I could sense something close to my face from the moment I became conscious, before I even opened my eyes. Something very very close to my face that was breathing heavily sending warm breath across my skin that fluttered my eyelashes and tickled my lips. When I opened my eyelids it revealed Nico's lips that were right in line with my eyes just a few centimetres from my face. I felt my lips automatically turning up in a smile at the sight of him. His eyes were closed softly in a blissful sleep and his mouth was slightly open, so relaxed. For a moment his mouth switched into something I could've sworn was a smile. It made me grin even wider, though I was slightly breathless at how close his perfect olive skin and full lips were to my face. His whole body was leant in towards mine and I realised after a beat that an arm was wrapped around my waist, but it wasn't Nico who's arms were pulled up to his chest. Instead I could make out Sawyers beautiful dark skin laying across me with his fingers splayed out across my hip. I could feel his presence behind me, his chest pressed against my back. I didn't feel confined or trapped like I would've done months ago, instead I felt completely safe and at home.

"Oi," Nico whispered blowing out air across my face, his eyes never even opened, "I know you're awake, stop staring at me Vegas it's creepy."

I chuckled silently to myself, "you've got something on your face," I teased.

Quickly Nico reached up and rubbed his face, he was even blushing in embarrassment while I giggled quietly trying not to move my chest too much and wake Sawyer.

"You're evil," Nico realised what I'd done and his eyes finally popped open letting me see their rich deep brown.

"I try," I replied with a wicked smile.

"Shut up," Mitch's voice gruff from sleep came from above my head. Him and Grey had slept with their heads pointing towards us on my hard bedroom floor with sheets and blankets roughly placed on top of us. I was still in the sweatpants and hoodie I'd been wearing last night and was sweating, the boys radiated heat and having them so close was like sleeping next to a heater.

"Shhh," Grey groaned and I heard a body roll over, he was not a morning person. I stifled a laugh at the image of his grumpy face in my mind. "Cara!" Greys voice held a warning tone.

"Morning," I whispered sweetly. I suddenly felt Sawyers hand tighten on my waist squeezing me slightly closer to him that told me he was awake.

"What time is it?" Nico asked to no one in particular.

"Half eight," of course it was Mitch who answered.

"I'm going to kill you Cara," Grey groaned.

"I have to go at 10," Nico spoke in a hushed tone that appeared to be aimed just at me. I locked my gaze with his, sadness lingered there.

"I'll see you in a week," I reassured with a tiny smile, that seemed to alleviate some of the sadness in Nico's eyes.

"A week's too long," he whispered too low for anyone else to hear as he reached out for my hand to trace slow circles on the back of my hand with his thumb.

"Before you go," I raised my voice enough for all the boys to hear, "I have a surprise for everyone."

"What?" Grey asked instantly.

I rolled my eyes as a reflex, "it's a surprise, the point is that you don't know."

"A clue?" Mitch prompted.

"It's something you'll all like," was all I told him.

"Can we see now?" Nico was bouncing on his side excitedly like a small child.

"If you want. But we should go soon if you need to leave by 10," I suggested.

"That's Cara's nice way if saying get your asses up," Mitch translated, his voice became instructing as he took charge, "come on wakey wakey."

"It's too early," Grey complained and I heard the rustling of sheets as he adjusted himself, I knew without having to look that he'd just pulled the sheet over his head.

Mitch managed to get the boys moving, as much as Grey complained all the boys obeyed Mitch, used to him being the one giving orders but more than that he was clearly the leader and they all respected that. They parted ways to change clothes and get ready arranging to come back in ten minutes for their surprise. This gave me time to quickly change into jeans and a long sleeved grey shirt with buttons at the top that I half did up. I washed my face with dark bags forming under eyes from lack of sleep and tied my hair back into a messy ponytail to keep it off my face.

My surprise was that I was making the boys breakfast, I'd asked my dad if I could use the small kitchenette in his apartment and had gone out with Mina yesterday to buy all the ingredients I needed. Now all that was left was to prove I actually could cook something other than toast.

"Vegas!" It was Nico's fist rapping at my door, his voice impatient, "I want to know the surprise."

I yanked open the door which he'd clearly been leaning against so he fell into my room catching himself just before he fell. I smothered a laugh with my hand, "remind me," I gave him a disapproving look, "have you had your third birthday yet?"

"Yes," Nico pulled a face, "it was last week."

"Come on," I nodded my head, "let's go."

It hadn't escaped my notice how charming Nico looked in a light blue cotton shirt untucked from dark brown trousers, that I'm sure would have looked pompous and overdone on anybody else but he pulled off easily with his relaxed charisma. The rest of the Silent Boys appeared around us in an instant, ready and waiting. Grey was still rubbing sleep from his eyes wearily and cowered away slightly from the morning sun pouring in through the skylight as if it burned him.

I led the way downstairs to my dads rooms and knocked on the door choosing not to answer the boys puzzled expressions. My dad answered with a smile on his face dressed up in his usual suit and tie.

"Don't set anything on fire," he instructed pulling the door open wide for us to come in, "I'll be in my office in the school if you need me."

"Thanks dad," I gave him an appreciative smile as we walked in past him and he closed the door softly behind us.

"What is going on?" Mitch voiced what I'm sure they were all thinking as they stared around my dads modest apartment and the tiny kitchen area.

I flung open the door to his mini fridge, "I'm making breakfast!"

"You cook?" Sawyer asked interested.

"Uh huh," I nodded, "I'm alright."

Before I'd started living with Jackson I'd rarely cooked, mom and I always ate at whatever hotel we were staying in or if not we brought microwave meals and cereal - which required no culinary skills. But once Jackson let me move in he expected meals instead of rent, which I thought was only fair for our unconventional living situation. So I learnt how to make pasta and basic meals first, but that didn't satisfy him, Jackson had more complex tastes and he'd get mad if I didn't perfect the extravagant dish he desired. I'd poured over cookbooks and spent time practising, at first it was to ensure I didn't receive the slaps and kicks that were certain if it didn't turn out right. But soon I came to enjoy the therapy of stirring a saucepan over a hot stove and dicing vegetables.

"So," Nico collapsed into a chair on the tiny circular table in the centre of the room, "what's for breakfast?"

"Eggs, bacon, sausages, toast, beans, and tomatoes," I reeled off.

"Mmmmm," Nico was practically drooling.

"Do you need any help?" Sawyer appeared by my side, his voice soft.

"Could you slice these in half for me?" I handed him a packet of large tomatoes that I was going to roast.

"Of course," he seemed pleased to be given a job.

"What about me?" Mitch stood on my other side blocking my route to the fridge.

I tilted my head, "I appreciate it but too many cooks spoil the broth and there is not enough room. Maybe you could," I pushed my finger to my lip in thought as I glanced around, "lay the table?"

"Sure," Mitch's eyes brightened as if I'd just given him a puppy, I shook my head, they were so easily placated.

"What about me?" Grey was behind me now.

"Give me a minute," I pushed him away flustered, my hands pressed onto his solid chest making him smirk, "I need to think and you're in my way."

"Of thinking?" He raised a skeptical eyebrow so I huffed dramatically.

While Grey waited with folded arms I laid out all the ingredients on the counter and set about putting the sausages into a tray and popping them into the oven. Then I placed a frying pan on the hob for the bacon before handing Grey the eggs and a bowl.

"Crack these into there and whisk them," I passed him a fork as well, "with this."

"Yes sir," Grey snapped his heels together to attention; I rolled my eyes at him.

"Wh -," I was passing Nico the bread before he could finish his sentence.

"Take it out the packet," I instructed vaguely.

"How come I get the shitty job?" He whined.

"Cut it out or you'll get less food," I warned pointing a spatula at him making Mitch chuckle to himself,

"She told you," he teased Nico. When I returned to the stove I caught Sawyers eyes that glinted at me.

Once the tomatoes joined the sausages in the oven I started frying the bacon in the frying pan. As it started sizzling I hopped up on the counter so I could sit next to it and not have my back to the rest of the boys who were now all sat at the table their jobs completed, debating something I couldn't grasp about the rules of football.

"Eggs ready?" I asked Grey.

He stood up from his seat and came towards me, I thought he'd stop in front of me but he continued straight up to where my legs dangled over the counter. I inhaled deeply through my nose as he stood between them so the insides of my thighs brushed his hips. Moving with no rush Grey leaned around me and plucked something from directly behind me, his hand brushing my waist to do so, I was frozen in place unable to breath. My heart lodged itself in my throat pounding at how close he was, so close I could feel his breath hot and tickling on my skin.

"Salt and pepper," he held up the two shakers that had been on the counter behind me by way of explanation. With a sly smile that told me he knew exactly what effect he'd had on me Grey stepped out from between my legs allowing me to finally breath again in a shaky exhale.

"Is that burning?" Mitch sniffed.

"Nope," I insisted quickly flipping the bacon over, it was only a little charred. I could have sworn I saw Greys mouth twist into a laugh from the corner of my eye.

While the egg was cooking it became a struggle to cook enough to feed four starving boys and myself while keeping everything warm and having it prepared at the same time. Toast needed to be toasted and eggs scrambled and bacon fried. Finally, it all came together when I laid out the food on the five waiting plates. Apart from the few pieces of charred bacon (that I thoroughly blamed Grey for) it had all turned out how I wanted. With a flourish I placed the plates in front of each of the boys as well as my own.

"Breakfast is served," I declared dramatically, to finish I put ketchup and the salt and pepper shakers in the centre of the table, "with condiments," I caught Greys stormy eyes, "and salt and pepper."

"Oh my god," Mitch breathed out, "this looks incredible."

"Vegas," Nico gave me a serious look his mouth already full of food, "I could marry you right now, in Vegas."

"Don't speak with your mouth full," I reprimanded to hide my blushing cheeks.

All the boys were digging in making loud noises of appreciation and enjoyment as they wolfed down their food at an unhealthy speed. All their plates were cleared by the time I'd barely eaten half of mine.

"That's it," Mitch declared contentedly, "you're cute and you cook, we're never letting you out of our sight."

***

One by one, through the morning the boys left; Nico first, then Sawyer, then Mitch before finally it was just Grey and I. We were sprawled out on my bedroom floor side by side, his feet resting against mine and our legs brushing against each other.

"Promise you won't forget about me when I'm away," Grey demanded staring straight up at the ceiling looking more despondent than usual.

"Of course," how could I, "promise you won't forget me when you meet a stunning girl from Europe," I teased.

"Never," Grey swore passionately.

"When I next see you it will be next year," I tilted my head towards him, "how crazy is that?"

"Crazy," Grey agreed turning his head as well causing our noses to brush against each other, I almost pulled away but I was too scared to move. His eyes were too captivating with their ferocious smoulder that left me nothing more than ash. He stared at me unblinking, his voice became hushed as he whispered, "I need to leave, I've got a plane to catch."

"Yes," I blinked but neither of us made an attempt to move, minutes passed by with us just staring into each other's eyes before Grey finally pulled away glancing down at his expensive looking watch.

"Shit," he cursed, "I have to go."

With urgency we rushed downstairs to the gravel drive where his car was waiting with his suitcase already packed in the trunk.

"Bye," I mumbled my voice flat, Grey reached out and brushed my hair behind my ears.

"I'll see you in a few weeks," he promised.

I buried my face into his chest in a hug, when he pulled away I felt my heart sink.

With tense shoulders Grey headed across the gravel drive to his car that was waiting, I stood by the door watching with my entire body hating myself for letting him leave. Just as he reached his car door I found my feet moving, tripping over themselves in their hurry. My mind hand no control over what my body was doing.

"Grey!" His name escaped my mouth as I flew towards him. He spun to face me just as I reached him.

Unthinking I wrapped my arms around his neck to pull myself up onto my tiptoes and slam my mouth onto his lips desperately. My mind was frozen. Oh my god! Oh my god! I was kissing Grey. My lips faltered for a moment as my brain caught up with my body. But by then Grey was wrapping one arm around my waist lifting me up to reach his lips and stroking the other across my cheek before burying it into my hair. Our lips moved in perfect synchronisation. It was desperate and passionate as if I'd been gasping for air my whole life and he was the only source of oxygen.

It was Grey who pulled away suddenly, breaking the hungry movement of our mouths. Without a word he climbed into his car and started the engine leaving me panting alone. His gaze firmly facing forward he drove straight ahead towards the exit of Kings Bridge, never looking back. I shook my head slowly in disbelief.

Those boys were going to ruin me.