Hayden got in a lot of trouble when he stepped into his house. After dropping Alison off after their trip to California, Hayden was expecting to hear his parents yell. He was not expecting Brady to be this upset though.

Hayden had sent them a cryptic message that he would be back on Monday and left it at that. His mother and father looked relieved to see him back, he knew he had scared them.

"Oh Hayden," his mom said. "Where were you?" she asked.

She didn't seem mad. She just wanted answers.

"I told you, Mom. A friend and I went camping," he explained.

"Hayden, you are tanner than ever," his father pointed out.

"So, we camped somewhere sunny," Hayden said exasperatedly. "I have to go take a shower. I have some stuff to do."

His mother and father glanced at each other.

"All right, we're having family dinner tonight, be ready at six," his father said.

Hayden nodded. He left for his bedroom and was met by his brother blocking the bedroom door.

"Get out of my way, Brady," he said to his brother.

Brady glared at him. He signed something in ASL too fast for Hayden to understand. Hayden's ASL still needed work. Hayden caught only one word: Liar.

He just rolled his eyes and tried to push past his brother.

Brady shoved him back and signed something else. Again, Hayden only picked up on pieces.

Ali...Betrayal...Travel

"Can't you just speak already!" Hayden yelled exasperatedly.

Brady stared at him, he looked at Hayden like his older brother had shot him or something. He just shook his head at Hayden and walked away.

It was clear that Brady knew where Hayden had been, but it was also clear he wasn't going to tell anyone.

However, there was not much Hayden could do to please him. Alison had made it pretty clear that she didn't want anyone to know that they were together this past weekend.

Complications, she had pointed out. Lots of complications and Hayden full-heartedly agreed. They had decided to keep the kiss, and the whole trip, a secret from everyone else for now. Besides Hayden wasn't even sure what a steamy make out session and cute spoken words meant to a girl like Alison anyway.

***

Alison saw Brady sitting in their English class the next day and she had her first fight through sign language on Brady's side. She didn't know that Brady knew about California. Although in hindsight, she should have known better. Brady tended to read her better than most people these days. When he saw her, she saw just how much anger was behind his eyes.

"What's wrong?" she asked, trying to be casual.

Brady glared at her. He signed one word: Hayden.

Alison cringed. Yeah, he definitely knew.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "He offered to come with me when Kate bailed."

Brady angrily turned away from her and searched through his bag. He pulled out an envelope and slammed it down on the table. Alison looked over at the contents. It was a college acceptance letter for a transfer to NYU, for Hayden.

I heard him tell my mom he is going to say no, Brady signed to her with anger.

Alison knew what he was implying. That Hayden was staying here for her.

Leave him alone, we've hurt his future enough, Brady signed before getting up and storming out of the classroom

Alison was angry. Why was Brady acting like it was all her fault? What if Hayden had wanted to stay here for Brady's sake too?

As class started, Alison realized that if Brady left, she could too. So she ditched school and ended up at the skatepark again. Technically, she wasn't allowed to skateboard anymore, at least not until the old wounds healed, but what did she care? Alison typically let her impulsive negative emotions take control anyway. Even though she knew it led to bad results.

"I'm surprised to see you here."

She whipped around and found Liam and Jackson standing behind her as she attempted a skateboard trick.

"I'm pretty sure if my dad was treating you in the ER less than two weeks ago, then you shouldn't be out skateboarding right now," Liam said.

"Yeah, well the wounds will just scar," Alison said indifferently as she skateboarded down a rail. "What do you want?" she asked.

"We're looking for Kate," Jackson said.

"Aren't we all?" Alison muttered. "I thought you two were not friends anymore," she said looking between the two boys.

"Things change," Jackson said.

"People change," Liam corrected. "Look, where's Kate?"

Alison looked back at them quizzically.

"What do you want from her?"

Both boys laughed.

"It's not obvious?" Liam asked. "We need to buy some stuff, there's a party tonight. We're supplying the fun."

Alison studied the two boys for a second. "If I bring you to where Kate is, can I have an invite?"

Jackson and Liam looked at each other for a second. Jackson nodded. Clearly he was the leader of their friendship.

"All right, let's go," Liam said.

Alison got in the car with the boys. She sat in the front with Liam driving and Jackson in the back.

"Where to?" he asked.

Alison already knew the answer.

"The warehouse on Seventh," she said.

The boys glanced at each other "No way, that's Oliver's hangout, why do you think we buy through Kate? That dude is scary."

Alison shrugged. "That's where she'll be."

Jackson sighed and waved at Liam to get going.

"Are you going to do the talking?" he asked.

"Obviously, if you're too scared," she said with a sly look.

The boys only rolled their eyes.

They arrived and Alison got out of the car with Liam's money.

"You better not get stiffed," he warned through the window.

Alison flipped him off. She knocked on the door and was met by none other than Oliver. She was surprised, she thought he would have people to answer his doors.

"What do you want?" he barked.

"I'm a friend of Kate's, I've got some demand," she said with unwavering confidence.

Oliver looked her up and down, from her baggy cargo pants to her oversized sweatshirt.

"Kate is inside," he said finally, letting her in.

She followed him into the building into a room they must have been living in. Kate was laying on the bed in fancy red lingerie. She perked up when she saw Alison.

"Oh girl! I'm so glad you came over," Kate said excitedly.

"Jackson and Liam are looking for you," Alison said. "They want some stuff for a party tonight."

Kate leaned over and took the money out of Alison's hand.

"Oliver, baby, the kids need some drugs for tonight, they've got two hundred bucks," she called.

Oliver got up to go get the drugs. Alison went closer to her friend so she was out of earshot of Oliver.

"How was California? So sorry I couldn't make it," Kate said. "I got held up."

"With him?" Alison asked in a tone low enough where Oliver couldn't hear.

"What? He's cute," Kate said in a voice just as quiet. "Well, at least he's got stuff I want."

Alison thought of Oliver. He wasn't the most charming, but he had that tough guy thing going for him, which made Alison think there was something other than attraction going on here.

"Kate, if he's forcing you-"

"He's not," Kate whispered back quickly. "Now drop it."

Oliver came back with a sly look on his face.

"Alison, right?" he asked, approaching her.

How did he know her name? Alison thought. She nodded though, slightly nervous now by how close he was to her.

"Well you see, Alison. I'm going to need a little more than two hundred dollars," he said, looking her up and down with hungry eyes.

"I can go ask Jackson-"

"But see, the thing is, I don't want money," he said with a suggestive look.

Alison swallowed nervously. Kate looked between Oliver and Alison.

Kate got up and went over to Oliver. "Babe, we can have fun," she said, trying to get in between them.

Oliver's eyes went from checking Alison out to over at Kate. "Why not let all three enjoy it?" he asked, pushing Kate away and looking back at Alison. "Besides, she's prettier than you."

Alison swallowed nervously. She looked at Kate desperately as Oliver stood inches from her. He reached towards her and picked up the zipper to her sweatshirt and fully unzipped it. Alison hadn't even been wearing anything but a lace bra underneath. She stood there frozen, chills running down her body as Oliver stared at her.

Kate looked a bit panicked now. "Why don't we let her get comfortable," she suggested. "Maybe you and I can start," she said to Oliver, walking over to him.

Kate stepped in between Oliver and Alison again and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Oliver's eyes were still on Alison though.

Kate tried again though and tugged on his shirt collar and pulled him closer to the bed. She kissed him and while he began to kiss her back she flashed a warning look at Alison: run!

Alison watched for a moment as Oliver began to reciprocate Kate's advances and kiss her back. He seemed aggressive but Kate didn't seem to mind. Finally, Alison snapped out of her daze and bolted from the room just as Oliver began to rip off Kate's lingerie. She ran to the car and found none other than Max in a fight with Liam and Jackson.

"What the hell is wrong with you guys? You seriously let her go in there all alone?" Max yelled at his friends.

"Oh relax, man," Jackson said. "She offered."

Liam noticed Alison and pointed her out. "See? She's fine."

They all turned and looked at Alison.

Max saw the fear in her eyes that had yet to subside and her unzipped sweatshirt.

"Ali? Are you okay?" he asked, coming over to her.

She stared at him for a moment. They had not spoken since their fight.

"I'm fine," she managed.

Alison practically threw the bag of drugs at Jackson.

He smiled. "The party is at 212 Kirkland Avenue."

"Like hell you're going, Ali," Max said through his teeth.

He grabbed her by her arm and practically dragged her away from the boys. He only let her go around the corner once they were both out of sight. The first thing he did was zip up her sweatshirt.

"What is your problem?" she demanded.

"My problem?" he repeated angrily. "My problem is that you seem to have the self preservation skills of a kamikaze! You keep hurting yourself, you keep acting reckless and I had to hear from those two idiots that you were off buying drugs from Oliver."

"And why would you care?" Alison fired back.

Max stared at her. "God, Ali. Why wouldn't I?"

He sounded so frustrated. Alison was starting to feel bad.

"You don't have to keep worrying about me, Max," Alison said quietly. "It's not your job."

Max just shook his head. "Don't go to that party," he warned.

"Why not?" she countered.

Max sighed. "There's no stopping you, is there? You're just going to self-destruct until it's too late to save you."

He gave her a pitiful look before walking away.

Alison glared at his retreating figure. Yeah, she was definitely going to that party now.