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We Are Who We Are

Kota walked by my side as we traveled down the road back to his house When we turned around the bend in the road, I expected bright lights, people scra around in the front yard, and the mess I left behind to still be there

It was all quiet The street ahead of us was lit only by dihts were still on in houses I wondered howat Kota’s house How many knew that the principal and Mr Morris had been here?

Did ? Did Marie inform her about it?

Kota’s hoht turned off We went around the back, avoiding the still closed doors of the garage Kota’s sedan was parked back in its usual spot

Max greeted us in the hallway I petted hiers raked through his golden hair and he lapped at my arm He seeh the house, following us to Kota’s bedroom door

Kota urged the dog to go back “Find Jessica,” he said “Stay with her”

Max huffed once and padded away, as if knowing exactly what he said and was obeying

Kota led the way up into his bedroo in the chair next to his computer desk It appeared coined he hadn’t even been up here until now

I waited by the stairs as he moved further into the bedroo wrong?”

“I feel like I should be doing so”

“We sleep first,” he said “I just didn’t want to have to leave again before talking to ain without fulfilling the promise I made”

It made sense, especially if he wanted me to be here

He went to the closet and passed me pajama pants and a T-shirt I didn’t knohose they were, but I put theo into the bathrooed me to bed

He nudgedout the bed froot in beside me

Kota curled into lasses removed He had an arm around my waist, his nose pressed into my shoulder

I exhaled and for the first moment, I actually started to relax My body was tense,after all of the events I’d been so tired, and then once I hit the bed, ed

Until Kota started rubbing a spot on my ear, soft at first, and then more intently

From then on, I faded in and out of sleep

At every mo into me with his face pressed to my body

I reveled in it For a while there, I had been sleeping alone in the bed, but with the guys nearby Now, sleeping with someone in the bed, someone I trusted and wanted to be close to,I craved and felt deprived of when they weren’t around Feeling safe, secure, and able to depend on them I hoped they felt the same from me

His legs intertwined with mine often Andon hoas sleeping It was like this the whole night, withwhen he turned, and thencloser

We both needed this

The sun was bright in the room before the downstairs door opened and footsteps padded up the steps, stopping at the top I didn’t move My body didn’t want to

Kota yawned, stretched, sat up and moved to put his foot on the floor “I know the rule,” he said, his voice thick and gravelly with sleep “But after last night”

“I know,” Erica whispered “Don’t worry I trust you”

I are she was there, but I didn’t want to get up I pretended to sleep I was being a chicken, avoiding the conversation but willing to get up if Kota roused me

“Let’s go downstairs,” Erica said “When you’re ready I need to know sos before someone on the police force comes back with more questions I’m sure they’ll be here at some point”

“Right,” Kota said I felt him pull the covers back overup fully

I didn’t get up until they were gone