Look into my eyes

Now you're getting sleepy

Are you hypnotized

By secrets that you're keeping?

I know what you're keeping

-- Secret, The Pierces

Autumn

I STOOD IN FRONT OF HIM in my white bra, matching panties, and pearly-white snickers. His fingers brushed across my stomach in a slow caressing motion. "I gotta go." I gave him an apologetic smile and moved around to collect the rest of my clothes and put them on.

Joe folded his arms over his bare chest and let out a long sigh. "Why can't you stay?" His voice followed me to the kitchen. "Just stay, Autumn. It's past midnight."

I opened the fridge and took out a can of coke. Putting it on top of the kitchen counter along with my handbag, I faced his annoyed yet handsome face. "I can't. Steven will notice that I'm missing." Yes, Steven, my big dumb dodo brother, not my parents. He was probably the only person in my family who truly cared about my well-being. Well, him and Aunt Clara.

Clara Summers was my dad's little sister and also my favorite aunt. She was a carefree and full of spirit woman. She had warned me before that having an open relationship might hurt me in the long run, but she didn't reprimand or judge me. All she'd said was that she'd been young before and she'd gone through exactly the same thing.

I didn't notice he was so close until his fingers touched and lifted my chin so that our eyes met. "Then at least let me drop you home." His eyes were filled with concerns which laced in his voice as well. I knew deep down that he cared for me and not just used me for sex. I was damn tempted to say yes, but I couldn't risk anyone seeing me with him outside the school walls.

He was my English teacher and despite everything else, I was still a minor. If our secret came out, he'd be in trouble, which was why only Aunt Clara knew about him.

Ashton knew I was hooking up with other people, but he just didn't know whom, and the rest of the girls didn't know about us either. It was hard to keep a secret with so many people knowing.

Got a secret can you keep it swear this one you'll save. Better lock it in your pocket taking this one to the grave.

Unconsciously, Pretty Little Liars opening theme played in my head. Opening the can, I took a sip before putting it down again and swallowed hard. "You know exactly why." I gave him a pointed look, and he let out a long sigh.

He shook his head and ran his fingers through the thickness of his hair in frustration. "I just don't like this," his voice engulfed with disgust, "I don't want you to feel like I was just using you for this." He waved his hand, and I couldn't help but remember what we did just a few hours ago before I fell asleep, and woke up so late.

It was supposed to be a quick nap but I guessed my body was just filled exhaustion. Angry at myself for having this conversation, I took a long drink, ignoring the coolness of the bubbly soda.

"You're not. I don't feel used." And when he was about to argue, I raised one hand to stop him. "This is what I want." He still looked like he wanted to fight me over this, so I added, "If you don't like it then we should end this."

That was my trump card. I hated using it because I knew how much it pained him, but I had no other choice. He pushed me into something that I wasn't ready to commit yet.

This is not your fault, Autumn! He knows about Ashton! And when this all started, you did tell him how you wanted this relationship to be. This is not your fault, don't feel bad!

He closed the gap between us and locked his arms around me. He kissed the top of my head and held me for what felt like a long time before letting me go, and then walked towards the front door. "I'll let you out," was all he said. I nodded and kissed his cheek then walked out the door into the cold night air.

Maybe a teacher didn't get paid really well, I thought, as I walked down the alley in front of his rental unit. It was narrow and dark and it wasn't on the good side of the neighborhood. The place was close to clubs and bars, which was another reason why it was a perfect place to get away. It was not a place that my friends or parents or anyone from school would come.

I turned right on the street, keeping my head down under my hoodie as I walked past several people who were either drunk or drugged. Clouds of smoke and marijuana filled the air reminded me how I hated this part of the city as I tried to walk faster.

My foot failed me and I stumbled upon someone. "Sorry," I muttered my apologies and was about to walk again except that the hard muscled body in front of me was immobile, completely blocking my way.

I looked up, ready to yell at whoever it was to get the fuck out of my way, but my words got stuck in my throat as I realized to whom those hard muscles belonged to.

It's that nerd. Tyler Vincent. As if to confirm that, one of the guys behind him called him out. "Hey, Ty, still got a pack?" I moved to the left and saw the guy was holding a pot in one hand, and a pack of what looked like marijuana in his other hand. Shit, shit, shit.

I looked at Tyler again, still not believing that he was the same damn Tyler who had been sitting in front of me in every Math class. He looked so different without his thick glasses and his buttoned-up shirt. Standing there, only a few feet away, he was wearing a black hoodie with a white T-shirt underneath, a pair of black trousers, and black Reebok shoes. Boy, does he look hot!

And threatening, I quickly added as my eyes met his dark gaze.

He used one hand to scratch the back of his neck. "This isn't going to end well," Ty took another step, blocking my way once more.

I tried not to get intimidated, as I could feel the wall pressed against my back. "What do you mean?"

Leaning forward, with his face inches away from mine—so close that I could feel his warm breath on my face—he said, "You know my secret now." He smiled a smile that looked so dangerous that I could practically hear my own heart pounding in my ears. "That's really bad, Summers."

"I won't tell others." I blurted the words out and bit my lips nervously.

His eyes caught the movement and he bent forward, filling my nostrils with the smell of dope he smoked earlier. Tilting his head, he clicked his tongue and smiled. "Wrong move."

With that, he slammed his lips against mine, knocking all the air from my lungs. He kissed me with no mercy. His tongue slipped at the seam of my mouth, and my mind went blank when I felt the tip of his tongue caressing mine. He tasted and savored me altogether without a care, while his lips moved roughly against mine.

Pulling away, he watched me with a mischievous look in his eyes.

"Now I'm going to be yours."