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Dedication: Featherblossom for commenting on the last chapter! Thank you!

Recap:

His lips breathlessly met mine. Sweat gathered on my forehead, despite the chilly temperature.

I let out a loud moan as we finished at the same time. I could hear the thump of my heart beat in my ears as his warm hand found mine.

He slumped onto me, burying his face into the crook of my neck.

"Well," he whispered, propping himself up and staring down at me. He delicately ran his fingers down my cheek, cupping my face. "We should study together more often."

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As Josh drove me to my car, I couldn't decide what I was feeling.

I didn't exactly regret sleeping with him - I had craved his touch the moment he gave it to me. I had gone so long without it and with my brief fling with Isaac, reminded me how good it was to have someone touch you, to hold you...

Josh continued to mindlessly chat as he drove. He was bubbly and energetic, as if our time together had rejuvenated him. Me on the other hand, felt sad because the moment I stepped out of the car, I was going to be alone again. There was also fear of Josh ignoring me from here on out and acting like it never happened.

"And then I was like - hey, are you okay?" he asked, glancing over to me. "You're being quieter than usual."

I clamped my lips together as my eyes burned.

"Sadie, you're scaring me. We went too far, didn't we? I told you-"

"No, it's not that," I murmured, wiping at the corner of my eye. "I can't tell you because you will laugh, or think I'm clingy."

"Tell me," he demanded.

"No."

Suddenly, he sharply pulled off the road. Gravel flared up from the tires as he skidded to a stop. I flung forward, my hands just going out in time to stop my face hitting the dashboard. I turned to stare at him, my eyes wide.

"Tell me, right now."

"I can't, you will think I'm pathetic."

"Sadie," his voice was soft now. He reached over, sliding his fingers through mine. "Please tell me."

Tears slid down my cheeks. I hate crying, especially in front of other people.

"I can't sleep and I'm so fucking tired," I whispered. "There's reasons I can't sleep, you won't understand, but just know that I can't. I really liked spending time with you tonight because for a few moments, I forgot about the fucked up stuff that I have to live through and now that it's over, you're just going to leave and I'm going to be alone and I am so fucking tired."

My voice was a whisper at the end. I slung forward, burying my face into my hands as I let myself cry.

"I didn't want to say anything because I don't want you to feel obliged to help me. I don't want to seem like the clingy-after-sex-girl that you can't get rid of. I'm not, I promise. I'm just so sick of not being able to be happy or to sleep or to eat-" I hiccupped into my hands, my voice muffled because of my hands. "Sorry, Josh. I don't mean to dump this on you. I'm sorry."

After a few moments of silence, Josh started the car. I peered at him, through the gaps of my fingers, as he performed a U-turn.

"What are you doing?"

He didn't reply. We continued to drive and soon after, he pulled into a driveway. He cut the engine and stepped out of the car. I scrambled after him, hastily wiping my cheeks. It was a modern-looking house, not small, nor that big. He locked the car and walked around to the side of the house.

"Is this your house?" I whispered.

"Yeah," he grunted.

We walked past the house, out to a garage. He opened the door. The garage had been renovated into a modern-looking room. The floor was carpeted, with posters of bands and artists splashed across the brick walls. He had a few guitars resting against the wall, two bed-side tables and a large, king-size bed in the middle of the room. Off to the right, was a doorway. I could vaguely see a toilet through the shadows.

"Your room?" I guessed.

"Yeah," he replied. "You're staying here tonight."

"Don't feel like you have to do me any favours."

"I don't," he assured me.

He walked towards his bed. He tugged off his shirt, revealing his tanned back. He crawled onto his bed. I quickly pulled out my phone and texted mum, explaining that I was staying at Marissa's and that I'll be back home in the morning before school.

"You coming?"

I almost expected him to tell me to sleep on the small lounge, that was off to my left. But since we just slept together, I guess it makes sense to hop into the bed with him.

I felt a little dirty, after only breaking things off with Isaac today, and now hopping into bed with Josh mere hours later.

I shrugged off my coat, stepped out of my shoes and yanked my jeans off. After turning off the light, I padded over to him, crawling in beside him.

Laying my head on his chest, I sighed, feeling much safer being in his arms. I could feel my exhausted body sag in relief against him. He tightened his arm around me, securing me to him.

It only took moments, before I felt myself fall to sleep.

***

"Hey," a voice said softly. "Wake up."

My eyes felt heavy as I forced them to open. Straight away, I panicked, sitting up bolt straight, frantically looking around.

"Sadie, you're with me," Josh said evenly, a gentle hand on my thigh.

I blinked, slowly calming down. Last night's memories flash through my mind and my eyes meet his. He gave me a slow smile. He was already dressed for school.

"I tried to let you sleep in for as long as I could."

I flopped back into the pillows. I still felt so tired but that was the first night I had slept a full night. I can't describe how good it felt.

"I slept," I mumbled. "For a full night. Wow."

"You're welcome," he grinned. "Planning to get up today?"

I pouted. I could hardly recognise myself right now. I was almost acting like how I used to, before Casey's suicide. I placed my hands in the air and Josh tugged me up. The cool morning air nipped at my exposed legs.

The carpet felt rough underneath my feet. "I guess I should get home and shower. I'm going to be late, aren't I?"

"Not if you're super quick," he told me.

"Can you drop me at the library on your way to school?"

"I can do that," he said. "You feeling okay?"

I nodded as I headed to the bathroom. There was a soreness between my legs as I walked. After using the toilet and rinsing my mouth out with water, I quickly dressed, before following Josh out to his car.

"Your parents have no idea I was even over, do they?" I asked him.

"I told my mum, actually. My dad would have gone off, but I just explained some things to mum."

"What did you say?" I asked, buckling myself in.

"I just said you couldn't go home."

I nodded. "Thanks for everything Josh. I really appreciate it."

Everything had changed so quickly. Josh has been there for me in ways I'd never imagined he would be.

Maybe there's hope for me, after all.

We reached the library shortly after. I hopped out of the car and gathered my textbooks, my eyes glancing in the back of the ute, moments from last night searing my mind.

"I'll see you at school?" Josh asked, coming around to my side of the car.

"Yep."

He leaned in, giving me a soft kiss. He smiled when he stepped back. I grinned, before turning to my car. Wow, this was all so weird. Two days ago I didn't even think of Josh and here I was now...

I found myself singing along to the radio as I drove home, which was something I haven't done for a while. I am usually dead silent when I drive. My fingers tapped the steering wheel in time with the beat.

When I entered my house, it was eerily silent. There was a note on the kitchen bench.

Hi Sadie, had to step out. Hope you're okay to get yourself to school - will talk to you tonight. Please sign this note so that I know you've been home and seen this note.

Love,

        Mum.

I rolled my eyes at their lack of trust. I wrote a quick reply, before darting upstairs. I shed my clothes and showered quickly, only having about ten minutes or so until school began. I wrapped the towel securely around my body as I walked to my closet.

I heard the footsteps, but it was too late for me to react.

A cold, hard bit of rope wrapped around my neck. I let out a strangled scream as the rope-type-thing tightened around my neck.

"You fucking whore," the voice growled in my ear. "How dare you betray me like that."

I couldn't even beg him to stop. The cord/rope closed around my throat. I felt my eyes bulge. I tugged at the rope with my fingers, trying to get it to loosen. I began gasping, trying to inhale some of the oxygen around me.

I felt my body turn weak as I battled with the person strangling me. Black dots began to appear in my vision and suddenly, everything around me turned black.

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Someone's in trouble... Isaac, Casey, Owen... Who could it have been? Someone we might not know yet? Tell me your thoughts and theories!