Theo was a fast walker, I trailed right behind him, my short legs no match to the long strides of his. We exited from the side stairway and made our way towards the back to the seniors-only section of the student parking. The asphalt was still graffitied with cringy cliche senior quotes and littered with putrid pastel colors of school spirit. Theo's spot was one of the few remaining that was spared from the kindergarten craft project every high school senior succumbed to.

Theo stopped next to a matted dark grey Dodge Charger, a hokily fitting match for someone so heavily invested in the tough-guy persona. Theo unlocked the doors and hopped in. I followed suit as well, paying mind not to hit my head on the lowered ceiling.

The soft, clean leather interior hugged my cold body as Theo reversed out and drove quietly out of the parking lot, taking care not to lay into the throttle until we were a few hundred feet away from school grounds. I was still in shock that there weren't any security guards on a 1980s T-model golf cart chasing us as we made our escape. Seriously, this school needed to invest in a good security system. I mean, I'm fucking skipping school without getting caught.

As Theo maneuvered through traffic, I couldn't help but wonder why I was so easily swayed to skip school. If my moms got any word of this, they would completely freak out. I could see it now, Beth downing a full bottle of Moscato as she questioned where she went wrong; Tina breaking down and getting a pack of cigarettes from the gas station. They would absolutely lose it.

The car ride was awkwardly silent.

Like, what am I supposed to say to him? How's the weather? Did you catch the basketball game last night? Who did you get in a fight with?

I let the silence form a barrier between Theo and I. Theo pulled into a small lot, next to the main town square, and hopped out, waiting for me to catch up before following along a cobblestone path to a quaint, colonial-style building. The creak from the old heavy wooden door gave away our presence as we made our way into the corridor, towards the central reception desk.

An old woman peaked up from behind a stack of books. The unevenness of the stack made me anxious, and a strong urge to rearrange them came over me as we approached the desk.

"Good afternoon Theo," the older woman spoke. I stood by Theo as I quietly examined her, greeting her with a warm smile.

The silver hues of her grey hair were pulled neatly into a bun, with brown oxford glasses enlarging her sagging hooded eye sockets. Her warm cashmere sweater covered her tiny frame, patterned with pink roses that clashed with her brown corduroys pants. A small tag that read Ms. Cruz, popped daintily near the top buttons of her sweater.

Her tiny frail body was completely surrounded by towers of books, which freaked me out as I imagined at any point a gust of wind from the massive front doors could simply knock over one of the stacks, and she would be fatefully buried in a literary domino pile.

We stood there as Theo and Ms. Cruz spoke in hushed tones before Ms. Cruz handed Theo a golden key with a cerulean blue tag attached to it.

We left the desk, entering the large room full of vast knowledge, passing quiet patrons enjoying their afternoon in the brightly lit space. Theo decided to cut through the sea of bookshelves, weaving in and out of the rows before dipping down a dark, hidden hallway with glossy, intricate tiles. He stopped before a room, using the golden key to open the frosted glass panel door revealing a stuffy old room with piles of books everywhere. A small skylight peaked from the corner of the space, with a larger window encompassing the opposite wall from where we stood. It appeared to be a study room, and a well-used one at that!

The room seemed to be stuffed to the brim with stacks of books everywhere. A worn walnut bookcase precariously stood in the far left corner of the window. It looked like it was on its last leg. Any moment now, it could collapse from the sheer amount of books on its shelves.

"What is this place?" My eyes couldn't find a corner where there weren't books poking out.

"It's a graduate study room I use to place some of my books I'm currently reading."

"Some?" I say, astonished at his understatement.

"Well, yeah. Anyways, I have some materials here we could use for the project," Theo said as he took off his jackets and hung it on the back of a chair. "I just have to find it." He started checking in different piles.

"Ok, no worries." I stood awkwardly in the corner, not sure what to do next.

My eyes wandered around to the bookcase, the colorful array of books drew my interest as I made my way around the room. Touching the dusty corners of the shelf, I tried to gage who Theo was from his choice books.

There were textbooks, novels like Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, poetry books, and an insightful guide on how to fold origami. Totally unexpected from a cold guy like Theo. I was starting to question whether this was his actual place he used.

"So how often do you come here?" I asked, still perusing the bookcase, not really helping him out.

"Mostly every day," Theo mumbled.

"Every day?!" The bulging of my eyes gave away my shocked expression.

"Yeah, basically. Ms. Cruz got tired of me hoarding all of my books on one of the back tables so she just gave me this room. I honestly think she did it so I wouldn't scare all of the patrons away. But yeah... all I have to do is just help out in the library once in a while in exchange for the space... Kinda like forced community service," Theo continued to search through another stack of books.

"Cool, I never imagined you —"

"Imagined me as what?" Theo cut me off. "As someone who likes to read?"

"Hehe... ummm ... yeah I mean... no." I stumbled over my words.

Ooooof, talk about fucking awkward.

"So what are you into?" Theo took the initiative to change the subject.

"Oh! Nothing crazy. Video games. Netflix. Kash actually has me kinda back into anime at the moment. Have you ever heard of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure?" I went off excitedly. Kash really did have me on a bender lately. I had kind of dropped off from anime after middle school.

"I don't watch that type of stuff... I actually don't watch much tv at all." Theo's curt tone stopped the nice flow of our conversation, and a thorny uneasiness settled back onto the dust of our silence.

Wow, I actually killed the conversation. Way to go Remy! Fucking gold star for you!

I decided to just cut my losses and continue my private investigation to see if I could find any more details on Theo.

The rustling of books and papers stopped and I looked over to find Theo watching me from the other side of the room, almost like an animal that was tracking me.

"You liked to do that a lot, huh?" My thoughts escaped my lips.

"Like to do what?" Theo asked.

"Umm, you know, stare at me." Again, dumbfounded that I even spoke those words.

"I'm just trying to figure you out, man."

"Figure me out?" I turned back to the bookshelf, shocked by his sudden revelation. "What's to figure out? I'm just your average loner. Nothing much to figure out over here."

Soft footsteps made their way over to me as I continued to look at the bookcase, I took the origami guide and decided to fake my interest in the book. My stomach churned as I felt both helpless and electrified by his steps approaching me. Theo was right behind me but I refused to turn around, my body becoming hot, sweat beads dripped down my neck.

Theo removed the book that was anchoring me to the shelf, gently coaxing me to turn around by softly spinning me at the shoulders. Those familiar forest green eyes intoxicated me, and I strangely wished I had another two inches in height so as to maybe not feel so punitive against his basketball player-like stature.

He had the kind of face that stopped you in your tracks, almost instantly when he walked in the room. His gel hair was slightly tousled but framed his Adonis face so naturally. The bruised lip was the only thing tarnished on his impeccable image.

Honestly, how can anyone look this good? It's so unfair!

He studied me with the same intensity I was studying him. His hands, still gently on my shoulders. He leaned in closer, his lips wandering dangerously close to mine. My heart began to race, while my brain was sent into overdrive.

Oh my god, oh my god. What do I do?

"Interesting," he let out inquisitively, "You're not scared."

"Of course not. Why should I be?" My prevailing ability to always talk back seemed to always shoot me in the foot.

"Most people are. Either that or they at least want something from me." Theo continued to linger in front of my face. His actions were sending my nerves through the roof.

"Hmm. You're different. And I don't know why... why I'm drawn to you." Theo gently stroked my cheek. The sensual touch making my body go stiff and limp all at once... 

Theo leaned over, moving away from my face towards my neck.

Oh my god... He is too close!

My mind was completely broken, unsure of what to do or even how to compute this situation. Theo sniffed my neck, the heat from his breath was sending chills down my spine.

"You smell," he said bluntly.

"I what?" Baffled by the accusation, I began to sniff my armpits before grabbing my shirt. "I swear this was a clean shirt I picked this morning, I think?" I said as I continued to sniff myself.

Theo broke into a spell of laughter as he continued to watch me panic. "Wow, I haven't laughed like that in years. You're funny Remy." Theo was holding on to his chest.

"Glad I could provide you with some comic relief at my own expense," I growled back at him, still sniffing my clothes.

"It's not like that, really I was just teasing you. I just thought you had a different scent to you just now."

"Oh I'm just teasing you," I parroted under my breath. Even if he was teasing me, my paranoia would continue to haunt me for the rest of the day. Maybe Beth used a different laundry detergent.

"Here, take these." Theo handed me two heavy textbooks that were basically bricks in disguise. "These will help you with the project. Let's go, school is basically almost done"

"Okay", I said, huffing from the forced workout. I struggled to carry the books as we exited the study room and made our way to the library desk. I couldn't believe time flew by so quickly.

A small chuckle came from Theo as he took back the textbooks. I guess me struggling was something funny to him too. As we were walking back towards the car, the cold wind made me shrivel uncontrollably. I didn't want to say that Kash was right, but I was freezing my ass off!

Theo stopped by my door and opened it, handing his jacket to me. "Here, use it."

"No, I'm good, the car will make me warm."

"Remy, take it, no arguing."

"But it has blood--", Theo eyes cut me off, starting a silent staring contest.

"Fine," he grunted, searching in his backseat to find a gray hoodie sweater. He shoved it in my hands, and I obediently complied, putting it on.

Not going to lie, I really liked this hoodie. It surprisingly had a fresh scent of laundry detergent to it and I was glad that this could help mask any funk I had on my body. I should steal it...

As the engine motor sung down the small-town road, I couldn't help but feel slightly happy. I'd never skipped school for a date before, so I...

Wait... A Date? Is that what we're calling this!?

My brain immediately shut down after hitting the self-destruct button.

A fucking date? Now I know I'm losing my goddamn mind.

With the swirling thoughts in my head, I barely noticed Theo pulling up to the school entrance. Derrick and a confused Kash stood by the sidewalk, near the metal chain link fence.

"Sweet, right on time." Derrick cheerfully opened my door, switching places with me so I was the one standing by a now horribly shocked Kash.

"See you tomorrow Remy," Theo drove off, heading towards the south side of town, leaving two completely dumbstruck people in the dust.

I was still waiting for my brain to restart from the chaos of my tangent thoughts and it looked like Kash's mind was frazzled by my sudden appearance out of Theo's car. As we silently walked to the house, an overwhelming headache proceeded to rise out of the craziness of the day. The eerie voice, silently whispering a warning I knew all too well.

Stay away... stay away from him.

"Yeah yeah... I know," I sassed the creepy voice back.

"Know what?" Kash commented. I had unconsciously started talking to myself in my delirium.

"Oh... Uh, nothing. Let's just get home, dude."

I couldn't help but wonder where that voice came from sometimes. Why would it tell me things like that, to stay away from people‒‒from Theo. Sure, he was a brawler, but he'd never laid a finger on me. What was so dangerous about him?

A/N Yay for a double update! This chapter was so much fun to write. Now we get to see Theo in a new light and he is just adorable! 😍Poor Remy, his brain is going to take hours to restart again.😅 

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