Nine.

Cullen is already there when I drag myself into Cope's room. Cope isn't, but I haven't got the energy to work or talk, or try not to talk, which is just as hard. We've spent three silent hours together since the first. Nothing gained other than a name, and nothing lost.

He's got his ear phones in, long fingers tapping a fast rhythm. I walk straight past and throw my bag on the desk, resting my head on it. Sleep is the easiest option.

But with Cullen in close proximity, and Mum's news tripping through my veins, I can't relax. My heart dives off the high board every time I think about Marcus coming back into our lives.

I hear his chair, his footsteps. He appears in front of me, taking a seat and turning to face me. I watch him but don't sit up. I hope he gets the message to leave me alone. He doesn't, leaning against the window ledge, arm balanced on the back of his chair. He's making himself comfortable. I glance at the door hoping to see Cope breeze in and tell him to move. No such luck.

I stare at him from my vantage point. He stares right back. His eyes are not as dark as I'd first thought, I think I see a galaxy in there. I know at least six girls who've already flagged him for their next target. I know at least ten boys who can't decide whether they want to slap him on the back or slug him in the teeth. I admit I want to take a peek inside to see his clockwork, but I'm ready to wait until he tells me the time. I already see the intricate golden cogs whirring as he looks at me. Fingers twisting in his penny coloured hair, pulling at the strings on his hoodie while he thinks. I'll let him make the first move.

"Rough night?" His voice is rusty as if he rarely uses it, which would explain the radio silence around him.

"Rough life," I say, and want to take it back. The two words spelling out thousands.

"Are you alright? You seem … upset."

I lift my head and sit up, creating space between me and his concern. "Why do you say that?"

"I can tell."

I sit back, creating more space. "How?"

He shrugs.

"I'm fine, so you can go back over there."

"What if I don't want to?"

"I'm just telling you, you should."

The side of his face curves and crinkles into a smile. "Is that a threat?"

"Maybe."

He laughs, and it reverberates in the pit of my stomach, echoes down my bones.

"Why are you here anyway?"

He gestures around the room. "Same reason as you, I guess. Can't be trusted to be with the general population."

"That's not why I'm here."

"No?"

"Nope."

"Why then?"

I look out of the window, the trees fighting to stand upright in the wind. The towers of home standing strong in the distance. "Sanctuary."

His face hardens, one hundred year old stone. "You're not safe outside?"

"No … yes, I mean … it's not that kind of sanctuary. It's more like a seatbelt."

He raises a brow, tips his head as if he didn't hear me right.

"You know, keeps you strapped in. Stops you smashing through the windscreen."

"Yeah, everything you're saying is making me think you're in trouble."

I laugh this time. "I'm not in trouble."

"You are trouble?"

"That's what people round here will tell you."

"They're wrong."

"And how would you know?"

"I can tell."

I wrinkle my nose at him. "Really?"

"Yeah, Bella Swan. I see you."

I open my mouth and close it again, vulnerability muting me for a second too long.

The bell for first break rings, and once the rabble through the corridors has died down, he stands and heads back over to his desk, only to appear a minute later, bag slung over his shoulder. "You wanna get out of here?"

My body betrays me and I'm out of my seat before I can argue why it's a bad idea.

We don't get far, Cope appearing with her arms full of textbooks, juggling to close the door with her foot. "Where are you two going?"

"I … erm." I stumble over a valid excuse, but Cullen takes the books for her and explains.

"We're going to the library to do some research." She blinks at him and then smiles, her face softening like silly putty.

"Of course. Mrs. Markham will help you if you can't find what you need."

She opens the door for us both. I hesitate for a second, confusion gluing my feet until Cullen calls out to me.

"Coming?"

I follow him out of the door, through the corridor and out into the cold morning. We walk straight across the playing fields and out of the school gates, the opposite direction to the library.

No one stops us.

I feel a smile tugging at my lips.

I'm starting to like him.

AN: The love for this little story has been amazing so far. The love I have for YOU is huge. Thank you. xx