"I don't want to get up, Deborah." I sobbed, wrapping my arms tightly around her body. Securing her from who knows what.

"Babe," she chuckled softly as if she weren't dying in my hands right now. "You need to let me go, okay. This was payback for all the things I've done wrong and taken advantage of."

"Whatever you did, it doesn't justify this!" I exclaimed loudly, hating to hear those cruel words leave her lips when they weren't the slightest true. She was a good person, she didn't deserve this. "Who did this Deborah, who hurt you?"

Her shaky hands cupped my cheeks, and a tear slipped down her cheek. "Kaleb." She whispered as she brushed away my hair.

"Stay with me Deborah, the ambulance are on their way." I cried as I tried to block out the name she mentioned.

It can't be kaleb, it isn't kaleb. "I was meant to be killed, not you!"

"Wake up, Michelle!"

I snapped my eyes open and immediately my eyes interlocked with the figure towering over me. His hand shot out towards me and he swiped his finger under my eye, wiping away a tear that slipped down my cheek.

"Damn if this is how I wake up every morning then I don't wanna live here." His voice snapped me out of the slightest comfort that I was feeling and anger immediately surged through my body as I pushed myself upwards.

"Get out of my room you asshole!" I shrieked. He smirked and slipped off my bed. His eyes slid towards my nightstand and he suddenly frowned. "Sleeping pills?" He asked.

I followed his gaze and quickly pulled the bottle of sleeping pills off my table and stuffed it under my comforter. "I need them because I don't know if you're blind but I am crying!" I exclaimed as I motioned to my damp, tear-stained face.

"Anyways. . ." He mumbled as he bounced on his heels. "Keep it down on mornings, the only time I'd love to hear you screaming is when you're screaming my name." He winked flirtatiously, to which I nearly gagged in response.

That's vile.

I grabbed the pillow behind my back and pelted it after him. He skillfully dodged it and I gasped as it slammed against the wall and tumbled to the floor. He scoffed and shook his head, "Just kidding, you're probably a virgin, anyway." He shrugged as he pivoted on his heels and stalked out of my room.

Are you kidding me!?

After a few minutes of deep breaths, me trying my hardest to subside my anger; I planted my feet onto the floor and made my way into my bathroom to get ready for the day.

I quickly brushed my teeth, then took an even quicker shower. After showering, I slipped on a pink hoodie and a black pair of jeans.

After preparing myself for my day I tumbled out of my room and down the hall, but at the sound of the door slamming shut from behind me I halted in my step before tilting my head towards the sound where Mason stood

His towel was wrapped rather tightly around his torso and even from where I stood I got a peak of the outline of his v shaped muscles. Droplets of water trailed down his toned chest and soaked up the towel. I took in a sharp intake of breath and swallowed the saliva that built up in my throat when his hands shot upwards towards his head and ran through his fingers through his heavily damp hair.

He obviously didn't notice my presence and I thank the lord that he didn't because that would be extremely embarrassing to see me staring like this. Regardless, I kept my eyes trained on him as he moved forward and walked in the opposite direction towards his room.

I let out a heavy sigh but stayed rooted in my spot, trying to contemplate what I just witnessed. I didn't know how long I stood there, but the moment I heard a door shut I knew I had no time to escape.

"I saw you staring at me doll face." His monotone voice bellowed down the hallway.

I slowly pivoted on my heels and faced him. He wore his signature black ripped jeans but failed to wear a T–shirt with the towel wrapped around his neck.

"Where's your shirt?" I asked. He's already cocky and I'm not gonna make him feel even more of a dick just because I was gawking at his absolutely ravishing body.

"I'm not dumb." He winked as he ruffled his hair with the towel. "Just keep your eyes off me, I'll keep mine off yours, if you got that." He smiled.

But not a genuine smile. A really fake and chilling smile.

I rolled my eyes and scoffed before pivoting on my heels once again and storming down the stairs. "Morning to you all. No, I'm not feeling good, leave me alone, I'll be up in my room." I babbled quickly as I grabbed a plate with pancakes and quickly tried to get away from my parents.

"Hey, hey, hey! Hold up, chica." My mother called out. Ignored her and tried to storm out of the kitchen. But Mason suddenly appeared before me, a mischievous smirk on his face.

I had no choice but to turn around and head back into the kitchen. I'd like to encounter my mother before I had to stumble into him. "Morning Mason!" My father chirped when Mason causally strolled into the kitchen.

"Morning Mr White." He smiled as he took a sit at the other side of the Island table.

I narrowed my eyes at him as he placed his phone flat down onto the island and clasped his hands before him. "Call me Mandel and this is Mariam." He motioned towards my mother.

"Cool." He smirked as he interlocked gazes with me, "and should I call her bitch?" He suddenly asked. I widened my eyes in utter astonishment, prepping to hear my parents fight back in my honour, but neither of them said a word.

"And should I call you a criminal!?"

His playful glint quickly faded away and was replaced with a cold stare, his eyes narrowed in slits as he glared at me from across the table. "Michelle!" My mother exclaimed as she slammed the table cloth down on the counter.

So he can call me a bitch and my own parents don't say anything but I call him a criminal and I'M THE BAD ONE!?

"Nah it's fine." He mumbled as he shoved a pancake into his mouth, his gaze never leaving me. I was extremely uncomfortable but I couldn't show it, I can't give him that satisfaction.

My father suddenly cleared his throat as he pushed his stool back and hopped off. "Well, I'm off to the study. No one and I mean no one disturb me." He pointed a wary finger at us all before tumbling out of the kitchen.

Before I could muster up a word or even move his voice bellowed out through the house and I could feel the tension surging through my body as my eyes interlocked with Mason's own. I gulped and quickly slapped them shut. Why is he here!? "Hey Michelle, I thought we could talk! I brought pizza!"

He appeared at the entrance to the kitchen and stopped dead in his tracks when his eyes landed on Mason. He didn't even hide the disgust and uncomfortableness on his face.

"Who's this?" He feigned oblivion as he placed the box of pizza down onto the counter and slowly walked towards me.

He wrapped his hands around my neck and pulled my body against his side. I wanted to laugh at his attempt to seem intimidating, but held it in. "Well, I'm just gonna go." My mom piped in with a small nervous smile.

She quickly rushed out of the kitchen and bolted up the stairs, leaving me here in the biggest predicament of the century. No, I'm just kidding, this is worse. "This is Mason." I said with a faux smile as I stared at him.

His cold stare lingered onto me for a while. Then they swivelled towards Tristan. "The Juvenile delinquent?" He whispered into my ear warily. "No, the human being." Mason snapped. "Look–" He grunted as he pushed his stool back and hopped off.

"Why don't we settle things this way, fucktards. You pretty princess stay away from me for the entire year because things aren't gonna go well for you." He exclaimed threateningly.

I scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief. "Are you threatening me?"

"No." He chuckled humourlessly. "I'm warning you, you're gonna get yourself in deep shit if you torment me doll face, very deep shit."

With that, he pivoted on his heels and stomped out of the kitchen. I stared up at Tristan in shock. He also had a look of discomfort and fear lingering on his face as he looked down at me in disbelief.

"Did he just threaten to kill me?!" I screeched, Tristan let out a throaty chuckle, shaking his head. "Bitches be bonkers." He shrugged.

I ran my hands through my hair and stared at the entrance to the kitchen where Mason just left. He just threatened me.

I deserved it though. I haven't been myself for the past few days, I nearly slept with Damien, I have a juvenile delinquent in my house for an entire year.

He has done nothing to me and I've been passing off my rage on him.

I need to fix things before it gets nasty. "Uhm. . ." Tristan mumbled as he scratched the nape of his head, unsure of what do you next. "Not the right moment to talk about feelings?" He chuckled nervously, I narrowed my eyes at him and scoffed in disbelief.

I stormed out of the kitchen and tried my best to ignore his shouts of protest. "Michelle wait!" I sighed when he caught up to my speed. He caught my hand in his and spun me around so that I faced him, arching a brow I stared up at him.

"Let me take you out tonight, yeah?" He smiled as he held his phone in front my face. "I know you're free today."

I groaned as I thought back to the time when we both gave each other our daily schedules. Shit.

I thought of an excuse quickly and the words spurted out before I could stop it. "No can do, I'm going to a party tonight."

Why the heck would you say that Michelle!? you know damn well you don't do parties, well not after him.

"Oh, since when do you go to parties?" He asked in genuine confusion. "Since. . .Since Kayla invited me to Ronald's party, I heard it'll be the biggest party of the month."

"Oh." He mumbled in disappointment.

Oh, gosh, why am I doing this to him!? All he's trying to do is do something nice for me. "You know what! screw that party, I'll go out with you."

At this point, I didn't know what I'm doing. I don't wanna go out with him, but I don't wanna go to the party either. "Nah," he shook his head with a frown.

"Let's just eat pizza and watch a movie till you need to get ready and go." He smiled as he made his way back into the kitchen. I quickly pulled out my phone and texted Kayla about the party.

Not even a second later I got a text back saying she was already going and that I'm a bitch for not telling her I was too. I rolled my eyes as she sent another message saying she was gonna drag my ass, anyway.

I turned the phone off and slipped it into my back pocket as soon as Tristan came back with the box of pizza and two cans of pop.

"Ready?" He beamed.

So freaking ready.

Feast your eyes on Mason Hunter😗

🙃