Nathan walked into the kitchen as Gabe was cleaning everything off the table. He looked between Gabe and me. "You guys are up early, what's going on?"

I looked at Gabe, not wanting to get Nathan worked up about Gabe asking me out. "I couldn't sleep anymore and I must have woken up Trouble when I got out of bed. We were just about to discuss what she should wear today." He looked over at me. "I think you should go with the black ruffle skirt and the black with pink stripe shirt. I'll find your socks and boots while you are in the shower." I thought it best to continue to let Gabe take the lead on this, "so I said "Okay Meanie, I like that outfit" and walked back down the hall.

The first half of the day was pretty uneventful, thankfully. For a while it was rare to have a day that nothing happened. I was even able to have a real violin lesson with Mr. Blackbourne.

I was on the bench, sitting between North and Silas, when Nathan walked back from getting some snacks from the vending machine. We had already gone through all the sandwiches that I packed and some of the guys were still hungry.

"Your lip is looking better Gabe. And you can't even see a sign of a bruise on your cheek." Luke was studying Gabe's face, apparently unaware that Nathan had walked back over.

"Fuck Luke, do we have to bring it up again." Luke shot his head back and looked up at Nathan.

"Sorry Nate, I didn't know you were back. Plus I was just saying it looked better, we don't have to talk about how it happened."

"Yeah, well everyone knows what happened, so just leave it alone." Nathan threw the chips and crackers on the ground in the middle of the group.

Kota stood up and faced both guys. "Enough, both of you."

"It's not my fault Nate couldn't last a few hours without keeping tabs on Sang." My face grew hot, did we need to talk about this right now. I was about to speak up for Nathan, to let everyone know that we had talked it, but Nathan cut in.

"Like I am the only one. I am sure all of you wanted to know what they were doing all day." He looked over at North. "How many times did you check your phone North?"

North practically growled at Nathan. "Watch it Nathan. I wouldn't do that Sang, not when she is on a date with one of you. I agreed to this, same as you, so why would I do something to make it harder for her?"

I stood up, wanting to stop this conversation. I started to walk away from the group, but remembered how some of the guys would interrupt that. "I just need a few minutes. To go to the bathroom before class." I bent down to pick up my bag but North grabbed it and stood with me. "I'll go with you Baby." I knew there was no point in arguing, so I walked off into the building. "Do you really have to go to the restroom Sang or did you just need a break?"

How could he read me so well? "I just needed a break. Nathan and I talked about what he did, he admitted it was wrong and he feels bad about it. Why did Luke have to bring it up again?"

North led me to an empty corridor. We walked down to the end of the hallway before North said anything else. "Sometimes Luke doesn't think. But in this case I think it was completely innocent at first, then he saw how it riled Nate up and he couldn't help himself."

"Did you check your phone when I was on the date with Kota?" I don't know what came over me, but I needed to know. As soon as Nathan mentioned it, I couldn't get it out of my head.

North looked shocked and then sad. "Baby, I meant what I said. As much as I may want to see what you are doing, know that you are okay wherever you are, I will not check up on you when you are on a date." He angled me against the wall, placing one hand on the wall next to my head. He leaned in close, leaving only a few inches between our faces. "Plus, after you shocked me with Silas, I am a little hesitant to do it ever again." He smiled and leaned a little closer.

"So you were okay that I was out with Kota?" He stopped his movement and let out a sigh.

"I am as okay as someone can be about it. As long as you are only dating the other guys, and not someone else, I will trust them to keep you safe while you are out with them." He hesitated for a beat before continuing "not to mention, Mr. B put me on an assignment that day where I had very little time to access my phone. I promise I still wouldn't have checked in on you, but the fact that I physically couldn't didn't hurt." He closed the gap and his lips touched mine. I pushed back against his lips, and moved my hands to grasp the sides of his shirt. He let out a low growl and moved his other hand to my hip, gripping it before moving it up to the small of my back. He pulled back, ending our kiss.

"Sang" he pulled his head even further back so I could look him in the eyes. "I am not creative like Gabe. You deserve to be romanced and wooed or whatever, but I don't know how to do that." He paused, it looked like he was searching my face for something. I could see that he was struggling with what he wanted to say. I knew what he wanted to do, and I wanted to help him.

"North, please don't compare yourself to the others. I don't have to be romanced or wooed." I giggled a little at that, I never thought someone would want to woo me.

"That's why I like you Baby. I promise I am going to romance you at some point, but right now, I just want to hear you say yes, and then kiss you again. Sang Baby, will you go out with me?"

"Yes, of course North Star." I knew I was smiling like a fool, but I couldn't help it. North and I had been through a lot together in the few short months I had known him, from flipping him over on his back to the hotel room at the beach and so much more. As promised, North leaned in and pressed his lips against mine again. He pulled away too quickly. I let out a little moan in protest, to which he laughed at.

"I feel the same way Baby, but the bell is probably going to ring soon to go to class."

I nodded in agreement. "What will we do? Can we go to the beach?"

"It is getting a little cold for the beach, plus I think all the guys will make us check in every half hour because of what happened last time." I blushed thinking about that night. "I thought I would bring you somewhere that I have been going to since I moved here. Every Monday there are dirt races outside of town, about an hour from here. I go whenever I can, which has not been a lot recently. I don't know if that is something you would like…"

I cut him off before he could continue "it sounds awesome North. I would love to. Will we get dirty?" I have never even heard of dirt races before, but it sounded fun. North smiled at my question and pulled me in for a hug.

"O Baby, we are going to have so much fun. To answer your question some dirt kicks up, so I wouldn't wear anything white. We will sit back in the stands though, so it shouldn't be too bad." Before we could say anything else the bell went off to signal the end of lunch. "Never enough time. Come on, let's attempt to make it to class on time."

North walked me to Bio where Silas was waiting for me outside the classroom.

"Hi Aggelle, everything okay?" I nodded and he looked over to North. I looked back at North to see him return Silas's gaze. Was he telling him that he officially asked me out? I turned my head to Silas, but he was already looking back at me. "I got it from here North. You can go to class now." I heard North grunt and I looked over at him. He started to step forward but stopped himself. "See you later Sang Baby." And with that, he turned and walked towards his class. Silas grabbed my hand and lead me into class.

"I'm staying with you tonight Agelle. Are you excited?"

"You are? Just us?"

"Don't know yet, Nathan, Victor, Luke, and Gabe are definitely out. I think North is working at the diner, so he might come over after, depending on when he's done." He leaned in closer to me and whispered in my ear. "Are you afraid to be alone with me Agelle?" He pulled his head back, which allowed me to breathe again.