~~~~~~~ The next morning.

Michelle woke up still undressed and wrapped up in Nick�s arms. She smiled as she looked up at him. �He looks so peaceful� she thought. She quietly untangled herself from Nick and put on her clothes. She went to the restroom and when she came back found Nick walking around in his boxers.

�Damn! He looks good.� She giggled at the thought then walked up to him and hugged him.

�Good morning! How�d you sleep?� Nick asked returning the hug and kissing her cheek.

�Couldn�t have been better. I had the best dreams last night.�

�About what?�

�You, and how much I love you.� Out of nowhere a tear rolled down her cheek. Nick kissed it before it fell off of her face.

�I love you too. More than I ever thought I could.�

�I should probably get going.�

�Are you sure? I would love for you to stay.�

�Yeah, I have to go home and explain to my mom why I never came home last night.�

�I�ll drive you.�

�Thanks Nick.� She kissed him softly on the lips.

~~~~~~~

Calista woke with a feeling that someone was watching her. When she opened her eyes she saw AJ a few inches away from her staring at her.

�Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?�

�I guess I do now. Do you know how much I love to hear you say that?�

�Why don�t you show me?� He smiled at her.

She kissed his lips lightly and then pulled away. She closed her eyes again and rolled over onto her stomach. AJ pushed the sheets away from her back and began tracing circles into her skin with his index finger. She sighed a little. Then he leaned down and trailed a line of kisses going from the nape of her neck, all the way down her spine and to the small of her back.

�AJ?�

�Hmmm?�

�Can you stop please?�

He stopped and laid down beside her again. �Is something wrong?�

�Yes. I�m starving! Let�s eat some breakfast.�

AJ chuckled a little. �You had me worried there for a second.�

�Not again! AJ, you were wonderful. I�m not complaining. You redeemed yourself and then some.�

�Oh, okay. Let�s eat!�

She laughed lightly at him. �That�s why I love you.� With that said, she wrapped the sheet around her body and went into the closet. A few minutes later she came out wearing a tank top and a pair of cut-offs. AJ had gotten back into his clothes and together they went into the kitchen, made themselves breakfast and then sat on the couch and turned on the TV. Calista changed it to MTV and �Are You That Somebody?� was on.

�I love this song! And I love the way she dances.� They watched the next few videos in silence and then the video, �I�ll Never Break Your Heart� came on. Calista moved a little closer to the TV screen and watched it carefully.

�You know what? I defininetly do not like Nicky�s hair like that!� She crinkled her nose a little bit and started blabbing on about something. AJ wasn�t really paying all that much to what she was saying though. �Did she really mean what she said? Does she really love me?� His mind asked all sorts of questions.

�AJ!� Calista yelled!

AJ broke his thoughts and looked at her. Their video wasn�t on anymore and Calista was sitting next to him. She looked a little bit worried.

�What?�

She put her hand up to his cheek and softly caressed it with the back of her hand.

�Baby, what�s wrong? You looked like you were a million miles away.�

He looked at her cautiously and then he spoke up.

�Did you mean what you said?�

�Said about what? The video? Yeah, I definitely think that Howie was wearing a little too much make up. It looked kinda weird and��

He cut her off. �No. When you said, �That�s why I love you�, did you mean that?�

She blushed an looked down at her fidgeting hands. �You caught that huh? Look, you don�t��

But she was cut off again by AJ softly kissing her lips. When he pulled away he smiled widely at her.

�I love you too.�

~~~~~~~

Nick pulled into Michelle�s driveway and put the brake up.

�I�ll call you later okay? I promise.� Nick said taking her hand.

�Good. I�ll see ya later then. I love you.�

�Love you too.�

They kissed for a minute and then Michelle got out of the car. She unlocked the front door and then turned and waved to Nick as he pulled out of the diveway and drove away.

She smiled to herself and then walked into the house.

�So! Michelle finally decides to come home! Where were you all night?�

The terrible voice of her half-brother startled her half to death.

�I was out with a friend late last night so I spent the night at their house. What do you care? Where�s Mom?�

�You should have called! And MY mother is not here right now. So it�s just you and me.� He gave her a smile that twisted her stomach into hard knots.

�I�m eighteen years old and I don�t have to answer to you or anyone else for my actions. Got it!� She gave him an evil eye and started walking away.

He grabbed her arm and yanked it hard. �Oh no you don�t! You can�t talk to me that way! Who the hell do you think you are?�

Before she could say anything he pushed her hard against the wall and pinned her shoulders against it roughly.

�You just never learn do you? I bet you were out with that blonde guy, weren�t you?�

�Would you please let me go?� Michelle�s voice trembled and she started to get scared. Her eyes watered a little.

�What�s the matter sis? Am I scaring you?�

�Just please let me go.� A tear rolled down her cheek. He brushed it away with his hands and the touch of his skin against hers made her want to vomit.

She slapped his arm away and started to run away. But he caught her by the hair and yanked her to the ground.

�You need to learn a serious lesson.� He roughly kissed her and started to undress her. She tried to pull away but he just slapped her and she stopped.

�Please God! Please make him go away.� Michelle cried the whole time and when he was done, he slapped her face one more time and then left.

Michelle was trembling. Somehow she managed to compose herself. Parts of her clothes were ripped and her hair was gnarly and tangled.

�Oh my God!� Michelle decided that she had to leave and go someplace safe. She ran to the only place where she had ever felt truly safe.

~~~~~~~~~ 2 Hours later.

AJ left Calista�s house and drove to is house. When he rounded the corner and got to his driveway he noticed 2 police cars in it. Alarm surged through his body as he parked his car and ran inside the house.

In there he found his mother holding a terrible looking Michelle as she was being questioned by policemen.

�Oh my God! What happened?�

His mother looked up at him with a tear streaked face. � I was driving to your house to see you and I saw Michelle along the sidewalk. She looked as though she had been through a terrible ordeal.�

AJ walked up to Michelle and kneeled down in front of her.

�Are you okay?�

�No. AJ, he raped me.� Michelle could barely talk higher than a whisper between sobs.

He pulled her in for a hug. �I am so sorry.�