So, let's continue where we left off. Thanks for your review, Ali6132.

I surveyed this guy – Scott. Unlike the other two guys in the gang, who were, to be fair, rather attractive (Duncan had nice eyes and this bad-boy charm while Alejandro was conventionally gorgeous), Scott was, to be honest, only average. It wasn't that he was bad looking or anything. He had dark blue eyes that contrasted with his vibrant red hair, and he looked pretty toned, but he was still the least attractive person in the group. I noticed freckles the colour of his hair on his shoulders, and I couldn't help relishing the fact that his shirt showed off what muscle he had – just the amount I liked. He looked a little younger than the other guys, too, but still older than me. Probably just out of school.

As I took all of this in, Scott appeared to be taking me in, too. Finally, a smirk appeared on his face, and he spoke. "Wow. You're prettier than I remembered from yesterday." I recognized the slight nasal tinge to his voice, which also had a faint Southern accent. He was definitely the one that had spoken to me when they'd first taken me away, saying not to make things hard for myself.

I didn't reply to his comment. I couldn't think of an answer.

"Not much of a talker, are you, sweetheart?" Scott said. "That's okay. Usually I like the bossy ones, but sometimes the quiet ones are just as much fun."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Scott laughed. "I thought that might get you talking. I'd just like to have a conversation with you. You know, like normal people?"

I gave a sigh. "But...don't you know about me already?" I pointed out.

"Yeah..." Scott admitted. "I mean, I know your name's Brooklyn Durfree and you're three years younger than me. And I know that you're generally a B-student and very serious and an only child. But you don't know anything about me."

I gave another sigh. "So...you only came in here to talk to me?"

"Well, I guess I was supposed to give you this." Scott held out a box with two long rolls of vegetarian sushi. "You're lucky we got some vegetarian, or Courtney would've had it all, and you'd have nothing." He chuckled, and I couldn't help laughing a little bit with him.

Scott studied me again, and then said "You know, sweetheart, you're a lot cuter when you smile or laugh." He looked surprised. "Most girls are cuter when they're mad, not happy. Weird."

I didn't understand what he was getting at. Was he trying to make me lose my temper, or trying to compliment me?

He continued to study me, and then said "Look, stop looking like you think I'm gonna attack you if you say the wrong thing. I'm not your teacher or whatever. You can say whatever to me. Doesn't mean I'll answer, but no one's gonna hurt you for it."

"Um, okay, then, so," I quavered, "Can I ask about the others? Do they talk about what they thought of me?"

Scott had a devious grin on his face. "Okay then. If I tell you what they think of you, you gotta tell me what you thought of them first." I paused. "I ain't gonna tell 'em, honest." he said.

I gave a sigh, and explained that Courtney scared me, I thought Duncan could be intimidating but he seemed okay, Gwen wasn't too mean and to be honest, I really didn't mind Alejandro.

Scott kept up his part of the bargain. "I don't think Courtney likes you. She's Duncan's girlfriend, and after he came back from talking to you last night, she wanted to know exactly what he said to you, and what you said back. Duncan thinks you're cute – he told me. Gwen feels sorry for you, but then she's a bleeding heart most of the time. Most of the stuff we do isn't her idea. I don't know what Alejandro thinks, because I can't tell when he's telling the truth and when he's lying."

He talked a little more to me, and then left, locking the door behind him like everyone else. But there was a difference. Not once had he ever treated me as a hostage. Everyone else had told me to do as I was told, or that they wouldn't keep me for long, or that I didn't have to be so scared. Even Gwen had flat out said that it wouldn't get me anywhere to pretend like it wasn't happening. Scott had treated me like...I'm not sure, but he hadn't mentioned anything about me being a hostage at all. I'm not sure what I should have expected, but that definitely wasn't it. Oh, and he kept calling me "sweetheart". I wasn't sure whether I liked that or not.

When Courtney came in that evening to give me food (it was sweet-and-sour pork and rice from Chinese takeout), she barely spoke. All she said was "Whenever you wear something of mine – you know, things from the second drawer down, fold it and put it in the top drawer. And don't sleep in them – I'm not having my clothes creased! Gwen said she left a nightie or something in her drawer – the third one – so you can wear that."

Oh, so that's what the black dress was. That's why the material was silky – it was satin.

To be honest, when I fell asleep that night, I didn't cry again. I felt a little better. At least I had no surprises left. I knew who everyone was, and what to expect. I'd been a little surprised to learn that Courtney was actually Duncan's girlfriend. I guess Courtney did have that green streak in her hair, similar to his mohawk, but they were just so different. Courtney reminded me of some of the girls at my school – the ones that got straight As and were ready to kill any girl within ten miles of their crush. Duncan was...well, he didn't seem to be too bothered about anything, the complete opposite.

Gwen – well, I really couldn't complain about her. She'd been kind of...nice, really. And Alejandro...well, Scott had said he couldn't tell when he was lying or truthful, so that wasn't a good sign. But I personally couldn't help liking him a little.

I wasn't sure whether I liked or disliked Scott. I just couldn't work out why he wanted to talk to me, know me.

I fell asleep that night, still shivering, and feeling confused about these people.

Poor Brooklyn...the fun has barely started! Please review.