Greetings... How are we all? It's getting warmer here! LOOK! SUN! -points out window- I'm so happy!

It's still very fun to write us girls. :) We're always talking in English class about what will happen next, since that's the only class we all have together. :) It's REALLY fun. So uhh... These next couple chapters, Rachel and Pogue's relationship takes on a little something different, in Anissa's words: I love it! You too are so cute when your not all, "Roar! Roar! Barn Sex! Fighting off your alcoholic dad!" She's truly hilarious.

Eminoddles is STILL on my lemon :( she has to hurry, cause it's in the future that I've actually already writen, so here, it's catching up! That's right! I've already writen when they all get together later because I was just so excited for it! :)

Sorry for the long messege of basically nothing interesting. GO READ! no Reid, cause Alex will kill you, R-E-A-D. :)

Rachel's POV –Thursday-

I sat around all day while my dad ordered Pogue around the house, asking him to 'help' do things and fix up the house. Our back they were hammering and everything, while I sat on the couch flipping through the channels a million times. Documentary after documentary, after soapy after cooking show... there was no winning with it.

My dad wondered in through the front door, his black hair greasy and pulled tightly back into a pony tail. He grabbed two beers from the fridge and glared at me from the kitchen. I had my eyes narrowed at the beer he was drinking.

"You gonna be a bitch about it?"

I shrugged, "When I have to call the cops because you've gone and put your gun to my head again,"

"Someone needs to tell you the rules around here," He spat, walking around the corner towards me.

I stood up, standing somewhere where it put the couch between us, "Fine... get drunk, I don't care. But I won't be here when you wake up."

He smirked and took a huge gulp, some of it leaking out of the side of his mouth. He wiped the liquid away with the back of his hand and grinned at me, "Go buy some more beer. Make yourself useful, instead of being like your mother." He mumbled the last part as he walked out the door into the blistering heat.

I glared, ready to hit something... or someone. Instead I turned around and glared at the first thing I could find. A vase broke into a million little pieces over the table in the corner, but I wasn't even going to think about cleaning it up.

I grabbed my wallet and phone on the table and went to the car. I stared up the engine and reversed violently out of the drive, turned and speed down the road.

My eyes were narrowed as the road signs passed quickly and as I reached the town I was forced to slow down.

I parked outside the liquor store that was next to the supermarket. I sat in the car for a moment, air conditioner cooling me down and somehow soothing my anger. I leaned over and rooted around in the glove box, pulling out my fake ID and shoving it in my wallet.

I turned the car off and stepped out into the hot sun. I straightened my yellow skirt out and unbuttoned my blouse one button down. The looks my dad gave me when I dressed that way around him gave me the creeps sometimes.

I walked into the liquor store, walking up and down the isles many times until I found something that looked familiar to the one in the kitchen at home.

I paid for it along with a few Jack Daniels and getting a cute young boy to help me carry them to my car. I went into the supermarket and decided to stock up.

I had a basket full and was gazing at the different Bolognese sauces. I didn't even like Bolognese.

"This ones the best I reckon, more garlic," I turned around quickly to the voice that sounded somehow familiar. My eyes widened when my eyes fell on a very old friend of mine.

"Andy?"

The boy was only slightly taller than me, his eyes a beautiful hazel colour and brown hair curly but short. He grinned, and I laughed as he still wore those braces.

"What's up, Rach? You're back in town then."

I crossed my arms casually, "Yeah, schools off for two weeks. Ah! Haven't see you in forever!" I put the basket at my feet and swung my arms around him. He hugged me tightly. We'd been friends since forever. The kind of friends who played in sandpits and went swimming naked together, grew up reading comics and building cubbies, getting their drivers licence together and going to parties. We'd gone through a lot since we were smaller. I pulled back, "How are you? How are your sisters? What's been going on? Got a girlfriend? What about school?"

"Stop with the questions, Rach. I'm fine, a little tired from a camping trip with a few mates. My sisters are fine, one's gone to college in Colorado actually. No girlfriend, schools fine, nothing much, just parties and stuff."

I frowned, "It's like I've not missed anything. Surely I have."

He shrugged and picked off a jar from the shelf, "Can't go wrong with that one. Anyways.. we should catch up some time."

"Yeah, totally." I beamed and took the jaw, "Aw, it really is great to see you."

He ruffled my hair and started walking backwards, "Call me. I'm always free, you remember."

I nodded, "The times when walking through the front door was totally overrated."

"Your windows still a bitch, Rach."

I grinned and waved as I saw his younger sister Clare at the end of the isle, tapping her foot impatiently for him. He winked and turned, putting his hand on the back of her neck and pushing her forwards.

I paid for the stuff and loaded it into my car, grabbing a few movies on the way and driving back home.

I got out and pulled all the bags inside where Pogue leaned against the counter, his chest glistening in the light and strands of hair sticking to his forehead.

He looked up at me, smiling, "Shopping spree?"

I rolled my eyes, "I wish. Where's dad?"

"Went to go get something from the store."

I frowned, "But he just asked me to do that."

Pogue thrusted off the counter and walked slowly over to me, taking the bags easily (the veins in his arms bulging happily) setting them on the counter and turned to me, "I'm gonna have a shower," he pushed a stand of hair away from my face, "I was wondering if you wanted to go out tonight?"

I smirked, "Like a date, huh."

"Sure," He smirked back.

"I accept," I reached up on tippy toes to peck his lips before turning him and pushing him towards the hall, "Hurry up and shower before I think about joining you."

He laughed from the hall, "You know I wouldn't object!"

"Of course not," I rolled my eyes and started putting the groceries away. I turned on the radio to listen to while I waited around in the kitchen, half listening to the running water in the bathroom. Finally I couldn't take it anymore so I slid down the hall and opened the bathroom door, "Only me." I assured him and closed it, walking to the mirror and grabbing my brush.

"Where do you wanna go tonight?" Pogue's voice floated out of the shower, the bathroom fogging up.

I stood on the toilet seat, opening the long widow up top, "Don't care, there's bars, movies... I'm sure there's a few tire parties somewhere."

"Don't you need beaches for that?" He laughed.

I shrugged and went back to brushing my long red hair, putting it up in a high pony tail, "There's a million free acres out here. It's country, we don't need no beaches."

The water cut off and I kept my eyes fixated on my image in the mirror. Too bad that when he stepped out behind me that the mirror stopped at his waist, where no more could be seen. I could glance casually over my shoulder and...

"Tire party... alright, well if you want to go."

"Don't mind," I said my voice quivering as I stared at his wet body in the mirror. He turned and caught my eyes in the glass. He smirked at me.

"We could always stay in," he wrapped the towel around his hips, walking towards me and wrapping his arms around me. In all honesty I didn't care that his skin was wet, it felt nice against mine. "by the way, love the short skirt."

I bit my lip as I felt his fingers trailing slowly down my shoulder, my side and to my hip. I turned around to him, the small of my back pressed against the skin, hair brush in a knuckle-white grip.

His eyes ran over my body and fixated on the buttons of my blouse, undone so much to show of cleavage.

I swallowed and looked over my shoulder, putting my brush away, Pogue put his hands on my waist leaning forwards and pressing his lips slowly to mine. My arms twirled up around his neck, pulling him closer to me.

One arm wrapped all the way around my waist and back, the other hand sliding past my skirt and clamping onto my behind.

I squeaked and it broke the kiss. His eyes roamed over my body again, "Keep your hair out, it looks better."

I went to protest but he crushed his lips over mine again, his hand running up, twisting in the elastic and pulling it out so that my wavy hair fell down my shoulders and back. "Much sexier," his lips went to my throat.

"I'm not trying to look sexy," I had to run my fingers through his wet hair, "it get's distracting."

"No shit," He breathed and backed up, our eyes met. For a long time we both stood there, looking at each other. I flinched when the front door slammed and my dad had come home.

I went to the door quickly and almost ran out before my dad knew we were both in there. Stupid me.

There was a harsh pain in my right elbow as my dad grabbed it and threw me against the wall roughly, "What the hell are you doing?!"I rubbed my elbow, this time totally surprised and out of words. "Don't you know what I'll do to your if you two are fooling around?!"

"We weren't!" I snapped.

"Bullshit."

"Leave me alone," I glared going to walk, but my dad pushed my shoulder back, his breath smelling strong of alcohol and eyes darker than normal.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!" He spat, "Look at me when I'm speaking to you!"

I glared up at him quickly, holding my right arm close to my chest, "If this is what you call speaking then lord save me, you're rambling." His eyes flashed as he lifted and unnoticed beer to his lips. He went to open his mouth but I cut him off, "You're such a sick jerk! I can't believe that blood allows you to be my father!"

He took another swig and smiled murderously, strands of hair hanging in his eyes. He whipped the back of his hand across his lips and shifted his feet for a moment, "Say I'm a jerk, huh?"

"Damn straight, you're a jerk, you asshole!"

I didn't see it coming at all, in that last nanosecond of anger flaring between us, his hand shot up into the air and hit me across my left cheekbone. Realization only set in after my head was turned away from him, my lips pressed so tightly together, my teeth ached from pressure, eyes wide. I want to yell at him, but his hand came up again, pushing me harder against the wall.

"Hey! HEY!" another deep voice yelled, and as if my brain was lagging, it took a moment to realize it was Pogue. The sound was starting to drain out of everything, fading slightly as Pogue's large arms came across in front of me, pushing my father back.

Dad put up a little of a fight, thumping Pogue on the arm but that boy was made of iron when he wanted. I don't really remember what Pogue said or did, or where he even shoved my dad.

All I knew was that I had thrown open the front door almost broken my ankle on the stairs and fled into the darkness of the trees. I ran to a river, following it for only five minutes before I found a large group of boulders in funny shapes. I pressed my back to one and slid down it, just sitting there. Not a tear slipped down my cheek; I felt no urge to cry. Shock.

I pressed my fingers to my cheek, but no blood was drawn. Only a sharp flare of pain and then throbbing of a bruise.

I dropped my hands to my side, fingers in the dirt as I clenched sticks and leaves, crushing them in unbearable strength that made my hands hurt and bleed.

The cuts healed up click as I stared at them. I folded my arms on my knees and hid my face, just wanting some breathing space.

-

I walked unsteadily back towards the house, but somehow I didn't think I was going the right way. I had walked around this place a million times before, but this time my 

mind was numb and I had no idea of where my feet were being placed.

I stumbled out of the trees and onto the side of the long road stretching from town, past my place and to the next. Car's headlights sprayed over me, the light bouncing off my somewhat raggered figure.

I pushed my fuzzy main of hair back from my eyes, fixing my top and stepping back as one car sped past me.

One started to slow down, and I didn't know why I didn't step back. Curse the brain that seemed to be detached from body.

"Heeey," A boy leaned his head out of the car window, a wide grin on his face. What did he have to be so happy about?

My eyes widened as the other windows slid down and I saw about four boys in the car, older than me.

"Your boyfriend dump you out here?" One of them asked, his friend nudging him on.

"I-" I opened my mouth, but it sort of just stayed like that. I couldn't speak for some reason.

"Come with us, we'll take you home." The boy in the front said. His eyes looked honest, at least, and I really needed to get home...

The door opened and I stepped forward slowly, then another step. I was going to sit in, one of the boys hands on my arm and the other on my hip, pulling me in.

"Rachel?!"

My head snapped up as I saw a deep red car behind this small buddish black one I was climbing into. A guy stumbled out of the car, and coming towards me fast.

"Get her in the car!" One of the boys hissed and my brain clicked. This was wrong.

As the boy pulled my hips, I pushed off the car, his hands slipping. He lunged out, grabbing my wrist and trying to get me back in, but just as arms closed around me, the car started moving and the boy was closing the door and rolling his window up.

I turned in his arms and looked up at Andy; bloody bat shit was it good timing. "Th-thanks."

"Rachel, are you stupid?!" He spat, his normally chocolate pretty eyes were sharp as razors.

"Andy, I'm sorry, I-"

"Do you know what they were going to do?! Shit, Rach, I expected you to be more... more aware!"

"Andy... please let me explain."

"What?!" He snapped and then his eyes touched my face, really touched my face. He stared at the bruise that must have been a lot worse than I thought from the face he made. "What is that?!"

"That," I pushed him off of me, "would be the handiwork of my dad. Can... look, can you just take me home?"

He nodded, his lips pressed together tightly as if he'd vomit. He opened my door and then returned to his side, starting up the fast car. Something you didn't really find 

out here.

We drove for a long time in silence as Andy fidgeted uncomfortably, "You know how much I want to take a rifle to him right now?"

"Been there," I mumbled, my forehead against the window as he pulled up the drive. He parked to the side in the dark shadows of the trees that framed my house. He turned off the car, but neither one of us went to get out of the car.

His keys swung slowly, but it was the only thing that moved, everything else around seemed to be frozen in time.

Andy finally turned to me, "Sorry, I didn't even ask- Are you alright?"

"Of course I'm not alright," I snapped softly, if that was possible for me.

He pushed a few strands of hair away from my face and ran a finger over my cheekbone, his cold finger feeling good against the swelling skin, I leaned into it.

"Thanks, Andy..." I smiled, "I don't know what I'd do without you, you know."

He chuckled, "Well... you seem pretty good most of the time," his tone took on a slight hinge. "But that's fine. You get on, i understand."

"Andrew, you know that I only went to that school to get away from my dad. You know I didn't want to leave you here," His eyes were sad.

I sighed, this boy, believe it or not, was a pretty big cry baby when it came down to it. I scooted over and wrapped my arms around him, patting down his hair, "I'm sorry..."

"Yeah, me too. This is the last thing you need right now," He whispered, "I just wish that you'd stayed. We could have..."

I frowned, and pulled away, my fingers still barley on his shoulders. He looked at me for a long second before leaning forwards and pressing his lips to mine. Once again, shock washed over me and I didn't realize what he was doing until his tongue pressed against my lip.

I pulled away quickly, grabbed the door handle and stepped out.

"Wait, Rach!"

I closed the door and folded my arms, walking towards the house. I heard his footsteps behind me, but they were a lot more urgent than I would have thought.

He grabbed my arm, pulling me around to face him. I gave him a look, "What the hell was that?!"

"I'm sorry about that. I- don't know what-"

"The hell you don't!"

"Rach, I would never hurt you, you know that."

I bit back a few words and folded my arms again, "Well looks like you just undid those stitches."

"Rachel..." He sighed.

"No, Andrew. Look, you can't do this to me again. Not again." I shook my head, "Besides... I ahve a boyfriend believe it or not," just as if the gods had sent a shock of irony, headlights flashed up the drive, and I saw it was my dad's Cadillac.

He turned to, towards the headlights and then back at me, his eyes pained as I knew his body was probably locking down right before my eyes.

"I'll... see you 'round." I stepped back once, and then another, before I knew it I had bolted up the front stairs and into the house. Dad was nowhere to be seen, so I went straight for my room and closed the door, and sat on the end of my bed, legs crossed and face in my palms.

Not soon after, Pogue opened my door and stood there. I looked up, finally through red-rimmed eyes that I caught a glimpse of in the mirror on the wall opposite me.

His face looked sad and stressed, he shut the door quietly and sat down on the bed next to me, welcoming my shaking body into his warm arms. He sat there for a moment, patting my head before we were both lying on the bed, bodies next to each other.

After I was done and the pathetic tears had stopped, I looked up. He was looking down on me already; he brushed a finger lightly over my cheek, his eyes going black. There was no more throbbing in the cheek, and I hoped the bruise had cleared up with that single touch.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

I nodded slowly, burrowing my head on his chest, "I'm sorry for this..."

"Don't go apologizing, you only know I'll ignore you."

"Thanks."

"Welcome," he paused for a long moment, "hey, who was that guy out front? He looked like he was about to shoot something."

"Or someone..." I mumbled.

"What happened?" He asked, but it wasn't one of those 'tell me only if you want to' it was more of a 'don't care, tell me anyways'.

I sighed, "I've known him since we were really little. He uh- well he found me." I played with a bit of his shirt, "and he... kissed me."

He didn't gasp or break something or even push me away. He just pulled me closer to him, his hand curling around to touch my stomach under the end of my blouse.

I bit my lip, looking into his green eyes, "You're not mad?"

The eyes flicked to mine, and for a moment in the world, they were the only things I saw. But he didn't speak, he only held me close. So he was mad, exceptionally mad, he just didn't want to show it. After everything, I knew why.

I leaned down slowly, pressing my lips to his, but the kiss wasn't the same. I wanted to cry, but that'd just be stupid.

I sat up and got off the bed. I went to my wardrobe, pulling my shirt off and putting on a tank top, then putting on some thin long pants. I put the other clothes in a basket and went over to sit next to Pogue, my hand resting on the spot between his chest and his stomach. His hand when up and closed around mine.

"I went out looking for you too," he said softly, looking at me.

I smiled, "Thanks."

He sat up and looked down, hair falling in his eyes and making my stomach move around restlessly.

I climbed onto the bed behind him, pressing my front to his back. I slid my hands down his waist to the edge of his shirt, curling my fingers under it. His hands stopped mine, his face turning to the side.

I leaned forwards, kissing his neck slowly, his hands relaxing and allowing me to pull it over his head.

My fingers found his shoulders, where I started to massage and kneed the tense muscles, while kissing the back of his neck. He leaned his head back on my shoulder, so I knew what I was doing helped. I kissed the hollow behind his ear before moving down his neck and over his Adam's apple. He sighed and when I pulled back his eyes were open.

I grinned and he reflected it. It felt nice, to smile again. It wouldn't be too long now...