The Reunion

When Bonnie joins Luke and his family for breakfast the next morning, she's satisfied to see she's one of the first to make it down to the dining room, the only other people already seated are Tabitha and her boo carrying on a conversation that seems to be about the war in Ukraine.

Heavy topic abandoned when he spots her, Luke flashes that easy smile of his at her as she takes a seat beside him at the table, "Morning, honey" he greets, making her feel like they were an old married couple. And then he's sweetly kissing her cheek.

Cheeks that are rounding into a plastic smile as his lips brush over its curvedness. She greets him back, "Morning" But the word comes out lackluster. She can't help it, it was hard for her to muster any enthusiasm at all, she had the night from hell last night. She had been wracked with nightmares again, making her slumber fitful to say the least. One after another. Everytime she woke up in pants, managed to calm herself and channel the desire to lay back down and rest again, she'd have another nightmare, an endless cycle. Thankfully, this time, none had involved Malachai. No, this time she'd dreamt of being chased, in this very house, her assailant wielding a machete as he came for her. And everytime she turned around, she discovered he had a new face. Faces she didn't recognize. It was the creepiest shit ever. She blames Luke for making her watch that sick fuck of a movie the other night. But also something else niggles at her, Kai joining her on the trail last night. She had a feeling in the pit of her gut that he'd been watching her. How else would he have known she'd gone out running? She should tell Luke about it. Because it was creepy. But she doesn't say anything, she just sits there and idly listens as he and his mom talk about politics while the rest of the family trickle in.

"What are you doing here?" Luke's voice is saying and it's like he upped the volume notch by ten because it nearly startles her out of her seat. She knows by the aggression in his tone who he's speaking to. There's only one person in the world who could pull this kind of ire out of him. Malachai. Bonnie glances up from her plateware and sure enough, he's sauntering into the room, a stern look about his face. She hates that she thinks he looks handsome, even nearly scowling. Because douchebags shouldn't be handsome.

She takes in his attire, eyes scaling slowly down his tall form. He was wearing a slate gray sweater with a white button down underneath and dark denim jeans, quite the casual look compared to the previous days of him outfitted in dress shirts and slacks.

She hates the thought that comes in her mind that she prefers this look. There shouldn't be a look of preference when it came to him.

She feels her eyes narrow, watching him as he positions himself behind the chair beside where his twin is sitting, not yet joining them by taking a seat. His eyes flick over them all before settling on Bonnie, features bereft of all previous rigidness. "I decided I'd join in on the activities-"

"Absolutely not," Luke is cutting in, his head shaking in adamant horror. "After how you treated Bonnie the other day? Hell. No."

"You're right." he responds, nodding once, seeming reasonable for once. "She deserves an apology from me." he says this, brows slanting down on his forehead, eyes still glued on her, even after addressing Lucas it hadn't shifted focus. "I'm sorry, Bonnie, for the rude way that I spoke to you the other day. I was having a really bad day and took it out on you, though that is no excuse for my despicable behavior" she notices he's using the same word she used to describe him last night. He finishes with a sincere sounding, "I do hope you can accept my apology" but she knows better.

And because everyone is now staring at her, waiting for her to respond, she goes, "Yeah, sure. I forgive you"

And with that, Breakfast resumes.

...

But she doesn't forgive him. Not really. His words had cut, resurfacing insecurities from her childhood that she'd thought she'd long dealt with already. Apparently she hadn't. So she makes sure to steer clear from him, diligently keeping her distance from the shark eyed man for the rest of the day with more rounds of tennis with his brother, tea time with his mom, karaoke with his sisters. By the time lunch rolls around she'd completely forgotten he'd existed.

So it's a shock to her system when he's strolling into the dining room with a confident stride like he owns the place.

Her eyes can't help but track him as he saunters in. He isn't frowning like he normally is but he also isn't smiling either. His expression is neutral. She watches him as he takes a seat, and it isn't in his normal one beside his twin Jo. No, he sits directly beside her.

Her body stiffens.

She can feel her features fall as she tries to work out what game he's playing at. Because this was definitely strategic. Amid frown, she turns to face him and his eyes land on her, seemingly taking in her watchful expression. This seems to amuse him because one side of his mouth tips up, only by a fraction but she catches it and immediately feels annoyance flow through her. This was funny to him. He wasn't sorry for his assholeness, he'd only apologize so he'd get to come out of his hole and socialize with the rest of his family.

Bonnie rips her eyes away just in time it seems, her boyfriend is in the process of pulling back his chair on her other side. He catches her eyes and allows his lips to curve upward, "Have fun with my sisters?" he inquires, taking a seat and then scooting to the edge of the table.

"Yeah, karaoke was a blast" she answers and she hears a snort beside her. She skillfully ignores it.

"I bet" her boyfriend comments.

"Seriously, I'm officially a Kpop fan now thanks to Liv"

He laughs and then says on a serious note, his tone soft, tender, "I'm really glad you're getting along so well with my family."

"They're great." she replies in earnest and then adds, not bothering to lower her voice, "Well, most of them" At this, Luke's eyes flick to Kai, his smile dimming as he appears at the brunet.

"He hasn't been harassing you or anything, has he?" he asks, not taking his eyes off Malachai.

"He is right here and no I haven't been harassing your girlfriend," his voice is changing into a teasing tone. "I haven't said anything to her since this morning if you must know"

Luke turns to face her, waiting for her to confirm this, "He's telling the truth" she admits reluctantly, voice low.

"And just curious here, brother." Malachai drawls, eyes flicking up from his cell phone and landing on the fair haired man. "What were you going to do if I had interacted with her, huh?" he poses, voice not so subtly issuing a challenge.

"Could you not start any shit today?" Liv barks in defense of her twin. She had been sitting there the entire time listening quietly. Until, well, the hint of the threat just now. "You're lucky we're even letting you be here. You can at least show your gratitude by not being insufferable"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Were you expecting me to kiss you guys ass for letting me roam around my own house?" Kai shoots back, not sounding annoyed like she's used to from him.

"Your house?" comes the indignant scoff from Liv.

"Yes, my house." he says, lengthening his words as if talking to someone mentally handicapped. "Grand dad left the Manor to me"

"Well, it wasn't in the will" Liv sings songs tauntingly.

Kai's eyes turn to frost. "Only because you slithering snak-"

"Can we not air family grievances in front of guests? Thank you." Tabitha sings, gliding into the room and taking a seat at the head of the table.

A hush envelopes the room, only broken by the matriarch as she directs her glittering blue eyes to Bonnie, "So Bonnie, I'm curious." she chirps, her expression inquisitive. "Do you ride?"

"Ride?" Bonnie hears herself blurt and feels immediately stupid for asking. She can practically feel Malachai rolling his eyes beside her.

"Horses" the older woman answers, not unkindly.

"Not since I was a kid" She means not since she was nine and was able to saddle up that one time she attended Christian camp. She could never afford to go to sleepaway camp as a kid, so the one chance she got to spend two weeks in New Castle, thanks to her Grams church footing the bill, she hopped on it.

"Well, we have stables out on the ranch if you ever feel inclined to do so"

"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind" she presents with a closed mouth smile.

"Yeah, babe. We can go tomorrow if you'd like" Luke suggests beside her, his mood much lighter than it had been moments ago.

"Okay" And her lips spread wider. A day at the ranch did sound fun. She loved the manor and all its luxurious amenities but if she didn't get out at least once a day she would start to get stir crazy.

"And I'll go with you guys" Liv invites herself along, grinning giddily on the other side of her twin.

"Actually, we'll make it a family thing" Tabitha decides, including the entire clan. "We'll leave early, so make sure you set your alarms for six-thirty, we'll have breakfast at seven and leave for the ranch at eight"

"Why so early?" Rafe groans at the thought of having to get up at dawn. Seriously though, she isn't sure if it's because she hasn't been to school in a minute or what but these crack of dawn activities were really starting to exhaust her.

"So we'll have a full day to really enjoy ourselves. But also because I said so" Tabitha tells her son, tone unapologetic, sounding like a true mother.

Rafe pouts but doesn't audibly complain, she feels his plight though, she'd have to get to bed extra early tonight, hunt down a sleeping pill if needed and hope the nightmares wouldn't come.

Lunch resumes and they're served pan-seared duck breast with blueberry sauce atop a bed of bok choy, wild mushrooms, pancetta, and shallots. She's never had duck before, she's always wanted to try it. Figured it couldn't be that much different than any other bird. Wrong. And now that it's checked off her bucket list she never had to have it again.

"You don't like it?" Luke leans in, keeping his voice low so only she could hear him.

She takes a sip of her sparkling water and says, "Maybe if it wasn't rare" this is an exaggeration because it isn't rare but it also wasn't cooked thoroughly either.

He snorts out a laugh. "Don't eat it." he replies, still chuckling but stops abruptly when he sees how disappointed she is, because the fact was she'd have to wait all the way until dinner before she could eat again and it wasn't even guaranteed she'd like what was prepared then either. The meals around here had a tendency of being a hit or miss. With more misses than hits. "I'll have one of the chef's cook you up something. What do you want?"

She was tempted to say a juicy hamburger with monterey jack cheese and applewood bacon on a brioche bun but knew it would come off as rude, the chef's had already worked so hard on fucking up the duck, she couldn't ask them to slave some more all because she was a picky eater, scratch that, she wasn't snobby when it came to food, the opposite actually. She had a rather simple palate, enjoying things like burgers and tacos and hot wings and pasta, stuff that could be made in a pinch or purchased through the drive thru since she was always on the run with work and modeling. So coming here and having to eat things like mussels and escargot and undercooked duck was an adjustment. So really, at the end of the day Kai had been right, rude as shit but right, she wasn't used to fine dining. And frankly, if this was what was considered haute cuisine then she hoped to never be.

"You can't. Your mom will be really offended" Bonnie may be hungry but she wasn't trying to make a fuss over nothing really, dinner wasn't that far away and also everything on her plate wasn't completely unappealing. Actually, the mushrooms weren't half bad.

"She won't" he disagrees, staring fixedly into her face. He's got that look in his eyes like he won't take no for an answer but Bonnie's not having it. She refuses to allow him to make a big deal out of this.

"Yes, she will." She argues because Tabitha may not say anything due to manners, because she did have them unlike her eldest son, but Bonnie knows it'll be on her mind that her son's new girlfriend is a complainer. And she'd just hate to get the reputation of being difficult.

"I know my mother. She won't care" he's trying to convince her, speaking in low tones so no one would overhear their conversation but all it really was doing was bringing attention to them with all the hushed speaking. Because that was rude, having side conversations at the dinner table. And since she wants the conversation to end like now, she says, "Luke, it's fine. I'll eat the bloody duck"

At least she tries to but after one attempted bite she discreetly spits it into her napkin.

Apparently, not discreet enough though. "What's wrong, Bonnie? You don't like your food?" Kai asks but not in a concerned way, it was almost rude the way it had come out and now looking into his eyes which were totally taunting, she's almost certain he's heard their conversation.

All eyes flick to her, causing her face to flame. "No, it's fine. It's just a tad more undercooked than I prefer but like I said, it's fine" she offers a false smile.

And then Tabitha is speaking, "Oh, that's the way it's always prepared. Duck doesn't have to be cooked thoroughly the way other poultry do. We've been eating it that way for forever. But if you'd like, we could prepare something else for you" the older woman offers generously.

She waves the woman's offer away with a dismissive hand. "No, it's fine. Really"

But it isn't because the moment she says it a sudden pain lances through her abdomen. Immediately, she winces, feeling her hand fly to her stomach. And then when another searing pain is lancing through her, immediately she's shooting up out of her chair, "If you'll excuse me" she says, not caring about all the eyes that are now on her.

She hurries to the nearest restroom, crouches down on the floor in front of the commode and waits for her stomach to empty itself. She had two bites of that nasty duck and now she has food poisoning.

She waits and waits and waits but nothing happens. She's still waiting when she hears a soft rap at the door. "Bonnie, I'm worried. Are you okay?" Luke's voice relays from the other side.

"I think so" she answers, rising from off the ground. She washes her hands then opens the door coming face to face with her boyfriend. She takes note of his furrowed brows and concerned eyes and assures him right away, "I'm okay"

"You were in there a while" he points out, inclining his head to peer at her better.

And because she hates to see worry lines mar his handsome face, she informs him, "I didn't get sick. I was waiting for it to come up but it never did." And thank God it wasn't food poisoning, because she didn't think she could handle that right now, the overwhelming nausea, sometimes endless diarrhea, vomiting until your body is practically retching up your stomach lining. Yeah, she was good on that.

But of course her words doesn't relieve him of all worriment because he's saying, his tone uneasy, "Do you need me to call a doctor? Just to be sure" Anxious laden blue eyes peer at her attentively.

"I feel fine now." she assures, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand even though there was nothing technically to wipe away. "If I start throwing up you can call as many doctors as you like. Deal?"

He sighs then adds begrudgingly, "Deal"

When they make it back to the dining room she notices right away Kai is visibly absent, she also notices his plate has barely been touched which unsettles her.

"What happened to him?" She directs her question to Luke knowing he knows exactly who she's referring to.

"He threw a hissy fit and left. Typical Malachai" he mutters, expression telling her this was something that happened a lot.

"About what?" she prompts, wondering what could have ticked him off today.

"Huh?" he says distractedly, glancing back at her, blue eyes blinking at her with sudden confusion.

"What did he throw a fit about?" Bonnie's careful to not sound annoyed.

It takes him a moment to respond as if he was thinking through what he was going to tell her. "Uh..just family stuff" he finally answers. But it rings false. And for the first time ever she's not sure she believes him.

"He didn't get sick did he?" She doesn't think this is the case but she wants this clarified. Because it was one thing that she got sick but if he got sick as well, it was definitely the food. Which meant they would all be sick soon.

"No, like I said he's just in one of his moods" This time his words were more believable, so she leaves it.

"Bonnie, are you feeling alright, darling?" This comes from Tabitha at the head of the table.

Bonnie looks up into the woman's worried eyes and answers, "Other than my stomach not agreeing with the duck, yes"

The blonde's face grows even more tense, a frown appearing at her mouth, worry lines by her eyes as much that can be with all the botox she's had done. "I am so sorry dear, I had no idea your body would respond that way." Neither did she. "Just know," she continues on in that rich southern drawl of hers. "-we're having the chef prepare you something else"

Exactly what she didn't want. She wondered if Luke said something but it was after all the hospitable thing to do, so she just replies with a humble, "Thank you"

It doesn't take long for them to bring out her food. Once she's uncovered her plate, she looks down at it confused, "Is this-"

But Tabitha doesn't let her finish, "It's chicken"

"Chicken.." She parrots, blinking numbly.

Fried chicken..

"Yes." the older woman says slowly, the way one did when they were confused about something. "Would you prefer something else, dear?"

And for the second time this morning, she found her lips pulling up into a strained smile. "Um no. Chicken's fine"

The fried chicken is just fine.


But it isn't and Luke notices.

"Are you okay?" he asks her as they lay in his bed. He'd been real careful with her since the duck scare, doting on her, checking her comfort level every five seconds. Reaffirming why he's the best boyfriend ever. "Do you feel sick again?"

She shakes her head numbly. But that's a lie, she is sick, just not in the way he thinks.

"What's wrong?" he wants to know because he's not stupid, in the six months that he's known her, he's learned her moods, it's how he knows something's bothering her now.

"Your mom" she finally says on a sigh. "She had the chef prepare me fried chicken," she's studying him now, wondering if he gets it, what she's hinting at.

He's watching her just as warily. "Yeah. so.."

"I'm black" she tells him, maybe a little too aggressively because he flinches.

"I know" he replies, eyes slitting at her, a hint of defensiveness in his tone. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"It's a stereotype about black people," she explains to him, finally sitting up on the bed because this wasn't a conversation that could be had lying down. "That we love fried chicken. Or grape soda. Or watermelon.." she gestures her hands in a way that says, 'Do you get where I'm going with this?'

He finally gets it, sitting up as well, back ironing out in a way that lets her know he's on defense mode, the words are drawn out with deliberate slowness, "Are you saying my mother is a racist?" His expression is just this side of upset. "First my brother and now my mother.." he comments, voice laced with bitterness.

"No." she's immediately saying then sighing. "I'm saying sometimes people unconsciously stereotype certain ethic groups"

He nods but it's in a curt manner. "So my mom is an unconscious racist.." is what he gathers from her words.

She opens her mouth to respond but he cuts her off. "You know what? Now that I think about it." he voices, expression clearing. "My mom never told the chef to prepare you fried chicken, she said would you please prepare Bonnie something else. So if anything, you should be upset with the chef, who's black by the way."

Bonnie's jaw nearly hits the floor or bed rather.

"Yeah," he says at her cracked expression.

And then he's getting up from off the bed like he's getting ready to leave, even though this was his room.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know." she hears herself saying. How did one even begin to apologize for mistakenly accusing your boyfriend's mom of being a racist?

"Obviously" he clips out. And by now, she's up too, stopping him before he could get far, grabbing hold of his wrist.

"Look" she tries to explain, suddenly feeling nervous. She hated talking race, it made her super uncomfortable. "It's just I'm from the south. I'm used to people and their judgements and preconceived notions about me as a black woman. And because of that I'm always on high alert, always expecting some bullshit to go down. So today when I was served fried chicken it just triggered me and I assumed the worst. I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions"

He's shaking his head, like suddenly he feels like shit. That hadn't been her intention. Of everyone here Luke shouldn't feel guilty. "No, I can never understand what you must go through on the daily as a black woman. I hate that there are people like that out in the world that make you feel inhuman. I should have never gotten so defensive. I should have been more understanding of your feelings and really listened to you and for that I'm sorry"

"It's okay" she says, trying to smile and finding it hard to.

There's a long silence that encompasses the room and when she couldn't take it anymore, she says, breaking the awkwardness. "Please don't tell your mom I called her a racist"

And with that he howls with laughter.


She's sitting on top of the pool table in the billiard room when she asks her sweet lovely boyfriend, after getting done annihilating him in a game of pool, "You wanna go for a swim?" she pulls on his shirt, drawing him closer between her legs. "No wait, we can get in the hot tub" she sings enticingly, waggling her brows.

She doesn't know why she's being so flirtatious, they both know the only thing they'll end up doing is kissing.

"Not tonight, babe. I'm beat. Tomorrow?" he offers instead, pushing her thighs further apart as he edges in closer.

She cocks her head to the side, giving him a 'Really?' look, "Are you truly turning a hot tub plus your girlfriend in a really tiny bikini down? Is that what's happening right now?"

He reconsiders his previous answer, a blonde brow winging on his forehead, "How tiny?"

"I'll practically be naked" she purrs seductively, mimicking her friend Caroline. Well, ex-friend. They didn't speak anymore. After she'd lost Grams she'd stopped being a good friend. Not returning calls or texts. Catching attitudes for no reason. And because of that, Caroline kind of just stopped calling her, which hurt because she felt there should have been a little grace given, being Bonnie had taken a lot of shit from the other woman when she'd lost her mom to cancer.

"Oh?" he muses and she kisses him on the lips

"Uh huh," she confirms, smiling and going in for another one.

"Well, then how can I say no to that?"


"Speak of the devil and he shall appear" Joey's booming voice is saying after laying eyes on Luke and Bonnie as they make their way to the outside pool area, which is currently populated with every member of the Parker family but Tabitha and Kai.

Luke starts to smirk like the true popular golden boy would, "So you guys were talking about me, huh?"

"Only that we were going to text you guys to come down to join us" Liv is the one to answer. She has her wild curly blonde hair piled on the top of her head in a messy bun and Bonnie can't help but think she looks prettier this way. "Glad you two decided to unearth yourselves from your room, you guys have been locked in there all evening." she gives them a knowing smirk.

Bonnie's first instinct is to snort but being she doesn't want her secret confirmed and made a talking point, she doesn't. Because clearly, judging by Liv's comment not every member of the Parker family knows about her virginity status.

"Well, you know quality time and all that." Luke responds to his twin, smirking, coming up along the edge of the pool where Liv is leaning up against, her blue eyes flicking up at her favorite brother, matching his grin. "You would know if you ever got a boyfriend" he teases his twin.

Her jaw drops and she proceeds to splash water at him but he avoids from being splattered by jumping back just in time, which was pointless considering they were going to get in the water anyway, "I don't need a man okay," his twin quips, cutting her blue eyes at him, the ones that were basically his own. "This is what they make vibrators for"

She then looks to Bonnie for agreement on the sentiment but the hazel-eyed woman has nothing for her. She's never even been horny to want to do that.

Joey, who was previously silent throughout the entire exchange, levels the wild child blonde with a stare, making his tone uber serious but Bonnie can tell he's hardly in a reprimanding mood, "See Liv we talked about this already, no masterbation talk in front of-"

"Family, right.." she finishes, nodding obediently.

"Or company for that matter" Luke pipes in, tossing a cheeky grin at Bonnie. She smirks back.

He reaches for her hand and she takes it, for balance more than for cutesy couple purposes, squeezing lightly as he leads her down the steps of the pool.

The waters heated. She'd known of course because of the steam rising from it. But the fact that it's nearly hot tub levels shocks her a bit.

"She knows this, she just wants to make us uncomfortable" this comes from Mikey, his dirty blonde hair which he normally wore wild and shaggy was slicked back revealing a jagged pink scar on his forehead. And now she knew why he always wore it in his face all the time.

"No, really making you uncomfortable" Liv begins, eyeing her brother. "-would be giving you masterbation tips, because I could go there"

Bonnie finds herself laughing.

"If only we had the same parts" Mikey remarks, his voice a touch sad.

"Not necessary." Liv is saying, using her arms to keep herself afloat, "You just need a vibrator, which you have..you know the one I found in your sock drawer.."

"I told you already that was my girlfriends" Mikey whips back at her.

Jo proceeds to make a disgusted face. Liv's all skeptic looks.

"Really? So why do I hear buzzing coming from your room every night?"

He comes for her, chasing her through the water like a madman. "Do you wanna die you little liar?" he threatens his baby sister as she dodges him expertly, shrilling with laughter.

"You guys are a hoot" Bonnie laughs at their antics, suddenly wishing for siblings again.

"Hoot? Now that is a word you don't hear a lot" the familiar voice has all of their heads swiveling. Kai. In a pair of Ralph Lauren swim trunks that looked more fit for the fashion runway than swimming, it was clear he put a lot of thought into what he wore, always the best dressed of the clan. And that said a lot because Luke could dress his ass off. His eyes lock on her as he makes his way towards them, the back door just now shutting behind him. "Seriously, I thought that phrase went out with the polio crisis"

Everyone is utterly silent. She can't tell if it's from him suddenly appearing after having gone ghost all day or because they genuinely don't like him.

"Don't look too happy to see me guys" he comments, noticing their displeased faces, beginning to make his way down the steps of the pool. "It's cool, I'll try not to let it hurt my feelings that you guys decided to have family bonding time without me" he intones with a faux pout. She hates how attractive it is.

"We were going to text you" Olivia is the first to speak, "but then we remembered we don't like you so then we were like, yeah no, we're good."

Kai mouth parts open, he's going for appalled but it's false. "Do you see how they treat me?" He directs this to Bonnie, passing her and Luke up as he ventures into the deeper depths of the water. She watches as his plump bottom lip pushes out, sulkily. "The injustice.." he finishes.

"I'm sure they have their reasons for hating you" she comments, offering him a curt smile.

"Who said anything about hate?" he asks, stopping at the five feet mark. "See now you're just trying to make me feel bad"

Bonnie rolls her eyes and he catches it, "Ohhh" he draws out as if just realizing something. "I guess I don't need to ask whose team your on"

"I'm not on a team." she informs him evenly. "Well, maybe Luke's. But only because he's hot" she voices, snaking her arms around her boyfriend's neck and kissing his cheek.

Her boyfriend tsks at her, pretending to be insulted. "See, I knew you were only with me for my looks"

"It's okay," she says, now pecking him on the mouth. "You're only with me for my acerbic wit"

"Well, aren't you guys the cutest?" Kai's saying in a sickening sweet voice, gathering her attention again. She snaps her head in his direction, eyes thinning to slits. "Aren't they adorable?" he says to them all, grinning obnoxiously. "And to think I thought you two were ill fitted. Look at the universe proving me wrong yet again"

"Well, thank you Malachai. It means everything to have your approval" is Luke's sarcastic response to this.

"You're very welcome" Kai says, ignoring the sarcasm. "But seriously though, she's so much better than the last one you brought around. What was their name again? Drew, was it?" he tries to recall, screwing up his face in a look of perplexity.

She, as well. "Drew?" she echoes, turning to Luke. "Isn't that-"

"It's a unisex name" Luke corrects her before she can assume anything.

"Right" she comments, suddenly feeling stupid. Of course it is.

"Yeah, that Drew. Sooo annoying" Kai is saying, eyes stretching wide as he focuses intently on her boyfriend. "Seriously brother, you deserve a medal for putting up with that one because jeesh.. How did you do it? That's a real question by the way. Did you not find them completely revolting because I find that really hard to believe. And their voice" a harsh rush of air pushes past his lips, "Talk about grating. I seriously wanted to take a pencil, stab it through my eardrum, pull it out, jam it into the other side just so I would no longer have to listen to them speak ever again. And they wouldn't shut up, it just went on and on and on and on and on " He drones, bopping his head accordingly. "-and I just kept thinking to myself is this real life right now or am I in actual hell? Because no one could truly be this annoying right? Wrong." he answers himself almost immediately. "Just. so. wrong" the words are dropped out separately, slowly, his eyes stretching maniacally. And then on a more sober note, expression having laxed on the dramatics, "But aren't you just glad you got rid of them? I mean, imagine spending the rest of your life with someone so annoying"

Bonnie turns to Luke at that moment and says, "Guess what I learned today, babe?"

She watches his blonde brow go up, a hint of suppressed amusement reflecting on his features, "What?"

"That apparently Drew is annoying"

"See, she's funny too." the darker haired brother points out, wagging a long ringed finger at her then he's flashing that attractive pout again. "Why couldn't I have met her first?"

He wasn't serious, obviously. He's made too many comments about her lack of social status, voiced too many times for it to not have ingrained itself into her head how not his type she was. But she plays along anyway, just to embarrass him the way he's done her in the past.

"Yeah because me knowing your brother first is why I would never date you"

"Buuuurn'' Rafe howls with laughter. "She is so on a roll tonight. Did I mention I love your new girlfriend, Luke? Don't ever date anyone else, seriously I'll kill you dude"

"Noted" Lukes replies, lips tipping up at the corners, clearly amused. "And you're right, she's the best" he looks to Bonnie and smiles, the kind that revealed teeth, adoration shown in his sparkling blue eyes.

"Aww" comes from Kai. "You guys really have to stop being so gosh darn adorable, you're going to make me vomit, I mean, tear up over here." he pretends to wipe a tear from the corner of his eye. "Just precious"

"Don't listen to him. He's just bitter" Jo cuts in, sidling up next to Bonnie, grabbing onto her arm, her pale blue eyes flashing at her asshole brother. "He lost the only girl he's ever loved. He's never gotten over it" but the way she says it is almost taunting like, and Bonnie can't understand how she could be so brutal about him losing someone he cared about. It seemed unnecessarily cruel.

"Oh," Bonnie comments, not believing she's actually feeling sorry for him. He was the grinch, she shouldn't feel sorry for the grinch. But she does. "I'm sorry to hear that"

Kai looks so shocked by her response that he's rendered speechless.

Luke reclaims his girlfriend from Jo, pulling Bonnie into his chest, wrapping his arms around her torso, his chest pressing into her back as he rests his chin onto her shoulder. "Don't feel sorry for him, his hand is all the company he needs" comes another flippant joke, he's snuggling into her neck now but instead of melting into it she kind of just wants to push him away.

What the fuck was wrong with her? In what world should she be irritated at her boyfriend and feel pity for Malachai?

In a world where you have freaking compassion. Even if for your enemy.

"Guys I thought we covered this already" Joey goes, ripping her out of her thoughts.

"Right, no masterbation jokes." Luke says suddenly, remembering. "Sorry"

Liv speaks up, flailing her pale hands up wildly in attempts to gain their attention. "So do you guys want to have some real fun with drinking games or are we going to rag on Kai all night because we could do that too"

"I vote for option one" Kai voices, raising his hand slightly.

Liv gives a nod. "Drinking games it is"

After two hours of Bonnie feeling like she's at a college frat party, they abandon the alcohol and just chill out in the water, Kai, alone in his little corner, watching them, probably thinking how he wants to drown them all. He hadn't drank much liquor or participated really in any of the buffoonery. She wondered if he was stewing over Jo's dig. She'd seen him take a few shots but that was pretty much it.

Joey and Mikey were chatting it up with Luke a few feet from Kai. Rafe had headed inside thirty minutes ago, probably remembering how he has to wake up at six.. Jo and Liv were taking turns asking Bonnie personal questions, some a little too personal which actually was kind of sweet when she thought about it because it meant they truly wanted to get to know her. Which meant they thought she'd be around for long.

Liv finally stops prying into her family life to say, "Your hair is so pretty" she holds her hand up like she's going to touch her locs but suddenly stops short. "Do you mind?" she asks, her tone sobering a bit, blue eyes questioning.

"A white girl actually asking for permission before touching my hair, what planet am I on again?" Bonnie says and Liv bursts into laughter, "You're so funny." she slurs then hiccups. "And pretty! Isn't she pretty guys?" the blonde throws out, the volume on her voice rising so her siblings can hear. Bonnie's pretty sure the neighbors ten miles down could hear.

"Soo unbelievably pretty" Jo agrees, words coming out just as delayed as her sister.

"Yeah, you're hot as fuck" Mikey adds on to the sentiment, wolfishly staring directly at her. He winks at her and Lucas slugs him and from then on they're play wrestling.

"Wow, you guys are totally drunk" she notes, laughing at their silly antics.

"Because we think you're pretty?" Liv questions, ignoring her brothers who're nearly drowning each other ten feet away.

"No because you're drunk.." she snorts out a laugh.

"But it's true though, you are pretty. Isn't she pretty, Kai?"

Liv eyes fly to Kai who's sulking by the steps. He doesn't bother to look up at his sister when answering, "I don't know. I hadn't noticed" he says to the water.

"He's lying, he thinks you're hot" Liv tells her, grinning.

Yeah, he kind of made it a point to let her know he didn't find her attractive, how many times was it now? But she doesn't say this, instead she offers up a dry, "I couldn't careless"

"My brother's so lucky" Liv's speaking again and Bonnie's brows furrow, confused.

"Who Kai?"

"No, silly. Luke" she smiles, leaning in closer and bopping Bonnie on the tip of her nose with her finger, eyes going from playful to something else.

"Are you like hitting on me right now?" Bonnie squints at the other girl.

"No." she answers and then amends, suddenly looking unsure. "Maybe"

"You're definitely drunk. I think you need to lie down. You need me to walk you up?" she offers helpfully, ready to escort the tipsy woman if need be.

"Don't worry, I got it" Joey tells her, grabbing his sister's sloshed body and leading her away.

"Except, you can barely walk yourself" Bonnie notes at the unsteady way he moves about.

"I'm good. See?" he muses, picking Liv up until she's cradled in his arms, then lifting her into the air without much effort.

His sister screams, "Put me down, you idiot!" She's shouting like a banshee now. Clearly not too drunk to do that.

"Please." Bonnie pleads, for the sake of her eardrums. And then her eyes are fixed on Hercules here, "Also I'm not sure what that proves other than you being a really strong drunk person"

"You guys are no fun" he comments but puts his sister down nonetheless and they both make their way out of the pool and hopefully to their rooms.

And as if on cue, everyone else seems to get the same idea, filing out of the water and heading inside like a bunch of old biddies. When there's only three of them left, Bonnie, Luke and Kai, she swims over to her boyfriend, ignoring the feeling of cold dark eyes following her. "Swim a few laps with me?" she asks when she's finally made it to him.

He pushes one of her fallen locs out of her face tucking it behind her ear and answers, "Nah, I think I'm going to head inside. We have to get up early, remember?"

Ever the boy scout, this one.

"Please, baby" she pouts prettily at him. "We can race and if you win you'll get a whole kiss," she intones enticingly, giving her best kissy face. "What do you say?"

"I'm wiped, Bonnie." he tells her but she urges anyway, not giving up, "Come on. Just a few laps" she tries pulling on his arm to drag him further into the water but he reclaims it back.

"I said I'm wiped" he says, annoyed and for a moment she's struck silent. He hadn't yelled at her but she didn't like how curt the words were either. He almost always spoke to her in soft, dulcet tones. So hearing him get irritated with her, that was different.

When she's finally found her voice, she says, "Okay," then holding up her hands in a placating gesture, she adds, "Sorry"

His face crumples and he looks genuinely regretful. "No, I'm sorry" he's telling her, tone incredibly soft, "It's just I'm tired."

"Yeah, okay" she nods, taking in his face. He's right, he looks exhausted. "See you in the morning" she paints on a smile. Her lips straining at the edges.

He peers at her for like a whole minute she feels, then prompts, "Kiss?" he's asking for permission instead of just kissing her like he usually does.

She offers her cheek to him. He doesn't comment on the fact she hadn't let him have her mouth, just kisses it and heads inside.

"Chilly" Kai comments from the far corner of the pool, the shadows hiding his features, she knows he's not referring to the autumn night, he's referring to her refusing to kiss her boyfriend on the lips.

"Shut up" she snaps at him, not here for his taunting commentary right now.

"I wasn't referring to you" he says evenly, dark eyes holding her own.

That gets her to shut up.

But then she's needing him to expound, "Oh?" she whips a brow up, wonderingly.

He pulls himself from out of his corner, starting to make his way over to her. She's a little past the four feet mark almost situated directly in the middle of the pool. Honestly, she should head inside as well because there was nothing she and Kai needed to discuss like ever. She doesn't know why she's even entertaining him, "He's like that sometimes. Very easily annoyed"

She gives him a sidelong glance. "Are you calling me annoying? Am I the new Drew?" she asks with muted horror.

"Unless you chew with your mouth open and openly belch in public you are not the new Drew. There will never be another annoying Drew. Trust me, it's not possible"

"You should call her disgusting Drew not annoying Drew by the way" she offers helpfully.

"I'll take that into consideration," he replies with a thoughtful look and then his expression is turning into something this shy or mischievous. "Hey, you wanna race?" he offers, settling before her so that they're face to face. Or chest to face because whew...it was just there, right in front of her in all its broad gloriousness.

It makes her uncomfortable to have him this close, especially when her eyes want to flick down and admire his nipples, so she does what she's supposed to do in situations like this, she backs the hell up. And then she gets back to the suggestion he'd thrown out about racing before distracting her with his proximity, "What?" she asks because she couldn't have heard him right.

"Race?" he repeats, inching in again, completely ignoring her obvious need for space. His taut, tan skin so near. "You know the same thing you just asked your boyfriend to do"

Oh, he thought he and Luke were on equal footing? Funny. Her boyfriend may have dropped a few notches on the perfect boyfriend scale by displaying annoyance towards her for once in his life but no baby, they were not of equal rank. Not even close.

"I don't think we should" and she hates right away that she'd said 'I don't think we should' instead of just flat out no, because it implies something, her words, that they were headed for Inappropriate avenue. And they weren't, despite him standing too close he'd hadn't said or done anything that could be considered eyebrow lifting. So why had the words come out that way?

He's wanting to know too. "It's just racing. I didn't offer to eat your pussy, Bonnie"

Her mouth plops open. Because what?

A smile stretches over his amused face. "See," he says, grinning blithely at her. "I can be funny too"

"Funny?" she tilts her chin down, frowning at him. "That was disgusting" she whips at him, appalled.

"So eating your pussy is disgusting?" he blinks at her, waiting.

"Yes." but then she's shaking her head immediately amending her words. "I mean, no. Not the act. You saying it..is disgusting" she says sounding flustered.

Why did she have a problem with that word anyway? She could never seem to say it or think it. It was just so crude to her. She had a feeling he knew this and was only saying it to make her uncomfortable.

He's laughing at her now. Full on Santa Claus.

She's glad he found her floundering so very amusing.

She frowns, gritting out through clenched teeth, "I hate you" but her scowl isn't scowling the way it should be and he laughs some more.

"You are such a virgin," And now he's smirking at her. But it's not in its usual taunting way, with the intent on being wickedly cruel, to hurt her. No, he's smirking at her like he actually finds joy in the act. But no ill intent or not she wasn't okay with her virginity status being brought up again, especially by him. So she throws him a glare, one that could rival his own withering stares. He doesn't look put off by the look she's searing at him, actually his smirk grows, stretching wider on his handsome face, revealing a dimple on the right side of his face. A single dimple. And yeah, fun fact about Bonnie, dimples were her thing. "No, It's cute though" he assures, trying to quell the indignation churning inside her, but really, she wasn't as pissed as she'd like to be because at least he hadn't called her a pathetic little virgin this time..

But seriously, how the fuck did they go from hating eachother guts to him joking about eating her out and now he wants to tease her about her virginity status in a way that only friends could? And then to comment about how cute it was. Was he on something? Possibly tripping on acid? Because this was so not the Malachai she met four days ago. The one that told her point blank he didn't like her.

She doesn't comment and she can feel her face flame, that line hitting her again, You're such a virgin. She's hoping it's too dark out to tell, but of course he notices, "Is that a blush?" he voices, pulling her back into the conversation, his tone inquisitive. He's leaning in to get a better look but she swims away, avoiding his gaze. Of course he's following her, refusing to allow her to ignore him.

Prick.

Before she can comment about how inappropriate he's being, his mouth is yapping again, "Why are you one anyway?"

She just knows he's not asking her why she was a virgin.

"You're not allowed to ask me that" she says, swimming to the end of the pool then hefting herself up to sit there on the edge, legs dangling in the water.

He comes to join her. Of course he does. Parking his toned body right beside her, hands gripping at the gunite, inclining his head slightly forward to peer at her. And from this angle she could really study his features. His hair, that looked inky black from being wet. His thick but groomed brows. His lashes that were not only unbelievably long but full as well to which she decides she was jealous of. Women had to pay a fortune for lashes like this and he just had them naturally. Yeah, definitely jealous. And then there was his nose which was straight, perfectly so, she wouldn't be surprised if it was the result of plastic surgery. And then there was his mouth and she finally found the flaw, his top lip was thinner than the bottom. Not in a way where it was jarring but enough so to take note of. His girlfriends probably didn't care about uneven lips when he had a jawline like that though. Not that she cared for his face or jawline for the matter. It was more so her having an affinity for strong jawlines in general. Hell, Jo's jawline was just as impressive. So yeah, definitely nothing to do with him, besides his personality sucked which trumped everything else. And now looking at him more closely, she determined he looked nothing like his siblings. Almost every single one of them were fair haired and blue-eyed. Everyone but he and Jo–well, Jo had blue eyes just not the fair hair. And even with their hair color in common they still looked nothing alike. Bonnie suddenly wondered if he looked like his father. She'd guessed she'd find out soon, if he ever showed that is.

"Why?" He finally says pulling her out of her thoughts. And he seems to genuinely want to know why he couldn't ask her why she was a virgin. She wanted to say, Um, boundaries you asswipe..

But instead settles for, "Because you're not my boyfriend" Or my friend or frankly anything to me. And not just that, it was rude as fuck. But what does she honestly expect from a man who asked her if she wanted them to heat up a T.V. dinner for her because apparently her palate wasn't refined enough for his taste.

"So I have to be your boyfriend to ask why you're scared of dick?"

He smirks at her all innocent-like and she could seriously punch his smug little mug.

"See, now you're just trying to piss me off now" she refuses to fall for the bait. He was trying a less direct approach at raising her blood pressure it seems.

"I've been trying to piss you off" he admits, and the words, there's no hint of playfulness in them. He was serious.

And that was a puzzle in itself because exactly why was he trying to piss her off to begin with?

"Don't I know it" is all she offers him.

"Why though?" she was about to ask, why what? When she remembers his curiosity about her being a virgin. Frankly, she couldn't understand why the topic intrigued him so much. "Is it for religious reasons?" he goes on, oblivious to her inner musings.

"No"

"Well.." he waits for her to elaborate.

She sighs when his curious gaze never lifts. "I've never wanted to" she finally admits.

"Are you serious?" He's watching her very closely now. "You've never gotten the urge? Like ever?" She can tell by his expression that he finds this very hard to believe.

She shakes her head, too ashamed to admit it verbally.

"And you're not.." but he doesn't finish..

And because she knows what he's thinking, she lets out, "I'm not a lesbian. Women are beautiful but I don't want to sleep with them, you know?"

"So you're not gay, neither are you bi but you're also not straight" he ventures looking completely mystified like this is a mystery he was dead set on cracking.

"I'm not a sexual being. It is what it is" and that's the most honest she's probably been with anyone ever.

Luke doesn't even know about her lack of sexual desire.

"That's interesting," he notes thoughtfully, eyes flicking away briefly as if he's pondering over something.

"What is.."

And then his pupils are back on her, far less contemplative than they had been a moment ago. He gestures at her lazily as if to say, 'You'. "I don't think I've met anyone who's never had a desire to have sex. I've known virgins. But they've always wanted it in a eventually after I get married or after I find the one sort of way, you know? You on the other hand couldn't careless about sex. It fascinates me."

"Don't do that." she says, a frown starting to trace her mouth. "I'm not some special unicorn or science experiment for you to cream over. It's called asexuality, look it up" she finishes rudely, ready to stalk off out of the pool area right now.

He throws up his hands in surrender, "Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you." Oh, please. He lived to offend her. "Seriously. I just never met anyone-"

"Like me.. yeah, you've said that already" she clips out, more than annoyed at this point.

There's a long awkward silence that succeeds, evasive on her end, his, she can tell it's because he doesn't know what to say to make it less awkward, Bonnie's about to mutter out an excuse about needing to get to bed when he throws out again, "Wanna race?"

She's surprised when she doesn't say no.


"You're a good swimmer" he tells her when he's done beating her. Seriously, it wasn't even close.

"I'd agree but you nearly lapped me."

He chuckles, a low throaty sound that surprisingly isn't revolting. "I'm exceptional. You can't compare yourself to me"

And the way he said it, so straight faced, has Bonnie laughing. "Your ego is out of this world. Like seriously on another stratosphere"

"Well, if my parents taught me anything, it's to believe in myself" he tells her, his face filled with pure smugness. She just shakes her head laughing then swims over to the far end, where the water's the deepest. And because she isn't seven feet tall nor has the energy to put into floating right now, she braces both arms over the edge of the pool so she doesn't sink.

He follows her of course, parks himself right beside her, copying her movements by leaning on the edge. Instead of staring straight ahead of him, like she was, his eyes are on her, watching her profile. Practically memorizing it. Normally this kind of thing would make her uncomfortable, someone staring so blatantly at her but she doesn't mind. She doesn't want to unpack on the why.

"I was on the swim team in high school" she volunteers this information, not sure why she feels compelled to give him a little nugget of her personal life. Frankly, he doesn't deserve it.

Because seriously, he'd talk to her like shit just the other day. Accused her of being sick, a masochist. Made sure she'd known she wasn't worth a glance from him, but now he was trying to be friendly? And did he need to be so close while doing it?

"I actually got a scholarship to swim for Whitmore but I had to give it up"

He doesn't ask why and she doesn't volunteer the information either. Finally turning towards him, she's nearly caught off guard by the intensity etched on his face. Did this have to do with what she said a moment ago about giving up her scholarship? Could he not fathom how anybody could do such a thing or was this about something else? But she couldn't understand what else could cause such a look. It was like a million emotions were going on inside him, flashing in snippets across his face. Which again, very confusing. Because he didn't have complicated emotions about her. Deciding she needed to get down to the bottom of it, she prods, "Can I ask you something?" And now he's the one looking wary. Like he doesn't know what kind of personal shit she's going to try to unearth.

The shutters come down then. "You can ask, doesn't mean I'll answer"

But he can ask a million questions about her sexuality? Yeah, no, that wasn't fair..

"What were you thinking about just now? I couldn't tell"

This gets his face to lighten up again. He laughs softly, a melodic sound that she's sure will be ingrained into her brain. "That's a good thing. It means you're normal."

"Stop being smart, I'm serious" but the words have a plaintiveness to them, nearly making her cringe.

But he doesn't comment on her thirst for answers, he seems more fixated on her face, peering at her with heavy lidded eyes, way too intense for her liking, "You know your eyes look really green right now" he says into the quiet night, his gaze not letting up on her face.

"Thanks" she extends slowly, holding his stare. Usually compliments made her shy but she had a feeling his just now served for a different purpose other than bringing awareness to how vivid her eyes were. "But you didn't answer my question." she points out.

He knows this, he was going for deflection which means whatever he was thinking earlier, that prompted her question, must've been something good. Something really good for him to want to hide it.

"Tell me" she continues to push it.

A bone moved in his jawline. "No" And she knows by the way he says it, it's finite.

"Fine." she concedes begrudgingly, "Answer me this then. Why are you considered the black sheep of the family?" she asks, repeating the words Jo had used to describe her twin that first day.

"Wait, are you telling me I'm not the golden child?" he responds with faux innocence, his expression opening a bit, revealing slivers of playfulness. But again, it's an obvious game, he's using humor as a way to deflect.

"I'm serious." she intones, not letting up on her stare. "Why does your family despise you so much?"

Because the fact was they almost never talked about him or purposely avoided talking about him and when he did come up in conversation it was never in a positive light.

So yeah, something was niggling at her about this, telling her something had happened, something major to cause such a dislike for the elder sibling. Because it had to go beyond his snarky comments and menacing looks right? They were scary but that couldn't be the actual reason. There had to be a legitimate one. Like he murdered their puppy when they kids. Or he pushed their grandma down the steps. Because this person now, the one that could be kind of funny. Who could joke at his own expense. He wasn't so bad. He was almost likable.

"Are you really asking me that?" And his tone is no longer playful. His eyes have lost all its light and mirth. "I'm a terrible person." he reminds her, nearly spitting the words out. "I prove it to you everytime I open my mouth. I treat you like shit and yet you're still here." he says blinking rapidly at her. "Why won't you leave?"

She nearly rears back at the blow of his words. Not believing how fast he'd gone from kinda sorta pleasant to full on asshole like that. Was he bipolar or some shit?

When she's found her voice, she utters the words out fast and snide, "You're right. I don't even know why I asked."

And then she pulls herself out of the water and leaves.


So, she either had nightmares here or she couldn't sleep. Tonight was the latter. Another restless night. Her mind was going a million miles a minute with all kinds of thoughts about Kai. About how creepy this house was, with its gross depictions of violence and gore plastered all over the walls. How sometimes the temperature in the room would drop to zero and how it would suddenly feel like she was no longer alone. About Luke and how she doesn't want to fuck him. How she doesn't want to fuck anyone ever and it just makes her sad, so yeah..she hadn't slept.


She loads up on caffeine at breakfast the next morning, practically skipping eating actual food, she had a few bites of French toast but that was it. She couldn't help but notice Kai hadn't shown his rat face today. Was he embarrassed about his piggish actions last night? Of course not. Entitled rich boys like Kai didn't feel bad about insulting girls like Bonnie. God, why the fuck was she even thinking about him?

"Are you okay? You didn't eat anything" Luke points out after breakfast has concluded. He's walking her to her room like she needs a freaking escort. She hates that she thinks like this. How many girls would kill to have a boyfriend so considerate? Instead, she's resenting him for it. Wake the fuck up, Bonnie! You could be freaking dating a scumbag like his douchebag brother.

"I wasn't hungry" she lets out listlessly, feeling a yawn coming along.

His eyes narrow a bit on her, taking in her tired face. "You were kind of zoned out though. Is everything okay?"

No, everything is not okay. I'm stuck in a creepy house with your brother who insults me every chance he gets but also because I'm a freak who has absolutely zero libido and I hate you for apparently being too fucking nice she thinks but doesn't say that, instead she intones, "I'm fine"

He doesn't believe her, she can tell but he doesn't push the subject because again, too fucking nice!

Bonnie grits her teeth and stops him mid stride, "Hey, you don't have to walk me to my room. I'm just going to grab my purse. I'll meet you in the foyer"

"Oh, okay" he looks taken aback but agrees nonetheless, "Yeah, I'll see you in a bit." he kisses her cheek and this brings flashbacks to last night. Did he think since she refused him last night that she no longer wanted him to kiss her on the mouth from now on? She feels like she should clear this up. Not that she wants them or anything, she'd be fine never kissing ever again but it kind of saddened her that he might think this. She opens her mouth to say something but it never comes. Instead, she just offers him a smile and heads up to her room.

Bonnie's surprised to see equestrian gear on her bed when she steps past the threshold. From helmets down to riding boots. Not just one pair, several, so she had options. All the right sizes, even down to her size six inch feet.

Luke.

This was why he probably wanted to walk her up, so that he could see her reaction when she discovered her gifts.

Now she feels like shit for how she treated him just now. She'll make it up to him, she promises herself. She'll be the best gotdamn girlfriend to have ever girlfriend.

"Damn" Luke says the moment he sees her outfitted in her new riding gear after she's joined him in the grand foyer. She'd chosen the more casual pieces, a navy and white polo, tan breeches, and mahogany brown riding boots. His gleaming blue eyes are taking her in with extreme appreciation.

She does a little model walk from him, the helmet swinging in her hand, grinning from ear to ear.

He laughs at her performance and when she's in his orbit, he pulls her into his arms kissing her on the forehead. "Seriously, you look so hot" he says, tone low and honeyed. Pulling away, he gives her another heated look.

"Well, thank you sir" she tells him kindly, then leans in, giving him a proper kiss on the lips, "Seriously, thanks for the gear"

Immediately, he's pulling away, shaking his head, "Wait, what?" He looks genuinely confused.

She glances down at her riding gear and then back up at him, blinking in slow motion, "You didn't get these for me?"

"No" and the vowel is extended out with extreme slowness.

"Okay, so who did then?" she says just as slowly.

He seems to ponder this over, blonde brows knitting together on his tanned forehead, his mouth creasing on the sides, "It was probably my mom" he finally tells her after a few moments of thought.

But Bonnie knows this isn't the case, she'd just ran into Tabitha in the hall just mere minutes ago. The older woman having complimented her boots, asking where she purchased them from. But Bonnie doesn't mention this to Luke, instead she says, "Yeah, must've been"


They don't leave for the ranch until like eight forty-five, waiting for Kai who never shows. No explanation. No text. No nothing. He hadn't even been in his room when they'd went to check on him. He'd gone ghost and gave zero fucks about it. She'd asked him last night why he was considered the black sheep of the family but now she knew with a hundred percent certainty why. He was an asshole. Pure and simple.

"I'd thought maybe he'd be here" Rafe said as they exited the car, after having finally made it to their destination. The hazel-eyed sibling had carpooled with her and Luke. Liv had also joined them, playing her favorite Kpop songs for Bonnie from the backseat. "Maybe he left, headed back to Portland"

Kai lived in Portland? She had assumed since he'd been the one to hire Alfred(Yeah, she figured that out later, recalling Lucas mentioning on that very first day getting here that his eldest brother had been the one in charge of hiring the butler, back then though she hadn't known Kai was the eldest). At the time, she had been amused by Kai purposefully hiring a butler named Alfred; now it didn't seem so funny. She was almost pretty positive he was mocking the older man. It was actually kind of disgusting.

"I hope not, we need him" Liv blurts, adjusting the cowgirl hat that was holding her wild curls into submission on her head.

"For what?" Bonnie asks, because what could they possibly need Kai for?

"Oh, he's just really good with handling the horses, believe it or not" Olivia answers and then she's speaking in sentimental tones. "Besides, it wouldn't feel like a legitimate family day without him, you know? As much as we rag on him, he's still our brother"

Well, this was a turn of events..she'd actually said something nice about Kai, usually it was all insults with them.

Bonnie nods, pretending like she understands. She doesn't have any siblings, she would never be able to relate to any of them in that way ever.


Bonnie falls in love. Not with her boyfriend but with a beautiful Clydesdale named Empress. She'd been enamored with it all day. When she wasn't saddled on it, she was brushing its luxurious mane or feeding it like she is now.

"She's such a beautiful thing, isn't she?" Tabitha admires, coming up from behind, joining them in the horse's stable as Empress nibbles on the carrot in Bonnie's hand.

"Ah, man she's lovely. I wish I could take her home with me" Bonnie gushes then immediately sulks because she realizes just how true her words were, she'd kill for this horse.

Tabitha smiles, advancing further into the stall, the hay strewn about on the ground crunching under her boots as she approaches. She looks so elegant in her navy blue show coat, ivory breeches and black knee length leather riding boots, looking like she's about to compete in the World Equestrian Games. Bonnie watches the older woman as she raises her hand to pet the beautiful mare but seems to think better of it, dropping the limb, her gaze falling to Bonnie, clearing her throat, she says, "She seems to be taken with you as well. Normally she doesn't like to be ridden. But not with you" she watches Bonnie with an inquisitive look on her face like she doesn't seem to quite understand it herself.

"Really?" pipes Bonnie, flattered the horse deemed her worthy enough to ride her.

"Oh, yes. She's quite the prissy thing." Tabitha tsks. "Thinks she's only here for show, it seems"

Bonnie smiles. Empress did seem like quite the diva. But If Bonnie was half as beautiful as the mare was she'd be one too.

Bonnie proceeds to caress Empress's muzzle, her voice coming out soothing in pitch, "Aw, you like me as much as I like you. Huh, pretty girl?"

Empress whinnies, and Bonnie takes it to mean she agrees. She grins, it's wide and happy, stretching from ear to ear, using her free hand to stroke the horse's forelock.

And then she hears Tabitha's voice sound again, its southern lilt bright and wondering, "Do you wanna take her for another ride before we head out?"

As if the other woman even needed to ask.


They get back from the Ranch a little after nine, so they end up having a late dinner. And after only a third of the feast is left over, her boyfriend inquires of her, pulling out her chair so she can stand. "Do you wanna get in the hot tub?"

She doesn't even need to think about it really, because after the active day she's had she really needs to unwind, unknot her sore muscles. Plus, the jacuzzi's been calling for her since she's gotten here. "Sure" she says rising, eyes falling on him as she maneuvers her body so he can push in her chair.

"Okay, I'll meet you down at the pool" he tells her, sliding poplar over Persian fibers and then they both are off to their rooms.

Bonnie changes into her swimsuit and goes down to the outdoor pool area to meet Luke. Except, it isn't her boyfriend who's in the hot tub when she gets down there, it's Kai. Kai who she hadn't seen all day. He hadn't showed up at the ranch nor had he joined them for dinner.

"Oh" she says, freezing in her tracks, not sure if she should leave or get in or what.

"You can have it" he offers, standing up, making the decision for her, barely even glancing at her. Well, how generous of him she thinks mockingly as she watches him climb out of the hot tub. She tries not to stare at his bare chest and abs and the dark strip of hair trailing down…

She clears her throat, which garners his attention. Shit. She hadn't meant to do that. Because now his dark mysterious eyes are making their way over to her. When they've found hers, their gazes lock and hold. For a long moment there, something passes between them, she finds herself not able to breathe, not able to move. It's like his stare had her entranced. It was like she was under a spell.

He finally finally moves past her, cutting the connection after what felt like an eternity of being ensnared in his gaze. His arm grazing hers as he passes, causing a shiver to run down the length of her limb in which she tries her best to ignore.

No longer entranced and finally able to think with a clear mind, she finally unknots the towel from around her and sink into the hot tub, nearly moaning at how good the jets feel against her skin. Though in bliss, it's not far from her mind that her boyfriend's rude brother is still in the vicinity. And because she can't help it, she tracks him with her eyes, watching his every movement as he departs. Except, much to her dismay, he doesn't head back inside like she would prefer he do, because she so didn't need to be noticing how hot his back was. Instead, he dives into the deep end and starts to swim laps.

The way he moves through the water is almost satisfying to watch.

Bonnie doesn't realize she's been staring until a familiar voice is sounding behind her, "He's fast, isn't he?" her boyfriend voices, making her nearly jump out of her skin.

She'd been watching Kai glide through the water with such rapt attention that she hadn't even registered the closing of the door or oncoming footfalls, signaling her boyfriend having joined her. "Yeah" the words are embarrassingly high pitched. And her heart is pounding like a bass drum behind her rib cage. It's a struggle to keep her hand from flying to her chest. "Amazing." She works at lowering her voice. "He could swim competitively"

And wait, was that a compliment?

And with a concentrated brow furrowed, she wonders why he hadn't. He's fast and he clearly enjoys it.

"It's probably the only thing he's good at" Luke comments, joining her in the hot tub, plopping down directly beside her.

Now that would have sounded mean coming from anyone else but him.

"I take that back." he says, quickly amending his statement, eyeing his brother who is doing perfect butterflies in the water, "He can draw and paint really well too"

So he would have killed it in her sip and paint class. Not that she wanted him drawing her naked or anything.

Bonnie eyes him as he continues to watch his brother be one with the water. Grinning spiritedly, she says in a teasing tone, "So everything you're terrible at" she comments, recalling the stick figure he'd drawn that was supposed to be her.

Immediately, he shifts his focus from off his brother, his pale blue eyes flicking to her, irises zapped of all warmth. "Are you comparing me to my brother?" he asks unblinkingly, his tone uncharacteristically serious. The unfamiliar tenseness on his face has her mouth plopping open, wanting to squirm because shit, she totally just compared him to his brother. She's about to sputter out an apology but then his face is shifting into a full on smirk. He's joking. Of course he's joking. She feels silly for thinking otherwise. And he confirms it with his next words, his tone especially playful, "See this is how sibling rivalry gets started" he says, jokes– she knows now, sliding his arms around her waist and pulling her closer beside him in the hot tub.

She snuggles into his side, resting her head on his shoulder. "Oh, I think it's safe to say that's already a thing" she informs him and he laughs, so does she and when the chuckles have tittered away, she attempts at digging, "Did something happen with you two? Why do you hate each other so much?"

She was extremely curious to find out what exactly was it that caused a rift between the two brothers. Especially since Kai hadn't given her any answers last night. In fact, the question had angered him to the point where he lashed out at her again.

"I don't hate him." Luke responds evenly, amusement scrubbed away from his tone. "He hates me"

"Why? Did you steal his girlfriend or something?" she jokes but seriously though, it had to be something major for either of the men to not want to be around eachother. Kai had said he wanted to participate in the family activities but other than last night and joining them for a few meals here and there, he's been keeping his distance.

"Kai and I have completely different tastes, so no" He actually answers like it was a serious question. But that does fall in line with what Kai told her before, that she wasn't his type. But then again, he'd also insinuated she wasn't Luke's type either so..

"That's good to know. If a girl didn't tear you two apart, what did?"

His voice is even, flat when he answers her, "Some siblings just don't like each other, Bonnie" Which also translates to, 'Now will you please shut up about this?'

She takes the hint and changes the subject. They don't talk about Kai for the rest of the evening.


When Bonnie's having trouble falling asleep that night for the second night in a row, she pulls herself out of bed and heads towards the door. She doesn't care about the stupid no cohabitating rules. She was going to sleep with her boyfriend tonight. Not sleep with her boyfriend.

In the literal sense that is.

Dressed in her tank and sleep shorts, she trudges down the hall. Bonnie, in the brightness of day, has a hard time finding her way through this maze of a house, so navigating her way around in the dead of night, nearly impossible. And it wasn't like they believed in leaving lights on in the hallways or anything, so their guest could like find their way around. And it wouldn't be so bad if she had her phone to help guide her but she doesn't, she'd left it on her night stand, so she keeps moving, relying on her shoddy memory to guide her, praying she's headed in the right direction.

After what seems like a century, but is probably only a few minutes at most, she finally reaches Luke's bedroom. She doesn't knock though, not because Tabitha is giving a disapproving head shake in her mind's eye but because she spots a bedroom door at the very end of the hall cracked open, light filtering out into the hallway, drawing her attention. A room that she learned from her boyfriend today belonged to Kai.

She could tell by the way the door is opened that he isn't inside, it's cracked enough to let her know he must have stepped away and would be back briefly. She stills all movement, staring at the door, that golden light, enticing her, calling her to enter.

Because she is curious what his room looks like.

Was it impersonal like Luke's? Or did he have a homey feel to it with personal items strewn about, felt actually lived in because he must have stayed here at least part of the time if he was put in charge of managing the manor.

She could just glance inside just really quickly, peek in and get out. It'll take no more than a second. She needed to hurry though because he's probably already on his way back right now.

Bonnie, as quick as she can, scurries down the hall in her house slippers. He's at the very end and she has to pass a few rooms up in the process. But they won't hear her because they're asleep, like she should be, like Kai should be. But even if they do, it's not like they're going to stick their heads out into the hallway to see who's roaming the halls. Because who cares, right? She only cares because she knows she's doing something wrong.

When Bonnie makes it to the very end of the hall, she hesitates only for a second before darting inside, tossing a quick glance behind her, relieved to see the hallway still desolate.

Immediately, her eyes take in the room, not shocked to see the overall dark color scheme.

Of course his furniture is black, it matches his heart she supposes.

The walls are a dark gray, brick where the headboard of his king size bed is facing, which looks sad and depressing with its drab furnishings. The only upside to this miserable little room is that it's tidy. Remarkably so. She's sure if she ran a finger down the length of any surface in the room, it would come back without a speck of dust. Then there's the fact that everything is neatly arranged and where it's supposed to be. From the sheaves of papers sitting on his desk. To the current reads stacked on his night stand.

Speaking of books, it almost looks like a library in here with the rows and rows of literature that filled his book shelves. Which by the way, he had not one, not two but three of. It was safe to say he was an avid reader. The only time Bonnie read was when it was school related, Kai here looked like he did it for enjoyment. And now she wonders, is that what he's been doing whenever he doesn't show for meals or their daily family activities? If that was the case, couldn't he have stayed home for that?

She knows she should be getting out of here because he definitely has to be on his way back by now, but because she's uber nosey she walks over to his desk, plans to rifle through his drawers because why not? But before she could get to that, she's studying the contents on it. More books. Stacked on top of each other and what looks to be a large leather bound journal? she thinks. She's about to pick it up and crack it open when her eyes snag on a sheave of paper. It's a drawing. She picks it up, eyes widening to astronomical proportions. She lets out an audible intake of breath, she was staring at a drawing of herself, down to the right mixture of green and gold in her eyes to the messy way her goddess locs settled around her face.

Before her mind could even conjure up a reason for why the hell he would have a drawing of her, the sound of a door being closed jerks her out of her thoughts.

Clutching the artwork in her hand, she turns around to find Kai standing in front of the now shut door, a dark look passing over his features. Her heart literally stops beating in her chest. To say he looks pissed would be putting it mildly. He looks livid. With the way frost is now seeping into his pupils, the angry slash of his mouth, the tense way his jaw is set. And in that moment she wonders how she appears to him. A deer caught in headlights, maybe? Because she knows some slither of guilt has to be crossing her features.

Seconds trickle by as they just stare at each other. No words are exchanged, just stormy grays peering into startled greens. Both watching each other in utter silence. She doesn't know how long they stay like that. It could have been thirty seconds or an hour, she has no idea.

She just knows when he starts to move. He's not charging across the room like he's in a hurry to strangle her but is rather taking his time, which is even more unnerving. Did that mean when he murdered her it would be just as slow?

She swallows as she watches him, and he does the same, not for one second lifting his gaze. When he finally reaches her, she wants to back away, cower in the corner, but she doesn't, she holds up her likeness and demands, "What the fuck is this?"

His long lashed gray eyes flick down to the sheave of paper in her hand. He stares at it for a long while. Like it's the first time he's ever seeing it. But that's not possible of course, so she says, breaking into the quiet, "Why do you have a picture of me?"

"It's a drawing." he corrects, clipping out the words. That haughty side making an appearance once more.

She wants to growl out her annoyance. "Whatever. Why do you have it?" she snips, just as snottily.

But he doesn't answer her, just clenches his jaw several times like he's annoyed with her.

She repeats the question, "Why do you have this?" she asks, voice growing aggravated. "Did you draw it?"

That almost seemed implausible. He made snide comments about her. Avoided her when at all possible. The only explanation as to why he could be in possession of this is if Luke asked him for a favor of drawing Bonnie for him. Or maybe Luke, having dramatically improved on his drawing abilities and geeked wanting to show off his skills, presented the art work to his brother here. He'd obviously forgotten to take it with him, of course. Yes, that's what happened.

Except, that's not the explanation Kai is getting out. In fact, he isn't bothering to explain a damn thing. In a steely tone he asks, eyes nearly black, "Why are you in my room?"

Her mouth plops open because really? They both knew Kai having a drawing of her trumps Bonnie sneaking into his room. She sighs not knowing why she's even answering him. "I was curious" She has to will her eyes to not look down at her feet.

"About?" and his depthless grays stretch slightly as if to say 'a more thorough explanation would be nice'.

"The devil's lair." she says with a straight face. He's not amused, not a sliver of movement on his facial features whatsoever. "And don't change the subject." she remarks, having summoned her confidence back. Putting steel into her tone, she demands to know, "Did you draw this?"

Because that was the question of the hour.

"Yes" and the way the word is said with a strangled coarseness tells her he hadn't wanted to admit this. She was willing to bet it chipped away at his very dignity to do so.

"Why?" She continues her relentless pursuit for answers.

He's quiet, refusing to answer. Which tells her his reasoning for drawing her likeness had nothing at all to do with Luke afterall.

When she speaks this time, all traces of anger are bereft from her tone. "Tell me. Please"

She watches him as his eyes shut close, he looks mortified. Like he would give anything to disappear right now. "Don't make me say it" are the barely heard words he mutters.

His words, so few but said so much, has her heart beating wildly, her chest expanding as she takes in a breath, finally putting together the pieces, "You don't hate me, do you?" Her words are just as quiet.

His eyelids which are shut, squeezes even tighter. He's mute. He doesn't want to give her anything but she's not stopping until he provides her with answers, "Is that why you're so cruel to me?" They both know what the that is that's she's referring to.

"Just go, Bonnie" he sighs, voice strained at the edges, finally reopening his eyes. He looks wrecked. He can barely even look at her.

"You need to answer me" she demands, not sure why she's so gung ho about knowing anyway. She shouldn't want to know. Because knowing meant..

"Why did you draw this?" she's asking again, peering up at him with beseeching eyes.

And he must know that she will never stop with her questioning because he finally answers, with nostrils flaring, he tells her, "Because I can't stop thinking about you"


A/N Okay so two chapters to go. I'll try to get them up next week. Um, not really much to say but thank you to all the ppl who took their time out to leave a review, reviews keep me motivated, so virtual hugs to all of you, especially the girls who show up in my inbox on Tumblr. You guys keep me in stitches. Oh also if you figured the plot out, like you truly know where this is going and not just throwing out random guesses, please don't spoil it. But back to the chapter, so what was that you said about her not being your type huh, Kai? hehe. Bae just be lying. Anyway let me know you guys thoughts in the comment section. Until next time xoxo.