I've shed enough tears for the past 24 hours, I have nothing worth crying for anymore.

I had no one to hold me, no one to comfort me. My parents weren't here yet and I've been here for a full day, exhausted beyond comprehension. It was Thursday today and I haven't been able to change out of my school uniform, take a bath and have a proper meal to eat.

I know these assholes are doing this just because I'm Michelle White. They know me, they know who my parents are and yet still they treat me like I'm useless just because of my past. God, I can't wait till my father sues them.

Bastards.

The handle of the door clicked open and I snapped my head towards it, preparing to spring out a string of insults at officer Bill until I recognized the woman stepping into the room. And before she could speak I propelled against the room and crashed into her arms, a cry of relief escaping my lips as her arm wrapped around me tightly.

"Mom! I'm so sorry I got our family into this mess. Whatever they said I did it was out of self-defence, please say you believe me," I pleaded as I pulled away from the hug, a tear slipping down my cheek despite the fact that I said I had no more tears to cry.

I guess I was just relieved that she was here.

"I believe you, Michelle." She said and I smiled, a chuckle of relief escaping my lips as I turned m attention to the door where my father stood beside officer Bill. He didn't seem upset like I thought he would be and before I could even acknowledge him he snapped his head towards officer Bill, his lips pulled into a thin line.

"What the hell is this?" You've had my daughter sitting in this dusty room against her will and you wouldn't let her go! Why? You're lucky it's not illegal or else I'd sue you and this whole damn precinct!"

"I couldn't have let her go Mr white I–" my father cut him, his deep chuckle resonating through the room as he glared down at Officer Bill intimidatingly. "Do you know who I am?" My father inquired and officer Bill nodded his head vigorously.

"Then don't bullshit me you old hag, get my daughter out of this room or I'll be the one sitting in that chair being interrogated for murdering you." He snapped, "I'm taking my daughter with me, that bastard Damien and Ryder can see us in court when I call up my lawyers." He hissed as he lightly gripped onto my shoulders and lead me out of the room followed by my mother.

I didn't say a word to either one of them as we walked down the hallway and into the waiting room. When I strutted in, I didn't have a second to breathe before a pair of arms gripped me in a tight hug. I gasped for air and flickered my eyes towards the person before my lips tugged into a smile when I realized it was Sasha.

"I was so worried." She said, her voice cracking slightly as we pulled away from the hug. Kaden outstretched his arms towards me and I rolled my eyes before enveloping him in a hug, "you should have stabbed them to death," he whispered into my ear and I chuckled as we pulled away.

Mason strolled towards me slowly, a small smile on his face, though despite the fact that he was smiling I could see the anger behind them but I knew he masked it with relief, relief that I was okay.

His arms slid around my waist and he pulled me towards him slowly and hugged me softly. He dipped his head into my neck and tightened his arms around me as if the moment he let me go I'd break. I smiled softly and wrapped my around his neck, not wanting to let go.

"I missed you," he mumbled groggily and I raked a hand through his hair, "It's only been a few hours."

"A few hours too long," he replied and I sighed deeply as I struggled to pull away from his arms. He frowned deeply as his hands fell from my waist.

His frown immediately subsided and a smirk slid onto his face as he intertwined his hands through mine, "let's go home and get you out of that close aye. . .don't want to stink for the rest of the day."

And he's back.

"Are you saying I stink?" I gasped and he chuckled as we tumbled out of the station.

As we stepped outside, I didn't expect to find reporters standing at the foot of the stairs, cameras in hand, flashing light flickering across my vision and the loud voices that mixed in with one another, loud in my ears as we sauntered down the stairs.

I hate tabloids.

I hate my name out in the public and especially for something like this.

"Michelle, did you really threaten those poor boys with a knife?"

"Michelle, how do you think this is going to reflect on your father's company!?"

"Michelle. . .does it feel good to be back in prison?"

I paused and snapped my head towards the sea of reporters, searching for the person who said that. That voice, it was so familiar, I've heard it somewhere before. I sighed deeply when I didn't find what I was looking for and turned towards Sasha who flashed me a smile.

"I'll see you later, okay?" She said and I nodded my head before pulling her into a hug. I bid Kaden goodbye and watched as the two strutted away, leaving Mason and I.

Mason and I climbed into the limousine and I watched as my parents stood at the top of the stairs leading into the precinct answering the reporter's questions.

The door was slammed before my face and I groaned softly as my eyes began to burn from lack of sleep.

I haven't slept for the entire night.

One because Bill didn't allow me to do so because he was screaming at me and two because I just couldn't sleep even if he wasn't screaming.

"You tired?" Mason asked and I nodded my head slowly. He motioned towards him and I laid closer towards him. I lowered my head down onto his thighs and flickered my eyes shut as he ran his fingers through my scalp.

•••

The bed dipped beside me and I groaned softly as I buried my head further into the pillow. I was slowly slipping back into my slumber until Mason's deep voice enveloped my ears. I could feel his fingers through my hair, the heat that reverberated off his body and onto me, the scent of his perfume.

Everything about this was intoxicating. "When I first saw you at the airport I thought you were even more beautiful than Kaleb had described. You had that glow on your face as you stood beside your father waiting for me to arrive. I thought when I came I'd be meeting this timid and shy girl but you were the opposite.

I have to admit the first time you spoke to me I instantly hated you. I didn't want too but I guess you just rubbed off the wrong way. I thought you were gonna ruin my stay here, that you'd get in my way somehow. . . but then when I saw you at that party dancing, in your own world, your eyes were glowing, your skin, your hair. . . that feeling I felt when I first saw you at the airport came back and I no longer hated you.

Kaleb always talked about you back when we were close. He described you in a way I thought was just, I don't know, amazing I guess? And when I found out that my father's friend, Mr. White was willing to take me in and I'd get to meet the Michelle White Kaleb wouldn't stop talking about. . .well, I was elated.

I don't regret kissing you that night, Michelle, I don't. Because now I get to be with you. . .I can protect you. I did what I had to do to protect you."

What does he mean he did what he had to do to protect me?!

"I promise I'll keep you safe from Ryder. . .from Damien, and especially from Kaleb."

~~~

I shot up from my bed and gasped for air as my hands immediately flew to my chest. My heart slammed against my chest rapidly and I groaned in distress as I cradled my throbbing head in my hands, another nightmare.

I flickered my eyes towards the spot beside me and frowned deeply at the dip in the bed. . .but no Mason.

He's gone, no wonder I had a nightmare. I really should have taken those damn pills.

I flung the duvet off of me and crawled off my bed. I grabbed my phone on the nightstand and unlocked it. Almost immediately, notifications bombarded my screen and I groaned in annoyance as I tried to click off of them.

Instead of clicking off, I accidentally pressed onto one of them which directed me to twitter. I frowned deeply as I leaned against the wall, my eyes flickering across the screen in shock.

I gritted my teeth in anger and willed myself to not throw my phone across the room. I turned it off and placed it on the nightstand as I tried to collect myself.

I mean come on hashtag CrazybitchMichelle? Who even came up with that!?

Brushing the feeling off, I decided to take a shower and dress in a pair of oversized sweatpants and an oversized hoodie because quite frankly I wanted to be comfortable.

I basically snuck into Mason's room and stole it when he was off to school and I was suspended.

Don't judge me.

I descended the stairs and made my way into the kitchen. I retrieved a carton of milk from the fridge and climbed onto the counter to grab the box of fruit loops in the cabinet.

Before I could get down there was a clicking sound followed by a deep chuckle. I snapped my head towards the entrance of the kitchen and groaned in embarrassment as Mason stood there, his phone in one hand and a pizza box in the other.

He placed the box down onto the table and chuckled once again as he slipped the phone into his pocket. "I'm putting this as my screen saver," I rolled my eyes, not bothering to protest as I climbed down the counter.

"Are you wearing my hoodie?" He inquired, a soft smile on his face as his eyes assessed me slowly.

"I am and I'm not sorry."

"I'm not complaining, dollface. I like seeing you in my clothes." He mumbled and I blushed deeply as I grabbed a slice of pizza out of the box and brought it to my lips.

Silence enveloped us and I lowered myself down onto the stool as I peered up at him. I couldn't help but ponder over his words from last night. How he said he did what he had to do to protect me, what did he mean by that?"

"Mason. . .what did you mean when you said you did what you had to do to protect me?" I inquired and his eyes bore into mine, almost as if he were looking into my soul. He lowered his pizza down into the box and I feared for a moment that I'd upset him. Instead, he smiled and leaned closer towards me.

"Dollface."

"Yeah?"

"Don't have a rack attack."