We make it back to school with no issues. We don't talk much. I explain I need more time to process everything and the boys talk among themselves for most of the time. They follow me around like lost, kicked puppies and I have to avoid eye contact because seeing their sad eyes just makes me want to soothe them and make everything better.

We are back for a few days and I'm getting back into the routine of my classes. I see my friends more frequently and they are conveniently always available for meals and going to the library with me. I think they feel sorry for and have taken pity on me, but I'm grateful for the companionship nonetheless.

My nights are lonely and cold. I miss puppy piles and warm naked chests that I can lay my head on. I'm wallowing in my boy-less bed one night when I hear a thump against my window. It's not a knock, but definitely a sound that is out of place. I'm a little nervous as I creep to the door and barely slide the curtain back. The lights are off, but I can make out a silhouette sitting on my balcony with their back against the glass door.

There is hardly room to sit so he's cross legged and looks cramped. I sigh. It's Trevor. Have they been taking turns sitting on my fucking balcony like creeps every night since I won't let them in?

I hurriedly unlock the door and rip it open before he has time to hear the click of the lock. He falls through the door his back landing with a thump on my floor. I'm standing over him as he looks up to me from upside down.

"Hi baby," he whispers. My heart gives a throb at the beautiful boy laid out in front of me.

"You guys are fucking infuriating. I'm going to call security." I turn to walk away and he scrambles up to grab my arm.

"I'm sorry baby. Please." He's tugging on my arm to get me to turn to look at him. I do because I can't deny his pretty please. "We can't sleep without you. You being alone over here is difficult for us. I'll leave." He looks sincere. I have a moment of weakness.

"Stay." I look up and he looks surprised at my request.

"On the floor... and no talking. Just sleep." I reply curtly and turn off the lights to crawl into my bed. I throw a pillow at him and he gets settled on the floor.

"I love you baby." He whispers. A tear slips down my cheek. I should have made him leave. I want to go to him. The urge to touch him is overwhelming. I grip the comforter and turn over as the sound of Trevor's deep breathing soothes me to sleep. I slept better then I have in a while.

The following day is Friday. I have the day off and nothing to do. I decide on a junk TV binge and get settled in my bed with my vidscreen when there's a knock at my door. I'm not expecting anyone so I pull a hoodie over my sports bra and leggings that I'm wearing. I open the door to three sullen, but handsome males.

"Can I help you?"

"Hi angel. We just wanted to talk if you have a moment?"

"No fighting, no excuses. You don't even have to respond, just listen?" Bash looks to me with his tortured baby blues.

I sigh. "Okay like 10 minutes and you're out."

They eagerly file in, looking around my room like they are going to find a male hidden, or some secret I'm hiding. Trevor was just here the other night, my room looks exactly the same. I haven't let anyone else in my door since then. I felt weak letting him in and I'm still hellbent on proving to them I can do this alone just fine.

"Hi beautiful. We will make this quick, you look busy." Trevor nods his head to my vidscreen, which he can clearly see displays junk tv.

He has a wry grin on his face like he's pleased I'm here in my room wasting the day away. Ugh I should have gone out. It's then I notice he's holding some rolled up papers in his hand. I gesture to them in a 'go ahead' and hope he will hurry up and get to the point.

"These are our network contracts. We have signed them and Carter has approved our signature. He's also approved your signature, but obviously it's not binding until you sign it and submit it." Trevor tries to continue to explain, but I cut him off.

"I'm not signing that. Take it with you I don't even want to see that shit."

"You don't have to sign it, but we are leaving it with you. It's always your choice angel, always. It's just a small way we can show you that we are committed to this relationship and we are not going anywhere." It's Liam who responds to me.

"We are yours Mia. Whether you decide you want us romantically, or not. We pledge ourselves to you and only you for all of our days. We will protect you and be your friends if you decide you don't want us as lovers. Please don't dismiss us. Please allow us a place in your network, even if it's a small one." Bash begs. I stare at the contract in Trevor's hand as he speaks,

"I'm leaving it here," he points to my desk and sets it down. "We are bound to you as your network with this contract. Legally we are yours. You are not bound until you sign it. Think about it Mia, please. Think about it. Don't just reject us. I don't care if it stays on your desk the next four years, just don't reject it. Give us time to fix this, to become the men you deserve. Please."

I don't speak. They get the hint and start walking towards the door. Liam is rooted in place watching my face for any reaction. I don't give him one. He stalks forward and kisses his spot and then turns to leave with his brothers.

Once my door is shut I grab the contract off my desk. It's really signed. I see all three of their signatures and Carter and Cassidy's signatures below theirs approving the match. It's a standard contract that says they are bound to me. To my safety and well being, my health and wellness.

They are to be loyal only to me and if found to be in a relationship outside of the network they could be fined, or their privileges to a network could be revoked permanently. I now control their access to birth control and the decision whether or not they take it. If I move they have to follow. They really don't plan on leaving? Even if I chose not to be intimate with them, or continue our relationship as it was? They would stay even if I chose another?

It won't be recognized with the government until I sign it and file it, but the males are legal bound to what this contract says with the signatures they placed on it. There are two pages for me. One is the accept page that bounds me too them. Once I've signed, I couldn't let one of them go unless there was concrete evidence as to my reason why. I have more rights within a network then I would without one.

Once of the reasons Ella is so passionate about female's rights... Surrounded by men a female is given decision making skills, a lone female must obey her guardians. This contract essentially releases me from Carter and Cassidy's care. It allows Trevor, Liam and Sebastian to make decisions for me, but really they can't make decisions without my approval so essentially I can make decisions for myself now?

The other page is the reject. It states I reject the males, but if I reject and file it...they could find a new contract, a new female. If I never signed either of these pages the boys would still be bound to me because they signed it. Why did they do this?

This is a lot to take in. This was a huge step for them. This is really serious, why would they bound themselves to me when I'm not sure what I want?! I'm breathing heavily now. Carter and Cassidy signed this. They gave them permission to bind themselves to me. I grab my screen to call Cassidy. Carter answers.

"I can tell by the look on your face you received the contract?" He asks. Before I can speak he continues. "And you are.. annoyed? That we signed it?"

He asks as he tries to determine the emotion on my face. My voice is soft, I'm confused and nervous that these men were given permission to bound themselves to me and now their fate is in my hands..

"Why did you allow it?" The tears start now. "You shouldn't have allowed them to do this Carter. I don't know what I want. What if I decide I don't want them?" My last sentence is a whisper.

"Then you reject it Mia. Those boys bound themselves to you years ago. They made mistakes that have you questioning their faithfulness and I understand that. They were teenagers when they made those mistakes. They are men now and they understand the implications of signing that document in your hands. They are capable of making this decision for themselves, so who am I to deny it?"

"You and Cassidy release your rights unless I reject this? I could make the boys do whatever I wanted and you wouldn't be able to stop me." My voice is stronger now, anger lacing my words. Were they eager to get rid of me?

"We have never been able to stop you Mia," He chuckles. "You are a force of nature and have always made your own decisions. You are on this quest for independence, but you have always been the most strong willed, stubborn female I've known. You are full of independence. Those boys followed, but make no mistake, they followed because you led." He exhales,

"The decision to sign was easy. Not because we trust those boys to take care of you, which we do, and not because we necessarily want to let you grow up.." I give him a watery smile, relieved by his words. "but because we trust you. We trust you to make decisions for yourself and for your males. We will stand by whatever decision you make Mia, we always have your back." He winks.

"Thank you Carter. For being you and being there. My sisters and I are lucky we have you. You didn't have to adopt us as your own, but thank you for doing it. I love you."

"Love you too kid, keep me updated on the idiots' progress." He ends the call.

I have a lot to think about.