After that day, Teddy subconsciously paid more attention to when Zoe came to the library to cry. It wasn't often. In her first three weeks of school, she cried in the back of the library five times. Teddy always wondered what had triggered her. Was it always her parents? Were there any students that bullied her? That couldn't be. Nobody would bully the rich and beautiful. That made no sense.

Teddy did believed that, until he witnessed it happen. He was at his locker between classes when he spotted some guy clearly flirting with Zoe. Teddy recognized him as Brett Evans, although, Zoe had no idea who he was. With his arm rested against the locker beside Zoe's head and a cocky smirk on his face, he stared down at Zoe like a predictor hunting his prey.

"You're incredibly beautiful, Zoe." Brett said for the eighth time.

Zoe awkwardly smiled and slightly cowered under his tall and dominating figure. "Thank.. you."

"You don't have a boyfriend, right? You're free game?" Brett grinned.

Zoe nibbled on her bottom lip. "No... I don't have a boyfriend."

"Interested in going on a date with me? A movie at your place sounds chill, right?"

Zoe's eyes traveled to her friends that were snickering at the locker beside her. She wanted them to rescue her from this creep but they seemed to be enjoying this scene. If they weren't trying to save her from this guy that seemed really creepy, Zoe figured maybe he wasn't as creepy as he was making himself out to be. They knew him better than she did. She figured she could at least give him the benefit of the doubt.

So, instead of embarrassing herself or Brett, Zoe remained still under his tall figure and decided to say no as politely as possible. She wasn't good at being ruthlessly blunt. It was too rude for her liking to just push him away. Also, there was always a possibility of him playing it off like a joke and turning her into the bad guy if she was too rude.

"Uhmm.. That does sound nice but my parents don't want me bringing friends into the house. We're still unpacking so they don't..." Zoe was cut off by Brett's hand grazing her jaw.

"We'll just tell them we're studying. They can't say no to quality learning time." Brett smirked.

Zoe nervously gulped and gained enough courage to move away from his hand. Zoe knew boys like Brett, and knowing his kind, she definitely didn't want to be in his bubble any longer. Unfortunately, the look on Brett's face made her instantly regret moving away from him.

Brett looked totally offended and hurt by her slightest rejection. He looked heartbroken. She wanted to tell him that it wasn't that she didn't like it, he was just coming off a bit strong. He was handsome and all. She didn't want to hurt his feelings. She wasn't a bad person. She didn't want anyone to think she was rude. But by the look on Brett's face, she wouldn't be able to recover easily.

"I-its not like I don't like you, Brett. I-it's just that-" Zoe stumbled over her words as Brett dropped his arms and backed away from her, his eyes averting as he grew upset. Zoe stomach stirred. She hated this feeling.

"I get it. Everyone's got a crush on the pretty, rich girl. Why go out with me when you've got every guy in this school drooling over you?" Brett spoke coldly, his eyes landing on hers as Zoe stood in shock at his harshness. "Just because you're rich, doesn't mean you get to walk all over everyone, Zoe. We might not be rich but we have feelings."

That was one of the days Teddy heard Zoe crying. She was obviously hurt and embarrassed that she was called out like that in front of her new friends and classmates. Teddy hated Brett more than he felt sorry for Zoe. She was obviously spineless if she couldn't just reject him and ignore his fragile masculinity. But Teddy knew there was more.

If Zoe was the typical rich and beautiful girl with no are in the world for others feelings, she wouldn't be affected by Brett. But she obviously took it to heart. She cared more than someone with endless beauty and money should.

Teddy sat quietly at the table he always sat at when it was time for lunch and waited to see if Zoe would walk into the library. When she did, he avoided eye contact until she walked passed him and then watched her disappear behind the bookshelf in his peripheral vision. Zoe slid down the wall as tears streamed down her face. She hugged her knees to her chest like usual and wiped away her tears and snot as she cried. She tried to keep quiet, as usual.

After a couple minutes, Zoe calmed and gathered herself. She suddenly spotted something stuck between the books as she laid her head on her knees. Zoe hesitantly reached for the little box silhouette and grabbed it. Her fingers came in contact with a small pack of tissues and instantly wondered how it had gotten there. Did people just lose these things? Between books? All these books were encyclopedias. Who even came back here?

Teddy suddenly shifted in his seat, catching Zoe's attention. She could see him through the gaps of the bookshelf as he sat and studied at his usual table. Looking at the pack of tissues, she wondered if Teddy was the one that put them here. Why would he? Why would Teddy Morgan, the boy I had never really spoke to, give me tissues?

Zoe stared at the back of his head as she brainstormed the odds that it was him. He was the only one that knew she sat back here so it couldn't be anybody else.

Zoe pulled open the small packet and the sound of ripping plastic caught his attention. Teddy peaked over his shoulder but not enough to meet her gaze. So it was him, Zoe thought. He was looking back to see if she was taking his gift. A smile pulled at the corner of Zoe's lips as she looked at the pack of tissues.

She figured Teddy must have a warm heart if he was helping her out. Maybe he wasn't as bitter and mean as everybody had tried to convince her whenever he came up in conversation, which wasn't really often. People just liked to grumble about him when he walked by. Even if he was, he had a soft spot somewhere inside him. If he was nothing but mean and bitter, he wouldn't have left this here for her. Right?

Zoe suddenly didn't feel so sad anymore. She felt like she had someone looking out for her, even if it was just this one time. People didn't help Zoe. Mostly because she tried to come off as perfect and stable as possible so that people didn't feel the need to help. This gesture, this kind gesture, was foreign to her.

Pushing off the floor, Zoe reluctantly walked towards the table Teddy was sat at. He was faced away from her so she could turn back any time she wanted. She couldn't deny she was nervous. But part of her wanted to thank him.

Even if he wasn't the one that helped and she ended up embarrassing herself over this, she didn't mind. It was just Teddy. What's the worst that could happen? Teddy had a million answers to that question as he felt her presence draw closer and closer to him. He silently prayed she was just walking by and not actually approaching. But the closer she got, the more he doubted she was simply leaving.

Just to be safe, Teddy grabbed his backpack and jumped up from his seat. Zoe flinched but watched as Teddy threw his backpack over his shoulder and gathered his books in his arms. She didn't want the chance to slip out of her grasp so she rushed to catch him before he bolted.

Zoe stepped in front of his path before he could take even a step away from the table. Teddy stopped, although, he was prepared to book it if she said anything he didn't want to hear. By the way she was biting her bottom lip and fidgeting with the small pack of tissues in her hand, he figured she would say exactly what he didn't want to hear. Teddy could feel his palms sweating and jaw clench as he waited for the short, blonde to speak.

"Thanks... For these..." Zoe muttered passed her racing heart and fluttering butterflies in her stomach. Her eyes were glued to the tissues, suddenly feeling too shy to make eye contact with Teddy.

To her surprise, she didn't even get the chance to make eye contact with him as she watched his feet sidestep her. Zoe spun to follow his large frame march through the library. Teddy grabbed the hood of his sweatshirt and threw it over his head as he walked off. Zoe opened her mouth to call after him but he was gone before she prepared a coherent thought.

Teddy didn't want to hear she was thankful towards him. He wasn't even being generous, he was doing it out of pity. Those were two different things he would strongly defend. In reality, he didn't even want to acknowledge that he had put those tissues there. It was a dumb decision he debated doing for longer than he'd like to admit when he should've been working and studying. It was stupid. It was nothing.

The next day was Friday. Zoe didn't show up to school. Nobody knew where she disappeared to. When Monday came around, she was nowhere to be seen. Everyone was confused and flustered at her sudden disappearance.

{ Please love and protect my baby Zoe!
She doesn't deserve all this hate and sadness!
She just wants people to like her!
Poor baby! 😭😭😭 }