Chapter 12

"Let's get this over with. I really don't want to be here right now." I say walking into Ryan's classroom before slamming my books down on the desk. I look at Oliver who is smirking at me. "Do you have a boyfriend?" He asks quirking up an eyebrow. I'm taken aback by his question. I look at him and try to glare. I don't know why to say. If I say yes he'll most likely ask who and that would not be a good thing so I shake my head no. For some reason I feel like shit after doing that.

"Then is there a reason your neck is covered in hickey's?" He points to my neck. Oh God. I completely forgot about those. I was meaning to do something with that but I had totally let it slip my mind. I put my hands on my neck and scowl at him.

"That is none of your business. What I do in my free time does not concern you now can we please get this over with?" I ask sitting down next to him. "Just cover it up for tonight?" He asks. I really don't want to go to this thing with him. He's a stranger. Plus I can tell Ryan really doesn't trust him so I shouldn't either and I don't. "I'll go to this thing with you but the second you touch me I'm gone." I tell him sternly. He puts his hands up in defeat and nods.

"Good now that we've got that clear can we please start? I have to meet someone in two hours." I tell him. That was possibly the worst two hours of my life. This guy was a complete sleaze and he took every opportunity he could to flirt with me. It was very annoying.

Ryan showed up just before we were leaving saying he had to pick some papers up. Oliver didn't seem to notice he was too wrapped up in looking at me. I gave him the directions to my house and he said he'd be there at 6. Great. I couldn't believe I was stupid enough to say yes to this creepy guy.

"Ugh, tonight is going to suck." Ryan whined once Oliver was out and had left the building. "You'll live." I giggled before walking away from him and his class room. He followed me out. "Don't wear red." He told me with no expression on his face. I look at him confused. What was wrong with red? I wore red Thursday night.

"Why?" I ask as we reach outside. "Because you look amazing in it. You are only supposed to look that good for me." He says huskily into my ear. There are those shivers again. "No red. But maybe I could wear red for you…in private?" I bite my lip not looking at him. I can hear him take a deep breath beside me and it really makes me happy to know I have a hold on him with just the most simple things.

"Now Mr. Atwood I should really get home to tell my mother about tonight. Text me and I can maybe possibly slip away from Oliver tonight if you can get away from your wife." I said the last thing a little too harshly. I am insanely jealous of that woman! I hate her and I barely even know her. "She won't be for too much longer." He says as we approach my car. I want to kiss him so badly but I know I can't. Even if the parking lot is deserted I really can't risk getting caught at all.

"Taylor!" My mother greeted me as soon I stepped foot into my house. She had a huge smile on her face. "What?" I ask her. "I heard about your little date with that Trask boy! They are very rich." She smiled clapping her hands together. I couldn't believe her. Then I started wondering how she knew.

"Mother, I'm not going with him to take his money. He just asked and I didn't have a reason to say no." I lied. I had a huge reason to say no. An amazing reason. In the form of my hunk of a boyfriend.

Oliver was right on time which I found a little annoying. I thought I'd at least have a few more minutes to stall this train wreck that was tonight. He was speaking to me but I seriously wasn't listening. There wasn't a reason to. Instead I'd just nod when I thought it was appropriate.

I spotted Ryan the second I got there. Marissa was nowhere to be seen though which kind of made me happy. I smiled when I noticed he was looking at me but he wasn't smiling. I watched him take his phone out.

He was texting me. He's so jealous. I love it. I go to walk away from Oliver but he grabs my arm. I glare at him. I already told him not to touch me.

"What are you doing?" I yank my arm away from him harshly. "I want you to meet my parents." He smiles grabbing for my hand. He takes it and he's got it squeezed so tightly that I can't let go. I'm trying my hardest to pull away but it's not working. I know Ryan is watching and I know he's going to be pissed. Everything is a blur.

The rest of the night I'm freaking out waiting for a text from Ryan but he's just sitting there with his wife acting like nothing is going on between them. That really bothers me. I just want him to act like he doesn't love her, something anything. I finally got the text. Apparently he doesn't want to see me now. I'm devastated. Great I just ruined something that could really turn into something big. "I need to go home now." I tell Oliver only a few minutes after I get the text.

Ryan's standing next to Marissa with his hand in hers. He leans over and whispers something in her ear and she smiles. No. He's only supposed to make me smile like that.

"Are you okay?" He asks me. I nod and say I just don't feel too well. That's really the truth. I don't feel well. I'm depressed. I'm hurt. I'm everything bad. Oliver smiles over at me when we reach my house. He leans over and I try to dodge him but he's got my face in his hand and he's holding my chin tightly as he puts his lips on mine. I shut my eyes and push him away.

"No! I am not going to kiss you! I don't know you and I'm in love with someone else so please just leave this alone. I will not get back into another abusive relationship and judging by the way you have held on to me tonight I can tell you're going to get worse than that so please just leave me alone." I tell him reaching for the door handle. "You'll change your mind." He adds before I'm out of his car. He speeds off down my driveway like an idiot.

I don't go inside instead I take my keys out of my purse and get into my car. I can't go in that house. I don't want to be there. I need to get away. Now I'm sitting on the sand at the beach. My bare feet are digging their way into the sand as I rest my elbows on my knees that are propped up against my chest. I decide I need to talk to Ryan.

"What do you want Taylor?" He answers the phone with a harsh cold voice. "I…I just wanted…you know what this was a stupid idea. I shouldn't have called because you're apparently pissed. Let's get this over with. Hit me make yourself feel better then rape me." I tell him. I don't know where that all came from. For some odd reason I'm expecting just that. It's exactly what Seth would do. But do I really believe Ryan would treat me with such hate like that?

"Taylor…Where are you?" He asks. I close my eyes and tell him. He's on his way. Is he going to do exactly what I said?

I hear a car in the parking lot behind me. I shut my eyes tightly and stand up. I almost fall but I catch my balance quickly. He's coming towards me. I'm scared to death that he's going to hurt me. He doesn't instead I'm in his arms and he's telling me how sorry he is. "Taylor, please look at me." He pushes me away a little so I can look into his eyes.

"Did he rape you?" He asks me. I don't know what to say. Technically he did but I can't say it again. I don't want to say it again. That happened to be the first time I'd ever admitted aloud or even to myself. "What do you call pushing me on the bed and making me have sex with him despite the fact I didn't want to?" I ask him looking deep into his eyes. They darkened a little. He took his hands off of me and ran them threw his hair. I didn't like that look in his eyes. It scared me. I reached for him but he pushed me away slightly. I looked back up at him wanting answers as to why he was acting the way he was. "I could kill him." His voice was harsh and dark.

"Ryan…I didn't tell you that for you to hurt him. Seth did what he did and it's all over now." I say. He just shakes his head. "You weren't treated like you should be, Taylor how can you say that? How can you be okay with all of this? How could you let him put his hands on you? How could you let him take advantage of you?" He asks me. I take a deep breath. I can't answer him because there's no real answer to that question. There was never an answer. "Please don't do this…please, Ryan. I'm begging you to let it go. I need you to let it go." I plead with him. He just shakes his head.

"I can't, Taylor. It's eating me alive and then tonight seeing you with that guy. Holding his hand?" He wouldn't let me touch him so I folded my arms across my chest. "And you were better? Holding hands with Marissa?" I snap.

"That's different and you know it! You know I have to do that, Taylor so don't throw that back in my face." He says backing up. I can't let him leave. He can't leave me. He has to stay. He has to be my rock. I need him. Instead of saying anything I just rush into him and crash my lips into his. At first he doesn't respond but then as my hands reach the back of his neck he responds.

"I need you Ryan. You can't leave me. You can't hurt me, please don't hurt me." I break away from the kiss holding to him tightly. His hands reach my waist. "I could never hurt you. I could never…" He says placing his hands on my face now pulling me with everything in him to him.

"Ryan!" Someone yells across the beach. I pull away with my eyes wide as he looks around him to see who it is.

"Go." He tells me in my ear. I pull away from him and run towards my car. I'm freaking out. How can this be happening? Someone saw. Someone's going to tell. I'm going to get him fired. How stupid can I get? Seriously thinking I could do this. As I'm running to my car I can hear the guy talk to him. He's asking who he was kissing. Ryan asks him something but I can't hear for I'm now at my car and tugging at my car door.

I reach in my pocket for my keys. Oh God. My keys aren't there. I peak into my car. My keys are sitting on the seat. How did I do that? I'm cursing myself under my breath. I slam my head against the window. I need to get into that damn car. The guy is looking around Ryan's shoulder at me.

"Ryan!" I scream finding myself falling to the ground. He's rushing towards me picking me up off of the ground. The guy is behind him. I don't know who he is. I've never seen him before. "What's wrong? Taylor, answer me." He's begging. I look at him and his eyes are worried. I laugh a little at this. He doesn't find it amusing.

"I locked my keys in my car." I whisper. He takes a deep breath before letting me go. "Taylor, this is my brother, Trey." He introduces me to the guy. Now I can see the resemblance in him and Ryan. I'm a little freaked out. What is this guy going to do? He wouldn't tell on his own brother would he?

"He won't say anything. He hates Marissa." Ryan puts his hand on my shoulder pulling me into him. "Oh." I look up at the guy. "I can get in your car if you need me to." Trey raises an eyebrow I nod not really caring how he knows how to break into a car. Ryan pulls me away from Trey and my car. He places his lips on mine before breaking away from me. He takes my hand and I swear I've never been happier. I can't believe he's doing this outside. He shouldn't. He should want to hide us better. He's going to get into trouble and it will be all my fault. Trey gets into my car a few minutes later. I thank him profusely.

"No problem. I take it you're the reason my little brother hasn't stopped smiling. I don't know about this age difference thing…" He looks between Ryan and I. I look over at my boyfriend who is smiling a little. My boyfriend. My history teacher.

"I can't help it…" Ryan looks at his brother. "Well your secret is safe with me." Trey says patting Ryan on the shoulder and shaking my hand before disappearing. "That was…" I start. "Awkward?" He finished. I nod. That's exactly what I was going to say.