I have been hiding in my room all day because I hear people talking in the kitchen. But it's 2 pm now, they are still talking, and I'm only getting hungrier. I thought maybe at 12 they would be done, then maybe 1, then maybe 2, but it's now past 2 and the talking hasn't stopped. I wouldn't care if it was just Miles and Christian, but there were a few other voices too. And after last night, I wasn't in the mood to be around other people. 

So I took a deep breath and left my room, making my way down the stairs.

Miles stood leaning against the kitchen wall, Christian sat on a stool while smoking a cigarette, and Nicholas and Marco stood beside each other. When all 4 of them moved their eyes onto me, I began to feel uncomfortable and just kept walking as if I weren't in there to get something to eat.

I wasn't hungry in the first place. No big deal.

I entered the gym instead but heard the sound of a pair of footsteps following me. When I turned around, Miles was looking down at me. His eyes moved around my face while he observed me. I said good morning to him, but he ignored it and stated, "You're hungry. Eat something."

"No, I'm not. I'm here to get jacked," I gestured with my head towards some of the weights, even though I think my stomach was eating itself. 

He looked at me like he didn't believe me, "Come on. I'll be in shit if you die from starvation. I'll have them leave the kitchen, that way you won't be uncomfortable."

I was surprised he was willing to make them leave for me, especially when they had been talking in there for the past 4 hours, so it must be about something important. I nodded my head slightly and he walked with me to the kitchen, telling them while we entered, "Move it to my office."

All three of them instantly obeyed, clearing out of the kitchen and leaving it just Miles and I. I said quietly to him, "Thank you."

I poured a bowl of cereal, my face lighting up seeing the almond milk I asked Miles to get. I poured it into the bowl, taking a seat at the table. He came over and sat across from me so I asked him, "What are Nic and Marco doing here?"

He puts his arms on the table and clasps his hands. His fingers have tattoos on them, and his wrists are quite large, making his large hands. 

I'm surprised Marco is still comfortable being around him after getting stabbed. Maybe it's because of fear or stupidity, but he forgave him. 

"Trying to find Jorge. There's been no sight of him since the party," he explained. "What did he say to you at the party?"

I got a chill down my back just remembering it. His voice was so....empty. I couldn't explain it, but it made a knot form in my stomach I told him in case it was important, "He said that one day I'd be his, and that I'll be seeing him again soon."

I noticed his fists clenched and he looked to the side, taking a while to reply. His jawline became even more prominent while he clenched his teeth. But when he spoke, he said, "Okay. I'll increase security here. But don't be afraid while you're here, I promise I'll keep you safe."

"Because of the favor," he quickly adds as if it hadn't been on his mind at first.

I force myself to nod and say quietly, "Right."

His words sounded truthful, just from his tone I knew I could trust him. I didn't trust easily, but here I was, trusting him. He continued to sit with me as I ate, although he didn't say anything else. I got up and started washing it when he suggested, "I think it would be smart for me to teach you how to fight."

I turned around, setting the clean bowl beside the sink. He continued, "Can you meet me in the backyard in a little bit?"

"Fight?" I repeated.

"Yes, fight," he said. "Just in case I'm ever not there with you, and you need to defend yourself."

I thought about it for a moment. I had taken some pretty awful beatings from my Dad without ever fighting back, so I had no clue on how to defend myself. But after thinking about it, I nodded, and he left the kitchen. 

I went upstairs, changing into shorts and a T-shirt so that I wouldn't get too hot outside. It's time for me to become stronger, especially since my father isn't here right now to stop me. 

I headed outside, sitting at the fountain while I waited for him. I looked to my left and noticed Bellamy standing behind the gate so I called out, "Hey!"

He turned around, giving me a smile. He asked me, "Going swimming again?"

"Nope. I'm kicking Miles' ass once he comes out here," I told him. "You should have 911 on speed dial."

He laughed slightly, "Be careful. I've seen Miles and Christian spar out here before, and I'm pretty sure Miles accidentally broke his arm. Although Christian was annoying him so I'm not too sure it was actually an accident."

I laughed as he turned around to continue doing his job. Miles should be worried because I'm gonna absolutely destroy him. Well, after he teaches me how to punch. 

╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

M I L E S

I filled all 3 of them in on what Alissa just told me, all of them looking confused. They exchanged unsure looks and I was hoping one of them had some information because I had absolutely none. Him wanting to kill me, fine. But threatening Alissa? Alissa is off-limits. 

Marco glanced at Nic while asking, "What the hell could that mean?"

"It's probably just to try and scare you," Nic shrugged. "I wouldn't worry about it too much."

"I'm not. Just gonna up the security until he's finally killed," I replied. His threats will become meaningless when I find him and wear his blood like a trophy. 

They nodded, all 3 of them leaving a few minutes later. Christian was going out with them to try and find him, but Jorge isn't that smart. He'll get caught eventually. And if he doesn't, I'll go out and kill him myself.

I changed into black shorts and a white shirt before heading outside, seeing Alissa waiting for me at the water fountain. I stopped walking for a moment at the sight of her. She looked at the flowers, smiling at them as if she didn't see flowers often. Her green eyes which felt hypnotic at times looked up, so I forced myself to keep walking. She stood up while smiling, "Ready to get your ass kicked?"

"Mhm. Come here," I grabbed onto her hand, pulling her over to an area of grass.

I stood still while telling her, "Hit me."

She looked surprised at my words, her eyes moving around my face, "Really?"

"Yea. How else were you planning on kicking my ass?"

She thought for a second before shrugging, "True."

She tried to punch me, but it was so slow it was laughable. I dodged with ease, a laugh escaping my lips for the first time in my memorable life. 

Her jaw dropped and her arms crossed. She gave me a serious look, "You shouldn't laugh at your students. Bad students are a reflection of a bad teacher. Teach me."

I nodded, walking around to be behind her. I adjusted her stance, my fingertips against her skin feeling like fire. Once she was adjusted correctly, I told her how to throw her arm in her punch. She nodded, listening to my every word as if it were an interesting movie. I gave her the directions while standing behind her, keeping her in the stance, my lips so close to her ear. 

I stood back to be in front of her and cleared my throat. I told her, "Okay. Now do it."

She punched again, and even though I could've dodged it, I let my face take the blow. She let out a gasp and said, "I'm sorry! Wait. You told me to do that, so never mind."

I fought back another laugh while nodding my head, "That one was good. But remember, you have other body parts that are just as useful. Like your elbows and your knees."

"Yea? Like this?" she tried to swing her elbow at me, but I caught her arm and pulled her into me, the back of her body pressing again my front as she was stuck in my grip. She was a small girl, her strength wasn't even comparable to mine, and in this moment I realized I truly did need to protect her if somebody tried to harm her. She stood no chance. 

She tilted her head back to look up at me, "Huh. I guess not like that."

I found myself wanting to stay like this, so I let her go. I needed her warm body to stop pressing against mine. She let out a sigh, sitting down on the grass and laying on her back. I stared down at her, her light blonde hair blowing slightly from the wind. She smiled at me, "Weathers fine down here if you want to join. I'm officially calling a break."

I rolled my eyes but sat down beside her. She pulled me to lay on my back too, and both of us stared up at the baby blue sky filled with fluffy clouds. She pointed to one and said, "That one looks like a dick."

I shrugged. She wasn't wrong. She turned to look at me, so I turned to look at her. She told me, "How about we continue training in the gym?"

At first, her words didn't register in my brain. My eyes were locked on hers, and fuck they are such a beautiful shade of green. I could never understand why she would want contacts. She put her hand on me, snapping me out of my thoughts while she said softly, "Miles?"

I pushed myself up quickly, "Yea. Sounds good."

I stood up and held my hand out for her, helping her to her feet. We walked to the gym, and she headed further in while looking around. I asked her, "Do you lift weights?"

"Nope," she replied. "Never played any sports at all, actually."

My eyebrows tugged together. That surprised me. She clearly loved being outside so much, I just assumed she had. I asked her, "Why not? I see how much you love the outdoors."

She smiles to herself while she thinks. She nods, "I do. I just wasn't allowed outside very often."

"What does that mean?" I asked her. Her eyes widened for a moment as if she had just realized what she said. 

"Nothing," she says quickly, dropping the topic. She continued looking around the room.

Her eyes had moved all around the room, but they stopped at the speaker in the corner of the room. While walking over to it she asked me, "Do you ever come in here and dance? I'd do that all the time."

"No I don't, believe it or not," I replied almost sarcastically. 

"Oh, I know you're a ballerina at heart," she says, matching my sarcasm. 

She bent down in front of the speaker and plugged her phone into it. I asked her, "What are you doing?"

A song started to play on the speaker as she sprung back onto her feet. I never listened to music, not even when working out. Music is for fun, and I am not somebody that has fun or wants to have fun. She started dancing to the music, but I stayed completely still. She ran over to me, grabbing my hands in an attempt to make me dance.

She yelled over the music, "Can you dance?"

"Can, but I won't," I replied. 

She rolled her eyes, continuing to dance while laughing. I watched her as she had the time of her fucking life dancing by herself in a gym. She always looked so happy. I wondered what that was like, to always be endlessly happy, no matter what was going on around you. Her hair moved around, but it never covered her smile

I wonder what that's like, to smile all the time. 

She stopped dancing for a moment, coming over and standing directly in front of me. She said, "You need to have more fun. It's good for you."

I have fun. To me, killing is fun. And somebody that kills does not deserve to feel as happy as Alissa always does. But she's different than me, she's kind, she actually matters in this world. She has people that love her. I don't. 

But as I stared down at her, something stirred in my stomach. Her plump lips were still forming a smile as she asked due to my gaze, "What?"

My actions are usually well thought out. I always think about what happens after I do something. But right now, I don't, and I do something without thinking. 

I put my hands on her cheeks, pressing my lips against hers. Warmth filled me as I kissed her, her sweet taste consuming my senses. She kissed me back, and I let myself run a hand through her soft hair. Getting a taste of her mouth with my tongue only further pushed me to ignore the logical part of my brain and continue kissing her. And I never wanted to stop. I didn't deserve this kiss, I didn't deserve to kiss a girl as pure as her, yet here I was. She shouldn't kiss me back. She should run from me, far away, she should know to not kiss somebody like me. But she does. She kisses me and lets me bury my hand in her soft hair. 

Once we needed air and pulled away, I ran my thumb along her bottom lip. We both still stared at each other - processing what just happened while breathing heavily. We had both just done something we couldn't take back, we had both just kissed somebody the complete opposite of us. While she kissed a demon, I kissed an angel. 

She eventually whispers, "I should go change back into my normal clothes."

I tried to search her face for how she was feeling, wondering if she regretted it or not. But when her mouth turned up in a smile, relief hit me fast. I took a step back from her, "Yea. I'm gonna shower. Let me know what you want for dinner later."

She nodded her head, the smile staying on her face. The song came to an end and she walked to go get her phone, and I headed upstairs to my room.

What just happened replayed over and over in my mind like a song on repeat. Her sweet taste still lingered in my mouth, and the warmth in my stomach remained. 

I turned my shower on, pulling my clothes off. I got into the water, rinsing my face off with water as if that would get her out of my mind. But still, she stayed there.

I haven't kissed a woman in years. I don't know what the fuck came over me, I don't know what the fuck this emotion was.

But for the first time in over a decade, I felt happy.

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