Hey, all! You might notice I'm updating a day early, and that's because I've changed my schedule to being Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays for no other reason except I remember Monday better than Tuesday. It's still three times a week, but just on slightly different days. Anyway, this chapter was originally going to be twice as long, but I've decided to split it up because there should be some calm before the storm. As a result, both this chapter and the next one will be from Lorin's point of view, not that it matters much. Hopefully you lovelies enjoy this fillery chapter, and I'll see you again on Thursday! ~Shaymie

Lorin's POV

I should have known something was up. James almost never answered my texts anymore, and the rare times he did, they were vague. I probably deserved this silent treatment, anyway. I had pushed him too far the other day, earning myself a couple new bruises and a sore body after he had dragged me to the bed and ravaged me. I should have said something about it, how he was always a bit too rough with me, but that would probably just lead to another punch or slap.

"I'm sorry about that, babe," he apologized the next morning as he massaged my aching body. I hummed in response and gasped out a breathy moan as his lips honed in on that spot on my neck-it was especially sensitive. I felt his lips curl up into a smile as he sensually sucked and kissed. Fuck, he was such a tease...

"I-It's fine… Thank you for the massage." I wanted to apologize for what I had done, but to be perfectly honest, I couldn't even remember what it was. It was hard to focus on anything but the feeling of his lips on me and his hands, one of which was slowly inching its way south. I groaned into the pillow as it reached its destination and felt my face flush as he chuckled. How could he be so ready to go again?

"You know I love you, right?" he asked, his tongue lightly tracing circles on my neck and his other hand moving down to my chest, twisting and kneading in just the right way. I nodded, trying to stay quiet since his parents were in the next room over, but it was nearly impossible. My breath came out in little pants as his fingers worked their magic.

"You just push me too far sometimes and have to be punished. If you behaved a bit better, I wouldn't have to punish you. You understand, don't you?" He bit down on my neck as he finished speaking, sending a delicious chill down my spine. How could something hurt so much yet feel so good? I could barely form a coherent thought.

"Y-Yesss… I'm sorry… God, that feels so good…"

It was my fault. I should have known better than to argue with him last night. God, I didn't even deserve this. He had every right to yell at me, throw me against the wall, or even break up with me on the spot. But here he was, massaging me and making me feel better than I'd ever felt before. He forgave me. He loved me. And I loved him. I had to treat him better. I'd try to make a better apology later...

I woke with a start and flinched as my forehead collided with something hard. I heard a hissed swear and opened my eyes, finding myself looking into Alex's worried dark eyes. He ran an ink-stained thumb lightly over my forehead and frowned when I winced.

"So much for a good morning kiss," he sighed, putting a hand on my back and helping me sit up. "Nightmare again? Sorry I wasn't with you last night."

"It's fine. You can't spend every night with me, after all. I'm pretty sure John would kill you." In the month that we'd been dating, Alex had spent most nights in bed with me, just laying next to me and holding me. Something about him made it easier to sleep. Maybe it was the way he always smelled like paper and coffee. Maybe it was the fact that he was always so warm. Or maybe it was just the fact that I felt safe with him. I didn't have to dance around him and watch what I said. He would never hurt me-he had spent the first week of our relationship assuring me of that.

"Tell me why he's staying here again?"

"Because his dad's a total ass," I sighed, grabbing a brush from my bedside table and running it through my hair. A quick glance towards the clock told me that it was 5:30. I groaned and winced as I tugged through a knot. I hated waking up so early just for choir practice, but the concert was only a couple days away and Maddie and I had to work overtime to catch up with everyone else.

"Fair point. Do you want me to make you some coffee?" I snorted and looked at Alex's smug face. He knew how much I hated coffee. I couldn't understand how he drank so much of it every day. Besides, my hands were shaky enough without the influence of caffeine. Even now, I was kind of having trouble with my hair. Alex frowned and took the brush from me, gently pulling it through my hair.

"Are you alright, Lo?" he asked, his hands expertly running through my hair. I nodded and yawned, rubbing my eyes. Shaky hands was a norm for me, but they came and went. John had been telling me to see a doctor or something, but it really wasn't that bad. Probably just an effect of anxiety or something.

"Why are you awake this early, Alex? You don't have to be at school for another hour." I felt him shrug as he started twisting my hair into a braid.

"I was up anyway. I thought it'd be nice to wake you up with a kiss and you kind of… jumped up." He finished my hair in a matter of seconds and kissed me on the forehead as he tied off the end of the braid. "I'll leave you to get ready. You know how Madison shows up early all the time."

I got out of bed reluctantly, knowing that Maddie would be furious if I wasn't ready the second he pulled up and quickly picked out an outfit (a light blue dress Eliza had picked out for me, white tights, and ankle boots). I frowned as I saw myself in the mirror. The dress really showed off just how chubby I was. I was about to get something else from my closet-a hoodie, perhaps-when I heard my door open. Maddie walked in, followed by Thomas and a disgruntled Alex, whose hands were tightly clamped around a mug. I had a sneaking suspicion he was already on his third cup of the day.

"Haven't you guys heard of knocking? What if I had been changing?" I shrieked. The corners of Alex's mouth twisted up in a smirk and he took a sip of coffee to cover it.

"Told you she'd be mad," he laughed, looking up at Thomas. "Jeffershit here said that you'd be okay with us just walking in."

"Can you two get along for anything?" I asked, grabbing my backpack from the closet floor. They were both on the debate team at school, but the arguments didn't stop there. It was impossible to hang out with both of them at the same time because they'd somehow find something to argue about. It was ridiculous.

"Nope," Alex grinned, popping the 'P'. I rolled my eyes and smiled at him as he passed me my school ID from the hook near the door.

"Lorin, we should go now. We're going to get breakfast." I nodded at Maddie and stood on my toes to give Alex a kiss on the cheek. He smiled at me as I waved goodbye and left with Maddie and Thomas.