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Dedication: Night-Owls for the awesome cover! Thank you!

Recap:

No...

It was never, ever a good thing when that Mercedes was parked in front of my house.

Turning on my heel, ready to flee, I began to bolt. But it was too late.

"Faith Maree Martin," my mother's shrill barked, making the blood inside my veins turn cold. "Get here, this instant."

I hate my life.

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I shook my head incredulously, as my mother began screaming at me.

I hadn't even made it through the front door. Her mouth was moving, her words were projected, but I didn't bother to listen. Picking up the pace, I shouldered past her, refusing to let this witch act like she has had any part of my life.

"Faith," she snapped, gripping my arm tightly and wrenching me back.

I ripped my arm from her, as though I had been poisoned. I blinked, noticing a small flash of hurt in her eyes, before I mentally shook myself. Hurt? Yeah right. We're talking about my cold-hearted mother, here.

"Don't touch me," I hissed, my voice laced with venom. "You have no right to touch me."

"I am your mother," she snarled, her upper lip curling as she forced out the word 'mother'.

"Since when?" I snorted unladylike. "You left. You abandoned this family. You only show up when something is wrong, to try and act like you have some say about what happens next. You think you're so superior when you're actually nothing. You mean nothing to me."

"Faith," dad barked, his voice stern. "That's enough."

"No," I shouted, tears welling in my eyes. I whirled around to him. "How dare she come here and started yelling at me. Why do you think I'm so fucked up? Hello, serious case of abandonment issues here!"

"Oh, that's rich of you," she retorted. "I'm the reason why you're punching teachers? Your father isn't to blame at all?"

"No!" I screamed in exasperation. "Don't you get it? You left him to raise a daughter. You didn't want us. You can't just come back into our lives whenever you feel like. You cannot come here and judge my dad for his parenting skills when you're a complete fucking joke. You being a parent is a joke."

"Faith," she said, planting her hands on her hips.

"Just fuck off," I snapped, shaking my head. "I hate you. Don't come to see me ever again."

"Faith!" both mum and dad chorused.

"I mean it," I growled, my fists balling at my sides. "I want nothing to do with you."

With that, I turned and stormed into the house, the echo of the front door slamming behind me.

My whole body was trembling. I ran up the stairs and fell onto my bed, sobs erupting from my body.

Everything is a mess.

***

Nerves bubbled in my stomach as I shrugged my leather jacket over my shoulders.

Resting my hand on my abdomen, as if that would ease my anxiety, I stared into my reflection. My lightly tanned skin was smooth, my eyes were bright and my lips smeared neatly with gloss.

I looked nice, I guess. I didn't really need to dress up, considering Xavier has seen me bare faced with daggy clothes more times than I could count. However, I still felt the need to a put a little extra effort into my appearance tonight.

We were finally going to face the issues at hand. It would either draw us together and make us closer, or it will prove we're not meant to be together. Only time will tell.

With a sigh, I brushed my hair from my face, before clutching my bag tightly.

The drive to the park was quick. Too quick. It wasn't enough time for me to think. Maybe that was a good thing.

I heard the doors lock behind me as I made my way towards the river. A slight gasp left my lips as Xavier had a picnic rug spread out across a glade. He had dinner ready and waiting.

"You didn't have to get dinner," I said with surprise.

He jumped in alarm, obviously not having heard me arrive.

"I was hungry and you're always hungry, so," he shrugged, looking a little sheepish.

"Makes sense," I agreed, before hugging my jacket tighter to myself.

"Sit," he motioned.

With a moment of hesitance, I sat beside him, the smell of dinner wafting towards my nose.

"Smells good," I complimented, shifting to get more comfortable.

I silently face-palmed myself. Since when were we the awkward small-talk type of people?

"It does," he replied, reaching over to grab something behind his bag.

He removed a single, red rose, with a red ribbon tied to it.

"Er- what is this?" I asked as he handed it to me.

"A rose," he said simply.

Duh, I wanted to say.

"Why are you giving me a rose?"

He did a one shoulder shrug. "I saw it today and it reminded me of you."

"How did it do that?" I asked, my eyes trained on the beautiful, crimson rose in my hand. It was stunning.

"Well, at first, the fiery red caught my eyes, reminding me of your hair," he teased, giving me a lope-sided smile. I gave him a small one in return, feeling my heart flutter slightly in my chest at his words. "And then I took a moment to look at it. It was petite, little and so perfectly delicate. Just like you."

I felt my face soften with each word. That was incredibly sweet.

"Aw, that's very thoughtful, Xavier," I murmured. "Thank you."

He ducked his head as I saw his cheeks turn a dark shade of red. I grinned to myself as he withdrew two plates and began to load our food up. It was an obvious distraction, but I let him go, taking more time to admire the rose.

"So, what's your plan now?" he asked, breaking the silence. "With no school?"

I let out a sigh. "Honestly? I have no idea."

"Well, you have plenty of time to decide."

"I guess."

"Chin up, buttercup," he grinned, giving me a light punch on the shoulder.

"My mother came and saw me today," I said dryly, unable to resist rolling my eyes. "Trying to act like she has some say in what happens now."

"That wouldn't have gone well."

"Nope," I laughed, although it held no humour. "I told her to never come to see me again."

"Ouch."

"I know," I sighed, rubbing my face. "I can't help it. She infuriates me."

"She needs to learn some respect, but so do you."

"Not tonight," I said, holding up my hand in a 'stop' signal. "Too soon."

"Okay," he chuckled, shaking his head at me.

Silence lapsed between us for a few moments. I zipped my jacket up, refusing to let the cold wind get to me.

"Xavier," I said slowly, toying with the food on my plate. "I think we need to discuss what happened."

"I didn't cheat on you," he said, his voice holding undoubted serious and promise, making my heart stammer. I swivelled my eyes from my plate, to his. "I lead you to believe otherwise, and that was wrong. Terribly wrong of me. I only did it because I was hurt. I was hurt you didn't believe in me enough to trust me - I would never have brought that stuff into your house. It really hurt to see you doubt me. I know I reacted stupidly, but I can't go back in time. All I can do now, is express how sorry I am for treating you like that. You mean the world to me."

My lips parted as I stared at him. My fingers began to tremble.

He never cheated. He never actually hurt me.

"I couldn't imagine my life without you," he whispered, his eyes becoming wet. "I love you. I love you so damn much. I never told you that, while we together and I regretted it every day that we were a part. I love you and I want to be with you."

"I love you, too," I whispered, my voice breaking. "I'm sorry for doubting you. I can't justify why I did, I just... I always side with my dad. No matter what. I'm sorry for hurting you."

"I just want to forget about it all," he insisted, reaching out and grabbing my hand. "The whole thing seems so insignificant now. I just want you."

"I want you, too." I said before I could think. It didn't matter if I didn't take time to choose my words or think - I meant it. I wanted him. How could I not?

"Faith, will you be my girlfriend again?" he asked, his voice slightly shaky as he stared intently into my eyes.

"Yes," I murmured, my lips curving into a genuine smile. "Yes, Xavier. I will be your girlfriend."

He leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine, almost waiting for me to pull back. I didn't. As a few seconds ticked by, the kiss slowly merged into something more heated. Something more passionate.

Pushing my plate from my lap, he pressed on my chest, effectively causing me to lay down. I looped my arms around his neck and pulled his body close to mine. His fingers sank into my hair, tugging slightly on my scalp.

His warm tongue brushed against mine, as he gripped my thigh, rubbing patterns that made me hungry for more. We continued at that pace, enjoying the feel of each other, like we had so many other times.

I had missed feeling his soft, delicious lips dancing against mine. I had missed the smell of his cologne. I had missed his touch.

I was helplessly in love with Xavier. I was fooling myself if I tried to say otherwise.

He withdrew back and planted a soft kiss on my nose.

"I love you," he breathed, his chest rising and falling.

"I love you," I panted back, grinning.

His lips were swollen from the intense contact with mine, making him look that bit hotter, if possible.

He reeled to sitting position.

"I'm glad this went well," he laughed, flicking a piece of carrot at me.

"Me too."

Making up with Xavier, felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I felt less restricted, like I could breathe a little freer. I didn't realise I hadn't been able to, in the first place.

I had underestimated how much I relied on Xavier. How much I craved his presence. How much love I had in my heart for him.

"How's the car?" he asked, drawing me out of my thoughts.

"Excellent," I gushed, still feeling exhilarated from our kiss. "I can't believe you did that for me. You're incredible."

"I couldn't have done it without the help of your father," he confessed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I know, but still. It was a grand gesture."

"A grand gesture?" he smirked, a little bit of his former cocky behaviour residing on his face.

"Yes, you dork."

"You're the dork," he bantered.

"Whatever." I laughed, shaking my head. "Hey, not to kill the mood, but I have a question."

"What's that?" he asked with a mouth full of food.

"Charming," I muttered, shaking my head. "Why Jasmine? When you were mad at me, why did you go to her?"

"I was actually friends with her, before we got together," he explained. "Not close friends, but friends. I ran into her, I was upset, she offered me a place to stay. I had nowhere to go. It just made sense at the time."

I nodded. I understood. Doesn't mean I liked it.

"Don't do that again."

He chuckled. "Yes babe."

"I mean it," I warned, poking my fork at him.

"I promise," he said, with a smirk, his hand across his chest.

"Good."

I leaned back onto my hand as I stared at the boy in front of me. We were both flawed. We both had baggage.

But we were stronger together, than not.

And I'm glad we were smart enough to realise that.

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Yay, they're back together! Do you think it's a good idea for them to try a relationship again?

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