11 10

Amira stared Reg down as he sat forward in his seat. He was looking at a checklist he'd pulled from his pocket and dotted the pen on his tongue.

"I'm going to begin with Dean since Amira will react to what he says."

The Irish girl scoffed and sunk down in her chair.

Dean smirked then reached over to pull her chair towards him.

"Ask away," he stated as he draped his arm behind her chair.

The club members, minus Virginia, smiled excitedly at the two while Amira glared but blushed.

"Alrighty then. That was too cute. Question one: Dean, you've been after Amira since her second week of school. Are you both together now?"

Dean pondered then looked to Amira with a smile.

"What do you think, Red? Are we together?"

Mira looked at him with a softer glare then looked down at the floor.

"I think thats a definite yes," Reg said. Mira was too embarrassed to negate the statement so she tried to sink further into her chair. Dean grabbed her shoulders and sat her up to lean and whisper in her ear.

"Its bad to slouch, Red."

She went to glare at him but hadn't taken into account how close he really was. Their lips were just one word away from each other. She wanted to tell him to back away, to shut up, anything to push him away without pushing him but no words came to her so she turned away. The room gasped at this.

"Amira Scott is at a lack for words," Megan asked excitedly.

"She usually blurts out an insult," Virginia stated as she wrote notes down on her paper, "Who knew that Dean could tame her so well."

Reg cleared his throat and looked down on his paper.

"Well that was something. Now, the next question. Have you two kissed? If so then who kissed who first?"

Dean was about to speak but Amira covered his mouth with her hands then looked to Reg.

"Don't ya think this is all a little personal? I mean come on! What does it matter if I am or ain't datin' 'em?"

It was quiet for a moment before the club members laughed. All of them laughed wholeheartedly as if she had told the best joke in history.

"Oh that was a good one," Dunstin said as he tried to calm down.

"Even Virginia is laughing," Megan said as she let the camera go to clutch her stomach. The room began to calm down after a moment the Dunstin answered her question.

"Oh that was adorable," he began, "Dean has been single and not looking to mingle for a year now. Before that he was in a four year relationship with, Gina, the most popular girl in town."

Amira looked at Dean and she felt him smirk and shrug his shoulders.

"He was the star of the track team as well," Virginia stated, "his popularity only dimmed when he quit track. Even though he's no longer with Gina and no longer the anchor of the team, he's still quite popular for his sex appeal."

This made Amira scoff at him.

"He has the sex appeal of a tree. What's to want."

Dean narrowed his eyes at her then licked her hand. Amira yelped and stood to her feet, disgusted.

"You bloody idiot! What the hell did ya do that-"

Dean used the opportunity to pull her down into his lap. She was startled by this but grabbed his collar as a reflex, even though she knew he wouldn't let her fall. She wasn't straddling him but it still felt intimate. They were suddenly alone in the club room although no one left.

"So are you suggesting that I don't have sex appeal or that you're attracted to trees?"

She folded her arms and looked away from him.

"I'm suggesting that you're a loser."

"Oh really now? Alright then."

With a quickness, Dean turned her to face the club members and held hed arms with one arm. His opposite hand he used to place over her mouth. He looked from around his girl and to Reg. Amira struggled to break free from his hold on her and insults started pouring from her lips but were muffled by his hand.

"Looks like this interview will have to be postponed seeing as we need to clear things between us. To keep you guys on the update, however, she kissed me first, I kissed her second, we haven't been on a proper date as of yet but I plan on taking her on one soon and lastly we are together. We've been together since the night of her birthday, which was Friday night."

Amira stopped struggling when she heard him say they were together. It caught her completely off guard and everyone could see it.

"Well that is...something," Reg began, "there were more questions for details but we can work with the information we've gotten."

Dean nodded before standing. He let Amira go only to grab her hand and pull her out of the room as she tried to talk to him about what he'd said.

Reg looked to his crew and sighed.

"Alright guys. Cut the camera. We won't put that video online but we will put it in the papers. Megan, you're on paper design duty. Lets get to work."

Dean hadn't stopped walking until they were in the courtyard. He stopped under the tree he usually napped under while Amira watched him quietly. She waited for him to explain what he'd told them in the club room but all he did was sit under the tree while she stood there.

Dean sighed in comfort and laid back on the grass.

"You just gonna stand their, Scott?"

Mira crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him.

"Yes, yes I am until you explain to me what the hell was that in there. Why'd you tell them that we're together?"

Dean looked at her then patted the spot beside him. She hesitated but groaned and plopped down next to him like a child with a tantrum. Before she could register what was happening, Dean pulled her down so that she was laying on top of him. Their lips connected as he held her close. She was surprised at first but began kissing him back. She straddled him to be more comfortable and he placed hands on her waist, trailing his hands up and down her sides. After a moment, he rolled over and flipped them over. He pulled away and looked down at her with love and adoration.

"I told them that we were together because its true. You are mine, Amira Scott and I want every guy in this school to know it. I want the girls here to know that I'm yours and yours alone. I want to be with you, not only to help you through things but because I love you."

Amira was shook by his confession and went to speak but Dean placed a finger on her lips.

"Let me finish before you insult me, yeah?"

He removed his finger from her lips and sighed.

"Red, you are one of the bravest, toughest, and most loyal persons I know. You've been through hell and back and got a few scars but you didn't back down and cave in like most would. Honestly, I don't know how you survived up to this point alone but I'm glad you did. Since the day I first saw you, I wanted you. I forced myself to leave you alone though because of Gina but then you had to go and get in her way. Soon, I got to know you through the journal and knew that I wanted to be with you and help you through this all at the same time."

She looked him in the eyes and saw, then, the emotions he'd conveyed to her just then. As if someone had taken over her body, her hand went up to his face and she cupped his cheek. Her thumb made circles over it and she sighed.

"Why'd you have to go and get mixed up with me? Sure I wasn't alright but I was getting by just fine."

Dean scoffed and laid beside her staring up at the sky.

"You weren't even getting by. You were drowning in everything and needed to be pulled out."

Amira said nothing and stared at the sky herself. She thought on his words as she did so, not realizing she was tired until Dean spoke.

"You haven't gotten much sleep these past few days. Just rest and I'll wake you up."

She was going to argue but he stood and picked her up, surprising her.

"What are you doing, you big doof?"

A few steps and he was under the tree he usually slept under. He took a seat against it and brought her more into his lap, as if his legs were cradling her. He laid her head on his chest and she could hear his heart beating calmly, contrary to her own rapid heart beat.

"Don't argue and just sleep."

A sudden fatigue washed over her as she listened to the thumping in his chest and she was soon lulled to sleep by the sound.

Jerry packed the last of his cloths and looked to his future wife as she slept soundly and naked on their bed.

Their set wedding day was in just three weeks now and he'd be home two days before then. Hopefully Amira could handle her and keep herself together.

At the thought of his daughter, he frowned. She'd been getting too close to their neighbors son for his own comfort. He appreciated the boys help when she had her fits but the thought of him courting his little girl unsettled him. It wasn't that fact that he was a boy and his fatherly instincts were overbearing. It was the fact that Amira was already in a fragile state. If he hurts her in any way, it could set back every ounce of progress they'd made with her. The boy was good to her so far. From what Sheila told him, she told Dean more than either of them knew and he helped her push through it all.

He saw that the other night when she had one of her fits. They couldn't calm her down yet all he did was come and she was pulled back. He liked the boy for his daughter but the what ifs swarmed his mind more than the soft spot he'd grown for him.

Petite arms wrapped around him and he smiled.

"What are you thinking about so hard," Sheila asked as she kissed down his neck and towards his shoulder. He placed a hand on her arm and turned his head towards her.

"About how much I don't wanna leave my girls."

Sheila leaned over his shoulder and looked him in the eyes.

"The sea is calling the captain and he doesn't want to listen? I'm shocked."

Jerry turned fully and tackled Sheila into an embrace, kissing her neck and down her chest. She giggled at his childish way but soon gasped in pleasure.

"Jerry, you have to leave soon," she managed to say. The man looked to his woman and smirked before kissing lower.

"Not before I get my parting gift."

Amira looked over her work before emailing it to Everly. Before they sort of made up, they agreed to work with each other via email rather than in person. The two haven't spoken since the previous night and she was going with it. She felt so much relief after giving Everly the partial truth.

A knock on the door sounded before it was slammed opened. Marcy was dragging Kaia into her room and behind them were Liz and her new girlfriend.

"We need your help, like asap," Marcy stated. She pushed Kaia in front of her towards Amira.

"We need you so that she can win the talent show."

Mira's face contorted into one of confusion but before she could reply Dean, Elijah, and Vic were in her room with snacks and cups. Sheila came in after them with a giant smile and two glass pitchers, one with lemonade and one with southern sweet ice tea.

"I got a heads up from our guy that you'd be having a lot of company tonight," she said as she sat the pitchers down on her desk. As she was leaving, the woman gave Amira a thumbs up and closed the door.

Amira looked around her room at everyone while they indulged in the finger sandwiches and wraps that Sheila made.

"When the hell did my room become a hangout spot," she asked herself aloud. Dean sat on the other side of her desk and folded his arms.

"I was going to have it at my place but when I told your mom she insisted on bringing everyone here."

She looked away from Dean then scanned her room again and then she saw it, the cello strapped to Elijah's back.

"What's this all about?"

Marcy stopped eating, remembering the reason they were all there.

"We want you, no, we need you to enter the talent show with Kai."

Mira found herself shocked. Kai stepped forwards and gave her the most adorable puppy dog look.

"I wanted to do something different than everyone else and saw you're drawings that day in the park. I figured you could paint or sketch while I play the piece I wrote."

Kaia saw that her look was cracking the girl before her but it wasn't enough. Amira stared at her in contemplation. She hated talent shows and pageants alike for they were worthless to her. What was the point in flaunting what you are good at, ir in some cases think you're good at. She's known Kaia for a while now and has helped her when she saw the assholes bugging her. Maybe she wanted to show them she was better or to get revenge on Gina. Her skills on the cello were more than enough to win the talent show so why ask her to help?

"Why do you want me to join you? You could win all on your own, hands down."

She noticed everyone becoming upset now. Elijah glared at the floor while Victor and Marcy looked ready to cry.

"My mom wanted me to win one talent show before she passed away."

This shook Amira and guilt took over.

"She said that she wanted everyone to know my gifts and wanted me to know that, through winning, I was better than everyone that tried to bring me down."

Amira hadn't realized the tears were falling until Kaia smiled sadly and wiped it away.

She fell out of her trance and sighed.

"I'm sorry," she began, now wiping her own eyes, "I thought you wanted revenge on Gina or something. I feel like shit now."

Kaia chuckled.

"You can make it up to me by being my partner in the talent show. You doodle for me and I will forgive you."

Amira looked up at the girl once more.

"When did a coy mouse like you become a con woman?"

Kaia held out her hand for Amira to shake and she shook it with mock annoyance.

"I'll sketch for you but no one will know what until that night."

Cheers rang out around the room from everyone but Elijah and Dean. Kaia tackled her into a hug and the rest of the girls followed suit, making them all fall to the ground az the computerchair toppled over.

Everly looked over the project one last time and sighed. They were now finished with it and she felt relief.

This on top of her vice presidential duties at the school was very taxing. She thought about the conversation that lead up to her being partnered with Amira and tried to piece things together.

Amira told her that she lied about killing Laurette. The class debate they had proved that statement true. She fought hard about the topic and the more Everly provoked her the more she slipped from behind the mask she was wearing. Amira miss Laurette as much as she did but whatever secret she'd been carrying around was at its breaking point and she was fighting so hard to keep it down. The black diary was begging to be read but she already decided to wait until Laurette's death anniversary.

A text message broke her from her thoughts. She tapped the screen twice to wake up the device and saw it was from Jena.

Meet us at the shack now!

She rolled her eyes and grabbed her things to leave. She told her mom where she was going and headed to her car. On the way, she looked down the street to the Scott house and saw the driveway had three cars parked in it. One of those cars being Shiela's, one was Elijah Carter's and the other was unknown. She felt her heart sadden a bit when she realized how much they've grown apart and she was now alone. Her sister was the reason for them being the best of friends back then and her sister is now the reason they've grown apart. Everly also changed so much. She was no longer the shy little girl that tried to follow behind her strong sister. She never would have thought that she could become the vice president of Harbor Point high nor that she would be the most popular girl in school. She probably would have been the most beautiful if everyone wasn't so scared of Gina and Jena. The two girls were ruthless which is why she befriended them. She could always keep them from making trouble for others under the guise of keeping them safe from trouble. It was easy to do so seeing as her IQ was the fourth highest on the schools grade board while they were on the bottom of the average section on the same board.

Once to the Shack, a hangout spot for teens, Everly sighed and tried to muster the strength to deal with the two girls this late in the evening. She made her way inside and saw them immediately. They were talking to two guys they looked way older than they were. The guys were giving them drinks and she rolled her eyes and went over to them. When Jena spotted her, she tapped Gina's arm and pointed towards Everly as she fought the crowed of people. Gina turned and smiled when she saw Everly and hopped out of her seat.

"Well if it isn't my favorite goody two shoes," she said as she hugged Everly. The blonde stiffened and held back a gag. She smelled of cigarettes, vomit, and booze.

"I am so glad you're here! We found you a boy friend!"

Before she could react, Gina grabbed her and lead her over to the guys. They were tall and handsome, both built like football stars but she knew that they were up to no good.

"This is Peter," Gina said rubbing on his chest. He sported brown hair and had stubble on his face.

"He's with Jena so no peeking!"

Says the one caressing his chest...

"This is Duncan. Mine." She pulled the black haired boy's face down and made out with him right there. She pulled away and pushed him aside and pointed to a guy sitting behind them.

"That's Von. He came with them but he's boring. You two are a match made in heaven."

Everly was about to tell Gina to get in the car but she was pushed forwards, straight into the chocolate mystery guy with dark brown hair. She glared at Gina who only gave a giggly wave and turned her back to her. She turned back to the guy but was lost for words. His eyes were an icy blue, literally.

"Those contacts are amazing," she thought.

"They're one hundred percent real, sweetheart," he grumbled before sipping his soda.

Red made it's way up her neck and she looked away, embarrassed to have said that aloud.

"So," he bagan, "you're the one that's friends with hot mess one and two. Don't look like you belong here though."

Now paying full attention, Everly heard his thick country accent and felt her stomach flutter. His voice was deep and the southern drawl made him sexier than he was originally.

"I'm um... I only came to get them."

Von nodded then looked behind her.

"Well it seems like they left you behind, sweetheart."

Everly tilted her head in confusion and looked behind her to see that the four individuals were, indeed, gone. She cursed and rushed out of the place to see them hanging out of a car window as they sped away.

"Fuck me, Jena's mom will be so pissed!"

"Naughty words for a good girl," Von said from behind her, startling her. She jumped and placed a hand over her chest to ease the scare she'd received.

"Those were your friends, right," she asked him, "tell them to bring them back right now."

Von looked at her in amusement but pulled out his phone and called Peter. After a few rings, the phone was sent to voicemail.

"Well they aren't answering, sugar. What next?"

Everly began pacing to try and think. She suddenly clapped and fished out her phone.

"Now, I'm going to get those two idiots before they worry their parents for the billionth time. Oh and we are still in high school."

Von chocked on his soda before cursing and trying to call his idiot friends.

Everly opened the Find My Phone app and typed in Gina's number, knowing she wasn't smart enough to veil her location. She made her way to the car and hopped in. What she didn't expect was for Von to hop in with her.

"What are you doing," she asked him.

"They were my ride. Besides, if they are going back to the inn then you'll need a key."

He held up a card and put it away just as quickly before sitting back in the seat. She groaned and started the engine.

"Put your seatbelt on then."

He smirked and did as told, shooting his aunt a quick text message that he was no longer at the Shack but headed back to the inn.

Amira looked at everyone sleeping everywhere. It was now four am and everyone was finally asleep. They decided to sleep over at her place for some odd reason and Sheila allowed it, saying that its time for her to have a good teen experience.

She watched Kaia snuggle up to Elijah and smiled. Earlier she was so reluctant to sleep beside him on the pull out sofa that she had in her room. Liz and Azana made a comfy looking pallet on the floor and Azana was holding her close, like she would disappear at any moment. Vic and Marcy slept at the foot on the bed. Marcy laying one way and Victor the opposite but Marcy was holding onto on of his legs.

Lastly was Dean. She sat up and watched as he slept soundly. He looked so relaxed beside her, as if there were no type of worries.

"Our old dream has come true," Laurette began from above her. Amira didn't look away from Dean to answer her.

"What are you talking about?"

The apparition scoffed then laid behind Dean.

"When we were younger, you said you wanted us to make a lot of friends when we started high school. It took a while but you did it."

Amira looked her in the eyes and sighed before turning back to Dean.

"If I remember correctly, you wanted to have a boyfriend that was like prince Phillip."

Laurette chuckled and laid on her back.

"Well thanks to you, that dream sorta came true."

Mira rolled her eyes and turned to get out of bed. She carefully went to the desk chair and stood on it with her phone in hand. She took a picture of everyone sleeping and gave a small smile before climbing down and leaving the room. She would draw the picture later. For now, she was thirsty. She quietly creeped out of the room and made her way to the kitchen. When she opened the fridge she saw Sheila had put three bottled waters inside with notes on them. She picked up the first bottle and read.

You're probably thirsty and uncomfortable with the crowd in your room so I put these in here to get cold for you

She picked up the second bottle and smiled at the note.

If you drink this right after then I'm going to assume you are a fish your daddy caught at sea

The note ended with a winking face and she read the last one.

CLOSE THE FRIDGE!!

She quickly slammed the fridge shut then put that water down after startling herself by hearing Sheila yell. A creak in the floor boards made her stiffen. She pretended like she didn't didn't hear it and went to the furthest counter. Taped under the side was emergency mace her father placed for when he was gone.

She pretended to have dropped her water on the ground and reached to get it. When she picked up the water with one hand, she grabbed the mace with the other.

She waited for the person to reveal themselves and when they did so by touching her shoulder, she turned and aimed the mace but paused when she saw who it was. Her mother let out a short scream and backed away from her a bit.

"What the hell," Amira yelled.

Her mother looked frightened and stared at the black weapon.

"What are you doing here," Amira asked still shaking a bit.

"Could you please put that away," her mother asked. Amira gave an exasperated sigh and leaned on the counter.

"She is mentally insane," Amira murmured to herself, "she has a lot of loose marbles."

"Amira."

At the sound of the second voice, her blood ran cold. She found it hard to even look up now. Her mother touched her shoulder and she recoiled away.

"Why is he here," she asked, her voice shaking. She still had her head down, refusing to look at him.

"Amira, honey, we need to speak with you," the woman said, gently making the red head look at her. Panic set in now. She was about to scream when he rushed and covered her mouth. She looked her worst demon in his eyes and couldn't help the fear she felt. She couldn't move, she could hardly breathe, all she could do was cry and stare into his sinister brown eyes.

"We need you to listen to every word I am about to tell her," he said roughly, "can you do that?"

Amira began sobbing now. The feel of his hands touching her disgusted her to her core so badly that she wanted to vomit. The thing that began to shake her more was the apparition behind him. Her best friend stared at her with a tangled mess of hair and blood pouring from her arms.

Mira shut her eyes to try to calm down but the man holding her prevented that.

"Max," her mother said with concern but her gave her a look to silence her.

"Amira, your mother and I need to know that you will remain silent about Laurette."

"Why did you do it, Amira?"

The apparition was now beside the man and the panic set in. Her world completely shifted but he was still there, staring at her looking for an answer.

"You will say nothing of that time, understood? Things were quiet and they will stay that way."

Amira nodded vigorously, wanting him to leave as quickly as possible. He stared at her longer then sizex her. She could see the lust in his eyes and stilled, no longer being able to breathe.

"You've grown up well, little ruby," he said, caressing the girl's face gently with his free hand. He licked his lips as she trembled in fear of him. The same hand ventured lower until it could give her rounded bottom a squeeze.

"Max, people are upstairs," Cordelia said, not liking that her husband was touching his daughter. He ignored her, however, and let his hand slide into her shirt to grip her side.

"You'll be good for uncle Max right?"

Hearing the familiar words she shut her eyes to fight the urge to vomit. The bile was there in her throat now.

Max didn't like this and glared at her. Suddenly her eyes shot opened as he squeezed the side hard. She gasped in pain but was still too afraid to move.

"Answer me."

He squeezed harder and it was enough to make her struggle.

"Max!"

The man whipped his head around and thats when he heard the floor above them. Someone was coming. He turned back to Amira and gave her side one last squeeze before letting her go.

"Leave the past in the past, Amira; or maybe I should let you experience all the fun me and Laurette had together."

When she didn't react he smirked and pressed himself closer.

"Or maybe I should pay Everly a visit. I was always her favorite person to be around."

This got a reaction, she shook her head in panic and his smirk deepened.

"Then are you going to say anything?"

Amira shook her head no once more and he nodded once before letting her go completely.

"We're done here, Cordelia."

Max backed away, watching Amira fall apart. Her mother didn't even look back as she rushed to leave the house. When both were gone, she let out the breath she was holding in but it triggered a panic attack.

She went to walk but her legs gave out and she saw black instantly, the only thing she heard was the sound of glass shattering.

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