It felt peaceful, like home—away from everything. Away from him. Away from the fear.

....

I didn't know when my eyes closed in my mom's lap, drifting into a deep sleep...

Hours passed, and I felt gentle taps on my cheeks...

"Maya, get up, baby. Dadda is here..." my dad said, and I slowly opened my eyes, rubbing them gently. I saw my handsome dad smiling while looking at me...

"Good morning," he said in a teasing tone, and I smiled.

"I was tired," I said, and he hummed, "Get up, Mom is making dinner..." he said and walked away. I slowly sat on the sofa, folding my legs, my hand stretched, letting out a small yawn. I felt refreshed stepping down from the sofa. I asked Dad, who was finding something on the table,

"Where is Evan?" I asked, and he turned his head towards me before replying,

"He is doing his homework..."

I hummed and walked towards the stairs. I saw on my left where Evan's room was. Stepping closer to the room, I slid the door, and his doe eyes looked at me curiously...

"What are you doing, brat?" I asked, getting inside his room and ruffling his hair.

"Mam gave me so much homework today. Help me, sister..." he pleaded, giving me his puppy stare, and I chuckled, pulling his cheek.

"Let your big sister help you..." I said, and he quickly started rifling inside his bag.

Taking out the book, he placed it on the table... I looked at the big fonts in front of me...

MATHS...

Evan looked at me and chuckled, "Sister, help me, naah, pleaseee..." he said, looking at me with sparkly eyes, and I took a long breath...

"Okay," he opened the unit 15 and ticked the fifth question. I read it and took my time understanding what the question was saying, but my mind didn't understand a word. Flipping the page back, I searched for examples, but it made the question more complicated.

Evan's curious eyes stared at me, but his lips were tucked inside, trying to hide the laugh. I knew he was mocking me, but I can't give up, right?

Then suddenly, we hear a loud laughing sound. Dad stood in front of the door, looking at us.

"DAD..." I whined, and that was it, Evan started laughing while holding his stomach...

"It was sixth standard maths, Dad, and sister couldn't do that..." Evan said, laughing, and Dad nodded his head...

"She is so dumb, right..." Dad said, teasing me with an arched eyebrow while his lips were curved into a smile when suddenly, he screamed in pain...

"Oww..." I saw Mom standing behind his back, pinching his shoulder...

"Honey, leave me..." Dad said, pleading, and I pouted, looking at Mom. I ran towards her...

"Mom, they are making fun of me..." I complained, and she looked at Dad with an angry expression...

"HEY, why are you making fun of my stupid daughter who doesn't know M of maths?" she said, and I looked at her with a betrayed expression...

"Momma..." I whined, and they laughed together. Even though I was sad that they called me dumb, this moment was beautiful. My eyes slightly teared up again, staying at home like before this Thoughts came over me , but wouldn't it end this beautiful moment...

"Let's go, dinner is ready..."

We ate dinner peacefully with funny talks, and that's how the day ended. I was now on the bed, sliding myself inside the warm blanket, looking at the ceiling. My thoughts again went to him, whom I wanted to forget...

Rhys...

Closing my eyes tightly, I tried to remove his image from my mind and finally fell asleep.

The next day came, for which I was never ready, as I had to go to college again with him.

Stepping out of the bed, I walked towards the window, letting the cold morning air touch my cheeks, when suddenly my eyes went towards the spot where Rhys parked his car every day, picking me up. Although it was empty, it scared me too.

Walking outside of my room after getting ready to go to college, Mom came inside my room...

"Baby, don't go to college today. Your aunt is coming..." she said, and I looked at her with sparkly eyes in excitement...

"Really?" I asked, jumping a little.

"Yes, really. Now change into comfortable clothes..." she said, and I nodded my head. When she left, I walked towards the washroom to change but suddenly got reminded...

Widening my eyes, I ran towards the window, and as I thought, he was there—his car parked in the same place. Biting my lips in fear and clenching my fists, my feet kept tapping the floor in nervousness. Why did I say that? He was here now, what should I do?

This thought kept coming in my head, and then suddenly his voice echoed when he warned me about doing something before asking him. So I gathered my courage, which was maybe only one percent, and walked towards the desk with trembling feet.

Picking up the cellphone, I searched for his number from which he had called before, and tapped it. Soon the rings changed with his voice...

He didn't say anything, just kept silent, and I kept biting my lips, thinking what to say. Maybe his patience was worn out, so he asked...

"What is it, butterfly? Come outside quickly. I am waiting..." he said in his deep voice, and I gulped a huge amount of saliva...

"I... I ca...n't... c...ome t...oday..." I said, stuttering, and he hummed, making me frown.

"That's it?" Again the silence was there. I wanted to cut the call, but something in how he reacted made no sense...

"Come outside in one minute, butterfly, or I am coming in..." he said suddenly, and my eyes widened in fear...

"I... ca...n't..." I was about to say, but the call was cut. Running downstairs, I shouted...

"Mom, I am coming from my friend's house, informing her about leave..."

"But you can call her, Maya..." Mom also shouted from behind, but I ignored it, opening the door.

I ran towards his car. Once reaching near it, I grabbed my stomach, taking deep breaths. My eyes looked at his across the car glass, his eyes stared at me coldly, and I gulped.

Biting my bottom lip, I clutched the door handle, opening it, and sat inside...

"Rhys..." I said, turning my head towards him, wanting to tell why I can't come, but before I could, his lips attacked mine.

His one hand grabbed the neckline of my soft tee and pulled it towards him, rubbing his lips on mine. He groaned. His lips moved against mine, up and down, his tongue slid from left to right again and again. Making me breathless, he finally left me...

I was fisting his blue shirt with thin white straight lines on it, tucked into black pants.

Leaving it quickly, I backed away, my head turned towards every direction to see if anybody saw us, but to be glad no one was there. My eyes roamed here and there, but his stayed on mine.

Picking up some of my hair, he rolled the strand in his finger...

"Maya..." he said, and I looked at him. His eyes were downcast, looking at my hair...

"I don't like when your eyes wander. It makes me want to burn the world so nothing else can ever take your attention away from me." His eyes, which were downcast, were now looking at me with a dead stare.

Every word he said was clear and getting inside my mind. His gaze pinned me in my place, and I stayed silent, not even a word coming out from my mouth until he asked...

"What were you saying on the call?"

I trembled with the sudden shift but composed myself...

"W...ell, m..y a..unt is c..oming home s..o Mom a..sked me to t..ake leave today..." I said, stuttering, and his fingers stopped their moment on my hair.

He chuckled and patted my head suddenly...

"Good girl..." he said, and I lowered my head, biting my lips...

"I am glad you remembered to inform me, butterfly, or it would have been very bad for you..." he said and smirked, grabbing my chin with his hand. He made me look up and gave my lips a small suck from his.

"Okay..." he said and backed away from me. I nodded my head and said, "Thank you..." before leaving the car.

My heart kept beating faster, and once I was inside my house, I took a heavy breath...

But then suddenly, Mom dropped a bomb on me...

"Maya, Victor is coming too. Aunt has decided to let him study here with you..."

(Don't forget to vote, cuties, and sorry, today I couldn't give you a Christmas present, but tomorrow I will. So Merry Christmas, hope your all wishes come true...)