Finishing up the last few words for my college semester exams, my phone began to chime, signaling my mom was calling. Quickly, I rushed the last few words out onto the page and got on the phone with her, assuming a more comfortable position in my desk chair.

"Hey mama." I breathed out, running my free hand through my locks.

"Ambris! You haven't called enough! I was worried."

"Well that's so surprise." I joked. "Just finished up semester exams."

"Oh, good. What's your paper about?" She asked curiously, rustling around a bit on the other side. I spun my chair to face the computer and read into the phone.

"The inclusive studies about Orbital Disposal and how our ecosystem could soon be affected." Wow. That sounded a lot less boring in my head.

"Cool, cool. Are you safe?" She worriedly changed the subject.

"Uh, yeah mama, I'm fine. What's the occasion?"

"Well I heard about the whole gang thing happening over at that mall by where you live and I just wanted to make sure you weren't hurt." The words slowly drifting out of her mouth as if it were bad news.

"Oh um. Yeah, I'm all good. I uh-I haven't even heard about that yet." I lied, picking at my watch.

"Stay safe!! I gotta go darling. I love you!" She then made a 'mwah' noise through the phone. "Call more!!"

"Okay mama! I love you too."

The three beeps symbolized the conversation was over and I plopped my phone back on the desk, sending my paper electronically into my professor. I arose from the chair and lazily dragged myself into the kitchen. Boiling a kettle of water, I carefully placed two green tea bags in until they were soaked and then carried myself back to the computer to surround myself with lazy day music. Slow beats poured out of the speakers and I swayed with the words in rhythm. Everything seemed to slow down and be brighter. I loved entering this state of peace and quietness. The aroma of tea faintly trickled into the room as slowly as the music and I breathed it in. I curtsied to an invisible dance partner, giggling while doing so.

"Monsieur?" I spoke audibly, asking a made up dance partner to dance.

"Madam?"

My whole body jumped and a quiet shrill scream escaped my lips. His chocolate eyes met mine, startling me to a familiar extent.

"Cute little dance you did there." He chuckled, crossing his bare arms. I noticed an eccentric tattoo flowing across his forearm but decided there were better things at hand. Pun intended.

"What were you thinking!" I yelled at him, all music drowning out along with my sense of state. "You could've gotten killed! You're so stupid!"

"Um, no, Ambris. I'm not stupid. I'm a criminal we do these things." He snapped back, a sense of agitation welling up in his expression.

I sighed and clutched my hair with one hand, releasing it to fall over my shoulders once more.

"So what do you need?" I asked, partly sick of his presence. He strolled around the living room a little, shoes tapping the floor as he inspected pictures on the walls.

"Green tea." He smirked. "And also a quick chat."

At the sound of his words I trailed off into the kitchen, pouring each of us a glass of tea and returning back to the kitchen. We sat on the love seat, sipping away at drinks until he spoke.

"Last time I was in here you didn't have near as many pictures." He spoke and sipped. I furrowed my eyebrows, eyes fixated on one picture in particular.

"A hobby I guess. Now I know you're not here to talk about my walls." I rushed him.

"Oh, got me there smarty pants." He snapped in fake defeat. "First, I got you a little something, it's down the hall on your bed." My mind pondered how long Brendon had been in my house and I decided I didn't want to know. "Second, you won't be seeing me for a while, so I just wanted to check up on you and stuff..."

I glanced into his tempting eyes and smiled. "You're... leaving?" I asked, silently wondering for how long.

"Did I stutter, doll face?" He chuckled, setting his tea on the table and arising from the cushion next to me. "Cali, baby. Got some bidness to reckon with. Don't be a stranger, alright?" He paced himself towards the door. I sipped tea, partly glad he was leaving. "And don't think I will."

With a wink he carried himself through my front door. Surprised the idiot doesn't get noticed. He must know by now who lives next to me. Sheriff Liddel would rip him apart. I cleaned out both tea cups and wondered to myself.

I got you a little something, it's down the hall on your bed.

After minutes upon minutes of switching from "Don't do it it's probably a test or he's gonna kill me or there's a snake or I migh-" to "....You know you wanna know what he left you." My brain was all tied up in a mess.

With cautious feet, I tiptoed to my bedroom, my mind screaming at me to not be stupid. I peered around the corner to find a thin black box placed on the edge of my grey comforter, my name figuratively written all over it. It called me forth, beckoning me to lift the lip and peer the contents inside.

'It can't be that bad Ambris.'

I straightened my back, pushed out all silly doubts, and confidently stood before the box. It was sleek. Matte, with silver branding on the middle. My hands enticed themselves around the edge, slowly uncovering the hidden gift.

On top of black fabric a note read 'You seemed to like this -B.U.'

I was stunned as my excited hands unboxed the dress, holding it before me. The price tag dangling from the neck read '$899.99' and my mouth widened even more.

My mind jumped several spaces as I stared out the window at the illustrious criminal who carelessly strolled the streets.