During the ride home, I was quiet which wasn't really something different but I didn't want to talk to anyone and I had tears in my eyes.

"Alyssa?" Aaliyah said and I ignored her. "Alyssa," she repeated.

I hugged my knees tighter,"Please don't talk to me, Aaliyah." I said softly as I stared out the window. She kept quiet and I sighed in relief.

"Anyway, congrats on winning Aaliyah," Aeri said and Aaliyah chuckled.

"Thanks but I owe it to Alyssa. She and Marcus were going to win but since they left, they picked the second winner," she said. "Alyssa, if you want, you can take the prize."

I shook my head and smiled,"It's okay, you deserve it."

"Not really, you and Marcus do. You guys made me cry. I could see the love between you two," Aaliyah said while she fanned her face, pretending to almost cry.

I almost smiled but I didn't, but incase I did, I looked out the window. Aaliyah slowed down the car to a stop by my house. I turned to everyone, "Bye," I said softly and I heard them say 'bye' too, and I swear I heard Bree say 'bye' too. I shut the car door and I walked inside the house.

I ascended the stairs and went to my room. I changed into my baby pink oversized tee which had my name along with small hearts around. I wore my socks and I left the room to make food for myself in the kitchen. While I glanced at the door, I paused, realising something.

I had locked the door when I left the house.

My eyes widened as a chill ran down my spine.

Did someone break in? I thought to myself as I descended the stairs. I searched the house after locking the door. No one was inside the house after I checked. Still feeling scared, I went to my room and took my phone. I dialed Marcus' number and pressed call.

He answered almost immediately, "Baby cheeks?"

I didn't want to tell him about me suspecting that someone got in the house because I didn't want him to stress over me. He probably had problems of his own but I still wanted him here.

"Are you busy with anything now?" I asked as I looked over my shoulder.

"No," he replied,"Why?"

"C- can you come over?" I asked.

He was silent for a few seconds,"I'm coming. Did something happen?" he asked.

"Uhm... n--"

"Baby cheeks, be honest. Tell me when you're in trouble," he said.

I sighed,"I returned home to see that someone had unlocked the front door but I left the house knowing that the door was locked."

"Where are your mom and sister?" he asked and I heard a sound of him driving.

"Gone to a camping trip. They will only arrive next week Friday," I said.

"Fuck," he murmured.

"Marcus, there's no one. I checked," I said and sighed.

"I'll be there in a minute," he said. I left my bedroom and descended the stairs. I stood by the front door, waiting for Marcus. I hung up the call and crossed my arms over my chest.

Someone knocked on the door and I opened it. Marcus walked past me, searching frantically for anybody who might have came in the house. He rushed upstairs and checked every room.

I smiled and locked the door, walking up the stairs. I grabbed Marcus' wrist and he stopped, looking at me. He furrowed his eyebrows when he saw the smile on my face,"Is this a prank?" he said.

"No, really. When I came home, I realised that the door was unlocked. I was scared so I called you," I said and Marcus sighed. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in for a hug. I wrapped my arms around his waist and I felt something tucked in his jean pocket.

"Marcus, is... is that a gun?" I asked.

Marcus pulled away and nodded,"Yeah."

I playfully backed away from Marcus, "Why do you have it?"

"Gotta come prepared, Baby cheeks," he said and pulled it from his jean pocket. He eyed it and looked at me.

"Do you want to learn how to shoot a gun?" Marcus asked with a smirk. "It could really come in handy."

"It sounds scary... but I could." I nodded after thinking for a few seconds. "Can I hold it?" I asked, pushing out my bottom lip.

Marcus stared at my lips for a few seconds before looking at me in the eye,"No... not yet," Marcus put it back in his pocket. He walked downstairs.

"Wait... where are you going?" I asked, wanting him to stay over.

"Home," Marcus answered after stopping to look at me. My cheeks started heating as I played with the hem of my tee. Marcus smiled and turned to me, slowly walking up the stairs.

He reached the top and placed his hands on my waist,"Do you want me to stay?" he whispered next to my ear, his warm breath fanning my neck. I shut my eyes letting out a small breath.

"Yes," I replied and pulled away from him. "Maybe... we can watch a movie," I suggested. "Want anything to eat? Drink?" I asked as I descended the stairs.

"No thanks," he answered as he followed me. He sat on the couch.

"Snacks then?" I said as I took out some Oreos, packets of chips and sweets. Trying to carry them all, I shuffled to Marcus and threw all the snacks on him. He looked at me with with raised eyebrow.

Gosh, he's beautiful. I couldn't stop thinking that because he was beautiful. Inside and out. It was difficult to think why Marcus wanted to be with me.

Does he want to be with me?

Maybe... because he had said that I was important to him which really shocked me.

Does it mean he loves me?

Whoa, hold the freaking phone, love is a strong word. But the weird thing is that I feel a strong connection between me and Marcus. So strong, when we seperate, it's torture to be away from him.

I hopped on the couch next to him after switching off the lights. Marcus had chosen what movie to watch and I wasn't familiar with it. It was a comedy movie which made him chuckle a few times.

I glanced at Marcus, seeing him slightly smile. His beautiful smile which made my heart beat faster. Marcus looked at me and smiled, he laid on couch. I laid next to him, my head on his chest which I noticed was beating hard.

I wrapped my arm around his torso and I snuggled closer. I watched a bit of the movie, laughing with Marcus at the funny parts. He ran his fingers through my hair as I closed my eyes. He kissed the top of my head and I bit my lip, trying not to smile. He covered us with a blanket and wrapped his arms around me, "Goodnight Baby cheeks."

"Alyssa!" Marcus shouted as I started sliding off. Marcus reached for me but I fell out of the helicopter. "No!" Marcus shouted. I spun in the air and saw I was about to land in the woods--

I opened my eyes and breathed laboriously. Cold sweat covered my whole body as I found myself shaking. The dream felt so real, like always, but there was something about this one.

I was so relieved that it was just a dream.

More like a nightmare.

I looked at the alarm clock and saw that it was almost four o' clock in the morning. I sighed and got out of bed. I then realised that I had fell asleep on the couch... with Marcus.

Where was he?

I slowly got up from bed and stretched. I walked out my bedroom and slowly opened the door. I left the room and went down the stairs, spotting Marcus sleeping peacefully on the couch.

Walking over to the couch, I saw him sleeping. He slept bare-chested, his necklace around his neck that I hadn't noticed. He was facing me and his mouth was closed.

I turned around, and someone held my wrist, giving me a fright. I gasped and turned around, looking at Marcus.

"Dude, how are you awake?" I asked Marcus, smiling.

Marcus opened one eye and looked at me,"I had a bad dream."

I awed and sat down in front of the couch,"Tell me about it," I said.

Marcus sighed and looked at me. "I missed you," he said and I frowned. I chuckled and cupped his cheek.

Marcus shut his eyes,"Why are you awake, Baby cheeks?" his voice lower and lazy. "Did you miss me too?"

"Actually... yeah," I said and Marcus broke into a grin. I chuckled,"But it was because of a bad dream."

"What happened?" Marcus asked, opening his one eye again to look at me again.

I sighed, a chill running down my spine,"I dreamt we were both on a helicopter, suddenly I started sliding off it since there was no pilot. I don't know what you were doing but it kept you occupied and you couldn't catch me in time. Then I fell off and I was about to land in the woods. I was about to die but I woke up."

Marcus furrowed his eyebrows and sat upright. He held my hand and made me sit on his lap as he kept his arm around my waist,"At least it was just a dream." he pecked my cheek and picked me up bridal style. He walked upstairs and went in my bedroom. He gently placed me on the bed, my arms were wrapped around his neck, bringing him down with me.

Marcus stared me, his dark brown bored into mine as his hands were on my waist. His gaze slowly drifted my eyes to my lips, pulling his bottom lip into his mouth. It was very dark in the room, but the moon illuminated inside the room and I could see Marcus' beautiful facial features.

Marcus slowly drew closer to me and I slowly pulled him closer in the process. Our lips met and I felt a calm explosion in body. My hands slowly trailed down his arms until I held his waist.

Marcus slowly climbed onto the bed, deepening the kiss as he cupped my cheeks. Letting him take over the kiss, my hands roamed his muscular torso. Our lips separated for a second, sucking in breath before meeting again. I moaned against Marcus' lips, wrapping my legs around his waist. Running my fingers through his soft yet messy hair and held his neck. Marcus gripped both my thighs, his body right inbetween them.

Marcus kissed my neck, gently nibbling and sucking on it. I let out a moan while I tugged his hair. "Marcus," I breathed, my hands slowly ran down his back and held his boxers. He stopped and I furrowed my eyebrows, his jaw clenched and our eyes met.

His usual eyes that filled with happiness and love was replaced with something darker. His eyes filled with a familiar look.

Passionate lust.

He kissed me again,"You have no idea, how I want you right now," he spoke against my lips. "But I have to stop..." he pecked my cheek. "Before I lose control," he said with a smirk, pulling away. He sat upright beside me.

"But I didn't want you to stop," I whispered, my lips brushing against his as I gently caressed his inner thigh.

"Alyssa..." he breathed, his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. "Do you still want to be a virgin?" he asked, looking at me with a smirk.

I stared at him blankly.

"Then I'd stop if I were you," Marcus said,"Are you a virgin by the way?"

"No," I replied seriously. Of course, I was lying.

Marcus scoffed,"Sure." he looked at the alarm clock. I got under the covers. Marcus got under the covers with me, and I started blushing. "H- how are you doing in Math?" I asked. Marcus sighed but smiled.

"Straight A's, baby," he said lazily.

I grinned,"That's very good to hear," I said and pecked his lips. I pulled the blanket up to my neck and I looked at Marcus sleeping.

He wrapped his strong arms around me, pulling me close to him. He kissed my forehead and I rested my head on chest. Hearing his heart hammer against his chest made me smile. I wrapped my arms around his waist,"Goodnight Baby cheeks."

"Goodnight Marcus."