H E R M I A

It's hopeless waiting for that stupid Nerdy.

The room was warm with heat and hostility. I stepped out from behind a thick velvet curtain, my jaw squared like a soldier facing execution. The music downstairs was pounding, but in that room, it felt muted under the tension now coiling around me.

Daniel turned first, eyebrows raised like someone spotting a cockroach in their cereal. His squad of four paused, all tall, smug, and high on whatever they took to boost their bravado. They all wore the same self-assured grin-like they had already won whatever game I thought I was playing.

"Hermia?" Daniel said, stretching my name like it was a fucking joke.

"Cut the theatrics," I snapped. "I know what you did. I've got it recorded. One word and the cops are crashing your party like a brick through glass."

One of the guys chuckled. The other shifted, visibly irked. Daniel just smiled.

"Sweetheart," he said, mockingly, "you really think you can walk in here, wave around some empty threat, and not get burned?"

"Try me," I said, stepping back slowly. "I make the call, and this whole building goes down. Everyone in this room gets dragged with it. Even you."

That made them hesitate. Probably not because I scared them, but because I might not be bluffing. I got him suspended after all.

Sensing my chance at escaping, I turned and made a run for it, heart hammering as I dove into the crowd downstairs, lights blurring and bodies slamming around me.

I barely had time to catch my breath before a sharp tug snatched my phone from my fingers.

I spun around, ready to unleash hell-until I saw him.

Oh, welcome.

Asshole.

"Aaron?" I said calmly despite the vile words I'd like to spit out. My chest rose and fell with disbelief however. Why would he take my phone?

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I almost yelled.

He raised both hands like a cop had caught him mid-crime. "Okay-look, you were surrounded. I needed to get your attention. I didn't want to just scream your name across the room like some movie idiot."

"So you stole my phone."

"Borrowed. Semi-stole. It's fluid!"

So now he rubs all his book knowledge in my face?

Before I could fire back, my eyes caught movement.

Upstairs.

Daniel stood at the railing, eyes cold, lips moving. He was talking to someone.

My gaze slid down to the group below, watching as two thick-necked guys peeled away from the crowd and started in our direction.

"Shit. We need to move. Now."

"Oh NOW you're listening to me?" Aaron snapped.

I grabbed his wrist and pulled the idiot who thought he could leave me behind and come back like I'd entertain him.

The guys moved fast. I ducked, pulling Aaron with me toward the back, trying to slip between people-but the bouncers had already blocked one exit. Then another guy grabbed my arm.

Bad idea.

I elbowed him sharply, twisted free, only to watch Aaron punch the second guy square in the throat.

"What the-?"

Another came at him. Aaron dodged, ducked, swept his leg. The guy dropped like a sack.

I blinked. "What was that?"

"Red belt. Taekwondo," he said breathlessly. "Told you I wasn't just a nerd."

I gawked as he flipped another guy onto a nearby couch. People screamed, some ran. The music didn't even stop.

"I've known you for some days and this never came up?"

I did stalk him a little too. You know... to know whom I was dealing with.

He shrugged. "Didn't seem relevant until now."

With one last kick that sent a man sprawling into a glass table, Aaron reached for my hand. I let him.

And we ran. For our dear lives.

The back exit finally opened up when one girl screamed "Cops!"-even though no one had called them.

They piled into the jeep, breathless, scratched, and high on adrenaline. I didn't say a word.

Not when he reversed out. Not when we hit the highway in his ridiculously comfortable jeep. Not when the noise faded into silence.

Aaron glanced over. "Hermia-"

"Don't," I cut in.

I kept my eyes on the road ahead, the tension in my jaw sharper than any insult I could've thrown.

He glanced again. My arms were crossed. To pass across the message that I didn't want to talk.

He sighed. "It was Courtney."

That made me turn, slowly. "Courtney?"

Who's Courtney?

He nodded. "A friend. " He answered even though I never asked.

Well...

"She was in trouble. I saw her-"

I let out a soft laugh that wasn't amused. "Your lovey dovey female bestie I guess."

Aaron gripped the wheel tighter. "It's not like that."

"No? Then what is it like, Nerdy? You made a plan. We had a deal. You bailed."

"I didn't bail. I-"

I laughed again, sharp. "You did. Say it."

He shook his head. "I had to-"

I unbuckled, exasperated. "Pull over."

"Hermia, c'mon."

"Now."

He slammed the brakes in the middle of nowhere. Dust rose around the jeep. I stepped out, barefoot on gravel, furious. I needed to let him know I couldn't just be helpless in front of him and he leaves without a better explanation but for another girl.

I was just too pissed and so I stomped away.

He chased after me though. And I didn't know what annoyed me more. That he left me for another girl I didn't know. Or that he refused to still leave me alone when I didn't want to see his face

"Wait!"

I spun around, very frustrated. "You left me. I needed backup and you just-"

He grabbed my wrist. The sudden contact made me lose balance and fall forward-right into his chest.

My palms landed on his shoulders. His arms instinctively finding my waist.

Time blinked out.

I looked up, and realised our faces were literally inches apart. I could fucking feel his breath, hot and heavy, tinged with adrenaline.

His hands didn't move. Neither did mine.

For a moment, everything stilled. I didn't want to think too much of those cherry lips in front of me.

Then I stepped back. More of jacked away.

"You don't get to distract me with...that."

He blinked. "With what?"

I threw him a look that could have killed. He knew too well what I was talking about. But the confused look on his face got me scoffing.
And suddenly I didn't feel as annoyed as I was initially.

"You should've told me. One text. A call. Anything. To explain."

"I'm sorry."

"Not enough."

He sighed. "Please get back in the car. My dad doesn't know I took it. If we get caught, I'm toast."

I stared him down. Then, begrudgingly, walked back and climbed in.

The ride home was... strange. Quiet.

But not just silent. It was weighted. Like something new sat between us now-something neither of us knew how to unpack. Maybe me mostly

I looked at him when he wasn't watching. I didn't like the warmth that spread through me when he finally glanced at me from the corner of his eye.
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We got to his place and I immediately got out.

Didn't say goodnight. Didn't look back.

Finally in the comfort of my room, I fell face-first onto my bed.

The silence was eating at me and I sat up eventually. I groaned a lot but ten minutes later, I sent a text.

Me: [thanks for the getaway car.]

He replied immediately. I was surprised.

Nerdy: [you're welcome. sorry again. we're still a team, right?]

I stared. He suddenly wanted to part of my crazy plans?

Me: [good luck on your exam.]

His reply came fast:

Nerdy: [with your snark echoing in my head, how can I fail?]

I laughed. Just a little won't hurt. I told myself.

But when I saw my reflection in my vanity mirror which was next to my bedside, my face was so lit up. And I stopped my smile immediately.

No way.
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The morning came with sore muscles and worse memories.

I stood at the edge of the high school pitch, cleats sinking into damp turf.

My team's coach, a weathered man with a voice like sandpaper, stared me down. He wore a baseball cap and the usual "I hate my job but love this field" expression.

"You really think you can just waltz back in, Parker?"

I hate my last name.

I stood my ground as I responded to his snide comment. "I've been training. I'm still fit."

"Not what I asked."

I inhaled. "I want back on the team. I need it."

He paused. Then nodded slowly. "Show me. Drills. Ten minutes. Go."

The whistle blew. And without minding words, I moved. Every muscle in my lame body screamed. My lungs burned.

But I kept going.

Because hockey was the only thing my dad ever praised me for. Even when he was cold, distant, and always gone-it was the one thing he showed up for.

My uncle, whom I hated the most for coming into my mom's life-also my school's principal-hadn't spoken to me since Sally's arrest.

"Sally-"

"Shh... Her friend's nearby."

Now even the cheerleaders whispered Sally's name like a warning.

Jake scoffed as I passed by him. "Killer's sidekick thinks she can play again."

I ignored him. Mostly.

The drills ended. I was panting, but still upright.

Coach grunted. "You've still got it. You want a second chance? Prove it. Practice every day. No skips. No attitude."

I nodded with what I know is a big smile. "Yes, coach!"

Later, in the hallway, the whispers still followed me. Just when I gave up on scowling at everyone who said anything, Alex appeared beside me like a ghost. "Ignore them. Your passes are still clean."

I looked over. "Thanks. I just forgot how loud the halls could be though."

He smiled. "We should head to class. I can walk with you."

I hesitated. Then nodded. It was nice. Having someone around.

At the end of the day, I found him again.

"Thanks. For earlier." I said genuinely. I was rude for no reason.

"Anytime."

We both walked toward the bus stop.

A girl bumped my shoulder. "Still hanging out with murderers, Parker?"

I smiled sweetly. "Still stuck in freshman-level makeup tutorials? That blush is crying for help."

The girl gawked. Alex chuckled.

I turned away and spotted it-Aaron's jeep across the street. My steps stopped by instinct.

Did he come to see me?

Then I remembered his school was neighbours with ours.

He was laughing. A girl sat beside him in the passenger seat I sat just last night.

I didn't know why I was interested in what was going on which was none of my business. I tilted my head, confused by the sudden tightness in my chest.

The girl noticed me, scowled, and held onto Aaron's arm. Aaron didn't see it.

I blinked so hard I feared my sockets might fall off.

Alex's voice cut in. "You okay?"

I nodded and blinked repeatedly to calm down. I turned towards Alex and smiled. "Yeah. Just fine."

By the time I looked up, our eyes met. Aaron and I. He was smiling at me and it caught me off guard.

I didn't smile back. I simply turned and walked to the bus.

Something had shifted.

And it scared me more than I wanted to admit.
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