I turn the corner heading out of the city center and in the direction of home. It's been a great day with Cheeto and Lewis, but like everything, it had to come to an end – and to be honest, I'm starting to notice how exhausted I am.

I remember the way Lewis looked at me earlier, while I was talking about things that have direct relations to the patriarchy, racism, homophobia and generally discrimination and how many people just don't seem to make these connections. He looked interested, but... Not in the way that Cheeto did. Cheeto was listening to me state the facts and understanding them perfectly while translating. And so was Lewis, but there seemed to be something different in his eyes, his beautifully green eyes, that I just can't understand. One time, he almost ran into a stranger because he was so focused on me – or what I was saying – and just didn't notice his surroundings.

I shake my head.

What's wrong with me lately?

A shouted "Hey!" interrupts my thoughts and as I look up, I see a stranger, probably a guy, approaching. "Hey," He repeats, and I realize he's talking to me. Please don't let this end badly... I think, but just stop walking as he does the same right in front of me. "Can I get your number?"

I shake my head for the sole reason that I don't want to give it to him, my expression staying entirely blank.

"Why not?"

I just shake my head again, signaling that I don't need to give him any reason, hoping he can handle rejection.

He seems speechless for a moment or two and I want to keep walking, but he's blocking my way. "Talk to me," He says. "Just tell me why not. If you have a boyfriend, he doesn't need to know."

I shake my head for a third time, this time clearly irritated, but he doesn't seem to notice or respect it.

"Come on, don't be shy. Talk to me," He repeats, stroking a strand of my hair behind my ear. I grab his wrist firmly and put his hand down, maintaining eye contact. Don't touch me, my eyes say – I hope.

"Don't be such a bitch." He hisses, and as I just consider screaming loudly since the people around us don't seem to notice he's literally assaulting me, another voice sounds over to us.

"Hey girl! Jason and Alex are waiting by the car, come on!"

I turn my head to see someone with brown skin and light blue hair in several thin braids just a few feet away, crossing the street to get to us.

"Who's that? Do we know him?" They ask, and I realize what they're doing. Shaking my head (how many times am I going to do this today?), I give them a thankful look and they take my wrist to pull me away from the guy with a "Get the fuck away from my friend.".

"Do you need a ride somewhere?" They whisper as we're far enough, and I nod. "Alright. Sorry that happened to you. My name's Dina, by the way. She/her. What about you? Only if you're comfortable telling me, of course."

I free my hand from her loose grip to take my notepad from my pocket, opening the page at the end with phrases I use often and add she/her behind my name, showing it to her and pointing at the words.

"Jesse?" She asks. "That's a pretty name."

I point at the Thank you this time, not only meaning her compliment.

"No problem at all." She responds. "Oh, by the way, there are no 'Jason and Alex' by the car, I just said that because men like him respect other men more than women."

I nod, honestly not surprised at all.

"Oh, here we are." Dina points at a small black car standing near a driveway. "Okay, if you start feeling uncomfortable about sitting in the car with a stranger – or sitting in the car with me – let me know, I'll pull over and let you out anytime you want. Don't worry, I won't take it personal." She says and I nod thankfully as she unlocks the car and we get in. I look at her while she's starting the car. Her hair is tied up in a bun, though a few braids have fallen out of it – or were purposely left out – which sort of gives her a devil-may-care kind of look. She's a little shorter than me, though she looks a bit older, and wearing a blue jean jacket over a black hoodie, her septum and right ear are pierced with golden rings. A big scar runs diagonally across her face.

"Where should I take you?" She asks. I note down the street and she nods, typing it into the GPS of the car. "Alright, here we go."

Dina is a talkative young woman; I just listen to her most of the time while she's driving. She's a university student who visits her mother and stepfather every second weekend and her father on the weekends in between. Her parents get along well despite having broken up when Dina was five, they're – as she says – "literally best friends, I'm so happy for them, to be honest". She even mentions where she got her scar: She fell off a swing as a child, "but honestly, it wasn't that bad. I mean, sure, I cried my eyes out and needed stitches, but I'm alive and my face is intact, so...".

By the time we arrive, we've exchanged Instagram usernames and I know a lot more about her than I probably should after fifteen minutes.

I thank her again as I exit the car and she just waves it off with a smile. "Don't worry about it, I'm just glad you're okay."

Dad seems to have noticed the unusual arrival since he asks me about it as I enter. I summarize what happened and he puts his hands on my shoulders, looking up and down with worry in his wide eyes.

"Are you okay?"

I nod. I am now, though it was pretty terrifying.

"Oh, Jesse... That sounds terrible." He hugs me. "Did you at least have a good time with your friends?"

Again, I nod.

"I'm glad!" He says with a smile. "I met them soon after you separated, by the way. They seem nice! And... Energetic."

Both of us laugh.

Sounds like an accurate description. I say.

A/N: two chapters in three days, what! yeah, i actually knew what was going on here LMAOO

anygay, i wrote this chapter in one go and i'm kinda proud ngl