016

016

Cassian
"Come on, Cassian," I puffed out a mouthful of air. “Just relax. They're already on their way and will be here to nab the stalker any moment now. Just don't act suspicious."

I mouthed the words to myself over and over again, but I wasn't sure anything was going to change what was going on here. I was freaking out, and was doing a terrible job at hiding it too.

"You're totally acting suspicious." I groaned to no one in particular. I punched the air in anger, and only then did I realize it was totally unnecessary. You couldn't blame me though. I was panicking and was this close to losing it. "Why was this happening to me? I'd heard that being beautiful was a curse, but no one told me it could be this extreme."

I'd barely muttered those words to myself , before my phone vibrated in my pocket. I shuddered at the thought of who that could be and my fears were confirmed the moment I peered at my phone's screen.

“You didn't reply.” I read out the text flashing on my screen. “Don't you want to hang out with me?

I felt my heart drop to my feet, but somehow, the Chief's words play in my head all over again

“Whatever you do, just keep them talking.” He was surprisingly calm about the whole thing, and I found it a tad bit impressive. “We're going to try to track her from here before the others get to you.”

His calm voice had managed to placate my thumping heart and raging emotions a bit.

“And don't act suspicious.” He added, like a warning note. “Be natural.”

This time, the stalker had used a different number and I could reply to his texts too. That was the only way the option for their phone to be tracked had come up.

That was good, right? I hoped

“I've been dying to meet you,” I read out the text slowly, while I tried my best not to betray any emotions. “Don't you feel the same way too?

"Just great," I gulped nervously, my trembling fingers struggling to get a grip on the phone. “Here goes nothing."

“Of course,” I couldn't believe I was doing this. “but you've been cruel keeping yourself away from me.”

“Like you're that excited to see me…” Their response came immediately, and I gulped.

“Of course I am.” I texted back. “”I want to meet that person who likes me so much.”

“Like you? That's an insult to how I really feel about you.” My fingers hovered over my keyboard as I read out the next words. “I love you, in fact you can say I'm obsessed with you.”

"Oh." I shuddered in pure fear, and this time I couldn't even bring myself to shoot a response back.

I tried to calm myself down, but no matter how hard I tried, only one thought seemed to come to mind.

You're doomed Cassian. When were they going to get here?

“Are you still there?” A loud ping pulled my eyes back to my phone

“Yeah, sure sure.” I texted them a response back. “So where are we going to meet up?”

“I'll work out the details.” Another message buzzed from my phone. “I don't want a repeat of what happened the other time.”

My hand absentmindedly traced my side, and I winced from the contact. I definitely didn't want a repeat of that night.

“Okay.” I nodded, like anyone could see me. “What did you have in mind?”

“I was thinking....” I didn't get to read the rest of the text as something caught my attention.

My head whipped towards the back door as my ears registered a faint sound. It sounded like cans rolling over the cobblestones in the yard. That wouldn't be possible unless...

"They can't be outside right?" I ran a hand through my hair, my heart beats accelerating by the second. "If she's here and the Chief isn't, then I'm doomed. "

An idea came to mind immediately, and despite how crazy it was, I didn't waste a single second.

“Still there?” I punched in the words. Texting this stranger wasn't a part of my plans tonight, and now that I wanted them to reply, they'd suddenly gone missing? Great. “Hello?”

Someone's muffled yelp came from outside, followed by footsteps running around the backyard. My heart dropped to my feet, and for the next couple of seconds, I allowed myself to actually think.

What would a sane person in my position do?

I hated how I wasn't able to come up with any solution. Call it nerves or anxiety, I just couldn't put two and two together.

Another sound followed, but this time, instead of cowering away like the back of my mind screamed at me, I decided I was going to take a bold step.

“That's it, I can't stay in here anymore.” I muttered to myself. “If my stalker is really out there, I might as well die a hero. Or die trying to be one at least.”

Grabbing a vase from my dining table, I headed towards the back door. Muttering the Lord's prayer incoherently, I pushed open the door and almost had a heart attack. Right before me, two masked figures were thrashing and kicking at each other. If I didn't know better, I'd have thought the gates of hell released some shadows to come play fight in my backyard.

In my attempt to remain unnoticed, I snapped a twig into two drawing the attention of one of them. The bigger one cursed loudly and let go of his opponent whom he had in a headlock earlier. Before I could register anything else, he'd fled leaving the other one swaying and struggling to find his balance.

I didn't give it a second thought. Mustering all the courage I could, I grabbed his arm , spun him towards me and banged the huge vase against the side of his head. He went down almost immediately, giving a tiny yelp before slipping into unconsciousness .

"Take that. " I fist bumped the air and did a little monkey dance. Usually, I would be worried about appearances, but since I'd just survived a near death experience, I think I deserved to be cut some slack. “Who's badass now? Chief is going to be so impressed!"

After reveling in my mini victory, my eyes darted back to the unconscious figure sprawled a few inches away from me. I walked closer and crouched down to his face level. Whoever it was had a balaclava on, obscuring his face from my view and pretty much anyone else's. His chest was slightly perky for a guy and his stature was rather petite. Giving it a gentle tug, I pulled it over his head and my breath caught in my throat on seeing who it was.

“Shit.”

It'd been two hours since she lay unconscious on my bed, and I was scared. Not that she'd never wake up or anything. I was scared of what she'd do to me when she finally came around.

Of all people, out of everyone in this entire universe, it just had to be her, I mused, my head in my hands. It was obvious, karma was punishing me. But for what exactly? I had no idea.

"Olivia?" A tiny voice was all it took to snap me back to the present. She was coming round as she drawled forlornly obviously in pain from her head injury. At this point, if she suffered a concussion or amnesia, I'd be the happiest man alive. “Remind me to never get drunk with you again. I had just one glass and....You!"

She trailed off the moment her eyes met mine and I winced at the tone of her voice. It was a miracle how I was still sitting on the brown leather pouf by my bed and not sprawled on the tiled floor. My room had a dark ambience with huge bookshelves and books scattered on my desk by the door, giving it an odd but comfortable dark academia vibe. The bedside lamp was lit to its lowest, its shade casting a gentle hue on my visitor's glaring face.

"Calm down, Mila." I cooed. “Just calm down. I promise, it's not what it looks like. "

"Who the hell is Mila?" She growled. Literally. “Where the hell am I?"

“Good Lord, she doesn't remember.” I did a victory dance in my head. “I must be really lucky.”

"Look." I took a hold of her hands and stared into her eyes. She looked taken aback but made no move to pull out of my grip. " Your name is Mila and you're my student. You had a mini accident and I brought you home to recover. You understand?"

"Are you nuts?" She yelled and I flinched. “Do I look stupid to you? And I know what happened; you frigging attacked me with that stupid vase of yours."

Scratch that, I was in serious trouble.

"Actually." I drawled sheepishly. “There's a reasonable explanation for all of this."

"Which is?" She folded her arms across her chest, the sleeves of her shirt catching wildly. She seemed to notice it too as she took in her appearance and something flicked in her eyeballs. "Where are my clothes?"

"About that." I jerked off the pouf. Sitting anywhere near her would definitely lead to something dangerous and I was definitely not ready for another injury. “I kinda changed you."

"What!? You're joking. Right?" She yelled as she got out of the duvet in one swift motion. Her face morphed into a scowl as she stood inches from me,my white shirt stopping way above her knees like a short dress. Her jet black hair was tossed all over her head but somehow managed to frame her face and complement her face perfectly. “Why the hell would you do that?"

"Your clothes were damp and I didn't want you to catch a cold." I shrugged. “I didn't look if that's what you're worried about. It's not like I haven't seen them before."

"Why you little..." I seemed to have caught her off guard and my smirk grew even wider. “Who do you think you are?"

"Why don't I let you figure that out, darling?." I tilted my head towards hers, our foreheads almost touching. “I must say you look really good in my clothes. Do you know how many women would kill to be in your place right now?"

"How would you like to die?" She enunciated so slowly I almost missed it. “I'm giving you the privilege to choose."

"What?" I reeled backwards. “What's that supposed to mean?"

"You'll soon find out." Her face was stoic, an unmistakable rage blazing in her eyes. “ 5."

"What the?" I blinked rapidly. “You're joking right?"

"4"

"Mila!"

"3"

"Are you nuts? Stop counting!"

"2"

"Uh oh"

"1" She smirked. “I'd run if I were you."

And that's what I did. I ran out of my room with that psychopath hot on my tails. Barely missing her talon like nails, I dashed into the kitchen. She followed immediately, hot on my tail like a predator after its prey.

"Gotcha!" Catching me didn't take too long, and I had no idea if she was really that fast, or because I'd let it happen. She pressed both hands against the side of my head. I had my back pressed to the fridge, a bit of cold seeping through my clothes. “Why don't you try running now?"

I took in her facial features like I'd never set my eyes on her before. Her eyes seemed brighter and her lips looked fuller and under the kitchen lights, they were a gentle shade of pink, one that didn't match her fiery personality at all. Her exposed neck, on the other hand, was basically calling me to run my tongue over it. Trailing kisses down her neck didn't sound like a bad idea either and I could basically imagine taking a bit of skin in between my teeth.

My gaze wandered from her eyes to her lips again and again, and without giving it so much as a second though, I acted.

In one swift movement, I spun her around so we'd switch places. Her eyes widened in surprise as I pressed her against the fridge now, both hands by the side of her head. Without thinking, I leaned in, so close we were practically exchanging breaths.

"Mila." I breathed, running my thumb over her lips. They seemed to part at my touch, like she was anticipating what I'd do next.

"I.." I trailed off, leaning closer.

"Oof!" We both jumped apart as my ringtone blared from the phone in my pocket

“I thought the bastard was on vibrate”I groaned. “Excuse me.”

"Uhhh." She slipped from under my hands, her fiery demeanor totally depleted. “I should go now."

"Mila, wait." I called out. “You can't go. You can't go alone. It's 3:00am."

"I'm not a baby." She scoffed, her hands akimbo. “I can take care of myself."

"But.."

"Goodnight." She walked out the back door and slammed it shut. “

Sighing heavily, I sank into one of the dining chairs.

That girl would definitely be the death of me.