Milo:

I wake up to banging in my living room, and I scramble out of bed, feet stumbling over discarded clothes and bottles as I burst into the hallway. What if Ava fell off the air mattress? What if an earthquake is suddenly happening?

Still half-groggy from sleep, I can barely make out the fuzzy silhouettes opening the front door. I give my eyes a hard rub, blinking a few times to focus, when I notice one of the men from earlier carrying Ava over their shoulder. I don't know if it's just because I'm awake, or if genuinely no sound is coming out of her, but Ava's mouth is wide open, but no sound is escaping her.

I lunge forward, adrenaline flooding my veins, propelling me faster than I've ever moved. "Put her down!" My voice breaks the silence of the early morning, raw and desperate. The men pause, turning to look at me with blank expressions that make my blood run cold. For a split second, time stretches- everything is suspended, even the air feels too still, too thick.

Then, in unison, they bolt out the door, Ava dangling like a ragdoll over one of their shoulders. "Get back here!" I shout, the words tearing out of me, but they're already sprinting down the driveway. I throw myself after them, lungs burning as my bare feet slap against the cold concrete.

We're locked in a cruel game of chase. I'm almost there- close enough to see the tear tracks glistening on Ava's cheeks as she looks over her shoulder, her eyes wide with terror. Her fingers twitch, reaching for me, and I push myself harder, my legs screaming with effort. Every time I think I've caught up, my fingers brushing hers, they yank her out of reach again.

We run for what seems like an eternity, my breaths turning ragged and my legs trembling from exertion. The neighborhood around us is a blur of muted colors and empty streets. The surrounding street lights flicker, casting long shadows that stretch and twist like hands trying to pull me back. The men's dark figures are growing smaller, disappearing into the distance, and Ava's face fades, until all I can see is her tear-streaked cheeks and the desperate way she mouthed my name.

Tears rush my eyes, and I look around the neighborhood to see if anyone else saw it. I'm completely alone, the sun just starting to rise and sending a sudden wash of color over everything. How dare the world look so pretty when the most beautiful thing I've ever seen just got ripped away from me.

The sudden hand that grabs my shoulder makes me jump, a yelp escaping my lips as I whip around. "Milo," the voice says, and it sounds like Ava. Though I hear it, everywhere I turn, there's just an empty street. "Milo!"

I squeeze my eyes shut in frustration, balling my fists at my side as I start to spiral out of control. When my eyes open again, Ava is leaning over me, her hands on my shoulders. "Jesus Christ, Milo, you scared-" she starts, placing a hand over her heart dramatically as she sighs slightly.

I don't give her time to finish the sentence, just draw her into my arms, heaving a huge sigh of relief into her hair. "You're okay," I mumble, still drunk on sleep.

"Uh... yeah," she says softly, her body frozen against mine, obviously confused. "Why... wouldn't I be? What did you do...?"

Realizing the position we're in, I pull away so we can give each other space. Not that I really want to pull away. I could stay here forever, holding her like this. I rub a hand down my face, shaking my head as my heart rate finally slows down from the nightmare.

"I just... I had a bad dream, uh, that one of those guys we saw yesterday took you..." Shame creeps up my neck, flushing my cheeks a bright red. "I know that sounds weird... Sorry..."

Ava blushes slightly too, sitting at the edge of my bed tentatively. "I'm fine," she promises, patting herself down as if to make sure with herself. "Paranoid now, but fine."

I let out a groggy laugh, tugging at the edge of my long sleeve shirt nervously. "Sorry, sorry..."

The small blonde stares at her feet dangling off the edge of the bed, kicking them around idly. A silence befalls us, but it's not uncomfortable like other times. Ava breaks first, yawning loudly. "Well, it's still pretty early... You doing okay now?"

I blush, looking down at my lap. "Uh, yeah... Sorry, again..."

Ava grins, patting my thigh gently. "Did dream you save me?" She asks curiously, the tiniest hint of suggestiveness in her tone.

Shame fills my chest, and I look down, sighing. "Uh... No, actually," I admit bashfully, swallowing my pride. "They just... Kept running. I couldn't keep up. I couldn't... I didn't..." I clench my jaw, and even though it's just a dream, I feel like a failure for having to admit that aloud. I should have just said 'yes,' been the hero, but nooo...

"Well, you saved me twice in real life yesterday," she drawls, flashing me a tired smile. "So I guess I'll let it slide for dream you."

Her words hang in the air, and something inside me shifts. It's the way she's looking at me- soft, open -that makes it hard to breathe. This is new. The way she's touching me, the way she's seeing me. It's different from anything we've shared before. And for the first time, I realize how fragile this moment is. How easy it would be to break it.

The alarm clock on my dresser reads three a.m., and I groan. "Sorry for waking you," I apologize in embarrassment, laying back down in my bed and closing my eyes. "My bad."

Ava doesn't say anything for a second, and I think she's quietly left, but then the bed suddenly dips and I feel her crawl towards the top. I open my eyes in surprise, but don't say anything, just watch as she carefully maneuvers her way to the headboard.

We both don't say anything as she settles in next to me, and I hand her one of the pillows I'm using, untucking the blanket from around me so she can have some too. My heart is audibly beating, and I do everything in my power not to ruin the moment.

I lay back down after she's finally settled, shoulder to shoulder, our arms touching due to how small my bed is. We allow the silence to engulf us, shrouded in darkness as the only source of light is my dim alarm clock.

Ava rests her head on my shoulder nervously, and in the dark all I can see is her silhouette, her petite shoulders rising and falling as she breathes. It takes me a second to do anything, shocked by her touch, but instincts kick in, and I sling an arm around her, pulling her closer.

We stay quiet, still, just holding onto each other. It's so intimate I'm once again afraid I'm going to have a tent in my pajamas. The next time I open my eyes, it's light in the room, and Ava is still peacefully sleeping in my arm.

While she's asleep, I take the time to really look at her. She looks like a goddess in this light, with features as small as herself; beside her eyes, which are big and brown.

I want to reach over, to take her face and kiss it and tell her good morning, and that she looks like that most beautiful human being I've ever met, but... I stay still, not wanting to ruin this. I'm perfectly content with just laying this close to her, our bodies curled up.

My eyes flutter close again, reopening to an even brighter room. I yawn loudly, turning to my side with a groan. When my eyes crack open, I notice Ava is missing from the bed, and I choke down my disappointment.

My senses fully come back after a minute, and I notice the scent of food wafting through the air. Groggily, I sling my feet over the bed, shuddering at how cold the floor is from the weather outside. I trudge into the kitchen, rubbing at my eyes to clear away the sleep.

Ava is at my stove cooking eggs, two plates sit on the counter next to her, one with toast. She turns to me, smiling slightly. "Morning. I hope you don't mind..."

I shake my head, still trying to wake up. "Thanks," I grumble out, seeing that she made coffee too. I grab a mug from my cabinet, filling the cup to the brim before taking a few swigs from it.

Ava plates up our breakfast, putting a hefty portion of eggs on the plate with toast but adding just the tiniest amount to the empty plate. She hands me the former, and I can't help but frown.

"That's all you're eating?" I ask curiously, grabbing forks for us. "Take a little more eggs, make it fair."

She waves a dismissive hand, holding up her plate. "That is plenty," she says as though her entire plate is brimming with eggs. "I don't want to get bloated."

I let out an incredulous laugh, shaking my head as she leads us to the living room, sitting down on the air mattress. "How do you survive?" I ask Ava, taking a seat next to her, more gentle this time so I down throw her and our breakfast.

"The misery of others," she says playfully, pushing around her eggs more than actually eating them. Her fork scrapes against the plate in a way that makes me want to pull out my teeth, but I restrain from saying anything.

Instead, I laugh, shoving my own eggs onto the toast and taking a huge bite. "You must be full all the time, then," I joke back, earning myself one of her famous eye rolls.

We finish our breakfast in silence, the air thick with unspoken thoughts. Ava leaves a small mound of eggs on her plate, remnants of a meal she hardly touched. I don't say anything; instead, I gather our plates and carry them to the sink.

As the water warms up, I scrape the leftovers into the garbage, watching them disappear. I place the plates beneath the hot faucet, allowing the water to do the work while I reach for the sponge to suds it up. The warmth of the water contrasts with the cool morning air, and I hum contently.

"Thanks for letting me stay the night," she says softly from behind me. I turn to look at her, shrugging casually as I begin to clean our breakfast dishes. "And for saving me from the streets. And from those creepy guys."

With the dishes done, I turn to her, rubbing my hands down my shirt in a half-assed attempt to dry them. "You better be at my beck and call," I tease, crossing my arms across my chest dramatically.

Ava giggles, coming over and giving me a shove, before standing awkwardly by me. "Uh, my birthday is this Tuesday..." She drawls, playing with her fingernails, her gaze flicking between them and me. "But I'm having a party on Halloween, so if you want to come... you can."

I shrug casually, trying to play it cool, but on the inside I'm dying. Parties are so not my scene, but I'd do anything to spend a little extra time with Ava. "Where's it at?" I ask her, leaning back against the counters like it's no big deal. Little does she know, I've never been to a party in my adolescence. Starting with possibly the party of the year is crazy work.

"Lexi's," she responds, smiling slightly. She's still incredibly close to me, and I'm not sure if she wants me to... hold her, or... So we just stare at each other awkwardly, until she continues, "Uh, her house is... really big. So there's more room."

I shrug again, the collar of my jacket starting to get slick with the nervous sweat brimming on my neck. It feels a million degrees in here, and I'm certain it's Ava's fault. "Yeah, I'll be there. Just text me her address when you can."

She laughs nervously, looking at her feet as she shuffles in place. "Uh, thank you again for all the help. I really appreciate it."

"No sweat," I promise sincerely, smiling back. She's still wearing my clothes, and I wish she could stay in them forever- wish she would steal them, and tell me she's never going to give them back. She looks so fucking beautiful. She always looks so beautiful.

"Let me just change and then..." She starts softly as she notices my gaze on her. She starts to collect her clothes that are strewn about on the floor, like we just had a crazy wild night. I mean, we did, but not really the fun kind. Besides her in my bed. Yeah, my hand is going to be pretty busy now that I have that image in my head. She pipes back up, breaking me from my lustful trance. "I'll probably walk home."

I grab her arm gently as she starts towards the bathroom and shake my head. "I'll take you," I promise. "Uh, and just wear that. You can give the clothes back to me tomorrow. I want them washed, dried and folded. You know, for saving your life."

Ava grins up at me slightly, shaking her head. "You'll never get these clothes back if I go home with them."

My eyes darken slightly at the idea of Ava at home in her bed, sleeping in my clothes. Like a piece of me will always be with her. "Well, I guess that's just a sacrifice I'm gonna have to make," I say, finishing my sentence with my most dramatic sigh.

She laughs, like the most beautiful melody I've ever heard. I realize I still have her arm in my hand, and drop it quickly, embarrassed I held on so long, but swooning over the fact that Ava didn't react to it.

"You sure you're okay with taking me home?" She asks, and I catch her fingers gently brush where I just touched.

"I would be doing nothing alone in my room otherwise," I admit with a sad chuckle, rubbing the back of my head. "I know that was a loser thing to say, get your laughs out."

Ava's laugh makes my heart flutter, and I can't help but grin myself. "One of my only true friends is probably hungover backstage at some theater," she promises, shaking her head. "I'm also doing nothing. But, thank you, again. Seriously."

She's so close to me again, and despite walking in the rain for god knows how long last night, she still smells incredible. "Are you ready to leave now?" I ask her, my fingers twitching slightly as I fight the urge to pull her in my arms and ravish her with my lips.

She nods, studying my face for a second before spinning to grab her bag and shoes. Ava checks her phone, her face scrunching in confusion as we walk to my truck. Ava presses her phone to her ear after a second, saying, "Hello?"

I try not to pay attention as I unlock our respective doors, revving my truck to life. She listens for a while, her face contorted in irritation. "I was going to figure it out," she promises, waving her hand around as if the other person can see her. "But yeah, I'm fine. I can't believe that bitch called you. She didn't call me! What did she even want?"

I hear what I assume to be Lexi on the other side start explaining how Ava's mom called her to have Lexi tell Ava she needs to come home and help her clean up the glass.

Ava laughs bitterly, shaking her head. She crosses her arms the best she can with a phone to her ear, scowling at the road ahead. "She kicked me out! And then doesn't call me? She calls you? That bitch needs to take her meds. Badly."

I keep my phone in my lap as Google Maps takes me to Ava's house, further towards the fire, apparently. I look over at Ava, who's rubbing the bridge of her nose between her fingers. I wish I could pull over and hang up, pull her in my arms and tell her I got her.

God, when did I turn into such a simp?

"Where were you?" Lexi's voice cuts through the quiet truck cab like a knife, so loud I almost think Ava's put her on speakerphone. I catch a glimpse of Ava's face bathed in the faint glow of the streetlights, her expression softening.

"I'll tell you later," Ava responds softly, just as we pull towards the front of her house. She looks over at me with an apologetic smile, and I wave it away, a silent promise that I could listen to her talk forever. "Love you, bye."

Once we're parked, she turns towards me. "I'm really nervous," she admits, letting out a shaky breath. The heat in my truck is barely enough to keep us warm, and I notice Ava shivering slightly. "Can... you stay here until I text you? Just in case."

My stomach explodes with butterflies, and I gently rest my hand on her knee. It's a small touch, testing the waters, to see if she'll accept it. She does, responding by placing her own hand gently on top of mine and giving it a tiny squeeze. Fuck, I think I just came in my pants.

"Of course," I promise after a hesitant second, the words thick in my mouth from the nerves that are humming through me.  "If anything goes down, just scream. I got you."

Ava's lips curl into a playful grin, and before I can process it, she leans over and presses a light, fleeting kiss to my cheek. "My hero," she teases, her tone light and sing-songy, though the sincerity in her smile makes my heart stutter.

The spot where her lips brushed tingles, the sensation burning into my skin, into my thoughts. I swallow hard, my mind spinning with images of what it'd be like to really kiss her, to fuck her...

My pants get tight, and I twist around uncomfortably in my seat, trying to use my arm and jacket to cover myself. Ava either doesn't notice, or doesn't comment, as she grabs her stuff and heads inside. She grips her clothes from yesterday, my shirt and pants still loosely hanging from her. I watch as she goes inside, unlocking the door. Her silhouette is small and fragile as she steps out of the truck, glancing back at me before heading up the driveway. I watch, holding my breath, until she's safely inside, the front door clicking shut behind her.

I watch Ava's house intently, straining my ears to hear if she needs me. After several excruciatingly long minutes pass, my phone finally lights up in my lap. Ava's name flashes across my screen, her text a simple, "All good." The panic swirling in my stomach subsides slightly as I pull away from her house. I blow out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding and lean back in my seat, the knots in my stomach slowly uncoiling. I turn the key in the ignition, the hum of the engine filling the stillness, and ease out of her driveway.

It's a beautiful night outside, and I roll down my windows to take in the crisp autumn air, trying to calm my racing mind. However, my only thoughts are of Ava. The way she smelled, the way she felt curled up in my arms, how her lips felt on my face. How her lips would feel in other places... I realize how tight I'm holding the steering wheel, and release my grip slightly with a sigh.

How did I go from hating that preppy, stuck up bitch to... lusting over her? Does she feel the same way? I wouldn't dare initiate anything. If I just assume she also has feelings, and make a move and get rejected... I don't know if I could ever talk to her again. And that's the last thing I want.

I try my damnedest to think of anything else- anything at all, but it's pointless. Every time I try to focus on the road, on the music playing faintly through the speakers, on the chill biting at my skin, my mind drifts back to Ava. The way she speaks, the way she throws back her head when she laughs.

The drive is over in a blur, the city lights merging into one long, glowing streak. Before I know it, I'm parked outside my apartment, staring blankly at the building in front of me.

For the first time ever, I cannot wait for school tomorrow.