Detective Anderson is right.

Things did change in my life, and it wasn't the threat of the mafia and the fact that Officer James-Theodore Clayton-is my new bodyguard or the five months that I spent with someone I swore I loved was all a lie.

Those are pretty serious too, but I made three important life-changing decisions:

One-I'm not going to cry. It'll only make things worse for me because I've cried a little too much for over a week and it's starting to rain on my parade.

Two-I'm staying away from boys and men, especially men.

Three-I stopped wearing the promise ring Bob gave me. After the revelations yesterday, the first thing I did was toss the ring somewhere in my room and scream into the pilliow.

Fuck my love for Bob. Fuck my feelings for Jason. They are all dead and buried until further notice. Right now, I'm focusing all my energy on getting good grades, finally deciding on a university and beating Lee to become Valedictorian.

That was the plan all along, but then life happened and I fell in 'love'. Saying that word now leaves a very sour taste in my mouth. Maybe mum was right in stating that I'm too young to know the meaning of love. Maybe she was right when she said he was taking advantage of me. At the restaurant, his ex Patricia did mention that he was into younger women, and he seemingly confirmed it on the drive to Paris' house.

It looks like I'm just a notch on his belt.

Hearing that he has ties to the mafia is something that I'm struggling to believe, even till this day. He is a good actor, I'll give him that, because I never would have in a million years thought that he would be involved in organized crime. He was always sweet and kind to me, never really showing who he truly was. Now that I think about it, there were a couple of red flags that I ignored.

For one thing, I always s wondered what his source of income was. Bob's Eat 'N' Grillz is a success no doubt, but I didn't think the diner brought in enough bank to support his lifestyle. He lived in a high rise building in one of the wealthy areas in town, the ones with the penthouses and mansions that Adelaide students live in. We dined at five star restaurants (except for our first date at the park) and he gave me a five carat diamond ring, exclusively found at Tiffany.

I found that out while perusing through the internet.

I had questioned him once about how he was able to afford all these but he told to me that he was also a real estate investor. After that, I didn't question him further.

Looking back, I should have. If I did and found out who he truly was, I would have ended the relationship faster than you could scream 'Amen'.

The rest of the week dragged by like mud and it's finally Saturday. Owing to the fact that I'm currently unemployed (the restaurant has been sealed) I'm able to give my undivided attention to my academics and to my extracurricular. Putting the finishing touches to my makeup, I sigh into the mirror on my bedroom wall. My light brown eyes look dull, even with my glasses perched on it. I've definitely lost weight. With all that's going on, I'll admit that I haven't been eating or taking care of myself the way I used too. It's not that I don't want to eat, I just don't have the appetite to and mum isn't around to give me a lecture about why breakfast, lunch and dinner are important meals that shouldn't be skipped. She resumed her normal schedule after I told her that I'm fully healed.

On the bright side, note the sarcasm, I have been snacking on junk food and I guess that's the reason why I haven't slumped dead on the floor.

Music Club rehearsals starts in thirty minutes and Officer James sent a text saying he'll be here in five. Having a bodyguard, even if it's just for a while, is so weird. It's like being a criminal and having an ankle bracelet, the only difference is the ankle bracelet can actually talk.

We made it through the rest of the week without raising any eyebrows and that's because I refuse to allow us to be seen together. We came to some sort of agreement: He would get off my back for the week and pretend like we don't know each other because I need 'time to adjust' to the new arrangement. That means if he drives me to school, we don't walk in together, we don't sit on the same table at lunch and we don't sit side by side during class.

But it's only for the week. Come Monday, the questions would come flooding in like rain and the eyebrows would be raised out of their sockets.

I hear the familiar ding of my phone and rise up from my bed. Adjusting my dark blue skinny jeans and concert T-shirt, I make my way downstairs.

''Mum,'' I call out. From the corner of my eye, I could see Sophie doing her homework in the living room and I smile. At least she's not watching some show on Netflix this time.

''In the kitchen, Mel.''

I turn left to our relatively small kitchen and hug her from behind. The tension between us has come to a halt for now. There's an elephant in the room, and it hasn't been addressed, but she has chosen to ignore it. Who am I to not ignore it too?

If she doesn't want to talk about it, I won't either.

The conversation is rather unpleasant anyways.

''What are you making?''

''Fried plantain and eggs. You know how much Sophie loves it.''

I hmm and help her grab a plate from the dishwasher. ''So I have Music Club rehearsals today. We're prepping for the Adelaide charity event coming up soon so Mr Owen says we have to sacrifice our Saturdays.''

She turns to me. ''Alright? Are you driving?''

''No.'' I grab a fried plantain from the plate and put the golden brown delight in my mouth. ''My leg is still healing and I don't trust it enough on the brakes. ''Paris is. She's outside.'' The lie rolls off my tongue so easily and it scares me. So much for being as honest as possible.

It's for their safety, Mel. Remember that.

''Oh. Tell her I said hello and reach into my back pocket and grab some cash.''

Score! I am currently unemployed so my finances are a bit low at the moment.

My mum knows me so well.

I grab a hundred dollar bill and hurriedly kiss her cheek when I see another message from Officer James. ''Bye, mum. I'll be home by five.''

I grab my winter coat (it's not snowing but the temperature tends to drop in the evenings) and bag from the living room, tell Sophie goodbye and make my way outside to the familiar Sorento. Officer James has his hands poised on the steering wheel, his blonde hair slicked back. ''Sorry, I'm late.''

''No problem.''

I fasten my seatbelt as he puts the car in drive, zooming past my neighbourhood and into the freeway, taking the familiar route to Adelaide.

''Melody?''

''Theodore Clayton.'' I mock. His lips tug into a smile and I relax. Officer James is a chill person. I'm a pretty good judge of character so I call it like I see it. Over the course of a week, I've noticed that our conversations flow naturally and even though we're going to play the part of pretend step-siblings, I think I consider him as the older sibling I never had.

''You know, I didn't lie about that name. My name is Theodore Clayton James.'' he reveals.

''Like the actor, Theo James?'' I muse. He groans and I laugh. ''Don't call me that. The guys at my old department always made that comparison.''

''You should be honoured.'' I pull out my phone and show him a picture of Theo James in my gallery. ''Theo James is hot and you're hot too.'' He scrunches his nose up while keeping his eyes on the road. ''I'm just repeating the word going around school.''

The girls at Adelaide have eyes and anyone who has functioning eyes can see that Officer James is easy on the eyes. My heart may be closed off for now, but it doesn't mean I can't appreciate God's creation when I see one. With all the muscles he has, no doubt from lifting weights everyday, I still insist he does not look like a high school student.

''They still gossip in high school?'' he asks.

I roll my eyes. ''You were there like seven years ago. Of course they still gossip. In fact, in an elite private school like Adelaide, they do more of gossiping than actual learning.''

''Wonderful,'' he says sarcastically.

I lean into my chair and smirk. ''Look on the bright side. The girls at Adelaide already love you.''

''They are jailbait.'' he says pointedly.

''You're a police officer. Jailbait loves you.''

He laughs heartily. ''You're funny.''

''I know and as your 'sister', you should be taking tips.''

From afar I could spot the logo of Adelaide, a gigantic cube mounted on a wine and cream coloured pillar. Unnecessarily grandiose in my opinion, but like they say: go big or go home.

''Don't you think we should rehearse our story in case people start asking questions?' If we're going to lie, we might as well do it right. One wrong move and it could blow our cover.

He shrugs. ''I guess you're right.'' He uses his free hand to point to himself. ''I'm Theodore Clayton and I'm your step-brother. I'm from South Carolina and your dad married my mum.''

I nod slowly taking it all in. ''And if they ask why you moved here?''

''I missed my sister?''

''Not believable. We have eight months till graduation. Even if you missed me, you wouldn't make a change that drastic.''

''I needed a change of scenery?''

''Bridgewood is a small and boring town. There's not much scenery here.''

''You're a party-pooper,'' he pouts. ''What do you suggest we go with?''

''How about we say you got expelled from your last school and my dad and your mum sent you out here to a private school to straighten you out.''

''I'm not a truant.''

We pull into the student's parking lot with ten minutes to spare. Twenty if Mr Owen has anything to say about that.

''You're a police officer. It's perfect.'' I clap my hands enthusiastically while he leans to grab his bag from the back seat. ''You'll play the opposite of who you are in real life.''

''No. Think of something else.''

''Yes.''

''No.''

''Yes.''

''No.''

''No.''

''Yes,'' he says, falling for my trap. I stick my tongue out once he realizes his error. ''Okay, fine, you win.''

''Lastly,'' I say. ''let's discuss our living arrangements. We'll say you're living with an aunt who coincidentally happens to be in Bridgewood.''

''That makes sense.''

We both get out of the car and into the chill air that awaits us. I tug my jacket tightly as we walk side by side and into the double doors. ''I can't believe I'm in high school again,'' Officer James muses.