"So do you get it?" I asked Jackson after explaining one of the lessons that he was having difficulties with.

His light blue eyes were on me throughout my explanation and occasionally nodded.

"Yeah that makes a lot more sense." He spoke up with an understanding tone."

I smiled happily that I got through to him. I always felt a sense of pride when people understood something in my lessons.

Jackson and I are growing much closer as the days pass since he told me about the incident. We were making good progress and he slowly began trusting me more.

True to my word, I have been teaching Jackson Shakespeare for the past two weeks. Our first time with tutoring session was quite awkward and memorable.

Flashback:

"So um, where do you wanna do this?" I asked nervously.

Jackson true to his word came to my house and we walked together to his. His room had a slightly messy work desk and was relatively clean.

"Um, well my desk area is pretty messy. We could do it on my bed."

Little innocent me could take that last remark and find something dirty about it. I blushed slightly and agreed.

I cautiously made it to his bed and sat on it embarrassed when it creaked slightly.

"Sorry, the bed does that sometimes."

"It – It's alright."

I brushed some of my loose bangs away and opened his book on Hamlet.

"Alright, let's get to work!"

End of Flashback

It was an awkward encounter but as the sessions increased I became less nervous around him.

I looked up at Jackson when I heard him speak up.

"Damn Mel, you should just teach the course. That would end a lot of people using their 'daddy' to make helpful 'donations'."

The smile on my face dropped, hurt at his remarks. If there was one thing we argued about it was his perspective on kids at Hartwell.

"Jackson, I'm not gonna deny that Hartwell has some kids who… may act like that. But please stop fixing that judgment onto all of us." I pleaded with frustration.

He pursed his lips tightly and rolled his eyes. He stood up from his bed and turned to me and grabbed his textbook from my lap and moved it to his desk.

We would always study on his bed since agreed his desk area was "too small". Now here we were slightly tense over a topic…

He plopped back down on the bed and was lying down. I felt my heart race as his left leg was touching my knee. I was sitting in the bed with my legs crossed. I was wearing a red collared shirt and jeans. My hair in a high bun and had loose bangs hanging on the sides of my face.

Jackson was wearing a blue shirt and slightly destroyed jeans. He was lying in his back with his eyes closed. His hair was messy, as he ran his fingers through his hair far too many times during our work session.

I felt my stomach tighten when he opened one eye and observed me for a moment. I quickly looked at his clock and realized it was 3:45. Relieved it was Saturday and the fact my parents were both called in and working at Hartwell Hospital today.

I closed my eyes for a second feeling a bit of fatigue from working with Jackson for the past 3 hours.

I felt a hand squeeze my knee and jumped slightly. I opened my eyes to see Jackson's handsome eyes on me. His trademark smirk appeared on his face. I blushed slightly and looked away from his piercing eyes.

"You look tired, Mel. Do you want to go home?"

Without thinking I spoke up softly. "Do you want me to leave?"

I looked at him innocently and watched his eyes grow dark.

Before anything else could be said a knock on his door was heard.

"Come in!" Jackson spoke after he sat up.

Sarah walked in with a smile plastered on her face.

"Jackson, I'm needed at the office for a couple of hours. I should be back by 6. Can you tell Rob to order pizza tonight?"

He nodded and stood up ready to go walk her out.

"Melissa sweetie, if you want you are more than welcome to stay for here for dinner."

I smiled at her hospitality and shook my head politely.

"No Mrs. … Sarah. I will be home by then." I spoke up carefully as I corrected myself remembering Sarah always telling me not to use formalities with her.

She looked at her watch and started hurrying off not without saying a quick goodbye to me.

I was alone in Jackson's room as he went to go make sure Sarah had everything and close the door.

I decided to be brave and cautiously lay down on his comfy single sized bed. I felt a wave of fatigue overcome me and closed my eyes and let out a sigh of contentment.

Jackson's POV:

I said goodbye to Sarah and watched her leave. I walked over to the kitchen to keep the pizza's number out. I thought of the Asian girl in my room and how far we've come together. I definitely am considering her a friend. She was so unlike the majority of the kids at Hartwell. A rare jewel, and it is one of the reasons why I bite my tongue in some discussions.

I walked back to my room with two water bottles and stopped when I saw her sleeping on my bed. I carefully put the water bottles on my mirror table and thought carefully on what to do.

I looked over at the clock and saw 4:05 blinking. I pulled out my phone and set an alarm for 5:15 and gently laid down next to her. I was able to get three quarters of myself on and wrapped my arms around her propping her head on my chest and squeezed the rest of me onto my bed.

I felt my heart drop when I felt her move around. She moved more to the edge but kept her arms around my torso. I turned on my side and felt her nestle her head in the crook of my neck. I carefully placed my right arm around her waist, my fingers resting on her butt.

I inhaled her vanilla scent and closed my eyes letting sleep coarse my body.

Melissa's POV:

I opened eyes and blinked a few times trying to take in my surroundings. I was having troubled doing so as my face was nestled in Jackson's arm. I felt my breath hitch when I realized Jackson was practically cradling my body. How did this happen?

I watched his stomach move up and down and felt euphoria. Never had I felt so relaxed. His presence was doing wonders to me.

I tensed up when he started moving in his sleep. He was now laying in his back rather than his side. This change caused me to lay on my side my cheek pressing into his right shoulder. My face was in his under arm and I was hit with a very addicting deodorant smell. I nestled my nose deeper into his arm. Deciding to not over think this one I closed my eyes again.

It's official if I didn't like Jackson enough before; it was hitting me hard now.

Before I could even hit dreamland a loud alarm rang causing Jackson and I to jump. He shoved his hand to the bed stand on his left and shut off his phone. He placed his phone in the stand and rolled over facing me.

I looked into his penetrating eyes and flashed a small grin to him. I felt his hot breath hitting my face and became aware at how close he was to me.

"Hi" I spoke up gently.

I saw a small half smile form on his adorable face. Even after waking up he looked so adorable and even... sexy.

"Hey."

Jackson's POV:

I took in how cute Melissa looked. She had a content look etched on her face. I realized how close we were and quickly laid on my back.

I cleared my throat and grabbed my phone realizing it was 5:25.

I sat up and scratched my neck awkwardly and went over to my mirror table I tossed a water bottle on the bed. Melissa sat up and took it and drank it slowly.

I felt guilty for ruining the moment we had, but I can't allow myself to screw this up with her. I can't lose her.

"So when do you wanna go home?" I asked her as I moved her stuff to the bed for her to organize and take.

I watched her close the bottle and answer quickly. "Um, I think I'll go after I put all this stuff away." She didn't look up at me once when she spoke.

I took a sip of water and raised an eyebrow at how she was acting.

I walked up to my bed and sat next to her.

"Are you alright?"

Melissa's POV:

I fiddled with my stuff and tried to keep my answers short and brief. I felt a pang in my chest when he just darted up away from me. Rejection. I just wanted to leave. I felt him sit next to me and ask me if I was alright.

I looked up and smiled a tight grin and nodded.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

He looked at me and I fought to keep a straight face. I was falling for him hard.

"Alright." He spoke warily and I realized he didn't believe me.

I put all of my stuff in my bag and felt his eyes on me the whole time.

"Alright I'm ready if you are."

He and I got off his bed and I quickly pulled out my hair tie and let my wavy hair hit my back. I saw Jackson looking at me through the mirror.

I gathered all my hair and pulled it up to the top of my head and twisted it around three times and wrapped it up with my hair band. I turned and faced him. He bent down and grabbed my bag and slung it on one shoulder.

"Come on, let's go."

I nodded and as we made it to his door I put on my flats and watched the door open and Rob enter.

"Hey you two." I smiled and said hello and watched Jackson explain where Sarah was. I realized he didn't mention to Rob to order pizza. I waited until Rob walked straight down the hall to his room before I spoke up.

"Jackson, doesn't Rob have to order pizza?"

I noticed a look of recollection pass on his face before he jogged to Rob and Sarah's room and told him to order dinner. He came back and rubbed his hand on my arm.

"Thanks Mel!"

I smiled and we walked out feeling the sun's warm rays beaming at us.

We were walking in silence and I carefully looked at him a few times until he looked at me as well.

He looked straight down the street and cleared his throat.

"So Shakespeare is making a lot more sense."

Great. Mention homework. I grinned hiding my annoyance at the topic and spoke up.

"I think it went well since you understand the fundamentals. Believe me, I've heard of people who are much more..." I paused trying to come up with a word that wouldn't be too rude.

"Difficult and slow?" He spoke up with a twinkle in his eyes,

He was exactly on point so I carefully spoke up. "Your words not mine."

We came to an empty intersection and crossed it with ease. I noticed that we could continue walking on this path or cross through Sunnyside Park. I stopped and watched Jackson turn to me puzzled.

"Could we walk through Sunnyside Park?" I said timidly.

Even though we were getting much closer I still felt odd asking to do things "my way".

Jackson's POV:

I felt a bit of a pang in my chest at how scared and unsure she sounded when wanting to do things.

I looked over at the park and noticed how empty it looked from here. My eyes met with her innocent brown orbs and I nodded.

"Yeah, that's a good idea. Let's go."

I noticed a huge grin grow on her face. I wished she could be more confident with herself. It wasn't something I felt would be right to bring up now. I'm finally building a good relationship with her and frankly, I'm not ready to screw this up.

I was caught off guard when I felt Melissa grab my hand. I looked at her face and saw fear in her eyes.

I followed her eyes and saw Tony standing a few feet from us. He had a dark look on his face. I tightened my hand on hers and kept a stone face as they neared.

"Hey Jackson! Heard you've been wanted from the police!" Tony spoke tauntingly.

"That's a cute girl you got there!" Tony said his eyes eyeing Melissa up and down.

I wrapped my arm around Melissa and tried to shield as much of her as I could from the jackass.

"You and I both know damn well that I did nothing to Josh. You were the fucking asshole who stabbed him." I was heated and did not control my tongue.

Tony looked at me menacingly. "It's a shame you decided to bring that up with unknown company, Jackson."

I heard Melissa whimper and I tightened my arm around her. He started nearing her and I shielded her. Now it was Tony and I standing in front of each other.

"Leave her out of this."

He smirked and laughed dryly.

"It's cute how karma played out and you're with a girl who seems like the type you vowed to never go for."

I ignored his remarks and watched him carefully.

"I'm gonna leave you two alone now, but Jackson you better watch yourself... and that girl of yours."

I grabbed his arm stopping him. I ignored Melissa's whimper and pleading.

"You can do whatever the fuck you want to me. Leave her out of this."

"Aw feeling vulnerable about the girl! I'll keep that in mind."

Melissa's POV:

My heart was racing. I know what Tony did to Josh and what he's capable of. As soon as he mentioned me to try to provoke a reaction I noticed Jackson ready to lunge at him.

"Jackson!" I shouted in a panic. I tried to pull him back but wasn't quick enough.

A loud crack could be heard. I screamed in terror when I saw the blood rush out of Tony's nose. Both my parents were doctors and frankly, you didn't have to be one to tell that his nose was broken.

"Son of a bitch!" Tony wailed.

Jackson looked at me and mouthed, "Leave now". I shook my head and before I could do anything more I felt Tony grab me.

I screamed and kept my brown terrified orbs on Jackson. I felt tears pool in my eyes as I saw him pull a gun from the inside of his coat and place it on my temple.

Everything in my body was shaking. Tears were streaming down my face and I felt Tony's vile blood drop on my neck.

I saw a flash of fear on Jackson and started sobbing.

"Jackson, tell your bitch to shut up or I will do it."

That just made me panic even more.

Jackson's POV:

The fear I felt when Josh got stabbed hit me ten times worse as I saw Tony place the gun straight on her temple.

I looked around praying for someone to walk by. This park wasn't very popular and this was the first time I hated that.

Hearing him threaten me to keep Melissa's health in tact got to me.

Seeing her fear got me panicking for the first time in a long time.

"Please Mel... just calm down." I looked into her eyes and felt relief when her sobs turned into hiccups.

"How sweet, your name's Mel or is that a nickname?"

Her eyes were on me and I felt my fear grow when she didn't answer.

I watched him shift the gun to her temple place his finger in the trigger.

"If I ask you something, you answer. Understood?"

I watched her nod frantically.

"Speak."

"It's, it's a nickname. My name is Melissa."

I closed my eyes in frustration. Tony knowing anything about people even if it's just her name is too much.

"FREEZE!"

I opened my eyes shocked to see two cops standing a few feet behind Tony and Melissa falling to the ground unconscious.

Well this was probably an overwhelming chapter. I wrote an outline for this about a month ago and started tweaking it up these past few days. I hope it was interesting! I wanted to write a chapter based on the first study session, but decided to skip into the future after they did a couple sessions.

How do you think the cops found them? What do you think happened to Melissa?

Leave your thoughts in a review! :)

PS: I leave little notes about statuses on this story on my profile, scroll down to the one which is underlined as it is the most recent note/blog about upcoming chapters, little notes, etc.