"So you spent the whole day with him?" Becky asks and I nod, leaning across the counter.

"I don't know what he wants." I admit as Becky slurps her chocolate milkshake.

"Don't let it go any further Sav," She says, pushing the empty glass away. "You're going to get hurt more than you have already," She shrugs, "Me, I have sex with them and then move on." She winks and I can't help but smile, "You aren't like that. You need to find out where you stand with him."

"I know," I sigh, grabbing hold of the glass and putting it in the sink, "It's just, every time he apologizes I I melt inside and..."

"Arghh! Cringe." She cuts me off, a smirk on her face.

"I know!" I cover my face with my hands, "I don't know what's wrong with me. I don't know why I can't say no."

"You've been swept under his spell." She retorts, "He wasn't the most popular boy who was known for being a player for no reason Sav." She gives me a warning glance, "You have to remember that."

"I know."

"Just be careful," She reminds me, "I can only protect you from so much."

"You're cute." I grin, resting on the counter across from her.

"What? I am not." She wrinkles her nose up at the adjective I know she hates. Call Becky cute and you're basically asking for a kick to the head.

"Such a good friend." I reiterate.

"I'll take that." She grins.

Suddenly the bell sounds and I raise my eyebrows in surprise, both of us turning towards the door. Brett smiles walking in as the door closes behind him and begins to walk towards us as I turn my head back to Becky to feign disinterest in his arrival.

"How much for the milkshake?" Becky asks, her face amused.

"Don't be silly." I wave my hand, dismissing her.

"Really?" She grins, jumping up, "Alright, I'll visit you at work more often!" She blows me a kiss, before turning and walking towards the door, "Brett."

"Hey Becky." He greets as she walks past him, gracefully exiting the diner. He slouches down on a chair, resting his elbows on the counter as he gazes at me, "Empty today?"

"It's the town fair. No-one ever comes in."

"So you're working alone?" He raises an eyebrow, looking around at the dull, empty diner.

"Yeah." I respond, standing up straight. "Bert wanted to visit the coconut shy." I comment, rolling my eyes.

"Are you..."

"Brett I'm really busy right now." I cut him off, crossing my arms. He glances round at the empty diner, his eyebrow raised.

"No you aren't..."

"We'll talk later."

"Will we?"

"Maybe." I reply, my voice low. He looks at me, long and hard, keeping our eye contact. I make sure I don't look away and sure enough, his eyes soon glaze over with defeat and he tears his away, pushing back from the counter as he turns. I keep my eyes on him as he leaves, pushing the door open and walking across the parking lot towards his car.

I don't let out the breath I'm holding until he's gotten in and driven away.

What is his deal? Why does he want to be single, but then want to act like we are together as well? Can't he see that I don't want that? Am I sending out the wrong messages?

Well of course I am... Sav, you've never even said to him that you want a relationship. Is it really his fault? He knows what I thought of him when we first started talking, I wasn't under any illusions and I knew exactly what he wants from girls. He probably thinks we're 'seeing each other' and who am I to object? We aren't exclusive, hell, I've never even instigated a conversation about 'what we are' so I can't expect any different when this is how he's lived his life until now.

I think I've made my feelings pretty clear. But what if I haven't? What if he doesn't know what I want...

I throw the cloth at the wall in frustration, jumping up on the counter and letting my legs swing down as I stare out into the distance. I feel a tear slide down my cheek and reach up, quickly swiping it away.

All I ever do is cry over this boy. And he's never even explicitly done anything to hurt me. We aren't exclusive, we aren't dating. What is wrong with me? Why is this all so hard? The feelings I have for him are feelings that I've never felt before. It's not hard, considering I've never been in a relationship... but still. He makes me feel like I can do anything, like I am worthy.

With him I feel like I am more than just the poor girl in Apartment Seven of Grogtale Block.

Maybe that's why I never want to let him go, why I always forgive him. He makes me feel something I've never had before, and I'm too scared to live without that again and become the poor girl once more.

A loud crash startles me and I look up, my eyes wide as I slide off the counter, someones storming in, the door shutting behind them, terror instantly flooding my body.

"Where's the money?" He roars, his face covered with a black hood, holding a knife out in front of him, aiming straight for me.

I shuffle along the counter, shaking as I gesture towards the register, watching the knife as he waves it around, coming closer as he advances on me.

"Hurry up!" He hisses, pushing my shoulder. That's all it takes to lose myself completely to fear, shaking as the tears begin to stream down my face, hurriedly turning towards the register and opening it quickly, pulling out any notes and coins that I can grab.

There's barely anything in here.

"Here." I hold out my shaking hands, my voice wobbly. "This is all of it."

"Are you sure?" He looks down at me, his eyes menacing black holes of darkness, and I've never felt more petrified of anyone in my entire life.

"Positive." I stutter and he takes a step towards me before grabbing the money out of my hand.

"This isn't enough." He roars, dropping the money over the stained floor and grabbing me. I scream as his hand grabs my arm and he smashes my back against the wall.

"Please..." I cry, his grip digging deep into my forearm.

"Where is the rest?" He yells, grabbing hold of my neck. I reach up, clawing at his hands as they tighten, tears continuously dripping down my face.

"There... isn't... any..."

"Lying bitch!" He tightens his grip and I gasp for breath, my eyes wide. Screw money, I'm not even going to make it out of here alive and all I've bothered about for the last year is saving for college. I haven't even lived my life yet, I haven't been to Europe, I haven't been back to Disneyland. I haven't lost my virginity.

And I never will.

Suddenly the force is ripped away from my neck and I fall to the ground, grabbing my throat as I gasp for breath. I look up to see Brett standing over the man, pounding his fists down into his face as they both lie on the floor of the diner. I look back down at where I've fallen on the ground, stains from numerous coffee spills, my heart in my mouth as the thought of nearly dying here, tears continuing their flow down my face.

I am shaking more than I ever knew was possible as I grab hold of the counter beside me, slowly pulling myself up. I stand up straight, not letting go of the counter as I look back over towards Brett. He is stepping away from the motionless man dressed in black, looking down at him with disgust.

He turns towards me, beginning to walk over, grabbing and pulling me into his arms. I happily accept, letting go of the counter to fall into the safe arms of Brett Winters, resting my head on his chest as I look down at the unconscious man who just two minutes ago had my life in his hands. If it hadn't been for Brett...

"Police. Sunnyside Diner. Armed robbery." Brett's voice is low, dangerous as he talks on the phone. He hangs up, grabbing hold of my face and angling it up to meet his. "You're okay. You're okay."

*~*~*

The guy's hands are closing around my neck, my vision turning blurry. I can't see anything passed the shitty 'Sunnyside Diner' sign that's hanging above the counter,  taunting me.

I look back at my attacker, his dark black eyes full of fury and hatred as he squeezes tighter, myself desperately grasping for breath. My vision fades even more, black spots appearing in my vision as he holds down on my throat.

"Brett?" I scream, "Brett!" I shoot up, my eyes wide and panicked, desperately searching for him. I'm in my bedroom. Not the diner.

"I'm here," His voice instantly relaxes me as he enters, turning the light on and shutting the door behind him, "I went to get some water and was talking to Elle." He smiles, placing the glass beside me. "Are you okay?" He asks and I shake my head softly. "You're okay Sav. I promise." He sits beside me, cupping my face with his hands. "You're safe."

"I can't believe..." I breathe out, sitting up, "It only happens in the movies."

"I know." He strokes his finger down my face, moving back on my bed to wrap an arm around me. "You're okay Sav." I lie back, resting my head on his shoulder.

"Only because you were there." I reply, my voice quiet.

"I'm glad I was." He replies quickly and I hear him take a deep breath.

"I've never been more grateful for you." I look up at him, smiling slightly. He runs his fingers along my arm to comfort me, my body shivering immediately as it reacts to his touch.

"I'm just happy you're okay." He responds, voice low.

"I will be." I reply, my voice barely more than a whisper, "Because of you." I finish, pulling away from his touch and turning around to face him. His blue eyes appear pained in the dark glow of my lamp and I reach up to touch his cheek, tracing his jawline with my fingers. He finally reaches up, grabbing hold of my hands and stopping them in their path. I take a sharp intake of breath as he begins to move forward, still holding my hands hostage between our bodies. I move too, desperate for us to meet in the middle, our lips colliding as he finally lets go of my hands, raising his to instead wrap around the back of my neck, drawing me deeper into the kiss. I grab hold of his shirt with my newly freed hands, pulling myself as close to him as possible as I open my mouth to prolong this passionate kiss.

I want him. He's my knight in shining armor and I don't even care how cliché I am, I feel safe around him, I need him here with me.

I grind myself against him and he moans into my mouth at the friction, his hand moving from my neck, down the length of my body, resting on my behind and pulling me tighter against his hardness. I let out a sigh of pleasure as our lips disconnect, gently grinding my hips against his, the desire pooling between my legs.

"We should stop." Brett breathes out and I groan as he pushes my body away from him.

"Why?" I complain, pulling his lips back to mine. His attempts are futile and he melts back into the kiss as easily as I want him too. He gives me one last peck before pulling away once more.

"You aren't in the right frame of mind to do this." He whispers and I scowl at him.

"Fine." I cross my arms, glaring up at the ceiling. He laughs, grabbing hold of my hands and squeezing them. I turn to him and can't help but smile at his caring expression as he moves the hair out my face, a habit he appears to have gotten into.

"I wish you didn't work there." He implores, "It's a dodgy part of town."

"You can't take this job away from me too." I laugh quietly, feeling him stiffen beside me.

"It's... It's just not safe."

"There are thousands of places that aren't on the nicer side of town Brett. They aren't all unsafe." I point out, "I was one in a thousand." I shrug, reaching up and running my hand through his hair. "I got unlucky."

"But you're my one in a thousand." He says softly, "And it happened to you."

"It can't happen again." I say, trailing my finger down his cheek. "That would just prove that it's me who attracts the bad luck." I joke.

"I understand that you need to work." He appeals, "What about for my parents? In their business?"

"You're sweet." I smile.

"Sweet?"

"But I can't. I don't want to work in an office." I decline.

"There aren't just jobs in an office." He objects and I shake my head.

"Thank you." I reply softly, "But I'll be okay."

I don't need you to bail me out Brett.

He looks at me, his eyes full of emotion as I stare him down. I give him a small smile and he runs his hand through his hair, looking away from me as he does so. He takes a minute, staring at my clock on the wall. It's bright pink with glittery fairies on and I love it more than anything, Mom having bought it for me a year before she died.

Brett looks back towards me as I grab hold of his hand. He takes a deep breath and I brace myself for his answer.

"Okay."

"Thank you." I smile, snuggling closer to him as he wraps his arms around me. A sudden thought occurs to me and I realize that I have no idea why my hero was back at the diner after I ever so kindly, basically told him to go to hell. "What were you doing there today by the way? Why did you come back?"

"I wanted to apologize for everything."

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I did promise drama... so lucky that Brett came back when he did, right?!

Honestly, it's amazing that you're still here reading this cliché little story. I love you! 💙

There are only 4 parts left to Part One so make sure you strap yourself in for the emotional roller-coaster that's about to commence!

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