!" I shout to my best friend, Summer, as she dances wildly n

come out tonight, probably because he knows he is going to need hel

is eye. My heart stops when I notice the tall, handsome stranger who

m over Parker, dominating his frame by almost an entire foot. I

x god standing next to Parker? He didn't say anything ab

have never hated or even despised her in any way for it, I can't help but feel jealous towards her gl

my shoulders with no style to it, and dull blue eyes. I have a splatter of

r eye-catching about my ap

lk to him, find out i

look. "Why me? Why not y

winks and pushes me towards the bar. I get bumped around a bi

ou se

growing crowd. I choose the option that allows me to breath, and make my way up

. I can see his arms are shaking, looking down towards his hands gripping the counter to se

tells me to turn around and walk the other way, that everything I am seein

viously isn't holding up

to fi

lright?" I

g in their dark pools. I swear he is staring into my soul as his eyes p

like

going on inside this guy's head. For someone so beautiful, his eyes carry a lot of

mps away as if scared of any contact. That just makes more questions sw

r his hand. I feel his fingers beneath mine and grasp them, not missing the way

t from me

in the blink of an eye. His eyes are still shifting around the room, and he

g, not sure what compelled me to invite thi

s through my mind, reminding me that I

as I pull him closer to the end of the bar. When we reach the crowd,

him that whatever he is fighting, it's okay. I squeeze his hand b

oming the cool breeze of Summer that is about to hit N

bar, hoping it will help calm him down a little. He ta

im. He still doesn't speak, and I realize then how much I wa

ially one I just met. I love Everett, and I have for the last 5 years we have dated

n't help but want to forget my life

been understanding that I want to wait until I feel I'm ready, but even with him,

d friend of Parker's?" I ask, attempting to make smal

voice like honey against my ears, deep and melodic. It makes

to hear his voice more. I could stand here ta

es. I realize then, he is still clutching tightly to my hand. I feel h

y through the crowd towards us. He bumps into a guy behind me, and he

and I feel a piece of glass cut into the side

fore I know what's going on, the guy is next to me instantl

er cries, seeing the blood now runnin

the guys asks Parker, not looki

Summer should be there. I'll c

ish talking, the stranger lifting me into his arms and

ront door and it slams behind us. I turn my face towards him, seeing his

neck and cuddle slightly against his chest, a pang

I really do think my touch helps calm this strange man; keep whatever

e want to

owd. I can hear his heart beating erratically, m

he bar, where Summer c

irty look she throws him. I try not to smile when

nd a piece cut me, " I say. It's hard to concent

d starts cleaning up the blood on my le

like I did, and I try to contain to slight jealousy I feel again.

s and starts ap

here to begin with. I don't permit alcohol outside my club; I don't

being taken care of, " I say, thankful that we're behind t

realizing the situation. "Oh, h

ist

s staring intensely at me, suck

l, " Parker says. "Anyway, I have to get back beh

e rings in my ears, and I feel a blush creep on

What is wro

caressing my leg as if it's the most fragile thing ever. I'm still very aware of Summe

. I don't miss the way his jaw clenches or feel him tense up when her shoulder brushe

down at his hand and realizes how hard he's gripping my leg, releasing it i

aid kit to Summer. "I'm sorry, I have to go." He turns towa

eyebrows at me. "W

d him, tha

nd-aid on the cut before

m and just asked a question. What's so bad about th

ith that, if Tristan wer

t of secrets beneath the surface, and despite the warnings going off in my

his skin against mine again, and watch the shadows

not ever leave. I have Everett to think of, someone who I have already decided I want to spend the rest of my

we have conquered those insecurities and come out stronger for it.

letting our feelings get the better of us. She says it's similar to how she met my father. She ha

p him despite the warnings she was given. Within him, she said she found the most loving and c

and my mother confirmed that when I was older. He didn't know I existed, until I was five years old, t

ove between two people, and they aren't afraid to show me that their love isn't perfect, that they fight and su

ogether, and sometimes I feel that's a good thing. But I know when the t

f that I truly love Everett, to overthrow the little voice in the back

rowns, but nods and walks with me to the door. I say good-bye to Parker o

imagine a

*

er's place, forgetting that he has the keys and

. I try not to think about everything tonight, about her, but it's i

e that under her touch. I felt like nothing could get to me if she is there, nothin

I've spoken to or touched in 10 years. I'm sure that can do a lot to a person

ch I was already relying on this complete stranger; I made a run for it. I don't nee

inds out the things I've done, to get where I am now. What would she think of me the

can't think she is much younger than myself, early twenties. Which means cha

t of it. If there is anything, I have truly come to realize rotting away in there, it's that life reall

tead had no choice but to transgress i

and body reacted to her, and I'm afrai

ff my thoughts, and I see Parker call

ce barely audible through the sta

I'm back at your place, but I re

I make my way around the back, spotting the small wooden door frame

d, it's

ours. You can crash in my room for now if you want, I al

d tearing my shirt off immediately, feeling the pressure building

, and Emily's touch at the club to calm

here. I settle for the beer bottles I see and grab one, walking over to

e I'm even halfway through my beer, my

*

hitting me in the fa

I wish I could do that, " he says when I finally manage to

I ask, trying to rol

up, I have the day off and it's already 1 o'clock in the afternoon. Come

off the couch and rub my face. Parker stick

ou'll see when

time terrifying. After last night, I knew I'm not ready to go out and mingle with society. I just

ehind my eyelids, quickening my pulse. Parker comes back into the li

me towards town, where most of the major shopping centers are. My curiosity grows, but

n ever since I've known him. It's ni

a home decorating store, much like

right now, I haven't started working at th

Who said you

start working again. That's the only way I will accept money from you, "

u like it or not, and it doesn't require you to come with me." He climbs out of the truck and turns

sk Parker and his poor taste in anything decorating my place

w end tables, and a dresser. Even with trying to pick the cheapest items, it still came ou

amount and not shed a tear. He never used to be this way, he hated spend

a little different than before. I can't help but feel a little proud of him, an

, so I couldn't argue and you have to give them 24-hour's notice before arriving and using the truc

f a good thing I s

delivery guy the address and directions to the house. Wh

ng we need to talk ab

at him, urging

or even prepared to face a crowd like that. I was just excited to have you back, and wanted t

tand. I'm happy to be back in his life as well, that

er blue eyes flash in my mind the instant he says her name. My pulse star

" I ask, trying

en't the first guy to stumble over his feet when they first see her. I just wan

hing with her before, at least not with anyone until I

e caught me in the middle of freaking out, unfortunately, and offered

struggling to keep her off my mind, thankful that Parker did decide to drag me out here and o

g me the slow Monday morning crowd to deal with on my first day. He also said he would ask Summer to go over fo

mber the way her shoulder brushed against mine, and instead of it calming me like Emily, it prickled

idence or a fleeting feeling. But my mind still tries to deny any connect

ndness, no doubt someone woul

different circumstanc

Emily or her friend, until at least tomorrow. Tackle one thing at a t

nt, organizing it disorderly in the living room area. Parker and I then get to work setting it all up, star

, some lamps or something, and we're solid, "

fee table, running my hands over them. I peer into the bedro

proper bed

father always made me sleep on the couch, and though at the time I was

ought; this is all mine. My life is

do t

of the unknown passions I never had the chance to discover before. There has to be somet

to be some

to Emily, but I wi

e to focus on repairing myself, and easing my way back into society. No doubt half of the state of

tan Burke isn't. Here, that name is only common for one thing; trying to break into

ere else to go. If the opportunity ever came for me to move somewhere else, I'm going t

you in, Summer should be there not long after, " Parker says. I bid him farewell and cont

Parker to order pizza, and get a quick respond back of what I think is a thumb

lding a pizza box. He hands it to me and says it was already paid for downs

Stuffed full afterwards, I can already feel my eyes getting heavy. I saunter over to th

is anot