- Serena -

A week passed since the last time I saw the fiery man. And got punched in the face.

The bruise was horrible and concealer could only cover up so much. My mouth and nose bled profusely that night, I literally had to mask my face with ice just to numb the pain.

Every time I started feeling bad about dislocating that gangster's knee, I just had to look in the mirror to remember that he deserved it.

What I wanted to know more was why he was looking for Ben.

I avoided Ben as much as possible. Though I was curious about him, I didn't want him to see the horrific marks on my face. It would just prove that I needed 'protection' when I really didn't.

I only went back home to get my clothes and clean myself up when I was super sure the bar was closed.

That would be about seven or eight in the morning. 

How I slept? In my cafe, of course, Roxy still didn't find out. She was too busy with Austin to know what was going on with me. She did comment about the gigantic bruise on my face but I told her if anyone asked, just tell them I hit my face at home by accident. She was worried about me going home alone, knowing that a gang was out there but I assured her that I'll be fine.

And that I may have broken that gangster's knee. She found it hilarious. 

I woke up when the sun peeked in through the shades and groaned, sleeping in a sitting position is hurting me and I miss my bed like crazy.

But I've already exposed my powers once, if I walk by that bar and something stupid happens again, people will be bound to find out.

I wobbled into the bathroom and washed up. I stared at my healing bruise and sighed, at least it was getting better. I packed on my foundation and concealer and did whatever make-up to make myself look decent. 

The drooping eye bags and swollen face made me look like a wreck.

I went out and grabbed the ice cream from the freezer. I could feel the heat from outside and dreaded every bit of it. 

I waved my hands across the whole cafe and a layer of ice plastered the surfaces. 

I got all the ice cream in the display case and started on mixing a new batch when I heard a knock on the front door. All the ice around me melted instantly and gushed towards the bathroom.

"What in the world-" I watched the water flow out the front door to the drain and I shook my head. I quickly ran over to the door, unlocked it and pulled it open.

My gosh, Ben looked like an angel. His face glowed with the rising sun and I stood there dumbfounded.

"Ben?"

"What happened to your- Your whole place is flooded," He slid past me and went to grab the mop from the back storage room.

I watched as the Abercrombie-looking model strode around cleaning my cafe.

"Serena!" Roxy bird sang into the cafe and stopped short, seeing the beautiful handsome man mop up the disaster.

"Did you do this to him?" Roxanne whispered to me but I shook my head.

"I have no idea why he's here," I whispered back and I heard another familiar voice enter our small space.

"Good morning girls. Ben! Whatcha doin' here?" Austin wriggled his eyebrows and I guessed that he must've been the one to ask Ben to come over.

Ben looked up at Austin and threw a cloth at him, "Come on, help me out here."

Roxanne and I watched the two good-looking men wipe our cafe spotless and felt oddly satisfied.

It felt like some sort of stress reliever. Or maybe I'm just crazy.

"Did another pipe burst?" Ben came over to me after finishing up and I gaped at him, "I think so. I'm not really sure."

He breathed out in slight annoyance and went round the cafe to check what could have been the possible cause of the flooding.

I can't possibly tell him I froze my whole fucking cafe.

Austin and Roxanne were already flirting in full swing and I took my regular place back behind the counter. Ben came back out, his hands on his hips, "I can't seem to find the leak. I'll call a repairman down just to make sure."

Before I could even reject him, he was already on the phone arranging an appointment with the repair company.

This is what I didn't like, not having a say. When he hung up I opened my mouth to speak but he held his finger up at me, "I know you will say 'no' to me helping, but for once can you please just accept my help?"

His help? 

Here he was, standing there in a black leather jacket, dark blue denim jeans and handsome slicked-back hair, looking nothing less of a biker-ish angel and he's helping me?

Yeah sure I was pretty but not to the point that guys looking like that will help for no reason. Or maybe I was that pretty.

What the hell am I thinking about right now?

"Ben I'll fix it."

"I already did, the repairman will come down tonight. Austin and Roxanne have a date tonight so I'll come by after I close the restaurant," he watched me, as if waiting for my reply.

"I'll be fine on my own though," I looked away from his piercing gaze and cleared my throat. 

I can't even breathe right around him, I don't want to be this close to him, heck I don't even want him to know I've been living out in my cafe.

He walked over to me and reached out, holding my chin, taking a good look at me. Fuck I made sure to cover up well, can he still see it?

"Austin heard from Roxanne that you accidentally bumped yourself. This," his finger slid down the aching part of my nose, "Is not an accident."

His scent was intoxicating, I could only do so much to contain myself. He pulled away and took a step back, "I'll come by tonight. We'll have a chat alright?"

I was already dreading what was coming. What do I do with such an observant man?

He strode out of the cafe, dragging Austin with him, while a dual conflict was going on in my head.

Continue my own way or let Ben help once.

Just this once.

***

Roxanne was laughing at me the whole day. Telling me that the more I ran from Ben the worse everything will become.

Because apparently to her, Ben likes me too.

Okay hold up, not too, I don't like him. But she suggests that he likes me.

I'm just confused and need some time to revaluate myself. I'll be fine as long as he doesn't show up in front of me.

"I'll see you tomorrow Serena, you'll be fine. Stop thinking about Ben too much," Roxanne giggled stupidly and waved goodbye to me as she left with Austin. The day felt like it ended way too quickly for my liking.

Maybe I just dread meeting Ben. Yeah, that sounds about right.

I glared at the back of her head like a stubborn child and sighed, "I'll be fine, Ben is just another guy, I'll be fucking fine."

"You'll be what?"

I jumped up, startled at the sound of his voice. 

"How did you get in here?"

Ben smiled and shrugged towards the door, "I came in after Roxanne left with Austin. You didn't notice me at all?"

Oh God I didn't say anything stupid during that short period did I? 

"I didn't see you, I apologise if I said anything that you weren't supposed to hear," I quickly saved myself the embarrassment and strode to the refrigeration room.

I took a deep breath and felt the cool air calm me down. I heard his footsteps and turned round to face him, ready for a confrontation.

I'm crazy, I'm so freaking uptight around him I'm going nuts.

"Seriously Ben what do you want? You've not spoken to me all week and suddenly you're being oddly protective, what's wrong with you?"

He raised an eyebrow and leaned against the wall, "The last time I checked I wasn't the one avoiding people. And I've also noticed that you've not been going home."

I froze, he noticed. Of course he noticed. 

I stared at him like some dumb fuck, "So? What's it to you?"

He gazed back at me and he took longer to reply, "I don't know Serena. You're worrying me."

"I didn't ask you to worry for me."

"Yes I know but I feel like you're avoiding me because... Because-"

"Hello? Is there anyone in?" I heard a man's voice call out from the front door and quickly looked away from Ben.

"I'll get that," I went out front and met the repairman. He checked the whole cafe for any water leakage but there was none. Obviously.

He helped me tighten all the pipes though and I paid him for that. Or Ben did.

Ben was fighting with me over who should pay the repairman till he couldn't take it and took half of the payment from each of us.

He seemed really scared of us.

The repairman finally left and I didn't even have to look to know that Ben was staring at me like always.

I swallowed my saliva, it felt like swallowing my pride when these words left my mouth, "Thank you Ben, for your help."

He eyed me, but a really handsome genuine smile appeared on his face and he nodded, "You're welcome. Go grab your things, I'll walk you home."

The smile on my lips vanished and was replaced with a scowl, "Hey listen here Mister, I accepted your help for helping me with the flooding and leakage thing but I never said I'll let you walk me home."

"You've been sleeping in your cafe for a week Serena, I don't need a better explanation to fetch you home."

"Well, I don't want you to care," I folded my arms and he sighed.

Apparently, he had quite a temper too, he just seems a little better than me in controlling it.

"It's too late to say that now alright? I'm already caring, now go get your things," he mumbled and I could feel the amount of effort he used to stop himself from snapping at me.

But again since when did I think that far?

"I don't want to be near you," I sent him a death glare and he glared right back. Woah it scared the shit out of me.

"What's wrong with you? You have a problem with me being close to you?" He purposely took a step closer to me and I stepped back unconsciously.

"So what if I do? Just stay away from me."

"I can't do that Serena, I'm walking you home whether you like it or not."

"Just leave me alone for goodness sake!"

"You got hit in the face! I'm not letting you go home on your own if there's a chance you'll get into trouble again!"

Both of us were seething in anger, if I wasn't so pissed I'll actually be laughing at the situation right now.

"Fine, but I want to set a boundary. Five metres away from me," I stepped back and gave us about that much of distance.

Ben stared at me then laughed, it was so sarcastic, "You're serious?"

I nodded, "Yes I am, five metres. Nowhere nearer."

"Come on, the sidewalk is five metres. We can't be walking on the edge."

"Fine, then four and a half. No more bargaining," I waved him off but he scoffed.

"No way at least three metres, if anything happens to you it'll be difficult for me to rescue you."

"I don't need you to rescue me-" He gestured to my face and I groaned.

"Fine, four metres, tops."

"No, three."

I clenched my fists, "Okay. Three."

"You know now that I think about it, two is better," he smirked.

"Hey that's not-"

"If some guy comes up I have enough time to step in and swing a punch," he literally acted it out and came excruciatingly near to me, "It's ideal really."

"No! Three!" I almost freaked at how close he was. I could feel the wind from the swing of his pretend punch.

"Two."

"Two and a half."

"Two."

I sighed in exasperation and stomped away to grab my bag, "Fine two! This is crazy!"

I swear I heard Ben chuckle and I felt like a stupid kid that lost her chance at the swings at the playground.

I locked up, credits to Roxanne for leaving her key behind for me because she knew I will forget.

We walked down the dimly lit sidewalk, with me eyeing the space between us.

We kept perfectly two metres apart and I felt safe enough. My emotions are fine on this side of the walkway.

"Serena?"

I hugged my bag tighter to me, "What is it?"

"What happened to your face?"

I looked away and sighed, "I don't want to talk about it."

Surprisingly, Ben didn't pry. If I thought about it, he probably spoke the most today.

I bit my lip, I know he felt bad that he was making me uncomfortable. Or else he would have surely continued talking.

I sighed, why do I even bother.

"I was walking home that night, the guy from the gang who slammed the hood of your car spotted me. He ran up and jerked me backwards so fast I didn't have the time to defend myself."

I heard Ben inhale a sharp intake of breath, "He punched you in the face?"

I nodded, "It hurt like fuck but it's much better now, really. I fell to the ground but managed to escape. I was kinda banged up a few days after that. A few dizzy spells and blood, but I'm healing."

I chanced a glance at Ben, he was super quiet. I had no idea what he was thinking. He stared straight ahead and I cleared my throat, "Earth to Ben."

He looked at me, an unreadable expression on his face, "Is that why you've not been going home?"

I shrugged, "Yeah, I guess. I don't want to get into trouble again."

He stopped walking and I did too.

"You can always ask me for help."

"It's alright Ben I'm fine-"

"Yes I know. You're a crazy strong woman, but really, if you ever need my help I'm always available."

I gulped, this was exactly what I was afraid of. Relying on others. My emotions whirled inside me and I didn't know what to think.

"Well, thanks I guess," I quickly continued walking and he caught up swiftly.

"Is that also why you've been avoiding me the whole week?" He asked out of nowhere.

"What? No I was-" I shut up before I could say anything else.

"You didn't want me to see your injury huh?" 

I simply nodded, I didn't want him to see my injury and I also didn't want him to know that it was because my feelings were acting weird around him.

"I have medication for that, it'll heal faster. I get into fights all the time."

I raised an eyebrow, "Oh really?"

He cleared his throat and looked away, "Because of Austin of course."

I shrugged and scoffed, "Sure, whatever you say."

We arrived at the foot of my apartment building and stood exactly two metres apart.

"Thank you for walking me home," I mumbled. Secretly happy to finally be back home.

"You're welcome. Have a good rest."

I nodded and turned away towards my building.

"Serena."

I spun around to the handsome man, "Yeah?"

"You avoided me because of your injury right?"

I nodded slowly, unsure of where this was heading.

"Okay, I was afraid you were avoiding me because of- You know- At my apartment-"

Woah okay, I never wanted to talk about it.

"Nope nope, it wasn't because of that, don't worry."

He smiled and nodded, "Good, I hope I can break the rules to do just this."

My eyes widened, oh fuck no. Break the rules?

He took a huge step towards me, his eyes boring into mine. He cupped my face in his huge hands and leaned in, planting a small kiss on my bruised nose.

Oh no.