The next day is Wednesday, a workday for Mrs and Mr Holt, meaning that I'm already left alone in this big house with one little girl. Yesterday, I had the time to get to know Amelia, but Mrs Holt told me a lot about her in those letters she sent me. I also volunteered in kindergarten a lot, so I have some experience with the kids. It's easy to fit right in.

Alexander went to school, thankfully. I didn't see him anymore for the rest of the day yesterday. He went out and came back when I was already asleep, apparently. Mr and Mrs Holt explained me everything that I needed to know – when Amelia should sleep, when she has to eat, what she's allergic to (apparently it's lactose and eggs), but she also told me I needn't worry much about the food, because they have Rosanna for that.

Then they went on explaining about the house. They said I can use any room I want, except for their bedroom, of course, and Alexander's room. Oh, and Mrs Holt's office. Amelia can go to certain rooms, like the library, but only under supervision. They had some troubles already, they said, so it's best she doesn't go in there alone.

Mrs Holt also said she'd make sure I'd have a free day here and there. She suggested to ask Alexander to show me around the town, but I quickly shook off that idea. I don't think that would be wise.

"Why did you stop, Gabby?" Amelia asks me, bringing me back from my wandering thoughts. We're currently on the floor in her room, colouring the colouring book.

I told her she can call me Gabby because it's easier for her to say. I also said she doesn't have to call me Miss Gabby, because I'm not that old yet. She liked that.

"I'm sorry, princess. I'll get right back to it," I say, making myself sound excited. Okay, but what is so exciting about colouring a book with a three-year-old? I find I actually quite like it. It's calming.

And Amelia is a very smart kid, I soon found out. And a very good one. Which I'm very thankful for.

We colour the book, play with Barbies and with puzzles until Rosanna, who's responsible for cleaning and cooking, prepares her something to eat before she goes to sleep. She eats by herself with a little help by me occasionally.

When I get her to bed, she wants me to read her a fairytale. She says she wants Cinderella, saying it's her favourite. So, I read her a story with that happy ending that gives little girls hopes of finding a prince and live happily ever after, no one telling them that the reality is a bit crueler than that.

Amelia falls asleep quickly after that and I leave her room quietly, keeping the door a little ajar.

And then I realise I have all this big house to myself because Rosanna already went out. I've already seen pretty much all of it yesterday when Mr and Mrs Holt showed me around. The mansion is pretty spectacular, nothing I've ever seen before, and it's really big with a lot of rooms. I don't know who needs that much space, but I don't question it.

I've got a nice room. It looks down on the streets and at the neighbours' houses, but I think the view is still great. My room is nice and big with a big bed, a nightstand, a big closet and a desk with a chair. And what I love the most – I have my own bathroom. I mean, how cool is that?

The room is in a super light pink shade, making it bright and warm. I fell in love with it the instant I saw it.

I throw myself into unpacking my stuff, making myself comfortable in the room. I leave the door open if Amelia would wake up. Her room is just three doors down, so that's pretty convenient.

When I'm hanging up a poster with a quote by the door, I almost get a heart attack when I see someone move past my door. I let out a small scream when Alexander's face peeks through the door. "It's nice to see you, too," he snorts and then continues walking to his room.

Oh, and his room is just next to mine. Which is not so convenient.

My heart is beating fast and I'm breathing hard, staring blindly at the wall, trying to calm myself down.

Shouldn't he be at school or something? Why is he home so early? Oh, shit. I'm alone with him – if I don't count Amelia. I seriously don't like that guy. He's giving off a bad vibe and that 'bad boy' cool vibe, which I don't like. It scares me.

I go back to my business, hoping that he won't come out of the room at all, and I go hang some clothes in my closet. And then I hear it all of a sudden, out of nowhere. Loud music blasting through the walls. Heavy metal, if I had to guess.

I pause with the clothes still in my hands, looking towards where the noise is coming from.

That music wouldn't bother me that much (okay, I'm lying – it's horrible), but Amelia is sleeping and I don't think it would be right to wake her up.

I bite my lip, not knowing what to do. Should I just go to Alexander's room and demand to turn the music off? Or ask him nicely? Should I even be nice to him when he's nothing but rude to me?

I don't have that much time, I need to go do something about it, because he apparently doesn't know that he has a sister who's sleeping.

I stomp out of my room towards his and stop in front of his door. I knock. No answer. He probably didn't even hear it, stupid me.

Without that much thinking, I burst through the door. The disgusting smell inside the room makes me scrunch my nose up immediately and my eyes water at the smoke in the room. Holy shit.

Alexander is lying on his bed, staring up at the ceiling in all his shirtless form. He lazily looks at me, exhaling the smoke out of his mouth. I get momentarily distracted by all the tattoos that are merging his skin. There are so many. Wow.

I was never a big fan of tattoos. A few maybe, but not like mark your whole body with ink type. But his tattoos look awesome, adding it even more to his appeal.

"What do you want?"

And, yes, let's not forget his attitude, which makes him fall from 105 down to a solid 5 really quickly. Too bad, I could easily find myself crushing on him. I still think he looks really hot, but that's where it all ends. And maybe that's for the better, anyway.

"Could you, uhm, turn your music down a bit? Amelia is sleeping." I have to almost shout so he can hear me.

His eyebrows raise slightly. He has that boring, disinterested look on his face. "And I should care because ...?" His voice is even and it feels like he'd rather be doing anything else in the world than talk to me.

I feel the same way. "Uh, because she's your little sister, maybe?" Is he really so self-centred or I'm judging too quickly?

Alexander sits up on the bed, slowly, like he has all the time in the world. My patience is running very thin with him. He can be an asshole to me if he wants, but Amelia is just a little kid.

"Listen here, Little one. I don't think it was clear to you yesterday that I want you to stay out of my business. That means I don't want you talking to me. Fuck, I don't want you to even come near me. You get me?" He nods to himself, not waiting for my answer. I'm too stunned to even give one, anyway. "Good. Now get the fuck out of here."

My eyebrows furrow at him. "Okay, Alexander. All clear. I won't bother you, I won't talk to you and I won't come near you. You can be an asshole to me, fine. But I'm here because of your sister, not because of me, and I'm kindly asking you to turn your music down just a bit."

Alexander stares at me, his nostrils flaring, his red eyes narrowing. His hair is all dishevelled from laying down on the bed and I have a clear view of his tattoos now. Jesus, I think his face might be the only place he doesn't have any tattoo because the skin on his chest and arms is barely even visible from all that ink. I can't help but wonder; didn't that hurt?

Then, he slowly smiles that smile that screams of sin and is nothing but pure devious. It makes me gulp painfully and my hands clench into fists as the cold fear travels through me. Am I really afraid of this boy?

Yes. Yes, I am.

"I think I'll have a lot of fun tearing you apart, Gabrielle." He says my names like it's a poison, like it's his enemy.

Holy shit. Tearing me apart? What does that even mean? Honestly, I'm not trying to look for trouble. On the contrary, I came here to escape the trouble. But I'm not here for even two days and I find out I'm basically living with trouble.

Is this a fate? Its sick way of punishing me? Reminding me that I can't escape? Because it's not funny. It makes me feel sick.

My lips go dry as he continues staring at me with narrowed eyes like he's trying to figure me out. He looks as if he's staring at an enemy and I'm honestly so far away from trying to be his enemy it's funny.

"Right. Okay. Turn your music down, please," I get out groggily through the enormous ball in my throat that makes me want to put my finger in my mouth and just puke everything out until the sick feeling in my stomach goes away.

I turn on my heel and fly out of Alexander's room, wanting to escape from him as fast as I can.

He might think he's funny, but he's not. I'm not laughing.

I stop inside of my room and lean back on the wall. I massage my chest, familiar with this thing now, and focus on breathing, closing my eyes. I'm just freaking out.

"I think I'll have a lot of fun tearing you apart, Gabrielle."

The bile in my throat rises higher and I run into the bathroom, throwing myself down in front of the toilet and flipping the seat open just in time to vomit everything I've eaten today out, which is not much anyway, and I end up dry heaving after I empty my stomach.

Tears spring into my eyes and my throat stings. But I'm used to this, too.

I wipe my mouth, flush the toilet and brush my teeth, not looking myself in the mirror even once.

I get out of my room on shaky legs and pull myself together to remember what I'm here for. I can't let Alexander get to me. He's not like people from my home. He doesn't know about what happened, and that's the only thing I can reassure myself with for now.

I go check on Amelia. Alexander didn't turn the music down as I asked him, so I'm not all that surprised to see Amelia sitting in her bed, playing with the fluffy kitten she can't sleep without.

"Hey, sweetheart. Are you up already?" I ask softly as I come into the darkened room.

She looks at me and blinks sleepily. "Why is so loud?" she asks in a small voice.

Because your brother is a selfish asshole. I keep that thought to myself, though. "Your brother came home and decided to play some music," I tell her kindly while I come to her bed and take a sit on it. "Does your kitty have a name?"

Amelia grins and nods. "It's Sky."

I raise an eyebrow. "Sky?" I repeat.

Amelia nods again. "Yes. 'Cause she has blue eyes and they remind me of sky.''

How ... unique. "Okay. Do you and Sky want to cuddle now, see if you can maybe fall back asleep?"

Amelia looks down at Sky, but then she lifts her huge, blue eyes to me and holds her arms out for me to take her.

I lift her on my lap and wrap my arms around her, rocking her, while she keeps petting the fluffy kitten. "Do you have any pets?" I ask her after a few moments of silence.

Amelia shakes her head against my chest. "Nope," she replies. "Alex don't like animals. And mum think they are messy. But I really want a puppy. Or a small kitty. Like this!" She holds the kitten up to my face.

I grin at her. So, Alexander doesn't like animals. Figures, I think sarcastically. Is there anything he does like, though?

"So you've asked about having a pet?" I ask her as I stroke her soft hair.

Amelia nods. "Alex said no. And then mum and dad said no, too."

Okay, but is Alexander seriously such a prick? I've been here for a full day and I already dislike him. And I don't even know him, other than he's completely rude and completely selfish. Oh, and that he smokes and doesn't care about anyone, apparently.

"Tell you what. When you'll be big and have your own house, you'll be able to own as many pets as you'll want to. Isn't that awesome?" I try to cheer her up with it.

Amelia tilts her head back so she's staring up at me. "But, Gabby, that is such a long time," she whines.

I can't help but give her a smile. She's going to be such a heartbreaker when she grows up, I just see it. Cute and smart. Hopefully, she'll turn out nothing like her brother.

Oh, here I am, thinking about him again. Truthfully, after those unnecessary words he said to me, I just can't get him out of my head, even though I want to, because I get sick every time I even think of him. And this is only after one day of living under the same roof. How am I going to survive a full year?

Suddenly, coming here doesn't sound like such a good idea anymore. It just seems like I can't really escape my past. It's following me across the world.

I lean my chin on top of Amelia's head. "It's not that long. You'll see, it'll go by really fast." My throat tightens at the words because they hide a much deeper meaning that a child or basically anyone else could ever understand.

"Don't you have to go to school, Gabby? I can't wait until I go to school," Amelia says and giggles.

I chuckle. "No, I'll maybe go back next year, but now I'm just ... taking a vacation." I laugh forcibly again. "It's not that much longer until you'll go. It's going to be really cool, you'll see."

Yeah. The school turned out really cool for you, didn't it, Gabrielle? Hypocrite. Well, I can't honestly tell a kid that there probably won't be a thing they'll hate more than going to school. Or maybe she's going to really enjoy it. I can already see how smart she's going to be – one of the smartest in the class, probably, and her parents will be proudly encouraging her, clapping at her achievements.

Goddamn. Goddamn. I need to stop this. Is there a switch to shut your mind off? If not, I might go and invent one.

Amelia pauses and looks at me again. "Alex don't like to go to school."

I want to snort. "Your brother doesn't like a lot of things, it seems," I say carefully, not knowing if I should really go there with a three-year-old.

But Amelia is completely unbothered about it and she keeps blabbering like it's completely normal. "He like tattoos," she says. Well, obviously. "And he maybe like Sophie. Though he say he don't, but my mum say he do and she is not happy that he do."

"Is Sophie his friend?" I ask, fishing for information. It's not that I'm really interested, I just want the conversation going. It feels like I'm actually talking to an adult and not a three year old. And I'm starting to really enjoy it.

Amelia shakes her head. "Girlfriend. Alex say she is a friend, but mum call her girlfriend. I believe mum more." Amelia shrugs as if it's not that big of a deal.

Ah, this is just getting interesting. "And why doesn't your mum like Sophie? Is she not a nice girl?"

Amelia shakes her head. "Nuh-uh. She have lots of tattoos, like Alex. And she say bad words. She is really weird, she had pink hair once." Amelia sits up straighter on me and turns to look at me with a big grin. I feel a little puzzled as she starts playing with my hoodie. "She never want to play with me, Gabby." That is actually pretty sad. "But you're a nice girl. You should be Alex's girlfriend, not Sophie."

I can't hold it in. I burst out laughing. "I assume he likes Sophie, so we'll just leave them as they are, don't you think?" I brush her hair, barely holding in my chuckles.

Amelia frowns cutely. "Alex never say he like her," she argues.

I think I'm going to regret praising how smart she was. But I put myself in this awkward situation, so I can't really blame no one else. "You know, sweet Amelia, some people don't have to tell you they like you. They show you. And that's more important than them only telling you."

Amelia seems to think about my words. And then she throws her little arms around my frame and hugs me. I'm astonished for a second. "This is me showing you I like you."

"Oh," is my stupid reply. My mouth falls slightly open and I hug her back, squeezing her lightly. "I like you, too, sweet little girl."

And for a second there, I let myself think that this little girl could make it worth it all. She could make it all better and she could maybe make me forget about it for at least a few hours a day. And she could make living with a boy, who already threatened to destroy me, a little better and more bearable.