THIRTY-FOUR

THIRTY-FOUR

I don't think I could recall the last time I had this good of a sleep. Everything felt warm, extremely comfortable and I was surrounded by this calmness that hugged me tight. I didn't open my eyes immediately, letting this feeling go on for as long as possible.

I breathed out softly, before small snippets of what happened yesterday come back to me. The beginning of the day when I got ready for Link and I's date, the set up, the talk we had outside, the walk back home, the break in, jumping out the window, Link suddenly being there...

My eyes shot up and I knifed off the bed. I looked around, and saw the spot next to me was empty. I knew he was here last night. It all felt too real to not be real. He came for me, I had called him and he came.

I threw the covers off me and looked down at myself. I was wearing a clean shirt over my bra and underwear. Images of what happened last night came back to me and I groaned out in embarrassment.

Damn it, I practically begged him to carry on after he stopped.

I wanted to scream in my pillows but knew that I didn't have the luxury. Events of last night were not something easily to brush aside and direct your focus on hot make out sessions with your sworn enemy.

I got out of bed and slowly etched towards the door. I opened it carefully and stuck out my head, looking in both directions. It looked painstakingly neat and tidy, not one thing out of place. I could hear the faint mutter of the TV on downstairs and someone was in my parents bedroom.

My heart started racing involuntary, already assuming we were in danger and I nearly followed suit. But I allowed myself to take in a quick breath, stayed alert but didn't leave my bedroom.

Until I saw my mother strolling out the bedroom. She looked the same, even though I haven't seen her in a while. Her light blonde hair was hanging down her back, not one strand taking their own way. The outfit shouldn't have surprised me since it had Joanne Shea written all over it, but with how well the nude pencil skirt and the plain white blouse were put together made me realise that nothing fazed my Mother. Even if her only daughter hated her guts.

Her face, surprisingly light with the make up, was scrunched up in a deep frown. I could bet it was due to the phone being plastered to her ear and she didn't like what she heard.

"Make it work," she clipped into the phone before hanging up. She let out a small agitated sigh before putting her phone into her purse, her head still down and walking towards me. She still hadn't spotted me but when she walked past the toilet, and lifted her head up to look at my bedroom door she nearly did a double take.

"Orianna," she gasped, her hand flying to her chest where she clutched on her blouse tightly. "What on earth are you doing?"

There was no pleasantries exchanged, no "where have you been? I've been worried sick!".

"I'm just grabbing a few clothes," I lied. Somehow telling my Mother that I slept over didn't seem like a good idea, mainly because I'd create a dent in my own ego. I didn't want to prove her thoughts right by returning home after an outburst even if it was true. I did come back home. I came back and so far nothing good came from it.

She looked down at my attire, the shirt dangling just down to my thighs. I've been living with her all my life, it would be naive to think she didn't know my just woken up face and outfit. She knew I slept in my own bed last night, but she wisely decided to no comment about it.

"I'll prepare some breakfast for you," she said and that was it. I watched her walk down the stairs, not looking back at me once. You'd think that, what with everything that happened between us, there would be more to say. But it was clear that my Mother had nothing else to say.

Not allowing that to put any sort of damper to my already screwed up mood, I walked into the hallway and went to the toilet. I brushed my teeth, after finding my toothbrush hadn't been moved from the usual spot I always put it at. I washed my face, finding all my face products under the sink in my own separate basket.

I didn't take a shower, mainly because I wasn't going to spend any minute longer in the house if I could avoid it.

I went back into my bedroom and pulled on some leggings before heading downstairs. Even though I skipped the shower, skipping breakfast was impossible. Firstly because, as soon as I came down the stairs, my Mother already had my plate down and she glanced up when I feet hit the ground. "Good timing, come sit."

And secondly, I was starving.

I followed her instructions and dragged my feet to the dining table. I sat down and looked down at my plate. A full stack of pancakes, with honey drizzled on top and one strawberry placed on top. To the side, there was some crispy turkey bacon and one poached egg.

I felt a small stab in my stomach upon realising that, my Mother had made my all time favourite breakfast. Even if it was done on purpose, which I highly doubted because she just found out I was here, this breakfast was only made on special occasions such as my birthday.

I didn't say anything and just grabbed my fork and started wolfing down the food. I heard her sit down as well but I didn't bother lifting my head up from the plate.

"Your Father will be here-"

Not soon enough, the man himself came into the dining room. He silently came to the table and seated himself by the head. He had his own plate, and just because I still hadn't fallen out from my routine, I looked up at him.

His eyes weren't on me and I watched, quite shocking as he lifted up his fork and ate his breakfast. Surely any father would have said something if their daughter just returned home.

It was awkwardly silent and I just gave up searching for something between my parents and myself, searching for one ounce of relationship between us. I knew nothing was there but why did I always go looking for it?

When I downed the last sip of my orange juice, I exhaled through my nose and put my fork down. Without saying a word, I got up from my chair and headed up to my bedroom.

And went straight to my closet. I grabbed a massive duffle bag that I had tucked away for when I slept over at Versa's place and started throwing all of my clothes in there. Not much could fit so I stopped throwing all sorts in the bag and sat down by floor of my closet.

I had to organise, take what I needed and when I moved away, somewhere near the beach, I'll buy myself appropriate clothes. Before I could begin, my phone started ringing on the nightstand.

Pushing myself to my feet, I shorted the distance with a few strides to my nightstand and reached for my phone.

It was Versa calling. "Hey," I greeted.

"Girl," was her own greeting and I could already hear what she was saying in her voice. That one syllable prepared me for what was coming. "I'm coming over."

Shit. She doesn't know I'm back here. "Versa, I'm not a Palmer's." I told her quickly.

"I know," she said. "I'm coming to your house. See you in five." She hung up before I could get another word in.

"Damn it," I muttered to myself under my breath. I really needed some time to gather my thoughts and even though I loved Versa I could do well with being alone right now. But I also knew my best friend, and she knew something was up.

And exactly five minutes later, my bedroom door opened and Versa found me sitting in the midst of my clothes.

"What you doing?" She asked accusingly, her eyes following my duffle bag that I had on my bed.

"Packing." I stated.

"You only packing one bag?" She asked me, as if that was impossible to believe.

I nodded at her and got up off the floor. "I'm moving to Brighton I decided and I don't want to take much since I'll be making a fresh start over there." I threw in my favourite white and teal shirt into the bag. "And buying new clothes is really going to put a good foot out in that direction."

Versa, with her eyebrows nearly reaching her hairline and her eyes so wide I feared they might just drop out, was lost for words. "But...but...you...joking...how..." She struggled to get her words together and then just ended with one word.

"Brighton?" She exclaimed.

I nodded at her. "It's the beach over there that did it for me."

Versa shook her head at me furiously. "It's bloody England, there will be no decent sun so a beach is pretty much pointless!" She shouted incredulously.

"Versa," I said softly. "It's not that far south."

"Not that far my ass!" She sputtered out, dropping her bag on top of mine.

"You're not going." She concluded, finalise, came to an end with it. "You're not going and that's final. Go and unpack."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "I'm leaving Versa and you already know this."

"No, I didn't know about Brighton."

I rolled my eyes at her. "At least I'm not going to Blackpool and I'll tell you, it was a close second to Brighton."

Her eyes got even bigger if that was humanely possible. "Blackpool?" She screeched.

I knew nothing good would come out of this, and Versa would find herself riled up and no way to calm down. This was happening. And it was happening soon.

"How's things with Ryan?" I asked her, taking a different course so she could drop this.

Her eyes cut to mine and I felt her glare cut right through me. She was petite, very small but the anger she was oozing right now could have made any grown man take two steps back. Alas, she was my best friend and as much as I knew her, she also knew what I was all about.

She did not liking the way I dodged the conversation blatantly, but then she also didn't push on. Although she did let out a long, way too exaggerated sigh making all her thoughts known.

"We're good," she said after a long bit. "Really good." Fast was the look of anger gone and in replacement, a dreamy look appeared on her face.

I raised my eyebrow at her. "Oh yeah? Care to give me some juice."

My best friend laughed and dropped herself on my bed. I was ready for her to give me something new about her and Ryan. I wanted to know what was going on in her life but I also, selfishly wanted something to focus on, anything, to get my mind off my own life.

"I'll tell you everything after you tell me what you're doing here."

I had to applaud my best friend for this. "What do you mean?" But still, I acted dubious.

She rolled her eyes at me, making it clear she already caught me. "You're home. Not at Palmer's." She stated.

"I went there and she was worried because you weren't there." She jutted her finger in my direction, emphasising the fact that I was the root of everything. "Whilst we're all worried and I tried to call you but you didn't pick up," that surprised me since no calls actually came through. I wanted to tell her that but couldn't since what she said next took my whole attention.

"Until Link came through the door and he told us you were home."

My eyes widened. Did he tell them what happened?

Versa, not catching the change in me carried on talking. "I asked how he knew, and he said he took you there."

The events of last night coming back to me like a movie tape and I could feel a slight tremble starting by my knees. I was trying my best to snap out of it and focus on my friend but it became difficult by the second.

I noticed Versa now had her eyes fully trained on me. "What we you doing with link?" She asked me slowly.

I swallowed down my throat audibly. "He just walked me home." I managed to say, my voice surprisingly sounding together. I dropped my head, taking in several breaths in hopes of getting myself fully together.

Versa didn't stop there. "And the date you guys were on?"

I snapped my head to her. "Who told you that?"

"Well my best friend didn't tell me that's for sure." She drawled out accusingly.

I scrambled for words, not wanting to tell her he actually set me up. "Well it didn't happen." I decided on the truth. "He came too late and something came up. So we just talked and then he took me home."

"Everything okay? You guys are not friends and you're acting like it."

I shook my head at her rapidly. "We're not friends." This I was sure of. Link and I as friends was the furthest thing we were.

She believed me. Or she acted like she did. "Okay."

I was not going to be here and let my best friend slowly unravel me and then I had to tell her everything. That was going to happen and since I felt like I just dodged a bullet with this whole conversation and steered away from any further talk about Link, I decided it was wise to turn it all back to her.

I walked to the bed towards her, a wide smile on my face "Now tell me about you and Ryan."

Versa was unsure, I saw the battle in her eyes but she was wise herself. For her, she was giving me time to come to her. Little did she know I was never coming to her about this. "We're going for breakfast now and-"

I stopped her short, rearing my head back. "Wait now? Where is he?"

She bit her lip. "He's waiting outside."

"What, are you insane?!" I sputtered out incredulously. "What are you doing here? Go!"

I grabbed both her arms and lifted her petite body off my bed. She stumbled a bit, taken aback by my move.

"No, I need to make sure you're okay." She protested, trying to escape the hold I had on her.

I shook her senselessly. "You are insane! Go!"

"We haven't been the usual and I miss you."

I stopped shaking her and pulled her into my arms. We clung to each other and an overwhelming feeling came across of me. The pain came back and slashed me, wiping off the fake smile I had plastered on my face.

"So do I." I whispered in a small voice. I was close to breaking but held it together just a little longer, until I had her in the car with Ryan.

I pulled her back and held her eye. "Catch up soon? Tomorrow?"

"Yes, I'd like that."

We hugged again and I led her back downstairs and to the front door.

Ryan was parked by the curb and when we opened the door, he lifted his head to us. I waved at him, and ever so cool Ryan just gave me a flick of his finger.

I stood by the door and watched Versa get inside the car. Just before they drove off, another car pulled on behind them. It was an unfamiliar car, a black Mercedes.

The door opened and Nolan stepped out.

He walked to Ryan and tapped on the window. I saw the window roll down and they did their own greeting which lasted a few seconds.

And then Nolan turned to me and started to walk up towards my house. I saw Ryan drive off behind before Nolan's whole body came in my vision.

Before I could say anything to him, the passenger side of the Mercedes opened and a tall, scary looking man stepped out. With his short buzz hair and dark shades that covered his face but not his hard lines, I decided then and there that I wanted nothing to do with him.

But to my complete horror I watched as he started to make his way to us.

"That's Mace," Nolan said without turning back. I snapped my gaze back to him, my eyes wide once a again.

"A friend?" I asked him carefully. Because if he was a friend then I would feel remotely safe.

Nolan, not giving a damn about how I was feeling just fuelled my discomfort more. "No."

I saw the twitch in his mouth and knew he was just pulling on my strings. "What are you doing here?" I said just as Mace got to us.

He gave me a full look, from head to my bare toes. Once he finished analysing me and probably satisfied with what he saw, he trained his eyes on me.

"Nice to officially meet you," his voice was too deep and I could feel the floor by my feet shaking. "Orianna." It was how she said my name, how it rolled off his tongue and then for the first time, I really appreciate my name since he made it sound so exotic.

I decided not to question what he meant by officially meeting me.

"And you too," I said, giving his own body a rundown with my eyes. "Mace."

He pulled his shades off his face and revealed dark piercing eyes that could make any woman weak in her knees, including myself.

"My boss wants to see you. So whether you want to go with that your wearing I suggest you get ready and we'll wait by the car."

Seeing how much badass he oozed and that it practically suffocated me, I knew I wasn't going to demand any answers from him. He wanted me to duck and dive, I was going to do duck and dive. He wanted to take me to his Boss, I was going to sit in that car and comply.

Plus, Nolan was with him. And that's how I knew it was safe. I didn't question anything else and just put my finger up for them to give me a minute.

I was going to change into some casual but my own share of badass since I wanted to show Mace that I was about that life as well. I put on a dark tee and my ripped black jeans with killer black boots. I draped my leather jacket over my shoulder and also tucked in my own pair of shades on my ears.

When I came downstairs I didn't miss the look Nolan threw at my outfit and just strutted towards the Mercedes.

"You're crazy," I heard Nolan say close to my ear just as I got inside the car.

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> any link Dane book 2 title suggestions?

> stay posted for the next update in a few explaining things about my stories and the characters XOX

> I realised that I'm lowkey obsessed with connecting with you guys so tell me your fav part so far in this story!!