Chapter 9

Mia wondered down the beach, it was warm, with a soft breeze from the sea was blowing her hair gently across her face, she smiled while she glanced back to L.J and Becky. They walked hand in hand, but it didn't bother Mia like it would before. Maybe it was just the drinks in her making her happy, she looked up to the stars spinning carefully holding onto her shoes. Mia felt giggling spinning around while getting closer to the sea, she lost track of time, her eyes kept looking up to the stars.

L.J kissed Becky as she walked off towards her place, it was right on the sea front, L.J smiled while looking around for Mia. He looked quickly before seeing her by the sea, the waves crashing around her feet as she walked into the water. L.J ran quickly to get her before she went too far. "Mia!" L.J picked her up before listening to her break into giggles. "Don't do that you scared me." L.J added while Mia rested her head again his chest, her eyes focused on his.

Mia kept watching his eyes as he was walking them up towards the street, her eyes wide. "I'm sorry, just I wanted to…" she pursed looking around the street, "Where are we going?" Mia looked around confused before pushing on L.J's chest to be put down.

L.J placed her on her feet, but felt confused as she started to walk the opposite direction, "Mia, I thought you're hotel gets pissed when you come back wasted…" he called after her, she pursed turning face him. "I don't want you in trouble…" L.J added while she walked back to him, her hands gripping tighter on her shoes, she trusted them into L.J's hands.

"Fine…" she said while walking a head, leaving L.J confused as he followed behind her slowly, his eyes kept focused. "Just let you know I am going to steal your bed…" she added while he blinked.

Two things surprised L.J when he got into the house, one that Lincoln was still up, and two Mia was being extra quiet. When they got into the house, Mia charged up the stairs. L.J looked into the living room walking slowly. "Hey Dad, Mia's gonna be staying…" he said while Lincoln looked up from the sofa, the TV wasn't even on, he was drinking.

"Mia, nice…" he said in a tone, L.J didn't like it, but kept still in the doorframe, his eyes scanning his father, "Well, better get back to her, cos hell, fuck it." He downed the rest of his drink.

L.J stepped into the room, he kept his movements slow, looking to the counter he saw the bottle of vodka and Pepsi, "what's going on?" he asked while Lincoln got up, he walked slowly towards the bottle before stopping beside L.J.

"Sofia's gone, she needs some time to think, we both do." Lincoln measured out the vodka to the Pepsi. "I don't blame her; I can't even tell her that I don't love her…" Lincoln downed the vodka, and then poured more into the glass.

L.J felt frozen as he slowly backed away, "Well… I'm going to leave you…" L.J bumped into the door frame on the way out, "See you in the morning." He now closed the door rushing up to his room.

Mia sat on L.J's bed, the room wasn't tied and it made her nervous. She sat on the bed before picking up his ipod; she placed the earbuds in her ears while clicking on a song. Mia was getting into the full swing of the song dancing on the bed, but when the door opened she quickly banged her head on the wall trying to turn it off. "Ow…!" her hands dropping the ipod back onto the bed, and L.J stared.

"Well nice to see you've made yourself at home…" he whispered while sitting on the desk chair, Mia sitting crossed legged on the bed, her eyes watching his. "My dad's kinda drunk." He added as if Mia asked him a question, but she played with his ipod. "I think him and Sofia are braking up." His voice low and Mia stopped playing with the ipod putting it down.

Mia was quiet for a long while, L.J kept still on the desk chair, but he didn't want to say anything just yet. "I think I better leave…" she slowly got up from the bed moving to the door, she made it halfway across the room before L.J stopped her. He stood in front of her, his hands holding her arms, "L.J, seriously, I just, I need…" her body swayed a little trying to stand still.

"Mia, you're drunk, so I want to make sure you're ok, ok." His voice was soothing as he held her close to his chest, she wrapped her arms around him, it felt night to hug him, and it was safe.

Mia looked up into L.J's eyes for a moment before nodding, "you have a good point…" she moved out of his arms, but then turned to the bed, "I know it sounds weird, but you don't mind sleeping with me?" she asked while he stepped forward.

L.J brushed a stray hair from her face kissing her forehead, "I don't mind at all." He whispered, brushing his hand over her cheek, his bedroom door creaked, but when he looked up, no one was there. "I can lend you something better to sleep in." he added while looking in a draw, he took out a baggy white t-shirt and shorts. "Are these ok?" he asked while she lightly took them out of his hands.

Mia played the clothes over her hand, but then looked back to L.J with a small smile. "They're fine, I just need…" she pointed to the door, but L.J laughed.

"Changed, I'll just get something to drink, I won't be too long." He walked out the door leaving Mia alone.

Sara was standing in the doorway of Michael's bedroom; she placed her hand on the wooden frame. The little boy moved in his sleep, his hand tucked under his chin, she smiled brushing stray hair out of her face. Sara had a good time on her date, but for the past few days it was like she was being watched, she knew the feeling too well, but this time it didn't scare her. She looked up at the window behind Michael's bed, she could see the outline of the tree branches, but shrugged the feeling off pulling the door shut.

She walked down the stairs; it was starting to feel chilly as she sees the back door was open, it was shut, or the wind blew it open. Sara picked up a blanket from the back of the couch, wrapped it around her shoulders before walking to the open door, she glanced around the outside before closing the door. Turning slowly to look at the coffee table she felt frozen, on the surface was a crane, placed on the edge. Sara held a hand to her chest, her heart pounded hard against her ribs as she carefully walked over to the origami bird. Her finger touched it softly before opening it; her hands trembled as she looked at it from all possible angles. When she finally opened the wing, she felt her breath catch, simply written was the word, soon.

Mia opened her eyes slowly, she felt L.J's arm around her. Slowly moving off the bed she glanced behind her, but opened the bedroom door stepping quietly into the hallway. She looked around carefully before tiptoeing down the stairs, she didn't want to make any noise, wake anyone up, or have to interact with Lincoln. Mia could feel her throat tighten as she made her way into the dark kitchen, her eyes was used to the dark. Finding the fridge she took out a bottle of water, opening the bottle drinking, the fridge was cooling her off, but she felt someone watching her. She could feel his breath on the back of her neck, his body heat sent shivers through her as Mia turned on the balls of her feet to face him. His eyes were intense on hers; Mia stepped back into the fridge while he kept still. Mia felt like her throat was getting tighter, and there was nothing she could do about it. "Mia…" He spoke her name so carefully it sent chills through her, but she kept perfectly still, she could smell the booze on him. On the other hand she had sobered up a lot from sleeping, so she felt uncomfortable with him so close to her.

"Lincoln…" she whispered moving around him, her legs felt like lead, her eyes avoided his. Lincoln on the other hand was quick to grab her arm forcing her to turn around and face him again. "Please, just no…" She waved the water bottle trying to walk away, but he kept a hold on her arm.

Lincoln wish for all he turned the light on so he could see her face, but the moonlight shining through the patio doors illuminated the fear in her eyes, she stared up at him pale white. "I just want to talk to you…" he whispered while brushing a piece of her hair out of her face, "just a conversation." His words soft, her free hand tightened its grip on the bottle. "Please?" his voice strained on the last part.

Mia couldn't make her eyes meet his; it was like a ball of tension was building, and his hand holding her arm made her legs lose control. "Not now. In the morning, when you're sober!" with a quick jerk she pulled her arm back, she stormed away from him, but Lincoln was quick to grab her arm around, she shrugged him off, her eyes glaring at him. "For fuck sake, leave me alone!" her voice cold, "You did it so well yesterday…" her words a dark his, like a slap in the face.

Lincoln let her arm slip from his loose grip, it hurt him to hear her say them words, he'd never thought of it like that. "So to get back at me, you have sex with L.J!" his voice rough, but he strained the words out, it hurt to think of Mia with L.J, even if he was more in her age range.

Mia brought her hand crashing around his face, her eyes a blaze; she'd never been more insulted. "How dare you!" her voice kept at a level to not wake L.J, her hand brushed into her hair pulling it out her face, "L.J is my best friend, I love him more than anything on this planet." Placed the bottle down, she moved away from Lincoln, "and so if I did, or didn't have sex with him, it's my business." Her eyes kept on Lincoln's face, her chest heaving from being so mad, "I mean, I don't give you hell, for having sex with Sofia!"

Lincoln stepped back from her, his face fell. "I've not had sex with her in months." Tone dark, his eyes gazed down at Mia as she kept still again the fridge, biting her bottom lip.

"So, that's it right…" she spoke slowly, "nice to know I was just someone to use…" she walked past him heading into the lounge, she could feel the empty void in her chest getting bigger, and her heart was literally breaking.

Feeling a hand brushed down her arm, it stopped at her hand, but when Lincoln turned her around to face him, it were gentler than before, his eyes met hers. Mia could feel her bottom lip tremble. "I didn't use you," he started slowly, his hand reached for her face, it lightly cupped her cheek. Mia closed her eyes feeling his body move closer to hers. "I care about you." He whispered closing the gap between them, using his other hand to brush away the tears from her eyes.

"I care about you too…" Mia whispered while leaning up, his lips touched hers soft at first, but as feather light as her lips were, the kiss got intense fast as he pushed her against the wall, he kissed her more passionately, his hand moved up the baggy t-shirt she wore. Mia kissed back with as much as she was getting, feeling his other hand lifting her up, she wrapped her legs around his hips. Lincoln moved them to the couch, he moved his kiss down her throat, her breathing getting deep, but she glanced behind her as the light flickered on. Sofia stood in the doorway; her hand covered her month, her eyes wide in horror and surprise. Lincoln lifted his head, his eyes meeting Sofia's just as she turned around to rush out the house.