Chapter Ten

I was sat on the floor of my bedroom, arms wrapped around my legs as I waited. My mom was downstairs, shouting down the phone at whoever had found themselves at the end of her fury. I got up and went to sit on my bed, lying down and rolling on my side I just lay there.

I felt violated.

Axl had gone home with his parents a few hours ago, he didn't really want to leave me but his parents felt that he needed to calm down before he came back. I sniffled, I really wanted him here with me now. I needed a cuddle.

I patted the covers to find me phone, hand reaching farther and farther to try and find it. Finally I huffed and sat up, looking around not seeing it anywhere. I quickly got frustrated. Where the hell could it have gone? I ripped the bed cover open and checked underneath, realising a sigh of relief as I found it.

I unlocked it and noticed I had two missed calls and a few texts from Axl. I smiled and was about to reply when there was a knock on the door.

"Sam?" Axl's voice flowed through the door. I jumped out of bed, flew to the door, opened it and grabbed Axl's arm pulling him onto my bed and curling up next to his surprised body. "Well hey there." He regained his composure and wrapped his arm around me. He traced circles on my arm, happy to sit in the silence for a few seconds before he asked a question that had obviously been bothered about. "Are you okay?"

Was I okay? No. I realised. I really wasn't. "I've been better." I mumbled, pressing my face into his chest as he moved us down so we were lying together. I wrapped one of my legs around one of his and sighed, feeling happy for the first time since we found out what was going on.

"I'm gonna find the people who started this." He promised, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. I nodded, knowing that he was definitely going to keep his word, I'd never seen him so angry. "I promise."

And it was in his arms that I feel asleep, feeling safe and loved. Neither of us noticed when my mom came in. She took a look at us and sighed, but obviously decided against waking us up, she turned the light out and shut the door.

Once she was outside she stood against the door for a few seconds, wondering if she was doing the right thing letter her daughter's boyfriend sleep in the same room, let alone the same bed as her daughter. But she knew Lydia really needed the comfort, a type she couldn't provide at the moment, she was far to angry to be sensible enough to know where Lydia's delicate feelings were.

She definitely didn't want to upset her. Not with the knowledge they'd recently found out. She picked up the phone, dialled another number and as soon as the person on the other side picked up she started shouting.

Sam and Axl were quite happy when they found out they were asleep next to one another. It was Axl that woke up first, confused as to where he was but happy when he felt the warm body next to him. In fact she felt a little too warm, Axl was still in the clothes he was wearing yesterday and felt like he was in a sauna so he walked over to the window to let a breeze flow through the room.

It was boiling in here, he thought to himself, before deciding to take his top off. He went back to the bed and sat next to Sam, smiling as he looked down at her. He closed his eyes as he remembered the feeling of fury that ripped through him when he saw the pictures. That was his girlfriend and he'd be damned before he let anything happen to her, and that included some perverts taking pictures of her. She didn't deserve that. He reached down to stroke her hair, feeling a bit guilty when she stirred.

I blinked sleepily, smiling when I saw that it was Axl who had woken me. "Hello." I mumbled, rolling over to press my face into the pillow, feeling even more relaxed when it smelt like him. This was how I wanted to wake up every morning, I decided.

"Hello." He smiled at me, grabbing my hand and pulling me up. I groaned and tried to stay in bed for longer.

"Axl." I moaned. "I don't want to get up yet." I reached up with one hand to cover the massive yawn that threatened to rip my face in two. I looked away as it carried on for an embarrassingly long time.

He chuckled. "Yes you do. It's time for breakfast." My stomach rumbled and I remembered that I hadn't eaten since yesterday lunch time, before the swim meet. I was starving. I pouted up at him, but got up properly. He held my hand as he led me down the stairs, smiling at my mom who was standing at the stove.

"Hello my dears. What do you want to eat?" She asked, turning to face us and giving me a slightly concerned look which I just waved off. There was nothing wrong with me.

"I'll just have some toast please." Axl said, pulling my chair out for me. I glanced up at him, usually I'd have felt a bit annoyed at how helpful he was being but today I felt like I wanted to be looked after.

"Same thanks." I said, resting one of my elbows on the table and resting my head on the hand it was connected to. I glanced over at Axl who my mom had just presented him with a plate of toast, nice to know who she likes more, my thoughts were silenced as my own plate was placed down in front of me.

"There you are darling." She ruffled my hair lightly, prompting me to slap her hand away laughing. It was almost as if yesterday didn't happen.

That was until there was a knock on the door. I was midway through a bite of toast, chewing slowly as I watched my mom go to answer it.

I frowned at Axl and turned to try and see who was at the door. "Who do you think it is?" I asked. My question was soon answered when Mrs Heck walked in, in her arms was a Frugal Hoosier bag filled with groceries.

Axl brushed some of the crumbs that had somehow managed to make his way to his chest and looked at his mother. "Mom, what are you doing here?" He asked.

"Well you didn't tell me you weren't coming home, so I got worried. I called Darren and you weren't with him, the same with Shaun. Let me tell you mister, that it's all well and good going to see your girlfriend." She glanced at me. "Hi Sam." She went back to shouting at Axl. "But you tell me if you're staying out the night, anything could have happened. There are some sick people in this world Axl and I don't want you to be messed up by any of them." She finished her rant before turning back to me. "Sorry Sam, I just get so worried sometimes."

"That's okay Mrs Heck, he should have told you he wasn't coming home. If I'd known you didn't know I would have gotten him to call." Axl shot me a slightly betrayed look, I stuck my tongue out at him in response.

"Well, thank you dear. I bought some stuff over because I know how much of a pig he is." She set down her bag.

"Mom!" Axl shouted, trying to cut her off before she embarrassed him even more. "She gets it. I'll be back later today, just let me finish this." He took the last piece of toast and it was obvious to the both of us that he was deliberately eating it slowly. I laughed at him, but Mrs Heck just got angry.

"Oh no mister. You're coming home with me now, you promised you'd take your brother to the library today and you're not backing out of it again because I don't have the energy to take him." She sighed and ran a hand over her face. "I'll even let you drive on the way back."

"Yes!" Axl fist bumped the air, quickly becoming sheepish as he remembered where he was. My mom appeared in the doorway and motioned to the phone, I waved her off not really understanding what she was saying. "Sorry Sam, I forgot about my brother." He paused before snapping his fingers. "Do you want to come with?"

I blinked and nodded. "Uh, yeah, sure. Just let me get dressed quick." I got up, shoving my toast into my mouth and chewed as I went past my mom.

"Hunny, your principle just called. He said the police have found the main culprits behind the pictures, and it turns out that you weren't the only one. The entire cheer team and the majority of the swim team have also been pictured." I was horrified.

"Are you serious?"

AN: So review and tell me what you thought?And thank you to the guest who told me when I wrote the wrong name, that's what happens when you have multiple stories on the go at the same time I'm afraid. But thank you again :)