I pulled away from the kiss and looked down at him, seemingly confused. He raised his eyebrows at me questioningly. "You're different," I stated. 

"Different how?" he questioned. 

"Just different," I whispered before pulling his lips back to mine. I pecked his lips before pulling away a minute or so into the kiss. I scrutinized him under my gaze and tried to decipher what he wasn't telling me. I could feel it. "Something else happened, didn't it?" I asked knowingly. 

He sighed in defeat and nodded. 

"What?" I questioned. 

"Clark was at my house this morning. When I left for school," he answered. 

"Why was he there? And why is that so worrying?" I asked. 

"You know that we don't get along with him. Nobody in the family does. Everyone's kind of... scared of him," he revealed. 

"Why?" I pried. 

"He knows some people. People nobody wants to get involved with." 

"Carter, what does he do?" 

He sighed and looked up at me, "He gambles." 

"Like- gambles? Illegally?" 

He nodded in response and I sighed loudly. "That's why Zach moved out. This one time, when he was still in high school, these people that Clark owed money broke into the house and almost found Zach. They could have killed him. He was able to hide in the attic. I think that's why Clark wanted the gym," he explained. 

"You think he owes somebody?" I clarified. 

"Yeah. If he wanted the gym he could have taken it earlier. But now... five years after Zach's been running it, it just doesn't make sense. Something's off. And I'm worried he'll pull my dad into his mess too." 

I brushed his hair out of his face and tilted his chin up so he looked at me. "I think your dad knows what he's doing. He'll be fine, just warn him. Tell him you're worried. But I'm sure he'll be just fine," I said reassuringly. 

"I hope so," he sighed. 

"Are you hungry? I can make chicken wings," I said, poking his cheek, trying to lighten the mood a little. 

"I don't want chicken wings," he replied. 

"What do you want?" I asked. He didn't answer, just stared at me. "I'm just gonna order in then," I said while hopping off the counter. I headed to grab the house phone but he grabbed my wrist and pulled me back, placing his lips back on mine. "Someone's a little needy," I chuckled between the kisses. 

"I haven't kissed you in a little over a week, all right?" he mumbled, walking forward till my feet hit the bottom of the stairs. I took the step up but I knew my clumsiness would lead me to fall, so I pulled away and took him up to my room. He closed the door and had me standing against it while he kissed me. 

The kiss became hastier and rougher until he broke it and threw his shirt off his head, pulling mine off moments later. I placed my hand on his chest and pushed him away when I heard the front door open. 

"I'm gonna kill whoever that is," he whispered, his breathing a little rougher. I bit back a laugh and listened in carefully. 

"Alex, are you home?!" my dad called out. I heard his footsteps coming up the stairs and grabbed our clothes before running into the bathroom with him. My bedroom door opened just as I locked the bathroom door. "Alex, are you home?!" 

"Um- yeah I was just about to take a shower!" I called out, leaning against the door. He tried kissing me but I gave him a scolding look and he didn't. 

"All right, I'm just here to grab some papers." 

He began kissing my neck. 

"Okay!" I called out, trying to push him off but he grabbed my wrists and held them above my head. 

"Don't wait up for dinner! I have work with Mr. Reed, all right?" 

"Yes, dad! I got it!" I yelled through gritted teeth, trying not to moan. I heard my bedroom door close and he finally pulled away with a smirk on his lips. "Are you crazy?!" I whisper-yelled, shoving him back. He shrugged before seating me on the counter and pulling my lips back to his. I rolled my eyes before pushing him away. "My dad is home," I said before pulling my shirt back on and unlocking the bathroom door, stepping back out. 

He leaned against my bedroom door and stared at me while I sat on my bed. The front door closed and he walked over. "Now he isn't," he smirked before kissing me. 

"You're really desperate," I pulled away while laughing. He rolled his eyes before throwing my shirt off. He hovered on top of me, trailing kisses down my neck and jaw when I realized something. "How come you always get to take charge?" I asked, panting lightly. 

"You wanna try taking charge?" he smirked. I didn't answer but he flipped us over anyway and had me on top this time. 

◆:*:◇:*:◆:*:◇:*:◆

I laughed while he scrolled through his Instagram and we watched random videos. "That one looked like it hurt, why are you laughing?" he chuckled, looking down at me. 

"It was funny," I shrugged while giggling. He stared at me before shaking his head and turning back to his phone. 

The doorbell rang numerous times and loud banging echoed through the house. I clicked my tongue in frustration before reaching over him and grabbing his shirt. He smirked while I pulled back and sat up, tugging the shirt lower before pulling pajama shorts on top of my underwear and going downstairs while throwing my hair up in a bun. 

I opened the door and saw a furious Hudson. My eyes widened while I tried closing the door but he put his foot in between and pushed it open. I stepped back while he walked in and looked around. "What are you doing?" I asked. 

"I know he's in here! Where is he?!" he yelled, throwing down a vase that we had by the door. 

"Hudson, what are you doing?!" I yelled. 

Carter came down in nothing but sweatpants and stood at the top of the stairs. He saw Hudson, sighed, rolled his eyes before coming downstairs as if he was taking a stroll. If they fight here, I won't be able to break them apart. We had to get Hudson out of here. "Back for more?" Carter smirked. 

"Carter," I said, slightly shaking my head. "Hudson, please just leave," I said. 

"You, shut up!" he yelled, pointing a finger at me. 

"That's not very nice," Carter clicked his tongue, looking at his finger that he pointed at me. 

"Is it?" Hudson poked him further before taking a step closer to me. 

I instinctively took one back and Carter took one forward before standing in front of him. "Not here, Hudson. We'll pick this up another time. As for now, get. The. Fuck. Out. Look, I even said it slowly so you'd understand. Get out," he spoke as if he were talking to a child. 

Hudson stepped forward but Carter quickly shoved him back. "I said not here. Leave!" he yelled. Hudson rolled his eyes and scoffed but listened nonetheless and left. He closed the door and sighed while staring at the broken vase before turning to me. "Sorry about that," he said sheepishly. 

"What do you mean not here? Are you going to fight him again?" I asked hesitantly. 

"No," he sighed, "I just had to get him out." I looked at him suspiciously. I know them both and neither of them likes losing or having unfinished business. 

They both like to win. 

"I promise," he said, holding his pinky. 

"If you break that promise, I'm not gonna talk to you," I said while locking my pinky finger with his. 

"I just got you back, I'm not gonna screw this up," he said while wrapping his arms around me. I hesitated but hugged him back nonetheless. He pulled away moments later and looked down at me with a taunting grin. "I like it when you take charge, you should do that more often," he smirked. 

I rolled my eyes and pulled away, going into the kitchen and opening the closet, grabbing a broom and dustpan. 

"I will do that," he said as I spun back around. He took the broom out of my hands and cleaned everything up. "That will be replaced," he said while tossing the broken pieces into the trash and putting everything back. 

"Don't bother. That thing was ugly anyway," I mumbled unapologetically. He chuckled before walking over and kissing me again. "I want ice cream," I mumbled, pulling away and grabbing myself a bowl and a spoon. 

"Ice cream comes before your boyfriend?" he pouted. 

"Duh," I answered sarcastically. "You want some?" I asked. He nodded and I gave him some then we went back upstairs, to my room.

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