Later that day, my mom made me come by her and Steve's new apartment to check it out. I didn't want to be there. I was deathly afraid of Steve. And I hated my mother with a fiery passion.

"Oh, Kaylee, we're so happy that we could be there with you!" My mom cried, giving me a hug. I didn't hug her back.

She got the hint.

"I'm gonna go make some dinner," she said, and rushed off to the kitchen. "Bitch..." I thought.

Steve turned to face me. "I'm glad we came up here, too. A girl like you needs discipline." He brought his hand up to my face, and I flinched back; I thought he was going to slap me.

Instead, he brushed hair from away from my face. I stared at him, confused.

"W-what are you doing?" He didn't answer me. He only grabbed my waist and pressed my body against his. "What-? What the FUCK?"

He still didn't answer me, he only pressed his lips to mine. My eyes widened in surprise. He pressed his lips so hard against mine that it hurt. They weren't like Carlos's kisses...gentle and sweet.

I then became afraid. What was he going to do to me? Sure, he had abused me tons of time before, but he had never...raped me before. I beat my fists against his chest, and tried to struggle away from him, but he had an iron grip.

He leaned back, and I opened my mouth, but he put his finger on my lips.

"Don't scream."

"What about my mom?" I mumbled.

"She'll never know..." He shoved his lips against mine again, and I continued to struggle. His grip faltered, and I pushed away fron him.

"Get away from me!" I yelled.

"You little bitch!" he screamed, and grabbed me by the hair, and shoved me into the wall. I let out a whimper.

He bashed my head against the wall a few times, and threw me. I tumbled across the bed, and onto the floor. I lay there, sobbing. He kicked me in the stomach.

"That'll teach you to disrespect me!" My mom came running in.

"What happened?"

"Your daughter is a stupid little bitch!" he snapped, and my mom looked at me.

"Kaylee, I think you should leave." I got up, tears streaming down my face, and ran out of the room.

I fingered my necklace. Everything would be okay. But then I felt the fresh bruise on my head. Everything would not be okay. Not for a while now. I looked down at my necklace again. But they would be, in time.

I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and texted Carlos:

KAYLEE: "Meet me on the 3rd floor next 2 da elevator."

CARLOS: "Y? What happened?"

KAYLEE: "Just meet me there."

I sat, chin resting on my knees, trembling in the corner next to the elevator. Carlos sat criss-cross applesauce next to me when he got there, and just held my hand. That was one of the good things about him. He doesn't push. He just waits until you're ready to talk.

"What happened?" he whispered, finally.

"Steve...he tried to...he started like, kissing me and then I told him 'no' and he beat me up." I laid my head on his shoulder and cried. He stroked my hair and laid his head on mine.

When I finally took control of my sobs, he lifted his head off mine, and I lifted my head off his shoulder. Then we looked at each other for a second, and then he leaned over and kissed me, gently. I leaned towards him and our kisses got a little rougher, but not too rough. Just right. It was the best kiss of my life.