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Dedication: DearNicole for the awesome cover on the side - thanks heaps! :D

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Colin's P.O.V:

I watched her eyes flash angrily. I let my eyes avert from hers, so that she couldn't have any access to my feelings. I watched her feet as she turned on her heel and marched from me. I didn't move from my position for several moments, just replaying the previous scene, over and over, through my brain. I sighed and rested my elbows on my knees, running my hands roughly across my face. Last night, I had had a lapse of weakness. I let my annoying feelings for her allow me to kiss her. Which screwed me up completely.

I don't date girls. Sometimes I'll get with one, yeah, but it never means anything. No matter how much they say they like me, or how I make them feel, I'm emotionless. Well, I was. Apparently, my body doesn't run the same around her.

Hayley.

I don't even know how to explain how I feel when I think her name. All I see is her long, brunette hair twisting down her back which just screams at me to run my hands through it. I see her tanned legs, that seem to go on forever. I see her slim waist and slender arms. Her bright, green eyes seem so void of emotion, I have to do a double take.

I know she is damaged, hell, probably even more then I was. But the look of hurt she had on her face, when I walked away from her, would burn in my skull for eternity.

She'd never admit it, but it did hurt.

It hurt to walk from her, but if I had stayed any longer, I wouldn't have been able to stop. Things would have gone way further then I could allow them too. I didn't want her to be open to all my problems.

Being with someone, involves trusting the other person. Trust and I aren't even in the same playing field. How could I let her know, everything I have done and trust her to not run? I don't think I could handle it if she did.

Okay, so I know that hooking up with her doesn't mean we have to have a picnic, discussing our secrets and braiding each other's hair or anything, but still. The feelings I had for her, were wanting more than just a 'hook up'.

I didn't want to tell her anything about me and have her feel sorry for me, like everyone else does. I'm sick of the pity and I couldn't handle receiving it from her. I ran my hand through my hair, aggravated. I stood slowly, shaking my head. I wanted to go make myself a beast of a feed, but I know my step-ass*ole would be there, lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce. I was too vulnerable right now.

Okay, I'm being slightly dramatic here, but with my reputation of anger rages and black outs, with Hayley and the kids here, it wouldn't be safe.

I pinched the skin in between my eyes and exhaled heavily. I knew inviting Hayley here would be a mistake, although I went ahead and did it anyway.

I was regretting letting her in this close, every second, already.

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Hayley's P.O.V:

"Good morning!" Miranda sang as I waddled into the kitchen.

"Not really," I muttered, brushing past her.

I fetched myself some bread and jammed it in the toaster. I ignored her stares and rested heavily on the bench. My eyes were stinging from the lack of sleep I had last night. Since my issues with Colin remain unresolved, my brain kept thinking about them. It's like my mind is stuck on replay. I just keep visualising what happened in the kitchen. How alive he made me feel. And then, what happens? He walks. Walks away from me, leaving me hurt and confused.

Although I'd never admit that out loud.

What I wanted... well, needed right now, was to get this last day over with. Get the stupid assessment finished so I can go back to that hell hole of a school and hide in my dorm forever. Or just avoid Colin forever, whatever goes. Last night, I let my mind wander. I thought heavily about grabbing my bag and just leaving Colin's. And when I say leave, I mean no returning to Downright High. But then what would I do? Where would I go?

I have hardly any money and probably only enough clothes to last me a couple of weeks, before I'd have to find a way to wash them. I'd be sleeping out on benches and begging on the streets before I could even say my name.

I would have to stay.

Removing myself from the kitchen, I planted my butt on one of the dining room tables. I sat there, tight lipped as I chewed at my toast. I heard heavy footsteps and Colin's step father materialised at the door way.

"Morning," he said to Miranda, pecking her on the cheek. "Colin awake?"

The kind smile had suddenly replaced with a look of concern. She reached out and gently gripped her husband's arm. "Don't."

"I was just asking where he was, hon." he assured her. His tone sounded loving, which would have been convincing if were able to hide the arrogant gleam that was sparkling in his eyes.

I watched the scene, eyebrows furrowed, toast dangling attractively out of my mouth. At that precise moment, he turned, noticing me. I quickly chomped down my toast as he grinned at me. I didn't change my expression. He smiled cheerfully at me and I just gave him a blank stare back. It didn't take a genius to see the tension between the two males, which already made me dislike him.

Colin, then entered. Speak of the Devil and thus he appears. He strolled in casually, pushing passed his 'step-as*hole'. He grunted at him and Colin ignored it.

"Derek," Miranda warned. "Please."

"It's not me, it's him." he said, his voice dropping low.

"Oh, it's never you, yeah?" Colin said, grabbing himself a crunchy bar. "Blame it on the "damaged delinquent"."

"Colin," Miranda sighed, pursing her lips, looking fed up and tired already, although it was only eight thirty in the morning. "Enough."

"What?" he asked, his voice getting sharper and stronger with each word. "All I'm saying is the truth. He goes around, acting like a saint-"

"That's enough, your mother said." Derek snapped, slamming his hand down on the bench. The sound echoed around the room, causing me to flinch from the impact.

I heard a gasp, drawing another figure in the room to my attention. My head whipped to the right, where Clarissa was standing there, shocked and wide eyed. Miranda sighed and Derek closed his eyes, turning his back on all of us, looking frustrated.

Colin remained emotionless. His eyes pivoted and rested on me, as if he only just realised I was there. He let his eyes sweep over everyone, before spinning on his heel and leaving. He exited as fast as he had come in. I clambered to my feet as fast as I could. I washed my plate quickly, hardly even placing it on the holder properly. I jogged back to my room and slipped on a pair of denim shorts. I slid a loose shirt over the top and ran my fingers through my hair.

I fetched myself some gum, chucking on my thongs. I heard Colin's door slam shut and his footsteps thunder down the hall. How did I know, he'd flee? I ran after him and we both went out the front door. He turned, facing me, his nostrils slightly flared as he was trying to hold in his anger. His veins were poking out from the skin on his arms.

"What are you doing?" he ground out.

"Following you."

"I can see that. Why?" he demanded.

"Let's take a walk." I suggested, brushing past him and stepping down from the porch. "Come on."

"We're not friends."

"Yeah, you keep reminding me." I clipped back, wrapping my arms around myself, as if they would protect me from the slight breeze that had picked up. "Let's go."

Soon enough, with obvious hesitation, he walked down to me. I turned and began walking beside him. From the corner of my eyes, I could see his body was stiff and his jaw clenched. I watched his fists ball up and release every now and then.

We walked in silence, for several moments, before I broke the ice.

"What's the deal with you and Derek?"

"Don't worry."

"I want to."

"Don't." he sighed. "Don't pretend like you care."

"I think we both know that I wouldn't pretend to care." I said, rolling my eyes. "You don't even have to know me well to realise I don't pretend to give a damn about other people's problems. I have enough of my own."

"Then I won't burden you with mine."

"I'm not asking you to. I'm just here to listen." I pointed out. "Listening, isn't the same as carrying your problems."

He snorted. "Listen. Yeah."

"So, tell me all about Derek."

"You don't want to know."

"Colin."

"What? As soon as I tell you what I've done, you won't look at me the same. I told it to the last girl I let get close. She ran."

"I'm not like 'the last girl'. I will never run."

"You say that now."

"Colin. I've been through probably worse than you, so just get on with it."

He sighed, raking his fingers through his slightly wind-blown hair, making drool slightly appear in the corner of my mouth. His muscles flexed deliciously, standing out perfectly underneath his thin, white singlet.

"Do you really want to know?"

"Nah. I'm just kidding." I deadpanned.

He frowned at me, but fell in step beside me once more. Our arms brushed slightly and I felt electricity spark down my arm and through my veins. I shuddered slightly and mentally kicked myself. I don't... I refuse to allow myself to feel these emotions towards him.

He already has too much hold on me.

"My Dad died." he said, his words coming out fast and slightly jumbled. "That's when it all started to go wrong."

"Tell me about it," I muttered without even thinking.

I felt his eyes wander towards me, but I kept my gaze fixated in front of me. I didn't acknowledge his stare, so he shrugged it off and continued.

"It was hardly a year, before mum met her new 'flame'. She began changing instantly. Just little things at first. Like she started wearing make-up again and doing her hair different. She began wearing really classy clothes and talking all proper. I was confused, but didn't really think much of it at the time, you know?"

I nodded and he resumed.

"And then she brought him over for dinner. The way he treated me... it was like I was a piece of dirt on his shoe. He looked down upon me. Acted like I was a criminal."

"Yeah, I know that feeling." I spat out, memories of my Grandfather began propelling into my brain, making me grit my teeth to the extent it was actually painful. If that as*wipe had even considered the crap I had dealt with, maybe, I wouldn't be stuck in  Downright High.

"You do?"

"Go on." I said, ignoring his question.

I didn't like talking about myself to anyone, but I would listen to him. I was surprised he was confiding in me at all, to be honest. If the roles were reversed, I certainly wouldn't be laying it all out in the open, that's for sure.

Yes, I'm a hypocrite.

"He began making sly comments and remarks about me, which was fine. I can handle it, I'm a big boy. But what really set me off, was when he spoke like that, about my father."

I stopped in my tracks as his voice came out in low grunts. I swallowed as I saw his fists clench up into balls. His jaw began furiously ticking, reminding me of some sort of bomb, just seconds away from exploding. His clenched fists went to his head, as if he was literally gripping himself together, so he wouldn't fall apart.

"What did you do?" I murmured, my voice hardly audible.

"Beat the crap out of him, of course." he said, laughing humourlessly. "God, the feeling of his blood, spread across my knuckles was pleasure. Seeing his face crumple with pain, was like Heaven in my eyes. The feeling of his nose, breaking underneath my bare hands, was... I don't even know how to explain the satisfaction."

I felt my blood turn slightly cold and goose bumps erupted across my skin. Absently, I began rubbing at my arms. Flashes of the mysterious man, abusing my father to death, began running through my mind, making me want to hurl back up the toast I previously demolished.

"How hurt was he?"

"Hospitalised." he said, jerking his shoulder and turning away from me. "Broken bones, internal bleeding, all that. Mum never looked at me the same again. Told me if I didn't change my ways, I was going to get out kicked out of the house, which only made things worse. "

"So you rebelled." I said stated, already knowing the answer.

"Yup," he said, popping the 'p' and flexing his fingers out. I heard a couple of cracks and wrinkled my nose. "I set my school on fire."

"What?" I yelped, snapping my eyes to him.

"Eh," he shrugged nonchalantly. "At the time it felt right. Watching the flames grow... was good. See? I'm messed up."

I swallowed. "What did your mum do?"

"Continued to date the moron and sent me to Downright High."

"Ah." I said, nodding, shaking my head. "The infamous school for delinquents."

"You got that right."

"So, you just don't get along at all?" I asked, walking off the sidewalk and towards a park a couple of metres away. I didn't have to look back to know that Colin was following me. I continued to stroll until I met the swing and collapsed down onto it. I wrapped my fingers around the straps and began moving back and forth ever so slightly.

"Not one bit. I try and to civil around him, for the kids, but sometimes..." he trailed off.

"You just can't."

"Yeah." he said, his voice quiet. Silence lapsed for several moments, before he spoke again. "You seem to really understand."

I felt his eyes bore into mine and I glanced away. His piercing gaze, felt like it penetrated straight through to my soul. I bit my lip, not looking up. Of course I understood. I knew exactly how he felt and understood thoroughly what he has been through.

Who knew Colin and I were so alike.

"How?"

"How what?" I asked, still refusing to re-avert my eyes.

"How do you understand so much?"

"Just do."

"Oh, so I pour out my entire past, or somewhat of it and you still remain an ice, cold cage, refusing to let anyone in."

"I'm not a cage." I defended.

"You are."

I jutted out my chin stubbornly and my grip on the swing tightened. "Whatever."

He sighed and took a step to my left, sitting down on the swing behind me. "Talk to me."

"I have been."

"About you. I hardly know anything about you."

"It's better that way."

"Seriously?" he asked, the tone in his voice made it evident that he was getting frustrated. "Really, Hayley?"

I didn't reply. Instead, I stood and began storming away from him. All of a sudden, I felt his hand enclose around my wrist. I was tugged back and gasped at the rapid change of movement. I was spun on my heel and the next thing I knew was my lips were pressed against his.

And everything changed.

Okay, so I don't believe in that fireworks cliché, but boy did I feel something along those lines. Energy spiked up my spine and shot throughout my entire body, igniting me. His lips moved against mine as if they were moulded perfectly for each other.

I tilted my head back and let him cup my face, leaning into him, seeking his warmth. His teeth grazed my lip and I gasped, allowing him complete entrance. He didn't need any more of an invitation.

Our tongues brushed and my eyes seemed to roll back inside my head. I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck, loving the feel of his muscular chest, pressed against mine. He ran a hand down my side and scooped up my leg, bringing it around his waist.

It stayed like that for what felt like eternity, before I finally had to pull away. I was breathless and the world was slightly spinning. I stood there, not looking at him, practically panting, awaiting for my vision to steady. I slowly slid my leg down his body, so that it went back to it's previous position. Pressing my forehead into his chest, I let him wrap his arms around my waist, his grip tight. We stayed like that for a couple of moments. The feelings that began to grow inside my chest scared me.

I began to feel like I could trust him. Let him in. But I wouldn't until I knew him better. I inched my head so that my cheek was pressed against him. I licked my lips, still able to taste him. I sighed and closed my eyes in pure bliss.

And as Colin-like as usual, he ruined the moment.

"So... let's go get started on that assessment."

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