THE REVEALING

Pretty girl is suffering,

While he confesses everything.

Pretty soon she'll figure out,

What his intentions were all about.

Pretty Girl (The Way)

Sugarcult

He lay awake that night unable to sleep. His mind wouldn't let him rest. It was full of worries, emotions, and regrets of the past few days in his life. Everything was turning around, becoming what he had always wished it wouldn't be, and it all came back to the girl who was lying next to him asleep.

She was the one he loved, the one girl in which he would die for. The one girl with the troubled past. The one girl who should have been the closest to him but now felt as though she was the furthest away.

He turned his head from his position on his back and looked over at her. She faced him, eyes closed, knees bent up slightly. Her head rested soundly on the pillow, which one of her hands was placed under. Her other arm lay peacefully against the mattress.

He saw her face, the one he had fallen for, the one he thought was the prettiest in all the land, looking completely content. All the worries were gone; no thoughts plagued her mind. This is how he wanted her to be forever.

But the person who lay next to him was a stranger for his girl was not like this. She had growing further away, her heart becoming weaker, and all because of reasons he was unsure of. Reasons that she couldn't express or inform him of.

He lifted his hand and traced his fingers along the bare arm, which lay against the sheets.

Her skin was still so smooth, still so princess-like. He didn't understand how under such beauty there could be someone as hard as she was. As self determined but at the same time as convinced that there was nothing for people like her.

His fingers moved up her arm and layed rest at her face. He absently brushed her silky smooth hair away and looked at her features as she slept.

He leaned over and kissed her gently on the forehead causing her to stir slightly but then fall back into her sleep.

He wanted to be holding her body to his. To be swept away in the feeling of losing himself in her. But he couldn't, not now, maybe not ever because she kept pulling away from him.

He didn't understand why. Maybe it was because that was all that she knew, her entire life had been about people letting her down. About clinging to the few people whom she knew she could truly trust.

What he wanted to know though was why she was slowly changing back to the way she used to be, before she came into his life. She had constantly shown the strength, which had developed after years of self-battles. The hardness of her soul. But once they had met she had slowly been able to suppress that side of her, rarely letting it be seen.

But now...

Seth turned himself away from Rachel, closed his eyes and let the much-needed sleep come.

"You're scared." He murmured.

"Why would I be scared?" She replied.

He smiled slightly then seeing her innocence. "Because they're leaving you."

She stood before him, leaning into him as he pressed her body protectively against his.

It had been so long, so many ages passed since they had been together like this. Alone. Safe.

"I don't understand why," she whispered.

"You don't want to."

She looked up into his face. "How would you know that?"

"Because I know you."

"Not any more. You knew who I used to, I've changed."

"Have you?"

Rachel stopped short at the question. She looked up at Kurt who's eyes were focused strongly on hers an almost accusing look in his eyes.

He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips whispering as he did.

"You don't belong with them."

Rachel shot awake sitting up and looking around expecting to see the young man before her again.

He had been her love before Seth, Ryan's best friend and part leader of the gang that they had developed over their time in Chino.

Seth stirred next to her and Rachel was brought back into reality.

"Are you alright?" he asked groggily.

Rachel nodded slightly even though she knew she wasn't. "Dream."

"You wanna..."

Rachel stood from the bed and left the room before Seth had the chance to finish his sentence.

Caleb walked in through the unlocked door without even knocking. He didn't believe he had too. He had given the Cohen's the house after all so he believed that he owned it.

"Ah, Sandy, just the person I wanted to see," he said walking into the kitchen.

Sandy looked up giving no indication that he was pleased with his guest.

"Is knocking just some new thing for the youngsters?"

Caleb looked at him coldly. "I don't have time for this. I am here on business."

Julie instantly appeared in the doorway with a pile of manilla folders in her arms. A sly smile was plastered on her face and Sandy knew that the two were up to no good.

"Make it quick," Sandy stated.

"It's not that simple," Caleb insisted. "Unless you consider matters with Rachel of that little importance."

Sandy stood from his seat and let the bagel he was holding fall onto the plate before him.

"What do you want?"

"We were her out of this town," Julie insisted.

"Sorry, can't help you."

Caleb calmly walked over to the table where Sandy was positioned and sat down.

"You forgot one important thing when you let the child come and live with you."

"And what's that?" Sandy asked sitting back down.

"You and Kikki are not her legal parents, and because she is only a minor the law says that she must live with her biological parents."

"The law says that she has free will."

"Not when she is at this age."

Julie moved over to join the men. "We have been doing some digging and it turns out that Rachel was taken from her home without her mothers consent. This technically means that she was kidnapped."

"Her mother wasn't in the picture. Her father is in jail. How can you honestly think that that doesn't give her enough reason to leave home?" Sandy asked strongly.

"We aren't trying to get you on the fact that you tore her out of her home, just that you have no grounds to keep her here. Remember, you are not in control of this child, as far as the law is concerned only her mother is, which means that she should be returned to her."

Rachel stood in the hallway, brought downstairs by the sounds of bickering. She listened closely to the conversation hearing the clear frustration in Sandy's voice as he spoke.

"Didn't you hear me? Her mother abandoned her and Ryan. They were left with only each other and all that Ryan did was fulfil his role as her 'guardian' and bring her into a safer environment."

Sandy paused instantly realising that they didn't care about the details, only about how they could use them legally to ensure that Rachel was taken from them and returned to Chino.

"You think you have the power to do this? Don't be so sure," Sandy growled.

"I am doing what is best for her," Caleb insisted.

"You couldn't care less about how this effects everyone else, the only thing you're worried about is yourself."

"We care about this town. She could cause it to become another one of those gang ridden areas," Julie spoke.

Sandy looked strongly at her. "You think that that will hold up in court?"

"So what are you going to do Sandy, keep her here until the Government comes after her? No one wants her here, not the kids, not the adults. She is a pest."

"I've been called a lot of things, but a pest...isn't that a little insensitive?" Rachel asked as she stepped into the doorway. "You think you can get rid of me that easily? With files and your fancy talk?"

"You forget your place Miss. Atwood," Caleb growled.

Rachel looked at the man, realising that in some way his words were correct. She had forgotten her place, she didn't know if it was here or back in Chino. If it was with her brother or in Seth's arms.

"Sticks and stones bastard."

"Watch who you mess with in this town," Julie said.

"I'll mess with whoever the hell I want to."

Julie threw her a glare.

"Oh, if looks could kill."

"If looks could kill I would have given you one a long time ago."

The couple didn't say goodbye, instead they moved to the door without another word leaving Sandy and Rachel in their wake.

"I won't let them do anything, I promise," Sandy said once they were gone but what he received was the retreating back of Rachel as she walked away not believing a word he was saying.

TO BE CONTINUED.........

(Hey peeps. Hope you liked the chapter. Sorry I haven't been pasting as quickly but I'm back at school now so I haven't had all that much time. If that's annoying go scream at my teachers. LOL. Next chapter will see pretty much the big turn in the story, some of which involves Seth and Rachel's relationship, others which include the pretty much downhill ride Rachel is on right now. Please review.)