"Hey Luce?" I knocked softly on Dad's office door the next morning. When he wasn't home, which was often, Luce and Tate used it for their college work. I didn't like going in there much. It was too—studious. It reminded me of school and how bad I was at it.

Ick.

"What's up, Rose? I'm a little busy right now." Luce mumbled as her fingers typed away at the laptop on her desk. I clasped my hands together nervously and fidgeted in my place by the door.

"Um, well... I know I've been missing a lot of school and I know you get upset at that, but—there's this Halloween party I was wondering if I could go to."

The sound of the clicking keyboard keys instantly stopped, and those electrifying blue eyes of hers raised from the screen. "You want to go to a party?"

"Y-Yeah."

That bright gaze narrowed in suspicion, and she leaned back far enough in the office chair to glance over my entire pajama-cladded body. "Are those boys you're always hanging around going?"

I couldn't help that horrible blush from rising to my cheeks, and I tugged nervously at the ends of my hair to hide it from her. "Yeah, Rex invited me." I dropped my fingers to the edge of the large t-shirt I was wearing and ran the ends between them. I couldn't look at those eyes of hers for long, I felt like she could see into my very soul. And there was nothing good there.

She was quiet for a moment before letting out a soft sigh. "Alright, you can go."

"Really?!" My gaze snapped back to hers and I clapped my hands in sheer glee. A small smile pulled slowly at her lips.

"Yeah, really. I don't like how you've been skipping school—and that's going to be fixed real soon. But dad likes the guy, and he never likes guys. So, I guess the kid can't be too bad."

"He's not! He's really great and awesome and-"

That smile on her face grew into a full-blown smirk, and my lips snapped shut. Almost went on a full-blown Rex obsession rant. I loved my sister, but the less people that knew how head over heels I was for him, the better.

"Thank you!" I called over my shoulder as I turned to hurry down the hall and escape into my room. I locked the door, out of habit now really, and practically launched myself in excited glee onto my bed.

I really wasn't expecting her to say it was okay, and I was fully committed to sneaking out to go. Nothing was going to stop me from spending time with him, or the others. Even a furious Luce.

Wait—How long did it take to get ready for a party? H-How do I get ready for a party? Especially a Halloween one! I stared up at the ceiling, eyebrows narrowed in confusion as a ran a hand through my still bed-tangled hair. Do I need a costume? Is Rex wearing a costume?

I should call him and find out. Or text him. He could be busy and didn't need me interrupting. I rolled onto my stomach and reached over to snatch my cellphone off the nightstand.

Rex hadn't stayed over like the other night, and I knew not to expect that he would—but I still stayed awake until three in the morning staring out my window just in case. It was dumb honestly, but that didn't stop the slight ache in my chest when he never showed. You know better, Rose. Be grateful he was there the night before, and even pulled you against him.

I shook my head and swiped quickly to our messages on my smartphone, but just as I was typing into the little text-box on the same page as his name, the doorbell rang. I frowned and glanced out my bedroom window down to the driveway below.

The smile that grew on my lips was so large it hurt my cheeks. I jumped to my feet and threw the phone onto the bed. "I got it!" I shouted throughout the entire house as I bounced out of my room and practically ran down the stairs.

I threw the door open, completely oblivious to the fact I was still in an overly large t-shirt and short-shorts. "Rex!" My ecstatic smile was still in place, and I realized a little too late that I should have brushed my hair before racing down to see him. At least I brushed my teeth when I woke up.

How could I remember that and not my hair?

He raised one dark eyebrow, those chestnut eyes glancing over my sleep attire as that small, smug, tummy turning smirk of his pulled at those beautiful lips. "Cute look." My cheeks flamed, I couldn't help it. Just hearing his voice did funny things to my head, much less those chestnut eyes.

I ran my hand through my tangled hair nervously as my ecstatic smile grew shy. "I was just about to text you! What are you doing here?" Then a thought hit me, and I straightened up immediately. "Is the party right now? I haven't gotten ready yet-"

"No, the parties not until tonight." He let out a soft chuckle, that hand of his reaching up to run through his dark hair.

"Oh." I dropped my gaze in embarrassment and bit my lip to try and force down the heat stretching up the back on my neck and into my cheeks. "Then what are you doing here?" My eyes flickered back slowly to his, though the small frown pulling at his once-smirking lips made my heart drop an inch.

"Do I need a reason to hang out with you?"

"N-No! Of course not! I'm just surprised to see you!" I tried to reassure that frown away, and quickly reached forward to wrap my hand around his before he had a chance to pull away. "Do you want to come in? We can watch Netflix or something!"

I watched, very happily I might add, as that frown of his fell away and something—almost sneaky—seemed to spark in those chestnut eyes. "Netflix, huh?"

"Yeah! It's literally all I do when I'm not with you or the others. I'm on a 'Friends' marathon right now if you want to watch it with me!" I beamed up at him, my hand still wrapped firmly around his. Well, as firmly as I could make it around that strong, calloused palm.

"U-Unless you want to do something else..." I added softly when that hard body of his didn't move an inch.

He chuckled again, and the dark sound of it made my stomach. "No, I don't. I'm good with Netflix." I beamed up at him again and tugged gently on his hand until he took the hint and stepped inside. "That idiot isn't here, is he?" Rex grumbled as I started leading him towards the stairs.

"No, I don't think so. But Luce is, so be nice to her if she says anything."

He mumbled something under his breath but didn't make any comment as I pulled him towards my room. "What were you going to text me for?" He asked when I tugged him past my bedroom door.

"Oh! I just wasn't sure if I needed a costume or something for tonight."

He made a sound that was a mixture between a snort and scoff as those dark eyes glanced around my messy room. "It's up to you."

"Do people usually wear costumes at this party?"

He sighed, his dark eyes rolling to the ceiling before his hand shook out his dark hair. "I guess, I don't fucking know. I hate those fucks. The less attention I pay to them the better."

I frowned at that, and at how—aggravated he sounded. Or, at least, I think he was aggravated. He didn't seem angry like usual, but he definitely wasn't being all happy-go lucky.

Maybe I shouldn't wear a costume, its not like I had one anyways.

"Sorry my room is kind of messy... I didn't get a lot of sleep last night." I changed the topic with a sheepish smile, which quickly turned to me gulping anxiously as he closed the bedroom door. We've been locked in my room together before, and I never really freaked out about it. But this wasn't night, and he didn't even lock the door—then why was I suddenly so nervous?

"This... is not messy." He laughed slightly as he stepped over a pillow I had tossed away in the middle of the night. "You should see Denton's room. It's a fucking disaster, especially when his mom refuses to clean it for him."

Rex walked around me, his hoodie-cladded arm brushing softly against mine as he headed for my bed. I played nervously with the ends of my dad's too-large-for-my-own-good t-shirt and bit my lip as he sat down on my very messy bed.

"That doesn't surprise me." I murmured softly as he kicked off his sneakers and laid out on the mattress like it was. I don't think I could ever get the image of Rex Turner sprawled out across my queen-sized bed out of my head—not that I would ever want to.

He scoffed before pulling that black hoodie over his head to reveal the really well fitted white V-neck underneath. "It's fucking annoying. The guy could live in a fucking pig sty and it would still be cleaner than his fucking room."

I took a step closer, those nerves still running through my whole body as I gently kicked the pillow out of the way. Rex let out a soft sigh before reaching for the remote on the nightstand. "Would you come lay down? You're stressing me out standing like that."

"Oo! Sorry!" I stammered before hurrying over towards the bed. He didn't say anything about the 'sorry' as I climbed quickly over his strong legs and sat beside his waist, though I could practically feel the disdain rolling off him.

I played with the edge of my shirt as it fell against my crossed thighs. Rex didn't move from beside me, ankles crossed and one strong, insanely muscled, arm propped up behind his head as his free hand used the remote to pull up Netflix.

"Do like you 'Friends'?" I asked softly so I didn't disturb the silence that had fallen over us, though it did nothing to calm my nerves.

"Never seen it." He grumbled as he scrolled down to the Continue Watching list on my account.

"What?!" I practically screeched and turned wide, bewildered eyes on him as he clicked on my beloved, seen a thousand times, tv show.

"I don't usually watch TV, Rose." His voice was gruff as he dropped the remote back on the nightstand and rested that other muscly arm of his behind his head.

"Like... Like ever?"

"Like ever."

"Oh..." I trailed off slowly, my brain completely fried. Who doesn't watch TV? Who doesn't know about 'Friends'! "That's all I do."

Rex let out a small laugh at that, but his dark eyes were closing, and he looked more interested in taking a nap than watching the most amazing show ever. "So you said." He mumbled past barely moving, but very-very kissable looking, lips.

I forced my gaze away and brought my knees to my chest to hide the heat that suddenly stained my cheeks. There he was trying to sleep and completely oblivious to the fact that I was practically drooling over him. Nice job, Rose. You're the worst friend ever.

"Hey, Roza?" He grumbled half an episode later. I hadn't moved from my knee-to-chest, arms wrapped tightly around them position, and my arms were starting to ache.

"Yeah?"

"I didn't sleep much last night either."

"I can tell." I giggled softly to myself despite the nervous butterflies still flying around my stomach.

He muttered something in the back of his throat before reaching over and tugging gently on the back of my t-shirt. I glanced over at him, my heart dropping when those dark chestnut eyes opened and locked onto mine.

"Lay down with me."

I didn't know what to say to that, so I didn't. But I did slowly unwrap my arms from my knees and laid down slowly beside him, my fingers still clutched tightly around the ends of my shirt.

Breathe Rose, it's Rex. He literally slept in the same bed with you the other night, and even let you cuddle him! He's not going to snap at you. He hasn't snapped in a while actually—Well, not at me at least. There was an incident yesterday afternoon with some guy that tripped and slammed into his shoulder. It wasn't a pretty sight. The twins literally escorted me away so Trey could calm Rex down.

But anyways, he doesn't really get mad at me anymore—though I'm definitely trying my hardest not to make him mad.

"Did you just come over here to sleep?" I tried to tease softly as he reached over to grab the comforter and throw it over both of us.

"Hm," He made a gruff sound in his throat as he rolled onto his side, those strong arms easing under and over my waist until I was caged between them. My heart stopped. "That, and I wanted to spend time with you." His voice was a deep, dark grumble that made every ounce of my body spark.

"O-Oh..." Getting that simple word pass my lips was a struggle in itself. He chuckled in my ear.

"Oh." He agreed before those iron arms gentle urged me onto my side so he could pull my back into his chest. "Much better." He murmured as I was tucked tightly into him.

"Rex-"

"Sh, nap time. Go to sleep."

This boy and his naps. Though, I wouldn't necessarily say him leaning on me during sixth period break was really a nap. His arms held my body snuggly against him, which I didn't think could have been comfortable for him, but he didn't move an inch when I finally relaxed.

My mind was so not into watching 'Friends' and was one hundred percent completely focused on the beautiful boy falling asleep behind me.

"I don't understand why you're okay with this!"

The muffled shouting from the other side of my bedroom door pulled me from the dreamless sleep I had fallen into. I couldn't tell if Rex was awake or not, but his strong hand was softly stroking the back of mine and I refused to move.

"Dad likes him-"

"So did everyone else he's ever fucked over!"

What?

"Don't listen to him." Rex was wide awake, if that tense, angry strain in his voice was anything to go by.

"What's he talking about, Rex?" My voice wouldn't rise above a whisper, though the sudden tension strumming through his entire body let me know he heard.

"First of all," Uh oh, that was Luce's adult-no nonsense voice. "No one fucks over my dad."

It's true, the last person that did—well, we don't talk about that.

"And he's just a kid Tate...!" Their arguing faded away, like they were finally taking it downstairs, even though I'm sure the entire neighborhood could hear Luce's yelling.

Rex was silent, and even though he hadn't moved his arms or anything I could practically feel the mental distance he was putting between us. I let out a shaky breath, completely and totally unhappy that they had to do that right outside my door—especially when they knew it was his car in the driveway. That he was in here with me.

I turned to face him, his strong arms falling slowly away as I did. Those dark eyes wouldn't look at mine, and he looked more than ready to run away at any second. I bit my lip and let one hand press gently against his hard chest.

"I'm so sorry, Rex. They never—they never should have done that." I raised my eyes to his beautiful, jaw-clenched face, and tried to resist the urge to curl my fingers into his shirt so he could never leave.

His dark gaze snapped down to mine, and I didn't like the sheer, icy fury brewing in their beautiful color. "I would never fuck you over." His words were hard, clipped, and the tense anger in them tore at my heart.

"I know." I let the hand resting on his chest slip slowly under his arm until I was pressing myself against his shirt in the closest thing to a hug I could give. I pressed my face into his warm, hard chest, those never-ending butterflies swirling up a storm in my stomach as his arm wrapped around my back once again.

"He needs to stay away from me—and you." He whispered into my ear, his voice a hoarse, dark murmur as his strong fingers wrapped in my hair. "Because the next time I see his fucking face I'm going to snap, and he's going to get very fucking hurt."

I didn't say anything. I knew right then the last thing Rex needed was me sticking up for the person he seemed to hate more than anyone else. So, I just pressed my face more securely into his soft V-neck and the hard planes of his chest.

"And I swear to God, Rose—I'm going to fucking enjoy it."