--------------------

Dedication: MaggieHarrison23 for commenting so much! Thank you <3

Recap:

"That's right." I agreed. "Josh is a guy at my school. We had a bit of a thing a while ago and it's started back up again. Owen..." I can already feel my story about Owen is going to make him look pretty guilty.

Now that I think about it, he was obsessed with me and did try to force himself on me. Not even Isaac, who seems to have major mood swings, has done that.

"Sadie?" he pressed.

"I think..." I whispered, my eyes widening. "I think it could be Owen."

--------------------

"Are you sure?" Marissa asked me sceptically.

"No, but he's a suspect," I replied with a shrug. "Do you think he could be the one sending me messages?"

"Sure, he is obsessive when it comes to you, but it's because he likes you. Why would he want to hurt you?"

"Because I don't like him the same way?" I suggested. "I don't know, it's just making sense in my head right now."

"Well, how are we going to know for sure?"

"Hold him down and steal his phone? Torture him into giving us answers?"

"Wow..." she trailed off. "You watch too many movies."

I let out a dry sounding laugh. "I was joking. Kind of."

She frowned at me as we walked into school. The lacerations on my neck were still highly visible, but I found no point in trying to hide it. Someone attacked me, I'm not going to be embarrassed by it. It's time I start facing reality and fighting back. I'm over feeling this way and living through hell.

I met eyes with Josh as I walked past his group. He got to his feet instantly, coming over to me.

"I'll catch up with you later," Marissa grinned, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively at me.

"Hey," Josh smiled in greeting. "What happened to you yesterday- what the fuck?"

His eyes widened as he noticed my neck. He grabbed me, pulling me closer. His eyes narrowed as he inspected the injury. My eyes searched his face intently. His face changed from shock, to confusion, to downright fury in a matter of seconds.

That was pretty convincing, if he was the one who did it.

"Someone was at my house yesterday," I found myself saying. I don't know why I've become such a truth-teller these days, but I can't control it. I need to let it all out. "He knew about us. He wanted revenge."

"Who?" he growled, looking furious.

"That's what I'm trying to find out," I whisper, my eyes tearing up. "I'm not safe in my own house, Josh."

Suddenly, his arms were around me, securely holding me to his chest. I hugged him back, squeezing my eyes tightly, refusing to let tears fall. I need to be strong. I knew many eyes were on us right now, but that was the least of my concern.

"I don't want you going back there. I don't want you sleeping there."

"My parents won't want me to stay with you, they don't even know you." I sighed, my mouth feeling sticky as we parted.

"We'll work something out. If you say you're not safe, then you're not staying there. I don't care what your parents say."

I looked up at him through my lashes, in admiration. Wow. He actually cares?

"Thank you."

Every class that Marissa isn't in and Josh is, he sat with me. I really enjoyed his company. Despite what we discussed this morning, he was rather cheerful. He spoke pretty much all day, almost getting us separated in Biology. At lunch, he bought me a pizza because I forgot to bring food. He made me laugh the hardest I have in a long time.

"Hey, I have an idea," he said to me later, when school was coming to an end. "Why don't I stay at yours tonight? Then if anything happens, I'll be there and that way, your parents won't be worried about where you are?"

I mulled over the idea. "I would love you too, but I don't know if my mum will agree. But sure, I'll run the idea past them. You sure you don't mind?"

"Not at all. I'll take him on," he said to me, tensing his muscles. "Whoever it is."

"I'll fill you in later," I promised. "Do you want to meet at my house for dinner?"

"Sounds good to me. 6 okay?"

"6 is perfect."

As we walk out the gates, he gave me a soft kiss on the cheek, before loping to his car. I smiled after him, before heading to my car.

I glanced at my phone as I slid into the driver's seat. It was carelessly placed on the passenger side, turned off. I had made the decision to leave it off for now. I don't want whoever it is to contact me anymore.

I make my way towards Dr Ainsley's office for my counselling session, buzzing from my day with Josh. I was excited to tell him about my day and what progress I've made.

I repeated the line I had been telling myself all day, something that Dr Ainsley had said to me.

It can only go up from here.

***

Josh arrived five minutes after 6, dressed in a pair of Nike tracks pants and a loose sweater. He had his pillow in his right hand, a bag draped over his shoulder, as he gave me a lope-sided smile.

"Hi Josh," I smiled, stepping back and letting him through.

"How's it hanging?" he casually asked, walking inside.

Josh's eyes roam around my house, taking everything in. When mum and dad emerged from the kitchen, I was surprised out how charming he was. He was polite and engaged in conversation straight away. I could tell my dad was impressed and he even offered him a beer, despite knowing he is underage.

I had to drag him away from them and up to my room, to put his stuff down.

"Your parents are cool," he grinned. "I was expecting them to be really strict."

"Oh, they're not strict, it's just that I've put them through a lot." I explained.

"Your room is the least girliest room I've ever seen." he announced, scanning my room. "It's so... boring."

"Yeah I was pretty depressed when we moved here. I never bothered to decorate it." I shrugged, agreeing that it was very tasteless. And dark.

"Fair enough."

He placed all his things down, before tossing his pillow onto my bed. I felt my insides squirm at the thought of him spending the night with me. I was excited to get some sleep again. I found with his arms around me, the fear of everything disappeared.

The night went by quickly. Throughout dinner, I remained quiet most of the time, just watching Josh talk to my dad enthusiastically about football and music. I was growing nervous as dinner finished. I would have to tell Josh about Casey. He didn't understand anything about who this guy is that is attacking me, or why.

As I launched into the story, for what felt like the hundredth time, he surprised me. He didn't seem fazed at all as I spoke. Marissa had been dramatic when I told her, even Owen had been really sympathetic. But Josh? He seemed like it was nothing.

"Sounds like a dick." was all he said after I finished.

I quirked an eyebrow at him. "Yeah, he could be at times."

I hugged my legs to my chest, resting my chin on my knee. "So, there it is. That's everything about me and my sad life."

"Makes sense now, why you called me Casey that time." he said to me, pulling my hand, playing with my fingers absently. "And your life isn't sad. It's confusing as hell, but not sad."

"I shouldn't taken those pills at Splendour. It messed with my head."

"I don't usually do that shit, I only did it because we were at a festival." he explained.

"It's cool."

"You know what I think?" he asked me, gently tracing the outline of my fingers.

"What's that?"

"We should piss him off some more."

Slowly, he pressed his lips to my fingers, nipping at them softly, his eyes latching onto mine. I grinned as he crawled on top of me, claiming my mouth with his own. His fingers sink into my hair and I moan softly at the feel of it. I pressed my body to his as he fumbled for my shirt.

Yeah, we're going to definitely piss him off.

***

I woke with a start at a loud bang. I rubbed my eyes and quickly got to my feet, the moment I realised that Josh was no longer beside me.

"Sadie, get the light!" he yelled out.

All I could see was darkness and all I can hear is banging and grunts. I quickly scaled the wall, flicking the light on. A scream left my lips as I see Josh grappling with the all-dressed-in-black guy that tried to strangle me, no more than two days ago.

The guy got to his feet, his gloved hands clenched. Josh shot up, moving quicker than my mind could keep up with. Josh projected his fist, right into the guy's face, his balaclava slipping just a fraction. The guy suddenly shoved Josh back.

I was frozen in shock, unable to move when he darted around me, running down the hall. I vaguely heard my parent's footsteps running towards us as I dropped to my knees, feeling breathless.

Well, now I know it isn't Josh.

----------------------

So close to seeing who it was but yet so far! Thoughts on this chapter?

Just letting you know that this story is coming to an end very soon! :-)