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ARKs POV
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Saturday mornings used to mean sleeping in with the curtains closed, ignoring the rest of the world. But this morning was different. I woke up early, nerves already awake before I was.
My stomach was twisted, not just from the ghost of Melissa's punch still aching beneath my ribs, but from something worse- anticipation.Today was the day.
A date.
I hadn't said yes, not really. But Jade had decided for me. Like he always did. I shouldn't have agreed. I should've said no. Or not replied at all. But I did. No I didn't, he forced me. And now I was staring at the outfit I laid out the night before: a baggy shirt, loose pants, and clean white sneakers.
Mom peeked into my room.
"You sure you don't want me to braid your hair or something?" Mom asked from the doorway, a rare glint of excitement in her voice.
As if this was something to be excited about. And yes it was. Most girls would have done their hair or bought new clothes just to go with their crushes or Jade. But me I was just me, scared and sad. Why was I not happy about this. Is this normal.
I shook my head. "No. It's just... a thing."
She smiled like she knew something I didn't. "A thing, huh?"
"My little girl's going on her first date," she teased gently, hands over her chest. "He will fall for you again, when he sees you in your casual clothes."
"Mom!"
I pulled on the oversized shirt and tightened my scarf. It wrapped around my neck, my cheeks, my mouth- my armor. I was covered, hidden, safe. Almost.
By the time we were in the car, Mom was humming along to the radio, casting little glances my way.
"I'm proud of you," she said as we stopped near the school gate. "Whatever this is. You're stepping out. And that counts."
I nodded, unable to speak. My throat was dry.
Then I saw him.
Jade.
Leaning against a red Mercedes-Benz like something out of a dream I didn't want to have. His arms were crossed, hoodie intact chain catching the early sunlight. He surely loved hoodies. But still he looked unreal. Like a dream you tried not to think too hard about because it would ruin you.
He didn't smile. Just tilted his head at me and unlocked the car
"Took you long enough," he said, opening the passenger door.
I slid in without a word.
The drive was quiet. Music played low, something with a pulsing beat. His fingers tapped the wheel occasionally, but he didn't say much. That was fine. I didn't have the words anyway. I kept my hands on my lap, eyes out the window.
"You always this quiet," he said after a few minutes, "or just trying to make me work for it?"
I didn't respond. I couldn't tell if it was supposed to be a joke.
We pulled into the parking lot of the amusement park. No. This was not happening. I was standing near the famous amusement park, where rich parents brought their kids. Now excitement was starting to flicker in ke.
The air smelled like popcorn and metal, kids screaming in the distance. Everything was loud. Bright. Too much.
Jade looked at me and held my hand. His hard, but yet warm tender hands wrapped around mine. The size twice as mine.
Jade bought the tickets without asking. Led the way without waiting. He would hold my hand wherever we went. Didn't look at me with softness. But his eyes flicked to me often, like he was watching how much I could handle. I followed, heart still tucked under my ribs.
We rode the Ferris wheel first. He didn't speak the whole time. Just stared at me while I stared at the skyline.
"You scared of heights," he asked when we reached the top, "or just scared of me?"
I didn't answer. I couldn't.
Then we went on two rides. Nothing too wild. A spinning teacup.
At one point, the wind tugged at my scarf. I pressed it down quickly, but he saw my mouth twitch. A smile. Small. Real. It was the first time I'd forgotten to be afraid.
Then he said, "I'll get us something cold. Ice cream okay?"
I nodded. He walked off.
Later, i sat on a bench while he went to get ice cream. I watched him weave through the crowd, too confident, too beautiful, too everything. I hated how I noticed.
That's when it happened.
Three teenagers passed by. Two girls and a boy.
"Oh my God," one girl said, loud enough to hear. "Is it Halloween already?"
The other giggled. "God, it's like ninety degrees. She's probably hiding something gross."
The guy snorted. "Whoever is with her, surely knows how to pretend. That's not normal."
My throat closed.
I curled my fingers against the wood of the bench, eyes stinging. I stared down at my shoes, willing the comments away.
But they stuck. They always stuck.
I wanted to disappear. My eyes burned. Don't cry. Not here.
When Jade returned, his steps slowed.
Jade held out the cone. "Mint chocolate. You looked like you'd pick something complicated."
I muttered, "Thanks."
My hand brushed his, trembling. He noticed
He sat next to me. Then glanced over at the group. They were still laughing.
I looked away.
"What happened?"
I shook my head. "Nothing."
His jaw tightened.
"You're not good at lying. Even with all that fabric."
Without a word, he stood. Tugged my hand.
"Come on."
I followed. He didn't explain. Didn't look back. We got in the car. The ride was short.
The next place was quiet. A park. Empty except for the trees and a few benches. The kind of place people forgot existed.
I sat beside him.
Long silence.
Then his voice, low and edged:
"What did they say to you?"
I shook my head. "Nothing."
His jaw tightened.
"I'm not stupid.You're crying."
I wiped my eyes quickly.
"I shouldn't have come," I said softly.
He looked at me then. Eyes darker, colder. But not at me. Past me.
"No. They shouldn't have opened their mouths."
Silence stretched.
I stared at my shoes. My ice cream was melting.
"Why did you ask me out?" I asked.
He didn't respond right away. Just leaned back, elbows on the bench.
"Because you make me curious."
I frowned. "Curious?"
"Yeah. You're not like the others."
That should've been a red flag.
But something inside me flickered.
Then, as if changing the subject completely, he pulled out his phone.
"Give me your number," he said simply, like it wasn't a big deal.
My head turned sharply. "Why?"
He raised a brow. "You want me showing up at the school gate again without warning?"
I hesitated. I didn't understand what he was saying.
He held it out.
"Come on. It's not like I'm asking for your soul. Just digits."
I reached for the phone slowly, hands still trembling a little from earlier. The screen was already open to the new contact form.
"Type it," he said.
I did.
And then he said, "Name too."
I glanced at him, confused.
"You don't know it?" I asked quietly.
He smirked. "You never said it."
That made my fingers pause.
The only reason he didn't know… was because I'd been invisible to him until now. Just another face in a sea of high school noise. But something about this moment- this strange, twisted amusement park day-made him see me.
And now he wanted to know who I was.
I typed slowly:
Ark.
When I handed it back, he read it, then looked at me.
"Ark," he said, like he was tasting it. "That's different."
"So am I," I whispered.
He chuckled once. "No kidding."
The drive back was quieter than the ride there. I stared out the window. The sky had turned grey. Not stormy- just heavy. Like something waiting to fall.
Halfway home, he turned into a gas station.
"Stay here," he said as he got out.
I watched him through the glass- tall, relaxed, casual- walking like he owned everything around him. I hated how he looked so in control.
When he returned, he tossed a plastic bag into my lap.
I peeked inside.
Chips. A soda. A chocolate bar.
"What's this?"
He shrugged."Thought you might want something."
I stared at the bag.
I didn't know how to thank him. I wasn't used to kindness that didn't come with strings.
Then I realized- I hadn't buckled my seatbelt.
And before I could reach for it, he was leaning in.
Fast.
His hand moved over me, grabbing the buckle. His face was close. Too close.
The scent of him hit first- fresh, clean, a trace of something spicy. His chain clinked softly as he leaned in, brushing my shoulder. I didn't breathe. His cheek was almost against mine.
Then he clicked the belt in.
But didn't move away.
He stayed there- inches from my face- his gaze locked on mine.
My heart pounded.
Butterflies fluttered violently in my stomach, sharp and panicked. Something warm rushed through me, flooding my chest, rising into my throat. I wanted to look away. I couldn't.
His eyes narrowed slightly, studying me.
"You blush behind that scarf?" he murmured.
And that's when I pushed him- gently, but firm- back into his seat.
He laughed under his breath. "So you do react."
I turned my face to the window.
He didn't press again. Just started the engine.
The drive was silence but be ke it by saying something that was totally out of my mind.
"Next time, tell me when someone talks to you like that. I don't like seeing your eyes red."
"Who?"
"Those people at the park."
Oh. That's when I reliased.
I didn't face him.
"There won't be a next time."
He smirked. "Yeah, there will."
I looked at him.
For a moment, I thought I saw something almost... human in his eyes.
A few minutes later, we slowed near a quiet street. I pointed.
"Just here… the white gate."
He pulled up.
His eyes scanned the house, then flicked back to me.
"So this is where you live," he said slowly, like he was memorizing it.
I didn't answer.
He leaned back in his seat, watching me. I opened the door quickly.
Before I could step out, his voice came again- lower this time.
"You're stronger than you think."
I blinked at him.
"How would you know?"
His lips tilted, but not quite into a smile.
"Because even when they talked, you didn't run. Not really."
I couldn't think of a response. Not one that made sense.
So I just nodded, stepped out of the car, and walked toward the house- the bag of snacks still in my hand.
When I got inside, Mom was buzzing.
"So? Did you have fun? Did he kiss you?"
I shrugged her off. "We talked. That's all."
She gave me that look- the one that said she didn't believe me but was too happy to ruin the moment.
I went straight to my room.
Collapsed onto the bed.
The scarf stayed on.
I don't know why. Maybe I was too tired. Or maybe I wasn't ready to face the girl beneath it. The girl who let herself be touched, stared at, looked through and looked at- and still didn't run.
The silence of my room was too loud.
I rolled over, hugged my pillow close.
My phone buzzed.
My stomach dropped.
Jade: Goodnight. Don't let them get to you ❤️
That heart. That soft note. From him?
It felt... wrong. But warm.
This message was full of something else I didn't understand.
I stared at it for a while. My fingers hovered over the keyboard.
I didn't know what to say.
So I didn't say anything at all.
Just closed my eyes, heart thudding quietly.
And maybe… maybe I did want there to be a next time.
Even if it scared the hell out of me.
Even if I didn't understand why.
Even if I knew I was already falling into something I wouldn't know how to crawl out of.