December 11th, 2019
Morningside Park: Tessa's P.O.V.

It was a beautiful day. I was almost done with my first semester at Barnard College and everything was going great. It is 5:30 in the evening and I am just casually walking through Morningside Park for an evening stroll. I was just walking up one of the staircases when someone grabbed me. I was restrained in a chokehold and I saw two other men approaching. One of them helped his friend in restraining me while the other pulled out a knife. They began rummaging through my pockets but they didn't find anything. But then the leader tried to take my phone. I held on to it tightly, refusing to let go.

"GIMME YOUR PHONE!" The mugger demanded.

I quickly bit his hand as hard as I could. When I released him, I saw that he was bleeding. One of the other men released their grip to give the knife back to his boss. The leader of the muggers retrieved his knife and glared at me. I knew that the end was near. I was about to be murdered for defending myself.

(Meanwhile)

*Dante's P.O.V.*

I was just walking through Morningside Park, enjoying this beautiful day. But then I heard someone screaming from nearby.

"GIVE ME YOUR PHONE!"

Whoever was screaming didn't sound happy.

I immediately ran towards the source of the angry yell. As I got closer, I saw that a young 18 year old woman was being robbed by three men. The leader was holding his hand where she bit him, and I saw the anger in his eyes when he retrieved his knife. I knew that I had to act fast.

*Tessa's POV*

I had just bitten the mugger's hand, but that only made him angry. While he backed away and held his injured hand, I looked up the stairs and spotted someone watching us. It was a young man who seemed to around 18 years old and he was brutally handsome. He stood 6 foot 4 inches tall, and was very muscular. His eyes were a dashing blue, and his sand-blonde hair was quite spiky. He was wearing a black button-up shirt, dark denim jeans with a black leather belt and black leather boots. He also had a red Fairy tattoo on the right side of his chest and a silver cross around his neck.

I didn't want to die. Hoping to get his attention, I called out to him.

"HELP ME! I'M BEING ROBBED!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, pleading for help.

Suddenly, the young man barged down the stairs at full speed.

"Hang on! I'm coming!" He called out.

The leader of the muggers retrieved his knife and was about to stab me in the chest. His knife was aiming straight for my heart. But then the stranger leaps into the air and flies towards the leader of the men who are trying to rob me.

"Get your hands off of her!" He yelled angrily, as he hits the mugger in the face with a Flying Dragon Kick.

He hit the robber with enough force to send him stumbling towards another staircase. While the dazed robber shook his head and regained his bearings, the other man launches another attack. I watched in amazement as he smashes his elbow into the robber's face.

After this, he hits the other man with a Roundhouse Kick before jumping up off of the ground and smashes his right knee into the side of the other man's head.

"Get outta here!" he yelled as his right knee smashed into the side of the robber's head.

The blow was packed with enough force to send the robber bouncing down the stony staircase. The other men let go of me and went after him. But this mysterious stranger leaps right over them and corkscrews through the air before landing in front of me. Before the robbers could react, the stranger runs towards them and sends my attackers tumbling down the stairs with a powerful Dropkick.

"Begone!" He yelled.

As his feet collided with the other men's backs, my rescuer backflips away from the staircase while the robbers bounced down to the bottom where their boss was waiting. The young man turned around and approached me. At first, I was afraid, but he laid a gentle hand on my shoulder.

"It's okay. I'm not gonna hurt you. You're safe now." He said.

I felt reassured as his eyes sparkled. I felt mesmorized by his well built muscles. I could see his abs and pecs through his shirt, and his biceps were huge.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I'm Dante Hasselhoff." The young man answered.

Suddenly, he jerks his head towards the bottom of the stairs. I followed his gaze and saw that the robbers had gotten back up and were running towards us. Dante ran to the edge of the stairs and got into a fighting stance.

"Go! Save yourself!" He said.

"Are you crazy? I'm not gonna let you get killed!" I replied.

Dante looked at me with urgency

"I'll hold them off! Just go! Run!" He said, as he prepared for a fight.

I wanted to take his advise, but my heart told me to stay with him.

One of my assailants tried to attack, but Dante was ready. He sent one of the muggers tumbling back down to the bottom of the stairs with a blow from the palm of his left hand.

"SEIYA!"

He launched his left leg into a Snap Kick and sends one of the other men falling back down the steps.

"SOREI!"

As the leader came closer, he thrusted his left arm forward and tried to stab Dante. But he caught the robber's wrist with his right hand. He drags him to the top of the stairs before going into a Twist Kick.

"HI-YAH!"

The blow lands on the side of the robber's neck and knocks him down to the ground. Dante turns his attention back to me.

"Come with me if you want to live." He said.

I took his hand in my own and we ran back to the top of the stairs, but the robbers were right behind us. As we came to a parking lot, he led me to a silver car.

"Get in." He said.

I got into his car and buckled up as he fired up the engine. As Dante put his car into gear, the robbers were closing in.

"Hang on." He said, as he pushed the accelerator down as far as it could go.

The car's engine roared as we left the parking lot with the tires screeching loudly. Dante drove out of the park at a high rate of speed and came into the city where he began to slow down.

"Don't worry, I'm here to help you. I can lose those jokers." He said.

"Thank you, Dante. I'm Tessa Rane Majors. But you can call me Tess." I replied, smiling.

I may have only just met Dante, but I like him. He is quite cute, and with those muscles, I bet any girl would be lucky to be his girlfriend. My heart was racing, and I couldn't bear looking away. I just stared at Dante and admired him as he drove through the streets of Manhattan.

"They're back." He said.

I looked in the rearview mirror and saw a red 1998 Ferrari F355 driving behind us.

It was being driven by the same men who tried to rob me.

"Geez, they are relentless aren't they?" I asked.

"Don't worry, I have a plan." Dante answered.

*Dante's POV*

I began picking up speed as I noticed that those blasted muggers were back. To make things worse, they stole someone else's car. Luckily, I knew the state of New York like the back of my hand. I raced through the streets of Manhattan with Tessa's assailants in hot pursuit. I was not about to let her get hurt. As we came to an alleyway, I slammed on the brakes and drifted into it. The robbers were not far behind. It wasn't long before we arrived at a refinery, and I had an idea. There was a dried up canal not too far away, and I could easily lose them there.

"They're still after us!" Tess said.

"I know. But I know every inch of New York like the back of my hand. So I know where we're going, and I can easily lose these guys." I replied confidently.

Soon, we arrived at the canal and drove right into it.

"Are you crazy?" Tess asked.

"Relax, Tess. They won't be following us for long. Look." I answered, as I pointed at a ramp up ahead.

"You've gotta be kidding me. Can we make it?" Tess asked.

"Yes. I designed this baby with my own two hands. So she's got some tricks up her sleeves. Watch this." I answered, as I popped open a lid on the clutch which revealed a hidden button.

Tess looked at me in surprise, but I had no time to explain.

"Nitrous oxide, engage!" I said, as I pressed the red button with my thumb.

My car drove faster than its own top speed as we went over the ramp and sailed off into the air.

"YEEEE-HAW!" I screamed joyfully, as we flew over the edge of the canal and landed on a road which led to a freeway. I looked into my rearview mirror and smiled confidently. We gave those suckers the slip.

As I slowed down, I looked at Tess, and she smiled at me.

"Wow. That was amazing. Where did you learn to do that?" Tess asked.

"I used to be a racecar driver, and every track I raced on had sick jumps, and crazy death defying stunts. Including loop-de-loops, and rings of fire. I was known as The Destroyer because I always tore up the tracks and annihilated the competition like it was nothing. I even have my own race track at home which I use to relive my days as a racing champion." I answered.

"Whoa. That's so cool. My family and I will have to come and watch you some time." Tess replied.

We reached Tessa's house by nightfall. As Tess climbed out of my car, she walked around to the driver's side and leaned in through the window.

"I can't thank you enough for saving me." She said.

As Tess began smiling, my heart melted. She was the sweetest lady I have ever met. Her smile was ever so beautiful, her blonde hair was very soft, and her gorgeous hazel eyes were mesmerizing. I smiled back.

"No problem Tess. But you must be more careful next time." I said.

"I have a performance coming up this weekend. And I'll be saving a front row seat just for you." She said.

"Thank you Tess. And ya know what? I have a performance that same day." I replied.

"Really?" Tess asked.

"Yes. And I'm gonna reserve front row seats for you and your family. My performance is right after yours." I answered.

"Well, then I look forward to hearing you sing." Tess replied.

She waved to me and I waved back as I pulled out of her driveway and drove home.

*Tessa's POV*

I smiled happily as I watched Dante leave. As I went inside, my mother greeted me with a bear hug.

"Tess! You're okay!" She said.

"Calm down, mom. I'm fine. My new friend saved me at Morningside Park. He's also the one who brought me home." I said.

"Really? What's his name?" My father asked.

"All I know so far is that his name is Dante Hasselhoff. And he's a former championship racecar driver." I answered.

"Wait, you mean you've just become friends with Dante Hasselhoff?" My mother asked.

"Yes. He has a performance right after mine this weekend. He even has his own racetrack at home. But I didn't know that you knew of him." I answered.

"Yes. Your mother and I used to watch him on TV while you were in high school." My dad said.

We went into the living room and watched the news.

"This just in with some breaking news. A couple hours ago, there was an attack at Morningside Park. The police say that it was an armed robbery that was suddenly stopped by the intervention of a bystander. We now go to Braedey Martin who is live at the scene.

"Thank you, Jasmine. We are live at the scene of a crime which turned out to be a would-be armed robbery if someone hadn't intervened. The victim was identified as Tessa Rane Majors who was attacked by three men. Their names were Luciano Lewis and Zyairr Davis, who were led by Rashaun Weaver. Police found them on the Southern Highway and arrested them. Surveillance footage shows Weaver and his henchmen trying to rob Majors and Weaver would have killed her if it wasn't for the sudden and heroic intervention of Dante Hasselhoff, who is a former championship racecar driver and holds a black belt in Toso Kune Do which is a hybrid form of martial arts that was created by Jason David Frank. Dante utilized his prowess in martial arts to defend Tess. Police were able to confirm that Weaver and his henchmen chased after Dante and Tess. But some other witnesses saw that Dante utilized his racing experience to outrun them and keep her safe.

"Thanks Braedey. That was a very heroic act if I've ever seen one. Weaver and his friends are now in custody and will be held on trial next month.

"So, Dante saved your life, huh?" My little brother asked.

"Yes. If it weren't for him, I would be dead by now." I answered.

"True. And I have to say, Braedey was right. He is a pretty skilled fighter. He mopped the floor with those guys." My brother replied.

"Indeed. I may have only met Dante, but my feelings are much stronger than those of a friend. In truth, I love him.." I said.

"Well, then you should go live with him. As long as you're happy, we're happy. And after watching the footage of the event of what happened earlier this evening, we know that you'll be safe with Dante." My dad replied.

"Thank you, daddy. I'll tell him after his performance." I said.

I headed into my room and got ready for bed. As I climbed into my bed, I looked out the window and smiled sweetly.

"Goodnight Dante." I said affectionately, before drifting off into a deep sleep.

(A/N: Braedey Martin and Jasmine belong to Braedimus95. I highly recommend checking out his books. They are awesome.)