*Tessa*

Marin slightly hit me on my hand as if I had said something that wasn't true.

"Tessa?" Her voice yells in concern.

"What?"

I didn't see the big deal in what I had said. I mean, I wasn't lying. I saw it in their files that they are not allowed to be in a relationship at the time of their contract. 

"I'm just saying how things are. There's no big deal about that."

Marin scowls at me, "That's a mean thing to say while he's here."

She looks up to Knox and adds, " Anyway, I'm just saying. If you weren't thinking to hit on her before. You should. She looks like a perfect fit for you." 

Marin chuckles weirdly.

I roll my eyes. I don't think I have to be bothered by how he feels anyway. Knox can't get hurt by mere words. He's a hard-core to break.

"Let's just get back faster. We've had enough traumatic experiences today."

We arrive home, and Knox opens the door for me to step out. 

I miss my stance, and I stumble into his body, his arms holding me firmly and gently, ensuring I won't fall. 

My body shivers, and for a moment, I feel bad for saying they can't be in a relationship, and I wonder if he ever feels lonely because he's having to watch a trouble-packed human like me.

I know I'm troublesome.

"You know, you can take today off and meet with your secret girlfriend. I'd stay put and I promise not to go anywhere." I genuinely say as he slowly let go of me.

He smirks. "You have shown me enough tactics of yours, and best believe I won't be buying into this as well." His voice, assuring and calming. 

I didn't want him to go too. 

I don't know if I feel jealous that it might be true, but he's in a relationship. 

Not like that was supposed to be any of my business, though, but it just doesn't sit well. 

"I know, I know. I can be a pain in the ass most times, but I'm being serious, yunno." 

"I've not seen Tessa this serious before. She must like you well enough to give you an excuse for fun. I support it too. You should spend time with your girlfriend." Marin adds, her hands glued to mine as we walk into the house.

"I mean, that's the least I can do for saving myself."

I take a deep breath out.

"Guess who ordered  pizza before we arrived? Meeee..." Knox shrugs our persuasion aside like he wasn't listening to what we said at all.

Marin leaves me and runs to the box of pizza that sat on the table in the living room.

"Wow, Knox! So cool." Her bag flies in the air, and I hear a thud sound hit from it as it smashes onto the ground. 

She picks up a large box and makes her way up the stairs. "Thanks, Knox. You're the best bodyguard ever!"

I shake my head in disappointment with Marin.

"She just won't compose herself rightly." I pick her bag from the floor and throw it over my shoulder before I lean in to take my box of pizza, leaving one box on the table.

"Thank you," I say, folding my lips after that, as I walk away. 

I couldn't walk so far because I just felt like I was supposed to apologize to him.

"I'm sorry about what I said earlier in the car. I just..." I turn around.

"That's fine. You were right anyway. I didn't know you knew that much about bodyguards." He responds, clear and unbothered.

I turn away and pace my steps up the stairs. 

Knox follows carefully after me, leaving a more decent space than he normally would. I was already used to it by now so it doesn't bother me.

"Tesssaaaa!" Marin yells.

"I'm coming," I grumble and walk faster.

I storm into the room and yell, "What the hell are you telling?" I snap and place my box of pizza on the bed. 

"Gosh! You need to see this movie. He's handsome!" she quivers as her eyes gleam.

Uninterested, but I do not have a choice but to see who she was referring to and what she was watching. 

"Do you seeee?" 

"I don't see anything special in him. I don't know what you're acting like you don't have enough K-pop stars to keep yourself fantasized about." 

I wasn't really in the mood for all of that. I didn't even know why I wasn't excited about anything.

My phone chimes, and I immediately go for it like I had waited my whole life for that moment. 

"Yeah, yeah. Look at you running to grab your phone because of a guy who decides to check on you years after an event that could have cost lives." She shakes her head for me and speaks gibberish.

I didn't know why Marin couldn't see Wes in a good way, no matter how hard I try.

He's the only person I'm over-obsessed with to give his message a special notification, so I can be on alert whenever his message drops.

"Are you hurt?"

I immediately reply, looking over to the door to see Knox glare at me and roll his eyes. I know he knows I was speaking with Wes.

I couldn't be bothered by what people think as long as I'm happy. 

"I wasn't. Thanks to Knox, who caught the guy. " 

I didn't get a response after that, and I could see that he is online.

"You know, Knox said he came to attach the school directly because of Marcus. He said the man came for me in particular. I hope I don't get killed one day because my brother wants to be a senator. He already has enough money. I don't know why he can't just run a business and settle down with a wife." 

I change the conversation a bit from Knox's glorious action and sent it to him again in the hope of getting a reply. I know he doesn't like to hear anything about Knox.

*Tessa*

"Sorry, I had to follow my dad to play a game earlier." 

Wes finally responds to my message hours after he left them unread. 

I pick up my phone sadly after I hear the notification. He hasn't always been like this, so I wonder why I feel so unseen by him.

His only response was just to address why he didn't respond to my message, but he still hasn't responded to anything I said about the kidnapping. 

It feels like he doesn't care or want to keep being bothered with all I have to say. 

I place my phone on the table and walk back to the bed, squeezing myself into Marin, as she watches the movie.

"What did he say this time around that's making you wear a long face?" She grumbles.

"It's nothing. He didn't say anything, actually. It's the fact that he didn't say anything that bothers me. He's busy with his dad anyway, that could be the reason why his attention is divided."

The need to constantly make excuses for his shortcomings was beginning to get to me. I don't know why, but this time around, I'm more bothered that I could have been killed if Knox hadn't been present. I really needed Wes to give me words that would comfort me or show that he cared to know how I was doing and the details of how we were able to survive it.

"Don't act all cringe when I ask you this question." I sit up to look Marin in the face. "Do you think I'm a bit excessive for Wes? Maybe I'm not acting like his type of girl or fitting appropriately."

Marin doesn't like him, and I know she wasn't going to give me any advice that favours Wes, so I didn't bother to ask about me.

She smiles and uses her hand to brush through my hair. "I've told you several times. That boy is not a good match for you. You're way above him. The only good thing about him is the fact that he's from a wealthy home. I don't like his manners. If he doesn't have value for you, then what's the point, Tessa?" She rolls her eyes and adds. " I know you think I'm saying all this just because I don't like him. Which I very much don't, nonetheless, if he makes you happy, there's nothing I'd choose your joy over my thoughts. You're not excessive. You're perfect. Wes should get a life. Do you need me to call him?"

"Oh, no! At all. Thank you. I've gotten the perfect response I need. He didn't tell me I'm excessive or anything. I just wanted to know."

I didn't want Marin to cause me more trouble with Wes. I know her mouth is big enough to say worse things to his face.

My phone beeps.

"Ughhhhhh!" She groans, "He can't be around now. I'm just getting to the exciting part of the story. Ughhh!" She nags a little.

Marin's driver was waiting outside to pick her up. 

"I wish you could stay back a little longer." I hold Marin by her arm and escort her down the stairs. 

"I wish I could, too? Can't we do a little hide and seek?" Marin turns to gaze at Knox, who walks behind us. "Let's see if Knox can catch up with us."

My mood is dull, and I'd rather stay out, hugging someone.

"Nah. I think Knox has had a rough day already today. There's no use trying to make it worse for him."

"True." 

We both walked towards the Mercedes that came to pick her up. 

She hugs me, and I press her into my body tightly. 

"See you tomorrow." 

"Are we really going to be having school tomorrow despite the break-in?" I ask, more out of fear than concern.

"I don't know either. We will find out when tomorrow comes."

Her driver closes the door and passes the front to get to where he will sit. 

"Thanks for having her stay with you all through this." He adds. His correctly spoken words hit just right with his Indian accent.

Knox stands next to me as we both watch Miran leave.

"You're too unhappy for a boy who doesn't care for you. What exactly makes you like him this much, then?" Knox says, walking after me as I pace my steps upstairs.

I didn't know he could see that I was unhappy. I know he doesn't really like Wes, either.

"It's not that he doesn't care about me. He's probably just having his moments, and it's okay because everyone has them." I defend Wes.

Perhaps, that's what I think I'm doing.

"Do you game?" 

"No. You do?" 

I'm caught by surprise that someone like Knox will know how to play the game. 

"Who are you, Knox?" I turn to him, "Just when I think I know you enough, I realize I don't know you at all."

I am not bothered by his mysterious self anyway, but it just might please me to know more about him since he knows almost everything about me now. 

"You can't know much about me. It will be bad for your safety." He says with an assuring glance at me. 

Knox is quite as handsome as Marin had been saying. I am just seeing how perfect his eyes are as I glance at him.

We stand for a while, no word, no comment, just glaring at one another. 

My phone chimes, and it cuts loudly through the silence that fills the air. 

I smile and leave Knox behind the door and walk into my room. 

My phone lay on the table just a few steps away from the door.

"Shawn is throwing a party in his house. The party starts at 1 am. His parents are out of town. Let's go together. I'd pick you up."

I read a message from Wes.

I didn't feel like going, but I knew it made him mad the last time. I don't want to make him feel like I'm doing it intentionally.

*Tessa*

How am I going to tell Knox I am going to a party just after he saved me?

I'm sure he will think I don't care about my safety, and giving Wes an excuse isn't an option.

"Wes says there's a party at Shawn's. Are you coming?" I sent a text to Marin.

"I hear it's exclusively by invitation. I don't really like Shawn anyway. I'm not going, but you should if you want to." She replies.

If Marin isn't going with me, I'd feel left out in the crowd because I know girls will start flocking around him as usual and I won't be able to have him all to myself. 

"What am I going to do?" I sit on my bed and throw myself into the unknown realities and expectations I'm faced with.

I stand up, holding my phone close to my thigh as I saunter towards Knox. 

His eyes were closed, so I thought to prank him by taking his phone from his hand. 

I reach for it and touch its tip. He grabs my hand and squeezes a bit before letting me off, like he had been watching before I even thought to touch his phone. 

"Gosh!" I jump a little. "You scared me." 

"Why are you poking your nose where it shouldn't belong? Do you think I'm sleeping?" He laughs.

I glare at him and snarl, rubbing my hand. 

"I want to ask for a favour."

"What do you need?" 

I didn't know how to tell him in the face that I needed him to escort me to the party, so I could see Wes, but more importantly, so I wouldn't feel left out. 

"There's a party I need to attend tonight, and I want you to please follow me because Marin says she won't be there, and I know Wes will get occupied with his female friends and I won't have anyone to talk to." 

"You don't have to go." He responds in a curt manner. 

"No, no. I must. I must go. Please." 

The look on his face. It's clear he's not interested in the party or excited to know I'm thinking of attending a party.

"Pleaseeee. Just this once. Please." I squeeze my face like that of a baby who shouldn't be ignored. 

"Two hours max, and we are out of there. I'm not invested in you not choosing something else to do from night till dawn. I mean, there's a lot you can do if you stay behind here."

"Wes can even come over." He suggests, and I know well that he wouldn't want Wes to come over. 

They both will have a hard time because he will have to keep a close watch on both of us having our moments.

"Fine. Two hours is enough." 

I didn't have a choice, but I am full of excitement and I find myself wearing a short black dress. 

Maybe a little too short. I needed to call the attention of Wes as fast as I could. 

I glance at the mirror, turning front to back and then to the front again. I couldn't help but adorn myself with fancy jewelry and chains. They always have a way of making my outfits look more sophisticated.

"I'm ready." I hope out of my room, my bag swinging on my shoulder.

Knox takes a good glance at me from head to toe, as though he were assessing me, and he will send me back into my room if he doesn't like something I put on.

I hope he likes what I wear anyway, but I just stand still. 

"Alright, after you."

He finally says.

A breath of relief proceeds out of my lungs afterwards as I walk down the stairs with my boots.

I get to the car, and Knox was still approaching. 

"It's open," he oddly says

"Oh." 

I expect him to get the door for me like he always would, even on days when I act like an asshole. 

"Are you angry at me or what?" I turn to look at him.

"Why do you ask?" He stands and looks at me with a weird smirk on his face as though he's aware of why I was asking anyway. 

"Uhmm, it's nothing." I proceed to try opening the door myself but it wouldn't open. "The door is..." 

I keep pulling on the handle when Knox walks over to me and places his hands over mine. 

An uncomfortable pause fills me as I could feel the wrap of his body over me, hiding my whole body. 

He removes my hand from the door. "Step aside."

I've not heard a command sound so hot. 

His voice tingles in my ear as I move aside, confused. 

I didn't know if I'm the one feeling a strong tension between the two of us, or if I'm the one falling for how masculine he is.

Knox presses the button on the keys in his hand and pulls the door open.

It was locked all along. 

I shook my head at him as I walk into the car to sit.

He closes my door and hops in moments after and drives off. 

We arrive at Shawn's dad's mansion.

We were met by the security in front of the gate. 

I stretch forth my ID to the man who walked up to our vehicle, and he waves his hand, signaling for the gate to open.

The gate opens and Knox drives in a zoom into the dark drive. Despite being inside, the house is farther down, with its beauty, hidden by the tall trees that cover it.

Soon we begin to hear a loud play of music and the voices of people. 

Knox drives slower as we approach the building itself.  

I have been there before, so I wasn't moved by the beauty of the mansion. 

"I'd like to go in by myself first, then you'd come in afterwards." 

"You know that's never going to happen," Knox gets down and walks over to my side of the car and opens the door for me.