomorrow night." He whispers.

"Tomorrow." I smile.

He sets me down slowly, his hand sliding down my waist and placing them selfs on my hip. He kisses my forehead and looks down at me with his green eyes that I love so much. "Be ready by eight." I nod and watch him with a huge smile leave.

I close the door and lean against it blowing out a huge breath. I can't believe what just happened. It's like something shifted between us and finally, it's not just lust, it's something so much more. I bite my lip as I feel a smile come. I shake my head in disbelief as I walk back to Kelly.

"Someone's all gooey." She wiggles her brows teasingly.

I roll my eyes even though I still wear a huge grin and sit down beside her. "Oh shut up." She giggles.

"So, what did he say?" She looks at me and I already know she was ear-dropping.

"You know what he said." I shove her shoulder making her laugh.

"Okay! I just wanted to see your reaction." She holds her hands up in surrender.

"Well, I'm in shock. I never thought Grayson even felt the same way for me. I mean this means he likes me right?" I ask her as the sudden thought occurs to me.

"Of course he does! I always knew it was bound to happen. I'm proud he finally grew some balls." She scoffs. I laugh at my best friend.

"Do you think this is a bad idea? Should I of said no? I mean I was the one who started the whole fucking deal." I ask. Of course, I know Grayson has hit around before, I'm no Virgin Mary either but the thing is I don't think I can trust him.

"I don't think it matters who started what, you both wanted it and things just changed. For good. Plus, if Grayson ever broke your heart I'll break him." Kelly lowers her tone making her threat sound scary.

"Thanks, Kelly, for everything." I suddenly felt filled with thankfulness for her. She smiles at me and hugs me.

"I'll do anything for you, no need to thank me." She mumbles into my shoulder as I pull her closer.

"I hope I'm making the right decision." I mummer.

She pulls back and gives me a dazzling smile. I laugh as her hair is famed across her face. I help her by pulling it out her lashes and mouth. "You always do." She says throwing her hair up.

I roll my eyes at her words. I'll admit, sometimes I don't make the right decision which reminds me to apologize to Grayson for getting mad at him. Because as much as I hate to admit it, he did the right thing and if he didn't I would be dead right now.

I guess I was being a bitch.

***

It's around three in the morning when I get woken up to loud shouting and the sound of heavy boots running on the wooden floor. This is all too familiar I half expect Grayson to be standing by with a gun in his hand. Except for this time I see Kelly running into my room with a pale face.

"Holy shit." She breaths out slamming the door behind her.

"What is it with people barging in here?" I groan, throwing the covers off my body. I walk to the closet pulling apart the clothes to reveal the built-in safe. I punch the codes in and smile as it opens.

"What's in there?" Kelly comes beside me her head turning to the door continuously.

I pick up the shotgun and the AK handing the AK to Kelly who looks at it with scared eyes. I reload the shotgun the loud sounds like music to my ears. I peer up at Kelly and say, "Everything we need to kill this son of a bitches." I walk ahead of her and barge the door open.

Suddenly the loud yelling and boots are no longer heard, it's completely silent. "You guys hiding?" I whisper under my breath.

I don't bother keeping my steps quiet, I know they know where I am. Kelly chooses to be quiet as she tips towed behind me. Suddenly, multiple doors open and a bunch of people begin to aim their guns at me. I raise mine and get ready to fire but a yelling familiar voice stops me.

"Don't fire!"

Is that...?

"Drop your weapons and slide them over!"

No, It can't be.

"That was an order!"

This fucker.

"Alex?" I ask.

He steps out from the people with a smile. "Hello, Nova, Kelly." He nods at us both and orders the people to lower their guns.

"What the hell is going on?" Kelly, no longer afraid, shouts.

"We're preparing you. You passed." He smiles at us.

"For what?" I ask.

"As I said, your next mission is going to be the most important one yet and we need you to be ready for anything. So we tested you on a surprise attack. Well done, Kelly you did the right thing. However, we're going to work on your confidence." He mutters the last part turning to someone who writes down notes.

"This is fucking ballshit. You woke me up at three am for that!" I huff, turning back to my bedroom where I can actually sleep.

"Not so fast! Seeing you're already up you can join the others for a morning training session." I glare at him as he sidesteps to reveal the steps.

"In this?" I ask looking down at my attire. I'm wearing a loose tank top and spandex shorts.

"Prepared for anything." He says again.

With a roll of my eyes, I walk down the stairs with Kelly behind me. Alex and the men follow us, their heavy footsteps creating a headache. It's way too early for this shit.

It's still dark when we get outside, groups of men and trainers stand outside of their cabins with pissed-off teens close beside them. The cold air blows against my exposed skin making me shiver. Kelly comes beside me taking the cold as if it's nothing.

I look at her as if she's crazy, looking down at her attire. She's wearing a large T-shirt and shorts, goosebumps appear on her skin but she doesn't hunch over or wrap her arms around herself. She merely stands there with a straight face as the harsh winds cut across my skin.

Fucking sociopath.

"Right!" Alex steps forward all eyes turning to him. He claps his hands in front of him with too big of a smile. "Get ready, because you're about to go through hell."

"I think we're already there," Kelly mumbles beside me.

I silently agree with her and I prepare myself mentally.

People better pray I don't kill them.

***