**Sorry i abandoned this story for so long! I lost motivation there for a while but i'm back since some of you want updates! So here's the new chapter! 

Recap: Candice earned Salvatore's trust by 'dating' him, and scored some drugs from him to use as revenge against Tucker and Brandon, but she's back home at her mother's. Bryan saw Brandon Lee and beat him up after realizing he was the one that assaulted Candice, then ended his fling with Clara, not wanting to betray Candice any longer. And now he's back at he house too. And the story continues!

23: Familiar Touch 

 'It is unfortunate that when you want to make some people feel like human beings, they begin to take you as an animal.'
―  Michael Bassey Johnson

 Candice shifted her weight to her toes and crossed her arms, "D-Did you have fun without me?" She asked, giving him half a smirk, then looked down, afraid to meet his eyes again.

Bryan sighed, stepping closer to her. 

Candice noticed her open bag on the couch, with photographs of her and the friends she made at Mylvery High...and her and Sal.

"I've missed you." Bryan said, looking deeply into her eyes.

Candice bit her lips, turned, and slowly walked over to her bag, shoving the photographs back into the back of her bag, then closing it shut. "Uh...Yeah, me too." She said, her heart racing. Why does she feel like she betrayed him somehow? Her hooking up with Salvatore was only to use him for his drug supply to use against the two people who hurt her the most. "S-So...what were you up to while i was gone? You weren't out there breaking hearts were you?" She joked, finally looking up at him.

His jaws were locked, then his mouth opened, as if he was about to say something, but the words couldn't get past his throat. Instead, he reached out and stroked her cheek with his thumb. "I...I couldn't stop thinking about you. You were always at the back of my head...day in day out."

Candice scoffed and rolled her eyes, "That's original." But she looked at him softly, melting into his touch. 

"But it's true. I missed touching you, i missed your smile, your scent, your sarcasm..." Bryan was cut off by Candice's lips crashing onto his, as Bryan's hands traveled from her cheeks, to her waist, he pulled her closer to him, as he kissed her lips, her cheek, her neck. He did miss her. This was what he needed. What both of them needed. Both of them felt as if they haven't touched each other in years, as their hands frantically ran along the other's skin, accidentally bumping each other's foreheads awkwardly as if they were learning how to love for he first time, while still trying to savour every kiss. 

Bryan lifted her up, the towel that was the only thing covering her body dropped to the floor, as she put her arms around Bryan, as he kissed her neck, and her naked shoulder. 

Candice giggled and ran her hands through his hair. She then took his face in her hands and stared deeply at him. "Let's do it. Now." She whispered. 

Bryan's hungry eyes stared in hers too, as he nodded. 

Candice bit her lip, "You got the condoms?" 

"Oh yeah." Bryan replied, smirking.

Candice giggled, as they went upstairs.

-

"I'm never going back." Candice said, softly, while drawing circles on Bryan's chest with her finger, and Bryan stroking her hair. They were lying there naked in each others arms for what seemed like hours.

"To your dad's?" Bryan asked.

Candice nodded, "We snapped at each other...he said some things...that i don't think i'll ever forget. And i don't know if he said those things to hurt me or..." She paused, "A dad wouldn't say something to deliberately hurt their daughter, would they?" She asked, slightly twisting around to look up at Bryan.

"A loving father wouldn't. They wouldn't want to see their daughter hurt. No matter what, they'd make sure of that."

"I couldn't...i couldn't tell him all the things that happened to me...the night of the party...so i just lashed out. And he has no idea...he thinks that i'm just a-"

"Shh..." Bryan whispered. "When you feel like the time is right, then you can tell him."

Candice sighed. "When he slapped me...it felt like i forgot who he was...like i was arguing with a stranger..." She lifted her hand up to her cheek, "It sometimes seems as if i can still feel it. I don't want to experience something like that ever again."

Bryan gently removed Candice's hand away from her face, then softly gave her cheeks tiny little kisses. "That's why i'm here." He whispered. 

Candice smiled, "I know... But i'm just afraid...like i have a curse or something." She sighed. "I didn't even see him the day i had to travel back here. Didn't even say goodbye." She chuckled to herself. "Probably makes me sound like a brat, right?"

Bryan shook his head, and kissed her forehead. "Besides," He said, "You're my brat." 

"Oh, i'm your brat?" Candice grinned.

"You're my brat." He repeated.

"Well, i think i like the sound of that." Candice mumbled, and sat up, on top of Bryan, her legs on both sides of him. "I like it a lo- shit!" She got off him quickly after hearing loud banging on the door. "Wh-who do you think it is?" Candice asked, looking for her clothes.

Bryan, puzzled by her panicked mood shrugged, "Probably those sales people. I'll answer it." Bryan reassured her, grabbing her waist and kissing her forehead.

-

"W-What's going on, officer?" Bryan asked, greeted by cops at the door.

"Bryan Valentine?" 

Bryan hesitated, "...yes...?"

"You're under arrest for the suspicion of Bella Fitcher's murder, and assault and battery."

Candice covered her mouth with her hands. Murder? No...Bella committed suicide. Didn't Steve say that the case was dropped? 

"What? N-no." Candice choked out, stepping out form behind the door frame. "There must be some sort of mistake."

"What? I don't understan-"

"You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. Anything you say may be used against you in a court of..."

Candice's ears were ringing, as she looked at Bryan helplessly. "No-"

"Don't worry about me, Candice. Just...call your mo-"

"This is all my fault."

The officers handcuffed Bryan, "You can't blame yourself for this. Just call Samantha. OK?"

Candice nodded, blinking away the tears. "Fuck," She hissed to herself, and grabbed the house phone. 

"Mum? Bryan just got arrested."