Okay... so I think you will all really really like this chapter. But don't get consumed by one bit, lots of important things happen!

Nobody has guessed what's going on with Sean and that in itself, is a pretty big clue.

Halebforever ~ request number 3 coming up below

Guest ~ more than Signs? I'm not sure how... I guess it's a skill I didn't realise I had

aBeautifulLiar ~ thank you, I love your fics, everyone go read if you haven't already

Safrena ~ what if the answer is.. neither?

haleb ~ ngl, you're kinda way off. Number of chapters? At least 20...

Guest ~ prediction time.. yes yes and yes

Guest x2 here is your bedtime story and no energy drinks required

Guest ~ you want Sean to hear them? Well he has to find out somehow, right?

I have missed my Sunday reviewers, you are always the most entertaining. Enjoy below...

IV

"More potato sweetheart?"

Hanna looked up from the carrots she was pushing around on her plate as her mother's voice infiltrated her ears. "Uh, no," She frowned and shook her head, glancing back down at the uneaten carbs still loaded on her plate, "No, thank you."

It was Sunday, and if the last day of the weekend hadn't been bad enough when Sean had cancelled their study plans, both her parents had been in when she'd gotten home from a pamper session in town and announced they were having a family dinner. Hanna had immediately been on edge – they didn't do family dinners unless there was something important going on, some big announcement to share and she really didn't think she could cope with any more change right now.

"Tom?" Ashley Marin looked across the long dining room table at her husband, holding up the serving dish that was still half full.

"No," He said firmly, "I need to watch my waistline. They're covering the football team in the paper next week and they'll be photos, naturally."

"What?" Hanna raised an inquisitive eyebrow as she propped an elbow on the table and slumped forward, "You were in it last month." She hated how he wanted the spotlight, wanted to show off to everyone and make them feel like she did every day.

"Last month wasn't football month. Don't you want Sean to get a full ride?" Tom asked, reaching for his glass of red wine. "He'd be disappointed if he knew this was your attitude, Hanna."

"I know," Hanna recoiled and stared down at her napkin awkwardly, "Of course I want him to get a scholarship." Her eyes blinked shut painfully and she forced herself to keep the tears at bay. It was only recently as football season had kicked off that Hanna had realized how her father viewed Sean. He wasn't interested in him because he was Hanna's boyfriend and made her happy; he was interested in him because he could spend time with the son he never had. Tom didn't care for Hanna's sketches, for her fabrics, for her vision. He cared for football, wins and tangible success that could show him in the best light possible.

The realization had been a bitter pill to swallow - a pill that had only been fully absorbed by her body recently.

"And I'm not just doing this for him, you know," Tom swirled his wine around, "I'm working very hard to get you into Cornell. God knows your grades aren't making it easy."

"I'm trying," Hanna whispered, placing her knife and fork together before her hands went straight back to fiddling with her napkin.

"Now Tom," Ashley stepped in, "Hanna's working very hard in school. Helen was just telling me yesterday how Caleb is giving her extra tutoring in Algebra."

There was an awkward silence as Tom processed what had just been said, before he finally spoke. "Caleb?"

Just the mention of his name had Hanna sitting up straight and the hairs on the back of her neck standing up as her Dad eyed her with suspicion. "He's Sean's foster brother," She stuttered, her breath caught in her throat.

"New foster brother," Ashley corrected her, "The Ackards were asked to take him in as a last resort."

"As a last resort?" Tom frowned, "What's wrong with him? Is he qualified to tutor you in Math? If you need a proper tutor Hanna, we can get you a tutor."

"There's nothing wrong with him," Hanna's brow furrowed, her tone full of defensiveness.

"Hanna," Ashley sent her a look, "Mind your manners," She warned her before she turned to look at Tom, "He's had some run-ins with the police regarding boundaries."

"Do you… care to elaborate?" Tom looked at Ashley with more than a little impatience written across his face. "Is he someone we want Hanna associated with?"

"Helen didn't go into detail," She said tersely, "All I know is that it was the Ackard's or a suspended sentence that became unsuspended."

"So he has a criminal record?"

"I don't know the details Tom," Ashley looked at him pointedly. "But he's good at math and helping Hanna and Sean," She reminded him, "Together."

"I can get you a proper tutor," Tom look at Hanna, "For you and Sean."

Hanna swallowed uneasily, taking a shaky breath. She was just a pawn in his world and she didn't like it one bit. "I don't want your tutor," She argued, her frustration bubbling to the surface as she pushed her chair back and stood up.

"Hanna!" Ashley scolded, "Sit down."

"No," She threw her napkin on the table, "I'm finished."

"Hanna Marin," Tom's voice was full of warning. "When somebody offers you something nice, this isn't how you're supposed to react. I thought we raised you better than this."

"I don't want your tutor," She repeated, pushing her chair in before walking out of the room, heading straight for the stairs. "I want Caleb," She whispered to herself, slamming her bedroom door behind her and locking it. She didn't expect her parents to follow her but it didn't hurt to be extra careful she thought as she made her way to her bathroom.

She flicked the lock on that door too before she was kneeling down on the floor, staring down into the porcelain throne that had become a second home. You don't need to do it… Caleb's words echoed in her mind. God knows he hadn't left it since the early hours of Saturday morning. It wasn't enough though and she pushed two fingers down her throat to bring up everything she'd just eaten.

The acid burned her throat and her eyes watered from the pain, the disgust. Caleb was there again and she wondered what he'd say if he found her like this. She stopped herself and reached for the toilet paper to wipe her mouth, dropping it into the toilet and flushing it with the rest of the contents of her stomach before she stood and looked at herself in the mirror. Her mascara was smudged, her cheeks were flushed and her blonde hair was matted at the front in ways it should never be.

Maybe one day, she'd find something that was enough.

Hanna woke on Monday with the darkest circles under her eyes she had ever seen. It was a disaster, and she blamed Caleb Rivers entirely. He'd been the reason she hadn't slept, tossing and turning all night thinking about his words, about Friday, about the stupid joint they'd smoked together.

But if there was one good thing to come of her lack of beauty sleep, it was that she had a plan. She knew what she had to do and she was going to do it. Tonight. She was sick of being all over the place and it was time she put a definitive stop to it. She was going to prove to herself that she wanted Sean and Sean wanted her. And that Caleb Rivers was so minor blip on her radar who could disappear as quickly as he'd come into her life.

As she drove to school with Katy Perry blasting out, her thoughts still managed to overpower the music. She was so consumed with herself that she almost missed the girls sitting out front together, or Sean waiting for her near the football team.

"Hey babe," He walked over and pulled her in for a hug.

"Hey," She smiled tightly. "Do you have practice tonight?" She asked, standing back a little.

"Uh, no," He sighed, "But I think I'm gonna do an extra weights session after school."

"Can I come over after?" She folded her arms uncomfortably.

"Sure," He smiled, "Maybe Caleb can take us through some more algebra. I know I won't be listening to Mr. Pang at 10am."

Hanna bit her lip and nodded, "Sounds good," She murmured, "I'll come over at 4?"

"Come over whenever," He ducked his head down to press a quick, chaste kiss against her lips before he glanced over his shoulder and was pulled back to the boys who'd started throwing a football around.

Hanna didn't say anything, just watched him go until the bell rang and everyone was rushing inside. She felt eyes on her as she walked down the hallway and she wasn't surprised to look up and find Caleb staring at her. For the first time, she just unabashedly stared straight back, tucking her hair behind her ear until somebody walked in front of her and their eye contact was broken. When she looked for him again, he was gone.

"Han," The blonde jumped as Emily appeared and grabbed her arm, "Are you ok?" Emily frowned.

Hanna took a second to compose herself before forcing a smile, "Yeah, I'm fine," She said, linking arms with her. "Come on, we have English and Mrs. Montgomery will kill us if we're late again." She added, not giving Emily a chance to respond before she was pulling her down the hallway like every other student trying to get to class on time.

She kept her head down for the rest of the day, listening to Aria and Spencer arguing over the meaning of 1984 at lunch as she chewed nervously on an apple and pushed her salad around on her plate. She had every intention of not saying anything at all, just as she had done in every lesson so far until Alison decided that wasn't going to happen and snapped Hanna out of her thoughts with a simple call of her name.

Hanna finally looked up, slightly nonplussed as Alison beckoned her over, "Let's go for a walk," She insisted.

"Where are you going?" Emily looked up and asked.

"For a smoke," Ali replied, "So don't come, I know you hate it."

"Sorry Em," Hanna whispered as she brushed past her and chased after their friend.

"You've got that look on your face," Alison started once they were far enough away.

"What look?" Hanna frowned, throwing her apple in the bin and crossing her arms across her chest as Ali pulled out a cigarette and lighter.

"The one that says you're thinking too hard."

Hanna paused, debating what to say. "Can I… ask you something?"

"Sure."

She gulped and tried to moisten her mouth. "You've had… sex, right?"

Alison visibly stood up straighter and pulled her cigarette from her mouth, "I've had sex," She agreed, blinking heavily with an imploring gaze.

"Did he… did you…"

"Spit it out, Han."

"Did he come onto you or did you just put yourself out there?" She rushed out.

Alison tilted her head a little and stared as she thought about her answer, "I knew he wanted me," She took a drag, "But it helped that I was naked. Why? You planning on throwing it down for Sean?"

The silence was answer enough.

"You need to be careful," Alison warned her.

"Careful of what?" Hanna frowned, scoffing a little. "I know what I'm doing."

"No. You don't."

"I… I do."

"Hanna, I don't know what's going on with you recently, but sex is not gonna solve whatever is going down between you and lover boy."

"I know that," Hanna argued, "I'm not doing it to solve anything."

Alison threw her cigarette butt onto the ground and stubbed it out with her shoe before she looked Hanna straight in the eye, "Then why are you doing it?"

"I have a question," The blonde swallowed as Alison eyed her suspiciously, "And I need an answer."

As soon as the final bell rang, Hanna was racing home to get ready for her visit to the Ackard's. Her conversation with Ali had only cemented the thoughts swirling around in her head and as she tore threw her chest of drawers, she knew her underwear choice had never been more important. This plan was going to prove to her that her and Sean were real and they were going to make it – it would just take a little prodding from her to get him moving along in the same direction.

"Black… or purple…" She muttered, pulling out two lacey pairs she had stuffed right at the back. "Black… go with black."

She stripped and changed, pulling on a grey wraparound dress, checking herself in the mirror before she was heading straight back out the door. She knocked, as always, when she arrived before Helen Ackard appeared at the door and smiled welcomingly. "Hey sweetheart." Helen had never made her feel unwelcome. If only she knew what her guest was about to do.

"Hi Mrs. Ackard," Hanna grinned, "Sean said I could come round."

"I don't need any explanation as to why you're at my front door," She reassured her, "I just picked up some cookies with Penny from the bakery in town," She guided her into the kitchen as a small blonde mop of hair came into view, "Do you want one?"

"Hanny!" Penny gasped, ditching the cookie she was about to stuff into her mouth and running at Hanna.

"Hi," Hanna laughed, scooping her up.

"You look pretty," Penny tilted her head and reached out to stroke the front of Hanna's hair, "I like these," Her eyes caught sight of the earrings Hanna had put on, "Mommy can I get some?"

"But you don't have your ears pierced, silly girl," Helen smiled, brewing a pot of coffee.

"We could go shopping though," Hanna squeezed her tight, "And you could help me pick some."

"Can we Momma?" Penny gasped, scrambling to be put down so that she could race over to Helen and tug on her top impatiently.

"If Hanna's invited us, then it would be rude not to," She stroked her cherubic cheek.

"Yay!" Penny threw her arms up in glee, "This is the best day ever!" She squealed, jumping around excitedly.

"Escape now," Helen grinned at Hanna, handing her a plate of cookies, "I think Sean just got back from practice when we got home; he should be in his room."

"Thanks," Hanna bit her lip, waving at Penny before she spun on her heel and headed for the stairs. Her heart was racing uncomfortably and she could hear the blood pumping around her body in her ears as a million and one scenarios ran through her brain. "Sean?" She called quietly, heading towards his room. The door was wide open and there were no signs of life but for a Rosewood High gym bag that she swore she never saw him without. So he's here… she mused, turning in the room and taking it all in. As her eyes skimmed the pictures on his drawers, her ears suddenly pricked up.

She could hear the shower running.

She dumped the cookies next to a frame of him and Penny and ditched her bag before she slowly walked down the hallway, brushing against the wall as she her mind ran and ran and ran. She knew the door didn't have a lock – she'd heard Sean talking with his Dad about fixing it – but she didn't know if she could really do it. Do this. Push through and test all those unanswered questions that she was dying to know.

Should she knock? No… no, he'd just tell her to go downstairs and wait for him.

Should she just go straight in? Be bold Hanna.

Would he want her? This is the only way you'll know.

What if… This is your stupid plan, you picked out your nice panties, just do it.

She yanked her hands out of her back pocket and pushed the door open, biting her lip as she turned and shut it behind her.

And then she twisted back around as the shower door opened. This was it.

But her heart stopped. It wasn't Sean in front of her.

It was the very person she'd been trying to prove to herself she didn't want in the most inappropriate way.

It was Caleb.

And he was wet. And he was naked.

Her breath left her body and she froze, completely still. The only sound she could hear was the drip drip drip drip of the water from his hair, plummeting almost 6 feet from the ends of his wet shaggy tendrils onto the tiled floor as she tried to remember to breathe.

He stared at her, watching her, taking her in completely as her eyes left his and glanced downwards. He knew what she was looking at and he fought the smile that was rebelliously striving to grace his face as her eyes widened unabashedly at the sight of him. But he was stoic again as soon as her eyes peeled their way back up again, her cerulean pupils pouring into his own. He could see her chest heaving in that damn enchanting grey dress, begging him to strip her naked and take her hard. God, what he would do to unwrap that outfit and eat every inch of her.

But he refrained and instead he followed every move her eyes made, every tug of her teeth on her lips, every inch of movement she made towards him. He didn't know if he was the predator or the prey. In the silent moment, he didn't care.

He wondered how long they were going to stay like that – whether it would take Penny to come barging in for them to move – before suddenly she was rushing forward, reaching for him and running her hands all over him; in his hair, round his neck, over his shoulders, down his arms, and he was pulling her with as much force; his fingers splaying over her back, running down to cup her arse and drawing her into him as their mouths finally met.

She saw fireworks behind her closed eyes and felt electricity jolting through her body as they grappled for one another; mouths open and tongues searching as they took and took and took.

She felt him picking her up, propping her onto the countertop as her hands tangled deeper in his hair, pulling and tugging as he pushed himself in between her legs. It was everything she thought it would be and yet it wasn't enough. She wanted more and as the toothbrushes and toothpaste went tumbling onto the floor, she knew he felt the same.

How could she want somebody she'd known just over a week, so much? She was Hanna Marin; she was controlled, defined, exact.

And yet without volition she was moaning into his mouth as he picked her up again, unconsciously wrapping her legs around his torso as he spun her around and slammed her against the shower door. For once, her heart ruled her head.

They heard more bottles go tumbling but neither cared. All that mattered in that moment was them, releasing, giving, taking, inhaling the other as the tension that had simmered since Caleb had walked into her life exploded and bubbled over the top. Never had she wanted with so much gluttony.

She started to grind her hips into him and that's when she felt it. He was hard.

Her mouth paused as reality crashed down; a simple prod between her legs reminding her that she was there with a boy who was hard because of her… a boy who wasn't her boyfriend. And yet, for once, she didn't care. She didn't care about her image, her reputation, her brand. She just wanted him, and she was more than happy to push her tongue back up against his, more than content to let him tilt her head and guide her mouth in time with his own.

"Sean?" Helen Ackard's voice froze them in their spot as she knocked on the bathroom door. "Are you okay?" She paused, waiting for an answer as unbeknown to her, two chests heaved as they fought for breath, "I heard lots of banging."

Caleb pulled back an inch as he fought to compose himself, "It's me," His voice broke as he yelled through the door.

"Oh Caleb honey," Helen called with relief through the door, "I didn't realize you were in. Is everything okay?"

"I just knocked some things over," He shouted as convincingly as possible.

"Okay sweetheart, there are some cookies downstairs so come down when you're done."

"I will," He said gently as he turned his attention back to the girl that was still wrapped around his waist, pressed up against the shower door with condensation seeping through her dress. She looked white as a ghost but she was still clinging onto him for dear life and he couldn't help himself as he leant down and placed his lips tenderly on her trembling pout.

She cupped his cheeks and held him in front of her before he finally put her down, reaching for a towel and wrapping it around his waist as she caught her breath again. "I need to go," She whispered, her hand on her lips as she stared at him again. He wanted to say something, anything, but no words came out and instead she was yanking open the door and rushing out into the hallway.

He followed her out and had every intention of heading straight to his room when she stopped near Sean's doorway. He was about to ask what she was doing when his foster brother climbed up the stairs, a bag over his shoulder with Penny scampering at his heels.

"Caleb," She gasped, running over to him as soon as she spotted him.

"Oh, hey bro," Sean nodded in his direction, heading straight into his room to dump his bag.

"I missed you," Hanna heard Penny mumbling to Caleb behind her. She should of followed Sean but her beating heart told her to turn around. She didn't regret it when she did. Watching the six-year-old little girl wrap herself around Caleb's neck as he leant down to actually show affection to someone made her heart constrict and burst simultaneously.

"I saw you this morning," Caleb laughed quietly, holding her against him with one arm as his other hand held onto his towel.

"Han?" Sean came back out, wondering why she hadn't followed him into his room. He followed her line of sight before he took in the paleness that tinged her face. "What's wrong?"

She finally looked up at him, her eyes wide and her mouth dry.

She'd come over here to seduce him. To prove to herself that he wanted her and that she wanted him. It hadn't gone to plan, but here she was… stood in the hallway with the same answer her head had told her she'd never get, but one her heart had warned her would be the only response.

"I want to break up."

Well they finaaaally kissed. Lots more hotness to come. If you liked, review? xox