Thunder rumbled across the sky.

It's going to start raining.

We were on our way home from our wonderful date. Sebastian would drop me off before and return home afterwards to make it appear as if we weren't together.

I understand, the hassle we were going through was exhausting.

But it was all worth it in the end. And it'll all be over soon.

We talked a lot on the way back, and I learned a lot about his family. I realized that, despite the fact that I felt I had known him for a long time, I didn't know a lot about him, such as his mother's death. Shock would be an understatement to describe my reaction but this reveal seemed to answer all of my previous questions about his family and why his parents weren't present at Grizelle's house that evening.

His mother's death had left an indelible mark on him. It was obvious. He'd clench his fists on the steering wheel or exhale through his mouth. I noticed his grimace and longing in his eyes when he was talking about her.

He was only four years old.

And I'm inclined to blame his father as well. I agreed with Sebastian's feelings toward his father, as much as I didn't want to. Why didn't he look after his own son instead of entrusting him to strangers?

But at the same time, he had also lost his wife too. I had no right to pass judgment on him.

I clenched my jaw, otherwise I would have cried. My heart broke for that young boy who had never received love from his parents, for the boy who had lost his mother, and for the boy whose father did not value him.

So precious yet so delicate.

"I am honoured that you shared such an important part of your life with me, Seb," I had said quietly, squeezing his hand and placing it on my thigh while he drove with the other.

"Thanks for listening," he said quietly, his gaze fixed on the road, and I made the decision that perhaps we should avoid discussing his parents because it seemed to bother him.

He kissed the back of my hand.

Through my tears, I smiled and turned my head towards the window, wiping the tears that had fallen from my eyes with my free hand.

It's astounding how often we're wrong when we pass judgment on someone right away.

When I had first met Sebastian, the image of Sebastian Greyson, according to me, was the most arrogant, self-centered bastard who has girls falling on their knees with his simple eye contact, that he has money and a family that spoiled him.

Only to know he didn't have a family.

He had never experienced the banter or bickering with family members at the dinner table, which is why he enjoyed listening to my father's stories. Because he'd never had it before.

He never got to remember his mother's cooking, never got to say goodbye or hug her for the last time. It's times like these that make me realize how incredibly fortunate I am.

How extremely fortunate most of us are.

He was precious. I knew my heart raced for him, even if I couldn't admit it out loud, I knew the deed had been done.

I had fallen.

Undeniably and in an unhealthy way.

The car came to a halt two houses ahead of ours.

He frowned as he turned to face me.

He wiped away my dried tears and said, "Don't cry for me, baby."

"I wasn't," I grumbled.

Stupid tears.

"Of course you weren't," he said softly, kissing the top of my head.

"Thank you for today; it was truly amazing," I said quietly.

"I'm glad you liked it," he said with a smile.

A loud thunderclap erupted in the sky before I could respond.

Sebastian muttered under his breath,

"Fuck."

I looked up, my heart racing from the loud noise.

Why do I have a bad feeling about something?

Sebastain mumbled, his head out the window looking at the sky, "Babe, run to the house, it's going to start raining soon."

I let out a sigh and nodded.

"There's no need to wait, we can both go in together," I murmured.

Something didn't sit right with me for some reason. I had this feeling, and I'm not sure how to describe it.

"But-"

"Please, I'll just say it was a coincidence, and we'll tell them tomorrow anyway"

Sebastian didn't say anything else and just nodded.

"Ells, are you all right?" As he accelerated the car towards our house, he asked.

I smiled tightly and nodded.

"The thunders are making me nervous."

"I am here, baby, right beside you. And we'll be back home in a flash" Sebastian said as he took my hand in his.

When the car came to a halt in front of our house, I let out a shaky breath.

His gaze was fixed on me.

"I'm not sure why I'm feeling this way; I'm nauseous and I feel like something bad is going to happen," I explained.

"It's all right. The weather is getting at you, let's get out of the car before it rains" Sebastian caressed my cheek with a smile.

I forced a small smile at him.

He murmured as he kissed my forehead.

"I'd like to make out right now, but I don't want my best friend to walk on me while I'm kissing the daylights out of his sister."

That made me laugh.

He gave a warm smile. His eyes glistened.

"Well, patience is a virtue," I smirked as I stepped out of the car.

Stepping out of the car, Sebastian arrived at my side in a flash.

"I can't fucking wait to get my reward for my greatest virtue," he murmured as he drew me closer to him with his arm around my shoulders.

He jogged up front, winking, after giving my earlobe a subtle nip.

"Jerk," I grumbled.

He smirked and said, "Didn't hear you, sweetheart."

I sighed and rolled my eyes.

He stood in front of the door, his hands inside the pockets, waiting for me.

I walked up to the door and stood tall and straight in front of him.

"There will be no food for you today," I grumbled.

He bit his lower lip, as if trying not to smile, and said, "Thanks for the offer, but I am already full."

"Idiot," I grumbled as I reached for the doorknob, but he stopped me.

"Babe," he said, and I raised an eyebrow at him.

"This was the best fucking night of my life," he said softly.

My eyes softened, and my heart?

Well, it was giddy with joy.

"It was also the best night for me," I said softly.

He locked his gaze on me for a few seconds, the moonlight illuminating his irises and mesmerizing me.

He drew me in for a tight hug with a smile and a shake of his head.

As I hugged him back, I closed my eyes and inhaled his light, expensive perfume. He kissed my neck and tightened his grip on me, making me shiver.

"It'll be over tomorrow," he murmured as he ran his fingers through my hair and rested his head on top of mine.

"It'll be fine," I muttered as I kissed his chest.

I was nervous, very nervous. But it had to be done; we couldn't keep lying to everyone about it; this was important to me; Sebastian Greyson was important to me.

As he kissed my hair, he said quietly,

"Hopefully."

Thunder erupted once more in the sky. Raindrops caressed my cheeks as I could see raindrops drizzling from the sky.

"It's pouring outside," I said, and he nodded.

It was past 10 everyone must have already retired to their bed.

I kissed him on the cheeks and cupped his face in my palms.

"No matter what happens tomorrow-"

He didn't let me finish.

"We'll keep fighting together against everyone who opposes us." I could see storms raging in his eyes as he spoke calmly.

I rose on my toes and kissed his brows with a small smile. He tightened his hold on me but said nothing else.

I walked in through the front door, with Sebastian trailing behind me.

I was walking across the living room when a familiar voice called out from around the corner,

"You are home."

Jake.

He was sitting on the sofa, holding the TV remote.

My heart skipped a beat.

"You startled me," I remarked.

Sebastian stood behind me, but not too close.

Jake's gaze shifted from behind me and then returned to me.

"Where were you?" He inquired, perhaps a little too calmly.

I replied flatly, "I told you I was out with some friends." Despite my nervousness, I maintained a confident demeanor.

I hated lying to him.

"Where were you?" I noticed his hand tightening around the remote as he repeated his question.

"I've just told you-"

"Don't fucking lie to me," he seethed. I could see disappointment flashing in his eyes as he clenched his jaw and his eyes burning with fury.

I had a lot of thoughts going through my head, but I decided on one.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, calmly.

"Who were you with? You told us that you were going out with Jessica and some old friends" He said this as he stood up.

Sebastian took a step towards me.

I nodded.

"I was with her,"

I wanted to tell him, I wanted to tell him everything. But I still needed one more night, one more night was all I was asking for.

Jake shook his head, disappointment flashing across his face again.

"Really? Because when I couldn't reach you by phone, I dialed her number from the internet, and guess what she said?" I closed my eyes, I could feel my eyes water.

My phone was on silent mode.

"She said she was still overseas and didn't know which hangout I was referring to because, quote, 'none of us even know she was visiting DC,'" He said,

For a brief moment, I stood still.

"Don't fucking feed me another lie, Ells," he said, raising his voice.

"Calm down, Jake," Seb said calmly as he stood next to me.

Jake met Seb's gaze, exhaled deeply, and nodded.

"Were you with that cheater Ex of yours?" He asked, his teeth clenched.

I flinched not because I was afraid. But I was shocked by the way he spoke to me.

"Don't talk to me like that," I said, my jaws clenched.

"Ells, I'm fucking disappointed in you. For that fucking cheater ex of yours, you're lying to me-"

I didn't let him finish his sentence,

"How did you get to know about him?" I asked,

Jake smiled, his cruel smile that he flashed when he was about to inflict pain on someone.

"You don't think I'd leave you unprotected without my presence, do you?"

My jaws were clenched. My own pain and disappointment were radiating from my chest.

"So you were stalking me," I said, wishing I could punch him in the face.

His face softened for a moment before hardening again.

"Your batch included one of my friend's cousins. I requested to him to look after you, only to discover that you already had your knight in shining armour. But, sister, he wasn't really a knight, was he?" Jake smiled but I could still see the despair in my brother's eyes.

He would have killed Luke if I asked him to.

"You're hurting me, Jake," I said quietly, tears in my eyes.

He continued, ignoring my statement.

"And you still had to go and meet him today-"

"I didn't go to meet him," I exclaimed.

Tears falling from my eyes. Why couldn't I get a break?

Jake's jaws were clenched,

"Not another fucking lie, Ells," he said as he took a step forward.

"Back the fuck off," Sebastian said as he stood in front of me, lightly pushing Jake's shoulder. He had a tick in his jaws.

Jake growled, "Don't fucking get between us, Seb."

Seb clenched his jaws,

"That's enough. Don't fucking raise your voice, not at her." He seethed.

Jake fell silent for a brief moment before shifting his gaze between me and Seb.

Storms blew in his eyes as if something had clicked.

He understood.

I shut my eyes.

"Where on the fucking earth were you, Ells" He snarled.

"She was with me,"

.

Author's note.

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