Life truly is a joy right now, busy all the time. I have big exams coming up in like a month so I am on revision hiatus. But in a short while I have 12 weeks of nothing so trust me this story is going to be done all the time! I promise/ hope! Thank you guys for still reading you amazing people.

Life settled into a routine pretty quickly after that with the craziness of 'dumping ground' life thrown in. She was used to her and Carmen just nodding and her occasionally waking me up in the night. I would pretend that nothing was going on with me and Rick all day and then on the walk home we would stop at a café or sometimes the park and just be us, no lying or secrets. In fact back at the home everyone seemed to have presumed that whatever had been happening had stopped. At least no one mentioned it to me and Carmen stopped giving me those dirty looks whenever we were around each other. The only thing that I heard about was Rick had been pulled into Mike's office and had been given the 'talk'. To my amusement, but nothing about you can't see a fellow house member but we still decided to keep it secret.

I was waiting around outside of our school for Rick when an arm snaked around my waist pulling me into a backwards hug.

"Hey, I had such a bad day let's get out of here."

I smiled and took his hand.

"What made it so bad baby? How long have we got by the way before we look suspicious?"

"40 minutes, I had that teacher again who picks on me due to my parents thing."

"I don't understand why you are considered different. Your parents don't dictate who you become. In fact I am pretty certain you become the opposite of your parents."

"I know I am never going into their business. No thank you to prison."

"I don't know though those guys on hustle are pretty awesome."

Rick just turned me to face him and then leaned down and pulled me into a kiss. Reaching up I wrapped my hands around his neck and he lifted me slightly up so I was up on my toes. Something about his kiss let me on that there was more about his bad day then meets the eye. A loud cough causes me to pull back much to Rick's disappointment. Spinning on my heels, I tripped over my feet and grabbed hold of Rick's arm. As I regained balance, I heard the throaty laugh that haunts me.

Conner.

I brought my head up to meet his eyes. Those wicked green eyes filled with evil. I loathed him and I knew he was about to turn my life upside down all over again.

"Who thought I would see little Anna making out with a boy."

Rick's wide eyes turned to me; I saw his mind click with who this was. He turned his body ever so slightly so it was blocking me.

"Oh so he's not your boyfriend, just a body guard. Well good on you mate, or is that how she is paying you. Not a bad kisser is she and you should see the other things she can do."

"Stop it Conner, you know I never did anything with you. Only in your sick fantasies. Come on Rick let's go we don't have to listen to this."

"You got bossy Anna, now that was unexpected. You know you don't want to leave me darling."

He started to move towards me, the gleaming look in his eye. Telling me he wouldn't back down till he got what he wanted.

"Rick, please now."

Pulling his hand he began to move. Breaking his eye contact with Conner he followed me. As we walked on I heard Conner calling out.

"I am not done just yet Darling; I'll find you when he is not around."

I forced myself to keep walking and not react. I felt Rick's worried gaze flick over me many times. Keeping my eyes straight I blocked out the tears until we could get home.

-Carmen wasn't in our room and I hoped she wouldn't come back anytime soon. I had left Rick looking confused, I just dropped his hand and ran up the stairs. I pulled my blanket off my bed and created a nest in the side of my room. From here I could see anyone who could walk in or climb in from my window. I felt safe enough. Even then though he wormed into my thoughts. New fears that not only would he get me but now he had a reason to hurt Rick to. Sighing at the ghost of my past I closed my eyes and tried to escape, if only for a few hours.

When I opened my eye's the room was dark and I could make out the shape of Carmen asleep in her bed. I was truly surprised no one had woken me up for dinner; usually skipping it was a no here. Stretching out I hit a cold plate by foot. Gingerly picking it up I spotted a small serving off mac and cheese. A small note stuck out of it, with slight annoyance at someone intercepting my mac and cheese with paper I pulled it out.

Hey, I am guessing you wanted to be alone but if you wake up and find this then I am camping out in the cupboard. If you need me come find me. I want to see you Anna.

Rick XX

The letter made me smile at his caring nature. It still made me sigh tough; there more he knows the more at risk I am putting him. So much for starting again. Conner couldn't just let me have a normal boyfriend, who I could lose myself with. Instead he had to take over my mind and let the demons come out to play. I stood up and walked to meet him, time to get this over and done with.