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

"The Great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do." - Walter Bagehot.

I just want to say thank you for reading and I hope you're enjoying it!

Dedication: RaynAngel89 for the cover!

Recap:

I tried to remember, I tried to focus, I tried to recall something but all I could feel was rage. It was slowly ebbing away and it took my memory with it.

"Faith." I recognised the principal's voice, causing me to flinch. I'd heard it many times before. I almost wanted to roll my eyes. "Come with me."

Just great.

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

I hate fighting with dad.

It rarely happens and if we do fight, we're over it in an hour or so anyway, but it doesn't mean I don't feel like crap after. I sat in my bed, draped in my blanket, my iPhone pressed firmly against my ear, a sour expression twisted on my face.

"You know I got the blame for it?" he asked me and I felt my stomach tighten. "Because of my absence. He thinks I'm to blame for this."

"He" being Principal Mathers. We didn't get along very well.

"I have uncontrolled anger issues with or without you here."

"I know." he sighed. "I'm really disappointed with you, Faith. I thought, after last time, you would have changed."

"She provoked me," I said, my voice quiet.

I felt a bit ridiculous having dad actually parent me. It wasn't really that style of relationship. He was more my friend and if anything, I would be the one getting up him, not vice versa. Him actually treating me like this had me feeling inferior. Which isn't cool.

"You need to start growing up a bit," he said, sounding strained. He hated fighting with me as much as I hated fighting with him. I flinched. I thought he said I was mature. "You can't just let this anger control your life. It will destroy you."

"What are you, my counsellor?" I sassed, suddenly sick of talking about this.

I just knew he was shaking his head at me. I could see the look on his face in my mind.

"When are you going to start using that brain of yours instead of your fists?" he asked, sounding slightly exasperated. "You can't expect to be able to get away with this for much longer."

"I told you not to leave dad. I needed you and you left." My voice came out way more vulnerable than I intended and I blinked back tears, my bottom lip quivering.

All I could hear was breathing.

"I left for you," he ground out after a few moments.

"Really?" I asked, my voice monotone. I felt the familiar sensation of fire slither through my veins, clouding my judgement and making me feel numb. "Convenient timing. You break up with Nancy, your old girlfriend lives up there. The one you always talk about, the one you clearly still love. Don't you think the timing is just so convenient?"

"That's enough," he snapped, his tone laced with an authoritative tone I've only rarely heard him use. "You know why I left. We needed the money and they asked for me. I was on casual work at home, hardly able to pay the bills. We needed this. Quit letting this horrible anger control you."

"At least my anger is always here for me. It doesn't just abandon me." I yelled into the phone, well aware that I was seeming more immature by the second. "There were other options. You didn't need to pack up and leave the state. You think I'm the one who needs to grow up? Please. How can I when I have parents like you guys?"

The silence was deafening. My heart was beating that loud in my ears that he could have replied and I might not have heard it. I felt sick. Were those words really mine? Did they really come from my mouth?

I hung up, throwing my phone to the ground. My teeth were grinding together and it took all my strength not to release the hot tears that were welling in my eyes. That was a really low thing to say. I knew the conversation was going to be unpleasant but I didn't think it was going to end like that. Once again, I'd let my anger get the better of me.

Dad had had a skype interview with the principal. I had been suspended for four days.

Megan was going to be fine. She had a broken nose and her face was swollen, but she'd be fine. Unfortunately.

It was and wasn't worth it. I didn't think that at the time. I don't think I had any thoughts really. Just uncontrollable rage. I'd slipped back to how I used to be, before my anger management sessions. I obviously needed to take a refresher course.

It was worth it in terms of shutting her up and proving, once again, I could beat that bitch. But my record was only getting worse and it caused a fight with my dad, which I never liked. There was already enormous distance between us, we didn't need any more.

Sighing, I got to my feet. Using the tips of my fingers to wipe away the tears, I emerged from my room. My hands were bandaged because of the cuts and bruises. My wrist was still aching. I just got to the top of the stairs when I saw Xavier mounting them, a cup of milo in each hand.

"What are you doing here?" I blurted in surprise, glancing at the wall for the time, hastily wiping at my eyes again.

He should be at school.

"Decided to take the day off. Someone has to make sure you keep out of trouble." He smirked, flashing me a cheeky grin.

I rolled my eyes, retreating back to my room, Xavier trailing behind me. I sat cross-legged on my bed and reached for the warm cup. I closed my fingers around it and inhaled the smell, ignoring the jolt of electricity underneath my skin as our fingers brushed.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome," he said breezily, sitting opposite to me. "So tell me, Faithless, why did you turn Megan into your personal punching bag?"

I smirked at his words, before realisation dawned on me. I couldn't tell him that the fight was over him. My cheeks burned in embarrassment.

I hope he didn't notice my eyes were probably red from crying.

"Well?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow at me.

Clearing my throat uneasily, I glanced up at him. "Er- no reason."

This made his smile widen. "Right."

He so knew. This was humiliating.

He can't possibly know, I reassured myself, gripping the cup in my hands a little too tightly.

"Is there a particular reason why your phone is over there?" he asked, nodding towards my phone that I had thrown across the room. I silently thanked him for the subject change.

I gave him a sheepish look. "I threw it."

"And why did you do that?"

Now he was my counsellor? Can a girl catch a break?

I sighed, reclining back, taking a sip. "I had a fight with dad."

"Bummer," he said, unsympathetically. "Oh, I forgot you're like best friends. It's a pretty big deal when you fight, hey?" he asked, slowly taking a sip. I fought back a smile briefly. He looked adorable. My mind finally re-focused on the conversation and I scowled, being reminded of the horrible things I said to my father.

"Pretty much."

We fell into silence. I tilted my head to the side when I could hear something. It kind of sounded like the jug was boiling. Xavier looked around, like he was trying to work out what the sound was as well.

"Is that rain?" he asked, a hint of surprise in his tone.

Placing my cup on my bedside table, I climbed out of bed, going over to my window. It wasn't just raining. It was pouring. I squinted up at the grey, overcast sky. It hadn't rained for ages.

"Looks like it."

He materialised by my side, he too, peering up at the sky. "Huh."

I loved this weather. It was perfect for movie watching.

And cuddles...?  A voice in my mind suggested. I closed my eyes, an instant image of me being draped in Xavier's arms popping into my head.

"Do you want to watch a movie?" he asked, as though having read my mind.

"Sure," I agreed. "I'm just going to have a quick shower first."

"Okay, I'll go make the popcorn."

With a salute, he turned, leaving the room. Having forgotten about my milo, I wandered into my bathroom, shredding my clothes. I stepped inside the cubicle, turning the water to hot.

I sighed, leaning against the wall. I shouldn't have said those things to dad. I know he left to try and get some money together for us, but I can't help bring up the fact that we would have been okay. We are survivors. He shouldn't have left me.

In saying that, would it be the same if dad was here, with Xavier and I? Would we be this close now, if he had been? Maybe it was meant to be like this and it all happened for a reason.

After reluctantly removing myself from the shower, I quickly dressed into a loose crop top, trackies and a knit cardigan. It was definitely appropriate to wear lazy clothes today and I was going to take full advantage of that fact.

When I came out, my breath hitched in my throat. Xavier was sprawled out on my bed, remote in one hand, a bowl of delicious smelling popcorn in the other. He gave me an adorable lope-sided smile, causing a dimple to appear on his left cheek.

"What do you want to watch?"

My mouth was dangling open. Snapping it shut and feeling my cheeks grow warm, and not from the recently hot shower. I exhaled, staring at him again. I could get used to this.

Crawling into bed, I settled in next to him. "I don't care."

After arguing and spending longer than we should have trying to find a movie, we settled with Need for Speed, which I hadn't seen before. It must be one of dad's. Xavier and I had never done anything normal like this. We were usually just locked in our rooms. It was nice to do something together.

Swallowing hard, I closed my eyes when his skin grazed mine. My cardigan had slipped off my shoulder and he was only in a loose singlet.

I wanted to feel all of his skin against mine.

As the rain got heavier, he continued to increase the volume. Chewing at my lip, I tried my hardest to focus on the movie in front of me. He inched closer to me and I let my head fall back, so that I was staring up at the ceiling.

Just watch the movie. Ignore him.

A loud crack of thunder could be heard and I instinctively moved closer to him.

Smooth, Faith.

"Something up?" he murmured. I turned my head and blinked in surprise, not having expected his face to be right there. There was a small smirk on his face. I leaned closer automatically, our noses brushing. It sent my hormones into overdrive.

I want him so badly.

We stayed like that for a moment, so close, our breaths were mingling as one. I swallowed, my eyes dropping to his slightly parted lips. They were so soft and inviting. I needed to feel them against mine.

I inched closer again. Our lips met this time, but it was just. My stomach did an almighty leap into my throat and I was soon breathless.

And we hadn't even technically kissed yet.

Tantalisingly slow, he ran his fingers from my hand, walking them up my arm. His fingers slightly rubbed at my skin, where my wrist had been aching. I had totally forgot about the injury. I forgot about almost everything, when he was this close to me. He got to my shoulder, and pushed at my cardigan, so that both my shoulders were exposed. The material slipped off my skin.

I couldn't breathe anymore. I couldn't think. All I knew is that his lips were dangerously close to mine and I couldn't cope.

His fingers moved across the skin of my neck, to my jaw. That's when his lips pressed firmly against mine. He pushed so that I was leaning back, sinking into my pillows. His chest bumped into mine, his hand gripping my jaw, securing me in place.

Our lips moved steadily against each other's. Slowly, he moved the hand clutching my jaw, down to my breast, which he squeezed. I moaned into his lips and I felt his mouth twist into a smirk. I pressed my body closer to his, wanting more.

His hand moved again, towards my hip. His thumb began making circular patterns on the exposed skin there and I wanted to scream. I wanted this to move faster.

Hungrily, I pushed myself closer to him, increasing the kiss. Our tongues battled against each other, his lips claiming mine. His fingers dipped between the material of my pants and my skin. My eyes rolled back in my head.

His taste was intoxicating. I felt delirious, not knowing when he began and where I ended. I didn't even realise he had pulled back. He tossed my cardigan to the side. The rain was heavy in my ears, but my drumming heart beat drowned it out. I breathlessly stared into his jade-green eyes. His lips were red and swollen from the contact with mine.

Slowly, he gripped the bottom of my shirt and in one fluid movement, it was also thrown across the room. I didn't feel uncomfortable at all. Probably because all my mind could think about was him. Restlessly, I gripped his shirt. I wanted to see his skin. I pulled it over his head, my fingers trembling.

My eyes latched onto the deep scars running across his chest. He froze, as if just remembering they were there. Reaching up, I gently trailed my fingers across them. He stared down at me, his hot breath fanning my face. Arching my back, I ran my tongue across one of the lines. He groaned, pressing himself to me.

I ran my hands down his chest, feeling his defined muscles underneath my finger tips. I could feel the heat of his skin against mine. His lips hungrily met mine once more. He gripped my hips tightly and I moaned again, loving the control he was taking.

He began trailing kisses from the corner of my mouth, down my jaw, down my neck and across my collarbones. I was heavily panting by this point. My eyes began to blur. His lips ran down my exposed skin. My belly sucked in automatically as he began kissing my stomach. My fingers gripped the bed sheets. It was like I was floating from the room and if I didn't grip something, I was going to fly away.

His teeth grazed my skin and a gasp left my mouth. He began inching my pants down and I was gasping for breath. My heart was racing to the point I thought I was going to go into cardiac arrest.

I let out a heavy sigh as he tongue began making patterns in the most sensitive area of my body.

I was flying. I had lost all control of myself.

A slight cry left my lips as I floated away into complete and utter blissfulness.

***

I stared groggily at the body next to me. Blinking a few times, my eyes focused on Xavier. I was using his bicep as a pillow. I looked over to the TV screen, where the options to play the movie were there. I don't remember a single scene, considering we lasted a whole five minutes in watching it.

Casting my eyes back to Xavier, I stared at his peaceful face. I touched my lips, which were still throbbing from him. That had been so amazing. The best I've ever had. I sighed, snuggling in closer to him.

He made a funny sound and I knew he was waking up. Slowly, his eyes met mine and I held my breath. He grinned at me and I relaxed. Okay. This was okay.

"Hi, gorgeous," he mumbled and my cheeks burned from the compliment. "What time is it?"

The rain was still heavy on the roof. When it was this overcast, it threw my house into darkness, making it hard to distinguish if it was actually night or day.

"I have no idea."

I rolled over so that I was laying on my stomach. He followed, tracing his fingers across my bare back. I sighed blissfully.

"How are you feeling?" he murmured, making patterns with his nails on my back.

"Good," I breathed.

The last couple of hours had been more than good. I can't believe it happened. We just agreed to watch a movie, I didn't think we would end up sleeping together. And God had it been beyond good. I was slightly angry at myself for having waited this long.

"Faith," he whispered and I rolled to my side, to meet his gaze. "I really like you."

"I really like you, too." I whispered back.

He leaned forward and pressed his lips to my forehead. "You are so beautiful."

I sighed, basking in his attention. I slipped down so that I went more underneath him. He grinned at me, wedging his knees in between mine so that he was lying on top of me.

"What are you doing there, little snuggle bug?"

I was going to melt into a puddle of goo, if he spoke that like again. He had his beyond cute lope-sided smile on his face. I just wanted to kiss him again and again and again.

I grinned up at him. "Can you cuddle me?"

I stiffened. Did I really just say that? He stared at me for a moment, before wrapping me in his arms. I clung to him like a little koala. I nestled my face into his skin, breathing him in. It felt so nice to be in his arms. So secure, so safe. It was something I hadn't realised I'd wanted. I felt a sense of longing, like I'd really needed this.

Pressing his lips to my ear, he whispered, "I never want this moment to end."

Staying like that, I closed my eyes. It didn't take long before I felt sleep tugging at me and soon, I faded into darkness.

***

I have no idea how long later, but I heard a knock at the door. Jolting, I awoke, feeling sluggish. I heard it again. I glanced over to where Xavier was passed out, face first, his breathing deep and even.

Quickly getting to my feet, I threw on the first bits of clothing I could find. The knocking continued. I frowned, wondering who the hell it could be. I jogged down the stairs, until I got to the door. I swung it open.

The sky was dark and the rain was a mere drizzle now. It appeared to be late afternoon, heading soon into the night. I returned my focus to the person who had disturbed me.

An unfamiliar man stood there. He turned, having had his back to me. He gave me a smile that didn't meet his eyes. I got the sense it was quite forced, like he hadn't expected to see me. Which is weird, why else would he be at my door?

"Hi," he said. "Is this the Martin residence?"

"Yes," I said slowly, sizing him up.

"I'm looking for someone - his name is Xavier. Is he here?"

I didn't like this guy already. His entire clothing attire was black. He had tattoos from his neck to across his hands. And, he had a gold tooth. He looked scary. His eyes were dead cold as they stared into mine and I felt like I had to physically step away from him just to get away from his glare.

"Xavier..." I trailed off with a frown. "Nope, I don't think so."

Why I lied, I'm not even sure, but all I knew was I had a bad feeling about him. I've grown up trusting my instincts and this time was going to be no different.

He stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "You sure, sweet heart?"

I stood my ground, staring up at him. "Yeah, I'm sure."

"That ain't his bike there?" he asked, waving towards the now rain coated motorbike that was parked in the driveway. His voice was deep and had a slight twang to it, like he had lived in a different country for some time. But his faint accent didn't strike to me as something I knew.

"That's my dad's," I said smoothly, involuntarily gripping the door knob tighter.

"Right," he said slowly, his eyes back on mine again. I could feel goosebumps moving across my skin. "Well, if you do happen to come across Xavier, I need you to contact me."

If I wasn't so shaken, I would have saluted and said something smart. But something told me not to mess around with this guy.

He withdrew a card from his pocket. All it had was a name and a number. It was a pretty boring business card, if you ask me.

"Sure," I said, hoping my fingers weren't shaking as much as I felt they were. "Anything else?"

"That's all," he clipped, tugging at his jacket, his eyes not leaving mine.

With a nod, I shut the door firmly and locked it. I then quickly bustled around to every other door, making sure they were locked, too. I leant heavily against the back door, staring down at the card.

Andrew Jacobs.

I didn't know the name. What did this guy want to do with Xavier? He didn't seem like the person Xavier would be hanging out with. I would hope, anyway. He seemed older than my dad.

I slowly let my eyes trail up towards the stairs.

I didn't have a good feeling about this.

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

Was that steamy enough for you guys? ;)

I wasn't sure if I should have done a warning type thing at the start, but I didn't want to give it all away! So, sorry if that was a bit of a shock, but I tried to keep it kind of PG haha

What did you think about what Faith said to her dad? Was she totally irrational and out of line - or did she have a good point?

Did you like Xavier and Faith... "bonding"?

Please let me know what you think and vote if you liked it! Would really appreciate it.

Thanks for reading!