Throughout my detention all I can think about is what's going to happen next. When I get home, will there be someone there waiting for me? I can only hope that by staying here it doesn't make them think I'm up to something. I mean, there has been that stupid car outside the school before. I haven't seen it today but they probably know I'm here for a reason. I don't fucking know but it makes me so paranoid that I actually knock the desk over when I abruptly stand at the sound of being excused.

The teacher stares at me funny but says nothing when I sit the desk back up then run out of class. I run to the bus stop, hop on and sit there with jittery legs until I get home. I'm not sure what I expect when I run up to the house but it doesn't look different. There's no one outside on the porch, that stupid car is there but no one is stepping out. Mom's car is in the driveway and the lights are on.

I let out a heavy sigh of relief but that relief is completely shattered after I get to my room. I completely ran past Mom, don't want her seeing the bruise forming on the side of my face so, after opening the door to my room, something feels off. The air has a warmth to it, like the AC isn't working that good, and it's then that I notice my window. It's slightly opened.

My heart races when I quickly shut my door and rush over to said window. The curtains are moving from the natural airflow coming in. Looking out, I see no one there but my skin breaks out with goosebumps. I latch the window shut then spin around to inspect my room. I fling open the closet door to peer inside then under my bed and, when I'm about to run out of the room, I notice a piece of paper on my desk.

The handwriting is familiar and I know who it is instantly. It's another address with instructions to meet there tonight at eleven. This asshole wants me to sneak out? Fantastic.

I crumble the note in my grasp. My arms are shaking. I bite my lip so hard it bleeds because that asshole, that asshole was in my fucking house. He broke in, into my room and...I spin around, wondering if he went somewhere else, if he's still here. There's no way, right? He left his stupid note, obviously I'll be there so...

I end up checking every room upstairs. There's no sign of him taking anything or having ever left my room but it pisses me off nonetheless.

Fuck, I need some fresh air so I inform Mom that I'm gonna sit out on the back porch for a bit, rather not be in the front where those freaks can see me. I want to sit outside in peace.

Thankfully Mom's being her crazy cooking self in the kitchen, guess that's a good thing about having a professional cook as a mother. She makes great ass food all the time and it's easier to sneak out the front door when she's in the kitchen.

The sun is low and the air is warm when I take a seat on the porch steps. Mom has a rose bush planted in the backyard as well as some other type of blue flower that I don't know the name of. Other than that, there's nothing there, used to be a trampoline but I threw a brick at Beckett once for annoying me and tore a hole in it so that's gone.

"That's a nasty bruise," Leo says causing me to look over and find him walking from his yard to mine. He waves hesitantly, like he isn't sure I want him there. When I make no move to tell him to leave, he smiles and takes a seat next to me. "Does it hurt?"

"Sometimes," I answer. "I'm just angry I didn't get him back. It was one of Rolland's goons."

Leo hums. "Why'd you punch him anyways?"

"He's a piece of shit."

"No argument there but you've never messed with him."

"He picked the wrong day to piss me off." I shrug, which has Leo eying me suspiciously.

"Why's that? Is something wrong?" He suddenly presses the back of his hand to my forehead. My eyes go wide while my heart starts thinking it's ok to sing. It isn't so shut the fuck up. "You don't feel warm."

"I'm not sick."

Leo drops his hand to his side with a smile. "That's good but, is there something else? Ah, I'm sorry if...if I'm overstepping my boundaries. I just, you helped me so I thought-"

"It's fine," I interrupt before the poor boy sputters himself into pure gibberish, not that I don't find it completely adorable but he probably doesn't enjoy it as much. "It's not that anything is really wrong, just, one of those days, know what I mean?"

That is a complete lie. Yes, it sucks to give but I'm definitely not telling Leo. Especially when he's looking at me with those big blue eyes of his that make my stomach twist into a knot. Yeah, it's best to keep this to myself, keep them out of as much trouble as I can while hoping that I don't get caught. I'm going to have to start writing down all the lies to keep track of them. This is way too much work.

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"I don't know, is there?" I ask in a, I swear it wasn't meant to be flirtatious but it definitely was, tone.

Now Leo is staring at me with such wide eyes he looks like a deer caught in headlights. His cheeks are redder than a tomato while his jaw hangs open. I shouldn't be digging a deeper grave for myself but, fuck it, these whack jobs may end up killing me so I might as well go all out here.

Pressing my hand into the porch, I lean over so that I completely shatter Leo's personal bubble. I am grateful for the thin stairway, the railing forces Leo to stay in place rather than lean away although he's still trying to. He even goes a little cross eyed for a moment when my nose brushes his. Suddenly, it's a thousand degrees outside. My heartbeat is ringing in my ears, or maybe that's Leo's.

Rather than moving any closer, I wait patiently for a move from him. Leo can either push me away, lean in or give me some sort of sign that this is an ok move. I actually don't have the time to grow impatient because only a second passes for Leo's eyes flutter shut. His shoulders relax and he sits there, simply sits there waiting and, who am I to pass up such an offer?

So, leaning forward, I can feel his warm breath against my lips when my Mom suddenly opens the door.

"Micah, it's time to-oh!"

There is pure unbridled and unexplainable rage in my eyes when I jerk my head to the side to glare a thousand painful deaths at Mom. Leo's eyes are wide open as well, face red up to his ears while he quickly turns away. His shoulder hits me chest, forcing me to back up so that the moment is completely fucking ruined.

"I, uh, I made cookies, w-would either of you?" Mom snaps her mouth shut when she sees me pinching the bridge of my nose.

Why, Mom? Why?

"I'll just go inside," she laughs nervously, quickly shutting the door behind her. The moment she does, Leo is standing up and I am well aware that no kissing will ensue. Damn it all to hell. I was so close!

"Uh, I should get g-going. I'll s-see you later," Leo squeaks, rushing down the stairs and tripping a bit in the grass. He doesn't look back at me when he says bye, waving his hand before running like the hounds of hell are on his trail.

Grumbling angrily to myself, I get up, brush off my pants and stomp inside. Mom is waiting right there with such a wide grin that it physically hurts to look at.

"Was that what I think it was?" She giggles. "Oh, please, please let Leo be my future son in law!"

"You ruined those chances."

"Micah! How was I supposed to know? And-" Mom stops when she finally gets a good look at me. "Micah, where did you get that bruise?"

"I'm too angry with you right now to answer."

"Micah! Hey, don't ignore me!"

I definitely ignore her. I'm angry. She ruined the moment.