I woke up and it was dark outside. I got out of bed and put my underwear and Shelton's t-shirt on, since it was right next to the bed. I went into the living room area and saw Shelton on the couch watching TV. He was wearing just a pair of jean shorts and a do-rag. He noticed me standing in the door way and motioned for me to come over. I sat down next to him on the couch and cuddled into his side. He put his arm around me and we started to watch a movie.

"Shelton?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"What's up?" he said, playing with my hair.

"I was just wondering when you started looking at me in a more than just a friend kind of way."

"When you turned 16."

"What?"

"I'm dead serious…you grew into those legs of yours, your body started to blossom, I had the feelings since you were 16, but I didn't start loving you until you were…16 and a day." He said, laughing. "What about you?"

"If I tell you, you promise not to laugh?"

"Yeah."

"I've had a crush on you since I was 14. I'm not sure when it turned into love…but I know it did."

"4 years Mack?" he teased. "I mean, I know I'm sexy, but damn!"

"Shelton, it was just a little innocent crush when I was 14," I laughed.

"How are we gonna tell John?" he said after a while.

"I have no idea…you know he's gonna flip right?"

"No doubt in my mind."

"I don't want to cause anymore trouble between me and my dad, but I also don't was to give up on us simply because my dad doesn't approve. That's not fair…"

"I love you baby girl" he said, kissing my cheek.

"I love you too…so much." I smiled. There was a knock on the door and Shelton got up to answer it and I stay lounged on the couch.

"Dave…uh, hey. What're you doing here?" he said slowly.

"Looking for Princess…you seen her?"

"She's in the other room…why?"

"John wants all of us to keep an eye on her."

I felt my blood boil.He has Uncle Dave watching me too?I thought angrily asI stood up and went in the other room so I didn't snap. I put on my clothes and came back out to see him and Uncle Dave still talking.

"Hey Uncle Dave," I said shortly before turning to Shelton. "I'll call you later, alright?" I said, pressing a kiss to his lips.

"Yeah…love you." He said as I walked down the hall.

"Love you too." I smiled. I went into my room and sitting on my bed watching a movie was Shane.

"Hey Shane-o, what's up?" I asked, sitting down on the bed.

"Where've you been since 2 today?" he asked.

"With Shelton, why?"

"Because I saw you with Carmine today…"

"Oh MY GOD! Is everyone gonna give me the third degree today?" I said, rolling my eyes and flopping on the couch.

"Are you going back out with him?"

"Nope, but if I was, I don't think it would be any of your business," I said, giving him a look.

"Chill Mack, it was just a question."

"You were following me today, weren't you?"

"What does that have to do with anything?" he said nervously.

"Who put you up to it?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Who Shane?"

"Who what?"

"Shane Christopher Easton! Who sent you to follow me?"

My heart fell to my shoes when I heard his answer.

"Dad."

I jumped up and walked out of the room. I went to my dad's room on the floor below and banged on the door. Ash answered it smiling, but the smile faded when she saw the look on my face.

"Where….is…he?" I said slowly, hands balled into fists. She pointed to the bed room with this 'I told him' look on her face and I walked right in. I opened the door to see my dad talking to Uncle Dave and he gave me a look when I walked in.

"Haven't you heard of knocking?" he said annoyed.

"WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?" I yelled, ignoring his question.

"Who are you talking to?"

"YOU! I'm not some kind of child or prisoner. Sending Uncle Dave to keep tabs on me? Having Shane follow me? Asking Shelton to keep an eye on me? If you want me to stay with someone the entire time dad, all you had to do was say so! But you treat me like I'm 14 all over again!" I ranted.

"You're my daughter okay? I'm sorry for caring, but guess what? I fucking do! Speaking of Shelton, what's going on between the two of you?"

"Oh, so now you want to ASK me something? You should have just ASKED me to stay with someone all the time. You're my dad, not my Parole Officer, I don't have to tell you everything that goes on in my life…I'm outta here." I said, eyeing him hard, and then looking at Uncle Dave who was wearing a shocked look on his face. I turned to leave the room and stopped when I heard my dad's voice.

"I know about the Gotti kid. Shane called and told me before you made it in the room. What's going on Mack? Come on and level with me." He said softly.

"I HATE THIS! You treat me like a child and then expect me to act like an adult? This is some bull shit dad! I want you to call Shane and Uncle Dave off…Shelton I can handle, but tell them not to follow me around anymore, because I actually wanted to come and talk to you about the whole Carmine thing, but what do you know? You already know EVERYTHING but what really happened. I swear dad, I honestly never thought I would see the day when you didn't trust me to make my own decision and do it correctly. I thought you and me wouldn't ever fight…I just wish that I could do something to make you trust me because I shouldn't have to prove myself to you…you should already know that I'm able to make a proper decision for myself with or without your consent…but for the record…I'm not with Carmine…you should trust me enough to know that I'd never go back with a guy that put his hands on me…especially after Bryce."

With that I stood up and walked out of the room and to Ash who was sitting in the living room with the TV on…but not paying attention to it, but to what was going on in the room.

"Come here Mack…" she said, holding her arms out to me. I dived into them and cried my eyes out. I must have laid there with my head on her shoulder for almost 20 minutes, just crying. She stroked my hair and just let me cry. Dad and Uncle Dave left to go to Uncle Randy's room.

"Why doesn't he get that I'm not a girl anymore and that he can trust me to make my own decision?" I sobbed.

"Cause you're his baby girl and he doesn't want to let you go just yet….I'm sorry sweets, but that' just how dads are…" she soothed. I finally stopped crying and called Nia and Sammie. I told them what happened, and we started to drown our sorrows in chocolatechunk ice cream and brownies courtesy of room service.

"I have something to tell you guys," I said quietly after I felt better about arguing with my dad.

"Spill."

"Well, you know how I've been kinda bummed about how Shelton doesn't love me the way I love him?"

"Yeah," they all said slowly.

"Apparently, he feels the same way."

They squealed in delight and inched closer to hear details.

"So he like told you?" Nia said smiling big.

"More than that…he showed me."

"You mean…"

"Yep."

"Oh My gosh! You and Shelton did the deed!" Sammie said, laughing.

"So, how was it? Ash asked, smirking.

"Well…he's not a small boy; I'll tell you that…he's all man…" I smiled.

"Over share!" Nia laughed.

"Guys, I've never felt like this before about someone."

"Not even Shane?"

"Not even Shane. I love Shane, don't get me wrong, but something about Shelton makes me forget about everything and everyone around me that makes me sad…it's like, when it's just me and him, nothing else even matters. He's something special guys," I said, staring off into space dreamily.

"AWWWW," they chorused.

"Does dad know?" Sammie said suddenly.

"Know what?"

"That you go with Shelton."

"Does hell go with no? I think he already does though, cause Uncle Dave saw me leaving Shelton's room earlier…and he kissed me before I walked down the hall and he said I love you…all while Uncle Dave was standing by the door."

"Wait, he actually came out and said I love you?" Ash said a smile on her face.

"Uh huh! And I said it back."

"Oh My Goodness!" Nia screeched.

"So Sammie, when are you and Markie Marc gonna hook up?" I said suddenly, making her turn red.

"SHUT UP MACK!" she screamed into the pillow that she covered her face with.

"Oh you know you love me!" I laughed. We were in a considerably better mood than when we showed up in when my dad came back, Uncle Randy and Uncle Dave in tow.

"Short Stuff…walk with me?" Uncle Randy asked, ignoring my dad's glare.

"Did my father put you up to it?" I asked, just to make him (dad) mad.

"SO now every time someone wants to talk to you, I put them up to it?" he retorted.

"I'm not in the mood dad, Guys, I'm going to talk with Uncle Randy and then I'm going to bed.

I said goodbye to everyone and walked with Uncle Randy.

"So short stuff, you dad told me about the letters…I'm not gonna yell, but I am gonna ask why you didn't tell anyone."

"Cause I thought it was just Carmine at first, so I wasn't worried…then Carmine sent me a letter asking to talk to me and saying that the was sorry…the handwritings are different. Then I got another letter right after...it wasthat one that daddy found…and he never even gave me a chance to explain…"

"How long had the letters been coming?

"About 3 or 4 weeks…a month at the most…but I haven't gotten one since the one daddy found yesterday." I said.

"So you've been getting threatening letters for a month and you didn't think to tell anyone?" he said. He didn't sound upset like dad did, he was just trying to get all of the facts straight. That's why I loved Uncle Randy…he always played the peacemaker between me and dad…him or Ash, and Ash wasn't getting in it this time.

"Yeah…because I just thought it was Carmine, and I didn't care if it was him; I kicked his ass before, it would be nothing to do it again."

"So did you go meet him?"

"Uh huh, I told him that I couldn't be more than friends with him, he understood, but said that he'd always love me. Turns out, Shane followed me all over the town because dad told him to follow me. Shelton noticed us in the window when he was on the way back to his car. He saw Carmine kiss me, and kind of flipped out on me, but we resolved it." I said smiling at the thought.

"Mack?'

"Hmm?"

"Did you and Shelton finally get together?"

"Y…yeah, we did. Are you mad?'

"Mad, no…relieved, yes. I didn't know how long it would take, but I knew it would happen. I laughed when I figured out that he loved you."

"When was that?"

"The night you fought Carmine." He said. "He was livid."

I gaveUncle Randy a confused look. "What do you mean Uncle Ran?"

"I was mad, John was pissed, Dave was upset, but Shelton? He was livid. He was ready to kill him, and I think he might have gone through with hit too had I hot been there to stop him."

"I swear, I had no idea what was going on between us until tonight…but I'm happy." I confided in my favorite uncle.

"John doesn't know yet does he?"

"Nope, he doesn't know a thing…yet."

"Why doesn't he know?"

"Because we just got together…" I paused and looked at my watch. "…about 6 hours ago?"

"So why didn't you have the time to go tell him?"

"I was sleeping?"

"In the middle of the day Mack?"

"Well, I was tired out!" I said, laughing to myself.

"You didn't have anything to do today but…hold on…you and Shelton got together today, you were asleep…MACK!" he yelled, looking nauseous.

"Huh?" I said, pretending innocence.

"You don't tell your uncle something like that!"

"I didn't tell you!" I said, laughing out loud.

"Yeah but – "

"Randy, I think it's time Mack and me talk." A voice said from behind us. I turned around to see my dad standing there. I couldn't read his face, and that scared me because I always was able to read him like a book.

"I'll talk to you later Uncle Ran…" I said, hugging him. He kissed my temple and we walked away and to his hotel room. Dad followed me to my room and we sat down on my bed.

"Well, you wanted to talk, so talk." I said, folding my arms across my chest.

"Well, there's no point in me asking what's going on with you and Shelton," he said, giving me a look.

"Well, now you know, even though you found out on accident." I said, rolling my eyes.

"I wish you could have told me instead of me finding out from over hearing you and Randy."

"Dad, I was going to tell you…I just needed some time to cool down from you sending your little James Bonds out to follow me. The only people that even were supposed to know about me and Shelton were me, Shelton, the girls, Ash and Uncle Randy. He'd just told me that I needed to tell you about him, and I was going to tomorrow, because I honestly AM tired…I don't know what to tell you dad…I'm just sorry that you don't trust me anymore," I said sadly.

"Mack, you know I trust you and I love you, but you're my Bella, and I have to look out for you. I found out about you going to see the Gotti kid and I snapped. I seriously thought that it was him sending the leters and I didn't want you to get hurt…THAT'S why I sent Shane after you."

"But I'm not a little girl anymore daddy, you have to let me go and make my own decisions. I just don't know why you don't understand that. I work so hard to get where I am, and I'd never do anything to make you worry intentionally, that's why I didn't tell you about the letters."

"I'm trying Mack, I swear I am, but I can't help it." He said.

"Can we finish this tomorrow? I'm really tired." I said, giving up.

"Yeah, we'll meet for breakfast in the lobby."

"Alright," I said when he got up I let him out and closed the door behind me. I showered and changed into a pair of short shorts and a tank top and was about to go to bed when there was a knock on the door. I opened the door to see a sheet of paper taped to the door.

So you're with Shelton now huh? Never thought that would happen. I'll see you soon Kenzie, since that's what you're boyfriend calls you…Revenge is sweet, and I can't wait to get my hands around your pretty little neck and squeeze the life out of you. You're gonna pay bitch!

I looked at my watch…10:30. it was time to turn in. I was walking down the hall and I saw Shelton talking to Adam. He had that look on his face. I knew it so well…the 'I just got laid' face. It wasn't an intentional look on his part, but I could always tell, he was always different, in a good way I guess, after he did. That's when it clicked. He'd slept with Mack! I knew they were together, but not well, together if you know what I mean.

"Oh, what's up John?" he said, noticing me.

I punched him in the face.

There's Chapter 10! I'll update soon! I promise!