Chapter 3

I woke up to find someone pushing my shoulder lightly, the hand felt cold and I muttered to give me five more minutes. He chuckled and I saw Cyrus smiling down at me.

"Come on sweetie, time to get up. Wow you really were tired," he muttered and left to let me get up on my own. I groaned and showered slowly and that made me skip breakfast if I wanted to be on time for school for my second day. Before I left I made sure the notes for the Mother's Day gift were hidden properly and before I left the house, I sprinted downstairs and grabbed them again. I refused to leave them. I got in my car and Cyrus followed me this time. He honked his car horn as he went a different way and I sped toward school….

I arrived with ten minutes left; I hoped that I could find my locker today. As I opened my door, three cars pulled into the parking lot; this time only the sister was alone while Nickolas and Christopher rode together and Arubey and Edam in his car I figured. Nick's car was the dark green Audi A8, Risika's was the black Suzuki Reno. I left them to park without me watching and I saw Don waiting at the door, I came to a dead stop.

"Morning beautiful." He said cheerily, I bit my lower lip and finally took a step forward. He first checked to make sure the bruise was gone (I nearly yelled with joy this morning when I saw it gone and healed). "My god, it's already gone-."

We went inside as I explained slowly, "I'm a fast healer," I made up my mind and took a chance and said. "Leave me alone Don. Please. Just for today," I begged. He grumbled something and followed Candy Charnell down the hallway. I was grateful when I saw Devin and Josh right after he left; they turned to me and asked how my morning was so far. I shrugged, "It's getting better. Ready for class Devin?" she nodded and we left as the four brothers and sister came into the school. Risika, I noticed had a bag from Italy- I know because I had one just like it at Glory's. I gave it to Sam before I left. I didn't look at them and they didn't look at us and Risika broke apart to go somewhere else and Edam went down the opposite hall and the rest went to Civics. Andy was waiting for me, right away I went over to him and put my hand on his left shoulder and brought it across his shoulder blades as I sat down on his right side. "I'm sorry about after school yesterday Andy." He shrugged, "are you really that upset with me?" I asked innocently, he nodded.

"Don is a freak and he has most of the school afraid of him. Don't fall under his thrall-."

I smirked at him for the first time, "He doesn't have a thrall. Besides, when we were younger we all looked up to him; he's few months older then Rick and me, but we still did. I swear he wasn't always so frightening," I promised him. He shrugged, "What did he do? Tell me and Rick, Nathan, and William will come and kick his ass."

He smiled and said he didn't anything to him; Don just made the students afraid to come. Mr. Loop called the class to order just then and we had to stop talking….

In French 3, I got the text book and workbook finally. As the class talked loudly, Madame P got me caught up on what they've been doing. She started to explain the House of 17 Verbs when I said I did that last year in French 2. Madame P chuckled and said Los Angeles French students were behind then. I laughed a little and took my books back to my desk; I sat in back with Andy and Amanda. A lot of his friends were in this class, including Arubey Karew and Edam and Risika Dawson. I was picked by Madame P to solve a verb puzzle to see what I knew from my GB class and I only had to conjugate the verb 'chanter'- means 'to sing'. The others students were nearly jumping from their seats to solve it (Arubey, Edam and Risika sat still and ignored me; I saw Arubey's glances) I had smiled and changed the –er to –ons. Then I changed the beginning of the sentence to agree with the plural verb and fixed a few more words. Madame P was stumped now.

She was hesitant for a moment, finally she breathed out again. "Very good Lilith- what was your French name."

"Geneva." I answered. Madame P nodded and wrote it down.

"That wasn't in the book list," Andy whispered looking through his own. "It's not," He snapped when he didn't find it.

I chuckled a little, he looked over at me, "I know, my old teacher wanted us to have a better experience so he had us find a name other not commonly used in France. Although I hear many with the name Geneva…." I muttered to myself. Andy Bachman smirked at me and glanced at Arubey. I wondered what his French name was; he and his brother and sister were sitting against the wall with their backs to it.

We looked up at the teacher when she spoke once more, "Okay everyone up. Time for new seats," I frowned. I wanted to sit with Amanda and Andy; I ended up sitting right next to Arubey. I wasn't sure if he was more annoyed or if I was. He probably felt the same way with it as I did. I noticed, also, that the three of them didn't move to a different seat. Macbeth or Mael, as he's known in this class- was one seat in front of me and Andy was across the room.

"You're so distant Geneva!" Andy called, I smiled at him. Josh and Amanda were near by (Denis and Addi) as well. Candy and Daryl sat right next to each other. Madame P considered moving them right away but didn't; she was willing to give them a chance first then separate them if she had too. Mael turned around to face me.

"Is Don coming by the table again?"

I shrugged, "I hope not. Sooner he moves from this place the happier- apparently- we'll all be." He smiled a huge one and asked what I meant, "He's moving, at least that's what my father told me. Don's dad was promoted to DC and they're moving in a few days. Notice that Don's been meaner lately," he admitted he had with a small nod. I continued, "Rick and the twins weren't to please when they found out about Don's behavior. I'm hoping Rick can get his ass over here with the boys, Don would never come back again."

"Were you in a gang in GB?" Amanda whispered, she wasn't sure if she wanted to be friends with a gangster girl.

I shook my head laughing a little "no, but my brothers-in-arms were. Rick, Nathan, William, Tommy, Ben, Nikki, Adam, Markus… there's at least a dozen more. Rick and William were the leaders Sam and I just made sure they didn't get themselves killed with their stupid missions they went on. See, they were convinced that bad omens ruled the cemeteries at night. They'd sneak out of the house to meet up. The worst Sam and I ever did was steal a… a car when we were younger. It was an old, bent up truck." I switched back the topic, "Sam and I went most every time-." Madame P cleared her throat and I had to stop. Amanda tossed me a scrawled note: Is Rick cute? Single? I grinned and I looked at her, I nodded twice. She grinned and mouthed that she wanted his number. I put my hand on my forehead as if embarrassed. Poor Rick. I was setting him up with a girl I only met yesterday! Amanda seemed happier for the rest of the class. But by the time the bell rang she seemed to have forgotten about my cousin.

Lunch was the first time I head my mother's name from someone other then me. Andy was talking about music and he admitted he enjoyed Gloria's albums. The rest of them agreed, I smiled at them all. "Do you like Gloria and her kid, Lily?" Devin asked me. I said I enjoyed Gloria more then her daughter. Devin muttered, "I don't know, I heard that Lily was supposed to do a duet with Avril in a year or so." I shook my head.

"Faulty, it's not true. Lily doesn't sing, she's alright, but not good enough for people to want to listen to her for thee minutes." I said as I played with my pen as I read my notes. I kept an eye out for Don as well, "Lily and Gloria agreed that they'd wait until she was older to do that."

"How do you know?"

"I have my sources." I noted silently. Andy watched me and went back to eating, he moved his tray to me and we picked at it together a little. My cell buzzed as I got a text. It was from Glory. I responded quickly and shut it off in case she called. Her jingle was her signature song. I looked at Andy finally, "Have you ever seen celebrities, I mean living in LA?"

They all went into stories on how Josh and Joe saw Bruce Willis, and Devin saw Reese Witherspoon; even Amanda got to touch Amanda Bynes. I laughed; I got to have a sleep over with her… when we were younger; she's a couple years older then me but not by much.

Devin got my attention but taking my arm slightly, in my ear she whispered. "Karew is looking as us," I shrugged. "What, not good enough for ya?"

I shook my head, "no, it's just we don't get along… He, Edam, and their father were at my house last night…." I had to go into specific detail of what happened.

Arubey was absent from Chemistry today. Then he, Nick, and Edam weren't in Gym and they were there for Mythology for the last hour of the day. Of course, we got new seats again- with the complaint that they just got new seats last week. Mrs. Bones didn't care and said it was necessary. I sat in front of Arubey with Edam and Nick and Christopher close by and Risika on the other side of the room. She seemed more upset then she needed to be. She growled something at Arubey and he shrugged. Devin sat next to me thankfully and I was eternally grateful for that. Andy was by Risika and he seemed uncomfortable with that situation.

When bell rang finally I took my time getting out of the desk, Andy came over to me. He pulled me up and asked for a ride home again. I hit his shoulder and we both laughed and I finally got to find my locker for the first time. I was surprised when Arubey groaned when I walked up next to him.

"Don't you ever go away?" he moaned. I glared at him.

I retorted, "Hey, who was at who's house last night?" I snapped, I beat him so quickly at the argument that neither of us said anything. He closed his locker and leaned his forehead against it watching me. "I'm too short for LA lockers," I muttered. He laughed at me and kept on watching me for a while. "Don't you have to give your brother a ride home today?" I asked him, he shook his head.

He explained shortly, "No, only in the mornings I give him a ride. Risika takes him home. I have places to go to after school every day-."

"A job?" I asked.

"No, yeah right, good joke. No I have hobbies to achieve before Jager, reads me a bedtime story."

I knew Arubey was joking but I decided to reply, "I thought you were sort of old to have bedtime stories." I jumped as he shut the locker door suddenly. "Why'd you do that?" I snapped angrily at him. Arubey Karew moved closer to me but then left quickly. I stared after him until he was to far gone.

I turned to a female voice, "he's very odd." I turned to see Risika watching me, I shrugged and redid my comb and opened the locker again. She came over to me. "I hate my- brother, but I know he cares about us all. We don't get along very well, but we do when we have too and we're not a family. We do what we can, my advice Lilith… stay away from him."

"Do you want him Risika?" she growled at me. I wasn't afraid, I had no reason to be; I sighed anyway and glanced at her, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I'm just used to saying what I want and get away with it. I'm still adjusting Risika and I don't want you or your brothers as my enemies. I'm told you're the youngest?"

She shook her head, she wasn't angry anymore, "Edam is youngest, I'm next, Chris, Nick, and Arubey is oldest of all of us. Arubey has a temper, so does Nickolas; he does well to control it. And I don't forgive you." I figured she wouldn't, we both smirked at each other anyway.

"I figured that," I voiced what I was thinking. She nodded and left. I smiled as I finished what I was doing and finally closed the locker myself and followed Risika Dawson from the building. Andy had already left with Joe and Josh. Michael, Macbeth, and Devin had after school things to do before leaving for home. Kate has Track practice; Amanda had Play Practice and Danni and Eddy were in the Debate team as well.

When I got to my car I found a flower waiting for me. It was light blue and it was real, my jaw dropped when I saw it was a light blue rose. Rare and cost a lot more then two dozens roses, it took a lot of effort to even get a blue rose, let alone a light blue one. It was nudged where the window glass was rolled down into of the door; I took it carefully and pulled it out. It all came intact and I smelled it. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I unlocked my car and went home with the rose on my lap.

I got home and was thankful Cyrus wasn't there yet. Just as I unlocked the door, the house phone rang and it was Amanda. She wanted to know if I wanted to go shopping for fun tomorrow night. I told her I'd check with Cyrus first and call her back tonight. She said that Devin would be going as well. I called Cyrus at work and he gave me the okay to go. I called Amanda back and said I was in.

There was also a message left by my new Watcher, Wesley Wyndom-Price saying he was sending someone over to come and get me at four-thirty when it was darker earlier. Sure enough at four-thirty there was someone knocking at my door and I answered it. I already left the note for Cyrus explaining I was out with friends; I told him I'd be home by eleven. The man on the other side was a black man in a nice suit and he was bald. Right away he hesitated and held out his hand.

"Charles Gunn, Wolfram & Hart, Wes sent me to get you to start your training." I nodded and grabbed my sweater from the closet and followed him to his car, I got in and he drove. "You can call me Gunn or Charles, doesn't matter which. Angel, Wes, and the others call me Gunn- so you can as well. At W&H, Angel is a vampire, but he has a soul, so he's a good guy and on our side of course." He liked speaking; Winifred or Fred Burkle is the brains and is head of the Science department at the firm. Wesley, your Watcher is in charge of the prophecies and things like that; magic is more his style. He'll be teaching you, spells as well. Then, Lorne is the entertainer and he's a demon. Green skin and red eyes; super nice so no need to slay him unless if you feel your life is in danger; that would never happen. Hint, hint." He winked at me and I nodded trying to program this into my head. "I, Lilith, am the lawyer so if you have any problems with the law come to me and I'm also a really good fighter as well. I fought with Angel before he got Wolfram; I hunted vampires." he smiled at me, I returned it- a little nervous. "Any questions?"

I nodded. "I heard that Angel has a human son. Is that true?"

"No, it's a rumour and it's not true." He said smirking at himself in the mirror. I could only nod; Gareth told me his name was Connor and that Angel and Darla were the first vampric parents the world has ever seen. I thought about my old Watcher as I began wondering about my new one….

Wesley was tall, gangly, middle aged but still young; maybe Cyrus's age, give or take five years. He wore sweater vests and nice pants with dress shoes. He had brown-gray hair and soothing eyes; he was actually kind of good looking for a Watcher. Gareth was old and chubby. I could tell Wesley had contacts; he was still getting used to them. He had a thin scar across his throat. "Lilith?" I nodded and stood straight.

He walked around me as I knew he would, Gareth had when we met for the very first time. "Wesley, when can we go to the cemeteries? I'm ready to start fighting-."

"Not until you have proper training, I've seen your training outcomes." He was being harsh, he probably had a bad day or he didn't like me very much. I glared at him; a few people were watching from a balcony, I figured them as: Angel, Fred, and Lorn. I saw that Gunn was going upstairs to join them, as Wesley finished my observations. "Gareth is a good Watcher but you need work on kicking-."

"I'm a good kicker Price." I snapped, I wasn't sure I liked him. He shrugged.

He told me plainly, "I've seen your training videos. Impressive, but not enough punch-."

I interrupted Wesley again, "I once broke a vampire's nose, then I took off his head when I kicked him." he only rolled his eyes and looked up at Angel and his eyes moved to Fred. She was pretty and looked like she was ready to get back to work in her lab with her elements and dissections.

Wesley walked around me again, this time I turned with him. "Lilith, I know your trainer, Gareth Homer was a good Watcher but he needed to be stricter with you-."

"We trained every damn weekend and most school nights. I almost failed my classes, how much more strict can you be? If you do that again, I won't train at all Wesley." I told him my rules, "We keep this little training gig to a minimum and I get Friday and Saturday night off from patrolling and training with you. Second, if you even insult Gareth a tiny bit we end the session even if we've just started. If you work with me five hours straight I get to say when we're done. Third, I get breaks-."

"Vampires won't take a break because you ask them." he had a point.

I retaliated right away with, "I'm not fighting a vampire right now am I? So I get breaks and… fourth, if you make me fight in a small space I won't train for two nights beginning the next night. Any questions?"

"Why do you have rules?"

"Because I need them, if you have a problem then speak to Gareth; he said I should make sure I have some when we heard you were my new Watcher. He said you get pissed off easy and that you used to let some Buffy girl run everything. He made it sound really funny to see."

"Buffy Summers was an excellent slayer, still is." He looked up at Angel, he nodded and smiled. "She defeated The First."

"You can't kill evil," I told him plainly. "Evil will always be alive, she just stopped it from destroying the world." He frowned and glanced over when a man entered. We both paused and I stepped away from him, he laughed.

Spike stared at me, he spoke first. First he turned to face Angel on the balcony, "Angel why is she here-."

"Me? You should be dead, you nearly killed me-."

"Oh shove it-." He muttered, I stepped toward him, but Wesley grabbed my arm.

"How do you Spike?" he asked me.

I considered this first: that vampire nearly killed me. "He locked me in a stone coffin in my first week of being a slayer, that's why I won't work in small areas and the reason for my claustrophobia." Wesley looked up at Angel; they came down from the balcony.

I watched Spike until they got to us. Angel wore black dress pants and a gray shirt with a work jacket over it; Fred had on a skirt and a white blouse, Lorn wore a dazzling bright red and green suit and a cell phone in his hand. Spike still had on his long leather coat that went to the knees and combat boots, his shirt was a deep red now and his hair was beach blond with blue eyes.

Angel spoke first; his voice was booming and sort of seep, "Spike, while Lilith is here, you're not. Go away for a few hours-."

"What? I was here first!" he yelled and came over to us; I couldn't help it, I hit him so hard his head snapped to the side and he fell to the floor.

He looked up at me, his cheek was red, "That's for locking me a crypt for two hours." I snapped and he got up and came at me, I kicked him and he fell backwards again. He tackled me and I yelled out and hit went to hit me, but I blocked it and threw him off of me; Gunn and Angel and stepped between us.

"I'll kill you slayer, I've done in two." He growled, Angel hit him this time.

"I'd like to see you try." I snapped and Gunn turned me around so I wasn't facing him anymore.

I began training a few minutes later with Angel and Gunn; Wesley was called away and they volunteered. Every time I hit something I imagined Spike's face on it and I nearly killed Gunn when I kicked him, when I imagined him being the vampire, but as an African American version of Spike. Angel taught me a few things that Gareth didn't even know and we worked for over four hours before Wesley came into the room with Spike behind him. We avoided eye contact as Wesley went over to Angel and they spoke quietly. Gunn joined them. Spike came up behind me and he touched my shoulder. I ignored him; finally he turned me to face him.

"If I would have known-."

"Bull shit, stay away from me Spike. Better yet, go get yourself staked," I snapped. I pulled out my cell phone when I rang and it was Cyrus.

"Lilith?"

"Who else dad?" I mumbled.

He probably frowned, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I said quickly, "Just tired. What's up?"

"Where are you, I'm coming to get you. Or do you have your car?"

"No, come and get me at Wolfram & Hart. I'll wait for you outside." I told him, he said something and we hung up. I told Angel we had to be done and he didn't approve of me ending the session, "Then you lie to my father and tell him I kill vampires okay?" I told him, he frowned. "Bye," I muttered and hurried from the room. I only had to wait for a couple minutes when he pulled up, right away I told him that this was the closest place I could think of to meet him for picking me up. He bought that story and we talking about our days on the way home.

He sighed a few times and I asked what was wrong, "We can't solve this case Lilith. I'm not aloud to speak about it, especially to you. I promised Glory I wouldn't take you to the museum with skeletal remains-."

I interrupted him, "Take me anyway. Please. Is Dr. Breanne there still?" He nodded. "Oh, dad, I've read all her books and I know most everything about her! Dad you'd be the best if you took me to meet her." he smirked at me, "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

He responded as he turned the key and the car stopped making car noises, I glanced at the house expecting Spike to be waiting for me, to fight and try to kill me. He wasn't. "Isn't meeting Spielberg, Alan Rickman, Kevin Costner, your dreams come true?" I groaned at him, "Lilith, I know you hate me for trying to not convince that judge to let you stay. But I want you to have a normal life; hanging out with Amanda Bynes, and Willis's kids isn't something that a average eighteen year old does on her Saturday nights." He told me, I looked away from him. My hope of meeting Temperance Breanne was gone in split second.

We both sighed and he opened the car door first; I followed him and asked if I could still go with Amanda and Devin to go shopping tomorrow night. He nodded and we went inside. He had supper alone as I showered. He was in bed when I came upstairs; I warmed up some food in the microwave and watched some News before going to bed. The stories were about missing and exploited children and then a missing pet in San Antonio; a man in Los Angeles, a tax man, lost his wife to breast cancer and the authorities it was murder. A baby in Florida survived the unexpected tornado and suffered only a few minor cuts and three total bruises. In New York the Senate wants to make it illegal to promote voting for November- that was the best story I heard all night.

For being a Wednesday, I was hoping it was a full week later so I wouldn't have to go through with the next few days of my training with Angel. I wanted to go patrolling tonight, but I remembered I had a date with Amanda and Devin to go shopping. Don was there when Amanda told me over lunch that we were going to go to Santa Ana, south of Los Angeles. I nodded and texted my father to let him know where we were headed; he said to be safe and not get hurt and make sure my cell phone is on and charged one hundred percent. I checked my phone right away and it was fine; I never turn my phone off anyway… except for when we go to a movie at the cinema or something like that. In Chemistry, Arubey wasn't there today and I tried to make myself feel happy he was gone, but it was hard; I missed the evil glares he gave me when we're at our lockers at the same time. Yesterday, his sister, Risika warned me to stay away from him; I wondered if she told him what she said to me? I found that I hoped she hadn't and what she said was just her, being over protective or something.

I got a head start on homework while Amanda drove her car to Santa Ana and Devin sat in back with me doing her own work. We had math, together with- get this: Mr. Gareth. When I met him on my first day, I had to exercise to keep back my laughs. I had told Angel last night that I had a teacher with my Watcher's first name as his last. He had said nothing. Amanda drove while playing her MP3 player hooked up to her the speakers of her car and we listened to Avril, P!NK, and Daughtry. It was less then an hour to get there and the ride went by slow, because Amanda drove slowly; it should have been a forty-five minute drive and instead it took us just over eighty minutes to get there. Devin and I didn't mind, we got our homework done! We sang along with the music, I knew every song, by heart and then on the radio it was a rumour that Gloria was going on tour early this year; starting next month. I made a mental note to call her later when I knew she would be in bed.

Amanda, Devin, and I stopped in a parking lot and it was actually still a little light out; we walked together to the closest clothing store. One the way there, we passed a group of men in expensive clothing and women in mini skirts, belly shirts and large loop earrings. A darker skin toned man said 'hello' to us and I saw Amanda start to say something back; I covered her mouth and told him to leave us alone. I ushered them away quickly and I tried to forget about the group of Corner Working girls and the men. I was shaky a little when we entered Old Navy ten minutes later. I tried on designer jeans with a fake chain going from the front right pocket to the back right pocket, I liked it and it was something stupid either. My shirt was a black V-neck, with frilly sleeves and was tight around the waist. Devin and Amanda made a fuss about it and Amanda got it for me; Devin held me back when she did. I bought Amanda a shirt that was a couple bucks more and we were settled. It was a pink rusty colour with a semi circle on the front; it was actually really cute. Devin got two pants instead of an outfit like I thought she said she wanted to get. We each got at least two hundred dollars worth of stuff in two hours. I got shoes and a few dark coloured khakis for patrolling and new Sketchers. These were blue instead of my black ones. Devin wouldn't buy them so Amanda and I got Devin the most adorable Capri-pants we had ever seen: they were silver with a black lining for stitching and a white shirt went with it- I got the shirt and Amanda got the pants. Devin promised to get dinner before we left.

We went to the car before going to dinner; the trunk was completely full with shopping bags. We linked our arms together and walked together but for one thing were wrong: two men from the group two hours ago were following us. I had seen them in J.C. Penny and thought they were acting human and trying to find clothes that looked good instead of shitty on them. Then they were in the music store- we didn't get any Cds, but only looked around. I spoke loud enough for them to hear that I was going to meet them in an hour or two; I wanted to go to the magic shop, I had seen one when we got to Santa Ana. Devin admitted the store was alright, but the one in LA was better. I shrugged and said I'd meet them later; Amanda gave me directions to the café we were going to go to later. I nodded and hurried away from them, hopefully leading the men away from my normal friends. Being a slayer, I could beat them up if I needed too. I raced through the crowd; I looked right into their eyes and motioned for them to follow me. They smiled and I frowned when I turned back around and pushed a man out of my way and went into the darker parts of the neighborhood.

It was just after six, probably- I wouldn't take out my cell phone to check. It wasn't pitch dark because of the street lights, but dark enough, I hurried down a street and they came after me, yelling for me to stop. I then saw more of them ahead of me, I slowed and walked a little slower; I bit my lip as I walked past them, this time I said "hi' when they said it first. There was a few up ahead at the corner, a car was waiting at another corner: they rounded up to trap me.

"Crap," I groaned and turned around to see the gang ganging up. "Why do you need me?" I whispered, they chuckled.

"You know why," he licked his lips and I made a fake gagging sound. He frowned and showed me a knife, "Be nice when we play, and I'll becourteous enough to let you live. Okay?" I felt my head nod. I held up my hand when they advanced as one around me. "What now?" he snapped, he was the darker skinned man.

I sighed and said what I wanted to say, "Before you do anything to me, I have rules: One, make sure the door is closed." I said I stepped forward. Inside was I smiling, this was my patrolling tonight. They, on the other hand, smiled so big it hurt my mouth to look at them. I walked closer and held out my hand, he took it and pulled me into his arms. "Second," I said. As I spoke I raised my foot, "Don't touch me." I growled and broke his toe wit my heel. He screamed and I hit two at the same time when they came up behind me, they stumbled back into the street. I jumped and kicked; I did a cartwheel and kicked one guy with both heels of my feet. They grunted every time I kicked them.

The darker skinned man came at me with his knife and I grabbed his wrist and snapped it. He screamed twice as loud and I was pulled back by my hair and thrown into a wall, I fell onto my back and someone picked me up.

I saw him right away, "Don!" he chuckled and dragged me into the house right behind us. I yelled for him to let me go.

Inside, he threw me aside and kicked me in the gut, the men I fought, came in and he told them to stay back, "Like my boys Lilith!" he asked me proud of his goons. I said nothing, "Where did you learn to fight, I know Glory would not sign you up for those useless Karate lessons. So it makes me wonder…" he said as he picked me up and threw me into the arms of one of the more scrawny-looking guys. He held me with my arms behind my back, he licked my neck with his gross tongue and Don yelled at him. "Stop it! I go first!"

"Don." I whispered. I was afraid of him more now, then, I was on Monday when he gave me the bruise. I used the strength I had and jumped, I got my foot to connect with the goon's face and he let me go, I landed on my left shoulder, the same arm that Don had bruised up. I then, made a choice: and sprinted to the window, I jumped out of it. The car started but didn't move, I was sure it had Don's men in it. I covered my face as glass came after me and landed on me and in my hair; I sat up as Don looked out the window. I felt a sharp pain in my left shoulder; I knew I had landed on it like when the goon dropped me. My left arm was limp and I couldn't use it at all to save my life and I needed to use it to save my life. I stood up and shook the glass from my hair, a few pieces fell out of it and the darker man came from the house with the same knife.

"We were getting along girl." He spat.

I rolled my eyes, "I deserve better then you." I snapped back, I actually proud of my reply; I can't say the same for him though. He wasn't too happy. He came at me with the knife raised, Don yelled for him to stop, but he didn't. I fell and got his feet out from under him; I somersaulted and grabbed the blade as I did. He paused and wondered how that happened. I twirled it as I showed off for my cousin and threw it at him, he dodged and it got stuck in the brick. I turned and came to see a man hit me and I fell to the ground. Don took something from someone and came over to me, I was held tightly by two men: the goon and the darker man; I gasped when the goon gripped my left arm tighter then he needed too.

My older cousin, Donald Cross held a gun at my heart. I stared at him. "I've changed dear cousin, you have too and we could own Santa Ana if we wanted too. Sorry-," he took off the safety on the gun. "I don't want to do this to my father's brother's daughter's daughter, but I have too," I even got confused. He frowned and went to pull the trigger. But then a car came from nowhere and hit one guy, he went flying over and Don fired at the speeding car. The driver braked quickly and was skilled enough to spin the car so he opened the door to me. The goon and darker man let me go. I grabbed one and threw him into the wall; I saw it was the goon. He yelled out when I broke his nose with my fist as I punched him. I blamed them for my cousin's behavior.

"LILITH!" the driver yelled, I looked up and got in when he told me too. "Don't waste your time with them; they are not worth it-!"

I turned my body to face him completely, he glanced at me. "Bull shit! They were going to-."

"Don't say it." He whispered it. He kept his eyes on the road as he drove from the area and went to the café where I was supposed to meet Amanda and Devin. I held my shoulder with my right hand, "How's the arm?" he whispered still.

"Just peachy." I muttered and kept myself from looking at Arubey Karew. "Amanda Wyatt and Devin Grace are waiting for me at Café-."

He interrupted me as he looked out my window, I kept my eyes ahead of us; I didn't want to look at him. "I know. I see them," he still whispered as we slowed down to a stop. Amanda and Devin had a shopping bag each at their feet. They looked up and stared when Arubey got out of the same car I did, Devin stood, but sat down again.

She spoke first, "Lilith? Are you alright, you look beat." Arubey looked at me finally. Devin meant I looked tired, not literally. I nodded.

Arubey opened his mouth first and spoke, before I could. "Amanda, Devin. I'm terribly sorry, but I Cyrus called my dad and I was asked to bring Lilith home. Family business, I have no idea-."

"Oh my, let us know okay. What about your bags?"

"Hold onto them for me?" she nodded. I smiled at her, "Tomorrow come over and I'll show you my house." I offered in exchange. Amanda nodded and I invited Devin right away; nonetheless, she should have known it was for her as well. Arubey opened my door for me; I glared at him as I got in and hoped they didn't see that. He closed the door and Amanda texted me saying I better tell her and Devin everything that is said and happens. Arubey took off as I was responding saying I promised to tell her everything. I added to myself I would have to lie to them of course; I wasn't comfortable with lying to my friends about something like this, but it was totally necessary!

Arubey drove faster then Amanda would ever do and I threatened him I'd jump out the window if he didn't slow down. The fool believed me, because he went from one hundred to eighty. He muttered something and looked at me, I looked back. He glanced at my shoulder; I covered it with my hand. He rolled his eyes and touched the blade, I pushed his hand away, "You're freezing!" I snapped. He ignored me and felt the shoulder blade again, he looked at the road. "How did you find me?" I asked in a solid whisper. I was surprised he heard me.

He shrugged, "I just did. Don't ask because I won't tell ya." He said and sped up when he was sure I was distracted enough not to notice. I asked about Don, "I'll handle it. He won't bother you again," he promised.

I lost it, "He's my cousin Arubey!"

"He wanted to ra-, he tried to kill you Lilith!" he yelled at me, Arubey turned to face me. I sat back as far as I was allowed.

"You can't read minds, you don't know that. Maybe he wanted me as his hostage; I hear ransom is a very big thing this year." I was half teasing him. I knew that Don was going to rape me and then let his friends take turns.

He growled, "I just know he was going to hurt you-."

"You and I don't even like each other-." My voice broke a little, he looked at me. His eyes calmer, but still black. "Don is a good man-." I had to stop, my voice and right hand was shaking. He stopped at a fast food place in Anaheim, and got an chocolate malt for me; he told me to take it. I didn't want too. I took it and had to hold it in my right hand the entire time. I said nothing to him for a few minutes, he drove slowly for me. Eighty-one. I was looking out the window, but I felt his eyes on me every few minutes. It was gone when I put it in the cup holder; they looked like they've never been used.

He winced when he said Don's name. "Still think- that Don is a good man?" I said nothing. "He isn't, I know it, you know it, and we all know it. Edam and I saw the bruise he gave you on Monday, it was a clear print Lilith." His voice cracked suddenly. I forced my head to turn to Arubey, he looked at me too. "I'm not your hero tonight Lilith, I was just there." I nodded.

I stopped him before he could continue, "Is this the part where you say we can't be friends before we even become such a thing?" he nodded, "I sort of figured, Risika told me to stay away from you." He glared at me as if I swore at him when I completely didn't have too. I took a deep breath, "Tell me why you weren't in school today." I tried to sound curious and worried that something happened.

He said nothing for ten minutes; I had the suspicion that Arubey had his own very valuable secrets. Finally Arubey answered me, "I was away for the day for family matters." It wasn't what I expected, "We're not friends and there are regulations that I have to follow-."

"Why? Regulations saying you can't be friends unless if they sit at that stupid table?" I demanded, he said nothing. Arubey continued to drive toward Los Angeles and I saw the welcome sign. "What dumb ass made damn regulations for that?" I muttered to myself.

He said two words, "I did." I looked at him, not embarrassed but angry.

"You're pathetic you know that-?"

"You're the one who went off alone!" I got him to yell at me again, "You, Lilith, went off in Santa Ana; a place you've never been too. You encouraged those bastards to what end up nearly…" he can't say the word 'rape' in front of me, I realized when he said something else. "Beaten and killed!" he won't say because if he did, then that means it could have happened to me.

I gasped suddenly, "Arubey." He glanced at me, worried. "You care, that's why you won't… oh of course."

He reminded me, "We're not friends and we never will be Lilith!" he was still yelling even when I wasn't. "I want you to stay the hell away from me Cross and don't talk to me and don't…" I hit his shoulder with my right hand. He raised his brow at me.

"Stop acting like a idiot!" I grinned, he stared at me; unsure if I was stable or not. "You care," I muttered as I looked out the window again, smiling; I would glance over at him.

We got to my driveway and I told him to stop, I opened the door and threw the malt cup in the trash right away and got back in when he told me too when he saw I was going to close the door and walk the rest of the way. I rolled my eyes and remembered: he cared.

He stopped, we saw my KIA Spectra sitting in the dark, my father's car was nowhere in sight; he was out with friends; he mentioned something about Wednesdays being Darts Night. Cyrus was on a league with some guys from work and this FBI agent who worked with Dr. Breanne. He had his door open, closed and over by me, before I could even open the door myself. Right away he pulled me from his car and held me up against it.

"I'll prove to you I care Lilith, grab onto my arm if you must." He muttered. I grabbed it tightly when he moved his hand to my shoulder; he kept me pinned to his car and hit foot between my feet to keep me from running away. He pressed his body against the right side of me so my left was free to move, I yelled when he popped my joint into place. "I'm sorry, but it had to be done." I heard him, I nodded; I should have figured he would do that- to prove me wrong that he did care, that he wanted to hurt me to keep me away from him. My hand had moved to his back and I gripped his shirt tightly in my fist, his left arm was around my waist to keep my up from collapsing. I held onto him even after he was finished.

He told me to try to move my fingers, they were numb and I told him this; he mentioned that they would be for a while. I let his shirt go hesitantly and I knew he noticed that- I just knew he did! Arubey was still standing over me when he stepped back slightly; he grabbed my wrists and pulled me off the car door. I searched for any kind of answer in his eyes but didn't find one; he looked deep into my eyes as well… he forced himself to leave the front of me and go to the driver's side of the car. He glanced at me when he opened the door and looked away as he started the LTX Chevy Malibu and drove away. I knew he didn't look back in his rearview mirror, I would have felt his eyes on me if he had.

I went inside and went to the bathroom to showered with hot water and went to bed to dream about Arubey saving my life over and over again. I didn't ever want to wake up from it.

Hey, readers- thanks for reading. Hope it's enjoyable?
I'm adding that 'Bones' characters make appearances sooner or later in the story! I forgot to add that memo.
Thanks Again For Reading!