"What the hell?!" Someone snapped and slammed their slim, manicured hand against the locker next to mine.

I jumped and turned wide, bewildered eyes on the pretty blonde cheerleader. "What?" I asked incredulously as I put my morning binders away. Déjà vu hit like a sucker punch to the stomach as those blue eyes glared icy daggers into mine.

"Um, pretty sure you told me you and Rex weren't a thing, but I saw you two at the Halloween party and literally everyone in the entire school is talking about you." Jeslyn's voice seemed to rise with each angry word and I felt a heavy weight fall on my shoulders.

"Right, about that. I'm really sorry. We weren't a thing when you asked and it kind of just happened recently."

"You didn't have to fucking lie. I would have understood if you just said something straight up. Even if I don't see how you and he would ever work, but that's not my business." She flicked her long, straight hair over her shoulder with those blue eyes blazing furiously.

"I wasn't lying." I said softly as I zipped up my backpack and closed my locker. "It really did just happen this weekend."

"Whatever, Lily." Jeslyn snapped and turned on her heels, her blonde hair swaying drastically at the dramatic movement. "You just ruined yourself in my book."

My brow furrowed uncertainly as she stormed off. I didn't want to make anyone hate me, especially now when everything was finally starting to go so well. I knew she was going to be upset if we ever talked again. Then again, I never had the best of luck when it came to being friends with girls—or friends with anyone for that matter.

I really wish Rex was there.

"What do you mean you don't know where he is?" I grumbled and stared grumpily at the picnic bench that my arms and head were resting against.

"He had something to do today." Trey shrugged his strong shoulders as his bright green eyes glanced around the open grassy area.

"All day? Why didn't he tell me?" I haven't heard a word from Rex since that morning when he called to say he was going to be late and Trey would take me to school. I didn't realize that 'late' meant he wasn't going to be there at all.

"Not sure, but don't stress about it, Princess. I'm sure he's fine."

I grumbled under my breath but didn't say anything else as Denton came trotting over. He had been tossing a football around with their teammates a little bit away, even though Brett was at the picnic table with us. We still haven't had a chance to talk about Halloween, but he was starting to look at me again, so I took that as a good sign.

"So, Buttercup. You and Rex official yet?"

"What?" I said at the same time Trey said, "That's none of your business, Denton." That bright eyes gaze narrowed dangerously at the twin.

"What?" He asked cluelessly as he tossed the football in the air. "Don't act like you didn't see them Saturday."

Heat flamed across my skin, and I buried my face in the crook of my arm so they couldn't see the blush. "Again," Trey all but growled, "It's none of your, or our, business." He snapped, and I could see Denton's pout in my mind's eye.

"It's not like they're a big secret!" He practically whined, and I glanced up from my arms enough to see Brett role his eyes.

"Let it go, Denton." His brother scolded, which was apparently what Denton needed. He sat down next to Brett with a heavy sigh and plopped the football down on the table.

"Whatever," He grumbled and crossed his fit arms over his jacket covered chest. "It's not like they haven't been for a while—Ow! Brett!" His twin had reached over and smacked him on the back of the head like he always did when Denton said something he shouldn't have.

My eyes widened at the comment, and I lifted my head from the table to turn towards Trey. He wouldn't look in my eye. "Is there something I'm missing?" I asked softly as Denton pouted at his brother and rubbed the back of his head.

Trey sighed before that green gaze finally flickered to mine. "Denton's just being a jerk. Whatever is going on between you and Rex is your business." I wasn't sure how to feel about that. I was glad he didn't want to push me on the subject, but with the way Denton had been talking made it feel like they thought something had been going on between Rex and I for a while. We only kissed two days ago, and after that conversation we had in his living room I knew we were way more than friends now.

I was about to open my mouth to question him, when that familiar gorgeous boy caught my attention. A large smile pulled on my lips when I saw Rex saunter over from the parking lot, his keys flipping into the air before he caught them again. I sat up off the table to beam over at him.

"Where were you?" I asked as he reached the table and finally slid onto the seat beside me.

He raised a dark eyebrow, that chestnut gaze washing slowly over my face. The steady look made that blush from before rear its ugly head. "Hi to you too." His voice was gruff, but those yummy lips pulled into a sly smirk.

I bit mine and dropped my eyes sheepishly. "Right, I'm sorry. Hi." I muttered as he shoved his keys into his jacket pocket. He chuckled, and one warm arm reached up to wrap around my shoulders. I cuddled easily into his side, letting his warmth chase away the chilly November air.

"Sorry I was gone all day." Rex murmured, and I felt a small shiver run through me as his lips brushed over the shell of my ear. Brett coughed and my gaze snapped away from the table to see Trey leaning awkwardly away from us, Denton watching with wide, amused eyes, and Brett looking completely uncomfortable.

"Where were you?" I asked again, and despite the red staining my cheeks, I ignored the other three boys.

"Just had something to take care of."

I frowned at that and tried to pull away so I could scowl at him, but his arm only tightened. Then I let out a small sigh and eased back into him. If he didn't want to tell me I wouldn't push it. He didn't have to tell me everything about his life.

"Anything happen while I was gone?" The question was directed at me, even though I saw his dark gaze flicker expectantly over to Trey.

"No, not really." I answered before one of the other boys had a chance to. "Jeslyn talked to me again, though."

"Who?"

I tried to squash down the smile that pulled on my lips. "Jeslyn Mayne? The girl that wanted me to tell you she liked you?"

"Oh, great. That fucking thing again." He rolled those eyes and let out a disgruntled sigh. "Alright, what did she want?"

I shrugged and relished in the feeling of his strong hand gently rubbing along my arm. "Nothing important." Which it really wasn't in retrospect. We were never friends to begin with, so it wasn't like I was losing anything by not being in her good book or whatever.

I could feel those dark eyes staring into the side of my head, but Rex didn't push. "Well, that's good then I guess." He leaned over and pressed a kiss to my temple before pulling away. "You guys ready to go? I fucking hate being here when I don't have to be." Rex said with a grumble as he stood, his hand outstretched for mine.

I slipped my fingers through his and let him pull me to my feet. Chestnut eyes locked on mine and the look their made nervous flutters rise in my stomach. "I missed you." He said quietly as the other boys were all too busy getting their stuff together. Heat flamed my cheeks as he pulled me close to press a kiss against my temple. I couldn't help the giggle that tore from my lips.

"I missed you too."

He smiled before turning to lead us from the open area behind the school. The final bell had rung a while ago, and even though I thought it was better waiting at Trey's house for Rex rather than staying here, he insisted his friend would be there soon. And he was, I guess.

We ended up going to Rex's apartment instead of Trey's, which I didn't mind one bit. The boys didn't stay for long though, and after they had a brief little argument over a video game, Trey thought it was a good idea everyone went home. Rex said we were home.

And I forgot how to breathe.

I never really knew what it was like to have a home. Sure, I've lived at the house on Briar Oaks for a while, and I know home is where ever your family is, but I never felt truly and completely comfortable anywhere. Not even in my own room, surrounded by things I could actually call mine. Not even when I was having dinner with Luce and Tate, or when dad was actually around. I didn't even have a home when I got to see Jax every day. But right then, when Rex said we were home, it hit something inside me.

They say home was where your heart is. So, yeah, I guess I was home.

I rubbed my face against the soft fabric my cheek was pressed against. My fingers absentmindedly tapping against the hard plane beneath me. "Good morning." His voice vibrated with a soft chuckle as those strong fingers brushed gently through my hair.

I made an odd 'mrmhm' noise in the back of my throat as I pressed further into him. It wasn't morning, even though I felt like I had been sleeping all night long. After the others had left, I sat down on the couch with the firm intent on getting some homework done, but then fell promptly to sleep instead. I have no idea how I ended up on top of Rex cuddled into his chest, but I wasn't going to complain.

I blinked my eyes open and tried to adjust to the dim afternoon light. We were still in the living room, pressed together on the couch, though Rex was reading—what looked like—a book on Philosophy in one hand while his other ran gently through the ends of my hair. My fingers curled into his shirt as I blinked at the ginormous, funny looking words on the book's pages.

"How did you sleep?" His voice was low and gruff, like he hadn't been using it for hours, and lowered the book to the floor.

"Good." I mumbled and cuddled further against him. With the book forgotten, his strong arms wrapped securely around my waist.

"Hey, Roza?" Rex murmured softly a few quiet moments later. I tried not to make it obvious I was practically gluing myself to his chest.

"Yeah?"

"There's something I've been wanting to talk to you about." I didn't like the hesitation suddenly filling his deep tone, and my eyes blinked open to stare absently at his arm.

"Okay..." I pushed slightly off his chest, even though his arms refused to loosen around my waist. "What's up?" I laced my fingers together against his chest and placed my chin on top of them so I could blink up at those chestnut eyes. His lips pulled up slightly at the corners.

"I might... be gone for a few days during Thanksgiving break."

Whatever I was expecting, it definitely wasn't that. "You might be gone?" I tried to keep the unease from my voice as I pushed away from his chest, but that grip around my waist didn't let me get very far.

"Yeah, I have this job offer after graduation with a business company I'm going to be looking into."

I kept my gaze pointed away from his, I didn't want him to see the panic start to build behind them. We haven't spent more than a few hours apart in so long that I wasn't sure how my brain would handle the situation. "How long is a few days?" I heard myself ask as my right hand fell between his body and the couch so I could hold myself slightly off his chest.

"Three or four days. Not long, but I wanted to tell you about it first." Which was such a sweet sentiment since he didn't have to tell me anything. We weren't really 'together' like Jeslyn thought, even though I knew we were more than friends. I had no idea what I was supposed to be 'okay' with or not in these circumstances. He wasn't putting himself in danger, he was going to look into a job. An actual job that didn't involve fighting.

Letting him know I was uneasy with him leaving would be so totally and completely selfish. I couldn't sleep without him. The panic always tried to override my senses when he was gone. He made everything better. And what kind of person would I be if I couldn't handle a few days without him?

"Okay, thanks for telling me." I kept my voice low so I wouldn't risk him hearing something that would give away the inner turmoil raging through my mind.

Three or four days. I could handle three or four days without Rex. I had lived a lifetime before him. Though, I did have Jax then, and when he wasn't around, I had a lovely bottle of mind-numbing pills. No, no I would be okay. I was better now. Not everything hiding in dark corners was real.

"Are you okay?" He asked softly, and even though I kept refusing to look into those dark eyes, I felt that gaze stare holes into my face.

"Yeah, of course. Why wouldn't I be?" I tried to sound as nonchalant as I could, but the internal struggle inside my brain at trying to force down the panic while still acting bright and happy wasn't going too well.

He shrugged and those strong arms tightened around my waist. "You won't look at me and you keep trying to pull away."

I instantly relaxed against him, and tried to glance at those chestnut eyes, but chickened out and looked back down at his shirt. "I'm just hot, that's all." His chest rose and fell on the long sigh he let pass his lips.

"Roza, if you don't want me to go, I don't have to—"

"No!" I instantly interrupted and finally gathered the courage to look into that dark gaze. "No, I want you to go. I'm fine, really." That strong jaw clenched shut as his soothing hands ran softly over my lower back. I tried not to swoon back down against his chest. There's no way his touch alone should be able to do that.

"Do you have plans for the break?" He asked softly, though I wasn't sure if it was to change the subject or if he was genuinely curious.

I shrugged and let the hand that wasn't keeping me off his chest play with the fabric of his shirt. "No, not really." Not anymore. "Luce and Tate are going on some cruise for the whole week, so I'll probably just stay inside and find a new show to watch." And here I was thinking that I was going to get a Luce nag-free week of just hanging out with him. Psyche.

Those hands stopped their soothing path along my lower back, and his strong chest tensed. "You're going to be alone all week?" I had to force down the smile that wanted to pull on my lips at the sudden concern ringing through his voice.

"Yeah, but I've stayed at home alone before, T'."

"I don't like it."

"I know, but I'm not going to tell them they need to stay."

He grumbled something under his breath, but those strong hands started that soothing path across my back again. "Trey can hang out with you while I'm gone." I let out a soft sigh of my own and ran the palm of my hand over his hard chest.

"What if he doesn't want to?"

Rex scoffed, and those dark, tummy turning eyes rolled. "Please, that fucking idiot loves hanging out with you." I liked hanging out with him too, with all of them, but I wasn't going to tell a grumpy Rex that.

"He might have his own plans, T'." Those strong arms tightened around my waist, and I finally let him pull me back down against him.

"I don't want you to be alone."

Then don't leave. But I kept that lovely little thought to myself too. "I'll be okay." I murmured against his shirt and let my fingers trace softly over the hard ridges of his chest.

Then a thought zipped through my mind, one I wasn't so sure I wanted to share. Jax turned eighteen this week, he would be leaving the foster system in two days. He could come stay with me for the break! Obviously, we haven't been able to talk much, but I knew him better than I knew myself. He would have a plan when he left. Have enough money saved for an apartment or something, and he wouldn't go far. He wouldn't leave me. He promised.

Which meant Rex was going to have to get used to him being around pretty quickly—and vice versa.

"So where were you today?" I mumbled against him before he could continue on with this lovely little conversation. His chest seemed to rumble beneath mine as those warm hands rubbed slowly further up my back.

He had distracted me earlier with his sweet words and gentle touches. I wasn't going to let that get to my head now, even if those strong fingers were slowly trying to lull my mind back to sleep. "I had to go into Boston for the day." Rex murmured softly into my hair as my eyes fought to stay open.

"What for?" I yawned sleepily and found myself unconsciously rubbing my face into his chest.

"I had to go meet with the guy that wants to give me the job."

"Oh, so it was a good meeting?"

His arms squeezed tightly around me, and those hands wrapped in my hair as his lips pressed a soft kiss to the top of my head. "Yeah, my Roza. It was a good meeting."