Roses at Midnight 22

Primrose was utterly scarred and very scared.

Deep down inside, she knew that Kendall would never hurt her, and she had a good feeling about the others with that knowledge/trust. Even so, she wasn't letting anyone but Nikki come anywhere near her; if they'd tried, she'd run or start crying. Her body constantly felt worn down and groggily, like it'd been invaded and, in fact, she knew it had. Nobody knew what those men really did to her, and why she was so skittish and fearful now. All anybody knew was too approach with caution and talk low, then pray she would listen for even a second before running away.

As much as the lack of trust made her afraid, she was glad nobody knew.

Nikki was completely in the dark.

And she hated being the dark.

Even though she didn't know what exactly went wrong, she knew that something happened to her adopted daughter she refused to tell about. The older, after all, knew exactly what is what like to want to carry a secret to the grave and to still be living with said secrets. It was still very bothering for her, on the other hand, but she better than anyone force was not the method to go about doing it, and niethering was coaxing.

Gaining back trust was the only way to be let in on any secret.

The really conflicting thing about all of it was, though, that she was the only one Primrose seemed to trust as of the moment. Nikki knew how far she could within in the first couple of days of them being home: Touching. Talking. Kissing on the forehead. But when she tried to get the youth to talk about anything other than something like the weather, food, or drawing, she'd shut down completely or run off.

Touching. Talking. Kissing.

That was as much as her own adopted daughter would give her.

Her heart that had been shattered countless times before was broken, and she just didn't have the energy to reassemble the pieces. Niether of them did.

Touching.

"Logan..." Camille purred softly as he laced his fingers with hers underneath the dining table. Both of them had become very aware very quickly they needed a break from the choas, so they'd decided on a date night to the french dining place in the town.

Her boyfriend smiled slightly shyly back, making both of their cheeks blush pink. He was so cute and so sweet, and he definatley knew how to give a woman what she wanted. But as they ate and exchanged small talk, her mind couldn't help but linger back to the fact he was rarely independant. He didn't appear to be able to stand on his own two feet, unless it was math or science, and he seemed kind of awkward. She was so indepandant herself and so smart...she didn't understand sometimes how their chemical love attraction held.

But she could understand why they were so on-again off-again.

"Is something wrong, Cami?" he suddenly inquires, making her pink cheekbones deepen in color.

"Yeah."

Being an actress and an expert at it, she plastered a convincing smile and started to talk about the morning news with him. And even so, she couldn't help but wonder why they needed each other.

Talking.

"You know none of this is your fault," Lucy raised an eyebrow at her boyfriend, "right?"

"Yeah..." he sighed, plopping onto the large couch in the center of the room, "I know. But I still feel bad...and...left out."

"You're not the only one, trust me," she sighed herself, plopping beside him and leaning her head back, studying the swirls in the ceiling.

She had to admit, (even though it was mutely so,) that him getting so angry surprised her. She never really knew he had that fierce of a protective streak, and he'd always come across as caring more about himself than he ever would ever. To be honest, she still found him shallow and self-pitiful. She still fell for him...why? She couldn't tell you, but unlike Cami, she didn't care why.

She just didn't want to be hurt again.

Kissing.

It was like an escape, almost.

Kissing her was like fireworks erupting into the darkened twilight, the sparks raining down in pleasure, creating wonder, joy, and anticipation. His lips against hers gave him these feeling amplified, like he simply couldn't enough. Words could not go into the legnth he wanted, and yet somehow they did. It was the kind of craving where if you didn't have it, it broke your heart across in legnths, and it was the anticipation that never ended, even past the expected satisfacation level.

I need you.

"Kendall..." his name on her lips lingered in his mind, making him think of his own address to just be more important, "what am I going to do?"

He wished he could answer, but he couldn't. Instead, he just let his lips melt into hers and his sympathies show through love.

"Katie?"

Officer Johnson was pleased at being able to see her again after so long, but it was also surprising.

She'd definately grown from when she was that bubbly little five year old. Now she was taller, still skinny but still beautiful. She smiled up at him, accepting the hug when he bent over slightly in offerance of one. His warmth felt familar to her, like entering your home after months of travel, and her affection drew just as familar to the police officer. The only bad thing about was is that he could, deep in her enchanting, capiivation wide eyes, was that something was wrong.

"What brings you here?" he asked none the less.

Sighing a little now while her smile finding, she replied, "I guess I should start off with the fact Kendall is now in love with a crimminal."

Author Note: DUN DUN DUN! :O

P.S. You remember Officer Johnson, surely. From "Hush little Sister" ;)