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"I'm sorry, but I just—"

"There's nothing wrong with what we're doing, sweetheart. This is just how we're supposed to be."

"Okay."

"Good night, baby."

"Good night."

I wake in the morning when I hear Silas's mom getting ready for work and wait for her to leave before slipping out of bed. I catch my reflection in the mirror, noticing the bruises on my neck from last night.

I run my fingers over them, admiring them, before snapping myself out of it.

Then I dress in one of Silas's hoodies and shorts, slip on my shoes, and walk back to my apartment. My mom has been working nights lately, so I don't expect to see her up, but she is. She's in the living room with Paul, her new boyfriend.

"Where'd you come from?" she asks as I walk in. "I thought you were asleep in your bedroom. What's all of this?"

I furrow my brow. We don't do this; it must be for his benefit.

"I stayed at Mia's," I lie, pouring myself a cup of coffee. She never makes coffee, either; that's my job. "I always stay at Mia's, and you've never cared before."

"Well, I have news," she says. "We're moving in with Paul! Get dressed because we want to take you to see the house and the school—you're going to love it."

When I open my eyes again, I'm moving through darkness. Either that or my equilibrium is off.

But then, my back hits the bed, and someone's pulling off my shoes.

Oh, shit.Someone is in my apartment, taking off my shoes.

"Help!" I scream, kicking at the figure near my feet and backpedaling toward the headboard. "Get away from me! Leave me alone! Help!"

"Stop!" The man climbs onto the bed, pinning my legs down with his knees before covering my mouth with his hand. "Stop screaming," he says. "You can't scream. You're okay; I'm not going to hurt you."

I still at the sound of the familiar voice, and all the air leaves my lungs.

"You're not going to scream, are you?"

I shake my head, and he exhales in relief, removing his hand from my mouth. "Good. That's good." He lies beside me, caressing my cheek with his fingertips. "Do you have any idea how much I've worried about you? How much fucking sleep I've lost not knowing if you were okay or not?"

"Silas?"

My eyes adjust to the dark enough that I can see the figure in front of me has a full beard and longer hair, but it's him. It's his voice, his fingertips. However he got in earlier, he must have done it again.

"Hey, baby," he whispers. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." I feel stupid for saying it, but it's true.

I feel stupid for that, too.

"You're not mad at me?"

I shake my head. "I'm just scared."

"What are you scared of?"

But wait…if Silas is here, then Tate is here somewhere, too. I freak out and pull myself into a seated position, backing into the headboard as I scan the room.

"Noah…" Silas says, taking my hands in his.