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could hear the roaring scream. They were pounding at his ears, making him wince every once in a while.

Who was screaming?

Trying to move, he groaned in aggravating frustration. The noise was deafening and he felt like sinking to drown out the screams.

Please stop.

The voice was of a little boy, scared and alone. Afraid he'd never be rid of the situation currently taking place. The boy was whimpering now. Crying for the perpetrator to stop. Stop whatever they were doing.

Their pleads went unheard though, as the perpetrator hooked their hands onto their pants and pulled down.

The boy's screams grew louder as the tears poured down harder.

No. Please no no no.

But the perpetrator wouldn't listen. They wouldn't listen to the helpless child in front of them, who was about to experience something no child or adult should ever have to face.

Another voice was heard though. Calling out to the little boy, the voice was full of concern. Wanting to help the little boy who shook with fright. The little boy who shook from fear of his father.

"Maddox."

The voice was soft, gentle, loving. Pulling the once little boy out of his childhood nightmare. His nightmare of a childhood.

"Maddox."

Snapping out of the terror he lived in his sleep, Maddox opened his eyes and pushing against the bed to sit up in a hurry. Blood-shot eyes and hoarse throat, sweat trickled down his back.

That little boy was him.

Maddox struggled to regain his lost breath as he failed to calm himself down. A hand lay softly on his bicep, giving a gentle squeeze to let him know that she was right beside him.

Shuffling to get closer, Evelyn clambered over to his side. Resting another hand on his lap, she attempted to let him know she wasn't going anywhere.

Looking towards her, Maddox stared in wondrous confusion. Everything seemed a little out of place all of the sudden.

The nightmare didn't finish. It didn't last till the end. For once, Maddox didn't need to relive the whole scene.

Because of Evelyn.

As the thought settled into his mind, he embraced her in a tight and comforting hug.

"Thank you," he whispered with relief.

Hugging him back, Evelyn took a deep breath wanting to remember his scent.

"It's okay," she mumbled. Laying her head on his shoulder, she closed her eyes as he rest his atop hers.

"How long have they been happening?" she quietly asked.

Shaking his head, he tried to think back to when it all started.

"I'm not sure," he mumbled with sudden lack of knowledge. "Three years?"

Evelyn's eyes widened in shock, "That long?"

Nodding his head, he tried to breathe calmly, to try and relax himself. Evelyn felt the urge to hug him and never let go. He didn't deserve any of that.

She also knew that he didn't mean to say anything out loud. But she heard enough to know the basis of his nightmares.

Please don't do this to me dad.

Biting her lip and blinking to rid herself of a tear that almost fell, her heart dropped. Whatever happened to him definitely left its mark. And she had a feeling it would never stop torturing him.

Laying back down on the bed, Maddox closed his eyes and covered them with his hands to stop the dim light from giving him more of a headache.

"Can you turn the lights off?" he asked with annoyance.

Rushing to do as he told, she nearly tripped over the blanket that caught her foot. "Of course," she said.

Coming back to sit on the edge of the bed, she stared down at him wondering if he'd be okay if she left him alone.

"You sure you're okay?"

Dully nodding his head, he let out a sound of irritation.

"I'm fine," he snapped with controlled anger surging through his veins. Opening his eyes to see the hurt expression on her face, he sighed realizing she wasn't the reason for his subtle outrage. She didn't do anything, she didn't deserve that kind of treatment.

"I'm sorry," he tried to say, "I ju—just I ca—"

Shushing him, she nodded her head.

"I understand," she said smiling softly, attempting to offer as much comfort as she could.

"Well, goodnight Maddox," she whispered as she started to stand up. His hand caught hers though as he pulled her to lay down beside him.

Turning to his side and wrapping his arm around her waist, he brought her closer to him.

"Stay."

Frozen in disbelief, she tried to form words. Realizing she wasn't going to be able to say anything with his arm wrapped around her, she let out a faint laugh and snuggled closer.

And that was all he needed to know.

Groaning as the sunlight hit his sensitive eyes, he brought the blankets closer to his head.

As shuffling occurred beside him, he opened one eye in absolute confusion. Assessing what lay in front of him, he stared at the beauty still sleeping.

Feeling the need to brush the hair in front of her closed eyelids, he brought his hand closer to her face before trailing a finger down her cheek.

Was this creepy?

He wasn't sure, but she sure did look adorably disoriented.

Soon enough, she crinkled her nose as a hair tickled it before slowly opening her eyes.

Letting her vision balance out, she looked at Maddox in confusion. Staring at him, she furrowed her eyebrows.

Raising an eyebrow as a smirk formed on his face, he watched her face turn from confusion to one of shock. As her cheeks heated in embarrassment, she bit her lip.

"Morning," he cheekily whispered.

"Uh u— ye—yeah you too," she stuttered out incoherently.

As they looked at each other, the playfulness disappeared from Maddox's face as an aura of lust carried between them.

He knew his presence affected her. She got nervous and closed up. It was cute, but it didn't sit right with him. He didn't exactly feel whatever it is she felt and he knew she felt something. Maybe it was the fact that she'd never really befriended a guy before or she just looked too into things, but he didn't feel whatever it was that she felt. Or at least that's what he kept telling himself.

This was Evelyn. She wasn't stunning or gorgeous. Yes, she was beautiful. But not particularly looks wise. She was above average, but she wasn't exceptional like some other girls. This was Evelyn. He didn't like her like that.

Then why did he have to keep telling himself that?

"I'm gonna brush my teeth," he stated with a voice full of regret.

Looking at him with wide eyes, Evelyn didn't know what to make of the situation. What just happened? But as she looked away from his eyes, she shook her head before letting a smile slip onto her face.

"Yeah you go do that," she said a little too cheery.

She saw the regret in his eyes. She knew he regretted even being in the same bed as her.

Hastily walking towards the bathroom, Maddox closed the door harshly.

Standing still, he stared at himself in the mirror. Flashing back to what could've happened, a shiver ran down his spine.

Turning the knob for the sink, he splashed his face with cold water to shake him out of the daze he was in.

That was close.

He almost wanted to kiss her. What if they had kissed? What would've happened? He didn't know the answer to that though. Would things have been awkward between them? Well, he was sure things were already awkward. Would they have gone further? As that question entered his mind, he wondered what else they would've done.

No. Stop. That's inappropriate.

Closing the knob to the sink, he quickly dried his face before grabbing his toothbrush and brushing his teeth. Leaving the bathroom, he noticed that Evelyn wasn't in the bed anymore. She wasn't even in his room. But noticing her necklace on the nightstand, he let out a breath of relief.

Maddox sat on his bed as frustration seeped through his skin, tingling every nerve ending. He needed a release and he knew that Evelyn sure as hell would never be that release. She came with too much baggage and he could barely carry his own for god sake. She needed better than him. She was nice and thoughtful, and she truly did get him through last night, but he couldn't be around her right now.

He would explode.

With that final though, he grabbed his phone off the charger on the bedside table before dialing Tiana's number. She was a good distraction.

And a perfect release.

"Hello?"

"Tiana," he started with a hard tone.

Immediately upon realizing who was calling her, Tiana's voice dropped an octave or two, becoming more breathless, and seductive.

"Maddox," she drawled out, "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Knowing her game, he knew what to say. She was an easy catch even if she liked to make the game hard. If you played the game long enough, she'd get confused and give in. She was fiery, but submissive and patient.

Tiana was the bitch of the school. As if every school didn't have one. And she was Maddox's booty call. Well that term wasn't the most thoughtful and it wasn't the most truthful either. Tiana and Maddox were definitely getting it on, but they were more. After doing that, they would talk for hours on end. Just joking around and chatting and being a shoulder to cry on. They were more than friends with benefits. So yes, she was more than just his booty call. But she wasn't enough for anything serious.

"I'm coming over," he murmured before cutting the call.

Pinching the sides of his nose, Maddox closed his eyes and attempted to take a deep breath. He needed to get it together.

Walking downstairs, the scent of bacon and eggs made its way to his nose. Turning the corner into the kitchen, he saw Evelyn making them breakfast.

"That smells good," he awkwardly said. Scratching the back of his head in discomfort, he walked over to take a seat by the stools near the island.

Jumping at his words, she put a hand to her heart.

"You scared me," she breathed out with her eyes wide.

Laughing slightly, he took an apple from the fruit bowl before taking a bite out of it.

"So," he started, "how'd you know where everything was?"

Shrugging, she mumbled something about just scavenging every cupboard and the fridge for the ingredients she needed.

As silence filled the awkwardness between them, Maddox struggled to come up with something to say. He needed a conversation starter, but he was lost for words.

Watching Evelyn work the kitchen, a feeling soared through his heart.

She was so damn caring. And he didn't deserve that.

"So look," Maddox. started, "I need you to leave."

Her mouth formed an 'o' as she digested what he said.

"Uh oh u—uh why?"

Her voice slowly diminished into a soft whisper as she looked down wanting to hide from his gaze.

Narrowing his eyes at her, his lips formed a thin line.

"What do you mean why?" he bit back with authority.

"I just can't leave," she mumbled with her head down.

Trying to meet her gaze, he gave up as she barely looked at him. Nodding his head, he got up and walked closer to her. Shuffling slightly away from him, she found comfort in the corner between the stove and open counter.

Grabbing a plate, he filled it with eggs, bacon and the toast that just popped out of the toaster.

"I'll drop you after we eat. So eat."

Furiously shaking her head, she tried to speak to say that she didn't want to leave. She really didn't, but instead she quietly grabbed a plate of breakfast for herself before sitting beside him.

Seeing how little she had on her plate, he felt the urge to question her, but instead just let it be.

Finishing his breakfast, he quickly went upstairs to put a shirt on. Just as he was about to leave his room, he remembered that Evelyn wasn't wearing any pants. Grabbing a pair of sweatpants he grew out of, he came back downstairs to a waiting Evelyn.

"Here," he said as he tossed the sweatpants her way.

Not exactly sure what he gave her, she stared at the soft material slipping through her fingers before realizing they were sweatpants.

"Thank you."

"No problem."

Trying not to stare at her legs on open display, Maddox busied himself with putting on a pair of black vans.

As Evelyn walked over to her shoes beside him, he finally glanced back at her.

Those sweatpants were baggy as hell. And with his big shirt on her small body, the amusement on his face was clear.

Glaring at him, she tried to square up to his tall frame as she put her hands on her hips.

"Don't look at me like that," she fumed.

Putting his hands up in surrender, he bit his lip to stop from laughing.

"That sure fits you well," he commented.

Rolling her eyes, she turned around with sass before marching out the door.

"I do not appreciate the sarcasm."

Letting out a hearty laugh, he made his way to the driver's side of the car before getting in and turning on the ignition.

Giving Evelyn a quick glance, he noticed the faint smile on her lips dull to a small frown as she stared out the window. Shaking off the guilt, he started the drive towards her house in silence.

Upon reaching the entrance of the gates to the mansion before them, Evelyn leaned over him to show the guard her ID. As the gates opened, Maddox circled the car around the fountain in the center of their full 360° driveway.

Noticing her father waiting outside on the stairs before the door, a feeling crept up Maddox's spine.

And it was a feeling he didn't like.

Evelyn saw her father waiting and before the car even completely stopped, she was already rushing out the door.

"Bye," she quickly said before walking towards her dad.

Knowing that he should leave immediately, Maddox didn't spare another glance before tailing out of there. But as he glanced into the side mirror of his car, he saw Mr. Moreau grab Evelyn's dainty arm harshly before shoving her into the house like a rag doll.

And that's when Maddox knew.

He shouldn't have dropped her back home.

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