A handsome boy was lying in bed behind me, but  the condescending leer on his face made me want to run away.

Too bad he was my boyfriend.

"Why are you getting all dressed up? It's barely eight o'clock." 

I ignored him and hooked the bra behind my back,picking up my clothes from the floor before ducking into the bathroom. I wanted 

to lock the door, but Haekyon hated that. I didn't want him to get mad or break down the door, not tonight. I should have been out the door half an hour ago but I had to clean up after with him--he liked it dirty and rough. Nothing a washcloth and some foundation couldn't fix, but the memory was an oily stain on my mind.

I played with my blonde hair,contemplating what quick style would work for going out, then grabbed a hair tie and put it back into 

a ponytail. As I looked though my makeup bag, the door slid open and Haekyon squeezed into the small bathroom behind me. I braced myself against the sink when his hands grabbed my hips,his flaccid groin ing against my backside. One hand crept up to my neck, pulling me back against him and squeezin enough to restrict the blood flow. "What's your rush, Sojin?" he murmured into my ear.

"I promised Minah I'd drive tonight."

The hand around my throat squeezed harder, and i started to tremble as my airway was blocked. Haekyon thought playing rough

like this was somehow y--that women liked a man who took control--but I had a feeling he just got off on my fear.

I swalloed, or at least tried to,around the tight grip on my windpipe. "Minah needs a designated driver," I rasped. putting my hand

on his in what i'd hoped he'd see as an appeasing gesture. "I don't want her to get hurt."

My evident altruism finally won a smile from him. "You're a good girl." He said,letting go of my neck and patting my cheek. "You

promise to think on what we talked about?"

Angry words at his condescending manner rose like bile, but all I felt was relief when he stepped away. I nodded silently, not

trusting myself to speak. Coughing would only make him angry,so I held my breath until he closed the bathroom door behind him. Only then did I sit down on the toilet, trying to take slow breaths through my bruised throat.

At times like this, I had to tell myself over and over that being with him was better than being at home,but it no longer felt like the 

truth. The way he acted sometimes sickened me,made me afraid,but I stayed silent. At least with him I had some measure of respect,and people didn't bother with me.

Much.

My makeup was mostly done, but I put an extra layer on my neck in case the skin showed signs of bruising. I'd grown very adept 

at hiding the bruises and scratches; he'd certainly given me more than enough practice. Haekyon was lying on the couch as I hunted around for my shoes. Outside, someone honked,and,peeking out the blinds, I was Minah's car.

. She wasn't going to be about having to pick me up.

"Looking for these?" 

Haekyon held up my heels with one hand, and I forced myself not to snatch them away from him. Trying to put them on while

walking, I opened the door and was barely through the entry=way when hands grabbed me and pulled me back inside. Slamming me back against the wall beside the door, Haekyon lowered his head and kissed me brutally. He was all tongue and teeth, his hands grabbing my s and twisting painfully.

"Should I tell her to leave without you?"

I shook my head,trying to keep the sudden panic off my face. "I'm her DD,remember? I'd feel terrible if she got hurt driving home."

The darkening of his gorgeous brown eyes made me tense in preparation for his answer, but he finally let me go. "I'll see you

later,then." He said,the words more a dark promise than a farewell.

My legs were shaking as I got into the small car. Minah had the music blaring,a sure sign that she was pissed, but she gave me 

a cheerful smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Looks like the boy toy can't keep his hands off you."

"Yeah. Look, Minah,i'm sorry I didn't get to your house. Haekyon wouldn't let me leave and ripped my other top when he--"

"Meh. Bored now."

I knew Minah was a fair-weather friend,the kind you went clubbing with but didn't talk to much besides that,but her casual brush-

off of my problem hurt, I'd ben there for her when her last boyfriend beat her enough to draw blood,but she couldn't be bothered to do the same for me. She started chatting about one of her friends who'd got pregnant without knowing who the daddy was, and I kept my mouth shut,lettung her ramble and pretending interest.

"Ready for a night of fun?"

I shrugged, not caring either way. Lately, barhoping and clubbing had ceased being fun and turned into an excuse to get out of 

whichever house I was staying in at the time. I didn't answer and Minah didn't seem to care, continuing to prattle on as we headed toward the bar.

I couldn't remember ever being sober at this bar before,which was probably on account of how lame it was without the has of

alcohol. Minah had worked up a buzz right out of the gate, hitting on a few of the older gentlemen and getting shots for both of us. She's taken four, including the two bought for me.saying I was the designated driver for the night. one of the men, a forty-something with a gold band on his left hand,had tried to pull me down onto his lap. I'd deftly maneuvered my way out of it,laughing and patting his cheek while giving him an easy view down my shirt. That had seemed to be enough for him, and thankfully he'd let me go.

The hotel bar was packed. Summer had hit, and people had returned from college or come to take advantage of the area's

beaches. The romantic prospects were much more abundant, but I couldn't make myself care. The thought of any more relationships didn't interest me in the slightest.

"Ooh, who's that delicious piece of over there?"

I looked over at Ashley, who was fiddling with her beer bottle label, and then followed her gaze across the room. I zeroed in on

the dark blond boy at the table. "Is that Lee JaeHwan?" 

"Who?"

I'd forgotten that Minah had gone to a different High school than me. It was easy to forget our age difference. At twenty-two, the

brunette was three years older than me,but with her petite frame,she looked fresh out of high school. "I went to high school with him." I said over the band's music.

"Did he play any sports?"

He hadn't been on my radar in school. I shrugged. "Probably."

"I'd him in a heartbeat."

The crude way she said it made me wince. Minah's brain-to-mouth filter was always MIA,but it grew worse when she was drunk. 

She'd gotten us into trouble more than once by saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. The girl had been constantly moving since we'd arrived at the bar,and I felt like a babysitter trying to keep her out of trouble.

A predatory smile crossed Minah's lips. "Oh yeah,he's so mine."

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. I was too tired to argue or play games tonight. I hadn't had anything to drink, and I just wanted to

find somewhere to lie down. I needed sleep; my two jobs had me running ragged lately,but Minah had insisted I come with her tonight.

Minah grabbed my arm,tugging me around the dance floor toward the occupied table. I went along willingly enough but wasn't in

the mood to do anything more than sit.

"Quit being such a spoilsport, just take the other one."

Other one?

I hadn't seen the other boy from across the room, but as I drew closer I realized JaeHwan may not have been who Minah was 

was talking about. WHereas the dark blond boy I knew was leaing forward eagerly watching two girls dancing nearby, the dark-haired boy beside him was lounging back into his seat. The tabletop was filled with beer bottles, but it was impossible to tell who had drank what.

"Hi." Minah said loudly, still managing to sound sultry even when nearly yelling. "Is this seat taken?"

Jaehwan looked at her, and he seemed to appreciate what he was, but Minah only had eyes for the boy beside him. She did 

what I called her power pose,arching her back to better display her assets. The dark-haired boy ignored her,however,his gaze instead moving to me. Something sparked in his eyes,and I felt goose bumps break out over my skin.

Butterflies fluttered in my belly. Suddenly nervous, I looked away to the dance floor,hoping he would stop staring. My own 

reaction bothered me; I didn't like how the other boy made me feel. Minah slanted me a dark look but kept her smile in place to keep up appearances. Without waiting for an answer,she took the seat next to her target. SHe had no qualms moving in for the kill and leaving me to fend for myself. Reining in my annoyance,I pulled up a chair across the table beside the familiar boy, who finally seemed to notice me. 

"Didn't I got to high school with you?"

I nodded mutley. JaeHwan was staring at me, a slightly confused look on his face as he tried to place me,then he snapped his 

fingers. "You're Sojin, right?" What happened to you? I know you didn;t graduate with us."

"I dropped out before Christmas."

I kept waiting for him to recall me,my body tense and waiting for his reaction, but he just cocked his head to one side.

"You dropped out in the middle of senior year?"

"It wasn't the best decision in the world." I hedged, uncomfortable at being called out. Even two years later,the decision still

haunted me. So close,and I'd just given up.

"Well,it's cool to see you again."

I blinked several times as he turned his attention toward Minah. His words seemed sincere enough, and I looked away, surprised

by how that fact shocked me. Our school had been small,but apparently he really didn't rememer much about me except my na,e. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise.

Across from me, Minah was trying to entice the other boy into dancing,with no luck. I could feel his eyes on me, but I didn't look

back at him,hoping he would eventually ignore me. I didn't miss Minah's glare,however. She didn't seem to like the fact that I'd managed to attract the attention of both guys,and as usual it was all my fault.

Typical.

Abandoning the dark-haired boy,she pasted a big smile on her face and held her hand out to JaeHwan. "Wanna dance?" It was

obvious she was trying to steal him away from me,make me jealous maybe, but I didn;t care and JaeHwan didn't seem to mind. He jumped up, eager to get close to the perky brunette, and followed her out on the dance floor.

Once they left, silence reigned at the table. I felt rude ignoring the other boy, but for some reason he made me jittery. The band

continued to loudly butcher old TVXQ songs, and conversation throughout the room only added to the raucous din.

"Are they always this bad?"

I bit my lipp at his question. He had a voice that sent shivers through me, and I didn't like my reaction to him. "Only if we're lucky."

I glanced at him and then looked away again. He was leaning toward me, obviously interested. I;d tried to ignore him, not wanting to rile Minah, but he was really handsome. There was a ruggedness about him that was totally unlike Haekyon's pretty-boy good looks, and I could feel my attraction building. That only made ignoring him more imperative, but I hated being rude. "At least this time the singer isn't completely tone def. The keyboardist can't keep the tempo to save his life though."

"Do you play?"

I nodded. "Piano."

"Really." The news perked his interest. "What kind of music do you play?"

"Classical." It had been a handfuls of years since my fingers had touched ivory,but,despite my tension,I smiled at the memory. "I

was really good at it,too."

"Was? You don't play anymore?"

The smile slipped from my lips, and I gave a jerky shake of my head. Eager to change the subject, I continued hastily, "You're not

from around here, are you?"

He shook his head. "I'm house-sitting down here with JaeHwan for the summer." he said, and then he held out his hand.

"I'm Jung Taekwoon."