• I turned the dial up on the heaters and heat blazed from it. Zane came from Mr. Rogers’s yard and saw me. He sighed as he looked up at the house. He had a brown backpack over his shoulders. He climbed the porch and looked in at me through the window.

    “Princess,” he said and cracked a smile. I rolled my eyes. He came in his snow boots pulling the puffy white in on my floor and on my toes.

    “Aw man, Zane!” I whispered in a yell. I tip toed to the window and shut it shaking. “Take off your boots.” I said and he did. He put them in the corner then peeled off his jacket.

    “Damn its cold.” he muttered and put his hands over the heater dunk. I went over to my closet and grabbed the old mattress that my friend’s would sleep on and pulled it out.

    “Yeah its winter,” I said sarcastically. He smirked. He helped put the mattress on the other side of my bed so if my parents would come in they wouldn’t see him, at first. I went back in and grabbed a pillow and a Barbie comforter. I came back out and threw them on his bed. He looked up at me under his bangs.

    “You’re kidding?” I gave him a smug look.

    “Nope,” he sighed. Then I heard someone walking up the stairs.

    “Olivia?” my mom called.

    “s**t!” I said and grabbed Zane’s hand running toward my open closet door. He laughed and I turned and clamped a hand over his mouth. He winced. I frowned. The steps got closer. I pulled my hand away from his mouth and saw it. The cut on his lip. My mouth hung a little then I looked up into those blue eyes and glared.

    “Olivia…I think we should talk…” mom said knocking on my door. Zane’s eyes were sad. I shoved him in the closet and shut the door just as my door peeked open. I smiled as mom entered the room. She smiled at me. “Something wrong honey?” she asked. I shook my head and headed over to my bed where my book lay open. “Olivia, are you ok? You seem different anymore.” Mom said as she sat down on the bed. I gritted my teeth together. I sighed.

    “Mom I’m fine. I’ve just been busy with school and stuff.” she frowned.

    “Is everything ok with you and Zane? Are you on the pill honey? I don’t want you getting pregnant.” My eyes bulged from my eyes and I heard a faint laugh. I coughed.

    “Oh my gosh mom,” I said. “I’m not having sex!” I yelled. She shrugged.

    “OK honey,” she said doubtfully.

    “You know mom…” I trailed off and looked away.

    “Please don’t get mad at me. I’m only worried. Why don’t we do something tomorrow after I get back from work? Since your father and me have been fighting its been hard for us to do anything. Besides me sleeping in your room.” she smiled and laughed. I didn’t.

    “Yeah fine,” I said quickly. She sighed and patted my knee.

    “Goodnight honey. I’m going to be bed early because of work and your father will be too.” I nodded. She kissed my head and left the room. I put my hands to my head and sighed. I stood up and went to my closet. I opened the door and found Zane looking at a picture of someone. He looked up at me and put the picture down on a pile of clothes. Heat rose in me at the look of him. “Your mom—“ I ran over to him and grabbed his shirt. He looked stunned.

    “I want to know the truth,” I whispered fiercely. He frowned. I dropped his shirt and picked it up. There was another bruise forming and the one of his hip yellowing. He looked away teeth clenched.

    “I don’t—“

    “If you don’t give me an answer I swear to god….” I warned my hands almost shaking. He looked at me his eyes sad.

    “I think I should leave,” he said and moved around me. I shook my head tasting blood in my mouth again. I ran back out of the closet and grabbed him by the shoulder turning him around. “Zane,” I breathed. “I want to know now.” with that I pulled him in and mashed my lips against his. He acted a little late but slowly put his arms around me pulling me tighter against him. But somehow it wasn’t tight enough. I kissed him putting ever once of everything I felt about this. Finally I pulled back both of us panting. His lip was bleeding a little bit but he didn’t seem to noticed. He was frowning his blue eyes dull.

    “Olivia,” he said his voice sad and miserable. I shook my head. He looked away then nodded. “OK,” he breathed. “I’ll tell you.” he whispered.