It was now completely dark outside, which was great for my head. And Barney had finally stopped hovering for the night as long as I promised to stay awake for the night. I assured him I would, and I'd be roaming around all night. But it was now almost 3 AM, and my 12 hours were almost up.

But now I escaped out of my window onto the fire escape. I climbed the stairs as quietly as I could, and made it to the roof. On my usual spot. It was freezing out, at least freezing for my warm blood, and I pulled my red sweater around me tightly. The wind whipped around wildly and I could just barely see the muddy Mississippi over the French Quarter. It was my favorite view, and Tool got a really nice place. I breathed in the city night air and smiled, enjoying the ambiance of city lights. Even though they made my head throb. I leaned over the side of the building, resting against the stone. I thought about my life for the last three weeks, and how happy I was. Things were finally turning around. I hadn't approached Barney about finding out about what happened to my mother because honestly? I hadn't thought of it often. I was better coming to terms with her death, which is what she would've wanted anyway. But of course, the curiosity still burned bright inside me. And Barney hadn't brought it up again since he told me he would help me, which only added to the curiosity.

It bothered me daily that he was hiding something. It wasn't about my mom, but it was something. Whatever it was, I'm sure he'd tell me one day. If not, soon. We'd gotten closer in the last few weeks, more than I expected.

Thinking about my mom brought a bittersweet feeling to my heart. She'd love where I was at now. I just had to refocus and decide what I wanted to do with my life. But I honestly just wanted to be an artist.

I started to hum and sing a melody my mom used to sing to me when I would fuss around as a baby. It was an enchanting lullaby, and it was still calming to this day.

"I had no idea you could sing as well," Thorns voice rang out behind me. I spun and smiled.

"Hey. Yea I was in honors choir all four years of high school. Reagan forced me. Is she still passed out on the couch downstairs?"

"Yea she's out cold. I was coming to tell you that you can go to bed now. What are you doing up here?" he asks. I shrug.

"I'm up here a lot, no one ever sees me. It's a fantastic view. Even Reagan loves it," I comment. Thorn smiles fondly.

"You too are close," he states to open air. Three weeks ago I would've denied the accusation that she was my best friend, out of pride. But now I smile at it.

"Known her since I was eight. She knows me better than anyone. She had a good household until her parents lost their jobs. Her mom, well, she's alive but she left a long time ago. And her Dad is a boozy poker player. That's how we met, her dad was one of Gabe's friends. Her relationship with her father isn't necessarily bad, it's just… nonexistent," I explain. Thorn nods, walking further over to me. He sits across from me on the short wall of the room. It occurs to me that I've never asked for his family.

"What's your family like?" I ask. That earns me a wide smile that I'm not expecting.

"They're the kindest people on the planet. They permanently reside in South Africa, working for a non-profit organization. Helping children receive health care and education. My mom is a nurse and my dad is a teacher. Best people in the world," his voice I laced with nostalgia and pride. I smile.

"They sound like it. Wow. That's amazing. You must not see them often then," I comment. He gives me a sad smile.

"They stay so busy, I usually don't have the time to talk on the phone. But we email. It's nice still. I'm proud of them," he looks to the view of New Orleans and smiles as he takes in the beauty.

"Can I ask you another question?" He smirks.

"You'll ask anyway. What's up?"

"Thorn. That's your last name isn't it?" I ask. He freezes, unsure where I'm going with this.

"Yeah?"

"What's your first name?" I ask finally, and he frowns.

"I go by Thorn," he mutters, looking away. He's been cold to me all night, especially after the almost-kiss. I frowned at him, and looked away too.

"Is it embarrassing?" I pry once more, and now he's getting annoyed.

"No. I just don't go by it. No one know my full name," he mumbles to himself. I raise an eyebrow.

"No one? Not even the people that named you?" He gives me a look that says exactly how he feels about me right now. Why was he acting like an ass? I didn't ask him to come up to the roof and bother me.

"Are you a secret agent and if I knew your full name, someone would come after me?" I tease, but the panic in his expression catches me off guard. Something was up.

"I just don't use it, Brenna," he gets up and starts to talk toward the fire escape.

"Well then you'd have no problem telling me," I pry further. He whips around.

"Well, I do. So just stop it, alright?"

"God, what did I do to you? All I asked for was your goddamn name. I see you every day, we talk every day. We hang out, we laugh, we tease, hell, we flirt. I just wanted your name, but if that's so much to ask-"

I started to rant and walk past him but he grabs my arms, halting me in my attempt to go back downstairs. Before I can think twice, he's swooped down and pressed his lips against mine.

A burning hot sensation crawls it's way across my skin, leaving goosebumps in its path. My lips were cold from the autumn air, but his were still warm. I molded against him, and he curled his arm around my waist tightly. I opened my eyes briefly, and saw how tormented his expression was. He looked completely troubled, his brows furrowed as he kissed me with such a passionate force. I wanted to break away, to ask what was wrong, but instead I closed my eyes again and kissed him back with the same amount of passion. His other hand cupped my cheek gently while the other still held me fiercely to him. I placed my hands on his arms to steady myself, because he was making me dizzy.

He backed me up against a giant metal box that I assumed had the generator in for the building. He trapped me between the wall and his body, his lips starting to pull at mine a bit faster. I very gently traced his bottom lip with my tongue, and he makes a low appreciative noise from the back of his throat. He picks me up and wraps my legs around his waist, pinning me entirely to him. His kiss was making me dizzy, and it was getting to the point where it wasn't a good thing. My concussion can't handle this, and right as I think this, everything fades to black.

Thorns POV

Her lips were sweet and soft, just as they always looked. And I couldn't tell if it was my frustration with her, or how nearly dead on she was with her accusations that made me have a surge of emotion. I had to kiss her. Just once. And I don't know why I thought I could handle it. Or her.

Desire had exploded between us, all of the concern, anxiety, and fear that I have for the man that's after her poured into that kiss. I couldn't pull away, I just wanted more. And she let me have her in that moment, it was so perfect. The way the chilly air whipped around us meant nothing, the blood pounding through my body from her lips kept me warm.

But, right as things started to go a little too far, she dropped like a sack of potatoes. I grabbed her waist, keeping her upright and against my body.

"Shit. Brenna, baby, can you hear me?" I shake her gently and she stirs. She gazes at me with an accusatory look.

"Y-you made me faint," she slurs, jabbing a long finger into my shoulder. I chuckle and pick her up bridal style once more. I start to walk down the fire escape with her in my arms.

"That was your own fault, you went too far with a concussion," I teased her, but only because I know that it was technically my fault for shoving my lips on her. She glares at me with hazy eyes.

"You called me baby," she mutters grumpily. Now I'm laughing.

"And?"

"I don't like it," she pouts like a child. Her painkillers must be making her a little bit out of it, as well. I briefly touch my lips to her soft, pouted bottom lip.

"We'll discuss pet names later. In ya go," we step inside her room once more and shut the window. I set her on her feet gently, and she sways uneasily.

"Brenna?" I ask in concern.

"I'm cold," she continues to pout like a child, and admittedly, it was sexy to see her bottom lip pushed out like that. I glance around and make sure no one is in her room, before swooping down and tugging at her bottom lip with my teeth. She gasps.

"Put that away before I put it to use," I growl in her ear. She giggles, and stops pouting. A shrug off my jacket and wrap it around her shoulders.

"You're cheeky," she accuses playfully. I guide her to the bed, and she stumbles before she makes it. I try to catch her, but she takes me with her and we fall beside each other on the bed. She grins, and I realize she did that on purpose.

"I'm the cheeky one?" I give her a knowing look and shift to get up. She grabs my hand tightly.

"No! Stay. Please," she begs, and I take a minute to look at her. She was wearing leggings, an oversized red sweater that was hanging off her shoulder and exposing the top of her cleavage. Her black hair was wild and untamed and her legs were weaves in the sheets. My jacket was still around her shoulder, and I briefly wonder what she would look like with just my jacket on. The image stirs unwelcome feelings and I shake it off. But I also realize I don't want to leave. I walk over and shut and lock her door so no one can come barging in on us. I didn't want anyone to know about us, and that was something we'd have to talk about later. If I can keep away from her, I had to keep it from everyone else that I was with her.

I took off my shirt and slipped into bed with her, and she gave my chest an appreciative look. She climbed on top of my chest and curled up, her fingers like ice still. I kissed the top of her head.

I thought she had fallen asleep, but we were just quiet for a long time. Eventually, she looks up and asks, "Do you like working for Barney?" she asks. I do my best to keep from tensing up, but she notices something is wrong and looks up.

"Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I do what I love, the job helps me travel everywhere. And I love to travel. But, as I'm sure you've worked out, he can be a pain in the ass," I remain in the safe zone and avoid telling her a lie. Shit, I'm going to get in so much trouble with this girl. Between lying to her and lying to everyone else about her, I was digging myself a deeper hole. And for what? Because I cared about her?

A deeper, darker feeling swelled in my chest but I couldn't even bring myself to think about it. It was selfish to even think about, even more so to say it out loud. I couldn't. But I was still being selfish by lying to her. The torment was killing me. But for once, I wanted to just let myself be happy with a woman sleeping on my chest.

She seems to accept my answer, and she becomes still again. And soon, I hear soft snores coming from her. I relax deeper into her bed and pull the covers over us, allowing myself to fall into a deep sleep.