The moment those words slipped from her lips, my mind immediately raced to the possibility of her being interested in me romantically. It was as if the air around us crackled with anticipation, and her innocent gaze only fueled my confusion. Unsure of how to respond, I found myself frozen in my seat, unable to tear my eyes away from her captivating stare.

Slowly, she withdrew her hand from my arm and rested it on her chin, her eyes never leaving mine. The silence between us grew heavy, and I struggled to find the right words to convey my thoughts. Finally, in a barely audible voice, I managed to muster a response."I appreciate the offer, but I have to decline."

Her eyes widened in surprise, and she leaned in closer, "Why not? Do you think it's because you're young?"

I shook my head, trying to find the right words to explain my decision. "That's not it, I may be only 15, but I have dreams of my own. I want to forge my own path, to build a future where I can rely on my own abilities. Becoming a bodyguard, as tempting as it may be, doesn't align with those aspirations, I would love to be a bodyguard, but unfortunately I can't, I hope you can understand my situation."

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and she leaned back slightly, processing my words. "But think about it, You'll be paid handsomely for it. Why not take advantage of such an opportunity?"

I sighed, my gaze shifting away momentarily before returning to meet hers. "It's not about the money, I know the pay would be good, but it's not enough to sway me. You see, I have my flaws. I'm still immature and childish, and I struggle with anger issues. I often lose control of myself, and I fear that these traits would make me unsuitable for the job. I used to think I was all mature and nice, but looking back, I've been pretty crappy."

She put her hand on my cheek and gently stroked it, concern evident in her eyes. "Aww honey, you need medical attention. I can help you with that. Why don't you come see me tonight in my room? I'll be staying here for a few days anyway to check up on Alice. Make sure to visit me," she said, giving me a playful wink.

My eyes widened as her touch lingered on my cheek. However, I managed to maintain my usual calm demeanor and replied, "I will let you know if I change my mind."

HELL NO! I ain't stepping foot into her room, who knows, she might try to drug me up and turn me into her little puppet or something. No way!

She smiled, clearly pleased with my response. "Good boy, think about it," she said, her voice filled with a hint of mischief.

Feeling uncomfortable and uneasy, I got up from my chair and made my way back to my room. Opening the door, I closed it behind me and lay down on my bed, deep in thought. The job as a bodyguard weighed heavily on my mind. Should I accept it or not? I pondered over the decision, trying to weigh the pros and cons.

Lost in my thoughts, I was startled by a knock on the door. The door swung open, revealing Mrs. Warner standing there. "Dinner is ready," she announced.

I don't feel like eating. I'll pass," I replied, my appetite diminished by the events of the day.

She sighed, closing the door behind her and taking a seat on my bed. Concern etched on her face, she asked, "Now what? Tell me, did something happen when you talked with Elizabeth?"

I hesitated for a moment, knowing I couldn't hide it from her. "Nothing important, we just had a small chat, you know, the usual small talk," I replied, trying to downplay the encounter.

Furrowing her eyebrows, Mrs. Warner reached out and playfully pulled my cheek. I winced in pain, causing her to stop. "Oh, I don't think so," she said, her tone indicating that she saw through my attempt to brush it off.

Letting out a sigh, I knew I couldn't keep it to myself any longer. "I've been wondering for a while now, and I can't stop thinking about it. Am I a weird person?"

She said confidently "Of course you are! You were weird ever since you were kid."

My face drooped with sadness as I lay in bed, contemplating the recent events. It was then that she playfully slapped me, her touch both gentle and teasing. "Ask someone else about it, just for confirmation," she said, her voice filled with a hint of amusement. "You are welcome to join dinner if you feel like it, and don't stress too much about it." With that, she gracefully rose from my bed, exited the room, and closed the door behind her.

I remained there, shifting restlessly in my bed, my mind consumed by thoughts of how I should act and what changes I needed to make within myself. It was no secret that I possessed an arrogant and rude demeanor, not to mention my reckless tendencies. Controlling my anger was a constant struggle, often resulting in me behaving like a wild dog that had broken free from its leash.

Lost in my thoughts, I continued to ponder, replaying the events over and over in my mind. Suddenly, a knock on my door interrupted my reverie, and before I knew it, Alice appeared in her pajamas, a radiant smile adorning her face. As always, she looked effortlessly beautiful.

Without hesitation, she jumped on my bed and began playing with my hair, her touch soothing and comforting. "I heard you've done something crazy again." she remarked.

I sighed, she must've heard from others, "You're right. I did. Anyway, are you feeling better?" I asked, genuinely concerned for her well-being.

Her smile widened, and she nodded. "Yeah, I do. I'll have you know that I'm in perfect health. The doctor was really nice; she was so sweet," she replied, her voice filled with gratitude.

I responded with a nonchalant "Uh-Huh," my mind still preoccupied with my own thoughts. Sensing my distraction, Alice's gaze shifted towards me, curiosity evident in her eyes. "So, what were you thinking about all this time? You seemed so focused that you forgot to join us for dinner," she inquired.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to express my inner turmoil. Finally, I mustered the courage to speak. "Alice, am I weird?"

She chuckled softly, her laughter filling the room. "Is that even a question? Of course, you are!" But that's not all. You can also be rude, arrogant, stubborn, and reckless."

I let out a sigh, Yeah, I guess it's time to start making some changes, but before anything else, I gotta make sure she goes back to her own room. She's in perfect health, but that doesn't mean she should be leaving her room all the time.

In a moment of concern, I swiftly gathered her fragile form into my arms, cradling her gently. "Alright, let's go to your room."

However, she resisted, her protests echoing through the room as she struggled to break free from my grasp. Despite her efforts, I held her firmly, my strength overpowering her attempts to escape. I reassured her, explaining that it was for her own well-being, but she remained defiant, refusing to accept my reasoning. It was endearing to witness her stubbornness, her determination to assert her independence.

She kept saying "No" and kicking her feet in the air, but I just smiled and let her tire herself out. It was kind of cute watching her struggle like that. I couldn't help but laugh at her feisty attitude.

After a few minutes of her valiant struggle, exhaustion finally took hold, and she surrendered, her body relaxing in defeat. With a mischievous smile, she muttered, "You jerk," a playful insult that only made me chuckle softly in response.

Understanding the importance of her recovery, I gently reminded her, "You are still recovering, so it's best if you sleep in your own room, just for tonight." She pouted, her silence speaking volumes about her reluctance to comply.

With her still nestled in my arms, I made my way towards the door, her hands were free, unlike mine, and she took it upon herself to open and close the door as we exited. I continued walking down the hallway, the weight of Alice in my arms a comforting presence.

To my surprise, a bodyguard stood guard outside her room, his posture tense but his eyes got widened when he saw Alice and then he puts his hands raised in surrender. Clearly intimidated by my presence, he stammered, "Before you whoop my ass, I am just here on duty to guard the door, nothing else."

Alice couldn't contain her amusement, her laughter filling the air and causing a flush of embarrassment to color my cheeks.

The bodyguard opened the door for me as I entered Alice's room. I carefully placed her on the bed and tucked her in with a warm blanket. Leaning down, I planted a gentle kiss on her forehead and whispered, "Good night."

As I made my way out of the room, the bodyguard stopped me in my tracks. He looked at me with a serious expression and said, "A quick question."

I thought it might be related to the doctor's meeting, I replied, "Sure, what's on your mind?"

The bodyguard hesitated for a moment before asking, "Can you tell me what the likelihood of any threats coming here is? We are new to this area, and although we're all professionals, it would be great if you could share some information with us."

I mean it, seriously, I don't think you can be considered a professional bodyguard. You got beat up by me.

I shrugged nonchalantly and responded, "Oh, there's really nothing to worry about. This town has a very low crime rate, so you don't need to be concerned about thugs or criminals. However, we do have the occasional bear or snake wandering around, so just be cautious of that."

Bodyguard nodded and thanked me. I headed towards my room, opening the door and closing it behind me. I quickly stripped off my clothes and hopped into the shower, enjoying the warm water cascading over me. After drying myself off, I wrapped a towel around my body and went to my cupboard to grab my pajamas. I then plopped down on my bed, deep in thought about whether or not I should meet the doctor. I wasn't too keen on her intentions earlier, but then Alice's face popped into my mind.

I knew she slept with me and cuddled a lot during the night. I didn't want her to feel lonely, so I decided to get up from my comfy spot, open my bedroom door, close it behind me, and make my way down the hallway. After a few minutes, I reached Alice's room, and to my surprise, the same bodyguard from earlier was still standing there like a statue. I asked him if I could go in, and he gave me the go-ahead. I cautiously opened the door, revealing Alice sound asleep. I entered the room, locked the door, and approached her bedside.

Alice looked absolutely adorable, like a little angel. I sat down on the floor, rested my head on the edge of the bed, and gently held her hand, stroking it softly. As I sat there, I pondered about what I could do to change for the better. At that moment, I made a promise to myself that I would become a better person, not for anyone else, but for Alice's sake. I was determined to completely transform myself.

I will change myself by doing small things first, there is always room for improvement and I am going to do it.

Lost in my thoughts, I eventually drifted off to sleep. When I slowly started to wake up, my vision was still blurry. After a few seconds, my eyes focused, and I realized that my hand was still intertwined with Alice's. I glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost 6 in the morning. So, I must have slept like this all night. Man, my back seriously hurts.

I yawned and tried to pull my hand away from her, but her grip was surprisingly tight. It turns out she had been awake the whole time. "Can you let go of my hand?" I asked.

She slowly opened her eyes and gave me a pleading look. "Aww, can't I hold it a little longer?"

I let out a sigh. "We can do that later, okay?" She pouted and fell silent. Leaning down, I kissed her forehead and said, "I'm off to school now. See you later."

She was clearly upset with me, but still managed to say, "Okay. Have a good day. See you later."

I smiled and got up, opened the door, closing it behind me. As I walked down the hallway, I noticed that the bodyguard wasn't standing there. I figured he must be slacking off, but I suppose he deserves some rest after standing there for so long. I entered my room, closed the door, and went about my usual routine. I brushed my teeth and took a shower at the same time, opting for a white T-shirt and blue jeans instead of my usual hoodie. I slipped into my clothes, put on my white shoes, and headed to the kitchen for breakfast.

Mrs. Taylor was already there, busy plating and setting the table. The sight of the delicious-looking pancakes made my mouth water. "Good morning, Mrs. Taylor," I greeted her. "Looks like you got up really early today."

Mrs. Taylor seemed surprised by my outfit, but she smiled and replied, "Good morning. Yes, I did. Now go and enjoy your delicious breakfast."

I removed the chair and began devouring the delicious pancakes. The conversation flowed easily as we discussed the usual topics. After breakfast, I expressed my gratitude and made my way to my room to grab my backpack before heading off to school. Upon entering the school, I made my way to the locker room to retrieve my books, only to find Dwayne occupying my usual seat in the classroom.

Approaching him, I greeted him, "Good Morning."

Dwayne's eyes widened as he replied, "Good morning. Wow, bro, you look different today."

"I thought I'd try out this outfit," I explained.

Dwayne complimented, "Yeah, it looks good on you."

I smiled in appreciation and requested, "Now, can you please take your own seat?"

Dwayne quickly complied, moving to his designated spot as I settled into mine. The teacher entered, and class proceeded as usual until it concluded at 3 PM. As I gathered my books, Dwayne approached me and suggested we walk home together. I agreed, and we made our way to the locker room.

Suddenly, a guy collided with me so hard, causing him to fall to the ground along with my scattered books. He angrily exclaimed, "Dude, watch where you're going!" I began picking up my books, preparing for a confrontation.

Dwyane was about to hold my arm, but before he could speak, I quickly apologized, "I am so sorry. It was my fault." The guy got up on his feet, scoffed, and walked away.

I held my books tightly in my arms as Dwyane and I exchanged a nervous glance. He swallowed a lump in his throat and asked, "Are you feeling okay?"

I nodded slightly, indicating that I was fine. We both put our books in our lockers and began walking home. Neither of us attempted to make conversation, and Dwyane's persistent stare made me uneasy. I finally spoke up, "Are you okay? You've been staring at me for a while. Is there something wrong?"

Dwyane stopped in his tracks, leaned in closer, and scrutinized my face. His sudden intensity sent a shiver down my spine. "I knew it," he muttered, "I'm calling the cops."

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Q1. Any thoughts on this chapter? I would like to know what you guys think.