"Where are you going again?" Ma asks me, looking from her novel and gazing at me over her oval-shaped spectacles.

"Bowling with Kai and Heidi," I say breezily and feel guilt pool in the pit of my stomach as I openly lie to Ma, for the first time.

"That sounds fun, dear. Have a lovely time," she tells me.

I nervously peek over to Pa, who is lightly snoring in his recliner chair. Callum is playing a game on his new iPad. Perfect – they're all distracted.

Butterflies erupt inside my stomach and I suddenly feel queasy. I stumble to my feet, my heart beginning to hammer inside my chest.

"Night, Ma. Don't wait up," I tell her, kissing her forehead tenderly.

"Goodnight dear. You look beautiful, by the way."

"Thanks!"

I trot to the door and glance down at myself one last time.

I'm dressed in a pair of tight-fitting jeans and a maroon top. I silently slip out the door and my hands begin to shake when I see a black truck idling at the end of my driveway. I pray that Ma remains in the lounge room as I run to meet him.

I fling the door open and slide across the leather. "Hi."

"Hey," he says, nudging the heat nozzle up.

He looks tense as he sits there, his thumbs drumming against the steering wheel.

"Nice truck," I compliment him. "Is it yours?"

"My dad got a loan out on it and then didn't have money to pay for it. My grandparents pay off the loan as an 'I'm sorry we're not around to have made your life better, here's a car so we don't look so terrible' gift." He bitterly explains and I blink a few times in surprise, not having expected an honest answer like that. He takes in my shocked, curious expression and grimaces. "Another story for another time."

"Okay."

He puts the car into gear and begins to drive. I watch him, feeling free to be open about it now and not having to hide it like I have the past two weeks. His left-hand rests on the gear stick, his right loosely gripping the wheel, his elbow propped onto the window.

"Is it crazy that I missed you, but I don't even know you?" I question.

His fingers tighten around the steering wheel and he sits a little straighter. He clears his throat.

"No need to freak out, Haze." I say to him in amusement.

"I-I know what you mean," he utters, his jaw stiff as he swallows uneasily.

I smile in satisfaction. "Let's play a game."

"Your last game wasn't much of an actual 'game'," he points out.

"Twenty questions. Go."

He is quiet for a few moments as he slows to give way at an intersection.

"Favourite colour?"

"Blue. Where do you see yourself in five years?"

He groans. "That's a dumb question."

"Answer it!"

"I don't know... with a job, doing something I like, I guess."

"Okay. Move on." I give in.

"Favourite... animal?" he asks.

"Dog. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?"

"Hawaii or something. Favourite food?"

"Ma's roast. How old are you?"

"I turn eighteen next week." He answers.

"Off the grid – what are you going to do for it?"

"Nothing."

I purse my lips, already knowing that if I have anything to do with it, he will not be doing nothing.

I go ahead and ask another question, even though it's not my turn. "That's why you were released with the probation agreement, right? Because otherwise you'd be transferred to an adult facility?"

"Correct."

"What was prison like?"

"Are you going to let me ask any?" he asks in amusement.

"Sorry, I can't help myself. Can you answer?"

"It's different to what I thought it would be. I got along with the guys in there. No one really gave me any grief, except one guy when I first arrived. I did my time, didn't cause any trouble. Got out because of it. Made a few friends. The worst part is the lack of privacy." He sighs, rubbing his chin as we continue to drive. "It's not a place I want to go back to."

"Okay. Thanks. Your turn."

"Is... what's your brother's name again?"

"Callum."

"Is he the only sibling you have?"

"Yeah. Same with you?"

"I... had an older sister. She died." He says quietly.

"Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry." I blurt out in horror.

"I was only young when it happened. There was ten years between us. I was seven and she was seventeen. She died in a car crash, due to drunk driving."

"Wow. I'm sorry."

"I honestly didn't know her that well. I mean, I was only seven... I didn't understand a lot at the time. It really affected my dad."

I swallow and nod, unsure of what words to say next. A calm silence settles between us. A silence neither awkward, or too comfortable.

We reach the skate park in town, which attracts a lot of adolescents who are into skating or riding scooters. We pull up at one of the parks and I peer out, noting that this is the quietest I've ever seen it. I usually do only drive by in the day time, which is the busiest time for the skate park. He cracks the window, allowing some of the cool, night air to slither in. He half turns, propping his leg up.

I unbuckle my seat belt and face him, suddenly feeling a little nervous, now that the car has stopped.

"I can't think of a question."

I roll my eyes. "There are literally so many you can ask."

"Fine, you go then."

"What's your favourite alcohol?"

"Bourbon."

"Do you drink often?" I blurt before he has a chance to ask one.

"Yes and no. Not as much now, I guess. You?"

"Not really. I only have two or three drinks at a time and only at a party," I say.

He nods.

"Why have I never met you?" I question. "This is a small town. Surely, I would have."

"I went to school in the next town as I used to catch a ride in with a mate. I got expelled when I was fifteen and didn't go to school for three months. I got arrested right after my sixteenth birthday so I wasn't around much to meet a lot of people."

"How did you feel when you got arrested?"

"Annoyed."

"Were you scared?"

He breathes out his nose deeply. "Yeah. I was terrified."

"Do you regret what you did to get you arrested?" I ask, feeling like I'm interviewing him for a journal article.

"Yes. No. Not entirely."

Questions are burning inside me. I feel like I'm starving and he has a carton of food, dangling bit by bit at a time in front of me. Enough to keep me satisfied, but hungry for more.

"If you could go back in time-"

"I think that's enough questions," he sighs.

He pushes the door open and slides out. I quickly scramble to get out myself and follow him. I tug my jacket closer to me as the cool night wind has picked up. He walks over to one of the ramps and begins to walk up it. Once at the top, he drops down into sitting position, swinging his legs over the side.

I climb up and join him, sitting so close that our arms touch.

"Why did you bring me here?" I ask softly.

"I used to spend a lot of time here when I was younger."

I nod.

"You know; I was happy to be on my own. I didn't need anyone." He says in a cold tone. "But you ruined that, didn't you?"

"Yep." I say, not giving in to his icy tone. "You're better off with me, then without."

"Why's that?"

"You'd be lonely, otherwise." I murmur softly.

He looks down, his finger picking at a loose thread in his jeans.

"Haze?" I whisper.

"What?"

"Can you tell me your first name?"

"No."

"Why not?" I pout.

"It's a shit name."

"And I would care because?"

"You'd laugh," he mutters gruffly.

"No, I wouldn't."

"You're never going to know, so we won't find out."

"I could ask a teacher at school. Surely, it would be on the class roll."

"Drop it, Ellie. I'm serious." He growls, glaring at me.

I roll my eyes dramatically, shaking my head. "Cranky much?"

"Fuck off."

"Don't swear at me."

"Don't be annoying," he huffs, tugging his beanie down so that it covers the tips of his ears.

I smile, enjoying the banter between us. I turn to face him, gently touching my hand over his.

"Haze?"

"What now?" he sighs.

"Can you kiss me?"

He whips his head to mine and I'm shocked I asked. I just can't help but blurt out everything I'm feeling when I'm around him. It's a curse.

I see his Adam's apple bob up and down. His lips part as he studies me.

I lean in subconsciously. I need to feel those lips on mine again. I haven't been able to remove the memories from my mind.

"I thought we agreed on friends?" he asks, his voice husky.

"I lied," I whisper.

He cups my face with both hands and presses his warm lips to mine. I run my tongue roughly across his. He makes a groan sound in the back of his throat as he pulls me on top of him. Soon, I'm straddling his waist as I kiss him hard, my hands having a mind of their own as they explore his defined chest.

His hands slide underneath my coat and run down my sides. His finger dips in between my skin and my jeans waistline and I draw in a sharp breath, almost choking on air as he does. I reel into sitting position, my heart slamming into my ribcage.

He smiles up at me and I freeze. He has the most gorgeous smile.

"You should smile more," I say softly, touching his face, my hair spilling down either side of my face.

His face hardens. "Don't ruin it."

"I'm not ruining anything," I argue. "I'm just saying-"

He pushes me off him roughly. He stands and jogs down the ramp.

"Haze!" I call out. "What are you doing?"

"Why can't you just leave things alone?" he argues, his voice strained as he angrily adjusts his beanie.

"What the hell? I made a suggestion! Why are you freaking out?" I exclaim, more confused than angry.

He shakes his head and storms towards his truck. I scramble to my feet and run after him. He just reaches it, when I wrench his arm back.

"Stop picking fights with me. Like I said to you – it's simple. I like you, you like me, right?"

He clenches his jaw, glaring over my head.

"Right?" I press.

"I guess." He mutters.

"Then stop being stupid. I like your smile. What's wrong with that?"

"Get in the car." He growls, whipping back around and throwing the door open.

I stay where I am and fold my arms across my chest.

He winds down the window.

"Get in the fucking car!" He shouts.

I take a few steps back, glowering at him.

"I will leave you here," he snaps in a threatening voice.

"Okay then," I reply calmly. "You do that."

He starts his car and for a sickening second, I really think he's going to leave. The engine cuts abruptly and the door flings open. He whirls towards me, his fists clenched.

"Are you listening? I will leave you here."

"No. You won't." I reply. "Now talk to me like a normal person. Why are you upset?"

He breathes hard out of his nose.

"Go on." I encourage.

"I... I don't want you to try and change me. I don't want you to think I am some project that you can work on and show off your hard work, okay? I'm me and it's staying that way."

I give him a deadpan expression. "All that carrying on, for that?" I shake my head incredulously. I walk around him and get into the car.

Immediately, I'm engulfed in the warmth. I buckle myself in, just as the driver's side door opens.

"I don't want to change you. Stop thinking everything I do is a threat, okay?" I say to him. "Now, apologise for the way you spoke to me."

I swear I can hear his teeth grinding together.

"I'm sorry," he chokes out, making it look like it is physically painful for him to say.

"Thank you. Apology accepted." I tell him in a chirpy voice.

I lean back in my seat and smile.

"What?" he groans. "What are you smiling about?"

"We are going to have a lot of fun together, Haze." I grin.

He gives me a baffled look, like he's seeing me for the first time and is wondering how he missed something. He shakes his head, looking perplexed.

"Well... all right then." He mutters, starting the car.

"So," I smile, leaning towards him. "Where to, next?"