Nina sprints across the street, I follow, calling her name, asking her to stop. She ignores me and continues her sprint,
"Nina! Please!" I yell, I catch up to her and grasp her hand, pulling her to a stop,
"What do you want? I thought we were together in everything!" She yells, unable to stop her tears,
"I'm just worried! I am sorry!" I say,
"What are you trying to do, Sofia? Break us up? Don't you know how long I've wanted to be with George? I thought you were happy for me!"
"I am, Nina! I am! But you have to understand, I've been going though hell these past few days! I'm scared, I'm genuinely scared. Every man that walks past me makes me jump! When I walk down a street, I keep turning left and right, I haven't been myself!" I say, I'm crying too, it's just too much emotion, waiting to burst out of me,
"And I'm scared for you and me" Nina says, "but to accuse George? Really?"
"Nina I'm not accusing him, I hope more than anything that he has nothing to do with it! But a bunch of things have happened, I don't know if it's just my mind playing tricks on me, I don't know if I'm going crazy, but when his name keeps popping up, I'm worried"
Nina stares at me, hurt so evident in her eyes, but she's hearing my words,
"Please, don't be upset with me" I plea, she wipes at her tears, I place my hand on her shoulder and she comes into a hug. We both stand there, under the streetlights, hugging like our life depends on it. If only she knew how much she means to me. If only she knew how much I hoped I was wrong about accusing George.
"We need to get back inside" I whisper, "we're alone out here" I say, worried about the stalker, she shakes head, nodding her chin forward,
"Daniel is there" she says, I turn to see Daniel watching us from a distance. I'm grateful he followed us out, honestly not even understanding why he cares to look out for us. Nina and I make our way towards him, then the three of us go back inside.
Nina goes to take a shower, Phil is heating something up in the microwave and Daniel and I are in the living room. I'm standing next to the window, looking out. My mind preoccupied with everything that happened.
"Sofia" Daniel says, I turn around to find him watching me, "tomorrow, the day after, I will keep following you. When he comes after you, I'll get him"
"You're not listening, Daniel. I told you a hundred times. I don't think we should do this anymore. He's dangerous"
"He can't hurt you when I'm there"
"He can hurt you"
"Impossible" he says with unfaked confidence,
"I know you think you're invincible but you're only human. Who knows what the guy is prepared to do"
"I'm not the slightest bit worried about that" Daniel holds, his phone rings and he picks up, walking away from us to speak,
"Wouldn't worry about Daniel, he can fight dirty" Phil says when Daniel leaves. I wish I had their confidence.
Nina gets out of the bathroom, she comes over to me and gives me another big hug. Says goodnight to Phil and I and goes to her room. I notice she barely looks at Daniel who's still on the phone.
"You don't know how many fights Daniel has been in" Phil continues, "not only boxing fights, but street fights"
"Phil, if something were to happen..."
"It won't"
"Elias could have been killed" I hold,
"Trust me. Daniel can take care of himself"
Not even sure what to say to that, I nod hopelessly,
"I'm going to take a shower" I say, "goodnight, Phil"
"Goodnight, and don't worry about anything"
"I won't" I say, giving him my best attempt at a smile.
I wash off my makeup, wash my hair, and put on an oversized t-shirt and shorts that I sleep in. Once done, I exit the bathroom.
Most of the lights are off, except the kitchen light. I walk towards my room, and pause when I see Daniel standing alone in the living room, leaning against the window frame. Our eyes meet.
He pushes himself off the window frame and walks over to me, he leans his left side against the wall right in front of me, and looks down at me,
"You were crying again" he says softly. I shrug,
"I've just been finding it all hard... I don't know what to do anymore"
He gently lifts my chin so that I face him. He stares into my eyes, then smiles,
"You're beautiful" he says quietly, my stomach flutters at his words, I pull away from his hold,
"I'm not your type" I whisper,
"Why would you think that?" he asks,
"You told me as much..."
"Me?"
"Yes"
"Never!"
"In the bathroom"
"Ah! I remember"
"Exactly"
"But that doesn't count. That was a different situation"
"How?"
"You were accusing me back then"
"Maybe I was, but my looks didn't change since" he laughs at that,
"Did you really think I was serious when I said you weren't my type?"
"You were serious" I say, he laughs again,
"You're clueless" he says, "I don't think there's a man on this planet that wouldn't find you attractive" he says, looking at me with heat in his eyes. I feel my face getting hotter and hotter the longer I stand in front of him,
"Well... um, goodnight" I say, walking towards my door,
"Sofia?" I pause, looking at him. He walks over to me, deliberately slowly,
"What?" I ask, he comes so close to me that I have to step back, my back flattening against my door.
We're standing facing each other, his hands grasp my chin once more. His thumb pushes back my hair. He lowers his lips to mine, our lips touch gently, barely.
I breath in, my breath shaky, our eyes lock into each other, I can't say a word, I can't move a muscle. My every nerve ending tingles with anticipation,
He's looking into my soul, I'm looking right back at his. The eye contact so strong, so real. He lowers his head towards me once again, kisses me, this time for real. A strong, dizzying electric pulse runs through my whole being, I tremble in his hold,
He releases me slowly, leaving me standing on shaky feet. If the door wasn't behind me, I'd lose my balance and fall. With shaky hands I turn my back to him, open my bedroom door and close it right into his face.
I stand leaning against the door, breathing hard. My eyes are closed and my head leans against the door, listening for sounds. Everything is quiet for a long time, I know he's standing right where he was, just outside my door, less than half a meter between us. Then, after an eternity, I hear his steps. He walks away.