I agreed to go out with him. I’m not sure how it happened, but I did. I’m officially going out with Stiles this weekend. And Livia hasn’t shut up about it. At. All.

As school finishes, I ran out the doors to catch the first bus. It takes me into town with some of the money I’ve saved to buy myself a new outfit. Livia offered to take me so she could shop for an outfit for Ryken, but I shut that down the minute she said it, deciding to go on my own so I could choose what I wanted to wear.

“The things I would do...”

Turning, my eyes go large, my heartrate picks up, and my breathing stops.

It’s the guy from the party.

A smoke dangles from his lips as he looks at me. Quinn.

“What’s wrong, pretty girl? You look nervous to be around me.”

Shaking my head is my only answer. I lie because he intimidates and terrifies me. The only problem is he knows it’s a lie.

“Tell me... Ryken, not driving you home today?” he asks with a cocky smirk and a conceited leer.

“Do you follow him?”

Quinn blows out a puff of smoke, and it forms a ring and then floats away while I watch it in fascination. “I do. It’s part of my job description to protect the future boss.”

“Boss...” I whisper, leaving the word on my tongue, but he hears me anyway.

“Yes, Boss. But I notice he can’t make up his mind... between you and the pretty little brunette. He’s like a yo-yo bouncing back and forth. She’ll win, though, pretty girl, and you’ll become a memory once he’s had his fill. She’ll fit perfectly into his world by molding into the type of woman he needs to have by his side. She’ll live blindly to it all, and not have a care in the world about who he is or what he’s doing as long as she has the prestige of his name. I have a feeling you’d want more than he can give you.”

“What are you talking about?”

Quinn shakes his head, putting the smoke out with a quick twist under his foot then sliding his sunglasses on as he looks up at me. “If you knew what was safe, you’d stay away from him. Otherwise, you may be collected. Trust me, pretty girl, you don’t want me to collect you.” Quinn turns, walking away as though he didn’t just say those words, and I stay where I am, watching him disappear out of my sight. Even then, I continue to stand in the same spot until I’m touched on the shoulder.

“Sass...” Livia says.

Turning to face her, I hope I’ve wiped the look of confusion and intimidation off my face.

“You didn’t wait for a lift.”

I shake my head at her words. “You forgot last week. Sorry, couldn’t risk this week, too.”

Her lip pouts at my words. “I’m sorry. I totally forgot. I’m the worst cousin in the world. Will you forgive me, if I help you shop for your date outfit?”

I want to say no. Then I remember how absolute shit at this shopping I am. And even though I really want to shop on my own so I can choose what I want, I realize I really do need her. That’s what happens when you have no money and only hand-me-downs. So instead, I nod my head agreeing to let her help me.

I’ll probably regret it, but to hell with it.

“Nothing too pricey... or overly sexy,” I add the last bit quickly.

She rolls her eyes, pulling me by my arm into the closest dress store and starts sifting through the racks.

“What are you shopping for?” I ask as she pulls some clothes out for herself.

Livia’s lips pucker as she looks around then back to me. “Ryken. I really, really, like him, Sass. More than any of the others.”

“Why?” The word sounds so harsh, much harsher than I meant it to. She doesn’t seem to care, though.

“He’s different. He’s not like the other boys I’ve been with.”

I nod my head. She’s right, he isn’t. He’s more... well, he’s just more.

“Did he ask you out?”

She shakes her head. “It kind of just happened. But I don’t see this one ending anytime soon.” Livia goes on and on for the whole afternoon.

Once we finally finish, she drives me home and pulls up to my trailer. She passes me the clothes. Then she fishes around in her purse and finally produces a condom. “Use it, okay?”

Looking down at it like it might bite me, I ask her something that’s been on my mind since she told me they were a thing. “Have you slept with him?”

Livia’s cheeks blush, and her eyes go wide. “Maybe.” She follows it with a little giggle.

Not wanting to hear anymore, I get the fuck out of her car as fast as I can.

***

AVOIDANCE IS WHAT I am good at. I’ve mastered it, thanks to my mother. So for the rest of the week at school, I stayed back in my classes, missed everyone at lunch by finding a quiet spot, and took the last school bus home so I didn’t have to deal with anyone.

I spotted Ryken and his red car a few times not too far away, watching me, as I ran for the bus right at the last minute.

Tonight, though, I’m standing out front of an Asian restaurant in the city, waiting for Stiles to turn up. I’m early. I’m always early. That’s never changed.

“Saskia...”

Turning around, I notice Stiles is dressed in dark denim jeans, with a light blue button-up shirt. He looks good, too good to be standing next to me in my jeans and blouse. I should have worn the dress Livia bought for me, but the minute I put it on tonight, I felt cheap. Like I was offering something that wasn’t mine to give.

He leans in and kisses me on the cheek. I wait for that all-consuming heartbeat to take over the same way it does when Ryken is near me. Nothing happens. Pulling back, he offers me his hand before we head inside. Sliding mine in his, we walk in and take our seats.

“I didn’t think you would show tonight.”

A small tendril of my blonde hair falls over my face, and I push it back looking down at the table as I speak to him. “Thanks for inviting me.” That’s about all I can think to say. This is all new to me. I mean I only kissed my first ever boy last week, and this week I’m on a date. Is it all too fast? I’ve locked myself up for so long trying to protect myself. Now I feel like maybe I’m giving myself too much of the world before I know everything about it and how I should feel or how I should react.

What if his taste is as addictive as Ryken’s?

I’ll be screwed, that’s what.

“You play sports?” I ask him, looking down at the menu.

After a few moments, the waiter walks up to the table, and Stiles takes the pleasure of ordering for both of us. I’m kind of glad he did because the closest I’ve come to eating out has only been at burger joints.

He laughs at my question. It’s not an insulting laugh. Just a friendly chuckle.

“I do. I take it you don’t follow?”

I shake my head. I’ve never been one of those girls and never claimed to be either. I know Livia goes to every home game. She’s asked me to come several times, but I’ve never wanted to. I’d rather stay home and study or read.

“Livia goes to most games.”

“You two close?”

Shrugging my shoulders. “She’s family.”

He nods.

“You haven’t dated her, have you?” Shit! I didn’t mean to say it out loud but somehow it just kind of fell out of my mouth.

His eyes go wide. “No, no. Livia is... well, Livia.”

I laugh at his theory and take comfort in it.

“I like that,” he smiles at me.

My eyebrows scrunch up in confusion.

“Hearing you laugh, I’ve never seen you genuinely laugh before.”

His words make me blush.

Robert makes me laugh. Often, actually.

The night goes better than I thought it would. He even offers to take me home. I decline and catch the bus instead. As it comes to a stop out front of my trailer park, I see a familiar red car.

Sitting in the street, waiting for the bus, there’s a very good-looking guy leaning back against his car with his legs crossed over each other.

“Wrong neighborhood?” I ask as I walk past him.

“How was your date?”

“Ask Quinn... he’s probably around here somewhere stalking me.”

Ryken stands taller. “What did you say?”

“Your friend... or employee... I don’t know which. Does he follow you?”

“Have you seen him again?”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I look up to him to see him watching me intently. His eyes are dark and foreboding.

“He followed me on Monday. Told me to stay away from you and that you’re better off with her.”

He swears then turns, and the loudest thumping sound echoes through the night sky. Ryken punched his beautiful red car, and there’s a significant indentation in the door. Reaching for his hand, I notice blood on his knuckles and try to wipe it away with my shirt.

He pulls his hand back away from me. “You’ll dirty your shirt.”

Shaking my head, I reach for it again, cleaning as much blood as I can to see if it’s deep. Thankfully it’s not too bad, but it definitely needs some attention.

“You’ll need to bandage that.” Stepping back away from him, I realize I need some space because where I was, I could smell him. He’s intoxicating to me. He’s like my own personal drug, drowning me with his scent.

“Run the other way when you see him, Barbie. Promise me you won’t go near him again?”

My head drops to the side. I can see him clearly because we’re under a street lamp. “You’re his boss, aren’t you? Can’t you tell him to stay away?”

“His boss?” he asks confused.

“That’s what he told me. He said you’re his boss, and he’s protecting his interests.”

“No. No. I’ll fucking kill him.”

“Is he dangerous?” I ask, wanting to know if he is, or is what I’m feeling all in my head.

“He is! Much more than you realize. Stay away. I won’t tell you again.”

“So if he’s dangerous, what does that make you?”

Ryken shakes his head at my words. “I’ll be worse. Way fucking worse.”

I change the subject. “My date was wonderful. Stiles is the perfect gentlemen. How was my cousin?” I ask him, my hand on my side touching my bag. I’m trying to not wipe my hands down my clothes, the ones that I know that are now dirty with his blood. This is my favorite shirt, too, and now it’s covered in his blood.

“Are you jealous, Barbie?”

With a shake of my head, I step back again, putting more distance between us. “I think you two are perfect for each other,” I reply in honesty.

“And who’s perfect for you, Barbie?”

“Maybe a Ken,” I joke while shrugging my shoulders.

“I thought maybe a Ryken...” he trails off while talking of himself in the third person.

“That would be a definite no. One... he doesn’t know what he wants. He gives me whiplash. Two... he slept with my cousin. That’s a massive no in my books.”

Ryken looks down to the ground then back to me. “She told you.”

I giggle. “Livia tells me everything. She tells everyone everything. Most of the school will know by now. Have you actually met her?”

“She isn’t as bad as you think.”

Shaking my head at him, I want to turn and walk away. “I don’t think she is bad. I never said that. I think she’s marvelous. I adore her. But the way she is with guys... it’s just a part of her I don’t particularly like. I’ve never liked her taste in men, or the way she views them. Now there’s you.”

“Now there’s me...” he repeats my words. “She would be perfect for my life, Barbie...” he trails off.

“Me... not so much,” I say ending his words.

He nods his head in agreement.

“Good. I think that’s good, Ryken. Now, stop coming around. Stop talking to me. She’s your path, follow it to her.” Turning, I start walking to my trailer. He doesn’t leave, I don’t even hear his car door open until I reach my door. It’s then I turn around to look at him. He’s leaning against it, watching me the way he does. I bet if I could see his eyes right now they would be dark and confused.

Just the way I like them.

Just the way I like him.

No. No.

Stiles. Stiles.

Stiles is who I should be thinking about. He’s normal. He would be good for me. But as I strip my shirt off and see whose blood is covering it, I wonder if I can convince myself that’s true. Or if lying to myself will make me the devil.

Either way, I need to listen to my words.

He’s better with her than he could ever be with me.

Look at our start, if it’s this rocky already...

Imagine how our ending would be.