Star awoke late again. It had been three days of sleeping all day and being up all night and this was going to be number four. She showered and got dressed and she wanted to wash some clothing so she went to the reception to buy some washing powder for the washing machines.

'Where is your friend?' The lady behind the desk asked, referring to David.

'He'll be here soon.' She said.

'Well, you tell him to come see me.' She said handing over some sachets.

'Sure.' Star said, getting a sour feeling from the woman and she hoped her lodgings weren't in jeopardy. She went outside to see the sun dipping below the horizon and she smiled in the warmth. This was working out better than she thought, David was making sure she had everything she needed and seemed to be concerned for her welfare. She walked into the laundry and put a load of washing on. She wished that she could see the boys during the day so they could do some normal things together, and she still wanted to get a job if she wasn't going back to school. Some money of her own would be nice and she wanted to meet some new friends too but David didn't seem to want to let her. She walked back into her room, put her hair up, put some make up on and slid her bracelets onto her wrist. She felt pretty and more like herself with her own stuff on. She sat in the room waiting for David for the next hour, afraid if she went anywhere she would upset him again. She so wanted to talk to Tee though, Tee would surely be back by now and would know she was no longer living with her father. Nick the dick would have told her and she'd want to talk to her so she'd try and call Tee again tonight. Hanging out her washing on the back of chairs, she heard the rumble of his motorbike come up the drive and she came out of her room.

'Hello Star.' He greeted her and presented to her another flower.

'Hi David. Thank you.' She said leaning forward and kissing him. 'I'm not used to getting flowers.'

'Well, get used to it.' He replied. 'Are you ready?'

'Um… The motel manager would like to speak to you.' She said and he looked unimpressed.

'Stay here.' He kicked his stand out and strode over confidently to the office while she placed the beautiful long stem in a tall glass of water with the other one. A few minutes later he came out and told her to get on the back of his bike and he screamed out of the parking lot of the motel and he rode straight to the cave and parked next to the staircase. They entered the cave where the boys were all eating Chinese and she sat and ate some chicken fried rice with them but David didn't eat. Once they were finished, David lit a cigarette and sat back watching her which made her nervous.

'What?' She said placing her Chinese carton down, looking back at him and he smiled at her.

'Turn around.' He told her and she raised her eyebrows at him which made him chuckle. 'Look behind you.' She looked at him confused and twisted her head around to see a large bed with clean white sheets on it sitting in the corner. Her heart stopped and a bolt of fear hit her, what were they planning to do with that? 'It's yours.' David said to her and she spun her head back around. 'I want you to come stay with us Star.'

'Am I not able to stay at the motel anymore?' She asked, a little scared and wondering what that horrible woman had said to him.

'You're coming to stay here. With us.' David said it like it was a done deal. He had decided for her and she knew she didn't have any input into his decision. She looked at David nervously and he stood, then walked to her and took her hand, pulling her to her feet and over towards the bed. Her heart beat sickeningly in her chest with her uncertainty over what he was about to do and the fact that the boys were right there. She looked at the bed and it was old but the corner posts were beautifully detailed. The sheets were brand new and there were fat comfortable looking pillows placed at the head.

'I want you to be comfortable here Star. This area is yours and you bring your stuff here and set it up how you wish.' She stared at him hard and suddenly she believed him. He genuinely wanted to make her feel at ease.

'David, I have no money to get anything I want, anything I need.' She said looking around. 'I really need a job. I can't rely on you for everything.' His face changed.

'No Star, if there is anything you want, we will get it for you.' She sat on the bed and thought about his words and felt frustrated that he wouldn't let do anything for herself. What was she going to do? Buy something he didn't like? But he was being so kind to her and she didn't want to jeopardise that at all so she didn't complain or fight him on it and instead she thought of something she wanted.

'I would like some candles.' She said and looked up at him and he smiled at her.

'Candles?' He said with a raised eyebrow. 'We can do candles.' She smiled up at him.

'You seem like you can do anything.'

'I can.' He said touching beneath her chin. Again, she believed him, David was an enigma to her and she looked at him like he was magic. He was amazing, he lived a surreal lifestyle and it seemed to her that he could have anything he wanted. It was all at his fingertips and she wondered how he did it, how any of them did it. They lived in a cave, had no responsibilities, they never went to work and yet they had money for food and clothing and bedding, and music and jewellery and flowers. They partied all night then slept all day without a care in the world. She didn't understand their existence or really where she would fit in to it and yet she couldn't say no to him. He still excited her and the fact he'd chosen her still made her heart skip a beat every time she saw him. She wondered if this was love, she'd never been in love before and she wondered if this was it. 'We'll go and get your stuff and then we're going out.' She smiled at him and they all left. They rode out to the motel to pick up her stuff and after she'd packed up the now dry clothing, she gently touched the white petals of the lilies he'd given her.

'I don't want to leave them here.' She said.

'I'll get you more.' He said placing a gentle kiss on her lips and turning to open the door for her. The boys were all outside and the lady manager and her husband were standing in the doorway of the office.

'Don't you come back here! You're bad for business!' Her husband yelled at David as Star and he left the room, making all the boys turn and look at him. He quickly ushered his wife inside and closed the door and Star looked up at David.

'Don't worry about it. Boys, let's go to Grapes.' He jumped on his bike and did a large burn out on the drive before leaving. Paul and Marko hooted and hollered as he did while Dwayne laughed then they followed suit. They rode to the only nightclub in Santa Carla, it was a small building beneath some offices with a large bunch of deep purple grapes on the sign out the front. The music was pumping and it looked like a fun place to hang out for a while, but as she got off the bike she saw the way the bouncers were looking at her and she knew they weren't going to let her in. David looked at her and saw something was wrong.

'What is it?' He asked.

'I'm not going to get in.' She told him and he looked over at the bouncer eyeballing her and he smiled.

'Yes, you will.' He took her under his arm and walked with her to the door.

'Ah, how old is she?' The bouncer stopped them and David held the man's stare before answering him.

'She's old enough.' The intensity of David's gaze didn't go unnoticed by Star and she was astounded when the bouncer stood aside and let her in. The place was buzzing and all she wanted to do was dance. She disappeared off onto the dance floor while the boys went and got drinks for themselves and her and they stood at a bar leaner in the middle of the club. For the next few hours, she danced and talked and laughed, but never without David's eyes on her which again felt controlling to her but she didn't mind. A man came and tried to dance with her but he was quickly intercepted by David and she noticed but didn't pay too much attention to it. She was called off the dance floor by David as Paul and Dwayne were quite smashed and it was time to leave. They made their way back to the cave and upon arriving Dwayne disappeared almost instantly while Paul, in fine form, was giving David all sorts of shit and he had Marko in fits of laughter. She took herself away and went to sit on her bed and she smiled to herself, feeling like she had a place of her own, a place these crazy boys had given her. She began to think about how she would like to decorate her little piece of the cave and she knew asking for candles was definitely a good idea. She grabbed her bag and took her jewellery pieces out and placed them on a small shelf in the cave wall along with the dolphin which sparkled in the fire light.

'Are you OK?' She turned to see David standing near the foot of the bed and she smiled and nodded.

'Woohoo! David's gonna get some…' Paul cat called to David and David told him to fuck off over his shoulder.

'Ooohhh...' Paul sounded like he'd upset the boss and didn't care.

'Come on Paul.' Marko hauled him out of the main cave, the both of them laughing, and David rolled his eyes turning back at her. He looked her over, making her feel self-conscious and extremely nervous.

He walked towards her and placed his hand on her cheek without saying a word and she had butterflies swarming in her stomach. He took another step forward and she stepped back but he kept coming.

'I'm not going to hurt you.' His voice sounded hypnotic and she froze slightly but her head felt heavy as he leaned in to kiss her. He deepened the kiss and she returned the embrace feeling herself being lowered onto the bed. She felt like she was a little drunk and was under his spell and before she knew it he was laying on top of her with his hand sliding up her leg beneath her skirt. Her mind was racing but her body was reacting to him, loving him and tingling all over at his touch as she succumb to his advances.