(Stefan's get up 👆👆👆).

It was Stefan. He was wearing a leather jacket over a white t-shirt and jeans. Man...he looked hot.

"Hey...." he muttered as he looked at me. He seemed at a loss for words. I giggled.

"Cat got your tongue?" I said.

"It's just that you look gorgeous," he said like it was a problem.

"Is that bad?" I asked.

"For where we are going, yes it is a problem actually. I'm driving and I'll be very distracted," he said.

"You'll manage. But are we going somewhere?" I asked.

"Yes, we are. I told you I had a surprise," he scoffed.

"But it's 11 pm. And I texted you twice about plans I had," I said in a matter-of-factly tone.

"I got your text but he took you out earlier right? So I decided to occupy you for the rest of the night." he said.

"It's late," I told him nervously. God knew why he wanted to occupy me for the whole night. My mind went to other places.

"Baby, the night's just started," he winked at me. I blushed.

"Kiera, why are you standing at the door?" Mom asked coming from her room.

"Uhh..mom.. This is Stefan. He.. Uh.. He.." I didn't know what to say but thank god Stefan cut me off.

"Ma'am, it's nice to meet you. I'm Stefan Salazar, Kiera's friend. I asked her out tonight," he said smoothly.

"But Kiera didn't you already g..." I cut her off.

"Mom, let's talk when I get back," I said and got out closing the door.

Stefan looked at me in shock. I pretended that it was normal to close the door in my mom's face and smiled at him. I hoped he wouldn't ask questions. It wasn't my fault that two guys asked me out in the same day.

Stefan got the hint and let it go.

"So, where are we going?" I asked Stefan again.

"It's a surprise," he said with a smile.

We got into his volvo. He held the door for me. Were all guys gentlemen nowadays?

We looked odd as a couple right now because I was in a dress and he was in a leather jacket.

"Kiera, I'm going to tell you something today," he said looking all serious.

"Okay," I replied with a confused look.

"But first let me take you there," he said. How much more suspense? I hated suspense.

"Okay," I sighed.

"You are so impatient," he said. I hmphed and he chuckled.

It was a long drive. I was quiet the whole way. He took me to a forest. Or that's what it looked like.Then he parked the car on the side of the road and held open the door for me.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"Somewhere," he replied and smiled.

Okay now I was feeling scared. This guy was way too handsome. He was way too rich. He brought me to a forest. Was he a vampire?

"Hey," he snapped me out of my thoughts.

He held my hand and led me towards the forest. There was a stone path. I felt goosebumps on my arm. It was cold. But his hand was really warm. It felt nice.

As we went more inside I couldn't see anything. It was dark so he led the way like he had it memorized. I had a million questions but I kept quiet.

Soon we came to find a cottage. It was pretty and huge too. There was a picnic table outside.

He went to the door and opened it. And out of nowhere, I saw a child coming out and jumping in his arms.

"Stefan!!!! I missed you!!!" she shrieked in her baby voice. She had brown bronze hair but green eyes. An elderly lady came out who looked a lot like her.

"Kiera, this is my grandma and my little sister," he introduced.
His grandma hugged me.

"Has someone finally broken your walls?" she asked Stefan. Stefan didn't reply.

The little girl looked at me curiously. She was 6 or maybe 7 years old.

"What's your name?" I asked her.

"Sofia," she replied, "And yours?"

"My name is Kiera," I said and smiled. That kid was so adorable.

"How old are you, Sofia?" I asked her.

"I'm 7 years and 2 months old," she said and smiled.

"Talk later. First lets go to the backyard," Stefan said.

We went there and found a table decorated nicely with a variety of food.

Stefan pulled out chairs for the three of us and one for himself and sat between me and Sofia.

"I know you have a lot if questions and I'm going to answer all of them later," he whispered in my ear.

I accepted that. Them we dined. We talked a lot too. Specially Sofia. I was totally in love with her at the end of our conversation. She was a swiftie like me and we had alot in common including favourite colors and food.

Soon it was time to leave. Sofia didn't want me to leave.

"Promise me you will visit me again," she said with puppy eyes.

"Of course I will baby," I replied.

"It was nice having you here with us," Grandma Salazar said.

"The pleasure was mine," I replied.

We left the forest and walked towards the car.

After we got in, Stefan turned to me.

"Now let me answer your questions," he said. I nodded.

"My mom and dad are dead. Killed by a gang. It was a planned attack. They died in a fire," he said. I stared in shock.

"Why?" I whispered.

"My uncle and godfather Inigo Salazar is a mafia leader. That's why," he said.
That explained the words I heard over the phone call that day.

"I have my sister and grandmother left so I keep them here safe," he added.

I felt pity for that little girl.

"So she doesn't go to school?" I asked.

"I home-school her," he replied with a hint of sadness. Of course I understood why. He couldn't give his sister a normal life. That's why.

I placed a hand over his unconsciously. He didn't take it away.

"Does nobody visit her other than you?" I asked again. The girl had been so excited. It was obvious that she didn't get many visitors.

"No, nobody knows she is alive. They think she and my grandma died too. I keep them here for their safety," he said in a low voice.

"Do you have any friends?" I asked.

"I used to. I finished college 3 months ago. I don't even know where those friends are. I had a best friend. Aaron. We were like brothers. But he betrayed me. Broke the bro-code," he muttered. He looked heartbroken right now and I felt like rubbing his back.

"I had a girlfriend. We were together since highschool. I had a future planned with her. So many memories.. So much...," his voice broke and I saw a glimpse of that guy again. The one I found that day. The one that needed fixing. He just hid his pain behind that cool facade.

"She betrayed you.. With Aaron," I muttered feeling the bile rise in my throat as I put two and two together. How could they?

I saw tears leaving Stefan's eyes. It hurt seeing him like that. Yes, I didn't know him well. But he was good. I understood that much the day we played on my PS4 together and he was with me alone in my house.

Tears left his eyes and I couldn't stop myself from hugging him.

"Hey, it's okay. If she let you go like that, then she doesn't deserve you. You deserve much much better," I said and I felt him hug me back.

We stayed like that for a long time

Then he let me go and sat straight.

"Well, I told you my story. Your turn," he said. His eyes still had a tint of red from the crying.

"What do you want to know?" I asked amused.

"Why do you live with your parents despite owning a house?" he asked with curiosity.

"I..uhh..," okay I hadn't expected him to note that.

"It's okay, you can tell me later if you want," he said noticing my eyes brimming with tears.

"Thank you," I said.

"It's fine," he said.

"After all you barely know me," he added.

"Hey," I scowled and he laughed.

"I had a brother. He was 5 years older than me," I started telling him.

He stared at me.

"He suffered from asthma. And he had his own house. It was like mine. The one I have was a gift from him too. One night he had an attack. He couldn't reach his inhaler. It was upstairs. And hhh-he," I took a deep breath trying to control my tears and Stefan hugged me to comfort me.

"It's gonna be okay," he whispered into my hair.

"The next day I went to visit him. We played PS4 together and he had borrowed a CD. I knocked a lot of times and he didn't open. I had a spare key so I got in. And I-I...-I found him at the foot of the stairs lying. I called 911 immediately but he-he was gone...," I said the words feeling empty again.

Stefan rubbed my back.

"So my parents were heartbroken and I moved in to help them because someone had to pick up the pieces," I said as tears kept falling.

"And they didn't want me to leave after that because they feared losing me too," I finished. I cried for a long time after that. He held me the whole time.

After I couldn't cry anymore I sat straight.

" So that's my story," I said.

"That's not your story. Your story isn't only pain and hurt. It's gonna be more beautiful," he said brushing my cheek with his hand. I melted into his touch.

"Let's get you home. It's late," he said.

"I thought you said the night just started," I laughed.

"It did. But your parents won't believe me," he said as a matter-of-factly. I laughed.

Then he drove me home, walked me to the door, kissed my hand and left. But the memories of that night stayed with me.

My fingers are all stiff from typing so much. 1590 words. Longest chapter till now. I'm not disappointed and I'm sure none of you guys are either. Okay maybe some. Idk 😂😂

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