One and a half month had gone by since she begun living with Daniel, and during that time spam, he helped her through everything. Comforting her when she needed him, constantly there for her, helping her build up her trust and confidence from the ground up, showing her what it meant to live, and just over all, helping her be happy.

And part of his happiness-program was to get her a part-time job. He told her to go and find something she would enjoy doing and see if she was eligible to work there. Both of them coming together at the end of the day to talk about the things that made her happy and the progress she has made.

"An animal groomer?" Daniel stated in amusement and looked at the girl beside him with a raised eyebrow. "Out of all the jobs in the area, you chose this?"

"Well, I love animals, and this would give me a chance to interact with them," She informed after swallowing her food.

"What's the name of the shop?"

"Pooches and Purrs."

"Pooches and-" Daniel started before chuckling. "What do you have to do?"

"I am the caretaker," Tessa grinned with pride. "I feed, bathe, groom, and take the dogs out for walks."

"Right, of course," He chuckled at his question. "And how long do you work?"

"The shop opens at seven a.m. and closes at seven p.m," Tessa explained. "And I have a five-hour shift in which I take of the pets. So I work from ten to three. But Janice said that this is the arrangement for the summer. What did she mean by that?"

"She means that this is the arrangement until school re-opens,"

"But I don't go to a school," She spoke in confusion, her eyebrows knitting together. "I should let them know at work,"

"No, that's not necessary," Daniel shook his head and took another bite of the pasta. "Since we're already on the topic of school, it's as great a time as any to bring it up,"

"Bring what up?"

"What are your thoughts on high school?"

"Don't know, never been to one."

"I mean," Daniel chuckled at her response, finding this girl just so damn amusing and adorable as he ruffled her hair. "What do you think about going to a high school? Here, in Baltimore?"

"Oh! You mean attending one?"

"Yeah,"

"I don't know..."

"You're gonna be, what? A senior? I think you have the education level of a senior. So its just one year of high school and then off to college or university with you,"

"Uni-university?"

"Yeah,"

"I-I never really thought about it,"

"I think it's a good time to think about it, don't you?"

"I...I don't know,"

"It's alright," Daniel assured with a smile and grabbed the plates from the table, heading into the kitchen. "Just think about it, okay? Then let me know what you decide,"

Tessa remained seated at the table after their conversation, fidgeting with her fingers as the sound of the water running surrounded her and the smell of the lemon dish soap drifted through the air. Swallowing thickly, she stood up from her place and made her way into her room, closing the door behind her and knowing she needed time on her own.

Daniel turned in time to see the door closing and let out a heavy sigh, bracing the edge of the sink and shook his head.

"Welcome to Pooches and Purrs," The receptionist behind the desk greeted. "How may I help you?"

"Hello," The woman greeted in response and tugged her German Shepherd forward. "We have a grooming appointment under the name of Clark."

"Ah! Yes, Ms. Clark." The receptionist, Janice, nodded in confirmation. "If you'd hand me your dog, I'll take him back to get groomed."

"Thank you." Ms. Clark smiled as she handed the leash over.

Janice led the dog down the hall and towards a room where Tessa stood washing a little Labrador puppy with two other people either trimming their fur or blow drying.

"Guys, new customer." Janice smiled as she let the German Shepherd trot inside.

"Well, here you are," Tessa grunted as she picked up the drenched puppy, wrapping it in a towel before handing him over to the boy who was trimming their fur and nails.

"Thanks." He grinned before taking the puppy. "Well, aren't you adorable?"

"Now, let's see here." Tessa smiled at the dog before her. "What's your name?" She asked quietly while taking a look at his dog collar.

"Hello, Duke."

"The fourth Duke this morning." The girl who was blow drying laughed.

"It's a popular name." The boy spoke as he trimmed the puppy's nails.

"Now, come here." Tessa took the dog over to the washing station, about to lift him up.

"Are you sure you can handle such a big guy?" The boy asked teasingly from his station.

"Ha-ha, very funny, Jeremy."

"Just saying. Those arms don't look like they have a lot of strength in them."

Tessa rolled her eyes before heaving the dog onto the counter.

Removing his leash, she picked up the shower head and started on washing away the dirt and grime from the canine's fur. Making weird baby sounds as she lathered the shampoo. Washing it away, she let him trot over to Jeremy, who was handing the Labrador to Annie.

Soon, lunchtime rolled around and the three were just wrapping up the end of their shift as they went into their respective changing rooms to shower.

Annie and Tessa stepped out laughing as Jeremy joined them, smiling at his phone screen.

"Your girl?" Annie teased with a nudge of her shoulder as he nodded rather bashfully.

"You guys up for some lunch? I'm starving." Jeremy asked, looking at the two girls beside him.

"I'm in." Annie agreed. "What about you, Tessa?"

"Sure." She spoke with a wide grin, realizing that she had just made some friends.

The three of them walked down the street and towards a nearby cafe as they talked, Jeremy and Annie getting to know Tessa as she was the newest member at work.

As she spent more and more time with them, Tessa realized that Jeremy was quite the likable character. He cracked jokes and loved to laugh, enthusiastic and optimistic, rather refreshing addition to Tessa's new social life. Annie, on the other hand, was like the mother. Pulling disgusted faces at their sweet meals and drinks, stating how something healthy is a lot better than whatever they were having.

"What high school do you guys go to?" Tessa asked after a bite of her cake.

"I go to Western High School," Annie informed, ready to take another forkful of her salad.

Jeremy had just opened his mouth to give the name of his high school when a sudden voice bellowed from behind them.

"Get down!" Someone yelled followed by a woman's frightened scream piercing the air as everyone fell to the floor. Annie pulling Tessa down with her, all three of them covering their heads as she glanced up to watch a man in the police uniform run after a burglar.

She watched as the officer jumped onto a bench, pushing himself off the back and tackling the thief, sending both of them toppling to the pavement. From what Tessa could see, the landing was a painful one. Reinforcement was close behind as the officer fished out a pair of handcuffs, slapping them against the perpetrator's wrists before getting to his feet, pulling the man up as well.

"Wow." She heard Annie whisper from beside her as they both watched the officer hand the man over to two of his partners, more detectives bustling about. The one before them clutched at his shoulder in pain, seemingly having had a mishap during his landing.

"I have never seen police run down from up close," Jeremy whispered before everyone slowly started to get up, people applauding the officers as most of them smiled and took off their caps.

Meanwhile, Annie and Tessa watched the main officer and another one walk a little further away, noticing that he was hurt. They both hissed in pain when they saw the officer put his partner's shoulder back into place, no sound escaping him besides the visible tenseness of his body.

"Ow." They both groaned as the officer still held his shoulder, wiping away at his mouth.

He suddenly turned around, ready to head back when Tessa's breath stuck in her throat. Recognizing Daniel's disheveled appearance as he walked side by side another woman who patted him on the back.

"Damn, he's hot," Annie exclaimed while fanning herself.

Quietly, Tessa took out her phone, opening her contacts she held it to her ear, listening to the line ring. She watched Daniel take out his mobile from his back pocket before placing it to his ear, balancing it between his shoulders as he grabbed a water bottle handed to him.

"Hello, Bambi." He spoke into the phone with a teasing smile, completely unaware that Tessa was actually across the street.

"That must have been quite a painful landing," Tessa spoke softly, watching him tense before looking around. "You seem to have dislocated your shoulder."

"Where are you?" He asked, still looking around in search for her.

"Across the street."

Instantly, his rapid turning stopped as he turned around, catching sight of Tessa before a chuckle escaped him. His gaze shifted to the woman next to him before he turned back to look at her, giving her a smirk before bringing the phone to his lips.

"See you at home, Bambi." He smirked before ending the call, sparing a last glance towards her before leaving with the rest of the team.

Tessa watched him and the rest of the officers walked away, most of them patting Daniel on the back, all of them disappearing behind the corner.

"Tessa?" A voice behind startled her as she whirled around to see Annie and Jeremy looking at her with amusement. "You okay?"

"I'm fine." She assured before settling down in her seat.

"Hmm..." Annie hummed as she leaned onto the table. "Wanna know what I think, Jeremy?"

"Please do enlighten us, oh great and wise Annie."

"I think Tessa here, has an itty bitty crush."

"On whom?" She burst in aghast as Jeremy threw back his head with laughter.

"That hot police officer we had been watching," Annie smirked. "Damn, girl. Talk about love at first sight."

"I do not love him!" She denied with a bright red face. "I was just worried if he was okay, he looked kind of -"

"Smoking?" Annie interjected with an eyebrow wiggle.

"-hurt." Tessa finished as Jeremy was still laughing.

"Deny all you want, Teddy." He finally joined in, wrapping his arms around Tessa's shoulders as they stood up to leave. "But that face says it all."

Tessa simply rolled her eyes before they started walking away, the two talking about how cool it all was, the way the police officer jumped onto the bench and tackled the burglar onto the floor, having him in handcuffs within thirty seconds. Their enthusiasm rubbed off on her as she joined in their conversation.

"I would love me a police officer like that," Annie admitted confidently.

"But would he want you?" Jeremy teased as Annie shoved him away, sending him and Tessa into a laughing fit at her expression.

They continued to walk and talk in comfort before Tessa's apartment complex arrived, waving farewell to the two, she watched them go their separate ways before she went up to the sixth floor.

Arriving at the door, she opened it before closing it silently. Dropping her bag and keys onto the counter, she was heading for a shower, when she noticed the washroom door to be slightly ajar and steam was coming out of the crack.

Pushing the door open she was surprised to see Daniel standing before the mirror. His hair wet from his recent shower as he stood in nothing more than a pair of low hanging sweatpants. The thing that instantly captured Tessa's attention, though, wasn't his toned upper body or the Celtic dragon snaking around his bicep, but his wounded shoulder.

Apparently, his shoulder took most of the damage by having rubbed against the gravel upon his fall, and now the skin was torn and raw.

"You're hurt." She exclaimed quietly as Daniel's concentration broke, giving a startled jump at the suddenness of her voice.

"Jesus Christ!" He exhaled, bracing the sink as he looked down before turning his gaze towards her. "You scared me."

"Let me help you."

"I didn't hear you come in," Daniel stated, ignoring her request and acting completely nonchalant as if though the skin of his shoulder wasn't torn and bleeding.

"Daniel, you're bleeding."

"I'm alright." He waved off dismissively as he washed his hands in the basin.

"You're in pain," Tessa stated bluntly as he tensed. "I know pain when I see it. Be it on the surface or suppressed, I think you're forgetting what I have been throu-"

"-I am not forgetting that, Tessa." He cut her off sharply, slamming his palm against the porcelain of the sink. "I am not forgetting that." He stated more calmly, having noticed the startled jump she gave.

Both of them stood in silence for a moment, Tessa watched as he ran a hand through his hair before he bent down, opening the cabinets and retrieving a first aid kit, holding it out to her. She stepped forward, grabbing it before watching him sit down on the closed toilet lid, his back turned towards her.

Setting the kit down, Tessa worked on cleaning the wound with antiseptic wipes, both of them quite as she wrapped his shoulder, asking him if it was too tight. He only responded with a shake of his head before she pulled away. Suddenly he stood to his towering height before muttering thanks under his breath. He marched out the washroom and made his way down the hall to his bedroom, closing the door with a loud bang which had Tessa jump.

Cleaning up, she decided on taking a shower before starting on dinner. Stepping out, she got changed into a nightshirt and shorts before heading for the kitchen. Once the food was plated up and set on the table, she waited a moment before walking down the hallway and towards Daniel's bedroom.

Feebly, she knocked on the door, awaiting a response.

"Daniel? I made dinner." She called out, hearing nothing in reply. She assumed him to be asleep and so decided to walk away, before hearing the unambiguous sound of feet against wooden flooring, and that was when she knew he didn't want to talk to her. Swallowing thickly, she decided to try and eat something, but couldn't bring herself to swallow with the knots in her stomach.

Pushing away from the table, she stood up and marched back to Daniel's bedroom. The apprehension in her system was so overwhelming that she didn't bother to knock and simply barged inside his bedroom, seeing him sprawled over his bed before his head shot up at her entrance.

"Are you angry at me?" Tessa asked, panic in her eyes as she fidgeted with her fingers. "Did I do something wrong?"

"What?" Daniel spoke in confusion, sitting up straight as he looked at her. "No, I'm not angry, why would you think that?"

"Because you didn't say anything while I was patching your shoulder, you banged the door, and didn't respond when I called you for dinner."

"Tessa..." He trailed gently, beckoning her forward. "Come here."

Doing as told, she kneeled on his mattress as he chuckled at her.

"I'm not angry. I didn't say anything to you while you were patching up my shoulder because I was thinking about a case, I accidentally closed the door too loud and I never heard you call me for dinner. You must have knocked at the time I had earphones on."

"So...you're not angry?"

"No, Bambi." He reassured her with a ruffle of her hair before he flopped back on his bed. "I could never be angry with you."

Tessa's body slumped in relief as those words left his mouth.

"You look exhausted, come lie down."

It didn't occur to her, but after Daniel mentioned it, she did feel drained. She realized that a job and socializing with friends is rather exhausting. Heaving a heavy breath, she crawled higher on his bed before resting her head on his pillow, facing the side of his face as he was looking up, seemingly lost in thought.

"Daniel..." She called out softly as he hummed in response. "I thought about what you said."

"About what?" He asked, turning to face her.

Inhaling deeply, she avoided his gaze for a moment, looking at his lips, the cut on his lower lip to be more specific. However, she soon had to look into his eyes again as he was patiently waiting for her response.

"I'd like to go to high school."