The days all seemed to mingle into one, Tuesday would turn up so fast, and it would be over in the blink of an eye. Her touches had become more tender towards me. She has never brought up the fact that we have kissed and part of me wonders if it was a mistake.

"Hey." I can't help the smile that brightens up my face.

"Hey, how are you?" I ask, her hand rests into mine as she entwines our fingers. Maybe she doesn't bring it up, because she meant it? Have I totally missed something again?

"Does your brain ever rest." I hear her muse.

"Uh? When I'm asleep." I says as I gently tug at her hand.

"Well stop over analysing everything." I frown slightly as she chuckles. "You make the cutest of faces when your mind is racing."

Okay now I'm blushing as I look into her pale blue eyes. I half chuckle at the comment. "Thanks I think." She shakes her head at me before dragging me slightly towards the classroom.

"Have they left you alone?" I hear the concern in her voice as we sit down.

"Yes." Well they've left me alone physically, names calling, snide remarks every day. But I can't let her know that.

"Good." She pauses as she studies my face. "You would tell me if they did. Wouldn't you?"

"Promise." She gives me a slight nod as she places her books on the table.

"Thank you." Her hand reaches over to me as she gives it's a gentle squeeze.

The class seemed to drag today although I wasn't complaining about it, because I got to spend longer with Amy. Nothing else truly mattered, my grades were fine with all my classes. Which meant I was free to daydream about her. The only problem I have is, what if she finds out? Is that the point she will turn away from me? I don't know if I could deal if she walked away from me. She is the only other person I have ever had feelings for. The other person was my grandfather.

"So, shall I pick you up Saturday or Sunday?" I look at her slightly confused for a moment, I watch her demeanour change.

"Oh," I smile slightly. How on earth could I forget half term? "Whichever is best for you." I watch as she gets this cutest grin on her face, her eyes sparkle as she looks at me so intently.

"Well if I pick you up Saturday, we'll have more time together." She waits for me before we head out of class.

"Very true." I give a slight smile as we make our way to the cafeteria. I wait until we are sitting down. "Why do you carry a gun?" Okay granted I should have asked her that, the day she found those girls beating on me, but to be honest, it totally slipped my mind.

She smiles as me, "Does it worry you?" she asks me.

"No, just curious." I laugh as I bat her hand away from my fries.

"Good." She titles her head slightly.

"That isn't an answer." I point out.

"No, but like I said to you before, once you fully trust me I will tell you. All you need to know for now is I won't harm you."

There it is again, she says it a lot to me, do my eyes give so much away? Are they speaking to her without me knowing? Am I transparent to her? Do I take it at face value or do I push her slightly?

"I do trust you." I frown slightly.

"True, but not fully."

Okay good point, but that also isn't the point. I scratch my head slightly. "I'm starting to." I finally admit.

"I know and maybe when you do trust me fully, you'll stop hiding from me."

I shake my head slightly. How does she do that?

"Maybe." She gives me a slight nod as she manages to grab some of the fries off my plate. "If you wanted fries, why didn't you ask for them." I say in a laugh. Before reaching over and pinching the tomatoes off her plate.

"For the same reason you don't get those." She jokes back at me slightly. "And besides someone else's fries always taste so much better.

"Smooth." I say in a teasing manner. "How long will it take to get there on Saturday?"

"A day, if we are lucky." I nod slightly. "You're a bad traveller?" I can hear the concern in her voice as she speaks.

"Not so much a bad traveller, just sometimes I get motion sickness." I admit.

"I'll make sure I pick some medication up from the shop when I go. You'll need a good sunblock so you don't burn."

"Trying to say I look pale?" I say in a laugh.

"Not trying, just stating a fact." Okay I know she is older than me but sometimes she acts like a teenager. Although I am just as bad as I sick my tongue back out at her. "Can I ask you something?" I can hear the serious tone in her voice as I nod.

"Sure." I swallow slightly as I watch her straighten up as she looks at me.

"Why do you never fight back."

I sigh slightly. "I did fight back." I pause slightly. "Once." I shake my head slightly. "I put him in hospital." I state although I close my eyes as I take a deep breath. "I let my temper get the better of me." I pause as I look at her. "I didn't hold back, he spent a month in intensive care."

"What did he do?" now I can feel the worry in her voice as she speaks.

"It doesn't matter." I state. "I promised my grandfather I would never do it again." I smile slightly. "He told me to never lower myself to their standards again. I have to be the bigger person and not rise to it."

"There's a difference between being the bigger person, and becoming a victim." She looks at me with such emotion.

"I'm not a victim." I state.

She tilts her head at me. "Yeah, you are Emily, you're a victim of bulling."

"What does it matter, if I'm a victim. I heal, I don't give them the satisfaction of." I pause slightly. Was she right? Am I a victim?

"Calm down." She whispers to me. "I didn't mean to upset you."

"You get use to it after a while." I close my eyes as I try to calm myself. "I don't want your pity Amy."

"It's not pity Emily, it's concern. I'm only here one day during the week. You have to live here."

"Amy," I sigh slightly. "I've done alright so far." I smile slightly. "Please trust me?"

I watch her shoulder slump slightly. "I trust you Emily. Those girls on the other hand, are a completely different matter." I laugh slightly.

"I know, but without trying to sound corny and weird." I stop slightly as I try and figure out how to say it.

"Corny and weird?" she pushes me slightly.

"I can take anything they throw at me Amy, because I know." I swallow slightly as I pull my hand away from hers.

She nods slightly in understanding. "Okay," I frown slightly. "Fancy walking me to my car this time?" she teases, as we place our trays on top of the bin.

She takes my hand in hers as we make the short walk to the carpark. I stand in front of her as she leans against the black SUV. "Nice car." I say as I eye it up.

Although my eyes also wash over her body, I try and suppress the feelings I have inside, but when she is there all I want to do is wrap my arms around her and kiss her, just like she kissed me those few weeks ago.

"It's okay, but it gets me from A to B so it's not too bad." I nod slightly.

"Stay safe." I let out in a whisper, her hand reaches up towards my chin and I can't help the slight flinch as her hand cups my face so gently.

"I will." I nod slightly against her hand; she rests her forehead against mine. "My sweet girl." She whispers before her lips rest on my forehead. "I'll see you Saturday, usual place." She smiles slightly. "And if you want, I can help you pack since I have a better idea what Florida is like, than you." She gives me a pointed look.

"Okay," I pause slightly. "What time Saturday?" I ask as she gets into her car.

"Say nine?" I give her a slight nod.

"Nine it is." I smile as she closes the car door. I stand there for a while as I watch her car leave the parking lot.


The week seemed to drag, as though each hour would go forward only to reset its self again. You know what they say, a watched clock never moves. Well I now agree with that statement. My roommate had left early evening, leaving me alone. For the first time since starting here I was alone. The true reason why I wanted to stay on campus while everyone was gone is simple. I get to flex my gifts, I give in to the urge, I allow myself to truly feel what is around me. The humming of the birds, the running of water. I fully feel the air brushing against my skin. In that moment, in that second I am free. Truly free. No eyes on me, no snide remarks. No danger of anyone seeing me, seeing the real me. I get to control everything around me. The beauty of nature, the peacefulness that the night sky brings.

I didn't sleep Friday and I am sat here at our usual meeting spot. Although I worry now as it is nine-thirty and she is still not here. I close my eyes as I flex my mind, seeing if I can feel any movement on the ground, the faintest of footfalls. The low hum of a vehicle. Nothing. Maybe she changed her mind. I can't help the disappointment I am beginning to feel, the raw emotion I was allowing myself to feel. I was getting so lost in myself, so lost in my mind. I never heard her.

"Emily." I look at her blankly for a moment. "I am so sorry I am late." I blink slightly so I can focus on her.

"Is everything okay?" I ask, although this time I don't reach for her hand, I hold back there is something different about her right now, and I am unsure what it is.

I hear her sigh. "Yes, so are you ready to get packed up?" I frown at her slightly. "I promise everything is okay. So stop worrying."

Still I keep a slight distance from her. I will admit I don't exactly mean to pull away from her but somethings not right. I can feel it; I can sense it. "It's this way." Her hand wraps around my wrist as she pulls me towards her.

"I got hurt at work that's all, so can you please stop worrying." She whispers in my ear.

"How do you do that?" yep maybe I should have asked her the other times as well.

"Do what?" I can see the smug grin that is ghosting her lips.

"You always seem to know what I am thinking, or feeling." I say as I finally look at her properly.

"I pay attention."

She states it as though those three words say everything, yet they explain nothing.

I hear her sigh. "I don't know why Emily, I just do." I hear her take a deep breath. "You're special."

I frown at her. "Pardon?" Okay she is blushing, not just a slight blush, her cheeks have turned a deep shade of red and she has almost become shy.

"Can we," I watch her close her eyes slightly. "I care about you." It comes out as more of a whisper.

"Okay." I swallow slightly. I stop outside my dorm room.

I watch her face as she scans the room, one side of the dorm was littered with pictures, make-up, clothes thrown over the back of the chair, the desk littered with everything, just not school books or work. Then I watch as her eyes settle on the other side of the room. Neat, tidy and clean.

"How on earth do you manage to be so clean when you have to look at that?" I can hear her muse slightly.

"I try not to pay attention to it." I say with a slight chuckle. "I don't have much." I mumble as I open the cupboard door. She scans through the cupboard her hands touching everything I own.

"Do you only have black pants? And black jeans?" I can hear the amusement in her voice as she speaks.

"I like black." I smirk at her slightly.

"Would you wear any other colour, if I bought them for you?" I watch again as she becomes shy around me.

"Depends."

"On what?" she frowns at me slightly.

"Why would you want to buy me clothes?" Okay so to an outsider it may sound so stupid me asking that. Yes, I know dumb question. Isn't exactly the first dumb question I've asked her before now.

"Because I want to." Just a simple statement.

"Maybe." This time I can't help the smile at graces my lips. "Although," I sigh slightly. "I can't repay you. Not now anyway."

Yeah my mother controls my money. I wish I was twenty-five then she would have no control and I would have my own money. Not just the amount she deems acceptable. Two hundred dollars a month. I wouldn't mind but it's not even her money. It's what my grandfather left me, when he died.

"I didn't ask you to pay me back." Her arms snake around me and I lean so easily into her. "Can I ask you something?" he chin rests in the grove between my neck and shoulder.

"You can ask me anything." I say as I wrap my fingers around hers, leaning into her solid form.

I can feel the emotions her body is going through, her skin is trembling, so slightly, but I can feel it. "What's wrong Amy?" I ask, she lifts her chin off my shoulder which gives me enough room to turn around since her arms are wrapped around me still.

I hear her swallow hard, her eyes look directly into mine, and I can see so much emotion swirling behind those eyes, there is a slight fear in them as well. I bring my hand up carefully allowing my fingers to gently run against her cheek. I smile at her slightly as I watch the power play she is having.

"Amy." She looks at me, her body screams as though she is ready to bolt out the door and never look back. "Ask me whenever you are ready. Don't push yourself." I say softly. To which I gain a swift nod.


We had been travelling for the past four hours, and even though I gratefully took the tablets she offered me, my stomach beings to turn. "Amy, can we stop somewhere, please." I mumble slightly as I try and hold back the vomit which is working its way up my throat

Her hand rests on my leg as she looks at me for a moment. "I'll pull over to the side. Do you want some water?" I can see the concern in her eyes as I shake my head slightly.

I don't think I have ever jumped out of a car so fast. One hand holding my hair back and the other resting at the back of the car. Not a pretty picture. I close my eyes slightly as her hand rests on my back.

"Have a sip of this Emily." Still her hand rubs my back as I gratefully take the bottle of water.

"Sorry."

I hear her chuckle. "No need, you already warned me, you weren't a good traveller, I have some mints in the glove box, they may help settle your stomach."

"Thanks." I rinse my mouth out slightly thankfully I had missed my boots.

I just felt sorry for the next person that stopped here. Or not stopped away from it. Yeah not a nice image I just put in my mind. I spent the rest of the journey with my eyes closed, in a hope that would help the sickness pass.

"Once we get there I was thinking we could go out for something to eat, since I have no food in the house, not been out here for a while." She pauses slightly as I open my eyes to look at her. "Don't worry about the cost." She makes a point of stating.

"Okay." Again I close my eyes, but this time I feel her hand resting on my leg, I can't help placing my hand over hers, my fingers gently tracing her knuckles. A few hours passed I hadn't even noticed Amy had turned the engine off until she spoke.

"We're here." I can hear the lightness in her voice.

"Wow." I let out in a gasp. "It's huge." I state slightly.

She shrugs at me, "Have to spend the money I earn on something."

"Beautiful." She looks at me for a moment.

"It's okay."

I laugh slightly. "All the same." I muse slightly. I can tell she is studying me as I pull my bag out the car, before pulling her suitcase out.

"Emily?" it comes out as a question I look at her, my eyes soften for a moment. "I." I find it amusing that someone who's voice is normally so firm and strong, is now stumbling over her words. "Would you."

I know where this is leading as I watch her shoulders slump slightly as she trips over the words so badly. "Would I what?" Okay so this maybe cruel, but I have no idea where this conversation is going. Although I know what I'm hoping for.

"I know I'm older than you." She pauses and it's in that split second I know what she is struggling to ask.

"You sure you want to ask the local freak out?" I give her a pointed look. Although now she is scowling at me and it makes me back away slightly.

"You are not a FREAK." Okay now I feel that anger again. "Damn it Emily, why do you listen to them?" she seems to be trying to calm herself down slightly. "You are stunning." She lets out in a whisper and I nearly miss it. "You need to stop listening to those people. They don't know you, they don't see how special you truly are." It comes out in such a rush that it leaves me lost for words.

"Amy." I look at her for a moment. "You're beautiful" I state before I look back down. "And I'd, if that's what you wanted, I'd love to go out with you." I pause slightly as I feel her wrapping my arms around her. I move my face slightly. "I need to brush my teeth." I state, she chuckles slightly.

"It's okay." She mumbles as she gently places her lips on my cheek. "Come on, let's get freshened up, I know just the place for something to eat, you'll love it."


I watch her for a moment, I hadn't realised just how truly stunning she was, until she stood there in front of me, with dark blue jeans and red and brown shirt on, high boots on so she was slightly taller than me.

"You look stunning." I say softly.

"Thanks, so do you like Italian food?"

"Yes, I lived in Italy for a while when I was in my mid-teens."

"So you have motion sickness and yet plane journeys are okay?" I could hear the teasing tone in her voice.

"Not always okay, hit turbulence and all bets are off." I chuckle.


The air is so humid here, my skin feels sticky and even the breeze does nothing to elevate it. I know I still struggle talking and she never seems to mind, comfortable silence. I can see she is watching me as we make our way down the sidewalk.

"Amy, can we go a different way?" I ask, I can feel something a head, evil, a menace. Not even five hundred yards away.

"It's just up here Emily," I look as she points to the corner of the street.

"Please." I try again.

I close my eyes slightly as I feel him getting closer, if only she knew. If only she knew why I was asking her to change direction, to find another way. We were walking straight into the lion's den and I couldn't stop it.

"Give me all your valuables and no one gets hurt" he slurred as he held the knife towards Amy.

He lunged forward slightly, and that was all it took, that wrong move made my temper boil, my blood began to warm my skin, I could feel my heart hammering against my chest, the anger taking over me. I couldn't control it.

"Emily STOP!"

I hear her yell, but I can't, I can't control myself. I move him with such force, pushing him up the wall the knife still tightly in his hand, I start to move his limbs. Wanting him to push that knife into his own skin.

"EMILY, PLEASE. STOP!"