'Harper is my cousin. This is too much information to grasp. I've been going to school with a Bliss, my cousin. She could teach me on how to control this ability. I'm going to have to tell mom. She might just lie to me, knowing mom. My head hurts thinking about it. Think about that matter later. How did you like Coal? Even if I like him or not, at the end of the day I would regret ever having those thoughts. It would be nice to be in love with right guy. Fictional characters are even cuter than real ones. Coal is average.' Valerie leaned against the wall, trying to process the previous events.

After a few minutes, she finally managed to brush those thoughts away. Standing outside the busy restaurant, as unfamiliar faces pass by, Valerie debate whether she should either call a taxi or strain her legs and walk. She fished her phone from her left pocket. 'Mom left a voicemail.' She pressed the phone against her ear to listen to the voicemail.

Valerie heard muffled voices in the background, "Honey, I sent a taxi to pick you up. Please be safe on your way home. The taxi somes at 6:30pm. See you tomorrow Valerie, I have a feeling I won't be coming home tonight. Also if you happen to miss the taxi, ask Coal to give you a ride. He's not a serial killer, I promise. I know how guarded you are around guys you just met. You knew him when you were younger."

It was already seven and Valerie was too lazy to call another taxi driver not to mention Harper forgot to give her back her change. She didn't trust drivers especially at this time. She dialed Coal's number, trusting her mother was right about Coal. 'I knew him when I was younger?'

"Hey," he greeted.

"It's Valerie. Do you mind giving me a lift? Not unless you have plans later."

"No worries, I'll cancel my date with my girlfriend tonight. Meet you in a bit," he said and quickly hung up.

'Wait, don't cancel your date tonight. I'll walk home,' Valerie wanted to say but he hung up too fast. Valerie felt selfish for asking him to take her home while his date must be wondering where he was.

"Valerie!" Coal called out.

"You didn't have to cancel your date," she slid her hands into her pocket, sheepishly.

'If I didn't, I wouldn't be able to spend time with you, would I?' Coal grinned, "Don't worry about it. Come on and smile a bit Valerie. It doesn't matter anyways, she and I aren't on good terms at the moment. Say that you're happy I'm here."

Valerie shook her head, "For your information, I smile only when you're not around and admit it already, you're digging my accent."

"Well fuck. How can I not love both your smile and accent Valerie?"

"Alright, enough flirting and please just take me home."

He shrugs, "As you wish Princess. Please follow me." Valerie followed him into a parking lot, filled with numerous of different cars.

"Meet my baby," Coal announced.

"Lamborghini?" Valerie stared, clearly not impressed.

'Am I supposed impressed with the money you have? Why can't you get a Corolla, like the a normal teenager? Or donate some money to a charity, like us?' Valerie pressed her lips together forming a straight line, "I'm not astonished."

Coal stroked the nape of his neck, uneasily. 'I should read a book on how to impress girls. Actually no. It would be more embarrassing if she caught me reading a book like that.'

Not knowing who to react, Valerie slid into the car awkwardly. Finally on the road, Valerie felt worn out, leaning against the seat belt. She always recalled her mom's words, 'Don't ever stay out late because mysterious creatures lurk during the night.' 'You'll get home soon. The safest place on this planet. Stay strong Valerie,' she tried to encourage herself. Watching the road ahead, Valerie spot a white animal trying to cross the road.

"Please stop the car," she whispered.

"What?" Coal asked, focusing.

"Stop the car!" Valerie repeated herself, forcefully this time.

'I'll follow your order, in return you must remember. I trust you.' Coal stopped the car while Valerie quickly stepped out, running towards the white dog who was frozen in it's place. At this point, she didn't care if the dog was a stray or cared the night was slowly coming. Valerie stroked it's head, once she managed to bend down on her knees , "Poor thing, you're shaking."

Coal, on the other hand was stopping all the other incoming cars to prevent any accidents from happening. Using all her arm power, Valerie lifted the dog and carefully carried the dog inside the car. Coal quickly followed Valerie and continued to drive before they cause traffic.

Valerie took a deep breath and then took her time studying the frightened dog on her lap. 'White Pomeranian. Definitely not a male. Shit, she's hurt.' Valerie pushed some fur away from her neck to reveal a serious wound that needed to be treated properly.

"Coal, we need to stop by the vet. As in right now!"

"First off calm down. Take deep breaths. The dog's going to be alright, I promise."

"Can't you see! She's hurt. If she doesn't get treated, she might die!" Valerie once had a kitten for a pet when she was younger. She could remember her dad running over the kitten when he was rushing to get to work. When they stopped at red light, Coal took the opportunity to grab Valerie by the shoulders to face him.

"She'll be fine," he assured, " Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end."

'Where have I heard that quote?' Valerie wondered. She nodded, hopelessly, softly massaging the dog's head. 'Despite the fact I know the feeling of losing someone you love, I still want to keep her. She's beautiful.'

'You were always an animal lover. Always falling in love in an animal, like that cat. Cindy, I think her name was,' Coal glanced at Valerie who stared adoringly at the dog.

"I would name her Pacific," Valerie whispered, ripping Coal from this thoughts.

"Why?" he questioned the interesting name. Valerie looked at him, smiling sorrowfully.

Coal felt his heart skip a beat, 'This is the effect you have on me. If only you knew. I'm drowning in your beautiful eyes.'

"Pacific. I can see the ocean in her eyes."

'And I can see the sky in yours.'

"Her left eye is dark brown but her right is dark blue. Heterochromia, I think it's called."

"I think you should keep her. She's special," Coal opined.

'Mom would never let me. I'm too irresponsible. I killed Cindy, I don't want to kill Pacific too. It's all my fault I lost Cindy. If only I had took better care of her that morning, instead of texting my online friends.' Valerie walked mindlessly towards to clinic, and allowed Coal to take Pacific from her. Pacific kept growling and attempting on biting Coal.

"Go ahead and sit down over there," Coal ordered her, struggling to hold Pacific. Valerie, just sat down in the waiting area, staying glued on her phone to distract her. After a few minutes of being restless, Coal returned and plopped himself on the couch across from her.

"So, to get your mind off a curtain dog, what type of guy are you into to?" Coal asked, his eyes shut.

"You're just killing my brain by asking that question," Valerie groaned, leaning her head back.

"Just answer my question," Coal answered, amusingly.

Valerie squinted up at the ceiling, in deep ponder. "Well," starting off awkwardly, "He would definitely have dimples. Dark hair, I've never been too fond of blondes. Also, I've always had a thing for half asians, guys who are half asian are hot," Valerie admitted. "His personality better be better than his looks. Someone who could easily make me laugh, honestly. I don't really like guys who are too sweet, I'm into the saucy and straightforward type of guy."

"Do I reach your standards?" Coal smiled brightly, showing his dimples.

Valerie chuckled, "Nah, I could do so much better!"

'That's the best rejection,' Coal thought, downhearted. "Grade me then. From A to F, which one am I?" he asked, hoping for a positive response.

Valerie studies Coal's face.

'Please don't stare at me like that. I won't be able to stop drowning in your eyes. Shit, I'm starting to sweat. I hope she doesn't notice. Just keep your poker face on.' Coal kept his guard up, trying not to get his hopes up.

Valerie wrinkled her nose, "You're a C+, so you're average. Usually I would grade guys a D but never an A or B."

"That's hars-," Coal was interrupted by a loud bark.

Valerie's head jolted forward when she heard a familiar bark. Barking gleefully, Pacific came running into her arms. Valerie had a stupid smile plastered onto her face. 'Pacific. Thank the Lord, you're okay. I hope that bandage on your neck isn't hurting you. I'm just glad you're okay and finally in my arms again.'

Coal just watched, 'She must really love that dog. She easily falls in love with an animal. I'm not surprised, since she even got attached to a tree frog. When are you going to fall into my arms? When can I hold you like the way you're hugging that dog? I'm enduring, please remember. I'm begging you. I'm going to continue to give you hints until you realize who I am. I may not look the same, but I'm still me. Remember Valerie.'

Messaging Pacific's head and stomach on the ground, Valerie felt someone stroking her head. Her blue eyes met Coal's dark ones.

"Aren't I always right," he said as a statement more than a question. "She's real feisty. She tried biting everyone who attempted on taking her from me. Then again, she was also trying to chomp my arm off."

"Thank you," Valerie mumbled, tongue-tied. She laughed softly imagining Coal struggling to hold Pacific while he held her. 'It's a bit embarrassing saying thank you. Is it because I'm not used to saying it or it's because of the person I'm apologizing to?'

"I'm surprised you know how to say thank you! I thought you would just ignore me and give your undivided attention to your baby!" Coal exclaimed, being sarcastic.

Valerie rolled her eyes, "I'm regretting ever saying thank you to an average guy whose name is Coal. Did I mention he's average?"

Coal flicked Valerie's forehead, amused. 'That's my Valerie. I'll always love that savage side of you.'

A couple of minutes later, a vet introduced Valerie to a pet rescuer who would be taking Pacific to an animal shelter. After the pleasant but small conversation, he had to take Pacific. The Pomeranian stayed in the same position in Valerie's arms, growling at anyone who attempted on touching her.

After a good hour, they were in the same position, in addition to a few more pet rescuers. 'I'm happy she wouldn't budge. This might be a chance to bring her home.' Valerie felt dejected once they were able to grab her from her arms.

"I apologize for taking so long," Mr. Carlos, a pet rescuer, whimpered when Pacific bit him. Valerie wordlessly nodded.

'I'm sorry. I wanted you to wake me up each morning, keep me company, and share special moments together. This is my issue, getting too attracted to any animal.' Coal took her hand and lead her to the exit repeating the same words, "Don't look back." 'I'm not going to turn to stone as if I'm looking into Medusa's eyes or turn into pillar of salt like Lot's wife from the bible.' Valerie disobeyed Coal's words and turned her head.

She make contact with Pacific's poor eyes. Pacific struggled to escape, trying to chase Valerie or her way of saying 'Come back, don't leave me.' 'I know you've suffered so much and I couldn't save you. I don't have any option but to say goodbye. When mom lets me, I'll back to you. That's a promise.'