Theo's POV

Gripping the railing in front of me tighter, I look up at the night sky. My eyes finding only a few visible stars, most of them shrouded by the clouds. I breathe in deeply, holding my breath for a while, before exhaling. The balcony of my room has become my favourite spot, especially at night time. It is decorated with small potted plants and looks out to the backyard.

Any other night, and I would have found myself relaxing. Breathing in the fresh air whilst looking out at the undisturbed view in front of me. But not tonight. Because my Princess isn't home. She's away on her friend's birthday party. And I wouldn't have been much worried for her, if it weren't for what happened the last time she went to a party. Or rather, what might have happened if me and Adrien hadn't gotten there just in time.

And I'm really trying not to think too much about it. Telling myself that I have the location with me, and she even promised to call me if anything troubles her. I also don't want to have any negative thoughts in fear that it might come true. And yet, I'm constantly finding myself checking my phone every now and then, contemplating on going there and getting her home.

It's not like I don't want her to go out and have fun with her friends. What is worrying me is the fact that it has been fifteen minutes and she still hasn't replied to my text. This is starting to unnerve me because for the past hour, she has been actively responding to my texts to pass her time, not wanting to have to socialize with others.

Of course I know by now that she hates socialising, and doesn't even open up to anyone, let alone trust them. Her brother is a bit overprotective of her and honestly, I don't blame him. She doesn't have a mother. So naturally, being the youngest, she'd be really precious to her father and brother. The both of them wanting to take care of her in the best way possible.

But I'm not too sure about her friends, though. I haven't met or personally know them. And I can't shake the feeling that Princess doesn't have the best of company. She was all alone at the party last time when she especially needed someone. And there's also this guy I don't like. The one that she was with in the club. And he might also be there at the party tonight. My jaw tightens at the thought of him trying something on her.

I close my eyes when my thoughts become too loud inside my mind. Fuck, I need to stop overthinking so much. Of course she'd be okay. She said it herself that she's been to her friend's house several times before.

I open my eyes and fish out my phone from the pocket of my sweatpants. Turning on the screen, I skim through the new notifications. None of them from my Princess. I sigh to myself before turning it off once again.

Turning to my right, my eyes land on the reading chair at the far end of the balcony, and I make my way towards it.

'This should be in her room,' I think to myself while sitting down on it. She loves reading. Almost always found with a book in her hand. I think she reads romance novels. The front page often has an illustration of a couple.

My thoughts wander back to her and an uneasy feeling settles low in my stomach. Is she okay? Why hasn't she replied yet? She told me she'd stay away from drinks and promised not to accept anything from strangers. The coil in my stomach tightens with each new question forming in my mind.

Everything was going pretty well for the past hour. But she stopped responding all of a sudden. She hasn't even seen the last text I sent her. Could her phone be on silent mode? Or maybe she's driving back home and hasn't checked her phone. But even still, she could have let me known that she was returning.

I check the time on my phone once again and find it displaying 9:32 pm on the screen. I don't know why, but I have been having a weird feeling since evening. It might be because I have grown so fond of her, that the mere thought of spending some time away from her makes me feel uneasy.

If this is how I feel being separated from her for a few hours, then what about when I have to go back to Boston? I knew I wasn't here on a vacation but for a reason. And getting attached to someone wasn't on my bucket list. I have gone down that path once and it didn't end well. I'm not going to be repeating my past mistakes.

'I'm not going to fall for her. I can't.'

And hopefully, she isn't too attached to me, either.

Her birthday was four months ago and weirdly enough, it made me upset that I couldn't do anything special for her. Even though, what she said was true. We didn't know each other back then. And we wouldn't have met even now, if it wasn't for the pure coincidence that my father had a friend living here.

She still doesn't know the reason I am here in the first place, and I am not planning on bringing it up, either. I am not sure if I am ready to tell her about it just yet, or at all. Maybe when the right time comes...

Sighing to myself, I open our conversation again.

Princess: they are playing truth and dare now
Princess: some of the dares are really wild
Princess: good thing I'm not playing

Me: haha
Me: that bad, huh?

Princess: yess!!
Princess: I can't wait to leave

Me: alright princess
Me: text me before leaving the house
Me: and drive safe

I scroll through the conversation for a bit before exiting the app. Not wanting to just sit and worry about my Princess, I get up from the reading chair and stuff the phone back in my pocket. Leaving the balcony, I enter my bedroom and turn off its lights before making my way downstairs.

I enter the kitchen and immediately gravitate towards the refrigerator. Cooking is sort of a soothing activity for me. It helps me de-stress. Whenever I'm trying a new recipe or making my favourite dish, it always puts me in a better mood. Although, cooking just for myself has never been too appealing. I enjoy cooking for others.

I laugh under my breath when I recall all the times she has said my cooking was 'okay' or 'not bad'. I'm not used to receiving compliments on my cooking skills because I've never cooked for anyone before. And yet, her single "okay" means more to me than she'll ever know.

And I know she likes my cooking, even though she doesn't admit it. Because her face says it all. She isn't exactly too good at hiding her emotions. Or maybe I'm just good at reading between her lines.

Smiling to myself, I open the refrigerator and after a while of rummaging, I find a pack of blueberries. I could make muffins with them. Taking it out, I keep it on top of the kitchen counter. I check my phone one last time and set it atop the counter as well, not before making sure that the device is not on vibration or mute.

I want to finish baking the muffins before she returns home. I hope they'll turn out good.

I'm not entirely sure why I started to care for her so much. Maybe it's because I see myself in her. Which is why, I unintentionally give her the care and attention that I never got. Because it's unlike me to be soft towards anyone, let alone genuinely care for them.

And for a long time, I believed I had lost all my emotions after...after...

No, I'm over it. I am not going to think about that again. It has been five years since then. I shouldn't be affected by it even now. I blink rapidly and try to stabilize my laboured breathing. I run a hand through my hair, holding back a frustrated groan.

Damnit. "What was I thinking about earlier?" I say out loud, wanting to distract myself.

I wash my hands in the sink absent-mindedly and try to stay focused on the task at hand, after I took out the required ingredients for baking blueberry muffins.

Amy is all I am able to think about these days, and I'm not even complaining. I don't know how to explain it, but everytime I see her smile, I feel all warm from the inside. It's kind of a cozy feeling. She makes me want to be a better person. Even though she doesn't know me all that well, she trusts me. And I couldn't be happier.

I have always had trouble falling asleep at night. Hence, the unusual night showers and sneaking into the kitchen for midnight snacks, or going outside for a jog. And it was really funny to sneak up on her out of nowhere and see her frightened expression. I wonder what she thought of me in those moments.

But now on the nights when I sneak into her room to give her a cup of coffee when she's studying till late, or just to remind her to go to bed, she makes me stay the night. She snuggles up close to me and I get to hold her in my arms. And that makes me feel... complete. At ease. I fall asleep soon after hearing the sound of her even breathing and sleep so much better, too.

Is it possible to like someone so much that you are just happy you get to see them everyday? Happy that they exist? I don't believe in fate or soulmates. I don't even know what lies ahead of us. But if this is all the time we could spend together, I'd just be content that I got to know her.

No, that can't be true. Because I'm selfish and I won't be content with just that. I can't even stand the thought of someone else touching her. So, how am I supposed to let go of her just yet? Even though, I know that day would come sooner or later. But until then, I don't want to think about it.

I was mixing the dry ingredients in a bowl when a text notification alert startles me. I quickly drop the whisker and reach out for my phone, hoping that it's my Princess replying to my text. But I deflate when I read the name of the sender.

I unlock the device and open the new message.

Mr Wright: I have found her address

My breath stutters as I re-read the single sentence. The grip on my phone tightens as I think of what this means. For nearly four weeks I have been expecting this message. Hoping, even. And now that I finally got it... I don't know how to feel anymore.

I blink rapidly to adjust my vision. I didn't even realise I was seeing everything blurred. I turn off my phone and set it on the counter in front of me. I will reply to him in the morning. For now, I have to complete the task at hand.

My body moves in autopilot as I finish preparing the batter for muffins. I pour it into the muffin tray and set it inside the preheated microwave oven. My palms start sweating as I think back about the text message. No one except for Mr. Wright knows the real reason behind my visit to California. Not even my father. If he knew, he probably wouldn't have let me come here in the first place.

But I had to.

So many questions that I have for her. Questions that I am not even sure I'll be able to ask; questions I'm not sure I'll get the answers to. Will I be able to face her? Would she even recognise me?

After all these years I still couldn't bring myself to hate her. My head hurts just from thinking about all the million different ways it could end up.

I reach for my phone again and set a timer for fifteen minutes. By the time these muffins get ready, I'll take a cold shower. It suddenly feels overwhelming and I feel like I can't breathe. Maybe a shower will help.

******

I reach downstairs just in time to take out the freshly baked muffins. Taking them out of the oven, I take in the scent and find myself smiling. She will definitely like them. I can't wait to see her face when she takes the first bite.

Amy had returned home while I was getting dressed in my room after the shower. The sound of her car pulling into the driveway indicated me of her arrival and I felt a whole lot better. But I knew I won't completely feel easy until I see her. I was tempted to get her from the front door itself but I couldn't rush downstairs half naked. And besides, I had to take out the muffins first.

Now that this was done, I tidy up the kitchen and head for the stairs again. She must have changed out of her clothes by now. Ascending the stairs, I walk towards her bedroom and put my hand on the door knob. I twist it and find it unlocked. She complains about me not knocking before entering and yet, never locks the door from the inside. I'm starting to think she likes it when I randomly pop into her room.

Grinning to myself, I push open the door slightly and peer inside. Immediately, my eyes land on her bed on which she is lying.

'Is she... sleeping?'

I enter her room and walk closer to her bed. As I get nearer, I find her eyes closed and facing away from the door, sleeping on her side. The cover is pulled upto her chin and only the bedside lamp is on.

Well, this is strange. She didn't even meet me upon returning home and now she is asleep? She must have been really tired, then.

"I wanted you to taste the muffins I made for you," I say out loud, knowing fully well that she won't respond.

Letting out a sigh, I brush the hair away from her face and look at her sleeping face. Out of habit, I lean down and press my lips to the side of her forehead.

"Sleep well, Princess," I whisper to her and step back.

I turn off the only light that was on and turn to leave her room. I pause at the doorway and look back at her, not knowing what different I expected to see other than her sleeping. But then her phone screen lighting up on the nightstand catches my attention.

Furrowing my brows, I walk closer to the phone and find that the screen is lit with an incoming call from Sarah. Why is she calling at this time? Wasn't it her birthday today?

Maybe she's calling to know if her friend got home safe. Receiving the call, I press the phone to my ear, ready to tell Sarah that Amy's safely made it to her home.

But the words die in my throat when I hear her speak from the other end. I clench my jaw and my grip on the phone tightens with every word that leaves her mouth. I clench my teeth so hard that it starts to ache.

I end the call when I'd heard enough, not needing to hear anymore. With anger filling all of my nerves, I curl my fists at my side, when a sudden thought takes up residence inside my brain.

'I know where he lives.'

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A/N: another glimpse into Theo's mind. I hope you liked this chapter. And if you did, drop a vote :)