"It's not a good idea, Rosie."

"But I miss you."

"I miss you too, but you're out. You promised you would never try to come back-"

"No, you told me not to. I didn't promise. Huge difference."

"Come on, Bae." Jax said with what sounded like a tired sigh. Which I ignored. I knew I shouldn't have kept persisting, but he was the only person I would ever dare guilt-tripping. He saw every break and tear in my head, he knew how messed up I was, but he never left.

"Your birthday is next month, it's not like they really have a say over what you do anymore." I grumbled into the cellphone as I lied on the hardwood floor of my room, my eyes tracing the ridges in the ceiling.

"No, but I don't want you coming near me until I get out of here. You don't need to be around these people again."

"But Jax-"

"Seriously Rose, please don't come. I'll call you as soon as I move out of here and get my own place. I've saved up enough money for this apartment I've had my eye on, and then you can come visit me whenever you want. Okay?"

I let out my own irritated sigh and pouted like a four-year-old. "Yeah, fine, whatever." I grumbled into the receiver which he only laughed at.

"Love you, Bae. I'll call you again when I get the chance."

"Love you too." I mumbled and dropped the phone to the floor when the line went dead. He was such a worry-wart.

I laid spread eagle on the floor, my cell phone lying cold beside me and my eyes tracing the intended cracks in the ceiling. I hadn't seen him in months, nearly a whole year actually, and the fact that he didn't want to see me hurt-even though I knew why.

Jax had been there for everything, for all the breaks, all the tears-all the screaming, crying, panicking. Everything. I wasn't sure how he did it, how he was able to always follow even when it took weeks before he finally showed up, but he did. Whenever I would ask he would only roll his eyes and laugh before saying something like "They couldn't keep us apart if they tried, Bae".

When dad was okay again and found me, Jax had to stay behind. I was too messed up then to really notice what was going on. The therapy had just started and all I knew was that I was home again and Jax wasn't with me. It took a few solid months before I finally understood he wasn't going to be following me either.

So I went back to the last house nearly every chance I got. It wasn't until the last check-casher found out and started threatening him that Jax made me stop visiting. He was worried I would get hurt, and I was worried I would lose the only stable person I ever had. Jax used to keep the panic away, if only for a little while. He had always kept me safe in the end. He was my best, absolute, complete friend.

I wasn't sure how long I laid like that, my back started to ache, though I refused to move as the sky outside my window turned from orange to black. I nearly jumped when my phone's text message sound went off and I grabbed at it hastily with my heart pounding in my chest. It was the sound I had set for Rex's number.

Dreaming about you.

Though I obviously didn't send that.

I rolled onto my stomach, the phone clutched tightly in front of my face-a beyond excited, starry-eyed, smile straining my lips. Not being able to see Jax completely forgotten, every single one of my thoughts went back to the boy they had been revolving around entirely for the past two weeks.

When we got back to Trey's house after pumpkin picking, we spent the rest of the afternoon carving and eating all the food Trey's mom had brought out for us. Her name was Maggie and she was the sweetest woman I had ever met.

Her face had lit up when she saw me, and ignoring the grumbling from Rex, had gushed about how happy she was the boys finally brought me over. I had blushed like an idiot when I found out they actually talked about me-to one of their moms nonetheless.

It had been the most fun I had had in as long as I could remember. More fun than when Jax and I would sneak out to go to the movies! I even got Rex to help pull all that icky gooey stuff out of the pumpkin for me! The other boys seemed rather surprised when they walked into Trey's kitchen and found Rex elbow deep inside a giant pumpkin. Apparently, they've never seen him do anything remotely related to that kind of fun before.

I found that pretty funny.

It was Friday now and besides school, I hadn't' seen much of any of them. Was it possible to have Rex Turner withdrawals?

Oh yes, definitely.

Good, Rose, good. Cool, calm, and collected. Don't let him know how much a text from him makes your heart skyrocket. Work on hiding your blush too!

I had to purse my lips together to keep them from pulling into that ridiculous smile again as I gently brushed my thumb over the nick-name I had given him barely a week ago, though it seemed like ages have pass since then.

Oh my God, where had that come from! I was teasing him, now? The second I hit send my face paled and my heart dropped to my stomach. What if he thought I didn't want to go now? Would he uninvite me?

Just great, Rosalyn. Look what you did, now he's never going to want to hang out with you again-

I didn't bother trying to stop the pent-up air that had clogged in my chest as I waited for his reply, and I practically felt my body deflating against the floor as I exhaled.

I jumped up as fast as I could, stars dancing across my vision as the room spun, but I didn't care. I tossed my phone on the bed and went hurrying to get ready. I sighed down at my comfy pajamas. I couldn't really go out in these no matter how much I wanted to.

Ten minutes later I was trying to pretend like I wasn't waiting at my door, staring out at the middle of the street like a little kid in the car on the way to Disney Land. But then Rex's car pulled to a stop in front of house and I was shooting out the front door like a bullet. I didn't even tell dad or Luce that I was leaving.

I was already halfway down the driveway when Rex got to the back of his car. He paused when he saw me already tumbling down the driveway, and I watched that dark eyebrow raise question.

"Hi." I chirped excitedly and jetted straight for the passenger door. I didn't even wait for his response, though the dark chuckle ringing in my ears was answer enough. The quick escape to the car was just to avoid questions from Luce, and completely not because I was blushing like a deranged idiot.

"So where are we going?" I asked the second he climbed into the driver's seat and started the car. That small smirk pulled up at the corner of his lips as he pulled away from the curb, though his eyes slanted briefly towards mine.

"Some place fun."

"Fun, like Lane's place with all the cars fun?"

He chuckled again, and the sound went straight to the flutter part of my stomach. I bit my lip to keep from making any whimpering noises that desperately wanted to fall past my lips.

"Something like that."

"Are the others going to be there?"

"Mhm."

"Why aren't we riding together? Oh shoot, did I take too long? I'm sorry, I didn't-" But my babbling instantly cut off when he let out a heavy sigh and rolled his eyes. Though, it was his hand reaching over and slipping easily into mine that had my lips sealing shut.

"Relax Rose, they're going to meet us there and I needed my car. And if anything, I was the one taking too long." Then he grew silent as he pulled the car out onto the main street.

I was trying to control the raging emotions inside me as that rough thumb of his rubbed gently against the back of my hand. His fingers felt wonderful between mine, strong and reassuring. I never wanted to let go.

The closer we got to wherever it was we were going, the more-excited Rex seemed to get. Though I wasn't sure excited was the right word. His body was strumming with tension, but not that usually angry kind. He seemed to be buzzing in his seat with adrenaline, and a dark, sort of primal, smile was trying to pull at his lips as we turned off the main road twenty minutes later.

I wasn't necessarily afraid when he turned down a hidden road completely surrounded by overgrown trees and forest, but I still couldn't help the slight twinge of panic that rose in my chest. "Um... Rex?" I asked softly as we drove over the rough, not even technically a road, road.

"Were almost there." Was all he answered, his dark eyes flickering around the trees as that adrenaline I felt from him before made him fidget absently in his seat, his hand still clutched around mine.

I shouldn't have been surprised when the dense patch of forest suddenly gave way to a large open field-especially with how much I knew he loved cars. There were dozens upon dozens of vehicles all parked on the grassy field, far more than in Lane's warehouse, with a huge crowd walking around them.

There were little campfires in some of the large spaces between cars, people laughing and drinking. There had to be more than a hundred or so people there, all waiting for-what I was quickly starting to believe-an illegal race.

There was a huge dirt roundabout, attached to a very long road that disappeared into the trees, on the other side of the field. The roundabout part was lit up brightly with portable stadium lights, and a few wooden benches for people to sit on surrounded the area. Though most of the crowd was sitting on the hoods of their cars or in the beds of trucks to watch instead.

"Why do I have a feeling you plan on racing?" I grumbled in my seat, my hand tightening around his even though I was staring at everything with wide, excited eyes. He parked the car closer to the dirt roundabout, that smirk on his beautiful lips as his thumb rubbed against my hand once again. He didn't answer, and I let out a small sigh.

"Is it dangerous?"

"Sometimes."

"How dangerous?"

He paused, his eyes flickering to mine before back to the well-lit road. "There have been a few... fatal accidents." He spoke carefully, like he knew how much I was not liking the idea of him potentially getting killed.

"I do this all the time, Rose." He murmured softly when a disappointed pout pulled at my lips. "Besides a few occasional bruises nothing too terrible has happened."

"It always can though." I grumbled, and he didn't bother answering.

We sat quietly like that for a couple of long moments, before he let out a sigh, squeezed my hand, and then let go to turn the ignition off. I wanted to cry out at the loss, but that seemed a little too dramatic at the moment.

"Do me a favor while we're here." He started softly, and I could feel those beautiful chestnut eyes watching me in the dark. "I don't trust any these people, which means I definitely don't fucking trust them around you. Don't leave Trey's side while I'm gone, yeah?"

With one hand on his door handle he gave me a pointed look, his dark eyes staring into mine as he waited for my nod of agreement. I tried to force down the smile that wanted to desperately tug at my lips.

"I thought you didn't want him around me?"

Those eyes narrowed into a glare, and his jaw ticked shut before he stepped out of the convertible without another word. Before those actions would have fried my brain and had me believing I did something to make him mad. Now... now I almost felt like letting out a quiet giggle. I kept on teasing him! And it was fun!

I stepped out into the chilly night air with his jacket wrapped tightly around my shoulders, and I waited patiently for him to walk over as he locked the car. I beamed up at him as he stopped beside me, that glare once again directed my way. But then he rolled his eyes, wrapped that ridiculously strong arm around the back of my neck and brought me tight into his side.

My heart stopped beating, especially when those beautifully soft lips of his dropped to my ear. "I don't like any guy around you, my Roza."

My face snapped towards his as his hot breath fanned my ear. Heat was staining my cheeks as those dark chestnut eyes I loved so much stared almost softly down at me. His gaze flickered from my own to-I swear-my lips. I forgot how to breathe when his other hand came up, and his strong thumb just barely brushed along my bottom lip.

"I rather like when you bite this..." I had never heard that soft, low tone in his voice before, one that turned my insides into hot, liquid, lava.

"There you guys are!"

And like ice water running down my back, that little bubble of heat and intimacy surrounding us shattered. But for a moment there, for one solid, really good moment, I thought Rex wanted to kiss me-was going to kiss me. I could practically feel my heart beat in my throat.

"What took so long! The race is about to start!" Trey's voice practically boomed around us and Rex's hand, and that entrapping gaze of his, faded away. He turned a scowl at his best friend, though he kept that strong arm wrapped around me.

"Got caught up. I'm going to go buy in. Take her."

And before I realized what was happening, I was being released from his arm and practically thrusted at the bear-man that was Trey Maguire. I gave him a small smile. "Hey Trey." He smiled down at me, those bright green eyes shining with amusement.

"Hey Princess. Ready to watch some seriously bad crashes?"

"What?!"

"You fucking idiot." Rex snapped at Trey as I turned wide, accusing eyes on him, but he just shot me a sheepish smile. "Not me, sweetheart. I win, not crash."

"But-"

"Stay with Trey and the Dimajios. I'll see you after." He began to walk away after that, completely ignoring my glare, before he paused and turned back. He pulled me gently away from Trey again, despite the accusing glare I refused to move off him.

His chestnut eyes locked on mine, and his strong fingers reached up to grip lightly at my chin. "I would really like knowing you're cheering for me, Roza."

My glare completely disappeared as those dark eyes flashed and his thumb rubbed slowly along my jawline. All I could do was stare up at him with blatant adoration and nod as he gave me a small smile.

"Good. Stay with them." Were his departing words before flickering his gaze to Trey and then turning away. I watched with shaky breaths as he walked right between the thick crowd at the entrance of the roundabout.

Whoa...

What was he doing to me?

A chuckle from behind drew my attention away from the boy that quite literally made my head spin, and I turned my blushing face on Trey. He rolled his bright eyes. "Let's get going before those twins eat all the snacks." He announced and held the crook of his arm out to me like a true gentleman.

I was more than happy he didn't mention mine and Rex's shared little moment. The heat on the back of my neck was evidence enough. I wrapped my arm around his much, much, larger one and let him literally escort me to the Dimajios.

"Buttercup! At last!" Denton cheered the moment we came into sight, and I let out a loud laugh as he jumped down from the large Dodge pick-up truck they were sitting on. I had seen them drive it to school occasionally, so I knew it either had to be his or Brett's.

"Hey Den." I went to wave at him, but all movement was cut off the minute his buff, football player, arms wrapped tightly around my torso and squeezed the every-loving breath out of me.

"Easy Denton. You bruise her, Rex bruises you." Trey's laugh beside us only grew when Denton's arms immediately fell away and he took a couple steps back.

"Right. Sorry." He gave me a sheepish smile and ran a hand through his hair. "Come on! We got comfy cushions laid out on the tail gate, popcorn, chips, some weird kind of doughnuts..." I shot Trey a raised eyebrow as Denton hopped back into the bed of the truck and kept trailing off the different snacks they had brought.

Trey rolled his eyes. "He loves to eat."

"I can tell."

"Hey kid."

"Hey Brett." I shot him a smile as Trey helped me up into the bed of the truck and crisscrossed my legs on one of the soft porch-chair cushions they had brought.

We had a perfect view of the roundabout, though the rest of the road was covered by shadows and darkness. But I had a feeling the large blank screens surrounding the stadium lights were hooked up to cameras throughout the entirety of the racing area. No one would be here if we couldn't see the entire thing.

"So..." I started softly as Trey climbed up beside me and popped open what looked like a beer.

I debated asking if I could have one, then decided against it. I didn't know anything about alcohol, and I wasn't quite sure I wanted to try it around a bunch of people I didn't know. The boys were okay, the rest of the crowd-well, Rex didn't trust them.

"So what?" He asked before lifting the glass bottle to his lips.

"Does Rex do this for money or something?"

I clasped my hands together in my lap as the Dimajios bickered about chips behind us. Apparently, Denton had the Doritos first, but Brett was determined to have them anyway. Trey shrugged, his bright eyes flittering slowly over the crowd.

"Not really, he has another... job. This he does for a hobby-I guess you can say. The money's just a perk."

"I guess that makes sense." People did dangerous things for fun all the time. Endangering your life in an illegal street race is just like any old hobby.

Hmph.

"What's his other job?"

Trey didn't answer right away, and when I glanced over at him to see if he heard he simply gave me a soft smile and another shrug. "It's complicated, you should ask him about it." I wasn't sure I liked that answer. Especially since any job that had Trey beating around the bushing about explaining it, didn't seem like the best kind of occupation.

Then again, I knew anything involving Rex Turner was dark and dangerous. Figures his jobs and hobbies would be the same.