"Hey, what happened?"Luke asks again, as he helps me to sit down on his couch.

"It was Eric" I say and explain to him what happened.

"We should call the police, he sounds dangerous." Rachel suggests.

"I agree, but i would like to beat him up first" Luke sneers.

This time, i actually agree, he has really begun to scare me now. I hoped he would get tired of pursuing me and leave me alone, but he is only getting more aggresive and physical with time.

However, once this gets to the police, his parents will know, and i don't know how that will affect my job, seeing as they are part of the school board and all.

"I should go....although i wanted to borrow the Science Module we were talking about ealier, that's why i came back......do you mind?" Rachel asks.

"No, let me get it for you." i murmur.

"I'll get it, just tell me where it is" Luke offers.

"I will come with you. Hey, do you mind if he walks me to my car, i am a little scared actually?" Rachel asks with a smile.

"Sure, ofcourse" i reply.

Luke locks me in his apartment, before going off with Rachel living me to curl up on the couch with a blanket around me.

My head is pounding from being slammed into the wall, twice and so i rest my head on the arm of the sofa.

"Are you ok" Luke asks, when he gets back, coming to sit with me and throwing his arm around my shoulders.

"Yeah, i guess, i have a headache that's starting, but i am ok" I smile.

"You know, you don't have to pretend with me, it's ok not to be fine sometimes" he says seriously holding my gaze.

"Hey" Sarah utters to both Luke and my surprise.

"Sarah.....hai"i say softly and she merely nods at me, giving me a brief smile that doesn't meet her eyes.

"Hey babe..how did you get in, i just locked up" Luke asks.

"You gave me a key, remember?" She says with a sour face, and i take that as my cue to leave.

She and I have never really hit it off despite them dating for over a year now. When she is around, i try to stay away as much as i can.

"I should probably go now, thanks for your help" I stand up, shrugging of Luke's arm from around my shoulders.

"Are you sure, i don't want you being alone right now" Luke stands up too.

"I am sure. I am ok now anyway. Thank you" i give Sarah a brief smile and pick up my bag and walk to the door.

"Mary, i don't think. ...."

"Luke, she said she is fine" Sarah snaps.

"Babe, you don't know what happened" he replies, walking out of my apartment with me.

"Let me just check the place first then. Wait here" he frowns, taking the key from my hand and going in first.

He walks around the place, checking every room while Sarah and I stand by the small entrance awkwardly.

My headache is really getting worse.

"All clear" he shouts from my living room and we follow him there."

"Are you sure you will be ok?" Luke asks again, as i sit down on my sofa and rub my temples.

"Why won't she be ok?" Angelo's voice asks from behind Luke, causing my heart to do a couple of cartwheels.

"Hey" i utter in surprise, looking up at him. He looks nice, like really really nice. In a black tshirt and trousers and a meron leather jacket.

"Your door was open, again" he says, his displeasure evident in his voice and i sigh, honestly, i can't take a scolding right now.

"Hi, i am Sarah, Luke's girlfriend" She extends her hand to Angelo, giving him a big smile, after a brief silence where no one was talking.

"Angelo" He shakes her hand.

"We should go babe"Sarah curls her hand around Luke's waist.

Luke is reluctant to leave and looks at me questioningly.

"Call me if you need anything ok? And we are calling the police tomorrow. No excuses this time." He finally says, leaning over to give me a hug before straightening up again.

I can only imagine Sarah's displeasure at this action, and quite frankly, i don't blame her. Luke is overly touchy with me and i have talked to him about keeping some distance between us especially when she is around because she clearly doesn't like it, but his thick skull won't let that sink in, according to him, i am like a sister to him.

What i didn't expect to see though, is Angelo's death glare.

"What about the police?" He asks, folding his arms over his chest in an intimidating manner.

"It was just Eric again...nothing serious....." i start to explain.

"Nothing serious M? Rachel said he slammed you into a wall." Luke utters angrily.

"What?"Angelo asks, dropping his hands.

"It wasn't as bad as it sounds....i mean..i......"

"You were pretty shaken up" Luke adds.

"Why didn't you tell me about this" Angelo asks on the other side.

"Because it just happened" i reply, feeling attacked from all angles.

"Are you hurt?" Angelo asks.

"No, i am fine"

"You are not fine" Luke argues.

"So, something like that happens and you decide to leave your door open, again" i can see him trying to restrain himself.

I frown.

"You are being reckless, putting yourself in more danger" Angelo continues.

"Look, i didn't think he was really dangerous. I just thought that he would get tired of pursuing me and go away eventually, but after last weekend and now today, i guess maybe it's better i.........."

" Last weekend? what about last weekend? " Angelo cuts me off.

Oh, shit!

I narrate what happened at the mall and the day after.

"Mary you should have told me/Why the hell didn't you tell me about this?" Luke and Angelo scold me at the same time.

"You have not been here since Saturday" i glare at Luke, then turn to look at Angelo.

"I just, i forgot" i say to him.

"How can you forget something so serious Marianne?"

"It didn't come up"

"Didn't come up? Today's Thursday, and that happened on Saturday, you had a long time to bring it up, i already told you to let me know if he ever bothered you again didn't I? besides, i was here with you all night, you could have brought it up at some point" he reprimands me.

Geez, Thanks for that announcement.

"Wait, he was here all night?" Luke asks, picking it up, but i ignore him.

"Don't yell at me" i glare at Angelo.

"I am not....yelling" he sighs, running his fingers over his face and hair.

"You should definitely call the police" Sarah adds her two cents.

"No! i will takecare of it" Angelo says, his voice not leaving room for argument.

"What are you going to do?" i ask quietly.

"I'll will handle it" he replies without even looking at me, as he takes his phone out and walks out into the hall.

I turn to find Luke looking at me, with an expression i can't read.

I stare into space, as the silence stretches

"Hey, c'mon" Sarah elbows Luke, to encourage him to leave with her, as Angelo walks back in.

Left alone, i look up at Angelo, who's standing by the door, staring at me.

"What?" i whisper.

"You should have told me" he says, this time his voice soft, full of concern and care.

"You didn't really give me a chance, remember you left angry that morning after i snapped at you"

"Is that why you got startled, because of him?"

I nod.

"Marianne" he sighs, coming to sit next to me again.

"Come, you will stay at my place tonight" he says matter of factly.

"That's not necesary" i say.

"Look, we can argue about it if you want, but ultimately, there is no way you are staying here alone tonight. Something came up and i need to be somewhere else right now, but i am not leaving you here.

"Angelo...."

"Get whatever you need, you have ten minutes. We need to leave, You have already interrupted my program already." he stands up.

"How?" i frown.

"You stopped replying to my texts suddenly, so i decided to check on you. And i also thought perhaps you didn't want to see me anymore?"

"It's not that" I say right away.

We exchange a look, i see his determination and know that this conversation will only end one way, his way.

"Ok" i say giving in and walking to my bedroom. He follows and stands by the door, like a bouncer or security guard or something, and in his outfit, he might as well be, he looks more muscular and intimidating than i remember.

"Ok, done" i announce after about five minutes.

He looks down at me and frowns.

"What's that?" he asks in a patronising tone, pointing to my stuff with his eyes.

"Don't start, let's go" i say, attempting to walk past him. But his arm curls just below my chest and pulls me back to him so that my back is flush against his chest.

I like the contact, his body is warm, makes me feel safe and protected. And as if reading my mind, his other arm comes around, turning me towards him and pressing me into him and into a warm embrance.

I take a deep breathe and exhale, suddenly feeling so tired, and not just about before, but about everything in my life generally. His hand starts making soothing circles on my back and his other hand comes to my hair, spreading his fingers through it, until he touches the point where my head hit the door previously.

I wince.

He pulls back abruptly.

"No, please don't stop, just...just hold me" i say, this time allowing my hands to wrap around his waist and dropping my things to the floor.

He kisses the top of my head, his arms working overtime now as he rubs my back, arms and neck in a relaxing manner that makes me want to drool and fall sleep.

"Is that really all you are going to take?" He finally speaks.

"Yes" I whisper, half asleep.

He pulls back, unfortunately, and takes my toiletry bag and another bag that is containing my clothes for tomorrow.

"Let's go." he says.

I pick up some school materials that i will need for tomorrow on my way out before we leave.

*

Outside, i expected to find Angelo's usual car to be there, but instead, when we get there, there is a black limousine. The driver who stepped out when he saw us coming, opens the door and Angelo gives me a little push, encouraging me to go in.

I enter, and find that he isn't alone.

"Hai, i mutter politely at the other passengers.

"Hello, Hai, Hai." They return, obviously not expecting me.

Angelo enters. He must have given the driver my things because he doesn't have anything with him.

"Marianne, you remember Eva, that is Lewis Thompson and this is Benjamin Morreli." He says casually.

"This is Marriane Wright." he finishes the introductions.

We all mutter the same 'Hi's and Hello's' again and my heart goes crazy.

Did he say Benjamin Morreli, as in his older brother?

Shit! He had people waiting for him this whole time he was up there, and he didn't say a thing.

During the ride, they engage in what sounds like work conversations while i sit quietly, trying to look busy on my phone. I notice i have two unread messages from Angelo and a missed call from before.

I guess this is what he meant when he said i stoped responding to his messages.

Keeping to my phone, i try not to pay attention to them, until Angelo puts his hand on my thigh. He does it so casually such that his attention is still engaged in the conversation he is having, while his hand just casually rests there close to my knee.

Really?

Is this necesary?

His brother is right here for crying out loud! i wonder what he must be thinking.

I ignore him, but i cannot ignore the heat from his hand sipping into my skin. I fidgit a little, and cross my legs more, his response is to push his hand deeper between my crossed thighs.

I stay still, not willing to provoke him any further.

The car comes to a stop and he steps out motioning for me to follow.

'It was nice to meet you" I utter politely to all of them, but i try to steal a last glance at Angelo's brother who i find already looking at me, and i look away quickly.

"Mr Morreli" A man says, who appears to have been waiting outside the building for us.

"Felix.... This is Miss Wright" He says gesturing to me.

"Listen, i can't stay right now. Felix is the building manager and he will take you upstairs and help you with anything you will need to settle. I will be back as soon as i can." He says and without waiting for my reply, enters the car which drives off immediately.

Me and Felix watch the car dissapear out of view.

"After you Ma'am." he says, getting my attention.

"You can call me Mary"

He nods, "This way Miss Mary" he says and i sigh.

What did i just get myself into now.

A/N: Don't forget to vote and comment please....