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-&-

Chapter 34

     Rex

       "Thank you..." I grit my teeth and tried to at least seem thankful. I might not like the fucker, and he sure as hell didn't like me, but he did bail me out when I needed to be.

       Sheriff Maguire grunted and gave me that dead, cop stare he always did whenever we were in the same room together. He didn't like that Trey and I were friends. He figured I was a 'bad influence'. He can suck a fucking left one for all I cared.

       "Don't thank me. I didn't do anything. I'm just here to take your sorry ass to your car."

       My eyes snapped to his, a sick knot forming in my stomach. He was a large guy, Trey had to get it from fucking somewhere, and I was smart enough not to bad mouth him.

       "Then who got me out?"

       That fucking moron of a punk I pummeled at the party had a pretty influential family—one that didn't know the layout of Jasper or how things fucking worked. His daddio got pissed that his poor, precious, rapist of a twit son had a few broken bones and got the big bad police involved.

       I was planning on being locked up for a while, a month at least, not for a few hours. Which would have been fucking hell. Trey couldn't be there for Rose all the time while I was gone—not that I wanted him to—and I would have been out of fucking mind worrying. I knew better than to look a gift horse in the mouth, but there was no way that douche would have dropped the charges. The man was blindingly pissed.

       "Rune Evans." Trey's dad watched my face like a hawk as the name passed his lips, that hard gaze searching for something I had no fucking idea about.

       "Rune Evans... The Rune Evans?"

       "It would appear so." Maguire gruffed as he slapped a file down on the receptionist counter-top between us. We were still at the police station, the receptionist eyeing out entire talk. I fucking hated nosy ass people watchers. Mind your own damn business.

       "As far as the station is concerned, the Duncan's had a change of heart and dropped the chargers." His eyes dropped down to the file as he let out a haggard sigh. "However, my sources tell me Mr. Evans 'donated' a nice amount of money to the family rather suddenly." He slid the open file over, pointing at a part of a document where it claimed all charges have been withdrawn.

       "Care to tell me why?" The sheriff asked casually, like it was completely normal for Rune Evans to be coughing up money for some good-for-nothing kid.

       "I wish I could." And I actually meant that. I had no fucking idea how the hell Rune Evans knew who I was—or cared that I was arrested. But I knew one thing for sure, everything came at a fucking price. My father taught me that.

       "Look kid," And I knew he was about to get all 'fatherly' on me when he let out that long, drawn out sigh that Trey just fucking loves to give me too. "I don't know what you got yourself into, but the big guys are looking at you now. Try to stay out of trouble."

       I didn't say anything. I was trying hard to work on that whole 'if you don't have anything nice to say don't say it at all' thing they tell children. Rose gets upset anytime I snap at people. It's fucking annoying, but if I didn't do it all the time then I wouldn't do it to her and that's all I cared about.

       When he realized I wasn't going to say anything he rolled his eyes and grabbed the file back from my hand. "Just actually consider advice once in a while." The sheriff grunted as he snapped the file shut and gave it to the gawking receptionist.

       "Let's go. I'll take you to your car. Trey says that girl of yours is losing her mind."

-&-

    Rose

       My knee bounced up and down anxiously as I stared blankly at the TV screen, my lip nearly bleeding from how hard I was biting down on it. It was six o'clock in the afternoon and I hadn't heard anything about Rex. I shouldn't have been so worried though, I knew they would let him go. No matter how much I hated asking, my dad always carried out my favors.

       "Don't stress so much, Princess." Trey said from behind me—though he was one to talk. He hadn't sat down since we arrived at his house from school. He went from pacing the living room, to messing around in the kitchen, back to pacing, and now he was leaning against the entrance to the hallway with his arms crossed.

       "He'll be fine. He's been through worse. Locked up in actual jail and what now." He tried to reassure me, though his tone sounded a lot more worried than his words.

       "I know." I muttered quietly but kept my gaze trained blankly at the football game playing on the TV. The twins seemed completely immersed in it, and not worried one little bit. Though after we explained everything to them at lunch their attitude shifted to 'couldn't care less'. They were used to Rex getting in this kind of trouble.

       While I sure as h-e-double hockey sticks was not. I mean, I knew he would get into this kind of trouble before we were friends, but I never actually experienced it. I only hoped he wouldn't be there for long, or that it wasn't too serious.

       I was beyond worried about him, I really, really was—but that more selfish, horrible part of me was upset that he wasn't there with me. I had gotten so used to being with him all the time, used to our afternoons and hidden sleep overs, that spending time away from him put a horrible ache in my chest.

       It wasn't healthy on my part. I knew that, but that wasn't going to stop my insane dependency on him. I couldn't sleep with out him. I wasn't scared of the dark with him there. He kept it all away. All the bad things.

       "Rose, hey..." The soft touch on my shoulder made me jump, and I tore my mind out of the inner spiral it had started down. "Seriously, it will be okay." Trey squeezed my shoulder softly, and his bright green eyes were warm.

       I tried to return his smile. "I know." I said again, though this time I forced my leg to stop bouncing. "I'm just worried for him. I hope he's okay-" But I didn't even finish the thought before a sharp knocking started on Trey's door.

       "See? That's probably him right now." He beamed down at me, though his eyes had darkened slightly. I wanted to believe him too, but Rex wouldn't knock. He even had a key to the house.

       I still stood to my feet and waited at the entrance to the hall as Trey went to get the door. His dad was on duty all night and I guess his mom was out of town visiting her sister. Lainy was off with friends so it was just Trey for the night—and apparently the Dimajios who had helped themselves to his food.

       I could just barely see the front door around the stairs from where I stood, my good hand resting against the wall. Though all worry left instantly when Trey pulled the door open.

       "Dude-" Trey started, his voice that deep, scolding tone he usually had whenever he disapproved of something one of the boys did. He was such the dad of their group.

       A beyond tired looking Rex held his hand up to stop what was sure to be a scolding. His hair was more disheveled than I had ever seen it, and his clothes looked rumpled and worn. Those chestnut eyes were more of a dark brown than anything.

       "I don't want to hear it right now, Trey." He let out a rugged sigh, and the defeated air to it tore at my heart. "I'm fucking exhausted. I just want my girl and I want to go home."

       Trey didn't say anything, though I'm sure those eyes of his were speaking a thousand words. They silently stared at each other for a long moment before Trey stepped away from the door without a word. Though there was only one thing buzzing through my head during all of it.

       My girl.

       Was that... Was Rex talking about me? And then I realized that was a stupid question as the gorgeous, but tired boy walked into the foyer. I was the only girl they hung out with, that I knew of at least, and I was the only one there. So, I hoped it was me.

       "Where is she? I checked her house, but her sister said she was here-"

       Oof! It was me!

       "Rex." I stepped out into the hall and tried not to let any notion that my heart was going haywire show on my face. He was way too tired to deal with my emotions right now.

       His dark eyes snapped to mine and the look of relief that washed over him was enough to make my head spin. "There you are." His smile was small, but it was there. When he held his hand out to me, I went over without hesitation. My fingers slipped easily between his, liked they belonged there, and I relished in the warmth his touch sent through me.

       "Are you okay?" I asked seriously and tried to eye him for any injury that might have occurred in the six hours we were apart. I might attract trouble like a magnet, but so did he.

       "Yes, I'm fine." He mumbled as his free hand reached over for my injured one and cradled it against his chest like he had ever since I hurt it. "I'm tired." Rex grumbled again, though his voice was a lot softer than when he told Trey—who was standing silently beside us, completely forgotten.

       "Come home with me?" Rex asked softly, his thumb rubbing gently across the back of my hand. My voice was lost in my throat, so I gave him a small nod. Like I would ever say no to him.

       His smile was back, and his shoulders relaxed even more as he turned back around towards Trey. "We're gonna' go. I'll explain everything tomorrow." Trey didn't say anything to stop us as we walked past him, not that I think he wanted to. He looked just as relieved as I did and shot me a smile and wink as I waved goodbye.

       "Did you eat dinner?" Rex asked on a yawn as he unlocked his car and held the passenger door open for me.

       "Yeah, Trey made us hot dogs." Which wasn't the most nutritional meal, but I practically lived off pizza and macaroni when Luce was too busy with school to make dinner. "Did you eat?" I asked quietly after he climbed into the convertible and started the engine.

       "I'll eat something at home." He replied before backing out of the driveway and then reaching for my hand again. I gave it to him almost eagerly and he slipped those strong fingers through mine.

       I resisted the urge to ask 'what happened' for the entire ride. I knew he didn't want to talk about it right now, and the quiet in the car wasn't unbearable. There was a soft music station playing in the background and a light rain had started to fall against the windshield.

       He let out a small, relieved sigh when we pulled into his apartment's parking lot, his shoulders relaxing as he let go of my hand to put the car in park and turn off the engine. "I'm sorry for today." He spoke softly into the silence around us, those dark eyes blinking up at the complex building.

       "Don't be, it's okay. I'm just glad you weren't there for long." Wherever there was, though I had a pretty good idea. Neither of us made a move to get out, and I was enjoying how his fingers dropped down to rub softly over the back of my hand.

        "I don't want you to ever see that again." He finally said a quiet minute later, those dark eyes flickering out the window like he didn't want to look at me. Which meant that he had seen me when the cops took him out of the school.

       "I don't want to have to again." I muttered in response. It wasn't exactly a pleasant sight watching him get arrested.

       That chestnut gaze finally glanced over at me, his lips pulling into a small smile as his fingers brushed softly over my skin. The gentle touch sent shivers up my arm. "You look exceptionally cute tonight." The comment threw me for a loop, and I was suddenly happy for the darkness surrounding us.

       "You're being silly." I grumbled even though my face was flaming red. I had been stressed out and worried all day, there was no way I looked anything remotely close to cute. Not that I wanted to clue Rex into that.

       "You know me, when am I ever 'silly'?" Despite the question, his voice was teasing, and that soft touch of his left my hand to race gently over my jaw and cheek. My stomach erupted in flutters at the intimate touch.

       "N-Not often." I stammered.

       Those dark eyes had gained some of that warmth he only ever showed when it was just the two of us, and the look in them made me want to curl up in his strong arms and never leave.

       "Not often." He agreed with a small, dark chuckle, that gaze dropping softly until it rested on my mouth. To make matters worse his thumb traced gently from my cheek to my lips and pressed softly down on my bottom one. His smile fell away. It was suddenly insanely hard to breathe.

       "Did you bite yourself?" He asked softly as that gentle touch brushed slightly over a stinging part on my lip.

       I shrugged, because I was too frozen to do much of anything else. Rex words were concerned, but the look in his eyes were far too dark to be one hundred percent worried. I wasn't sure what that look was, but it made my stomach twist like I was on the Superman roller-coaster at Six Flags—and it wasn't a bad feeling.

       "I-I do when I'm nervous." I was finally able to joke out, and like my body meant to prove my point my teeth went to sink into my lip, only for his thumb to pull it away again.

       "Hm. I know." His voice was dark, his eyes locked on my lip as he leaned closer. My lungs seemed to stop working. "I don't like you hurting yourself." He murmured softly, his thumb dropping until he could rub it gently across my chin.

       I think my mind stopped working to.

       Did he... Did he want to kiss me?

       I could feel my heart beating in my chest, could practically hear my pulse pounding in my ears. I don't think I had ever seen him like this before. Yeah, he's made little comments about me being cute and what not, but this was—this was different.

        "It's just a little bite. It will... go... away..." Why was it suddenly so hard to talk? Did he have the heat in the car on? I was burning up. But then I realized he had turned the car off a while ago.

        I found it increasingly hard not to lean into him as that thumb went back to stroking my jaw. He was so close that I could feel the heat of his skin brush against mine. Then he sighed and pulled slightly away, his eyes dark as they lingered on my lips. I felt my heart plummet to my feet.

       So, I guess he didn't want to kiss me.

       Ouch.

       Just friends. Just friends. Just friends.

       Repeating it didn't help at all.

       "You just have to make it so fucking difficult, don't you?" Despite the curse in his question, his tone was far from mean and that tummy-fluttering look was still in his eyes.

       I blinked up at him, hurt clouding through me though I tried not to let it show. "Make what difficult?" I hadn't realized I was doing anything wrong, but that had always been my problem in the past. Maybe he was starting to see things I tried so hard to hide.

       Difficult to be my friend?

       "The fact that you don't even know drives me insane." His voice was a dark grumble as he pulled completely away, leaving me cold, lost, and sad.

       "Rex, I don't... I don't know what you're talking about." And it was starting to worry me. I knew I wasn't all that smart, but I hated when I missed out on things that others seemed to get right away. Was it too difficult to be around me? Was I not getting some hint?

       "Yeah, Roza. I know." He let out a disgruntled sigh and ran his hand through his dark hair, his eyes staring absently out the window.

       We sat quietly like that for a long while. Rex staring blankly at his apartment building, me sitting sideways staring down at his gear shift completely lost, and honestly kind of broken. I thought we were doing so well. And for a moment there, I really had genuinely thought he wanted to kiss me.

       "I know I'm not..." I started to say softly, only to have my throat try and close on me.

       Breathe Rose, breathe. I sucked in a deep breath before trying again.

       "I know I'm not great with this whole 'friend' thing, but I-I really am trying." His gaze snapped back to mine as I paused to breathe but he didn't say anything as I continued my little plea.

       "I'm not really used to having friends and I know I can be weird sometimes, so if I'm doing something wrong just tell me and I'll try to fix it. U-unless you don't want to be friends anymore, then I'll understand." Which was a lot harder to force past my lips than I would have imagined. I couldn't look him in the eyes, even though I could feel his staring into my face. I didn't know what would be there if I looked up, and I wasn't willing to risk the heartache.

       "What the hell are you talking about?" His voice still wasn't mean, even though it had taken on an incredulous tone. I finally blinked up at him, only to have his wide eyed, shocked gaze surprise me.

       "Well, I-I just... You said I'm making this difficult, and I don't want to make this friendship difficult, and I don't want you to feel like you have to be stuck with me. And I know I'm a handful, especially with everything that has happened recently and-" I was starting to ramble, and I knew it too but that didn't mean I could stop it.

       "Rosalyn."

       And with that simple word he had turned my words off like a faucet. I could only blink up at him as he reached over again, those strong hands cupping either side of my neck as a small smirk pulled on his lips. I didn't know how to take that look.

       "Do you honestly think I would bring you to my apartment if I didn't want to be around you?" He chuckled, though that did nothing to calm my nerves. I stayed silent as his eyes gazed into mine.

       "Yes. You make this friendship fucking difficult." His thumbs rubbed softly over my cheeks as he pulled me closer, though that dark look didn't leave his chestnut eyes. "But not for the reasons you're thinking."

       I wanted to frown at his words, but his soft touches were shooting tingles though my skin again and I didn't want to make him do anything to let go. No matter how confused he was making me.

       "I go easy with you, because I don't want to—I don't want to break you." The dark glint in his eyes eased slightly as the smirk fell from his lips. He looked more remorseful now than anything. Which only confused me even further. He had nothing to be remorseful about. How could he possibly break me? At least I knew that he couldn't see I was already broken.

       "But sometimes you make it very hard for me to be good."

       "Be good?"

       "Mhm." He murmured softly, his thumbs dropping to my jaw line as