…Andrew standing there, his fist still clenched, blood trickling from Adam's nose.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Andrew yelled, his voice raw with anger and something else—protectiveness, maybe even fear.
Adam staggered back, clutching his face, sneering, "You think you can stop me, kid? He's mine to—"
"Don't. Touch. Him. Again," Andrew growled, stepping closer. His normally composed demeanor had vanished, replaced by a feral intensity I had never seen.
I felt my heart hammering, both from relief and from seeing Andrew like this. My emotions swirled—fear, admiration, and something deeper that made my stomach flutter uncontrollably.
Adam sneered again but finally backed off, clearly calculating his next move. "This isn't over," he spat before storming away, rubbing his nose and glaring at us.
I let out a shaky breath, sliding down the wall to the ground. "A-Andrew… I… thank you," I stammered. My hands were trembling—not just from adrenaline, but from the overwhelming relief of having Andrew there.
Andrew looked down at me, his eyes softer now. "You shouldn't have gone alone," he said, kneeling beside me. He brushed a strand of hair from my face, his hand lingering just a moment too long. "Next time, you tell me. Always."
I wanted to say so much—about Ruby, about my past, about how scared I'd been—but the words caught in my throat. Instead, I just nodded, unable to look away from him.
For the first time in months, I felt a strange mixture of safety and longing, and I realized… maybe, just maybe, Andrew wasn't as unreachable as I thought.
I stayed on the alley floor for a few moments, my chest rising and falling rapidly, heart pounding as though it would burst from my ribcage. Andrew's presence beside me was calming, but the adrenaline still coursed through my veins like electricity. My hands trembled slightly as I tried to process everything that had just happened.
"You're shaking," Andrew said, his voice lower now, more controlled, but still tinged with concern. "Are you okay?"
"I… I think so," I muttered, though my voice sounded fragile even to my own ears. I couldn't stop thinking about Adam's words, the threats, the photos, and everything he'd tried to do. My stomach churned with disgust at the memory, but relief at Andrew's timely intervention slowly began to take root.
"You shouldn't have gone alone," Andrew repeated, his dark red eyes boring into mine. His tone carried a warning but also something softer, protective. "Promise me you'll never do that again."
I nodded quickly, my throat tight. "I… I promise," I said, though the shame and fear still gnawed at me. "I just… I didn't know who else to turn to."
Andrew frowned slightly, then extended his hand to help me up. As I grabbed it, I felt an electric spark—or maybe that was just my imagination—shoot through me. He pulled me to my feet, and for a moment, I wondered if he realized how close he was, how just standing beside him made my heart race.
"Come on," he said, glancing around the empty alley to make sure Adam hadn't circled back. "Let's get you somewhere safe."
I followed him silently, too overwhelmed to speak. My mind raced, thoughts colliding : Ruby, the terror from Adam, the unanticipated kindness and bravery from Andrew. Even after everything, my feelings for him hadn't changed—they had only intensified, fueled by this shared, harrowing experience.
Back at the apartment, the tension between the familiar and the dangerous felt almost suffocating. The elevator ride up was silent, the hum of machinery underlining the silence. I kept my eyes fixed on the floor, avoiding Andrew's gaze, though I was acutely aware of his presence behind me.
"Sam," he said quietly as we reached our floor, "you need to tell me everything. Now. About Adam, about those messages, about what he said in the cafe."
I hesitated, a lump forming in my throat. Could I really put into words the years of trauma, the fear, the shame, and the lingering threat? But Andrew's eyes, sharp and serious, made it impossible to deflect. He wouldn't let me.
"He… he's been threatening me," I whispered finally, voice cracking. "Ever since… ever since that… incident years ago… he keeps saying he'll release pictures. He tried to make me—" My voice caught entirely, and I looked down, ashamed, unable to say the word.
Andrew's hand found my shoulder and squeezed gently. "Hey," he said softly. "It's okay. You don't have to say it if it hurts. I just need to know what's going on so I can help."
I swallowed hard, grateful and embarrassed all at once. "He… wants me to—he wants me to do things… horrible things… or he'll show everyone those pictures. I couldn't… I didn't know what to do… I felt trapped."
Andrew's jaw tightened, his normally easygoing features hardening. "That bastard," he muttered under his breath. His hand moved from my shoulder to grasp my hands in both of his, holding me steady. "Listen to me, Sam. You're not going through this alone. You have me. Always. Do you understand?"
I nodded quickly, trying not to sob, though my body shook from relief and pent-up terror. "I… I understand."
He released my hands but kept his hand lightly on my back, guiding me toward the living room. "We'll figure this out," he said with determination. "First, we need to make sure he can't hurt you anymore. No threats, no meeting him alone, nothing. We do this together."
Hearing those words, feeling his unwavering presence, a strange warmth flooded me. Even amidst the fear and shame, I realized that Andrew cared in ways Ruby could never. The jealousy that had gnawed at me for months suddenly felt… less important, replaced by a deep gratitude and a longing I could no longer ignore.
The next few hours passed in a blur. Andrew helped me set up my phone, installing security apps, changing passwords, and even contacting a friend who specialized in dealing with cyber harassment. Every step made me feel more in control, less like a victim, and strangely, closer to Andrew.
As evening approached, I finally felt able to sit quietly, sipping tea in the kitchen. Andrew leaned against the counter, casually scrolling through his phone but glancing at me frequently. There was a silence between us, heavy but not uncomfortable.
"You know," I said softly, "I never thought… anyone would actually be there for me. Not like this."
Andrew looked up, his dark red eyes meeting mine. There was an intensity in his gaze that made my chest tighten. "You've been through a lot, Sam," he said quietly. "And I… I don't like seeing you like that. Not my best friend, not ever."
I blinked, stunned. My heart was pounding so hard it almost hurt. Could he… could he be saying what I think he's saying? My mind spiraled with hope and disbelief.
Before I could respond, his phone buzzed. He glanced at it and frowned. "Ruby." His expression darkened, and he muttered, "Of course."
Ruby. That name alone twisted my stomach into knots. I had been avoiding her presence for weeks, yet she still had the power to disrupt our fragile peace.
"What does she want?" I asked cautiously.
Andrew didn't answer immediately. He closed his eyes for a moment, then shook his head. "She's… asking to meet. Claims she has something 'important' to tell me. I don't know if I should—"
"You shouldn't!" I burst out before I could stop myself. The words were sharp, protective, almost desperate. "Don't go near her. She's the reason all of this started! She lied about me, she ruined my work, she… she's manipulative, Andrew!"
Andrew got confused and tried defending her name but I quickly told everything about Ruby to him.
He raised a brow at me talking, a small, knowing smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You're… jealous," he said, not teasing, just observing.
I froze, my face heating. "I… maybe a little," I admitted quietly, unable to look him in the eyes.
Andrew chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Sam… you've always been jealous of her, even when it wasn't justified. But I get it. You care about me. And… I care about you too."
My stomach flipped. "W-what?"
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "I know you think I'm… not interested, or that I couldn't be. But Sam… you've always mattered to me more than anyone. I just… didn't realize how obvious it was until recently."
I wanted to scream, to cry, to throw myself at him all at once, but words failed me. Instead, I simply nodded, letting the emotions overwhelm me.
Andrew reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "You're my best friend. Always. And right now, I'm not letting anyone hurt you. Not Adam. Not Ruby. No one."
I felt tears prick at my eyes, not from fear this time, but from relief and… happiness. It was overwhelming, to have him here, standing by me. For the first time in months, I felt like I could breathe.
The next day, we devised a plan. Adam couldn't be allowed to continue his harassment, and Ruby needed to be confronted for her lies and manipulation. We decided to tackle Adam first, using the digital security measures Andrew had helped me set up. We would gather evidence of his threats, report him, and make sure he couldn't harm me—or anyone else—again.
Andrew accompanied me to a nearby café where Adam had previously sent his messages, not to meet him, but to trace and document any leads. Every step of the way, Andrew was calm, reassuring, and protective. His presence grounded me, even as my nerves threatened to unravel.
By late afternoon, we had enough evidence to report Adam to the authorities. It was surreal, finally feeling some control over the situation, knowing he couldn't threaten me anymore. But the relief was tempered by a lingering sense of anger. The man had ruined years of my peace, and while justice would follow, the scars he left would not vanish overnight.
Afterward, Andrew suggested we go back to the apartment. He needed to see Ruby, or at least deal with the aftermath of her lies. I felt apprehensive, my jealousy still simmering under the surface, but I knew he wouldn't let me face it alone.
When we arrived, Ruby was lounging casually on the sofa, her phone in hand, pretending not to notice our entrance. Andrew's gaze was icy as he approached her.
"Ruby," he said firmly, his voice cutting through the room like a knife, "we need to talk."
Ruby looked up, feigning innocence. "Oh, hey Andrew. What's up?"
"You lied about Sam," Andrew said sharply. "You ruined his work, spread false stories, and manipulated me. I don't know why, but it stops now."
Ruby's smirk faltered slightly, and for the first time, I saw a hint of fear in her eyes. "I… I didn't mean—"
"You did," Andrew interrupted. "And I won't let you do it again. Sam is my friend. And I'm done letting anyone—especially you—hurt him."
I felt a rush of gratitude and admiration toward Andrew, mixed with a strange, thrilling sense of possessiveness. He wasn't just defending me—he was choosing me, finally.
Ruby stood up, realizing she'd lost control. "Fine," she said sharply, backing toward the door. "Have it your way. But this isn't over."
Andrew's expression didn't waver. "It's over for you. Stay away from us."
As the door clicked shut behind her, I let out a shaky breath. Relief and satisfaction washed over me. For the first time, I felt a sense of victory—not just over Ruby, but over the fear and helplessness that had dominated my life for so long.
Andrew turned to me, eyes softer now, filled with something I couldn't quite name. "You okay?" he asked.
I nodded, unable to speak for a moment. "I… I am. Thanks to you."
He stepped closer, his hand brushing mine. "You don't have to thank me. I'm here because I care. And… I've always cared."
My chest tightened. The words were simple, but the meaning was profound. For months, I had felt alone, betrayed, and scared. But now, standing here with Andrew, I finally felt safe, seen, and valued.
And though the world was still complicated, and Adam's shadow lingered in the back of my mind, I knew I wasn't facing it alone. Andrew was here. And maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for something more between us.
As we sat together on the sofa, a tentative calm settling around us, I realized something important: life had thrown me into darkness again and again, but for the first time, I had someone who would help me fight it. And that… that made all the difference.
The days that followed were still challenging. We had to report Adam fully to the authorities, secure my online presence, and rebuild my life. But every step was easier with Andrew by my side. He accompanied me to every appointment, stayed late to help with my art commissions, and made sure Ruby never crossed our path again.
And during those quiet moments—when we cooked dinner together, shared jokes, or simply sat in silence—I felt the subtle shift in our relationship. The crush I had harbored in secret began to blossom into something tangible, mutual, and real.
By the end of the week, I realized something astonishing. For the first time, I wasn't just surviving. I was living. And I wasn't alone.
Andrew's hand brushed mine again as we cleaned up the kitchen after dinner. This time, I didn't flinch. Instead, I held his gaze, smiled softly, and felt a warmth spreading through me.
"Sam," he said quietly, "I know we've been through a lot… but I'm glad it's just us now."
"Me too," I whispered, my heart swelling. "Me too."
And in that moment, I finally understood: even after the nightmares, betrayals, and scars, there was hope. There was love. And I wasn't alone anymore.