Arlo’s mind spiraled.
She slowly woke up, confusion clouding her senses as she opened her eyes—and the first thing she saw was him.
From her point of view, he must have looked completely wild. His eyes were frantic, movements rushed, breath uneven. When he turned back to look at her, panic flashed openly across his face.
Then he rushed toward her.
That was all it took.
Fear consumed her. She backed away instinctively, hands trembling as tears spilled down her cheeks. Her voice broke as she began to plead.
“Please… don’t… don’t do anything…”
He froze for a split second before grabbing her arm—not roughly, but desperately, as if holding onto the only option left.
“Please,” he said quickly, his voice shaking. “Try to understand me. If someone sees you here, it’s going to cause even more problems.”
She stared at him, fear still flooding her eyes. Slowly, she nodded, her face soaked with tears.
Arlo moved toward the door alone. He took a deep breath, steadying himself, and opened it—one eye still shut, body tense, ready to react.
Nothing.
It was night.
The silence felt unusual—too still, too empty.
He stepped outside, confused, scanning the surroundings. The hallway was deserted. No footsteps. No voices. Just quiet.
Then—
A faint sound came from inside his room.
His heart dropped.
He remembered.
In a rush of panic, he ran back inside and shoved her into the closet, shutting the door without thinking.
Only seconds later, realization hit him.
His chest tightened.
He threw the door open and pulled her out immediately.
She gasped sharply, coughing, dragging in air, her face red with anger and fear.
“Are you out of your mind?!” she shouted. “I couldn’t breathe! Are you trying to kill me?!”
His face drained of color, sweat clinging to his skin.
“I—I’m sorry,” he said at once, panic flooding his voice. “I wasn’t thinking. I swear, I didn’t mean—”
She stopped.
This time, she looked at him properly.
She noticed the way his hands trembled. The way his voice cracked. The raw fear etched across his face.
Slowly, she calmed herself.
She stood up, brushing herself off, and began walking around the room casually, curiosity replacing terror. Arlo watched her in silence—until realization struck him.
He grabbed his jacket and gently placed it around her shoulders.
She blinked in surprise.
He turned his face away, ears burning red.
“You’re… not wearing a full dress,” he muttered. “You might get cold.”
That simple act made her freeze.
Then her cheeks flushed.
The room fell quiet again—this time softer than before.
She looked at his turned face and smiled faintly.
As she tried to step back, her foot slipped.
A sharp sound echoed.
She lost her balance.
Before she could react, she fell forward—straight into him.
His back hit the mat. Her weight followed.
For a split second, neither of them moved.
His hand had landed against her chest.
Her eyes widened.
Instinct took over.
She slapped him.
The sound rang loudly in the room.
After a long moment, they were sat apart on the mat, the silence thick and unbearably awkward.
Slowly, she thinks something and turned her face toward him.
But Arlo wasn’t looking at her.
He sat completely still, eyes locked on something else, as if frozen in shock.
Confused, she followed his gaze.
And then—
She froze too.