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MIDNIGHT SILENCE REMAINED CALMING—there was good in gazing at fuzzy street lights, and listening to the whispering wind. The night was a special kind of blackness, the kind that only wants to hold the stars, and make them shine brighter. Daytime was exhausting but this night was a warm blanket that hugged me safely. And, with the moon that was covered by murky clouds, my feet took off to the gym.

However, this would sound absolutely ridiculous, because—clad in black sweatshirt, I decided to leave sleeping Bella behind, and walk out of the school campus, at 1:00.A.M. It did sound risky but I was used to taking risks.

As I walked, the cool wind seemed to calm my chaotic mind which only consisted of the one and only Evan—and the mere thought of him sent the urge to teach him a lesson. This was my first time stepping out at midnight, and back in Arizona, it was something I would've never done. The courage I had to walk down the streets boldly wasn't surprising, and so I wasn't trying to stop myself.

The night seemed to flash my younger self for a solid second—me in Evan's damn car and the moon not bright enough. I wasn't ever the one to go to parties, but because I had trusted him—I blindly attended one.

With chaotic mind, I arrived at the gym, and glad that it was opened, I stepped into the brightly lit building. I felt more relaxed, to say the least, and it was only when I looked back up that I saw someone.

Great, I had company.

Steps stopped, and so did my thoughts. I watched the person punch the bag without mercy, like it had offended him in one way or the other. But, the person punching the bag wasn't just someone.

It was Valen.

He was killing the punching bag hanging in front of him, mindlessly bouncing on his feet. I was silent, though, observing him for a second—maybe couple of seconds—because, fuck, his back was distracting. And yes, he was shirtless. His movements stopped, and I knew for a fact that he felt my presence, because a whip of the head later, he was staring straight at me

"Really?" My voice was weirdly strained when I spoke, but I wasn't surprised since I knew my brain wouldn't function properly if he didn't get a shirt on. My heart was maybe glad he was there.

But—why was he here?

He was turned to face me, hands embraced by his fiery, red boxing gloves, and on observing look on his face. And even though I was far off, his whole face and body excelled in the brightly lit room, and my cheeks were kissed by light crimson—which was unusual.

He cleared his throat, immediately snapping me out of my thoughts. If I had been gawking openly then curse me—but I stared still. "It's past 1am Carla, why are you here?”

Ouch.

What the hell happened to frosty?

My mouth dried a little and my heart skipped a beat for two sole reasons—why he had addressed me as Carla, and the reason I was here. But, he didn't need to know about my inner conflicts and raging storm, and so I went along with the coldness of the night. "It isn't your concern."

Shock graced his features before he raised a questioning eyebrow. Why we were acting that way, I couldn't tell. "What is it Carla?"

"I should be asking you, why are you suddenly giving me the cold shoulder?"

He walked out of the ring, and towards me, eyes boring into mine. He stood, towering over me, all in his glory of hard muscles that were hard to ignore because of the proximity. "I am not giving you the cold shoulder, Carla."

"There you go again with that name? What happened to sweetheart, and frosty?"

The words were already out of my mouth before I could stop them, and I mentally cursed myself for being so pathetic all of a sudden. The stillness could be felt around now, and added to it was the outrageous amount of awkwardness.

Valen's eyes had softened, and whilst he tried to speak, I interjected, "Don't say anything please, I–," a pause later, "I can't keep up with this and I can't let you get into this and keep up with me and my problems."

I took steps back and with the last look I threw at him, I turned around and walked away, making my way towards the exit.

"Frosty?"

Stop wasting your time with me, Val, I thought, you can't handle my problems. And just when I thought I could escape from him, his large hands wrapped around my wrist and hurled me back—all before pinning me against a wall. He had leaned close, making his scent waft off him—which was damn intoxicating.

Silence crowded the atmosphere like a thick blanket, begging either of us to speak. I just stared at him whilst he ran a hand through his hair. I tried to calm my racing heart because I was pressed against the wall by a guy—a shirtless, good-looking or whatever—and I was afraid he could hear my rapid heartbeat.

"I thought we were over this, frosty?" Finally, he spoke, voice soft.

With the intensity of his gaze, my voice fell above a whisper, "I. . . I can't keep up, I'm a mess—I’m sorry, I just don't know."

His fingers fell on my lips. “I only want to help but I understand if you aren't comfortable enough in confiding in me. ”

His finger had trailed down my lips when I spoke again. "I know, but it's hard, I don't even understand myself anymore, damn, I don't even know who I am . . .maybe I need time."

"I'll give you your space," he whispered,  his breath sobering up my skin. "But, please don't run away from me like that, frosty."

The feeling of his bare skin against mine felt like fire: gentle yet fervent—and I had only nodded when he placed a kiss on my forehead, the feeling of his lips on my skin making my heart go berserk. Heat crawled on my cheeks.

Then, he grinned. "Now, how about we go punch those bags to death?"

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THE WALK BACK was quite short, perhaps, it was because I didn't want it to end because Valen had offered to walk a few extra miles in the freezing night for me. Moonlight came as the softest of flashlights, leaves scurried along the path and the breeze became more keen—it gave me the satisfaction of feeling strands of my hair moving in the night-breeze—like it was the most gentle massage.

The stars embedded into the black night, bringing beauty to one another whilst my mind was astray. And even in the velvet dark there was a promise—a promise that even if we yearn for the light of the sun, those stars would bring hope of the dawn.

Something about Valen made me feel that hope when I was around him, and the thought had overpowered my mind until I stopped in front of my dorm building. I had to admit, the weight on my heart was eased when I walked with Valen—and my heart told me he was far better and wouldn't turn out like Evan.

When I turned to face Valen, his body had turned all the way to face mine, and despite the situation, the way the stars seemed to glow in his eyes could rapt me for days to come. “Thanks for walking me tonight, it took my mind off a lot of things.”

He only smiled. “There’s no need to thank me, I'll do anything for you.”

“Um,” I gulped, and it brought about the furrow of his eyebrows. “I’m sorry for the way I reacted earlier, I tend to overrea—”

His loud exhale cut through my sentence, and then: “Frosty.”

Warmth flooded my chest at the huskiness of his voice, and his caressing syllables made me bite my bottom lip. Jesus. “Yeah?”

He sighed. “Why the hell are you apologizing?”

My breathing faltered—solely because the feeling of his eyes so intently on mine was eating up my sanity. “Because I know I've got problems and I can be a pain in the—”

His finger dropped on my lips. Then, trailed it down slowly. “Trust me, you need to stop acting this way,” he stated, eyes alit—mine were the size of saucers, trying to comprehend what he was doing, breath lost in between the words he had whispered softly. And just when I thought I could ignore his intense gaze, his finger remained on my chin, and he just had to jut it upwards to make it very difficult. “There’s no need to apologise.”

My throat was drier than the Saharan dessert, mind still focused on the lingering touch of his fingers on my lips. Fuck Carla, I thought, get a grip. It took seconds to restore my sanity before I could nod at him. “Uh—okay.”

Time was already running out for my beauty sleep, and when he noticed this, he sighed. “You have to get to bed now, and sleep away all your troubles.”

My heart skipped a beat while he just stood like that, completely unbothered—as if he hadn't left me speechless seconds ago . He is just too enthralling, jeez, my brain figured. “Everything’s going to be okay.” He assured, and when he extended his hand to hold mine, I didn't know how to react. His hands were warm and calloused, too big when compared to mine.

I didn't respond, however, since my sanity was lost.

Then he flashed me his signature boyish grin. “Sleep tight.”

And then—all my sanity was restored. “Yes, you too.”

With the last look I threw at him, I made my way into my dorm. My feet soon met with the floor of my room, the comfort running all across my body. And so, as I shut the door close, I made my way to my bed, only hoping that the enthralling soul—who's presence I'd suddenly gotten addicted to—ended up in my dreams rather than my nightmares.

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Heyy, first off thank you so much for      5.7k reads on this book. Your comments always makes my day, really and I'm super excited to see where this goes <3

I hope you're safe and healthy :)

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-Jessie