"Aiden! Aiden hurry up please! I'm dying and I can't hold it in any longer," I shouted and pounded my fist continuously on the bathroom door.

I know what you're thinking, don't you have more than one bathroom? We have a total of five in our fairly large house, my own en suite included. But somehow it ended up occupied and the other ones were too far away.

Sometimes, I really hate being the only girl. I mean we have our housekeeper Carla, but she doesn't technically live here. Guys take longer in the bathroom and that is a proven fact.

And usually, my poor nose has to endure the stink they leave behind.

"Mara I love you and you're my favourite daughter but please, could you stop shouting this early in the morning," I looked over to see my dad already dressed in his dapper three piece suit, coffee in hand, with his grumpy morning look.

My dad is the best.

All kids say this about their dad but mine really is the best. He puts on this hard, tough and scary demeanor to the outside world but he's really just a big softie when it comes to us, especially me. According to my Aunt Rose, dad was a big time player and bad boy back in high school. I know he has a few tattoos, but other than that I find it hard to believe sometimes. I guess it's where Aiden gets it from.

He's now an attorney and owns his own law firm 'Ellsworth Law'. It was no secret that he wanted Jake and Aiden to follow in his footsteps, but that isn't happening.

Jacob is twenty two and is currently at our city's university studying medicine. He's always been the science geek in our family and he has a caring nature. So being a doctor is going to be the perfect job for him. Aiden on the other hand is the sporty one. He's aiming for a football scholarship next year which I'm sure he'll get.

Me? Well let's just say that one Ellsworth child will be making their dad happy. I want to be a lawyer too, hopefully taking over the family business.

"Dad, first of all I'm your only daughter. And second, your son is taking forever in there! He's doing it on purpose," I whined giving my best puppy dog look so he would help me, knowing it would work.

Just as my dad was about to say something, the bathroom door burst open with a smirking Aiden standing on the other side. Oh dear lord.

"Daddy, could you get me a peg for my nose please?"

****

Despite a horrible and smelly morning, I was in a pretty good mood. Mainly due to the fact that it was finally Friday and Jake had promised to take me shopping tomorrow morning.

Also, I didn't have any more encounters with Nixon and most importantly, I was still alive.

For now.

"Why are you smiling like a creep for?" I turned around to see Izzy with a concerned look on her face.

"What do you mean? It's Friday, of course I'm going to be happy. It's the weekend!"

"Technically it's still during the week and aren't you forgetting something?"

"Is that supposed to be a rhetorical question?"

Izzy sighed deeply and spoke to me like you would to a two a year old. "You have detention. After school. With Mr Midgely,"

"Oh sugar balls," I had totally forgotten about the whole sleeping in class ordeal. I can't believe this is finally happening; my first detention. My dad doesn't know and neither do my brothers. I was fully determined to keep it that way. No one would be home when I got back so they wouldn't notice.

"Sugar balls? Where? I want some," Kayla appeared out of nowhere making me jump. I've been so on edge lately and I don't know why.

Ha, Of course I did.

"Listen guys can we please keep this detention of mine between us? I don't want Aiden to find out. So if he asks you where I am, just say I'm doing extra credit. He's going to go crazy and shout at me if he finds out. Then probably shout at Mr Midgely,"

"Calm down Mara, it's not like your brother ever even talks to us. We're at the bottom of the social ladder just in case you needed reminding,"

"Yeah Izzy's right and let's face it, even if he does I'll have to do the talking because Izzy would most definitely freeze. I've got this,"

"It's not my fault he's so hot," I twisted my face in disgust as Izzy swooned... again.

"Need I remind you that he has a girlfriend?" Kayla retorted.

"I don't care. It doesn't mean I can't admire from afar," Izzy interrupted her making me laugh.

I suddenly found myself thinking about Nixon Ford. I hadn't seen him since the 'incident' and honestly I couldn't have been more grateful. I take back my statement about not being afraid of him. I was definitely out of that category for sure.

I just don't understand how one person could be so scary. Scratch that, I do.

I can still hear that voice of his which literally gave me shivers. His whole scent did. I swear I can still smell the distinctive strong musk, with a hint of citrus and leather everywhere I go. My brain was starting to go mushy just thinking about it. And his hair. His dark brown hair. So soft. Like a pillow.

"Hey! Earth to Mara," I was startled by Izzy's fingers snapping in front of my face.

"Sorry, I was thinking about food. Is anyone else starving?" I grinned hoping they wouldn't interrogate me and soon enough my question got them laughing their heads off.

I almost swooned when we got to the cafeteria. It was my favourite part of this whole entire school. I lead the way to the queue and out of the corner of my eye I saw a big group of people entering. My brother was at the front which could only mean one thing. The populars.

Each high school has them. The group of 'cool' people who everybody supposedly envies. Personally I couldn't care less about any of them, apart from my brother of course.

I couldn't wait until they all left, next year would be so much better without them. I hated every single one of them, slutty Stacey taking my number one hatred. I don't just mean because of the nasty comments she seems to throw in my face. I mean the way she looked down on everyone else and the way she thought she controlled everything was so infuriating. And on top of that, I knew she was only with my brother because of his status, looks and money.

There's no denying that she is hot though. Like stupidly model hot with her blonde (pretty sure it was fake) hair and tall athletic body. She was also head cheerleader, but whatever... If you ask me, it's just cliche.

Speaking of the she-devil, I saw her walking towards us with her stupid fake smile and stiletto clad feet. Oh for fudge sake.

"Well if it isn't Tweedledum, Tweedledee and Tweedleugly,"

That last one was aimed at me.

You'd think that being Aiden's little sister would make her be nice to me but unfortunately not. And honestly I can't be bothered to tell Aiden because then it would cause drama. He knows I don't particularly like her but he's never bothered asking me my side of the story. He's got it in his thick head that she's some angel when really she's actually the Antichrist masked by Chanel No 5.

"Don't you have to go re-dye your hair again Stacey? Your roots are showing a lot more than the last time I saw you," I mentally high fived myself when her whole face turned red with rage and the grin face went to bitch face. But before she could open her mouth, my brother appeared and she conveniently put on a sweet smile.

"Sorry to interrupt ladies, but can I borrow my sister?" He looked serious.

"What? Why?" I gave Aiden a questioning look.

"Mara," He said that with his 'I'm not messing around this is serious' glare and no questions asked voice. This Aiden was the scary Aiden. Oh snickers, did he find out about Nixon? If he found out that Nixon even looked at me it would start world war three.

Quite literally.

I saw Stacey smirking from the corner of my eye which was was her way of saying 'it sucks to be you right now'. For once, I would actually have to agree with that. I'm pretty sure my two best friends were frozen. So much for support guys.

With my head down, I followed Aiden who lead us out of the cafeteria into the empty hallway by his locker. He took a deep sigh which made me look up and see Aiden's annoyed angry face.

"I'm going to ask you something Mara and I want nothing but the truth," I nodded meekly.

"Did you get yourself a detention for sleeping in class?" My eyes widened and a wave of relief travelled through my body. Oh thank the heavens!

"What would you say if I answered yes?" I had a small smile on my face, partly because I was relieved but partly because I didn't want Aiden to react badly. Too late. He punched the side of his locker with his hand, making me jump slightly.

"For fuck's sake Mara, you're meant to be the good one! How could you be so stupid? Now I have to go talk to Mr Midgely and set this thing straight," Wincing slightly it dawned on me that by talk he means shout.

"No Aiden please don't. It's fine, it's just a detention you don't need to get all crazy about it,"

"Crazy?! No sister of mine is getting a detention. I don't care who gave it to you, they're going to take it back,"

"I'm seventeen years old and I've finally got my first ever detention! Just let me do this. I might as well get the whole high school experience," Aiden looked at me like I was the weirdest person on earth. Arguably, it's probably the truth. I'm pretty sure anyone else in my situation wouldn't be grinning like a maniac. He then took another deep sigh, almost like he was trying to control his anger.

"Fine."

I made it to Mr Midgely's classroom at four on the dot. Talk about timing.

"Miss Ellsworth, take a seat and get out your pen and paper. I want you to write me an essay on the cold war. Minimum of two thousand words and please do try to stay awake this time,"

You have got to me kidding me, it was like the universe was laughing at me.

Then stepping on me.

Then burying me alive six feet under.

I wanted the whole high school experience and it looks like I got it. Of course it's only me who says idiotic stuff like that. Then I wonder why I have a grand total of two friends. At least there was no one else here, I wouldn't have any distractions and my good girl reputation won't be tarnished. Doing what I was told, I finished the first paragraph when my heart stopped.

"Mr Ford, you're late. Take a seat and I'll be back shortly. You know what to do,"

Like an automatic reaction, my head lifted up quicker than Usain Bolt. I was faced with a smirking, hot and scary bad boy walking towards me. As scared as I was, there was no denying that he was extremely good looking. He was wearing a fitted white top which showed off his lean muscles. Not that I cared. Not one bit.

I literally felt my whole body freeze, but I had no control over my head and eyes which seemed to follow him involuntarily. There was a lodge in my throat and I was pretty sure my mouth was wide open.

"You should really close your mouth nugget. You could catch flies," He sat down on the desk to my right, still smirking. I was suddenly face to face with Nixon Ford. He remembered me? What happened to his threats? Is he also bipolar?

"What? No comeback today? Looks like the little nugget has lost her balls,"

"My name's not nugget," My voice barely came out as a whisper.

I honestly don't know where I found the courage to muster those four words together. He must have heard me still, as his gaze never moved from my face. It was almost like his chocolate brown eyes and my chocolate brown eyes were in battle with each other. Both of us too stubborn to look away. The difference was that he wasn't afraid of me, whereas I was on the border of peeing my pants.

Nevertheless, the Ellsworth's are not losers.

"You're a pretty little thing aren't you,"

H-He thinks I'm pretty? Nixon Ford thinks I'm pretty? What?

"Wha-"

And in one sudden movement Nixon broke our eye contact and burst out laughing. But it wasn't in the nice humour way, more like is this girl that stupid way. I noticed that it was deep and sexy, like his voice. But at the same time it had a cold feeling to it, like there was a hidden message which sent shivers down my spine.

"Oh that was priceless," He managed to say that in between his laughing fit. Wow.

I slowly felt my self esteem hit an all time low. He was laughing at me, not that I blamed him. I made an absolute fool of myself. He left me speechless and my brain was mushy. Again.

Any courage to speak was now one hundred percent gone. It really didn't help that he started to get closer by leaning over to me and putting both his arms around my desk, constricting me to move. With an amused smile on his face I was in the Nixon Ford prison. It was Monday all over again.

He bent his head low to the side of my ear, his hair was touching my face. My nostrils were filling up with the familiar musk.

"We're going to have so much fun together Mara,"

Cue the shivers.