Rachel stood looking down at her mother's grave. Just a week ago, she had said good bye to her for the last time. Rachel's mother was sick for many years and they had been expecting this, but it wasn't a good enough warning. Tears streamed down her emotionless face. She began to shake from the cool air that was starting to blow in. It was unusually cold for this time of year, but Rachel didn't care. She wanted her mother back to tell her everything was going to be alright.

"Sweetheart." Rachel's father stood next to her. His big arm wrapped around her shoulder. How she loved him. Rachel's brown eyes looked up at him. "We should get going. Our plane leaves in less than two hours." He spoke softly to his daughter. Rachel looked back down to her mother's headstone. It read: REBECCA LYNN PARKER- BELOVED MOTHER, DAUGHTER AND FRIEND-1962-2008.

"I have to go now Ma. I'll be back after schools over." She knelt down and kissed her fingers and rubbed them along her mother's name. She stood back up and walked away before she started to cry again. Her mother was dead, her house was sold and she was moving 3, ooo miles away from the only home she ever knew. Her father couldn't leave his job and move to LA so the only other option was for her to leave school and move to Boston. She had been to her father's house many times. She always loved it because his neighborhood was nice, but mostly because she knew she was always going back home.

"I'm so sorry about this Ray. This is breaking my heart but I don't know what else to do." Her father said, now headed to the airport.

"I know dad." Rachel said.

"I know you were looking forward to prom and graduation."

"That doesn't matter anymore. Those are trivial things now." What a lie. She couldn't believe she was going to miss prom and graduation. Only three months left of school and now she was moving. That saddened her more. But she didn't want her father to hurt anymore than he was, so she kept that to herself.

"Well you'll be able to go to prom and graduation at St. Theresa's. I know you have to be excited about seeing the girls again?" The girls he was referring to was Daniela, Brooke and Nicole. She had made friends with them when she was nine years old. Nicole lived across the street from her father and every visit she shared with her father she also shared with them. Every other holiday and three weeks every summer she spent at her father's house. Her mother and father were never married. They were best friends that got very close one night which resulted in her mother getting pregnant. Her father had already moved to Boston some time before for his job and had come back to LA to visit. They promised to raise Rachel together the best they could. Rachel knew that they loved each other but she also knew her father was in love with her mother.

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing them. I talked to them when I knew I was coming. They can't wait to see me either I guess." Rachel looked out the window. She missed her mother. She missed her hugs and her kisses. Why did this have to happen? Rachel shut her eyes and started to drift to sleep.

This is not what I wanted for you Rachel. Mommy loves you more than anything else in this world. Your father will take good care of you. You better be good to him. Be there for him and tell him I loved him.

Rachel's eyes shot open. She looked at her surroundings. My father's car. She thought. Suddenly she realized she was holding her breath. She let it out slowly through her mouth not alarm her father. Her breath was forced out faster than expected and her father turned his head to look at her.

"Ah, there she is. You fell asleep. Not a long nap but I guess it will do until we get home." Her father smiled at her. Home? She wasn't going home. She was leaving home.

They pulled into the parking lot of the airport. They got out and took their luggage from the car. They walked into the airport and went to their terminal. They waited until it was time to board the plane. Its time. Rachel thought to herself. When they reached their seats on the plane Rachel closed her eyes. Please let me go to sleep. And that is exactly what she did.

When they arrived at the airport in Boston, Rachel's stomach began to turn. The nausea rose up her throat and burned it like fire. This was nothing new to her when she flew. Her father noticed the pale complexion of his daughter's face and handed her a bottle of water, she waved it away. She hadn't eaten anything that morning or the entire plane ride. Her appetite had diminished since her mother's death. She stopped walking suddenly, putting her fingers to her tightly closed mouth. Her eyes widened. She held her breath and begged for the feeling of letting out what little was in her stomach to stop. Her father walked to her and put his hand on her shoulder. He asked her if she was ok. Rachel squeezed her eyes shut and lightly shook her head yes. She put her other hand to her fathers face, silencing him from talking to her any further. Please God, not here. Wait until I get to my father's house. Don't let me puke here in front of all these people. She stood in that position for several seconds until the feeling subsided. Her eyes slowly opened and she pulled her hand away from her mouth. The hand that was placed in front of her father's face was now on her luggage. She took several deep breaths through her nose and let them slowly release out of her mouth.

"I can never get used to flying." She said in a cracked voice.

The ride to her father's house was quiet. The cab driver tried to talk to Rachel but she just shrugged him off. Her father apologized for her, stating that she was just jet lagged. Rachel wanted him to tell the cab driver the truth. 'My daughter doesn't want to talk to you or anyone else for that matter. She is trying to morn her mother's death. Does that mean anything to you annoying assholes?' Rachel laughed to herself, picturing her father being mean and using profanity. They pulled up to his oversized house and gathered their belongings. Rachel walked quickly up the walkway and stood at the front door as if someone was going to open it from the other side. "I can't open the door with you in the way Ray." Her father said in a soft voice. She looked back at him and rolled her eyes. He was so pathetic sometimes. She stepped aside and let her father open the door. She brushed past him and headed to her room. It was almost identical to the one back in LA. Her father wanted her to feel as much at home as possible while she visited.

"Rachel. I'm going to order food. Do you want pizza?" Her father yelled from downstairs. Rachel walked out of her room to the top of the stairs. She crossed her arms and looked down at her father.

"What?" He asked.

"Remember what we talked about the other day?"

"Can't you at least eat dinner with me first?" He pleaded.

"As long as you keep your promise, and don't try to trick me." She said uncrossing her arms and putting her hands in the back pockets of her jeans.

"As soon as you're done eating you can have the car and go see your friends. I already put you on the insurance so I won't be worrying completely."

"Fine then. Sure, pizza sounds good."

Her father smiled his handsome smile and walked into the kitchen. Rachel smiled to herself and walked back in her room. She picked up her phone and dialed.

"Hello."

"Hey Nicole. I'm here."

"Rachel?"

"Yup."

"Oh my God! How long have you been home?"

"Maybe twenty minutes."

"Ok, well how long until I can see you?"

"My dad just wants me to eat dinner with him, and then we'll go get the girls and go do something. I got the car tonight." Rachel smiled.

"Awesome! I'm going to call them. When your done beep out front."

"Sounds good. See you in a few." Rachel hung up the phone with her friend. She started to feel better. She was going to see the only real friends she ever had. The girls she grew up with in LA were fake and conceded. Rachel was so different. She was more like the three girls she was going to meet up with later. She had seen them three months before for Christmas and couldn't wait until summer to see them again. Now she would be living right near them and seeing them as much as she wanted. Rachel went through her clothes and picked out a pair of dark blue stone washed jeans and a black long sleeve fitted shirt. She walked to the linen closet and took out towels and made her way to her bathroom down the hall. Her father had his own bathroom in his room so this one was all Rachel's.

The warm water from the shower felt great. The cold air outside was something she wasn't used to, but being in that shower made it all better. After she showered she did her hair and make up then went back in her room to get dressed. She headed downstairs and saw her father paying the delivery boy. "Ah, just in time." He headed to the dinning room. She sat next to him and grabbed a slice. She was surprisingly hungry now. Two and a half slices and two cans of Pepsi later she was beyond full. She burped loud and started to laugh. Her father looked at her with raised eyebrows. "Sorry dad." She got up and threw her plate in the garbage.

"So what time do you plan on coming home?"

"Dad! I'm going to be eighteen in less than two months. Please don't do this." She sat back next to her father. "Trust me huh? It's Friday and I don't have school until Tuesday because of my transcript papers." Rachel smiled at her father's saddened face. He was so handsome, even when he was being pathetic.

"I do trust you. And I trust the girls. I know you have been coming here for a long time now, but things are changing around here. I just don't want you guys falling into the wrong crowd."

"Oh God! Dad! Really, I have to go. I love you and I won't be home too late." She kissed her father's head and grabbed the keys he was holding in his hand. She grabbed her jacket and headed to the door. She stopped for a second then turned around and walked quickly to her father. She bent down and hugged him, kissing his head hard. "I love you dad." She whispered. He put his hand on her arm and closed his eyes. He smiled. "I love you too baby." Rachel walked out the front door and got into her father's Jeep Grand Cherokee. It was brand new and Rachel was almost hesitant on driving it. Then the smile that was on her face grew wider and she started the truck. She pulled out of the driveway and pulled up to the house across from her fathers. She honked. One minute later Nicole came running out of the house. Her blonde hair flying behind her in big waves. She jumped in the car and threw her arms around Rachel. Squeezing with all of her might. "I missed you so much. I'm so sorry I couldn't be there for you." Nicole pulled away and started to cry. Nicole was definitely the closest one to her out of the three girls. Every time she went back home Nicole would cry and tell her she loved her.

"I'm ok Nic. I'm better now that I'm going to be with my girls." Rachel wiped a tear from Nicole's cheek. Nicole loved her friend very much and couldn't wait for her to come back. Just not like this. "We ready?" Rachel asked. Nicole nodded her head and put her seat belt on. They headed to Daniela's house.

"Brooke is already there. When I called them they started screaming and Brooke drove to Daniela's to wait for us. You know how impatient she is." Nicole laughed. Nicole was about 5'8", only an inch shorter than Rachel. She was thin and pretty. She had deep blue eyes that reminded Rachel of a blue crayon. Her blonde hair was filled with natural streaks. Nicole always said she hated her hair and wished she had dark brown hair like Rachel.

Rachel pulled up in front of Daniela's house and was about to honk when she saw her friends standing in the walkway. She rolled down her window. "Why are you two standing in the cold?" Rachel laughed.

"Take a guess?" Daniela said looking over at Brooke. Brooke squeaked and ran to the car. She hugged Rachel through the window and jumped in the back seat. Daniela did the same. "So where to ladies?" Rachel asked before pulling away.

"Ask Nicole. I'm sure she'll tell us." Brooke laughed.

"Shut up Brooke!" Nicole shot her a stern look.

"What is she talking about?" Rachel asked Nicole.

"Nicole has a boyfriend. She didn't tell you?" Daniela added.

"Um, no actually she didn't." Rachel smiled and raised her eyebrows. "Well?"

"Ok. First off, he's not my boyfriend, officially, yet. Second, I didn't tell you because I didn't think it was an appropriate time." Nicole put her head down.

"Nic, I am so excited for you!" Rachel said. Nudging her friend's arm.

"You won't be after you meet him." Brooke said under her breath. Rachel heard her loud and clear.

"God Brooke, do you ever know when to keep that mouth shut!" Nicole snapped.

"Listen, if you like him, I'll like him." Rachel started to pull away. "So where to?"

"Well, there's this bar, The Four Roses. We can get a few drinks with no problem and you can meet Joe." Nicole said. She looked like a child asking her mothers permission for something.

"Sounds good. Show me the way." Rachel wasn't sure of how great this night was going to be, but she wanted her friend to know she supported her no matter what. It was only right to meet the man she was with. Nicole gave her the directions and thirty minutes later they were in a part of Boston Rachel had never seen before. They were in the city and from the looks of it, not a great part. They were the only car on the road and Rachel could see homeless people trying to stay warm with barrels filled with fire across from a gas station.

"So, now where?" Rachel asked.

"Just keep following this main road and at the end make a left and we'll be right there." Nicole could see the concern in Rachel's eyes. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. She thought. But she wanted so badly for her to meet Joe. A few minutes later they pulled into a big empty parking lot. Only four other cars accompanied hers. The four girls poured out of the truck and headed towards the door. Nicole went first and was greeted by a tall over weight man with tattoos all over his face and neck.

"Nikki baby. Been awhile since I seen you here." The man bent down and kissed her on the cheek.

"I know Al. School has been kicking my ass lately." She looked back at her friends.

"You remember Brooke and Daniela right? They came here a few times." He nodded. "And this, this is Rachel." She pulled Rachel's arm and pulled her in front of the man like she was her prize.

"Well, Rachel. Aren't you the prettiest thing I've ever seen?" His eyes groped her viciously. Rachel pulled her jacket tighter around her chest. "You better keep this one away from the boys Nicole. They'll eat her alive." He smirked.

"I'm gonna tell them the same thing I'm gonna to tell you, keep your thing in your pants. She's too good for you." Nicole laughed and pulled her friend into the bar. The place was dirty, dark and filled to the brim with smoke. Rachel coughed slightly. Was this really the place where Nicole hung out? She thought. They walked past the bar which was filled with dirty looking men. The bar tender was doing a horrible job at trying to hit on Rachel with his eyes. All she could do was laugh. At the end of the bar was a big table. There were big men with tattoos all over their necks and faces sitting and talking loud about what Rachel could make out, a dart board game. One of the men, the youngest looking, looked up at them. He smiled and got up, walking straight to Nicole. He grabbed Nicole and kissed her passionately, deep and sincere. Nicole kissed him back. Her hands were all over him. Rachel had never seen her friend like this before. She began to feel embarrassed watching her in her embrace. Nicole pulled away and smiled. "I want you to meet someone." She pulled him to Rachel.

"This is Rachel Hedlund. This is the girl I was telling you about." Nicole said smiling.

"Rachel. This is Joe. Joe Darley." Nicole's smile grew wider.

"Nice to finally meet the infamous Rachel." He put out his hand for her to shake. She took it.

"Nice to finally meet you too." Rachel said. Joe gestured for them to sit at a table across from his. Before they sat one of the guys whistled at the girls. He stood up and looked over at them. "Hey Nicole. What the fuck?! You only introduce your man to your hot friend here and not us!" He was shorter than Rachel and had a tribal tattoo coming from his neck onto his cheek and forehead.

"Sorry Tommy. Tommy this is Rachel, Rachel that's Tommy." Tommy winked at her. Like he had a chance. "That's Heco, Spink, Jamie, Dog and that's Baggy." She went around the table. They all said hello and Rachel sat down.

"Aren't they scary looking? I hate when she brings us here." Brooke whispered in Rachel's ear.

"Where did she meet this kid?" Rachel asked.

"You're never going to believe this, but he's friends with her brother Adam." Daniela said.

"What? Dorky Adam? Never!" Adam was the complete opposite of Nicole. He had straight A's in school, obeyed his curfew and never talked to strangers, or strange people. Nicole was a slight wild child that liked to have fun but always knew when it was too much.

"Seriously! Adam was having some trouble awhile back. He started to experiment with pot and got hooked. He buys from Joe and Joe and Adam kinda hit it off. Then we all went with him to buy from Joe one night and then, Nicole and Joe hit it off. The rest is history." Daniela said.

"These guys look dangerous." Rachel whispered.

"They are." Brooke said. Her eyes intense. "I heard a lot of stories about these guys. Nicole refuses to believe them, but I know deep down she knows there true."

"What stories?" Their conversation was interrupted by heavy laughter and cursing. It was coming from the front door.

"Oh my God, is that him?" Daniela's blue eyes grew wide.

"Is that who?" Rachel turned around to see who she was looking at but a wall was blocking her view.

"Daniela, it is him. It has to be." Brooke's green eyes were wide too. Nicole turned to see what her friends were looking at. Her eyes grew wide and she turned to them quickly.

"Put your eyes back in your fucking heads." She whispered.

"Nicole what's going on?" Rachel asked.

"Nothing, it's just Billy. Joe's older brother. He's the leader I guess you can say, of these pack of boys." Nicole said. Suddenly Billy came into Rachel's view. He was walking with another man. Joe had called him Bodie. What kind of names do these guys have? Rachel looked back at Billy. He was tall and slightly built with broad shoulders. His head was shaved to the skin and tribal tattoos could be seen going up his neck through his fitted brown trench coat. The tattoos on these guys all matched each other. She couldn't see his face too well until he sat down. He had facial hair which probably made him look older. He took his coat off and rolled up his sleeves. The tattoos that were more visible on his neck went down both of his arms to his wrists. He was the most dangerous looking of them all. She didn't realize how long she had been looking at him until Nicole waved her hand in her face.

"What?" Rachel asked.

"What? Shall I get you a napkin for the drool that is falling from your mouth?" Nicole asked smiling.

"What, no way. I'm just not used to that look. That's all. LA boys don't look anything like these guys." She looked past Nicole and noticed he was lighting a cigarette. He inhaled deep then caught Rachel's stare.

"Shit!" Rachel whispered.

"What?" Nicole asked.

"He's coming over here." Rachel shifted in her chair and looked over to Daniela.

"Hey Nicole, didn't know you were here." His voice was deep and raspy. His eyes were intense. Rachel couldn't make out if they were blue or green.

"Hey Billy, yeah we just got here a little while ago." Nicole looked up at him.

"Are you going to introduce me to your friends?" He said staring at Nicole.

"Um, yeah sorry. This is Daniela. This is Brooke, and this is Rachel." He said hello to Brooke and Daniela. Then his eyes fell on Rachel. He put his hand out for her to shake. She accepted.

"Nice to meet you ladies. Since you happen to come on a night that I'm in an extremely good mood, anything you drink is on the house." He smirked at them then walked back to his chair. After he sat he glanced at Rachel one last time. Rachel grabbed Nicole's hand.

"Since when do you hang out with people like this?" She demanded.

"What? What's wrong with them? Why, because they have tattoos and they curse?"

"First off they are all way older than us. Maybe, except for Joe, he looks like he's our age." Rachel said.

"He's twenty three. He's only four years older than me. Listen, my parents know I'm talking to him and they don't care." Nicole sat back crossing her arms. She was visibly getting annoyed. "Talking to him, means talking to his friends. No not his friends. These guys are his family."

"I'm just saying Nicole. This doesn't seem like your crowd. I mean, captain of the cheerleading squad, track and band." Rachel pointed at Nicole. "That's the Nicole I left three months ago." Rachel sat back.

"I'm still doing all of those things. This," She waved her hand around the bar, "this is just my past time." She laughed. "So seriously, what do you think about Joe?"

"He's cute. He really seems to like you." Rachel laughed, remembering their embrace earlier.

"No, you go fuck yourself!" The guy Tommy was standing up ripping his jacket off. "Let's go Baggy! Outside you mother fucker!" He yelled. Rachel could see Billy laughing. For such a scary looking guy he had an amazing smile.

"Fuck you Tommy. You're drunk." Baggy looked over his shoulder at Rachel and her friends. "Look at you, your embarrassing yourself in front of the cute girls back there."

"Fuck them too." Tommy stuck his middle finger up at them.

"Hey Tommy, watch yourself. My girls over there." Joe stood up. Billy stood up too and put his arm in front of Joe and whispered something in his ear. Joe's face was red.

"Whatever Joe." Tommy grabbed his jacket off the floor and stormed out of the bar.

"See Nicole. Every time we come they fight with someone else or with each other. I wanna go home. Now!" Daniela said getting up. Nicole looked hurt. She looked over at Rachel.

"What do you want me to do? I have to bring her home." Rachel got up and put her jacket back on.

"Yeah, I think I want to leave too." Brooke put her jacket on and started to walk from the table.

"You're leaving?" Joe walked over to Nicole.

"Listen, you stay. They want to go home, let me take them home. I have to finish unpacking anyway. We still have tomorrow night." Rachel assured Nicole.

"I love you." Nicole said hugging Rachel. Rachel told her she loved her too.

"And you." She pointed to Joe. "Take care of my girl here. It was nice meeting you." Rachel put her hand out to Joe. He shook it and smiled. "Nice to meet you too."

Rachel began to walk to the door to meet her friends when that deep voice yelled out. "Hey, you leaving?" Rachel turned to see Billy, cigarette in mouth and beer in hand.

"Yeah, these girls gotta get home. I have unpacking to do." Rachel didn't know what else to say.

"You make sure you come out again." Billy smirked at her. He winked and she smiled. "I will." She turned and left. The girls got into the truck and Rachel pulled away.

"Oh my God. I can't believe that creep hit on you like that. He's a bad guy Rachel, I'm telling you." Brooke said pulling her short black hair into a ponytail.

"He may be a bad guy, but God is he hot!" Daniela said. She was playing with the radio.

"Ew, you and Nicole think the strangest people are good looking." Brooke was so dramatic.

"Oh stop it Brooke. He didn't hit on me. Besides, he wasn't so bad. He was, different. Way different than those California boys I'm used to." Rachel laughed.

"I still can't picture Nicole with that Joe guy." Daniela said.

"Nicole started seeing him before you came for Christmas Ray. She just wasn't sure what was really going on. So she kept it from all of us. Then she became like obsessed with him." Brooke said leaning forward.

"She had sex with him." Daniela said. Brooke smacked her arm. "No she did not. I asked her she told me no." Brooke's argued.

"Brooke, just because you're waiting until your married doesn't mean everyone else is. I'm telling you she had sex with him. I mean, c'mon. Look at him. Look at his friends. Look at his brother. Do they look like the type of guys that want to wait around? She likes him way to much. She would give it up just to keep him interested." Daniela started playing with her cell phone.

"I don't know Dan. He looks like he really likes her. Even lions can have a heart. What if he just genuinely likes her? Maybe that's why she's so into him." Rachel always tried to see the positive in a person. One of the many traits she got from her dad.

"Of course you would say that." Daniela poked her rib. They all laughed. Rachel dropped them both off at Daniela's house. She pulled away and headed home when her cell phone started to ring. She reached into her bag and pulled it out. It wasn't ringing. "What the hell?" She said out loud. She listened closely to where the ring was coming from. She pulled the car over and reached under the passenger's seat. "Great!" It was Nicole's phone. She picked it up.

"Hello." Rachel said.

"Rachel!" Nicole said. "Thank God you have it. I thought I lost it forever. Could you please, please bring it back to the bar? I'm using the pay phone and Joe's battery is dead so I won't have a phone all night."

"Sure. I'll be there as soon as I can." Rachel hung up the phone and pulled away. Unbelievable! She thought. Now she had to drive all the way back to that bar by herself.

When she reached the parking lot Nicole and Joe were waiting outside. Rachel pulled down the window and Nicole hugged her. Nicole thanked her a million times and kissed her face. Joe was laughing and noticeably drunk.

"I love you so much." Nicole said for the fifth time.

"How are you getting home?" Rachel asked.

"My brother." Joe said.

"Ok. I just wanted to know, being I'm here again." Rachel laughed.

"Oh looky here. One of your girls' whores came back? Did she like me that much?" Tommy was walking towards Rachel's truck. He was tripping over his own feet. He was visibly wasted.

"Did he just call me a whore?" Rachel asked Joe.

"Just ignore him. He's drunk and won't even remember meeting you tomorrow." Joe said.

"I heard you piss ant. I'll remember her. She's too hot to forget." Tommy walked up to her open window. He pushed Nicole out of the way. Nicole looked up at Joe. Tommy reached in and touched Rachel's cheek. "Hey Tommy, why don't you go back inside now." Joe grabbed his arm. Tommy pushed him off and looked at Rachel square in the eye. "You come back for some action?" Tommy said. He reeked of whisky.

"No, and even if I did it wouldn't be with you." Rachel wasn't sure if getting smart with this guy was the best idea.

"Hey Tommy. Leave the girl alone. She isn't interested." Joe pulled on him again. Tommy turned around and pushed Joe to the floor.

"You think you can do what you want because of who your brother is? We're his brothers too. Shut the fuck up." He turned back to Rachel. Her heart was in her throat. This guy was even scarier up close. Rachel could see Nicole running into the bar. Is she kidding me? She's leaving! Rachel yelled in her head. Joe got on his feet and stood next to Tommy. She wasn't sure if he was trying to protect her or trying to avenge himself. Seconds later Billy came bursting through the door with Nicole right behind him.

"Go inside Joe. Take your girl with you." Billy said calmly. He kissed his brothers forehead and walked to the truck.

"Hey Tommy, why don't you go inside and finish your drink. I think you've been out here long enough." Tommy eyed Rachel's entire body.

"What Billy? You want her for yourself?" Tommy said, not taking his eyes off of her.

"I never said that, you prick. But clearly you got the girl shook for no reason." Billy looked at Rachel. Her eyes were begging for help. "Listen, this is my brother's girl's best friend. I just can't sit here and watch you harass her. You fuckin' know that." Billy put his hands on Tommy's back. He slowly pulled him away from the window. He turned Tommy around and started pushing him towards the door. Billy looked back at Rachel. "You, don't move!" He pointed at her. Rachel had been around drunken people before. She had seen fights and even been at this end before. But these guys were different. Rachel was actually scared. Billy came back out the door just a few seconds later. He had his coat on and a new cigarette in his mouth. He even walked like a tuff guy. Rachel thought. Daniela was right. He was hot for a bad guy.

"Thank you." Rachel Said.

"Don't mention it." He smiled. "So, what brings you back here?" He asked, eyeing her.

"Nicole left her phone in my truck. She asked me to bring it to her."

"Right, you sure you didn't do it on purpose just to see me again?" Billy asked.

Rachel smiled and looked down at her hands. "How old are you?"

"Twenty nine."

"Ok. We're eleven years apart. I think you may be a bit too old for me." Rachel said smiling. Billy wasn't smiling anymore. He looked angry. Rachel's smile faded and a nervous chill ran down her back. He had the look of a crazed man.

"So, you're eighteen?" He asked flatly.

"I will be in May." Rachel said.

"Yeah well. You're too inexperienced for me." He shot her a look that might as well of said fuck you. He took a deep drag of his cigarette and blew the smoke right in Rachel's face. He turned around and walked back into the bar. Rachel didn't wait to see if Nicole was coming back out. She drove away and headed home. The whole ride home all she could do was picture the look on Billy's face. Maybe Brooke was right about them. Maybe they were really bad people. Billy's expression showed he had it in him to be a monster. Why would he be insulted if she said he was too old for her? Eleven years is a big difference at her age. Why do I even give a shit? She asked herself. She pulled into her father's driveway. "It's one o'clock already?" She asked out loud. She turned the truck off and locked the doors. She headed to the front door and opened it as slowly as possible. Last thing she wanted was to wake her father and have him asking how her first night here went. She walked into the front hall and was about to walk up the stairs when she heard her father snoring in the living room. She walked in to find him sleeping with his clothes on from that day and a book under his arm. His glasses fell past his nose. Rachel reached down and pulled the book out and took his glasses off. She placed them on the table and covered him with a blanket. Rachel ran to her room and got undressed. Why was the conversation with Billy playing in her head? It was stupid, yet she couldn't stop thinking about it.

Rachel put her pajamas on and hopped into bed. She shut her light and closed her eyes. Tommy's face kept popping up in her head, then Billy's then Nicole's. She couldn't keep them out. Did I insult him? She thought. Am I going to ruin anything between Nicole and Joe? He seems to like her a lot. At this rate she was never going to get to sleep. Rachel's conscience always did a number on her. She felt bad for everything she ever did. Even if she truly knew she wasn't wrong. For the next two hours Rachel tossed and turned. Thoughts of her night swam through her mind, and then drifted into memories of her mother. Rachel jumped at the sound of a car door slamming. All of her memories left her mind as she listened to the noises outside. She could hear a girl laughing, and a guy, and music. Rock music. Rachel got out of her bed and peaked through her blinds. She recognized the voices but wasn't sure until she could see Nicole kissing Joe right in the middle of the street. Nicole broke from his grips and headed to her walkway. Joe grabbed her in his arms and started kissing her again. Then she had seen him. Billy. He got out of his car and started yelling. "Joe let's go. I got shit to do." He yelled. "One minute." Joe kissed her again. "Hey Nicole, where's your friend Rachel live?" Billy asked. Nicole pointed to the house across the street like a little girl. She started to laugh and grabbed Joe's face and started kissing him again. Rachel saw Billy turn around and look at the house. He had a mischievous smile on his face. Then he got back in his car. What was that for? Rachel asked herself. She jumped back in her bed as she heard Billy screech his tires. She was going to call Nicole as soon as she got up. She wanted to know more about this Billy guy. "But why?" She said out loud.