Keida enveloped her in his warmth but there was a coldness in the air, a chill she couldn't quite describe. Something about him was<i>off</i>, and in the very back of her head, her voice of reason screamed out to her to be wary, to pull away from his grip and go home. She didn't listen of course, her trust for her childhood friend outweighed whatever sliver of doubt tried to surface. She<i>knew</i>him. They were friends. He merely wanted to help. Those were the lies Haley told herself as she remained in his arms.<br/><br/>If only Cain would hold her the same way. The thought was fresh in her mind when she was lifted with utmost ease onto the counter.<br/><br/>It was happening again, a flurry of fear and confusion - gentle fingers on flesh and whispered words in her ears. Haley's breathing hitched, and for a moment, she felt trapped. Was she afraid of Keida? She had no reason to doubt him, and at the end of the day, she wanted so desperately for Cain to love her back. "I know you don't want to hurt me," she tried to hide the hesitance in her tone, scared that she might offend him. "We're friends. I trust you."<br/><br/>Friendship aside, she wanted him to take a step back. She was starting to feel uncomfortable this close to him, their bodies pressed up together in the silence of his living room. She struggled to tell him this, but before she could speak, Keida dropped a bomb that rendered her speechless.<br/><br/><i>And then Cain will hate you.</i><br/><br/>A mixture of shock and dread washed over Haley. She stared up at the predator, wide-eyed and scared, a deer staring down a lion moments before their death. Keida had done it, with a few choice words, he had Haley right where he wanted her. The girl balled her hands into fists and blinked away the remainder of the tears that had threatened to spill. "I don't want Cain to hate me." She was aware of how close Keida had gotten, his waist pressing against her slightly-parted knees and his mouth so close to her ear. It scared her, being this close to him. And for the first time since she'd entered his home, she noticed a<i>different</i>look in his eyes.<br/><br/><i>Go home</i>, the voice of reason said.<br/><br/>Her mouth said other things. "I need your help. I'll learn. You know Cain better than I do. What do I need to do? I'll... I'll do anything." Her own foolish question had sealed her fate. "He's important to me, Keida. I've never felt this way about anyone before." She didn't mean to scald him with her words, but sincerity could be a double edged sword.