Tessa

"Girls, you won't believe this!" I said and rushed to where my friends were sitting.

"What is it now?" Jane sighed.

"I met a total hottie" I said quietly. I didn't want the whole school to know.

"And?" Jane asked, "You say that every other week-"

"You look really happy! Tell us more about him!" Serenity said excitedly with a huge smile on her face.

Her smile is so precious.

"He's like really tall, even taller than me and I'm tall for a girl and he has the most mysterious brown eyes I've seen and his hair looks so soft and healthy-"

"Tessa, take a breath hun" Jane said.

"Looks like Tessa has a crush" Serenity giggled.

"How did you two meet? Did he approach you? Where did you meet?" Jane started asking questions.

She's really overprotective.

That's when I realized, I couldn't tell them. I felt bad because they were my friends and I wanted to tell them, but it was for the best.

"Someone tried to steal my bag and he helped"

Jane raised an eyebrow, "You're trying to tell me someone tried to steal a school bag?" She asked.

I shrugged and nodded before laughing it off, "People these days are desperate I guess"

"Well did you get his number?" Jane asked.

"No" I said firmly.

Maybe it was for the better. That guy looked like big trouble and I couldn't afford fucking up my life even more.

But maybe I wished I would see him again and maybe it was just wishful thinking, but I was seventeen. I wanted to fangirl, daydream, make up scenarios like all the other girls.

"What, why?" Serenity asked.

"I don't know, it just didn't happen" I shrugged.

As if he would give me his number if I asked. He seemed annoyed with my presence. Not to mention he was probably older than me even though he didn't look older than twenty.

Jane sighed, "Well you should forget about him then"

Forget about him. Yes, that's what I would do. He wanted to fight those guys all alone so I could escape, but I had to forget about him. He didn't push me for answers, he frowned and bit his lip when I said I'd take the bus, the worry was visible, but I had to forget about him.

Get yourself together Tessa! Why are you letting a stranger have such an impact on you!?

I blamed it all on my age and the lack of romance in my life.

I need to stop daydreaming.

"Earth to Tessa" Serenity said waving her hand in front of me, "Are you thinking about him?" She asked with a small smile.

The smallest things could make this girl happy. She liked listening to us talk. She never participated at first, but we got her to open up.

"Of course not! He's just another hot guy, you know"

"Yeah whatever you say Tess" Jane said.

"Are we still going to get coffee after school?" I asked changing the subject.

"I-I can't" Serenity said, her usual happy face going back to a sad one.

"Come on Ren, please" I said dragging the word "please" and her ger puppy eyes, "We finish class earlier than usual today"

"My dad doesn't let me drink coffee" She said looking down.

"Then you can get something else. Just please come" I said.

"I don't have any money"

"I'll pay for whatever you get" I said without hesitating.

"I-no! I can't accept that"  She said.

Jane was just looking at us interested to see what happens.

"Do you want to come? Honestly" I asked.

"Yes" She mumbled fiddling with her thumbs.

"Then you're coming" I said crossing my arms. I wanted her to finally do something for herself.

"No!"

_______

"Ren, what do you want to get?" I asked excitedly.

I knew she would come.

We would get coffee from this place a few times a week. It always took a little convincing for Serenity to join but she would, eventually. It was a café next to our school.

But as soon as we ordered and sat at our table my eyes fell on a familiar figure and I gasped. I guess it was loud too because his eyes snapped up from his phone and he saw me.

oh no

"What is it?" Jane asked looking worried.

"Nothing! I just thought I saw someone" I replied. My reply made Jane raise an eyebrow and Serenity tilt her head.

I looked at him again to see him staring back at me with a smirk on his face.

So much for forgetting about him and never seeing him again.

Leo was here too with two other guys. They were having a conversation which Leo didn't seem to be interested in.

Why is he even here!?

I tried to avoid looking at him as much as I could, but my gaze kept falling on him.

"Tess, you seem really distracted, what's going on?" Serenity asked.

"Just thinking about that project I haven't started yet" I said shrugging.

I needed to stop acting weird. He was just a stranger after all.

I looked at their table again. One of the guys kept glancing our way too, but he wasn't looking at me.

Maybe he is looking at something in the background?

I wanted to talk to Leo. I really did, but the stare he was giving me wasn't really inviting. He was really intimidating and even though I've dealt with dangerous men before, I felt too shy to even look at him.

But I wanted to talk to him so bad. I had to talk to him. I had to ask him about them.

I saw him standing up, it seemed like he was about to leave but the others stayed here.

Maybe this is my chance to talk to him.

"Hey girls, is it okay if I go? I really need to work on that project" I said.

"But you dragged us here" Serenity whined.

"I'm sorry it totally slipped my mind and I just remembered it"

"Fine, just texts us when you get home" Jane said after a sigh.

"Will do. You girls have fun and I will make it up to you another time. Love you" I said with a smile before exiting the café.

I saw him walking up to his car and mustered up the courage to talk to him.

Here goes nothing I guess.

"Hey! Leo!" I said causing him to turn to me.

I already feel embarrassed.

He walked towards me slowly with a barely noticeable smile, "Hey" He said, "I see you're staying out of trouble"

"Barely" I mumbled not meaning for him to hear.

"What?"

"Nothing!" I said with a nervous chuckle, "I actually wanted to ask you something"

"I'm listening" He said crossing his arms.

Oh he got m u s c l e s

"What happened to those guys?" I asked.

He raised an eyebrow, "Why do you care?"

"I have my reasons"

"Well, I have my reasons not to tell you. See you around Tessa"

He turned around to leave, but I touched his shoulder stopping him, "Leo please. At least tell me if they're alive"

His eyes widened with shock and I got worried for a second.

Maybe I shouldn't have asked that. Maybe he will think I'm suspicious now.

He cleared his throat and went back to his neutral expression, "Why wouldn't they be?" He asked.

I looked down, "Oh"

"You sound disappointed" He pointed out.

"I-no I just-"

He sighed, "Look, those guys are dangerous. You are a teenager Tessa, you should stay as far away from them and people like them as you can. Try to keep yourself out of trouble"

Now I was pissed and annoyed.

Who does he think he is telling me all that? He knows nothing.

"Maybe try keeping your advice to yourself when you're talking to people you don't know" I said before I could stop myself.

If I thought he was shocked before, I was completely wrong. Now, he was shocked. I even regretted what I said for a second.

Just a second though.

Because the next second he looked furious, ready to kill me and his next words send shivers up my spine.

"Remember, I warned you" He said and walked away leaving me frozen at my spot.