Author's Note: Hey all, sorry about the delay. I was on vacation and my boyfriend's been sick. I've been trying to give my apartment a deep clean. I've been itching to get this written and up. Thanks for the support. Reviews are love and definitely much appreciated!

I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT OR THE CHARACTERS.
Music Credit: "Addicted" – Saving Abel

Chapter Two:

~*.*~
'I'm so addicted to all the things you do,
When you're going down on me in between the sheets…
All the sounds you make,
With every breath you take –
It's unlike anything when you're loving me.

Ooh girl, let's take it slow.
So as for you, you know where to go.
I wanna take my love,
And hate you till the end.

It's not like you to turn away,
With all the bullshit I can't take.
It's not like me to walk away.'
~*.*~

The days with James began to blur together. I don't know why I felt so drawn to him. He kept coming over after school, when I wasn't at Emmett's. Emmett didn't like the fact that I was spending so much time with him. He didn't trust him. I wasn't completely sure if I did, either, but I didn't want to stop seeing him. He made me nervous and excited in a way that no one else ever had before. He made me feel oddly safe. I couldn't explain why if I tried.

He has hunting eyes. There are times when he looks at me and I swear it feels like I'm his prey. He's never admitted it but I doubt he would let anything hurt me.

I've never really had many problems at school, mostly because of Emmett. He's a big dude. You'd have to have a death wish to piss him off. That and I generally tend to keep to myself. But lately, people have steered clear of me, even more than usual. Between Emmett and James, they're afraid to say anything to me. I'm not complaining.

To be honest, I don't even know what I would classify James as. Do I like spending time with him? Hell yes. Are we friends? I guess so. Is that all we are? Not likely. Am I crushing on him? Yes. Does he kiss like god? Yes. Are we dating? No. Are we seeing other people? No. Is Emmett getting jealous? Yes, even though he tries to hide it. Is he good for me? To be decided…

"Earth to Karson," Emmett snapped his fingers in front of my face. I came hurdling back into reality. I don't know what's been going on with me lately. I've always been much more aware. I've been letting myself slip since Jeff has been away. The peace can only last for so long. There's only about a week left of paradise. I'll be damned if I don't enjoy it. For two weeks, I've been a teenage girl – living, breathing, normal, teenage girl. And I love it.

"What's the haps, Em?" I asked. He grinned.

"I was trying to ask you to dinner tonight."

"Sure, what time do you want me over?" I asked. He shook his head.

"No, not that kind of dinner. I want to take you out." He said.

"Oh…" It's not that I don't like Emmett. I do. I'd be lying if I said he wasn't down-right gorgeous. He is. But, he's also my best friend. I've been crushing on him forever, but I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize our friendship. He's my boy and I love him.

"Relax – I want to take out my best girl. Can't I guy buy his best friend dinner without it being weird?" He asked.

"Well… when you put it that way and if you're buying, how can a girl say no?" I asked. He chuckled.

"I'll pick you up after school." He told me. I nodded. Well, I hope this doesn't make things weird.

"Angel," James greeted me. I nodded in his direction.

"Is there a reason you refuse to use my name?"

"That's what you are."

"No, it's not."

"You're strong – you're broken – you're fragile – you're intoxicating… What else would you be? One day, you'll be lethal. You just don't believe it." He whispered, inching closer to me. I can feel his breath on my face.

"How are you so sure?"

"There are some things you can't mistake." He whispered, kissing me. My eyes fluttered closed and I savored the feel of his lips on mine. "You're my favorite puzzle, Karson."

"This is all a game to you?" I pulled away, trying to read him.

"No, this is life. I'm trying to show you how to play." He smirked. I didn't say anything. "Am I still coming over tonight?" He asked, watching me closely.

"If you want to… I'm have dinner with Emmett but I'm free afterwards."

"He wants you."

"We're friends."

"That doesn't mean he doesn't."

"We're only friends." I told him. He doesn't look convinced. "What are we?" I asked him. He shrugged.

"If you don't know, you have no right to be jealous." I told him, taking a bite of my lunch.

"What do you want to be?" He asked.

"I like what we are now, whatever that is."

"The entire school thinks we're dating." He told me.

"I'm not surprised."

"Maybe we should."

"Be surprised?"

"Date."

"Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?"

"Yes."

"Okay." I don't think the title changes anything. We were basically together before.

I wasn't surprised that my mother let James stay over the first night, but she hasn't said anything when he keeps spending the night. She just doesn't care. She seems to like having him around. He's always polite with her but he makes it clear that he doesn't approve of what he does. He has that air about him. He never really hides what he thinks. It's something I love about him. I've grown to crave it.

I ran a brush through my hair as James watched me get ready. He doesn't like staying at his place. He told me that he lives alone. His parents passed away a long time ago. He likes being here better. I don't have anything to hide from him, here. He respects my boundaries and he doesn't push things.

I know it isn't picture perfect, but I think this is how it's supposed to be. He doesn't hurt me. He never belittles me. He listens and watches. He shows me how to take care of myself. Every night we go through different defense tactics. He's never said why, but it's obvious that he cares. Things have evolved a lot since that first night he stayed here.

"Alright, I better go, before he drags me out of here." I teased. He smirked. He sat up and pulled me down to him. I fell onto his lap. He leaned in and kissed me. I kissed him back for a second before pulling away and untangling myself. "If you start now, I'll never leave. We both know that." He smirked.

"I'll be waiting for you when you come back." He told me, winking. I grabbed jacket and bag and headed outside to meet Emmett.

"It's about time. I thought I was gonna die from old age." Emmett whined. I rolled my eyes.

"You're fine and you only waited like five minutes."

"I could literally see time passing me by. I think I have a gray hair. Do you see this?" He motioned to his head. I used his shoulders to pull myself up and stand on my tiptoes to inspect his hair.

"You're fine, you big baby." I told him. He chuckled and snaked his arms around me, holding me to him. He smiled down at me. "You're beautiful – you know that?" He whispered. I gave him a quick squeeze and let go of him.

"Thanks, but we should probably go." I whispered getting into his car. He's been acting a little different lately. I'm not sure what it is. I have a feeling it's not all that good.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked. I shrugged.

"A little bit of everything. Is there a reason that you don't like James?" I asked him. He didn't say anything for a few minutes.

"There are some things that you don't know, Karson. Everybody has their secrets. I know I give you hell because you don't share yours, but I haven't really shared mine, either. You don't know the whole story when it comes to me or your man. I don't trust him. But, I'm not your father. I'm not going to tell you who you can see and who you can't. I think you should ask him about his past." Emmett told me.

"Is there something I should know?"

"It's not my something to tell."

"I'm not just asking about him, I'm asking about you, too. What aren't you telling me?" I asked. He didn't say anything.

"Ask him first, and then I will tell you. Deal?" He asked. I shrugged.

"I don't think you're giving me much of a choice. You know I love you, right? I don't care where you came from. You've been my only friend for a really long time. Just because you're different, that won't change." I looked him in the eye. He gave a sad smirk.

"I know, Kar. Let's just see how everything pans out. You're my girl. I wouldn't let you go that easily." He smiled. "That's enough serious talk for tonight. We are having fun."

"There's no way that you got away with doing that to Rosalie." I told him, laughing.

"No, I did. I mixed Nair in with her shampoo. She found out before I even got out of the bathroom. I booked it out of there. She would have fileted me alive, if she had her way. Jasper calmed her down. He has a calming effect on people. He always has. Alice helped me hide. She's the best sister a guy could ask for." He chuckled.

"It must be nice having a family with supportive parents, huh?" I asked. His smile slid off of his face.

"You'll have that one day. You know you're always welcome at my house. Esme and Carlisle love you." He squeezed my hand.

"We both know it's too late for that. What about Kendra and Kelley? Once they're taken care of, I'm out of there. They are the only thing tying me there. If they got hurt because of me, I wouldn't be able to live myself." I whispered.

"What does he do to you?" He asked. I didn't say anything. "Kar, I promised you answers. It's only fair." He pulled me onto his lap.

"You keep asking, but you don't wanna know. You don't want my burdens, Emmett. Please, just let this one go." I asked.

"I can't let it go. I care about you too much. We both know that."

"Okay. He hits me. Is that what you wanted to hear? He really likes to touch me. My mother doesn't care. He doesn't try to hide it from anyone but my sisters." I told him. He's shaking.

"Has he…?"

"Once. I'm terrified he'll do it again." I whispered.

"Karson, why didn't you tell me? I could have helped you. You know I would have."

"Because you would have killed him, Emmett. Don't pretend like you wouldn't have. I know you. I know what you would do for me. And I couldn't do that to you. I have it under control. I haven't been staying alone. James has been staying over every night." I told him. Emmett snarled.

"That's so much better! Get help from a stranger! You're shaking up with him every night after what happened to you?!" He yelled. It's a good thing we're alone in the park. I slapped him.

"We are not fucking each other!" I screeched. "It's nice to know that you think that little of me. All he does is share my bed. We're taking it slow. He hasn't done anything to hurt me." I scrambled off of his lap.

"Karson, you don't know him!" He bellowed.

"Neither do you!" I told him. "You're going to forget what I told you and we're going to go back to normal. I shouldn't have told you. It was a mistake. I won't make it again. You need to cool down." I told him, taking a step back. He stood up and visibly calmed down.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to blow up at you. I hate that he's hurting you. You've never done anything to deserve it and they always treat you so badly. I feel so helpless. You told me yours, and I promise to tell you mine."

"Okay. Okay. I trust you. I just hate hurting you." I told him. He grabbed my hand and led me to his car. It was a long, quiet ride back to my house. I can see James in my window.

"I'll see tomorrow at school, okay? If you want to talk before that, my phone will be on all night. Take care of yourself." Emmett opened my door for me.

"Right back atcha, Tiger." I told him. I got out and let myself into the house. I headed upstairs.

"You're getting in a little late, aren't you?" A deep voice said from behind me. I froze.

"You aren't supposed to be back until next week." I stammered, turning around.

"I couldn't stay away from my favorite daughter. I have to go out of the country for a few months. I needed to see you before I left. Is parental affection a crime?" Jeff asked I flinched away from him.

"We both know you don't have that kind of affection for anyone. You're a pedophile."

"Such nasty words from such a sweet mouth."

"Raping your underage stepdaughter makes you a pedophile."

"What I'm hearing from you is that you want me to transfer my affections to your sisters. Is that what you want?" He asked, pulling me closer to him by my hair.

"No." I told him.

"Then take off your pants." He ordered. I started shaking. I shook my head. "It isn't a question."

"Where is everyone?" I asked.

"They went to dinner and a movie. They won't be back for hours. Until then, you're mine." He growled. I fumbled with my jeans.

"You can't do this. We're not alone." I told him, remembering James. "A friend is upstairs." I told him. His eyes shrank into slits.

"Who?" He barked.

"Is this how you get your kicks?" James asked, coming down the stairs.

"Get out of my house." Jeff growled.

"I'm not leaving without her." James pulled me to my feet and fixed my jeans for me. I froze.

"If you don't leave, I will remove you." Jeff got in his face. James seemed to feed off of his anger. It encouraged him. "I will call the police." Jeff pulled out his phone.

"And tell them what? I stopped you from raping Karson? Do you really want to do that? I'm not a teenage girl – you don't scare me. You can't push me around. I'm something worse than you. You should be afraid of me." He taunted. Jeff started to pale. I looked from him to James. Oh my, God.

"And why is that?" Jeff asked.

"Because I'm the monster you want to be." James moved in front of him and growled – a slow, deep, guttural growl. His eyes flashed red. "If you touch her again, I will kill you. Do you understand me?"

"You can't control me."

"I can and I will. That is a promise. You don't deserve her. You will not touch her, look at her, or talk to her. You are going to leave her mother and a fat check with a divorce. You're not going to go after her sisters. Do you understand me?"

"And if I don't?"

"I will rip your throat open and suck you dry."

"W-what are y-you?"

"I'm a vampire."

"You're what?" I finally found my voice. Oh my, God. Shit just got serious.

~*.*~
'And I know when it's getting rough,
All the times we spend,
Trying to make this love something better then,
Just making up again.

It's not like you to turn away,
All the bullshit I can't take –
Just when I think I can walk away.

I'm so addicted to all the things you do,
When you're going down on me in between the sheets.
Ooh, all the sounds you make, with all the breaths you take,
It's unlike anything when you're loving me.'
~*.*~

Author's Note: Hey all, sorry it took so long to get this up. Next chapter will be up much sooner, I swear. Will Jeff take a hike and leave them in peace? Will Emmett and James duke it out? Stay tuned. Review, review, review!

Xo Xo
Anneryn