Leo

It was five in the morning when I woke up. I turned to see her sleeping next to me. She had gotten slightly closer to me too. Her face was so relaxed and her lips were slightly parted.

I smiled at how different than usual she looked. I didn't want to wake her up. I sat up on the bed and she shifted closer. I debated on whether I should wake her up or not, but I decided not to.

I covered her with the blanket and kissed her forehead. I sneaked around the house and left through the kitchen window downstairs, since the front door was locked, sending Tessa a text to close it in the morning.

I was a little anxious when leaving, worried that her dad might wake up and catch me. It would be much easier with her here, but she seemed so relaxed sleeping.

Fortunately, I managed to leave without anyone noticing. After I'd walked for a few minutes and was near a few clubs I decided to call Nate to pick me up. I didn't want to call him earlier today when Tessa suggested it because I didn't want him to know I was there, but he wouldn't suspect anything if he found me outside a club.

He picked up after a few rings, "How can I help you today, master" He asked.

I rolled my eyes, "Come get me"

"Where are you" He asked. I heard him shuffling, probably going to get the car.

I told him my location and he repeated it murmuring, "Be there in five" He said and hung up

I ran my fingers through my hair and let out a sigh. Now that I was away from her I could think clearly again.

Yesterday was life changing.

I couldn't even lie to myself and say I would stay focused on my goal anymore.

We had so much fun together. I even told her a little something about my mom. I never talked about my mom after I told Nate and Ares everything that night we met. I even tried to avoid thinking about her, about everything.

Yet, she made me want to change everything so effortlessly. She wasn't even aware of it.

I felt like we had a silent understanding.

Just then I felt a hand on my shoulder and immediately became defensive.

"Ouch!"I heard the familiar voice, "Are you in your right mind!?" He yelled.

No. No, I'm not.

"Sorry! I thought it was someone else"I said.

"Asshole" He murmured walking to his car.

I was so lost in my thoughts before, I didn't even hear the car.

"So what are you doing here alone?" He asked when we got in the car, "You usually tell me to come when you're going out. Got any company?" He asked smirking.

"No. I just needed some space and time alone" I said a little harshly.

His face told me all I needed to know. He was sad and worried. I felt so guilty for making him worry.

He put a smile back on his face, "I understand"

I wanted to say I was sorry for snapping at him, but I couldn't. I felt like it would be better to let it go.

"Where am I taking you?" He asked.

"My apartment" I said.

We didn't really talk for the rest of the ride. I could tell Nate was annoyed by my snapping and I didn't want to make it worse. He would let it go eventually.

I am such a bad friend.

I am a bad person in general.

I felt like shit. The time I spend with Tessa definitely made me feel good, but at what cost? I was "using her", keeping her secret from my best friends, my family and all the frustration made me snap at them and that made me feel even more guilty and shitty.

"Goodnight" He said when we reached my apartment and I said it back leaving the car.

It was a little before 6 in the morning when I got to my apartment. I wondered if Tessa was still asleep.

I took a shower and got in bed, but I couldn't fall asleep. I kept thinking of how comfortable Tessa's bed was. How nice and sweet the scent was. How warm her presence made it. I was really careful and didn't even get close to her. I didn't want to touch her and make her feel uncomfortable. Thankfully, I don't toss and turn a lot in my sleep, so I stayed on my side.

Yes, I sleep like the dead.

I closed my eyes and tried to fall asleep playing out today in my head.

I woke up the next morning a little later than usual. I checked my phone to see a text from Tessa and one from Ares.

Tessa

Why did you leave without telling me? I wanted to say goodbye to you.

I smiled at the text. It was so sweet of her to want to say goodbye to me.

Me

I didn't want to wake you up.

I wondered if I would see her today. I really wanted to spend more time with her, but I had to focus on my work too. Things have been pretty low with work lately.

Should I got see her after she's done with school?

No, she'll probably think I'm clingy.

I was making breakfast when I heard my phone ringing. I decided to ignore it since I knew I didn't have anything to do today and this was probably Nate trying to annoy me today, but it wouldn't stop ringing.

I picked it up after seeing it was Ares who was calling me.

Shit.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Come here. Now" He said.

He seemed to be in a hurry and really upset so I just said "Okay" and hung up.

I got ready quickly and got my car keys and my phone.

I was really worried about what could've happened that got Ares so upset. He wasn't usually like this unless something really bad happened.

Did he find out about Tessa? I hope not.

When I arrived I ran up to Ares' office to see him with his hands covering his face and his elbows resting on the desk as he sat on his leather chair.

"What is it?" I asked.

Please don't tell me you found out about her.

"Do you have any information on those losers' boss already?" He asked.

"No"

"Well someone randomly attacked some of our men today. Thankfully they weren't really hurt" He said.

"Did they manage to catch any of them before they got away?" I asked.

Maybe I could use them to learn more about their boss. Maybe I didn't have to use Tessa.

"No, but I want you to search the area and tell me if you find something" He said giving me a piece of paper with something written on it.

It was the same area I'd met Tessa in.

"Nate will come with you. You're going there tonight after it gets dark. We don't want anyone seeing you"

"Got it, boss"

He rolled his eyes at the name, "How's your "personal stuff" going?" He asked leaning back on his chair.

I was smiling before I even knew I did and Ares noticed and gave me a smirk. I cleared my throat and hid my smile, "Good" I said firmly.

"Someone has a little crush?" He asked.

"Did I hear something about a crush?" Nate asked walking in, "I know you got it bad-"He said pointing at Ares, "-but you too?" He asked in shock now pointing at me.

Ares and I both rolled out eyes, "I don't" We said at the same time.

"Right" He said chuckling before walking out.

__________

"Found anything yet?" Nate asked.

"No, did you?"

"Yep" He said taking something from the ground.

It was a pair of keys.

"We don't know if that's from one of them or if it's some random stranger's though" I said walking closer to him to see the keys.

I heard something and saw something from the corner of my eye.

"Did you hear that?" Nate asked.

"Yes, I'll go check it out. Keep searching" I said and walked to the direction the sound came from. It was really dark and I kept going and going. I couldn't see a soul here. If there was someone here, they definitely didn't want to be caught and that meant they were a threat to us.

I acted like I was walking back to where I came from and hid behind a wall to see if someone would come out. I smirked when I heard footsteps.

Got you.

I saw a figure pass by me, checking if someone was there and before they could see me, or walk away. I grabbed them and pinned them against the wall so that they couldn't move.

But who I saw shocked me.

"Tessa, what the fuck are you doing here?" I asked relaxing my hold on her.

"Leo" She whispered, she sounded relieved but her face was a mix of fear, shock and panic.

To my surprise, she wrapped her small arms around my torso and buried her face in my chest.

I'd never seen her so vulnerable.

I stroked her hair with one hand and hugged her back with the other, "Hey, what is it?"

She was panting but tried to keep quiet, "I thought they'd gotten me" She said, "But it's you"

"It's so late. Why aren't you at your house?" I asked. I was genuinely worried, everything else was out the window right now. All that mattered was her, but I couldn't see it yet.

"I came looking for my keys and the bad guys are usually here. If they find me-"

Her keys.

"Hey, it's okay. I'll take you home, okay?"

"But my keys-"

"Shh, don't worry, I got you" I said.

I called Nate, still having her in my arms and he picked up immediately, "I searched the whole place, didn't find anything" He said.

"It's okay. Turns out what we heard was just a cat"

"Well come over here and let's go" He said.

I wanted to go and take Tessa's keys, but she was terrified, holding on to me for dear life and Nate couldn't know about her yet.

"You go, I'll stay a little bit more and search around the area" I said.

"What about the car?" he asked.

"You take the car I'll take a taxi or tell you to come pick me up" I said.

He sighed, "Sure" he said and hung up.

"Are you okay?" I asked Tessa who was still gripping my jacket really tight. She didn't respond.

I noticed she was shivering and took off my jacket and put it around her, "It's okay, sweetheart. It's me. You're safe" I said stroking her hair.

"How am I supposed to get home? My dad is asleep and he'll kill me if he finds out I sneaked out and didn't lock the door on top of that" She said.

I thought about it for a second.

Fuck, I should've taken the keys with me when I could I am such an idiot.

"Where am I going to go now?" She asked, her grip on me now tighter.

"You can come to my apartment" I said without thinking.

Her gaze snapped up to me, "What?"

"You can come to my apartment if you want and you can tell your dad that you left early because you were going to get coffee with your friends before school" I said quickly making up the excuse.

"What about my bag and my homework? How will I go to school tomorrow? What if he sees my bag?" She said clearly panicked.

"You can say that one got dirty and you took another one with you" I said.

Damn I'm good at this.

"Okay" She said firmly, "I'll come"