When I needed air he pulled back and quickly reattached his mouth to my clavicle. My hands ran through his hair and along his spine continually as he sucked and nipped at the sensitive skin, there was sure to be a bruise there later. His hips had never ceased their movement so when he managed to press into me at the right angle at the same time he nipped a little harsher than before at the skin above my collar bone I couldn't help, but to cry out. I was so close to the edge and he then- he just pulled back.

"Wha-what? No, don't stop." I whined glaring at him through heavy lidded eyes.

"We shouldn't be doing this." He said matter-of-factly.

"I know." I replied, "but that doesn't mean I don't want to."

"What if we get caught?" he tried to reason.

"We won't."

"You can't be sure of that."

"Even if we do, it doesn't matter." I assured him.

He didn't seem convinced, but that didn't stop him from following me up the stairs.


I just slept with Christian.

I probably shouldn't, but right now I feel better than I have in a while. My shower was a mess with pancake batter everywhere, but I felt better. I had finally gotten everything out; all of my locked up anger, and fears, and doubts, and just everything that had followed Dimitri's baby confession.

It was finally out and it felt good. It made me feel better thinking that maybe Chris had too, he had had a lot on his mind lately, but at least at this very moment he seemed content and...maybe at peace.

Unfortunately for him I'd have to apologize later for the scratch marks that I was sure would be on his back.

For now though, we were both just laying in my bed my back to his chest facing the window. One of his arms was draped across me while his other hand played with a strand of my hair.

I couldn't decide whether it was a good or bad idea what we had just done. On one hand he was my best friend's ex and one of my best friends too, we had practically grown up as siblings, clearly some type of taboo or rule had been broken when we started taking our clothes off. On the other hand though, neither of us was tied down in a relationship and besides it didn't really mean anything, we had just had a bit of fun and that was it. It was a type of relaxation therapy.

"You have beautiful hair." He mumbled cutting off my train of thought.

"Huh?" I said slightly confused wondering if I had heard right.

He skipped right over my question sitting up and saying instead, "You know I think that if your mom comes back and finds the kitchen how it is, much less us how we are; she won't be too happy, and will most likely have a lot of questions."

"You're probably right." I sighed propping myself on my elbows, but before I could sit completely up he pushed me back down with his body and kissed me then rolled off me and got out of the bed as if nothing happened. Effectively stunning me completely. Christian Ozera, the only man capable of stunning Rosemarie Hathaway into complete silence.

As he dressed I just sat there trying to full comprehend what had just happened.

"Are you going to get up and get dressed or just sit there and stare at me?" He said turning to face me pulling his wife beater over his head. he looked around the room for a moment before asking, "have you seen my shirt by the way?"

"Uh, no. I mean yes." I was confusing myself and apparently Chris too from the weird look I was getting. "I mean yes, I'm going to get up and no, I haven't seen your shirt." Christian was proving to be more dangerous than I thought.

"Okay well you get dressed and if you find my shirt just keep it and I'll get it another day. I'm going to go get help to clean up because I'm sure we're gonna need it."

"Um, alright." See right there, dangerous, I couldn't even form a full sentence in his presence. It was pitiful, I was Rosemarie Hathaway dammit and I couldn't even think straight because Christian had done something to my head with that stupid kiss.

Christian purposefully crossed the room closing the door behind him and leaving me in my room. I finally got out of the bed and dressed in a pair of shorts and a Paramore t-shirt.

I made my way downstairs to the kitchen and just stood in the doorway staring at it. It didn't even look like my kitchen anymore it was cover in batter as if a bomb filled with pancake batter had went off.

Christian was right. We need help. And lots of it.

I had barely ever cleaned up after myself. One of the perks of having parents that barely saw you, you always had a maid. I was a messy person, but never had to clean anything unless Janine thought it was a fitting punishment for whatever trouble I would manage to get into. Even after years of punishment cleaning, I had only every done a halfway decent job, and couldn't even think of where to begin on how to clean a whole kitchen covered in pancake. The maids that worked for us right now were on vacation so I assumed Christian had went to go get his.

*3 hours later

I was exhausted. I never wanted to see another cleaning product in my life. We had been cleaning three hours straight with absolutely no breaks and a whole lot of chemicals and fumes. I'm sure if I wasn't so tired I would be high as a kite. I still got a few effects though, my head was kind of light and I was a bit dizzy so I just wanted to sleep; for a really long time.

"Okay, thanks guys it looks great. Even better than before the mess. If you ever need anything, I mean anything, just ask. I owe both of you big time."

"No it was our pleasure Rosemarie, don't worry about it." Lucy said, she was the oldest in her forties maybe, slightly plump with graying red hair.

"Well thanks anyway. It was nice to see you both again."

"You too. We will be going now and leave you two to it. See you tonight Christian. Goodbye Rose I hope to see you again soon." Mary said. She was a petite blonde just turned twenty working to pay for college she had a slight English accent and had bright blue eyes that lit up even more when she would look at Chris.

"Bye Mary, I'll see you later Lucy." He said leading them to the door, closing and locking it behind them.

"I think someone has a crush on you."

"What? Mary? No we're just friends." He even had the good graces to blush

"Sure…you could have left with them you know. I'll be fine I'm just going to go take a nap."

"Nope I don't think so. I'm not leaving you to pass out from the fumes. We're going out."

"It wouldn't really be passing out if I make it to the bed and go to sleep on my own."

"Doesn't matter what you say you're coming Hathaway."

"What if I don't want to Ozera?"

"I don't really care what you want you're coming willingly or I'll drag you out and you know I will."

"Ugh, fine where we going, Fire Crotch."

"Out."

"Shocker!" I said, the sarcasm practically dripping.

"Shut it smartass. We're going to go eat. You never got you're breakfast this morning and we worked through lunch time. I think both of us need to go eat, but you're smart mouth might change my mind." He explained while dragging me out the house to his truck once again.

"Where are we going to eat at?"

"I was thinking Alto's, they have the best sandwiches in town."

"Yeah, but it's run by Stan Alto he still hates me."

"What did you do to Alto?"

"Well it all started when he was still teaching chemistry and decided to put my class on the lab project. Well, I got paired with Jesse and let's just say he got too friendly while I was holding a couple chemicals that should not be mixed together."

"You blew up the lab?"

"Hey, it was an accident, but yeah. I burnt down a Home Ec. stove once too."

"Seriously? How?"

"Well that day I learned that doubling the temperature won't cut the cook time in half. They didn't let us back into the school for a week, they switched me out of that class, and my mom got a bill for the stove."

"Wow no wonder Nissa got nervous when you got near the stoves."

"It wasn't that bad." I said shrugging.

"Yeah, I'm sure it wasn't." He sang sarcastically.

"Well here we are." He said as we pulled into a parking space still laughing at me and my unfortunate events in high school.

"Let's sit out on the patio. If that's okay, it feels great today."

"Okay you grab a table I'll order."

"Do you still remember my favorite?" I quizzed.

"Of course."

I sat down at a table on the patio with its umbrella open. It took Christian about five minutes to order and another ten for our food to come. By the time we finished I was laughing so hard my cheeks hurt and Chris wasn't far behind, looking completely red in the face.

After we calmed down about his story on how he accidentally set himself on fire (hence the name Fire Crotch I had given him). I couldn't help but finally ask the question that had been looming in the back of my mind the whole time.

"Why does this feel so…normal?"

"Oh, so we can't just sit around and talk now?" he said mocking hurt but with a cocky grin plastered on his face.

"No, you know what I mean. It feels normal hanging out with you…even after….what we did. I don't know I just thought it would be different. Awkward, you know."

"Well," he said around the food he was chewing, "do you want it to be awkward, because I can make it awkward."

"No! Of course not! I just didn't expect this."

"Well if you didn't think about it, it wouldn't be bothering you and just relax, for once." He said complete with the air quotes around it. I couldn't help but laugh.

"You know what? You have problems" I said between laughs. "But you're right, believe it or not. I shouldn't let this bother me. It isn't like we did anything. It was just a fling."

"Yepp, I am a genius." he side grinning from ear to ear leaning back in his chair a bit to far, when he feel; landing flat on his ass.

"Yeah definitely a genius." I said shaking my head and helping him up.

"That wasn't supposed to happen." He said dusting himself off. "Come on. I just remembered I wanted to show you something."

My dizziness had cleared from the fresh air and eating but I was still exhausted and really wanted to go back to my house and climb into my bed to hide in my cotton fortress but my curiosity got the best of me and I promptly followed him back to the truck.

"Where are we going this time?" I said after a while. We were on some deserted gravel back road that clearly hadn't been used to often with the periodical bumps in the road that hadn't gotten fixed when all the other roads in town had gotten repaved. It mostly looked like we were headed to the mountains.

"It's a secret, but don't worry I know where we're at." He said looking over at me grinning probably from the anxious look on my face.

"I hope so because all these woods look the same to me and I don't think we would get any good service to call out for help after you get us hopelessly lost back here."

"Relax Rosie." He sighed. "enjoy the ride we'll be there soon enough."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." I said sinking low into the seat, obeying his order and allowing exhaustion to consume me in an overbearing dark tide taking me to the sea of dreams.

Right now I was at the part where Dimitri had disappeared and I was bawling my eyes out but it hadn't started pouring down yet (Thank God). It was strange though, just when I was expecting the rain to come it didn't. Instead something started tickling my sides. I kept brushing them but they would come right back.

Finally I wiped my eyes furiously clearing them looked at whatever was tickling me and saw it was butterflies. What the hell? This never happened!

Their gossamer wings brushed against my sides continually even after I would swat at them while laughing I heard someone call my name. Looking out I saw it was the shape of a man and as he drew closer still calling my name I saw it was Christian.

"Rose."

"Huh?" I managed through the fit of giggles..

"Come on wake up, Rosie." And just like that the remaining bits of sleep left.

I opened my eyes to see him hovering over me from the open door of the passenger side, where I sat, grinning like crazy.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You were laughing when I tickled you and snorted."

No! I hated when I did that, I sounded like a pig so I hid it purposefully. The only people that knew I did where Mom and Liss…and now Christian.

"If you tell anyone and I mean anyone I'll kill you!"

"Ok, ok I won't tell anyone." He said still grinning like the Cheshire cat.

"What now? Why are you still looking at me like that?"

"Its adorable, I never knew you snorted."

"Yeah well the only people that do are Mom and Liss and now you."

"Yeah but we grew up together." He said I could even see a bit of pain hidden in his eyes.

"Well I hid it from everyone and now you get to hear the threat. If you ever and I mean EVER tell anyone I will cut your tongue out and feed it to the pigs and make you watch them." I said finishing with one of my most intense glares.

"Okay, okay. I promise." He said mimicking zipping his lips and throwing away the key then raising his hands in surrender.

"Good now explain why we're in the freakin' forest."

"We're going to fight lions, and tigers, and bears."

I just stared at him.

"Really? No 'Oh, my'?" I continued staring with a bit of annoyance now. " Wow tough crowd."

"I don't like the Wizard of Oz. Now explain what we're really doing here."

"Well it's a secret so come on my lady, you must follow me." He said mocking a true gentleman holding his hand out to help me out of the truck.

"Whatever, just lead the way el capitán."

The hike wasn't that bad, or take too long. The only problem was I still managed to get my leg scratched by some bush with thrones on it.

Eventually he lead me up the side of a cliff. It only took a couple minutes until he lead me into a little cave and stopped.

"Welcome to mi refugio."

"Your what?"

"My refuge Rosie."

"Oh, okay well next time use Inglés." I said looking around the cave. It was about the size of my room and looked pretty stocked for a runaway. There was a bed made of blankets in one corner with a lantern and stack of books beside it. There was a box that I could see prepackaged foods poking out of.

"What is this?" I said softly still examining it, even though I'm sure I had saw everything.

"My hiding spot." he said equally soft I could even hear a bit of sadness in his voice. "After my mom and dad…died. I used to come here. One summer when I had gone camping with my dad we had stayed here while it rained. Whenever I feel like running away this is where I come."

"So this is where you were." I stated but he still answered me.

"Uh, yeah. It's really quiet and gives me time to think. Away from all the noise of the city."

After he and Lissa broke up he had disappeared if it wasn't for the note he had left behind saying he'd be back soon Mom would have had a search team out after him.

"Now I have a proposition for you." He continued changing the subject and returning the friendly air and his mischievous grin.

"Um, ok go ahead what is it?"

"Using each other." He said simply.

"Explain." I prompted him not really understanding.

"Well, I really think that today we found the best way to release our anger." My mouth flew open but he continued before I could say anything. "It doesn't have to be just sex though. I mean you are my best friend after all. It could just be for support too you know. Just being there for each other when needed."

"Wow you have officially lost your mind. I mean seriously, this morning was a fling, one time thing. We were both weak and really just wanted to be touched and feel that connection but what your proposing is…" Before I could continue in calling him insane my phone rang.

It was a text from Dimitri.

Roza I am so sorry I really and truly am. I never meant to hurt you and that's why I did it because its best for both of us. You'll thank me one day . I really want us to be friends I love you . Call me back please I really want to talk to you and ask you something important please.

"Huh, so he didn't have the decency to even call you either?" he said from behind me.

"I don't know what your talking about." I said wiping at my eyes to make sure I hadn't started crying. Then turned to face him.

"Come on Rose I know you better than that. I see right through that wall you keep up. I see that look. It's the same one you had when Adrian left."

"Don't." I said through gritted teeth. "Don't. Don't you dare bring that up. It was three years ago and has nothing to do with now."

"It doesn't? Hm, I don't know Rose it seems to have a lot do with now. Everything to do with now, if you ask me Rosie. If it wasn't for them you wouldn't be heart broken right now. After Adrian left you rushed into the next pair of open arms you could find. You rushed into the relationship and feel in love when you should've spent time on your own, working on you."

"What are you talking about?"

"Adrian had been gone for what a month before you started talking to Dimitri and then started dating another month after that. How long did it take for you to sleep with him because I know you did. He's incapable of being in a relationship without sleeping with them if you haven't noticed."

"If he's such a man whore why did you let me get in the relationship?"

"Because if you don't remember you told me to never interfere in your relationships ever again after you thought you fell so in love with Adrian. Though I do remember still trying to tell you. I distinctly remember saying 'Rose don't rush into this. Figure him out first.' You of course tuned me out and shut me down."

"Yeah, but of course agreeing to what you're proposing wouldn't be rushing into anything. It just can't be stupid or idiotic and let's not forget completely insane."

"No, it wouldn't, because it isn't a relationship and will end loads better than any relationship."

"Yeah right." I said venom seeping off every word. I was so pissed at him. How dare he condemn me on any relationship when we're both in the same boat. "you know what? Fine! Just to prove to you how dumb this really is."

"Good, it's a deal then."

"Not yet first my two conditions."

"I wouldn't expect anything less. Okay what are they?"

"First neither of us falls in love with the other or we cut it off."

"Easy. The other one?"

It took a moment for me to get the courage to say it, "You teach me how to cook."

"I what?"

"Teach me how to cook." I said more clearly this time

"So you're planning to kill me. Alright then fine, I'll teach you."

"Good it's a deal." I said offering my hand to him.

"Deal." he said shaking it.


HI! So here is the censored version, the lemony version will be posted under my Writer's Coffee Shop account: beautifuldisaster. This chapter took FOREVER, because I wanted it perfect. Well this is as close to perfection as I could get, so let me know your thoughts. I should be back really soon. I know this is taking longer than I thought, but it's progress.