Written. (JB//Complete)

Chapter 09.

      "Thanks," I mutter politely, getting myself off the bike on my own this time. Although, I have to use Justin's elbow to keep me balanced on the bike even though I know he's keeping it balanced himself. My pleasant neighborhood is nice and quiet—besides the obnoxious motorcycle probably waking up the neighbors—I guess there's no surprise there since it's almost midnight. My mother's shiny black SUV is in the driveway so I know she's home from work. I hope she isn't wondering where I am, she probably would have texted me if she was. She usually trusts me pretty well.

After handing him his helmet and begin walking away, he grabs ahold of my forearm.

"I had a nice time," he says.

I weakly smile. "Yeah, me too." Although, it wasn't the best.

"I'll see you again soon."

I nod and awkwardly smile again. I'm honestly not looking forward to seeing him again, but I'm too kind of a person to reject. Once he releases his grip on me, I know that's all he has to say. I grab my books and clutch from inside the carrier they were placed in during the ride, I finally get the change to walk away. I wave him goodbye then walk toward my home. I look back at Justin while walking up the porch steps and see him putting the helmet that he shared with me on. He watches me the whole time I'm making my way into my house. I let out an exasperated sigh that I feel like I've been holding in since the beginning of this date.

Once I fish my key out of my bag, I open the door and lazily throw everything on the floor. Then I scoop the items back up because I know I can't handle a messy environment. I shut the front door, then turn back around, only to see my mother sitting at the small kitchen island in her robe and pajamas. I jump at first, then catch my breath. Why is she still awake?

"Scarlett."

"Mom, uh, hi." My mother's expression is unreadable and I awkwardly walk up to her. "Why are you still awake?"

She shrugs. "Well, I got home about an hour ago and you didn't seem to be in the house."

I shift on my feet. "Oh."

"Where were you?"

"I was..." I instantly stop myself before I make a foolish mistake by telling my mom that I was at a casino. "I was with a friend." Referring to Justin as a friend tastes so foreign rolling off my tongue.

"Is that so," my mother inadvertently says, nodding her head and looking elsewhere. "Who?"

I know for a fact that if I tell her about Justin she'll forbid me to come into contact with anyone but Ryan. She'll despise Justin if she so much as looks at him. "Mom, you know I wasn't doing anything unmindful."

"Yes, I know. It's just that you rarely ever go out, let alone stay out this late. I was slightly worried." I nod in response and thank God that she didn't go on questioning on who I was out with. "Well, get to bed now, darling. We have a few errands to run tomorrow." She places a kiss on my forehead and I smile in return. She then leaves the kitchen to her master bedroom.

I sigh once again and head to my room. I place my shoes as well as my jean jacket into my organized closet and change out of my outfit. I quickly run a comb through my light, unruly hair then head over to my dresser to pick out my pajamas. After dressing into the comfortable clothes, I take my cell phone out of my clutch and notice several text messages on the screen: three from Ryan, one from Justin. I open Ryan's texts first, knowing that he's probably foaming out the mouth by now since I haven't replied to him in an hour.

Are you home yet?

How did everything go?

I'm stopping by tomorrow, just a heads-up.