Val's POV

I wake up and glance at the clock next to me. 2:00pm. Why am I waking up so late?

As I get up and head towards the bathroom, memories from yesterday flash back into my brain. Yesterday was probably the most memorable day of my life.

I got assaulted, kidnapped, no froyo, and yet the memory that stands out the most to me by far was Parker and I confessing our feelings to each other. He likes me back!

I stand at the sink, looking down in the abyss of a drain while smiling and slightly blushing. I wonder what next step Parker and I will take in our relationship.

I continue to stare for a little while before finally processing fully that I was kidnapped. But not the fact that I was kidnapped, that was to be expected. It was who I was kidnapped by.

He's back. Now he's not only coming after me, but also Parker, and it's all my fault.

Why'd I have to tell Parker I loved him? He could've lived a safe and uneventful life without me coming in and crashing everything down. But what is he gonna think once he learns the truth?

Suddenly Parker comes through the door laughing loudly and talking to someone behind him, just out of sight. He looks at me back in surprise.

"Val! You're awake. That's great, we should talk," he walks back over to the door and tells whoever's there that he needs a moment.

"Who is that?" I ask.

"A new guy named Jack. He's the replacement for Drake. He's a super nice guy, I'll have to introduce you sometime. He was apparently the first guy on the waiting list for their region. I didn't even know there was a waiting list. If Artie's on that list, you better not die on me," he replies.

"I won't," I say, not knowing what to say.

"But anyways, how are you feeling, a lot happened yesterday and you seemed pretty freaked out last time we talked," he asks in a really cute-worried-boyfriend way.

"I'm feeling a lot better. But yesterday I was trying to tell you something," I pause, trying to find the right words to say.

"Ok, what's up?"

"You're in danger now and it's all my fau-"

"Hey Parker, you coming out yet?" I hear a voice ask before he peers his head through the door. He takes a glance at me and walks over to me.

"You must be Val, Parker's told me all about you. Nice to meet you," he outstretches his hand for me to shake.

After a few seconds of staring at his face over and over again, my breath hitches, choking me. My palms start sweating profusely as my heart pounds in my chest.

"We're kind of in the middle of something, Jack," Parker says trying to shoe him away.

"Oh ok. I'll let you guys get back to it," he teases, "but Parker, you never actually told me. Is Val your girlfriend?"

Parker smiles a bit before responding, "Actually-"

"No. We're not together. We're just friends," I quickly interrupt, desperate to get him out of the room.

Parker looks at me with hurt in his eyes and I instantly feel horrible, but I don't regret it. That guy needs to get out of the room. Now.

"Good to know," Jack says before slipping out.

"Anyways, back to what you were saying?" Parker says with a slight hint of hurt in his voice.

"Parker, that's the guy that kidnapped me," I break the news swiftly.

His eyes widen and he stays silent for a while, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, because not only is he my kidnapper, but he's also my ex."

Parker looks shocked, but I need to continue, "His real name is Connor. We dated back in like 8th grade and he got super obsessed really quickly. He started stalking me, and when I broke up with him because I knew I was going to a different school, he snapped. He followed me home and tried to torture me but my parents got the police over fast, but he escaped. He's a dangerous psychopath, Parker, capable of anything. Knowing all this, I still endangered you by becoming friends with you and then falling for you and now he's going after you, too," I try to explain as fast as I can.

Before Parker can talk, Connor rushes into the room, smirking. "Dang, you just really told him my whole life's story before I could even do anything to him. Way to spoil the fun."

Parker gets a really serious look on his face and he stands up and points at the door, "Get. Out."

"You really don't know how to be threatening do you? You don't even deserve to be with Val."

"Yes because the most important part of a relationship is how harsh the threats are," Parker says sarcastically.

"How did you even find me," I ask quietly, slightly afraid.

"Oh please, you really don't think I've had eyes on you since the day I escaped? I know a lot of people," he pulls out his phone to reveal that he's on a video call with Drake, "especially my dearest brother, Drake."

"Hey guys! Hey Val, how are you doing?" he asks as if he's not in jail right now.

"How are you even doing that?" Parker asks.

"We both got into this program, remember? We can invent a few things. In fact, I could break Drake right out of jail if I choose to," he replies.

"Then why don't you?" I ask.

"Because he actually quite likes it there, don't you brother?"

"Sure do!"

One of the helpers pops her head in the door, "Parker, Val, the police are here to speak to you."

What do we do? This is all so crazy. We've not even been in this place for a week!

"Val, you go. I want to talk to Connor here for a second."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," Parker gives me a reassuring look.

I head out into the center and quickly tell the police that they need to come back to our room quickly because the kidnapper's in there. We all run down but when we get in there, it's only Parker.

"What happened? Where'd he go?" I ask, getting a slight panic attack.

"He ran. But don't worry, I made sure so that he can't get close to you anytime soon."

After a few hours of interrogations and me and Parker giving many, many descriptions, we are finally let off the hook.

"These days are too long," Parker says.

"Yeah," I think for a moment before saying, "Parker? What I said to Connor wasn't true, you know? I only said it so he wouldn't hurt you."

"I know," he says while smiling.

We head back to our room and I ask, "And Parker, how do you know he actually won't come after us again?"

"Seriously, don't worry about. Back in my younger days, I made many dangerous inventions, so let's just say, I made it so that he cannot physically come near us without, well... dying. And he knows it," Parker says with an evil smile. That evil smile really suits him.

"Also, based on how harsh my threat was, I'd say I got the most important part of the relationship down pat," Parker says before putting his arm around me.

Ignoring the butterflies, I think about a free Connor roaming the streets. I just hope from now on, Parker and I can peacefully do our research like we were meant to.