Zachary is sitting on my doorstep with his arms folded on his knees and his forehead resting on them. When I come to a stop right in front of him, he doesn't look up. Is he sleeping?

For a brief moment, I think of just sneaking into my apartment, pretending I've never seen him, but then I look at his tall figure, which somehow appears vulnerable and weak in this position, and something inside of me is holding me back from just leaving him behind. Maybe it's just my sympathetic and sensitive side which wants to help anyone who's suffering on this planet.

I softly shake his shoulders, causing him to flinch hard. In a heartbeat, he jumps up and looks at me with suspicion written all over his face. I instantly shy away and skeptically eye his clenched fists.

"I'm sorry. Uh...I thought you were someone else!" A little embarrassed, Zachary scratches his neck. His eyes are still slightly swollen and have dark circles around them.

"Uh... I live here?" I retort with a puzzled face. What is this all about?

"I know, I need your help!" he states with a low and numb voice.

"Huh?" I blink at him in total confusion while he nervously glances around.

"Could we talk inside? Please...," he asks feebly.

After a short hesitation, I put the keys into the lock, still a bit tipsy from all the drinks I've had and open the door. I step aside and let Zachary pass. Silently I walk through the staircase and lead him to the first floor, opening the door for him again.

For a brief moment Zachary hesitates, but then he crosses the threshold, entering my apartment. My holy place from which I try to keep all the turmoil and coldness from outside. I guess, I failed this time.

He walks straight over to the living room and sits down on the sofa. I follow him and watch him in disbelief.

How rude!

Zachary is sitting there with his arms crossed and has his eyes fixed on me.

Shouldn't he say something right now?

I lean against the door frame and face him with an expectant look.

"I need a safe place to stay!" The words are coming right out of Zachary's mouth. Without hesitation. Without batting an eyelid. As if it would be the most normal thing to ask a complete stranger to harbor him.

Is he fucking serious?

He seems to notice my doubting look since his voice softens slightly as he speaks on.

"Listen, uh...Olivia, right?" Zachary questions me.

I nod.

"I got huge problems. I don't know what you've heard when you watched our fight last week, but it's fucking serious. I know you don't know me, and you have no reason to trust me, but I can't stay at my own place right now. I would be dead within a few hours if I showed up there..." He runs his fingers through his dark, wavy hair.

I watch each of Zachary's movements intently.

"I don't have family who could help me out and I don't trust my friends to stay loyal and keep silent. The last few nights I slept in parks or on benches, but it's getting fucking cold outside. And I could use a shower too" He leans back and eyes me full of hope. Obviously, he's expecting me to talk now.

I look at him in total disbelief.

"What makes you think you can just show up here and ask me to stay?! As you said, I don't know you and I don't trust you either," I retort and raise my eyebrows.

Then I add with a whisper, "Why me?"

Zachary's face falls as he realizes I'm about to reject him. His piercing, hazel eyes look at me in desperation.

"I just thought..."

He pauses and looks down to his lap.

"Look, you saved me, and you seemed to worry about my life when you were holding my hand while we were waiting for the ambulance. That never happens to me. No one cares if I'm dead or alive...," he mumbles, still not facing me.

I sigh. Now I feel sorry for him. But I can't share my home with a stranger. A stranger who probably brings a lot of problems with him.

He looks up with a blank expression.

"I get it. Thanks anyway!" He jumps up and quickly heads for the door.

Before I know it, I hear my own voice.

"Zachary, wait!"

He stops in his tracks but doesn't turn around again.

"You can stay for a couple of nights... but you have to find shelter somewhere else in the long view!" I shake my head, still not sure what's gotten into me.

He hesitates, then turns towards me.

"Thanks, Olivia. I appreciate you helping me!" he says and adds in a whisper, "...a lot!"

"By the way, happy birthday!" he adds with a weak smile, plopping back onto the sofa and closes his eyes.

"Thanks Zachary," I reply and then furl my eyebrows. "How do you know it's my birthday today?" I question him with a confused look.

Zachary opens his eyes again and faces me in amusement.

"It's not hard to tell. You're wearing a headband with a twenty-five on it," he states and points at my head.

"Oh, yeah right..." I totally forgot about that stupid headband Hayley has put on my head.

"I'll get you a blanket, you should get some sleep," I say and quickly go into my bedroom.

As I return to the living room, he is already fast asleep.

I carefully throw the blanket over him and glance at his face. The corner of his mouth slightly tilts up as I pull the cover up to his chin. His soft breath brushes my hand and I faintly smile before I head back to my bedroom, where I collapse into bed and doze off immediately.

***

A ray of sunshine wakes me up, making me groan. I squint to the window and spot the open curtains. I must have forgotten to draw them before going to sleep yesterday and that's not the only thing I forgot as I'm still wearing my turtleneck pullover. At least I managed to slip off my skirt and tights.

With a deep sigh I grab my phone and check the time.

It's only 8am!

I sit up and start massaging my temples. Maybe I drank a little too much wine yesterday.

"Coffee!" I mumble and get up.

Sleepily and a bit hungover I scuff into the living room and jump out of my skin the moment I spot Zachary on my couch.

Oh shit!

I totally forgot about him.

He slightly moves and lets out a small snore. I cautiously creep to the kitchen unit and start cooking coffee as quietly as possible, trying not to wake him up. While the coffee is brewing, I lean against the countertop and rub my eyes with my thumb and index.

"Got one for me too?"

I flinch hard at the husky and deep voice and open my eyes.

Zachary is standing right in front of me.

Shirtless!

My gaze wanders down to his defined body. He's got quite some muscles, but not too many, and I can spot some tattoos on his body.

Damn, he looks good!

As I look up again, I find an amused smirk on Zachary's face.

"Enjoy what you see, huh?" he asks with a raised eyebrow.

How embarrassing!

"Uh... sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up," I stutter and blink nervously.

Zachary's eyes wander down my body and linger on my exposed legs. My eyes widen as I remember I'm standing here in just my pullover. Shamefaced, I tug on the hem of my sweater.

"No need to be nervous. You look quite hot yourself," Zachary states with a wink.

My cheeks start burning at his slightly saucy comment.

Is he flirting with me?

"Why are you awake so early?" I quickly change topic.

"I sleep very lightly..." He shrugs.

"So, can I get a coffee now, or do I have to cook one myself?" he asks me with a raised eyebrow and points at the freshly cooked coffee.

"Uh... sure," I mumble and turn around to get two cups out of the cabinet. I pour the aromatic, hot coffee into both and hand one over to Zachary.

Why is he making me so nervous?

Side by side we lean against the countertop, silently sipping our steamy brew. I close my eyes and soak in the heavenly scent of the fresh coffee.

As I open them again, I notice Zachary's gaze on me. He watches me absentmindedly.

"Mmh?" I shoot him a questioning look.

"Sorry, I was lost in thoughts!" Zachary answers and shakes his head as if trying to get rid of something inside his head.

"So, are you going to tell me more about your... uh... current situation, Zachary?" I ask with raised eyebrows.

Zach frowns and thinks for a moment.

"It's safer for you, if I don't tell you anything!" he then replies stony-faced.

His playful mood seems to be gone and his serious and numb expression is back. I think back to the night Zachary got into that fight in front of my window. The Zachary I saw in that night was so different to the Zachary who's standing beside me right now. I wonder if this softness was just because he was gravely wounded.

"Can I use your bathroom?" he asks me, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Sure," I reply, pointing towards the bathroom and then add with a frown, "But you have no clothes to change, right?"

"I'll just stick with the clothes I'm wearing." Zachary shrugs and turns away to walk towards my bathroom.

"Wait. I might still have some old clothes from my ex in my closet. Let me check real quick...," I say and walk over to my bedroom.

I rifle through my wardrobe and actually find a huge sweater, boxers, and gray sweatpants.

As I hand Zachary the clothes, he skeptically eyes the underwear in his hands.

"They're freshly washed, right?" he asks with a raised eyebrow.

I can't help chuckling.

"Well, Zachary, actually not. I love to have dirty, worn men's underwear in my closet," I joke and a light laughter escapes Zachary's full lips.

That's the first time I earn a loud laugh from him.

"Thanks, Olivia!" he says with an honest smile, and then walks over to the bathroom.

Before closing the door behind him, he turns around once more and adds, "And please call me Zach!"

With that he disappears into the bathroom.

While Zach is in the shower, I prepare some breakfast for us.

Nothing special, just Eggs on toast. That's all my fridge gives away currently.

Nevertheless, Zach gulps down the food as if it were the most delicious meal he has ever eaten. I watch him with an amused smile.

"Whhatt?!" he asks with his mouth full.

"Like my gourmet meal, huh?" I state and raise my eyebrow.

"It's not bad and I'm starving!" Zach replies with a shrug as he leads another fully loaded fork to his mouth.

I nod with an understanding smile and we finish our meal in silence.

I'm just loading the dishwasher as I hear Zach cursing under his breath.

I turn around and catch him wandering around the room with his hands clasped behind his head. He looks stressed, something's bothering him.

"What's the matter?" I ask him and lay aside the plate I'm holding. Zach winces and stops abruptly.

"... uh, it's nothing," he mutters and plops down on the sofa, burying his face in his hands.

I walk over to Zach and sink down on the couch beside him.

"Zach, if you want me to help you, you have to tell me what you are worried about!" I tell him in a low and serious tone.

Zach clenches his teeth and closes his eyes for a second, taking a deep breath.

"Olivia. I don't think you understand. I don't want to drag you into the shit I'm facing right now."

He turns towards me, looking straight into my eyes and his face softens a bit.

"I'm fucking thankful for your help. Seriously! But it's already dangerous enough for you if I stay here."

I sigh and nod.

"Will you at least tell me why you just cursed then?" I ask cautiously.

"I left something very important at home... and I'm not able to get it right now." He's visibly annoyed.

"But why? Did you lose your keys?" I question him.

"I told you, it's not safe there. It's the place of my dead stepdad and I'm not the only one with a key!" Zach raises his voice.

Zach's sudden anger makes me swallow and I back away from him.

"So, someone's waiting for you to show up there?" I say in a low voice.

Zach groans and nods his head.

"It's the man who tried to kill you last Sunday, right?" I whisper. I'm aware he's not willing to tell me anything about it, but I won't give in that easily.

Zach hesitates and then nods again.

"What if I get this... thing for you?" I blurt out. Once again, my mouth was faster than my mind.

What the fuck?

I can't believe these words actually came out of my mouth.

Where's the Olivia who doesn't like action, danger, and troubles?

"NO FUCKING WAY!" Zach looks at me as if I'm completely mad now.

Well, maybe I am indeed.

"Why would you do that?" Zach looks at me in complete disbelief.

"I...uh...," I stutter and pause, thinking for a second.

"I don't know, Zach. Since I watched you nearly dying, I don't want that to happen to you again! You're already here now, so why don't you let me help you then?" I then say, and I mean it. I don't know why but knowing he could get attacked once again hurts me.

For a short moment Zach looks at me with an expression I can't read, but then he quickly squints at me.

"You got to be crazy! Don't you get that you could die while helping me?" he repeats my last words and looks at me in disbelief.

"Yeah, I get that. What I don't get is why you even showed up then? What do you want from me?" I face him quizzically and shrug my shoulders.

"I don't know if that was a good idea either to be honest!" Zach replies quietly and lowers his gaze.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Then I slowly get up.

"Alright Zach. I'm in my room if you need anything."

With that I turn around and leave the room.

I sit down on the edge of my bed.

What the hell was that?

Why do I even think of getting myself in trouble again?

Well, Zachary seems to be completely alone with all his problems. Maybe I just want to make him feel that there are people who actually care about him.

I stifle a yawn. God, I'm dead tired. I decide to take a small nap and crawl into my bed. My mind wanders back over to the talk Zach and I just had and, still lost in my thoughts, I slowly doze off.

A gentle knock on my door wakes me up again. I blink and rub the sleep out of my eyes.

"Come in!" I call towards the door and sit up.

Zach opens the door and steps into my bedroom. He's fully dressed.

"I'm leaving. Thanks for everything, Olivia," he says with a tensed face and then turns on his heels.

For a short moment he hesitates but doesn't turn back around. Then he rushes off and in the next moment I hear the door getting slammed shut.

I jump up. I'm sure he is on his way to his house.

"Fuck!" I curse and with wearing just my sweatpants and a hoodie, I slip into my sneakers and leave.