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Chapter 11

       There were two things I noticed when my eyes finally blinked groggily open. One, I was in my room, curled tightly into the thick blankets of my bed. And two, there was a heavy, worn-down, thick, brown jacket wrapped around my shoulders-even though I was under all those blankets.

       I knew whose jacket it was, knew that delicious, mind-numbing scent belonged to a certain chestnut-eyed, dark-haired boy that had haunted my dreams for the past two weeks. When did I get Rex's jacket?

       The lake.

       The last thing I remembered was falling asleep against his strong chest-right after he had apologized to me. Rex Turner did not apologize to anyone, not even his best friends. It wasn't in his vocabulary, I was surprised he even knew what 'sorry' meant. But he did, and he said it to me-of all people!

       My heart hammered in my chest and I raised the open lapel of the jacket just enough to bury my nose in the warm fabric. Friends... We were friends now. If I was remembering correctly. My mind was a little foggy, the meds always did that after I took too much. The next day I could never think completely straight.

       But it wasn't the next day yet, I didn't think it was. The sky outside my window was completely dark, and I couldn't hear any noise throughout the rest of the house. Had I really slept all day long? Did Rex really bring me up here? I reached for my phone, that was charging on the nightstand, and glanced down at its clock. Eleven p.m.

        Oh my God. I had been asleep for nearly ten hours! But that wasn't even the most shocking part. It was the text message from a number I didn't recognize that made my breath clog in my throat.

       Unknown: It's Rex. Save my number. Call me if you need anything. Tomorrow we need to talk.

       My thumb rubbed over the words, my heart in my throat. Call me if you need anything. Rex had my number, he had texted me. "Oh my God." I murmured around the Sahara Desert that was suddenly my throat.

       I felt like a giddy little girl who had just spoke to her crush for the first time. I had Rex Turner's number, the Rex Turner. It was all I could do not to giggle like a manic and squeeze my phone to my chest. He hadn't ran away screaming like I thought he would-and we were friends now. And I had his jacket!

       I was way too excited to get anymore sleep that night.

       The next morning was not a fun one. Luce was mad. She went from screaming about how I skipped school again, to how I was skipping with Rex, to taking too much of the medicine. I honestly thought she was going to make me stay home just to keep yelling all day.

       "Lu, babe, come on. She's going to be late if you keep screaming." Tate finally interrupted sometime later, an apologetic smile lighting his eyes.

       "I am not screaming. I'm voicing my concerns-"

       "By yelling like a banshee. If Rose doesn't leave now she's not going to make-"

       The ringing doorbell cut off his reply, and all three of our heads snapped to the sound. Luce huffed, and Tate grew eerily silent as an exuberant glee filled my chest. I had a pretty good feeling about who was on the front porch.

       "Rose!" My sister called after me as I jumped up from the table and grabbed my bag off the hallway's bench. "We're not done with this conversation! Dad will be home tomorrow and you bet your butt he will hear about this!"

       "Okay, I love you! Have a good day!" I called over my shoulder and hurried for the front door, before pausing and grabbing that brown jacket from the bench. The last thing I wanted to do was give it back to Rex, but it wasn't mine and I've only ever seen him wear this one. It was probably his only jacket and he would be cold without it-

       My mental tirade was cut short by two hard knocks against the front door, and I shook my head before pulling it open. My heart jumped the minute my eyes landed on his, my hands clutching tighter at the jacket.

       Rex was standing there in all his dark, beautiful glory. Dark sunglasses covered those chestnut eyes, almost-black hair sat deliciously disheveled across his forehead, and that sharp jaw locked like usual. I felt a shy heat touch my cheeks as I smiled at him, but he didn't seem to notice.

       "Good morning." I mumbled against the tightness in my throat. His lips twitched at the corner in a smile so small I wouldn't have seen it if I wasn't looking. My heart jumped at the action, and I tried not to stare like a love-struck fool as he leaned casually against the open doorway.

       "How are you feeling?" He asked quietly, and I could almost feel that dark gaze sweeping me from head to toe behind those glasses.

       "Okay, just tired. Thanks for, uh, bringing me home." The shy heat from before turned into a full-on blush as I dropped my gaze to our shoes.

       He let out a soft scoff that had me raising my eyes once again. "It's not like I was going to leave you there-" His words cut short when that dark glare caught sight of something behind me.

       All soft pretenses completely vanished as his large body turned into a stiff, stone, wall. I glanced over my shoulder to see Tate staring at us from the doorway to the kitchen, his soft brown eyes hard for once as they glared at the beautiful boy in front of me.

       "What are you doing here?" He asked Rex softly, like he didn't want Luce to hear. I frowned and cast an uncertain glance between the two.

       "Taking Rosalyn to school. What are you still doing here?" He snapped right back, and the icy tone in his voice confused me. Did they have this conversation before?

       "I live here." He snapped right back, his arms crossing over his chest in what was supposed to be an intimidating gesture.

       I took an uneasy step towards Rex. His body was slowly turning into that intense calm as it did right before he beat up Jason and his friends. I did not want the same thing happening to my sister's boyfriend.

       "Rex, come on. We're going to be late." I murmured softly up at the fuming man/boy, his fists clenched so tightly at his side I'm surprised he didn't draw blood.

       "Bye Tate! Have a good day!" I called hurriedly over my shoulder before stepping out onto the porch and closing the door quickly behind me.

       Rex continued fuming, those eyes now glaring at me. I could practically see the anger there despite those shades. He didn't say anything as he turned on his heels and headed down the porches steps, leaving me to fumble after him.

       I could tell by the tense set in his shoulders that he didn't want to talk about what just happened, so as he stomped over to the passenger door and ripped it open for me, I only shoved the jacket in his face. He paused, that angry façade falling some as he raised a dark eyebrow at me.

       "I, uh," I muttered lamely as that shy blush returned once again. "Um, thank you for letting me borrow it. It's really comfortable and warm, and-"

       "Keep it." His voice was still hard, though his tone was slowly softening as he leaned against the open door.

       "B-But it's the only jacket I see you wear, and I don't want to take-"

       "I want you to keep it, alright? You look cute in it."

       And just like I had stepped into a Rosalyn-sized furnace, my cheeks and neck flamed he had set a match to them. Rex just said I looked cute in his jacket, he said I looked cute.

       I clutched the worn-down, warm fabric to my chest like it was the holy bible used to fend off demons before ducking quickly into the car. I didn't want him to see the beyond thrilled smile refusing to leave my lips.

       He closed the door quietly behind me as I pulled on his jacket and buckled the seat-belt, then watched as he walked slowly around the front of the car. His gaze kept darting back to the front door.

       "Your text said you wanted to talk..." I started softly as he pulled the car away from the curb. His eyes slanted to mine behind those glasses, and his grip tightened around the steering wheel.

       "Yes, but it can wait."

       That didn't really make any sense, but I wasn't going to bug him about it. Not after yesterday. And he picked me up for school. "Did the others leave already?" I asked instead as he drove out of the neighborhood.

       "Uh huh."

       "Trey said you don't like to carpool."

       "I don't."

       "Why not?"

       "Too crowded."

       "Oh, are you claustro-"

       "Dear God." He suddenly snapped, his hands tightening around the poor wheel. "Do you ever stop fucking talking?"

       I instantly sealed my lips and snapped my eyes to the floorboards. I tried to ignore the jab of hurt that shot through my chest, but it was hard. My emotional memories of the day before might have been lacking, but I still knew what happened.

       He said we were friends now-why did I have to go and ruin that so soon? I talked too much, I knew that. It got on Luce's nerves all the time, and Rex was a quiet guy, he didn't like talking. I was just so excited, and it was digging up our newly laid friendship.

       "Fucking hell." He growled a few long, silent minutes later when he finally parked the car in its usual spot at the back of the lot. I watched quietly as he ripped off his sunglasses and he threw the gear shift into park before running a rough hand through his dark, disheveled hair.

       "Fucking- Damn it! I'm sorry, alright?" He snapped, though the hard palm he rubbed in anguish down his handsome face softened the blow.

       My heart skipped a beat and my eyes widened as they stared at him in surprise. "For what? I'm the one who should apologize. I-I know I'm annoying and I made you mad-"

       His loud, drawn out sigh interrupted my stammering words, and I felt that idiotic heat crawl back up my neck. "You didn't make me mad, and you're not..." He glanced out the window, that chestnut gaze hard, before his tone softened.

       "You're not annoying. I'm just not used to someone always talking to me, and I can't control the anger when I haven't..." His voice trailed off, those dark eyes looking anywhere but at me.

       "Haven't what?" I dared push, even though I knew it was no use.

       He closed his eyes, shook his head, then ran that hand through his hair once more. "Doesn't matter, it's no excuse. I'll learn to stop snapping at you, I promise." He finally looked over at me, and the almost soft, promising look in them went straight to my heart.

       He just- Rex just-

       Rex Turner just apologized, made a promise, and gave me such a soft, endearing look it made my stomach do funny things, all in two minutes. I think I entered an alternate dimension.

       The moment was gone nearly as fast as it began, and then Rex was turning the engine off and stepping out of the car without another word. I followed silently, and threw my bag securely around my shoulders, crinkling his jacket to me even more.

       I watched as he locked the sleek convertible, half-expecting him to walk away and leave me there, until I saw the other boys piling out of the SUV a few spots down from us. A smile instantly pulled on my lips when I saw their familiar faces, and Denton's brightened to the tenth-degree when his eyes landed on us.

       "Just fucking perfect." I vaguely heard Rex grumble beside me before the younger Dimajio twin came clambering over to us with a beaming smile.

       "Buttercup! I've missed you sooo much!" He practically cried, his large, athletic arms held open wide for a hug. "I haven't seen you in almost a week! It was killing me-"

       "I don't fucking think so."

       Right before Denton could wrap his arm in-what I think was going to be a bear hug-Rex's iron-like arm shot out and shoved him away hard. Denton stumbled back, but he didn't seem hurt, only sad. If the puppy-dog pout pulling on his lips was anything to go by.

       "Hey! Not fair! You got to be with her yesterday! It's my turn for some Rose lovin'!" He stomped his foot like a child, the pout on his lips forcing a small laugh from my own.

       "Fuck off, you idiot." Rex snapped, his large, very buff, and warm body almost sidestepping between the younger-by-a-few-minutes Dimajio and I.

       My smile slowly disappeared, my heart dropping to my stomach. I thought we could all be friends again, that we could all get along. And he said he wasn't mad at me, or annoyed. But then why wouldn't he let Denton hug me?

       A small frown creased my lips as Trey and Brett finally reached us, Trey smiling softly over at me as Brett rolled his eyes. Neither of them bothering to intervene.

       "It's not like I wanted to hug you, ass hole."

       Despite the curse in his words, Denton's voice wasn't hard or even mean. If anything, he was pouting even more up at Rex like a little boy who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

       And everyone calls me the kid.

       "You're not hugging her. I don't even want you fucking talking to her."

       Hurt shot through my chest, and I forced my gaze to the ground so no one could see the hint of pain in them. He still didn't... like me. That was it. That's why he didn't want Denton to hug me, or even talk to me. He still hated me. I knew he would.

       Jax was the only one who stayed after he found out I was broken. Everyone else left, and my family put me on medication to mend the breakage. It didn't work, and I didn't have it anymore. I had no idea what Rex did with it, but I couldn't find the bottle after yesterday.

       I was running on empty and Rex was only leaving me more confused than ever. He hated me, he didn't want his friends around me, but then why was he trying to be all-protective now?

       I hadn't realized I had turned away from the group and started walking absently to the school until a large, warm arm wrapped around my shoulders. "We're going to have a talk one day real soon, Princess. About those little thoughts of yours."

       My head snapped over at the large Mountain walking casually beside me, his head bent low so his voice could whisper into my ear. "What do you mean?" I asked softly as he steered us towards the school's entrance, the others somewhere behind us.

       "I told you not to pay attention when that moron talks. He didn't mean what he said as it sounded."

       "Trey."

       The confusion that slammed into me at his words was briefly overridden by the near-furious tone strumming from the beautiful boy stalking after us. Trey gave me one last pointed look, that I had no idea what to make of, before he let go of my shoulders and stepped away-his hands raised in mock surrender as a smirk pulled on his lips.

       Then a warm, hard grip was wrapping around my wrist and practically dragging me towards the school. I nearly stumbled trying to keep up with the furious leader of the Big Four, whose back was stiff with tension. I would have let out a depressed little sigh if I wasn't focused on keeping my footing.

       Without stopping for breath, Rex dragged us into the school, pulled me through the quickly growing crowd of students, and stomped right over to my locker. He didn't say one word the entire time. He hated me, but then why was he holding my wrist? Why did I never want him to let go?

       But he did let go, as soon as we got to my locker. He gave me one last seething look, his eyes blazing down at me, before turning on his heel and storming away. I bit my lip to stop from calling after him, and made my eyes focus on the lock as I reached up to spin in the combo. My hand was trembling.

       I needed my medicine.

-&-

       Second period had just ended and I was ready to run home as fast as I could. There was no panic, not yet, only a tsunami wave of feelings that wanted to drown me completely. I felt everything, all the way from happiness at Rex picking me up, to mad for him leaving me at me locker, to despair for being mad at him, and then an utter hatred in myself for making him hate me.

       I just wanted it to end, to go away. The more I felt, the more it hurt, and the more the stress grew. I didn't know if I was supposed to be waiting for one of the boys to walk me to class, and I didn't stick around long enough after each one to check. I'm sure they would tell me at lunch if I was supposed to, but there was just too much right now. Too much of-everything.

       The second I walked into third period, I froze. My eyes locked on the chestnut pair at the back, glaring over at me, and the stress grew too much to handle. My gaze widened, and my heart beat a thousand miles in my chest as that stress began to turn to panic.

       I need my medicine.

       I turned on my heel, ignoring the now-curious frown that pulled at his lips, and bolted from the room. I couldn't do this. Not now, not today. I needed to get the medicine back from him, somehow. I couldn't survive this place without it. I couldn't survive him.

       Why did I have to like him so much? Why did I pray he wouldn't leave me like everyone else? We weren't anything. I doubted we were even friends after this morning. One day, and I had screwed everything up. That was all it took.

       He didn't have any reason to be my friend, to remember me. It didn't matter though, not in the end. Bottom line, everyone left me, even Jax. I was nothing.

       "Rose."

       No, no, no! He couldn't follow me right now! Not now! I needed to calm down. To hide somewhere even the panic couldn't find me, to push the stress away. I tried to pick up my pace, but Rex was faster. He was better. At everything.

       "Stop." He snapped the second he caught up to me, his strong hand wrapping around my bicep and pulling me to a halt.

       My breath picked up in my chest, my heart hammered a million miles a minute. I could feel it completely now, the panic, the darkness-the one inside me. The one that didn't go away.

       "What's wrong?" Those dark eyes were staring down into mine, two calloused hands wrapped tightly around my upper arms even though I couldn't feel them through the jacket. It was getting harder to breathe. "Rose, calm down. Tell me what's wrong." That gaze almost seemed soft again, like back in the car, like the day before. Like he cared.

       It was all a lie.

       "I need my medicine."

       And just like that, his eyes hardened again, and the lie disappeared. "No. I told you that shit fries your brain-"

        "I need it!" The scream that tore from my lips surprised us both, and that dark gaze widened more than I knew they could. "You took it and I need it! There's too much!" I shouted and tried to jerk away from his hold, but his grip was too strong, his hands too hard.

       "Too many feelings! Too much panic, too much stress! I can't!