"Where to?" Thomas blocked me with the shopping bags and I didn't know why, but I immediately looked to Kiyan for help, because I just felt overwhelmed and unable to speak for myself. "I have to talk to you," he then said to his father and the two disappeared together into the guest room, of course not without Thomas scrutinizing me again intensively. Should he be quiet, the main thing is that he then disappeared from my field of vision. Taking advantage of the situation, I quickly ran to my room and grabbed my phone and keys, then left the house just as quickly. Being in the same house with him was not at all clear and I still wondered what my mother wanted from a guy like that. He wasn't attractive at all in his lumberjack shirts and ripped jeans. His whole getup also made me doubt that he even had the money to fund us and that brought me back to the question of what my mother really wanted from him... money! As I walked down the street under the sun, I asked myself what was more important to me. money or love? For me, definitely love. I'd rather be under a bridge with my father than in a huge mansion with Thomas and my mother. That was never clearer to me than at that time. When I got to Juline's house I rang the bell several times but she seemed to be with her parents as the family van was not in front of the house either. Great. I sat down on the porch swing and pulled out my cell phone in disappointment. Where are you? I wrote to her and an answer came back quickly. My parents really wanted to go to the campsite for a few days when the weather was bad. I wanted to write to you :) Rolling my eyes, I put the phone away, got up and walked towards Micah. Actually, I didn't want to go to him, but I'd rather go to him than walk around all day alone, even if the weather was inviting, but I urgently needed distraction and someone to talk to. A long ring and a smiling Micah opened the door for me. "Well you," he greeted me and took me in his arms. "Hey," I whispered, then followed him inside after he pulled away from me. When we got to the kitchen, I immediately noticed the many mugs and bottles of alcohol on the counter, which made me look questioningly at him. "When is your father coming back?" I asked looking into his green eyes and he just grinned cheekily. "Not until the end of the holidays," he admitted, apparently pleased because it allowed him to throw party after party. I smiled awkwardly and looked at the alcohol again. Somehow all this stressed me, because memories of the last year came to my mind. There were no parties, no alcohol and no problems. Last year it was just the three of us and a lovely summer spending days at the beach and evenings at the movies. I would give anything to be able to turn back time. "You can come too if you want," he then said and turned to the cupboard to get out two cups and turn on the coffee maker. "I'll think about it," I replied, thinking about Juline not being there. I certainly wouldn't have given myself any of this without her. When I then gratefully accepted a cup and he leaned on the counter with his loose shirt and looked at me, I noticed his piercing gaze. "What is it?" I asked, taking a sip of the way-too-hot coffee, but I gave no indication that my tongue was probably half burned off. "Kiyan then," he raised an eyebrow provocatively and almost all color fell from my face. "What about him?" I pretended unknowingly, but just hearing his name and thinking about his eyes made my heart race and I just hoped Micah didn't see my nervousness. "Well, he lives with you, at least that's what Cody said, who was really worried about you and asked if I could give him your number." I looked at him and shook my head, then smiled at the thought of Cody. Such a little chatterbox this nerd. "You can give him my number and yes, Kiyan and his father live with us." "How did that come about?" he asked immediately and stood up straight. "His dad is the one I caught my mom with and well, they must be in a hurry," I said, pretending I didn't mind, but inside I was screaming in desperation. "That's really bitter, so for all of you. How's your father doing with it? And how are you? I mean Kiyan is...well, I mean I wouldn't want to live with him." I looked him up and down in confusion and ignored the question about my father, I didn't want to worry about that because it would break me. It was much more important to me at that moment to find out more about Kiyan. "Do you know Kiyan well?" I then asked him, trying not to appear too curious. "No, he's one of Leyla's friends, but obviously he doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to women." My eyes widened unconsciously and I quickly drank from the hot drink to avoid Micah's gaze. He eyed me the whole time, as if to see how I would react to what he said, but I was just a quick distraction. "And you and Leyla still separated?" "Yeah, it's going to stay that way. I can't be with her. There's...well, it just doesn't add up." He picked up his cup as I did and avoided my gaze. How uncomfortable! Couldn't Juline just come in the door and tell some nonsense? There was a silence that seemed hard to break. I shifted nervously and looked down the hallway into the living room until, thankfully, he broke the silence. "Would you like to do something?" he then asked as he put his cup away and my first instinct was “Run away!”, but I nodded because despite everything I still felt more comfortable with him than at home, which maybe was a mistake.