Nico held her breath, listening for another sound, but it was a suffocating dead silence. Nico shifted away from the window and ran her hand on the floor, looking for her phone. Nico pushed herself up, steadying herself on her feet and glancing at the window. Suddenly, there was a loud bang against her window. Nico felt her heart stop as she stared out the window, unable to see what was out there.

"Where the hell is my phone? "Nico thought as she tore her eye off the window, looking at the floor for her phone. Then, after a minute, Nico muttered, screw it, and turned to her door, still gripping the journal in her hand. Nico reached the doorknob, and suddenly, the knocking was replaced by a man's muffled voice replaced it.  

"Nico! Hey, Nico, let me in," the voice said, and Nico froze and turned to the window. Her fear was soon replaced with a wave of anger as she recognized the voice.

"What the hell, Zane? What are you doing here?" Nico yells from across the room.

"I tell you, if you let me in," Zane called out, causing the teenage girl to cross her arms with an angry look on her face glaring at him, not moving an inch. "Come on. It is freezing out here. Please let me in," Zane pleaded with her. Nico groaned and stomped to the window, slamming the book on the nightstand. Nico walked up to the window, looking at Zane's outline, and reached for it but stopped when it hit her. She stopped, took a step back, crossed her arms, and glared at the window.

"Why should I let you in?" Nico said. 

"Because I need to speak with you," Zane's muffled voice said.

"You can talk to me now," Nico said.

"Nico, please, I promise I just want to talk, no fighting, nothing," Zane pleaded. Nico looked at Zane's shivering shadow, and she rolled her eyes and walked back to the window, throwing it open and stepping to the side to let Zane in.

"Thanks," Zane said, climbing inside, and Nico rolled her eyes at the boy. 

"Yeah, whatever, "Nico muttered, brushing past the boy and shutting her window close. Nico turned to the boy and watched him rubbing his arms for warmth. "So you wanna tell me why the hell you were out my window giving me a mild heart attack," Nico said, annoyed, placing her hands on her hip. Still, Zane fell silent, finally looking at Nico, more like what she was wearing. So he started trailing her up to her caramel legs, then to her thick thighs studying her shorts that hugged her hips just right, then towards her stomach that was exposed because of the lack of fabric that was too busy covering her chest that Zane thought would put every girl in school to shame. Zane licks his lips, regarding why she would hide her body under all those sweaters and flannels. His dirty thoughts were soon interrupted when Nico started waving her hand in front of his face.

"Last time I checked, my eyes were up here, asswipe," She said, pushing his head up to meet her eyes.

Zane looked at Nico's angry brown eyes, matching the expression on her beautiful face. A thought went through Zane's head that it seemed somewhat cute to Zan when she made this expression. Nico's hand was still under his chin, forcing his attention to her face. Still, the longer Zane looked, he started to feel drawn to her and leaned closer to her, where their noses were almost touching. That gave Nico some shock, and she pulled away from him, removed her hand from his chin, turned away from him, and cleared her throat, feeling awkward.

"Sorry, my bad, it just-" Zane said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Just what," Nico asked, turning back to Zane.

"Did you always have a huge rack," Zane said, rubbing the back of his neck, pointing at her chest. Nico felt her cheeks starting to burn, and she instantly grabbed her chest heat up and covered her chest.

"Okay, that's it. Get out," Nico said, grabbing Zane's shirt and pulling him toward the same way he came in.

"Wait! Wait! Wait! I am sorry! I need your help," He said, causing Nico to stop pushing him.

"Bullshit, I should've never let you in!" Nico shouted.

"Nico, I am serious, please-" Zane started. 

"No, get out. I don't need you here reminding me of what I had to put up with for the past week," Nico said, reaching for the window and throwing it open, but Zane grabbed her uninjured wrist, pulling her away from the window and spinning her around. Nico lost her footing, falling to the ground and pulling Zane down with her. Instead, Zane landed on her, almost knocking the wind out of her. Nico blinked a couple of times, locking eyes with Zane, who was concerned about her safety. 

"A-are you okay," Nico nodded, and Zane sighed in relief and slowly got off the girl, helping her up. "I'm sorry that was aggressive. I didn't mean it. I do need help," Zane said. 

"With what?" Nico said, looking at the boy, realizing that he was serious. Zane shifted on the ground leaning against Nico's bed, and Nico shuffled away from Zane, observing him run a hand through his short black shaggy hair looking at the curly-haired teen.

"I- I had nowhere to go," Zane said, as his voice cracked and bit.

"What do you mean that you have nowhere to go?" Nico said, confused.

"I got into a fight with my dad and stormed out of the house. I was going to wander the streets for a bit then. I saw that your light was still on, so I thought it would be easier to get help from my neighbor instead of just wandering the streets all night," Zane said, looking away.

"And what makes you think that I would help you? The last time I checked, I was a stalker to you, and you never wanted to see me again, or there will be. What did you say a rude awakening," Nico said, crossing her arms. Zane looked back up at her, and Nico saw the regret in his eyes. Instead, Zane turns his head, looking back at Nico's carpeted floor and shutting his eyes as a sigh escapes his lips. 

"I'm sorry," Zane muttered.

"What?" Nico asked, leaning closer toward him, and Zane looked back at Nico.

"I said I'm sorry. I messed up. I never wanted it to get this far," Zane said, looking back toward the ground and sighing.

"Well, it did," Nico said, getting up, walking to her window, and shutting it close before leaning on the ledge, looking over her shoulder, to stare out the window.

"If it means anything, I told them to cut it out, and I feel terrible about it once I saw your wrist and realized that they took it too far," Zane said, and Nico turned to him, giving him an odd look.

"What are you talking about?" Nico asked.

"Your wrist when I saw you walk in with that cast, and I heard your friend freaking out about it, I just thought," Zane said.

"You thought that your friends broke my wrist. Well, if you must know, I fell at work. The doctor said it was a small fracture. I have to wear it for a month," Nico said.

"Oh, I see," Zane said.

"You know not everything revolves around you," Nico snapped.

"I know. I'm sorry," Zane said.

"Is that what you wanted to talk to me earlier today?" Nico asked.

"Yeah," Nico rolled her eyes, and Zane scrambled to his feet and walked up to the girl. Listen, Nico. I am sorry I overreacted. When I realized how much of an ass I was, I saw you were telling the truth when I saw you pull into your driveway on your bike. So I am sorry I never want you to get punished because I am a dumbass," Zane said, looking down at the girl. So Nico looked at Zane, let out a tsk, and looked away from him, biting her lower lip and hugging herself.

"You know an apology does not make up for what you and your friends did to me. Not even close." Nico said, hugging herself tighter.

"I know, but I hope that I could try and take a step toward forgiveness, even if it means coming back here every night just to apologize," Zane said.

"Please don't. I don't need the neighbors to think something else," Nico said, and Zane smirked.

"Well, how about I stand on your front lawn with a boom box calling your name," Zane said, leaning closer. 

"Oh, that is even worst," Nico laughed, pushing Zane away. 

"Well, I am glad you can laugh and my stupidity," Zane said.

"Well, I am human," Nico said.

"I know," Zane said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"So, what did you and your dad fight about?" Nico asked, and Zane's face went grim.

"Is it okay that I don't talk about it?" Zane said, and Nico quired her eyebrow at him.

"Well, if you want to stay here for the night, then you better start talking," Nico said.

"Wait, you would let me stay here?" Zane said.

"Only if you tell m what is going on," Nico said.

"Why," Zane asked.

"Well, I am that type of person that needs to know what is going on just in case something goes down. I need to know what I am getting into," Nico said, shrugging her shoulders.

"Fine," Zane sat on Nico's bed, glancing at the girl. "He was on my case about the people I hang out with, and that led to my grades, then it led to some personal stuff that I do not want to talk about," Zane said.

"Okay, but you know he isn't wrong. Your friends are assholes," Nico said.

"I know. You don't have to remind me," Zane said.

"So why do you hang out with them?" Nico asked, but Zane only fell silent, looking towards the ground. "Fine, you don't have to tell me. I am not going to nag you about it. I am going to grab you a blanket and pillow so you can get comfortable on the floor," Nico said, pushing herself off the windowsill and walking toward her bedroom door.

"Thanks again, Nico," Zane said, looking at the girl.

"Yeah, I don't want this to be a regular thing," Nico said.

"Well, okay, I was hoping," Zane trailed off. 

"No. I am nice only once. Because I'm letting you spend the night doesn't mean I am making you breakfast in bed, and we become best friends. Got it?" Zane nodded his head. "Good. I am going to get your stuff," Nico declared.

"Okay," Zane said, taking off his jacket. "Oh wait, I just realized something. Are your parents going to be okay with this?" Zane asked, stopping Nico.

"My dad is working the night shift at the hospital, so he won't be home until tomorrow morning, and you will be gone before he gets here," Nico replied, leaning against the door frame.

"Oh, alright," Zane asked.

"Yeah, I am going to grab your blanket and pillows now," Nico said, turning her back to him and walking out of the door, closing it before Zane could stop her again. Once the door was closed, Zane laid back on Nico's bed, resting his forearm on top of his face trying to calm himself at the thought of being alone with Nico. Nico stood on the other side of the door and leaned on the door, and tried to calm herself down, pushing her curls back and taking a deep breath.

"It's going to be okay," Nico whispered to herself before taking a final deep breath. Once she had calmed down, she sighed, pushing herself off the door.

"I better not regret this," she said before proceeding down the hallway to grab blankets for her new uninviting guest.