THE BOY NEXT DOOR✓ EPISODE 95✓

"You have no idea why you are protecting me?" My voice comes out as a pathetic squeak.
                             
"That's what I said." He replies impatiently before he adds. "You know what? Forget I ever said anything. My point is, Tatiana is planning something really sick. I can't confront her because she won't let Cara in on her secrets anymore if I do. Stay with me and you will be fine."
                             
"Why is Tatiana so obsessed with you? It doesn't make sense."
                           
He spares me a glance. "Go inside Belle. I need to tell Mom about Gianna."                           
"Isn't she asleep by now? It's way past midnight."
                             
"She doesn't sleep early. I'll be right back in case she is. Stay with Gianna and Jay."                           
He stands there watching me as I walk back in. I am tempted to ask him if we can go together but I quickly decide against it. I'll only succeed in looking like a stalker.
                           
Jay and Gianna are nowhere to be seen when I get inside. I approach a guy I know from school and he tells me they went upstairs.
                             
Remembering what happened at the stadium earlier today, I decide to go up and look for them. I don't know why Tatiana is so obsessed with hurting me but I sure as hell don't want a repeat of that. If someone rapes me or attempts to do that again, I'm going to die.
                             
On the first floor, I open a few doors and they are all occupied by drunk students hooking up.                             

Disgusting.
                             
I walk up to the second floor and I'm glad when I realize the rooms are actually labelled. I locate Ethan's room first and I decide to confront him and be done with it.
                             
There's no reply when I knock so I push the door open and walk in. He is sprawled on the bed, fully dressed, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. He turns to look at me and a smile graces his handsome face.
                             
"Bella, baby." He breaths and I'm tempted to roll my eyes.
                             
"Why did you lie to me?" I go straight to the point.
                             
His faces creases with a frown.
"I didn't lie to you."
                             
"Oh really? Then why did you give me a necklace which was meant for Gianna, pretending that it was your mom's?"
                             
Realization hits him and he shakes his head before sitting up. His expression is horrified and he moves to create space for me on the bed.
                             
I don't move from the door. Why did he lie about something so sensitive?
                             
"Bella, I didn't lie to you. I would never lie to you especially about something that means so much to me. The pendant I gave you was my mom's. She wore it every single day of her life."
                             
"You're still lying, Ethan. What did you get Gianna for her seventeenth birthday early this year?"
                             
"I'll show you." He says then stands up. He is really drunk so he stumbles around before he manages to open his closet. A moment later, he emerges with a gift box.
                       
"Come here Bella. Open this."
He hands me the box and I cautiously open it.
                             
Confusion hits me when I look inside. I stare at the piece of jewelry for a moment before I turn to him.
He is watching my face, trying to read my reaction.
                             
"They look alike." I whisper when I finally find my voice and he nods.
                             
"I had a jeweller make that for Gianna. I wanted to give her a pendant similar to the one that belonged to my Mom but I couldn't part with the original one. I already told you it means everything to me. It's the only memory of my Mom that I have and I wanted to give it to a girl I really like. I like you Bella."

His eyes move to my empty neck and he narrows his eyes at me.
"Where is the pendant?" I hesitate and he grits his teeth. "Where is the fucking pendant Bella?"

Thinking of a quick lie, I quickly blurt out. "I left it in my bedroom."

He relaxes instantly. "You went home?"

"Yes. I needed to talk to my Mom."

"I see. Where is Gianna?"

"I think she is with Jay. Why do you ask?"

He shrugs. "She is a pretty young girl."

"You messed her up Ethan."

"She threw herself at me even after I warned her that I don't do girlfriends. She said she was okay with that but in real sense, she was already in love with me. She begged me to have sex with her, you know? Then she started acting all possessive."

"Maybe she really did love you." I suggest and he shrugs again.

"Many girls claim to love me. I am a good looking young man. Plus, I have brains and I've been told I'm very good in bed. What girl wouldn't come back for more?"

"You cocky bastard! I'm leaving."

"Are you sure you don't want to kiss me? Because I sure want to kiss you."

"In your dreams." I tell him as I head for the door.

I finally manage to trace Jay. He is in the upstairs guest room lying back on the bed. He grins at me when I walk in.

"Puppy face, how was the kissing session?"

"I didn't kiss anyone." I reply while sitting on the bed. He moves to create space and I lie down next to him.

He pulls the duvet over us and pulls me close to him.

"You are so warm. I was dying of cold here. It's high time I got me a girlfriend."

I laugh while resting my head on his shoulder. If there is one person I trust right now, it's Jay. He just adores me, no strings attached, no nothing.

"Why don't you start dating? Girls are always all over you."

He laughs loudly. "Girls are so complicated. They demand for way too much and I'm an asshole so I can't impress anyone."

"At least you know you are an asshole." I tell him fondly. I really like Jay.

"Yeah I do. Where is Kain?"

"He went to tell his Mom about Gianna. Where is she by the way?"

"She went home. I warned her but she insisted that she wanted to see her father. Kain's Mom is going to be very mad."

"What's up with her?"

He sighs. "Kain should be the one to tell you but I will. His dad is a serial cheat. He has countless mistresses in different states. His Mom found out some time back and she just snapped. That's when her mental issues began."

Oh my God. That's so sad..

"What does Gianna's presence have to do with her mental stability?"

"Everything." Jay replies while playing with my hair. "She couldn't conceive again after Kain and his father insisted he wanted more kids. That's when he started dating Gianna's Mom. Kain's Mom only found out about the affair a few years back. Every time she sees Gianna or she finds out that her husband is on a cheating spree from tabloids and blogs, she goes insane. She really tries to love Gianna but she just can't. She only calms down when Kain soothes her. She loves him to bits."

"And he loves her so much." I add and Jay nods.

"He does. You mess with his Mom and you have him to answer to. He has no relationship with his father. The old man is not even remorseful and Kain hates him for that."

I feel sad for him. It must be hard being him. And he still loves Gianna that much? He must have a golden heart.

I snort despite myself. Kain and golden heart do not belong in the same sentence.

He has a really cold heart.

No, he doesn't have a heart.

"The cheating thing must have affected her really bad." I state and Jay nods.

"Of course it did. When she met Kain's dad, he had nothing. Her parents are very wealthy so she didn't have a problem providing for him throughout college. She gave him the capital to start his first company then he ends up cheating on her? I think cheating is for stupid ass men. That's why I don't want to date. I'm not ready to settle down with one girl right now. Once I'm done being a hoe, maybe I'll think about dating. When that time finally comes, I'll stick to one girl and treat her like a Queen."

"She's going to be a lucky girl." I say with a smile, making him laugh out loudly.

"I'm going to be the lucky guy. I'm a hoe, puppy face."

"And George? What's up with him?"

He grins. "He is whipped. He loves that girl more than life itself."

"Then why did he kiss Lily.?"

"Tatiana wanted Jade to be heartbroken. George had no idea that she would find them. He was just trying to keep his secret."

"What's the secret?" I ask in confusion.

He sighs. "I can't tell you that puppy face. Maybe you will find out if you stick around long enough. It's really bad."

Giving up, I lie back and close my eyes. I'm not used to sleeping so late so I fall asleep quite easily.

My dreams are haunted by a tall handsome guy telling me has no idea why he is acting all protective.

*****
My eyes flutter open when strong arms are wrapped around me. I focus to stay awake, scared that Tatiana found her way to me and my heart flutters when I realize Kain is hovering over me. He is standing on the edge of the bed and he lifts me easily into his arms, carrying me bridal style.

I am very sleepy and I want to tell him to leave me to sleep but I can't, simply because being in his arms is exquisite.

Jay turns heavily but he doesn't open his eyes.

"Wrap your arms around my neck." Kain orders gently and I automatically do as instructed. His arms form a safe cocoon around me and he heads for the door.

"You can go back to sleep now." He whispers in my ear but I don't oblige even though my eyes can barely stay open.

He uses the emergency staircase and I'm really glad that the people partying in the living room won't stare at us.

I don't even know where he is taking me.

Sighing sleepily, I rest my head on his shoulder and he looks down at me. His eyes move over my face as he carefully walks down the stairs.

He looks sad.

"How is your Mom?" I finally ask as he walks through the back door and steps into the cool night.

"Unwell."

"Gianna's presence freaked her out?" I ask and he nods.

I keep my mouth shut. I don't want to offset him.

As a surge of sleepiness engulfs me again, I let my head loll back and I close my eyes. I'm barely aware of where we are until I hear him taking the stairs. A door opens and I'm placed on a bed.

"Do you want to sleep in that dress?" His low, patient voice asks in my ear and I nod with my eyes closed. I'm too sleepy to move.

I tense when I feel Kain climbing into bed and he lies beside me. He wraps an arm around me and pulls me to him, until my head is resting on his chest. His warm presence makes me feel safe, protected.

"Aren't you going back to the party?" I ask in my muffled sleepy voice.

"I will leave once you fall asleep." He replies, his fingers reaching to smooth my hair back.
"Sleep, Belle." He breaths against my hair.

As I drift into a peaceful dreamless sleep, I swear I feel his lips briefly touching my forehead.