I was woken suddenly by a loud crash. My heart pounded in my chest and my breathing was short, sharp and panicked. After a long stretch of silence I breathed a sigh of relief and lay back down.

There was a loud, strange whooshing sound and I sat up again curiously. What was that?

I slid out of bed and padded over to the door. I opened it curiously but heard nothing else, there was only the sound of an engine as it drove down the road outside my house. I continued towards the front door and opened it a crack. I couldn't help being cautious, after yesterday anything could happen.

At first I saw nothing, then my jaw fell open as my eyes caught up with what was before them. I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing. The door swung open so I could take in the whole scene.

My car was on fire, the whole thing engulfed in flames that licked and danced across the paintwork. I stood there, frozen with shock. Who would do something like this? What motive could anyone have to set my car on fire?

The trance was broken when I heard a door slam and Lilly ran towards me.

"Laura!" She yelled, "what happened?"

"I don't know." I said, and suddenly sprang into action. "I need to phone the fire brigade."

I dashed back inside and grabbed my phone from where it was charging on my bedroom floor. I dialed the number and paced as it rang.

Lilly appeared at the bedroom door, her face full of concern. I smiled at her and she came over beside me.

"Which emergency service do you require?" The operator asked, in their usual forced calm tone.

"The fire brigade." I replied. Lilly wrapped her arms around my torso and pulled me tight against her. I looped my free arm around her back as I gave the person on the other end the details. The man said they'd be there soon and I thanked him before hanging up.

"Are they coming?" Lilly asked, tilting her head back to look at me.

"Yeah." I whispered and dropped my head to kiss her. She giggled against my lips and the sound made me smile. Then she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me closer. My stomach burned with desire as she pressed her lips hard against mine. My insides were slowly melting as she kissed me into oblivion.

There was a low cough from beside us and we jumped apart, Lilly's face one of complete mortification. Her father was beside us, and the look on his face spoke volumes.

"Sorry Mr Daniels." I said, trying my best not to smile as Lilly tried to hide her blushing red face.

"It's Donald." He said gruffly and I smiled sweetly.

"Okay, I'm sorry Donald."

"Yes, well." He coughed and scratched his forehead. I suddenly realized where Lilly got her painful embarrassment, they resembled each other down to the slight frown between their eyebrows.

There was a long drawn out pause.

"Should we wait outside for them?" I asked, partially to break the silence.

"We might as well." Lilly said and we walked towards the door.

She walked a little ahead of me and her hand swung close to mine with every step. Without thinking I grabbed it and she jumped. She glanced over her shoulder at me and I was sorely tempted to kiss her again but her dad was still there so I managed to refrain myself.

The heat outside was almost unbearable and I was slightly afraid the fire would reach the petrol tank and it would explode but I didn't know how to prevent it so just stood there, squeezing Lilly's hand tightly.She took to rubbing her thumb gently over the back of my hand and it felt as though she was burning a trail into my skin.

Her blond hair blew in the slight breeze and her eyes sparkled in the early morning light. My worries faded as I looked at her and when she smiled at me I realized how much she'd come to mean to me, even after such a short time. My heart beat fast in my chest and I was certain she could hear it.

She stared at me, the smile slowly fading off her face, but she didn't need it. All her emotions could be read in her eyes and what I saw there took my breath away. How was it possible that, after only a month, she could mean this much to me?

I felt like all my life was for was to make her happy, to make her smile, to see that adorable blush spread across her cheeks. I would fall for her if I wasn't careful. That filled me with a panic I couldn't explain but with it came a warmth I'd never felt before.

I wondered if she could read my thought, if she somehow knew what I was thinking. That triggered something in my memory and I remembered that day in class, when she'd spoken inside my head. Did that mean she could hear my thoughts too? Was she listening right now?

It felt as though my heart had stopped and I immediately broke eye contact and dropped her hand, taking a step away from her.

"What is it?" Lilly asked with concern, but I was saved from answering by the fire engine as it roared around the corner, with blaring sirens and a squeal of tires.

Four men jumped out before it had even stopped moving and ran round to the back. I didn't really understand what they were doing, all I know is they got a hose and put the fire out.

Once we were no longer in danger of being blown to piecesone of the fire fighters approached me. He looked young, younger than me, and his head had been shaved so it glinted in the sun. His eyes were small and shrew-like, and he wouldn't look straight at me.

"We have extinguished the flames ma'am, as you can see. I advise you contact your insurance provider to arrange a replacement. "

"Thank you, I'll make sure to do that." He nodded, climbed back into the truck and they were gone as quickly as they'd come.

"All right." Mr Da - Donald said, "maybe I should head."

"You don't have to dad," Lilly said, and I added my own agreement.

"I think I do, there's no point me hanging around and making everyone uncomfortable. I'll see you girls later." He got into his car. Just before he closed the door he said, "don't get up to too much mischief," and winked at us.

Lilly hid her head in my neck and groaned. I waved goodbye to a chuckling Mr Daniels then rubbed her shoulders gently.

"Is he gone?" She asked, her voice rather muffled against my skin.

"Yes," I whispered into her hair. "We're all alone." She shivered and pulled me towards the house by the hand.

The second the door closed she jumped into my arms, smothering my face with kisses. It was lucky I caught her or we would have ended up in a heap on the ground. I pushed her off gently, not really wanting to put an end to her sudden boldness.

She slid her feet down onto the ground, and using all of her tiny body weight, pressed me back against the door. Her lips ravaged mine and I eventually had to push her away from the need to breathe.

I panted and she smirked at me.

"Bit demanding this morning, aren't you?" I teased and her face went that beautiful shade of pink I was certain I would never tire of. "I really need a shower." She wouldn't look at me and I couldn't resist. "You can join me if you want." I winked at her and she stared at me for a second with wide eyes. Then what I'd said registered properly and her blush became darker.

"Sorry," she said softly, "I know I get embarrassed too easily, it must be so annoying."

"I think it's cute." I told her, kissing her on the top of her head.

"It annoys me." She admitted, "I wish I was more confident."

"You will be babe, I'll make sure of it." She grinned.

"Babe... I like that."

"Okay so," I gestured towards the bathroom with my head, "You coming?"

She shook her head.

"I'd probably just fall or something."

"Alright, I'll see you after. Help yourself to food or whatever you want."

"Okay, thanks."

I walked towards the bathroom, glancing over my shoulder a couple of times to check up on her. She smiled at me reassuringly and I felt my heart skip a beat.

Don't start that again!