The cops explained everything to my mom after that, and sent us both home for the night, telling us they'd have something to protect us the next day. In the mean time, we'd have to stay home for the time being. We'd be safe until then because there was no way that the killer knew I'd told; at least not yet. That made me feel a bit better. When night fell again, though it took me a while, I managed to get some sleep. It wasn't a very pleasant sleep, but it was something in the least, and it brought some color back into my face. My mother waited around a while that morning, until we heard a knock at the door. My mother stood from the sofa we were sitting on and went to answer the door. I watched her curiously, wondering what the police's solution was. My mother swung the door open and our matching hazel brown eyes widened in surprise. At the door, was the petite woman from before, and standing on either side of her were two men; neither of which looked anything alike in any way; one being short and young--- most likely closer to my age, and the other being MUCH taller and older, his expression far more serious. The woman smiled at us.

"Good morning, Mrs. Winters." She greeted in a happy tone. "With some thought, we've come to the conclusion that the best way to protect you both 24/7 is to grant you both with, of course, body guards!" At her announcement, she did jazz hands to put emphasis on her "surprise." The younger man waved goofily and the adult man just stood there. I waved back to the younger man awkwardly, a bit of a puzzled look on my face. My mother, blushing a bit at the look she was receiving from the older man, took a few steps back and gestured that they could enter. "P-please, come in." All three nodded in appreciation and stepped inside. Within a few seconds, the younger guard caught me by surprise by immediately coming over to me with a bright friendly smile and occupying the vacant seat beside me on the sofa, as the adults all went into another room to talk about adult things. I blinked as he grinned at me, and watched as he extended his hand out to me. "I'm Gaige Knight."

Hesitantly, I lifted my hand and slipped it into his. I couldn't help but blush at the way our hands fit together. I cursed inwardly. It didn't matter WHO it was, but I always got way giddier and more awkward when around a member of the opposite sex... How embarrassing... "I-I'm Sterling. It's a pleasure to meet you." I watched as his ice blue eyes seemed to light up as his smile brightened. "The pleasure's all mine!" I smiled a tiny bit and stared at my shoes. I didn't know what to say...

I felt my face grow redder and redder as a painful silence settled over us. Feeling his eyes on me, I cautiously raised my eyes to see him staring at me, eyeing me intently. I felt butterflies jump around in my stomach. "W-what?"

He shrugged a bit, still smiling a bit, but no less warm. "Nothing. I'm just looking at you."

I tilted my head to the side, looking at him in confusion. "Why...?"

"'Cause," he began as his grin grew broader, "You're really pretty."

I could almost feel steam coming off my face as his compliment finally processed in my mind, and I looked quickly back down at my shoes shyly. "Who, me? N-no way..."

When I didn't hear a response, I turned back to look at him to see him smiling smugly. "Are too."

"Am not..."

"Are too."

"N-no, I'm not!"

"YES you are."

I folded my arms across my chest in embarrassment and irritation. "Quit it...!"

To my surprise, he laughed at me.

"Aww! You're even cuter when you're mad!"

I didn't think it was possible, but my blush grew even deeper as he kept talking.

"Yep!" He concluded. "I think we're going to get along just fine."

My shyness overtook me again and I averted my gaze, letting my long gray curls fall in my face, acting as a curtain between us. This was so embarrassing...!