Oh, guys. It's been such a week.

I don't have time almost at all, don't know when I'll get to post chapter 12,

but for now, please have fun reading chapter 11, I really hope you'll enjoy this one in particular.

Anyway, here are responses for your amazing reviews. Let me say once more how much I appreciate every single one, so thank you guys:


Mademoiselle - This is one of the sweetest reviews, thanks a lot!

Yea a bit drastic, huh? DO NOT DARE DIE OUT OF IMPATIENCE!

Awesome we're agreeing. I mean, kissing and making out scenes are always fun, but I just enjoy finding this spark, the real spark, in communication between two characters.


39CluesFan-Star - I've read your review after I already had the plot for this chapter, but worry not, I took your request and I will try to elaborate more on the accident the next chapter, whenever I'll have time to write it :)

Another thing... this is so embarrassing, but I'm actually not so sure of what "Drawing out" means. Is it a good thing? A bad thing? Please tell!


Some Person - OKAY! haha thanks a lot, love you!


hptriviachamp - Wow, I'm so glad you pointed out Sinead's behavior, it's so cool somebody noticed it!

It is mentioned on the first chapter that she studies Literature and History and about Ian... You will find out this chapter :)

Thanks a lot for your review!


Godgirl13 - What's true is true, you just can't help it ;) Love you!


Guest - Oh my god! Same here, I had such a week dude! I'm so happy that reading my story helped your day! Honestly, so glad!

We got some busy days, huh? But you can go through it, just do your best, exams are just the final step. You gonna get it, you sound like a serious person from your review and I believe in you! Rock their world :)


Chapter 11

Ian's apartment was not what Amy thought it would be.

For some reason, she imagined it way fancier, considering he was so... so dignified and his parents had so much money.

But actually, his apartment was rather small - though still bigger than hers and Sinead's. He had a living room, a bedroom, a rather big kitchen, and a bathroom.

His apartment was not fancy but was so... neat. And somehow cold. No pictures, no anything that could indicate that this place belonged to him.

"Wow, this place is so..." She trailed, looking around.

"Not what you thought it would be?" She saw him shrugging off his coat and put it on a stand.

She laughed. "Yes, actually."

He smiled at her, and suddenly the whole room lightened up. Whenever he smiled, she had this warm feeling inside of her. "I don't need too much luxury, despite what people might think."

She bit her lip and looked around. "Thanks for letting me stay, I think it started raining again."

Then, just on time, a strong, loud thunder was heard, roaring.

It was late, darkness outside and cold, but inside it was warm and lightened. Amy just felt somehow... relaxed. And it was weird, considering she barely knew the guy, and she was staying the night so far from home. She saw him taking the remote and turning on the air conditioner, probably just for her. He never complained about the cold and he was English, so he was probably used to it anyway. It never seemed to bother him.

"Ian..." She started, as she made her way to the living room.

"Yes?" He was right behind her.

Something in her voice made his heart start pounding.

She turned, her green eyes looking straight into his. Could she see what influence she had on him? "Why don't you have any pictures here?"

He was taken aback by the question. "I never thought of putting some, actually, although I do have one."

"You do?"

For some reason, it made her smile and he felt himself calm down a bit in response.

"I do. You want to see?"

"Yes." Her smile got even wider, and he took her hand without thinking and led her to the bedroom.

She looked down to see his dark hand covering her pale one. It was like it was symbolling not just their different skin color, but all their existence. He was rich, she was poor. He was build, very muscled, while she was rather skinny and weighted below what she needed to. He was so confident, she was not. He was popular, she was not. She was friendly, he was not. She was giddy, he was cold.

She was against violence, while he believed in it.

She was a Madrigal, he was Lucian.

But despite all that, his hand covering hers felt warm, reassuring. Despite the difference between them, it felt comfortable. Only the same tinglings down her arm, piercing her chest, warming her heart, bothered her.

She was not supposed to feel like this, not with him.

When they reached his bedroom down the thin corridor, he let go of her hand. Had he even noticed he was holding it? She didn't know.

He reached to a shelf, a wooden one that was put against the wall above a thin screen of a TV, and handed it to her. "Here."

Amy examined the photo, her pale fingers holding the blue frame carefully.

It was a picture of their family, but they all seemed younger. Maybe it was taken ten years ago?

Man, they were all just beautiful. There was no other word to describe it. They just had this kind of beauty, no door would slam in their face - ever.

Vikram was like Ian, only a bit more quadrangular somehow. Ian was sure chiseled, but more gently, not too much like that. His dad was very strong, and Ian was too, but he also had some gentleness he inherited from his mother.

Talking about his mother...

"Your mother and sister are so good looking."

And Ian, when he was younger... In the picture he was a kid, with black jet hair and olive skin, and huge ocher eyes. Even when he was that young, he looked like a kid model, his face already beginning to shape.

"You're all very good looking," She handed him the photo back. "It's a beautiful picture.'

He nodded and put it back in place. "The only one we got."

"Really?" She got closer, questions in her green, innocent eyes. "Why?"

"I guess my parents didn't think it mattered anymore."

He said that without any emotion, like it was a fact and that's it. There was no sadness in his eyes nor his face or his voice, just... facts, coldness.

Suddenly, he looked at her and smirked. "So, you think I'm good looking?"

Busted. Amy blushed, cursing herself. "Come on, you've known that already, all your family is good looking as well!"

"Really?" He stepped towards her, making her taking a step back.

Why was he so tall? And what game was he playing? Like he didn't know how attractive he was.

"Like you've never heard that one before." She challenged back, eyes locked with his, laughing suddenly and taking the final step to the wall.

His eyes turned darker as he approached her ever closer. "Well, it's different when it's coming from you."

And just like that, the mood changed.

Suddenly, it wasn't playful anymore.

Once more, Amy found herself with beating fast heart, flushed cheeks and widened eyes. And once more... once more she let herself slip and just for a moment, imagine what it'd be like to kiss him.

What it'd be like to be pressed against those muscles, to run her fingers through his hair, to make him groan, to make him whisper her name.

She felt him turn rigid, eyes not so yellowish anymore, and let herself wonder what he had in mind. Just the thought of what he might be thinking turned her on. She clutched her fists, preventing herself from reaching out and -

"Anyway, if you want to shower I can land you some clothes."

And just like that, he left her space and stepped away, searching through his closet. "I have a few shirts that you could use and some boxers."

"Oh," She was so embarrassed for a moment, what just happened? "Thanks."

"You want to go first?" he asked, and finally looked at her again. His eyes returned to their color, and his hair fell down to the side. He was so handsome it hurt.

"Don't you need to turn on the water tank first?"

He chuckled. "No, I have warm water all the time."

She rolled her eyes. "Well that counts as a luxury."

"It does not," He chuckled again and she followed him to the bathroom. He took out a towel and handed her some clothes. "Warm water is a basic need."

She rolled her eyes at him but smiled before he closed the door. "I don't have warm water all the time!"

It was a second before he closed the door, and he stopped in the middle, only his head showing. "You can always come here to shower, not like I would mind."

Then, he finally closed it and left her to herself, blushing and wondering, again, how come she was going to get a shower in a Lucian's house, and yet she felt completely safe.

When she finished and stepped out to the full of steam bathroom, she looked at the clothes he left her. There was a huge, dark-grey shirt, with the number 76 on it in black. And there were boxers, black ones.

When she slipped the shirt on, his scent welcomed her senses. It smelled so clean and so fresh. Just like he smelled.

Maybe it was a fabric softener or something?

She found him, shirtless, standing before a bookshelf in the living room.

"Hey, thanks for letting me shower, and... for the clothes." She blushed as he turned around.

His gaze was fixed on her for a few seconds, as if he was studying every little detail about her appearances. Suddenly aware of the bandages covering his chest, she asked - "How do you feel?"

He smiled, but it wasn't his happy smile. "Fine, thank you Love."

She sighed, and his smile widened a bit. "Don't call me Love."

He chuckled and stated to come closer. "You like books, correct? You can read whatever you want, watch whatever you want and eat whatever you want. If you need anything I'm in the shower, I won't take long."


When he finished, he came to the living room and just watched her for a second. Instead of reading a book, she was watching something in the TV, sitting on the couch and waiting for him.

She was wearing his clothes, the shirt was so big but only barely reached her thighs. He could barely see his black boxers on her.

She just looked so... innocent. So... Madrigal.

Suddenly, her stare met his, met his watching one.

His black hair was wet, he was wearing a short simple black shirt and dark sweat pants.

The shirt only emphasized his muscles, his olive skin was glowing and most importantly, his eyes were fixed on hers.

And somehow she knew exactly why.

She felt like an intruder.

Standing up, she walked until she was just before him. "I can go, if you want me to."

He sighed, closing his eyes. "No."

"Seriously, if you want -"

"I don't want you to go. Please, Amy."

She couldn't remember when was the last time she heard him saying her name. It was so soft, coming out of his mouth.

Her eyes turned softer, watching him with concern. "Then what is it?"

He opened his eyes and smiled at her, again, not his happy smile. This one was actually quite bitter. "I was just worried for a moment. You're in my apartment... and you're from another branch. I just realized how dangerous that is."

She nodded, biting her lip. "Yea," and then she smiled. "But isn't it refreshing? You know, not to have to live in all this hate?"

He laughed, and they went to sit on the couch. "I have so many haters that I really don't know how it's like to live without it." He answered truthfully.

She sighed, staring at the screen without really seeing it. "Why would somebody hate you?"

"Why wouldn't them? For all they know, I have it all."

"And do you?"

The question left him unprepared, again. Who was this girl, making him struggle, making him lose his tongue, making him want to put effort for the first time in his life?

He never let any girl spend the night in his place. Never.

Who was she, making him forget everything? Making him bend?

Her warm eyes still looked at him, still waited for him. He had to think of an answer. "I do," He said eventually, eyes looking into hers. "But sometimes, everything somebody wants is nothing for someone else, and vice versa."

"It's difficult to be happy these days, huh?"

I think it's hard to find peace."

She nodded, and he had an urge to pull her into him. To take her by the waist and place her tight to him, to cares her hair, to hear her laugh again.

"I get what you mean," Without feeling, she got closer. "Sometimes I feel like I have it all, but something is missing. But what? I have great parents, an annoying little brother, great friends, great boyfriend... I'm doing well at school, I learn what I like, everything... everything is great. That's why I don't get why sometimes, I feel so weird, I feel..."

"Empty."

She raised her eyes in wonder to meet his. He understood. Even when she couldn't find the words, he knew them.

"Yea," She said softly, so close to him but not caring at all. "Exactly."

"I wish I could tell you the answer to that," He replied, honesty in his voice. "But I can't. All I do to avoid it is just being busy all the time."

She laughed, and suddenly, the atmosphere lightened up a bit, the light came back. "That sounds like you."

"Yea?" He smirked, leaning towards her. "What else sounds like me?"

"Hmm... let's see..." She laughed, but didn't break eye contact. "It sounds like you to avoid what the doctors told you and go to work anyway."

He chuckle,and this time - finally! This time was real. The light graced his gorgeous face, his eyes bright. "That's right, actually. I'm impressed."

"Would you believe it? We're getting to know each other." She laughed and he joined her. "Now it's your turn."

He cocked his head to one side. "To say something that sounds like you?"

She smiled, looking into his eyes. The feeling was so... overwhelming, she felt as if she had just been to the park. She felt thrilled, excited. Alive.

"Yes."

He smirked again. "You study Literature."

She rolled her eyes. "Too easy."

"And History."

"Still too easy."

"Alright," The challenge was shining in his eyes. "It sounds like you to forget everything while you're reading, to volunteer once a week and to have a small group of close friends instead of a larger one, which isn't really close."

She looked at him, her green big eyes surprised. "Wow, I didn't see that one coming."

He laughed. "And I could go on."

She sighed, and looked into his eyes again. "So... you're a student too, right?"

He nodded. "Of course." He cocked his head again, a small smile gracing his lips. "So... if it was so easy for me to guess what you study..."

She laughed. "Hey it's not the same thing. I'm so obvious, with you, it's... It's never obvious."

"Come on," His eyes were challenging. "What would I choose to study, Love?"

She took a deep breath and examined him for a moment. "I'll say... Law?"

He smiled. "Two points."

"Really?" She felt like a winner only because she guessed correctly. But who cared? To guess what this guys would do is beyond possible.

He chuckled. "Really. But it's not the only thing I study."

"Oh, damn," She shrank her borrows and he laughed. "I also study Philosophy, I picked that one as a minor."

"Wow," Amy's eyes softened. "That's sounds interesting, but tough. How do you have time for all that? I mean, those subjects both are a heavy load."

He smirked again. "I barely sleep."

She laughed.

Seeing her laughing like this, her pale skin flushed, made his heart beat faster. "How did you know I study Law?"

She stopped laughing and took her beautiful long hair back. It kept coming to her front despite her effort, gracing her face. "It's just that... you always have good arguments. You can make people actually think, you know? To see things from different angles.

He smiles, and this time, though it's not one of his happy smiles, she sees that it's purely genuine. "Quite an observation you've got there, not too bad for a Madrigal."

"Hey!" She smacked him playfully, but couldn't erase the smile from her face. "We're trying to make peace, remember?"

He rolls his eyes, and then glances at the hour. "It's late, you must be tired."

Only when she averted her eyes, only when she looked at the time herself, she understood that he was right. How much time did they spend on this couch, just talking? When was the last time she enjoyed a conversation that much?

She held back a yawn, and he chuckled. "You can sleep in my bed, I will take the couch."

Blushing suddenly, she answered "N-No! I mean, I'll take the couch. You're injured, it's not the time to be a gentleman."

He rolled his eyes. "It's nothing, I will sleep here tonight."

"No, I will."

"Love-"

"If I don't, then I'll just... drive home."

They both looked at the same time when a thunder roared outside the black sky. The rain did not stop, not even for a second.

She didn't want to drive home. Not like this, not in the dark, not in the rain. It was a long road that contained drastic slopes, sharp turned and deceases.

He took one glance outside, and then looked back at her. "Fine"

She smiled in victory as he rolled his eyes.

She helps him fix the couch for her, and he explains to her where she can find another blanket or a pillow if she needs them.

"So you have everything you need?" They're standing before each other, ready to say goodnight.

"Yes." She smiles softly and he wishes he didn't have to say goodbye, even if it was just a room away. "Thanks, Ian."

Suddenly she feels how close they're standing, how close he is.

His eyes are looking into hers, just for a second, before he says "Goodnight, then." and walks away.


Thanks for reading !