Buckle up!

I should've reacted quicker. I've watched enough You to know that this pervert was about to create our love story, our fairytale. Soon he'd have me walking into a bookstore, into he's cage and eventually whacking me in the head. I did not need a book written by me.

I was busy deciding whether to scream/shout or grab my phone and call Chief Naomi, when a strange feeling overcame me.

Familiarity. It was familiarity. I looked closer and suddenly understood why.

It was Harry.

I found it ironic that the reason I could identify him was because of his hoodie. It wasn't his features because he stood in a shadow, his face barely visible. It was because I'd seen him the first day I'd seen the school, walking into school with his grey hoodie. I hadn't realized that I'd come to identify him by his figure rather than his face.

His phone turned black. Now that I knew who he was, he seemed to be gesturing something. His finger pointed at me and then to himself.

If there was a time I hated myself for not being good at charades, now was it. When it was clear I wasn't getting it, he unlocked his phone. A few seconds later, my phone vibrated.

No freaking way.

I had tossed my phone on my bed, hoping to avoid it. No doubt there were articles about what had happened. Ever since the incident with Harry, Ridgeway was officially on the map. Besides that though, I expected my friends would be checking up on me. Recent and those I left behind.

And as I predicted, when I unlocked it there were quite a few messages but one in particular was from an unknown number.

'Can I come in?'

Is he mad? My eyes wondered to my door, thinking about where my dad, mom and brother would be right now. I shook my head, then remembering that he couldn't see me, I sent a message.

Then I paused. Should I let him come in? Should I be a little flirtatious, sassy even? Should I just say no, too dangerous? God, why was messaging your crush so hard?!

'I'm not sure how you'd come in.' I decided. I moved back to the window to see him reading my message.

Vibrate. 'So yes?'

Did I mean yes? I looked between him and my door, struggling to figure out how he'd get here without being seen. That, and that alone, was the only thing stopping me from figuring out whether I actually want him to come in or not.

When I looked back he had crossed the street. My eyes widened as he hopped the waist high fence without so much as a sound. Then he briskly walked to the side of the house.

The exterior was that of a typical Victorian house minus the porch. The second storey had a wraparound balcony, slanted downwards, separating the bricked wall. Other than that, there was nothing. Nothing for him to climb up on.

And yet he did. I watched as he found gaps that weren't there, his fingers wedging into slight gaps. His shoes barely made a noise as he hauled himself up a storey and onto the balcony, pulling himself up.

Then he was crouching on his heels in front of my window. In front of me.

What in the 'never have I ever'...

And that's how we stood. Looking back on it, I have no idea how he had the strength to do all that and then just wait for me. Me, in my dumb moments of moments, took a few minutes to figure out I should open the window for him.

I mean he was already here, after all.

I backed up off my bed as he climbed through the window, careful to not dirty my comforter with his sneakers before settling softly on the floor.

Harry Malakai was in my room.

Yeah, remember when I didn't care how my room looked and just wanted some time alone? Now I cared.

My eyes ran over my room trying to see anything that would warrant my embarrassment. The walls were a light blue with a white feature wall but you couldn't see it now. LED lights ran along the corners of the room, bathing it in random colors. My mother had seen a video somewhere and placed cotton over the lights so it was almost like the colors came from the heavens.

My bed was a slight mess with me running between my phone and window. The table against the feature wall across from the window was sprayed with notes, a calendar, journals, candles and a few precious stones. I wondered if Harry knew why there were candles and gems on my table. Then there was the mirror, my bag and the walk-in closet which was closed.

My room was spacious but it seemed full now with the tall, brown-haired boy standing in the middle of it. When I scanned his face I realized he too was looking at me.

Was it fair for me to say that it was then when the fact settled in? Every interaction I'd had with Harry was a bit unusual but only two came to mind. The fantasy and the shooting.

I wondered what he would say. Would he ask if I was okay? I searched those eyes that were always alight with some hidden emotion. No, he wasn't predictable. He wasn't talkative either but here he was, someone who had walked and climbed through my window.

Sigh. That's a girls dream, right?

He watched me, seemingly figuring out what to say too. He seemed to be healing nicely, the bruises almost completely faded.

"I'm sorry about this." He waved his hand gesturing to what happened just now. His voice was just that above a whisper. "I just... I just wanted to see you."

My face felt a little warmer as I held a smile back. "As you can see, I'm pretty much fine."

I'm not sure how he took my words but his eyes scanned my entire body so fast I almost didn't catch it. I wonder which fine he was thinking of. 

We stood so close to one another, barely breathing. I probably looked horrible having cried so many times today and yet I didn't care. All that mattered was that he had somehow done all this.

I'd never allowed Becket inside my room, not even once. Not that I was thinking of him but just to grasp why I felt the way I did. It was new. It was Harry.

"I'm sorry," He apologized softly once more. ", for how your first days started."

I searched his eyes. Was he teasing? Or was he geniune? "Oh, I know what I was in for when I moved."

His eyebrow raised. It was so strange seeing an actual facial expression on Harry besides his emotionless face. It felt like only I'd known this side of him.

"You knew of me before you came?" He assumed and because he did, I couldn't help the smile that grew.

"No, the reason I came is because of the crime. I guess you could say that." Is that one of his fears? That I'd just be trying to solve the mystery of Harry Malakai? Please. If only my hormones allowed me the luxury or time.

He nodded though the energy around him told me he had relaxed. Wait, could I read him now? "Right, your father is the new lawyer they brought in."

Now it was my turn to be surprised. "You stalking me, Mr Malakai?"

He seemed amused as if he were too a You fan.

"You stalk me from across the street, somehow have my number and even know my father." I don't know why but his amused expression seemed to anger me, my body jabbing my finger against his chest. "You probably know my brother is here too, don't you?"

He opened his mouth, probably to defend himself when footsteps treaded down the hallway. I held a finger against his lips, which shocked him more than me.

I twirled away from him and walked to my phone. I quickly unlocked it and found a somewhat sad playlist. I placed the volume low enough to not wake anyone up but also be heard from the doorway if anyone decided to listen.

Needy by Ariana Grande filled the room.

I whirled back to Harry to find him staring at the ceiling. It took a second to realize he was also listening.

"I do actually know your brother is here." His voice was loud enough to have a slight rumble in it, which did not help my nerves. "But no, I'm not stalking you."

My anger was still present as I walked up to him and pressed my chest against his, looking up at him. "Don't. Ever. Do. That. Again."

He didn't move at all, just meeting my gaze. He seemed to know exactly what I was talking about: standing in front of Jace's gun.

I thought he would say something like he did it for us or, maybe, me. He saved us but he didn't. Instead he sighed, his breath fanning my face.

"I won't." He promised, his hand slipping into mine and pressing it against his chest so I could feel his heart hammering.