Chapter 2

I awoke pulled as close to Bon as possible. Then, it dawned on me; I was supposed to be home at eleven last night! I tried to slip free from Bon's arms without waking him. But, as soon as I moved, his eyes shot open, instantly mesmerizing me in the seemingly never-ending beautiful brown orbs.

"Good morning," I whispered breathlessly, he smiled lightly, staring into my eyes, into my soul.

"Sleep well?" he asked, kissing me lightly on the forehead.

"I had great dreams last night," I replied, running my fingers through his shaggy black hair; he smiled and pressed his lips lovingly to the top of my head. Then I remembered my dilemma—I needed to get home!

"What's wrong?" he asked, sensing my worry.

"My parents are going to kill me, I as supposed to be home last night, and they are always whenever I break curfew," I said. Last time I had broken curfew, my step-mom had almost kicked me out.

"I'll take you," I said, before I could possibly object, he led me out to his car; it was a blue Ford Mustang from the nineties. I got in and he took me home, I was surprised to learn that he knew where I lived. "You look nervous," he said as we pulled up in my driveway.

"My dad and step-mom aren't exactly the nicest people ever," I said, shuddering slightly.

As soon as I walked in the door, my stepmother was screaming at me, yelling how useless and worthless I am, telling me how I was the reason my father had depression and that I was the reason for everything bad in their lives. She told me how I was ugly and a disgrace; although all this stuff I considered true, I couldn't help but almost want to cry as she lashed out at me like that. When dad married her, that was when I became so dark and depressed, with the feeling that I was a reject of life. "Get out!" she screamed, snapping me from my thoughts, throwing an empty bottle toward my head. I ducked and ran outside, Bon was sitting on my front porch, and I ran into his awaiting arms, suppressing tears as best I could.

"I heard everything, are you okay? You need a place to stay?" he asked, rubbing my back.

"I don't want to be any trouble for your parents," I said, my voice about to break. I wanted—no—I needed to cry at that moment. But, I tried to suppress it, I just had to, I didn't want Bon to see me like that.

"No, no, they won't mind," he assured. "Will you be able to get any of your stuff?" he asked, I nodded and walked around to the back of the house, climbing the tree and opening my second-story bedroom window. I grabbed my school backpack and tossed it out the empty window. Then, I grabbed an empty duffel bag from under my bed and threw in a bunch of my band t-shirts, a few more shirts, a couple camisoles and pairs of sweatpants to sleep in, a few of my favorite pairs of skinny jeans, my favorite vans, my ipod, cell phone, and a few other things from my bathroom. Then I zipped up the bag, slung it over my shoulder, and climbed back down the tree. Bon took my bags and placed them in the trunk of his car as I got in.

While we were driving to his house, he looked over at me, "Kaci?" he began nervously. I looked up and over at him, "those things your step-mom said, you don't believe them do you?" he asked.

"Well, actually…it is all true" I began. Anger flashed in his eyes,

"Kaci Owens! Listen to me! You are definitely not useless or worthless, and if your father is depressed, it isn't your fault! And your step-mom is wrong about everything, especially since you are the most beautiful thing in the world to me, and if she doesn't see how import and amazing you are, she doesn't deserve to be around you! You are like a rare gem, you are priceless!" he said. There was a long silence.

"What brought this on?" I asked, perplexed why he wanted to know what I thought about what my stepmother said. She said it about me not him so what was the big deal?

"Hearing you take it in silence…while she was so horrible…It hurt me, I love you too much to be able to stand hearing her say horrible lies about you," he whispered, eyes still on me.

For the rest of the drive, it was total silence. Then we pulled up to a rather large house and Bon helped me out of the car, placing his arm around my waist as we approached the front door. He opened it and a blonde woman around her mid-forties looked up. "Brian, did you have fun?" she asked with a tender smile. She reminded me of my real mother, my real mom was always so nice; I loved her so much, why did she have to die?

"Yeah," he said. Her gaze fell on me; she has the same eyes as her son.

"Oh, and whose this?" she asked warmly, smiling at me.

"Mom, this is my girlfriend Kaci. Kaci, this is my mom." He introduced.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Kaci," she said, shaking my hand.

"Mom, is it okay if Kaci stays with us for awhile? Her step-mom kicked hr out for no reason."

"Of course! You poor dear! I have the guestroom all fixed up, you can stay as long as you like," she said. "It's upstairs, third door on your left," she said, throwing her arms around me in a tight hug.

"Thanks, Mrs. Bowers," I said quietly.

"Please, you can call me Linda," she said smiling.

Bon guided me up to my room, which, ironically, was right across from his. I went back down to get my stuff, but he was already carrying it. "I'll take it," I insisted. He looked offended.

"No! I got it!" he insisted, already running up the stairs. He was back in a flash. I stared at him a few minutes, for lack of anything better to do. "So, uh what do you want to do now?" he asked.

"Um, I don't know," I said, yawning. Bon's hands interlaced with mine as he guided me toward the couch.

"Watch a movie?" he suggested.

"Sounds good to me," I said.

"What kind?" he asked, opening a huge cabinet full of DVDs.

"I prefer horror, if that is okay."

"I knew you were my type. Horror is my favorite," he grinned, popping in My Bloody Valentine 3D. So we sat and watched people die, it was relaxing. As soon as the credits started coming up, I heard the front door open. I turned to see a man walking through the door.

"You're home early!" Linda exclaimed from the kitchen, coming out and kissing the man on the cheek. I assumed that it was Bon's dad. Linda then held him at arms length, "Kaci could you come here please?" she asked. I got up and walked over toward them.

"This is Brian's girlfriend Kaci, she is going to be living with us," she said, nudging me toward him, I smiled nervously.

"Hi Kaci, I'm Brian's father Jim," he said, shaking my hand. I went back to sit with Bon, I noticed Jim leaning closer to Linda, waiting until he thought that I was out of earshot.

"Isn't Brian a little young to have his girlfriends move in?" he asked. I pretended not to notice.

"Her step-mom kicked her out," Linda explained. I could tell Jim didn't exactly like me very much. Not that I cared, many people don't like me. "Dinner will be ready in a few minutes, anything you prefer Kaci?" she said.

"I eat anything," I said sheepishly.

"We're going upstairs for a minute," Bon said, pulling me by the arm up the stairs. I noticed Jim shooting us a look; I could tell what he was thinking.

Bon guided me into his room, he seemed angry. "I can't believe him!" he muttered under his breath.

"Uh," I said, having lack of better words.

"My dad is such a jerk! I bet he thinks you're pregnant or something, I could see it in his eyes." He said.

"It doesn't matter." I said.

"Yes it does! He's so overly judgmental," Bon said. I pressed my lips to his, trying to calm him. It worked; he immediately returned it full-force. When he finally pulled away, he laid back on the bed, pulling me down with him. I snuggled close into his chest. "I'm happy you moved in here." He said after a long silence.

"I am too," I said.

A/N: Please review!