46

"Maybe you should call your father and explain everything to him," Kiyan said after a while of silence while I was snuggled up to his chest on the couch next to him.

"What's the point of that? My mother would bend and twist everything anyway and then my father would be worried, even though he's already so stressed about work."

Kiyan took a deep breath and pulled me closer to gently rub my back.

"Nevertheless, you should tell him everything. He loves you and has the ability to get you out of it. I have to go back to work on Monday and I can't imagine leaving you alone with Thomas for even a second."

Curious, I got up from his side and looked at him questioningly. "Where do you work?"

His eyes turned sad and he leaned forward to play nervously with the sleeve of his denim jacket. "Well, it's not work. I found out then that the woman's baby had come to the children's home. I then volunteered there to teach the children table tennis and to read to the little ones. At some point, that turned into a holiday job and there it is I've finished school this year, so I'll really start on Monday," he explained, all the while looking down as if embarrassed.

I couldn't imagine what it would be like to have done something so bad, but he tried to make things right, which was more than Chloe did.

"Then I'll have to take you with me, because I certainly won't let Thomas and your mother do anything to you again."

He gave me a sad smile and then took my hand and gently stroked my cheek with the other. "You didn't deserve all this," he then whispered and I couldn't help but avoid his gaze. I felt kind of sorry for myself, but couldn't see a way out of the situation at home. The fact that he offered to take me with him was more than I could have expected, but that wasn't a permanent solution either.

"You play table tennis?" I then tried to steer the topic in a different direction and he immediately beamed all over his face, which also made me smile.

"My father taught me when I was little. I can say it quite well, you could say, but the children in the home often win too," he said and then took out his cell phone to check the time.

"Can you teach me too?" I asked him, but he just stared at his phone absently.

Chloe... that was my first thought and when I let out an annoyed breath, he immediately looked over at me.

"Thomas says your mother is looking for you and is very worried. Mia, if you don't want to go home, I'll stay with you. If you want to go home, I'll go with you. It's your decision and no matter what you plan to do, I do I'll be with you if you want it."

I kissed his cheek in thanks and then shook my head. "I'm definitely not going home. If I just go back now, she'll do it again and again. I should show her slowly that I don't put up with everything anymore."

He nodded and then got up to walk over to the window and look outside.

"We can start in two hours. I'll go to the car for a moment. I still have the things from the baker and such," he said and left the apartment quickly.

I flopped back on the couch, worried about going home after all, but what good would it do? She had clearly gone too far and she should feel that too...

My mind then wandered to what Kiyan had said. Maybe I really should let my father in on everything. Maybe there really was a small chance that I could go to him, even if he didn't have any money.

A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts and I quickly got up to open it.

Kiyan stood there with two large bags and a smaller one between his teeth, which I then took from him. "Did you buy the bakery empty?" I grinned, walking ahead of him to the couch to put the smaller bag on the table and sit down.

"Not quite," he laughed, pointing to the small bag in front of me. "There are croissants and pretzels inside."

He came over to me and placed the other two bags right in front of me. "And here are some little things for you. I know it doesn't make up for anything that happened, but I thought you'd like it."

I looked at him in confusion and then opened the first bag, which contained several drawing pads of different sizes, and then opened the second one, which contained a blue folder, with wide eyes.

"What's the Kiyan?" I asked him and he crouched down in front of me to hand me the folder, which I then opened curiously.

"It's a contract for an internship with the best architect here in Riverside. All you have to do is sign it and I've taken care of the rest. He's...was a good friend of my father's."

My hands started to tremble slightly and I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I knew the name Fred Johnson. He was so talented and had been a role model for me for a long time, but I could never have imagined getting a chance to do an internship with him at all, especially since my mother would have been against it anyway, or rather, still against it was.

"Kiyan, my mother..." I said softly, wiping my tears away. "She wouldn't allow that."

"She doesn't have to know," he said, and then put the contract and folder aside on the table to sit next to me on the couch. "I'll come up with something," he then stroked my back and I turned to him to hug him tightly.

"Thank you," I sobbed, and I was starting to feel stupid for crying all the time, but this time, at least, I cried for joy.

I sat on Zayn's couch, stuffed myself in one of the pretzels with relish and still looked at the folder on the table in front of me, stunned.

He really managed to make me cry with joy and I was eternally grateful to him for that. So grateful I wanted to cry again but forced myself to pull myself together.

"Well, we can. Zayn reached Mandy, she's coming too," Kiyan came out of the bedroom, looking at me thoughtfully. "Are you still hungry? Or thirsty?" he then asked and crouched down in front of me again to run his hand through his tousled black hair and then put it on mine.

"No," I shook my head and kissed his cheek gently. "I'm completely full. Thanks," I whispered and he nodded contentedly, only to stand up immediately afterwards and pull me up by my hands.

"We can," Zayn then came out of the bedroom and immediately grabbed one of the pretzels from the table to hastily wolf it down. "What are you staring at?" He then asked with his mouth full and I immediately averted my gaze giggling.

"It's okay, let's drive," Kiyan said amused and pulled me out of the apartment, out of the prefabricated building and then courteously held the passenger door of the car open to let me get in.

It was already pitch black outside and a light wind was blowing the trees back and forth, which seemed a bit spooky in this area.

"What about Adam?" Kiyan then asked Zayn after they both got on.

"He's still asleep," replied the brown-haired man from the back seat. "We'll meet Mandy at the swimming pool," he added, and surprised by his statement, I looked over at Kiyan, who was just starting the car, confused.

"Swimming pool?" I asked confused and Kiyan took my hand to blow a quick kiss on it and then rested it on his thigh to drive off.

"Let yourself be surprised," he grinned and I just nodded and then looked thoughtfully into the darkness while rock music played softly on the radio.

After a short time we then parked a block away from the swimming pool and still in the dark about what the two were up to, I didn't even wait for Kiyan to open the door for me, but got out curiously and looked around.

"There you are finally," Mandy suddenly came out of the darkness and took me tightly in her arms, then waved to Kiyan and turned to Zayn.

With her black jeans, beautiful white top and high ponytail she just looked amazing, unlike me. My brown hair was falling flat and I was still wearing the black loose shirt and gray sweatpants that Kiyan had dressed me in. Only my white cardigan gave me the slight touch that I wasn't on my way to bed.

"You look great," Kiyan suddenly whispered sideways in my ear while he eyed me and took my hand in his. He must have noticed my critical view of myself and with his deep voice and touch he sent goosebumps down my arms again.

"When are the others coming?" Zayn then asked, putting his arm around Mandy's shoulders to look questioningly at Kiyan.

"They should be here any minute," said the black-haired man next to me.

"What other ones?" I asked him, but Zayn was quicker to answer.

"Micah and the slob Cody," Zayn said, and Mandy hit her purse in the stomach for it.

"Stop talking about him like that!", she warned him and he rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"But only because you say so," he then murmured and pulled Mandy closer to him.

We probably waited a few more minutes, in which we silently surveyed the sky, until I heard a voice that immediately made me smile.

"Ohhhh Captain, my Captain," Cody came up to me and immediately he pulled me tightly into his arms.

"Well you," I replied to the warm hug and when he then broke away, he was beaming from ear to ear and I admired his colorful t-shirt that showed a scene from a comic.

"How are you?" he then turned to the others, whereupon Zayn just let out an annoyed breath, but Cody, as always, wasn't deterred.

"Fine and you?" Mandy then answered and when Cody pulled her into a hug, I immediately saw Zayn's jealous look, but luckily he pulled himself together and turned to Micah to greet him first.

After everyone had said hello to everyone, we made our way to the outdoor area of the pool, but I walked extra slowly on Kiyan's hand to gain distance from the others.

Only when they were out of earshot did I turn to him. "Tell me, why is Zayn such a jerk to Cody?" I then asked him curiously, because I had gotten to know Zayn from another side and couldn't explain his hostility.

"There's a history there," he said and I immediately looked at him curiously, but he shook his head and grinned. "I can't tell you this, babe. Zayn is ripping my head off," he explained, but I wasn't about to let go.

"Please, I won't tell anyone," I begged with a sweet smile, but he just smiled and looked at me apologetically.

"Kiyan," I then pouted and batted my eyelashes, but he just laughed and put his hands on my hips to pull me tight and look deep into my eyes.

"I like that you're getting more and more confident," he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and then smiled softly. "But I really can't tell you. If you confide in me, I would never think of telling anyone else."

I looked at him and then nodded indulgently. He was right, and I even thought it was good that he was someone who could keep secrets. "Okay, I accept your silence on this matter," I then whispered and then got a loving kiss from him before we continued to follow the others and arrived behind the outdoor area of the pool.