The next day after classes were complete Gemma found herself making her way toward Tyler and Reid's room. She couldn't help but feel slightly nervous at the aspect of being alone with Tyler after what had happened yesterday. It was nerve wracking because she didn't know if after what had happened yesterday they were a couple or not. It had certainly seemed so after the way he had kissed her and then held her hand all the way back to her room where he had gently brushed his lips against hers and told her goodnight before turning and walking away without another word.

Now Gemma was determined to find out the truth of their relationship status from Tyler during their usual study session. Unfortunately, all logical thoughts fled her mind the moment the door to his room opened and she suddenly found herself faced with the very naked toned chest of Tyler. As if sensing her shock Tyler smiled down at her before taking a few steps away so that it was easier to look at each other.

"You're starring Gemma," Tyler kindly pointed out with amusement.

Tyler's voice snapped Gemma out of her trance.

"Is there a reason you're shirtless?" Gemma attempted to say as evenly as possible.

"I was changing," Tyler replied easily.

Without another word Tyler opened the door to her and welcomed her in. The room wasn't the cleanest of rooms in the world with two boys staying there. At least Tyler's half of the room was a little more in order than Reid's Once inside Gemma took her usual seat on Tyler's bed and waited for Tyler to fish out a t-shirt from his closet. The two spent a grand total of ten minutes of studying before they were distracted.

Gemma had playfully flicked her eraser at Tyler where hilariously enough it had hit him directly in the forehead catching him by surprise and sending Gemma into a fit of laughter.

"You're so dead," Tyler said with mock anger.

Before Tyler could reach out and catch her Gemma had made to jump from the bed out of his reach, however, just before she could make a getaway his arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her back. In the next second Gemma found herself laying on the bed with Tyler holding her down while he tickled her. Gemma couldn't help but to laugh hysterically with the torture. In the attempt to stop him she tried pushing his hands away but he was too strong to escape from forcing her to resort to begging.

"Stop please!" Gemma laughed with tears in her eyes.

At first Tyler didn't stop his tickling but continued for a few more seconds until Gemma was short of breath from her continuous hard laughter. When he finally did end his assault on her sides he found himself leaning over her and looking down into her fall colored eyes. In the silence Gemma watched as Tyler watched her. In that time the light of laughter faded from his eyes to be replaced by something else--- something more. The air that surrounded them was filled with the intensity of that moment.

What she saw there in his beautiful kind eyes was the same that she had seen yesterday just before he had kissed her. Gemma didn't resist in the least as Tyler's lips slowly came closer until they were pressed firmly against her own. Within seconds Gemma was as lost as Tyler in the kiss and had brought her hands up to run her fingers through his chocolate brown hair. Gemma was almost certain that if she had not already been laying down her knees would have already given out. It felt so right to be near him and to be kissing him. If she had her way they would never have to stop.

Tyler lost track of time as he continued to enjoy Gemma's lips pressed to his in a gentle passionate kiss. Ever since she had first walked into that room he had been forced to control himself from kissing her. It was just so difficult not to when she was so close and when he had looked down at her laying beneath him he had lost all control of his actions. As he kissed her Tyler put everything he felt into the kiss and at that moment he didn't think that life could possibly get any better than it was at that moment.

When the time finally came for Tyler and Gemma to break their kiss both were breathing heavily from the lack of oxygen. In the time that followed the two shared a comfortable companionship of talking and for once getting at least a little more studying done.

"It's getting late and Reid will be back soon," Tyler mentioned reluctantly.

"I should get going anyway," Gemma replied with an equal amount of reluctance.

Helping her gather her things Tyler walked Gemma the few steps to his room door and in a gentlemanly manor opened it for her. Just as she was about to leave he pulled her close for one last quick kiss before releasing her.

"We're celebrating our swim team win at Nicky's tomorrow night do you want to come?" Tyler asked before suddenly becoming nervous as he finished. "It can be our first…official date."

Gemma smiled at his nervousness finding it endearingly adorable and perhaps a little sexy. Unable to help herself she stood on her tips toes to place a quick sweet kiss to his cheek.

"It's a date," she whispered and turned leaving Tyler starring after her.

That Friday Gemma wasn't as calm as she had seemed when she had told Tyler yes to the night at Nicky's bar. In all her months living in Ipswich and attending Spencer Academy she had made it a point to avoid the popular hang out at all costs. Even now after deciding to end her hiding and running, at least for the time being, the idea of going against something she had spent so long drilling into her own mind took a little getting used to. However, at the thought of spending that time with Tyler made it easy to forget.

And so Gemma found herself sitting at a table at Nicky's. After eating a meal and a couple sodas they had decided to challenge the boys against the girls in a game of pool. Having never been even mildly good at the game Gemma sat out but was joined by Sarah as they watched the boys face off in a game of pool against Lux and Peyton. It was quite entertaining to watch four boys who claimed to be masters at the pool table to be beat by only two girls. There were many times when Reid or one of the other boys would accuse either one of the girls of cheating which both girls denied and in turn accused the boys of being sore losers.

Gemma was enjoying herself when she suddenly felt someone come up uncomfortably close behind her. She also didn't miss Sarah tense up and glare hatefully at whatever or whoever was behind her. Spinning around Gemma found herself face to face with Aaron Abbot the male counterpart of Kira Snyder. Apparently he confused her look of disgust with a come hither look because she soon found herself trapped between the table and Aaron with his arms locking her in on either side.

"Can I help you with something?" Gemma sneered.

"Why is all you girls choose to hang out with a bunch of assholes like them?" he asked with a rat like smile indicating with a nod of his head the boys at the pool table. "Why not come hang out with a real man like me?"

With each word he spoke Aaron leaned in closer to Gemma causing her to practically bend back across the table to avoid him. He was obviously delusional Gemma decided.

"Really? Last time I checked you were little more than a asshole that I don't even what to look at let alone be in a radius of at twenty feet from," Gemma replied icily.

"You heard her Aaron get lost," Sarah said threateningly stepping up to help out her friend.

"Why don't you shut up bitch," Aaron snapped angrily put off that he wasn't intimidating them in the least.

"Is there a reason you see the need to hit on any girl that hangs out with Caleb and the boys? It's not much of a competition on who we would rather hang around if its them against a asshole like you," Sarah snapped.

"We'll see who you'd rather be with when I am done."

Neither girl had time to comprehend what Aaron had meant when Gemma suddenly found his lips crushed against her with his hands holding her unwilling body in place. Gemma angrily began pounding her fists against Aaron's chest in the hopes of dislodging his hold on her so that she could pull away. Suddenly everything erupted into chaos. Without warning Aaron was being flung away from her by a furious Tyler. In one quick motion Tyler flung the other boy to the floor of the bar where he landed hard.

Aaron wasn't done for more than a few short seconds before he was up again and charging at Tyler. The solid punch that Tyler landed to Aaron's jaw couldn't have shocked Gemma more if it had been her on the receiving end of the blow. In all the time that she had observed them not once had she seen Tyler behave in such away or even look so outrageously furious as he did at that moment.

Just as shocking was that not even Caleb made a move to end the fight as if it was best to let Tyler continue. Wasn't he suppose to be the one to keep them from being idiots? It appeared that no matter how responsible he was that at that moment Caleb thought Tyler's reasoning for the fight was completely acceptable.

'Stupid boys.'

Before the fight could get any further it was brought to a sudden halt by Nicky appearing from the sidelines. Without any hesitation the large man grabbed Aaron by the collar of his shirt and personally escorted him not too gently out of the bar. Meanwhile Gemma was left keeping a tight hold on Tyler's arm to keep him from following.

"You'd think he'd learn," Lux comment from nearby.

With the fight over the rest of the group went to work on recreating the easy atmosphere of the night before it had been so rudely interrupted by Aaron. Tyler, however, was finding it harder to calm his tempter and remained tense. Feeling the need to calm him Gemma lowered her hand from his arm to his hand to hold it in hers. As if understanding her silent plea for him to look at her Tyler turned his gaze away from the door that Aaron had exited and looked down into her eyes.

"It's okay now," she told him in a near whisper.

The words helped to sooth Tyler's edginess and soon he and Gemma were once again enjoying their time together with their friends. Within ten minutes Aaron Abbot was forgotten. However, the feeling of ease and happiness was quick to end.

With a suddenness that caught her off guard Gemma felt a frighteningly familiar darkness drawing near. Unease filled her mind and heart causing her stomach to turn as if she would suddenly be sick. Fear coursed through her mind screamed at her to escape telling her that she shouldn't be there.

"Tyler," she called weakly afraid that she truly would be sick. "I don't feel well. Can you please take me back?"

Nodding in understanding Tyler quickly gathered their jackets to leave. Saying their goodbyes Tyler ushered her out the door. Once they arrived back at the dorms he helped her from his Hummer and walked her inside the building.

Tyler was worried as he walked Gemma safely back to her dorm room. Whatever it was that had suddenly come over her was obviously very upsetting. He really didn't enjoy seeing her become pale so quickly. She had told him she didn't feel well but he knew better to know that is was something much more than she wanted him to believe. It was disconcerting to know that something was so obviously wrong and yet he didn't know what to do to help.

"Thank you Tyler, I had a great time tonight despite some of the things that happened. I am sorry we had to cut it short," Gemma apologized.

Still confused and upset about the whole situation Tyler didn't say anything. Instead he leaned down to place a sweet loving kiss to her forehead. Even if he had said something he would've been cut off by Gemma's quick good night and her retreat into her room. Pausing there outside her door for a few moments Tyler debated whether or not to knock and ask to stay and keep her company for awhile but it was plain to see at the moment she didn't want the company. With a sigh Tyler began to make his way toward his own room. With every step he took away from Gemma his mind became more plagued with the thought that something bad was happening and Gemma was somehow involved. What he felt was the same feeling that he had first had when he had realized that there was something different about Gemma and that there was also something that she feared. What he feared was that he would be unable to protect her the way he wanted to.

AN: REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!!! Next chapter you get to finally find out who the people in Gemma's drawings are. I hope you liked the chapter!