"Michelle," My cloud of thoughts was intruded by Edward's gruff yet breezy voice.

I snapped into reality, and out of my haze. I looked up at him to find him standing right in front of me, his bright pale eyes reflecting his expression. I stood up quickly from the stair step and tossed a lock of hair behind me.

"Hey." I tried to force a smile, despite my whirring-with-doubtfulness mind, and Edward smiled in response, sitting and seating myself back on the stairs. I looked over my shoulder, my eyes trailing everywhere else to make sure we weren't being followed or noticed. Contrary to my expectations, I didn't catch any sight of any unexpected spectators, but that still wasn't convincing enough to calm me. "Can we... Can we go somewhere private?" I whispered, the fretfulness evident in my tone.

Edward glanced at me for a moment probably examining my expression, before finally nodding in agreement. He waited for me to get up and led us towards the exit gates and out across the parking lot, where his car was parked. We settled in, not speaking much, the quietness between us only complemented my loud thoughts and sounded more evident.

"Is this okay for you?" He asked after he had closed our doors and settled down, the outside noise being instantly blocked.

I nodded with a ghost smile. "I'm glad you came over," I initiated, voicing the first emotion that came over me.

"Is there anything that I'm supposed to be knowing?" He asked again curiously, and I shook my head, not making much eye contact. I felt the tension of my suspicions weighing down on me, but I didn't have the courage to talk them through.

After a while of suffocating in silence, I broke in. "Edward, what are we?" I asked back, out of the blue and his eyes glimmered in response as if knowing the answer quite well.

"Probably midway between a romantic novel thing. Probably where some drama and bad things begin to happen, to conform to the quote, 'What didn't kill us, made us a more strong couple'," He answered and I let out an exaggerated sigh at his words. He always knew all the right things to say without saying everything.

I took a minute again to let his words sink in before answering. "I didn't know you considered us as that," I replied stupidly, not knowing what to say to his extra talk.

"I do." He pulled me closer to his body, embracing me into a light hug, and I sighed at the skin contact, all hints and sprinkles of doubt and worry, vanished from my mind. "Do you?"

He soothed me, tenderly pulling me running his fingers in my hair and sniffing me. It felt warm and all kinds of cosy, as I rested my head against his chest.

"I do... And I just... Don't want to lose you," I sniffed back, partially voicing out my insecurities.

"I would never okay? Never." His words sounded stiff and promising like they always did. "And I would never let anyone come between us, no matter what it takes."

"Thank you," I said but was responded by losing contact with his touch and regaining it by his lips pressed to mine. I felt his warmth of him transition to mine, his breath having a slight tinge of cigarettes, indicating his stressfulness.

As if forgetting all my suspicions and doubts on the very touch, my feelings grew in magnitude, and I deepened the kiss, feeling all of him against my cold skin. My fingers, on cue, intertwined against his unruly hair, pulling him closer to me. His hands found my back and pulled me closer to him desperately. And just by that, all my conclusions and wariness were clouded by the electrifying feelings I was submerged in.

Breathlessly I pulled off, but he pulled back again to give me one last peck on my lips, and I smiled. He kissed again. "You would never leave me too right?"

"Never." I kissed his stubbly cheek and he grinned wider.

"I love you more." He held my hands in his, and kissed both of them, in a very flattering manner, and I smiled at him feeling flushed.

We stayed in each other's arms for a while, melting all my stress and worries in an instant. I couldn't be more happy than I was in that moment and I wish I could stay in that forever. If foreverness felt temporary, it was because of these moments, and the what-if of that moment being over, made them more shorter.

My mind went back to the recap of what it saw just a while back. Maybe that hand touching during their interaction was just a friendly gesture after all and maybe I was looking too much into it. Guilt took over my insides as I began to re-contemplate my assumptions. The supposition was clearly off-putting if Edward was being so nice to me. Why else would he be like this, especially to someone like me?

I gazed into the hazy distance from the car windshield, watching students chattering with their friends, many rushing to their classes, some carrying loads of printouts of their due assignments. The mere sight of them made me weary and exhausted. Breathing restlessly, I felt Edward's heartbeat against my back, as I leaned into him on the seat, and his arms wrapped around my body. He rested his chin on my head, and I struggled to stay still for him so he wouldn't pull away.

"Thank you for coming... Even though we don't have classes anymore for today," I said. Edward just chuckled in response.

"Even if we had, it's not like I'd take them."

"You could fail this semester if you keep doing that... And what about your attendance?" I frowned, wondering all the why's about his so nonchalant attitude towards university.

"I'll manage something." I felt his body shrug and I pull off from him, to meet his eyes.

"But why? Why don't you come here anymore?"

"No particular reason. I'm just occupied by work that's all," He simply answered, his face giving away nothing in response.

"Oh okay." I breathed. "You don't have to beat yourself so much about work. Is it really that important?"

"I have no choice," He replied again, expressionlessly.

"Really? Is there something going on? Are you struggling financially?" A thousand other thoughts bombarded into my head, as I tried formulating a conclusion.

"Oh, it's not that. It's nothing, really," Edward on the other hand, didn't seem to be ready for my tell-me-about-your-problems questionnaire. One thing I had learned about him was, that he was good at hiding stuff, and he hated to reveal anything that gave him off as vulnerable.

"By the way, I got you something." Edward smiled at me softly, and I could tell it was just to distract the subject. I returned his nervous smile, while he dug his hand in his jean pocket, retrieving a plain black box.

"Oh, my God." I gasped lowly. "Don't tell me it's something expensive... I can't take that." I shook my head, without bothering to take the thing from his out-held palm.

"Please do. I did this to make it up to you. I know I haven't been present for you, so I thought this might help you to make you feel closer to me." His blue eyes gleamed with desperation and begged for my approval like they always did. Not wanting to appear off as unkind and dismissive, I exhaled a breath of appreciation, as I took the small article from him. It was a black matte box, but I couldn't bring myself to open it so I waited.

"Just open it already." He chuckled, his laugh laced with all kinds of I-hope-you-like-it sounds. I smiled nervously fumbling with the velvet box before pulling it open. And it was a ring. A plain silver ring, that had a single stone across the band, the silver gleaming and catching light, even in the dimness of the surrounding. I looked back at him, my frown deepening more at his impulsive yet thoughtful gesture.

"Edward why?" I asked, unable to react to his actions anymore.

"Because I wanted to. And because ever since we've been together, I haven't gotten you anything. And because you deserved it the most," He simply explained, the glistening smile staying put on his beautiful features.

"It would be an understatement if I said it was gorgeous." I gaped at the ring, and then back to him. "That's so lovely of you."

"So I guess you like it?"

"It's just too much," I whined and instead of answering he pulled me into a hug again, kissing my hair. "You spoil me." My voice came out muffled as I breathed into his shoulder.

"It's nothing. But I'm happy that you're happy now." He pulled away, tucking away the loose strands of my hair off my face.

"Of course I'm happy Edward. But you don't have to do all this to make me happy."

"I know but I like doing it for you," He said with a small grin, his cheeks blushing slightly.

The next few moments we spent with each other, chatting about the most random things, and we almost lost track of time. My phone reminder signalled the end of the university periods and my work. We decided to head out to make it to Edward's workplace afterwards after exchanging more kisses.

The day just passed by like the usual routine and Edward thankfully dropped me home. Feeling all giddy and happy from my encounter with him and how he made me feel so loved, I couldn't seem to ask for much. The thoughts of him washed away all my worried ones, and the presence of the ring on my finger reminded me of his fingers in mine.

I entered my house, clicking the door open, and closing it behind, as it creaked in the process. The living room looked deserted, as the dirty plates and dishes littered the dining table. Sighing loudly, I shrugged off my coat and hung it on the coat hanger in the corner of the room. I peeked inside the other room to find Mum already passed out on the bed. She must've had a long day at work, the usual. I tucked the saved money I had been collecting for Mum's medical bills, in her purse. It wasn't much money, but it was enough for her to buy medicines for a week's supply.

I sprinted towards my room and removed my boots pushing my feet out and kicking them right under the bed. Lazily, I crawled onto the other side of it and reached out for my bag sprawled on the messy chair -- where I had kept it before -- without bothering to get up. I shifted my lean body towards it more and finally got my phone out. Perks of being super tall, I was able to reach anywhere by staying put in my bed.

I put on Taylor Swift's 1989 album on shuffle, as I went about Instagram, watching random clips and posts about how to find green and red flags in relationships and beautiful poetry pieces on heartbreak.

Several minutes passed by, and I heard a clang outside my room, causing me to flinch in my position. Startled, I frowned to myself and waited for some rummaging sounds, but tiredness got the best of me so I didn't bother checking. A few minutes later, another sound followed and I realised it wasn't from the house but it was through my window from outside.

Scared, and feeling uncertain, I quietly tiptoed towards the room window, as if I made any noise, the imaginary ghost would consume me. I slowly parted the long brown curtains away to get a view outside. It was dark and I couldn't make out a thing. A stone hit my window again and I flinched at the sound. Steadily, I looked closely and made out a faint silhouette, and a muffled voice of someone speaking something.

Gathering all my courage, I clicked open the window and found a guy a couple of metres from climbing up towards my balcony. He stood there frozen at me catching him, and stared back at me. "Hey, I'm so sorry to scare you but-"

My mouth fell agape at his sight and annoyance, frustration and fear took over me before I could even respond. "You?"

It was the stalker boy, Hayden.

"How did you find me?" I said a little louder, my voice laced with anger.

"I know that it is inappropriate of me, and you might want to call the police-"

"Oh yes, I might as well right now," I snapped.

"But I wanted to tell you something," He slurred. "And it's serious,"

"I don't find any seriousness in this whole situation. I know whatever you want isn't good." I quipped, talking him out through the window, and not letting him in which he seemed to be expecting.

"It's about Edward. I know him," He directly cut to the chase, staring right through me, as I frowned at his words. "At least let me in so I can discuss."

I took some time to reconsider his offer. I didn't get what he had against Edward and why he cared for my relationships and personal matters so much. But what if there was something he might know and was just looking out for me? I could only know if I heard what he had to say, and probably get rid of him if he seemed to beat around the bush.

"So? Am I being arrested or?" He began, a little too amusedly for my liking and I didn't react. I stepped aside from the window, not answering, waiting for him to follow the lead and get inside. There was a stranger, a male one at that, in my room and Edward didn't even know about it. Talk about being hypocritical of me. "Thank you for -" He started and I cut him off.

"First, tell me how you found my house?" I questioned, very seriously, standing at an arm's length from the window where he stood.

"I told you we lived close. I just happened to see you today while I was out. Edward walked you home," He answered without any hesitance.

"I don't believe you." I shrugged, turning away from his piercing gaze. "Continue whatever you have to say."

"Okay, I'll be direct," Hayden started. "Edward is cheating on you."

My eyes snapped up to his in an instant -- quite impulsively -- and my heartbeat increased in pace. All of a sudden, I felt my body and posture weakened at the disclosure. It was scary how a few words had so much impact on me physically and emotionally. My breath hitched in my throat as I struggled to verbalise my thoughts into words. "H-how do you know... that? Why do you think I'd believe you?"

"Because I was at his workplace in the afternoon, when you weren't there. I was looking for you actually, but I saw him. He was making out with another girl, who I think works there," He finished and I inhaled sharply at his words. Suddenly, I felt void of any emotions and thoughts and didn't know what to feel.

"Well..." I gulped. "Do... Do you have any proof besides just seeing him?"

"I know it's inappropriate of me to photograph someone like this, but..." He trailed off, finding his phone in his jacket pocket and began searching for something on the brightly lit device. "I don't know if it's much proof, but this is close to what I saw."

He handed me the device, and with trembling hands, I took it from him. There was a blurry picture -- I couldn't tell if it was my tears or the pixelated picture -- of Edward and a girl, holding hands together or exchanging something, and talking a little too closely for a friendly gesture.

Nervous jitters started to erupt in my stomach as I gulped and took the mere sight of the photo.

"I'm sorry you had to see that," Hayden interrupted after a long sharp silence, taking the phone from my hands. He stepped towards me, probably pitying my vulnerable condition.

"Please don't," I stopped him. "I'm better off of any sympathies."

"Oh okay." He stepped back instantly.

"Why were you stalking him?" I brought up again, trying to find ways of how all this could be a lie or a stupid planned-out prank or some joke, anything along the lines of that.

"I wasn't stalking him. Why would I?" He let out a dry laugh. "I was just trying to find you there, and happened to cross paths."

"Why were you trying to find me?" I retorted quite harshly and he sighed.

"I'm sorry," He just plainly apologised. "I was just trying to find you and be friends with you. And I couldn't let someone like you, be cheated and lied on like that behind their back. So I had to do what any upstanding person would."

At this point, I wasn't even listening to whatever he had to say and turned away from him, rummaging my hands through my hair. I tried so hard to force my emerging tears back and gulped that solid bile in my throat. My mind began going in all the directions, and events, thinking and wondering of any signs I had missed and how this seemed to be happening.

It was happening again.

And it was moments like these where I was better left wondering the what ifs, and not the experience of it.

I could feel his presence behind me, uncomfortably shifting and probably not knowing how to deal with my messed-up predicament.

As if to console me after a long stretch of silence, I heard him speak lowly. "I know what I'd say wouldn't matter much anyways," He paused reluctantly. "But that's the worst part about betrayal. It always comes from the person you least expect from."