LAURA
"You like to read?" I ask, slipping into interrogation mode like it's muscle memory.
He lets out a quiet huff of laughter. "Not really. And when I do, fiction's usually not my thing."
"Really?" I lean closer, narrowing my eyes. "Interesting."
The corner of his mouth lifts.
"So what is your thing?"
"True crime."
I blink.
"That's a genre?" I ask, pretending I don't know.
He gives me a flat look. I last about half a second before I snort.
"Why true crime?" I ask.
He shrugs, casual—but there's thought behind it. "I guess I like understanding what pushes people to their worst decisions. What makes them cross the line."
I draw in a slow breath.
Okay. Diagnosis confirmed: Jae is attractive, intriguing, and a little terrifying.
"And you?" he asks suddenly. "What do you read?"
The question catches me off guard. I wasn't expecting the spotlight to swing back my way.
"I read a lot," I say after a beat. "Fiction's usually my go-to." I copy his phrasing on purpose.
Something in his expression shifts. The sharp edge softens, just slightly.
"Let me guess," he says. "Lord of the Rings."
I snap my head toward him. "How did you know?"
"Relax," he says. "I didn't climb through your window and watch you or anything."
My eyes widen. "So you do know about Edward Cullen."
He laughs under his breath. "My sister—Jessica—used to watch those movies on repeat. That scene stuck."
A sister. Noted. Filed away for later.
"But seriously," I say, "how did you know?"
"You drew it once. In your notes."
"Oh."
Right. The Leaf of Lorien I'd sketched a thousand times. He saw it the day he helped me with my books.
I frown. "You said you don't read fiction. How did you recognize Tolkien?"
"I said I don't usually read fiction," he corrects. "LOTR was the exception."
I hum. "Interesting."
The car slows and pulls up in front of my house.
Disappointment twists in my stomach. Sharp and unexpected.
I should've told him to keep driving. I still had a hundred questions I wasn't ready to let go of.
"As entertaining as this interrogation's been," he says, emphasizing the word, "we've arrived."
I smile anyway.
He doesn't move.
Just looks at me like he's memorizing details he doesn't want to forget.
"Thanks for the ride," I say, reaching for the door handle.
"Wait."
Before I can react, he's already out of the car, walking around to open my door.
I step out, and he closes it gently, deliberately.
We end up facing each other—too close, not close enough.
"That was unnecessary," I say.
"I know." He slips his hands into his pockets. "But I was kind of an asshole today. Figured I'd start making up for it."
My expression softens. "Then… thank you."
He pauses, eyes darkening. "I should put my number in your phone… just in case you ever need it."
I blink. "Okay."
I hand him my phone. He unlocks it, types in his number, every motion deliberate, charged, then hands it back.
I let my smile fade before it can give too much away.
"See you around, Jae," I say, turning toward the gate.
I close it behind me and barely take three steps before—
"Laura."
I turn. He's halfway inside the driver's seat, one hand resting on the door.
"Don't let my charm fool you," he says. "That vampire's way nicer than I am."
He isn't smiling.
Then he gets in the car and drives away.
I stay there long after his taillights disappear, hoping tomorrow doesn't erase this version of him—hoping he won't turn cold and distant again at school.
Hoping this wasn't just a moment.
Hoping it's the beginning of something real.
***
I stare at my phone longer than I should before finally texting him.
Laura: You okay?
Jae: Yeah. You?
Laura: Yeah. Hope it went okay today.
Jae: It´s over. Thanks for checking.
Minutes pass.
Jae: Can I ask you something?
Laura: Sure.
Jae: Why do Giselle and Mallory always go after you?
I frown at the screen.
Laura: Why? You really want to know?
Jae: I'm curious. What's their problem with you?
Laura: Nothing, really. Just girls being girls.
Jae: You sure? Because it doesn't look like that. Feels personal.
Laura: They've always done it.
Jae: Always? What started it?
Laura: I don't even know. I guess when I first got here.
Jae: Something had to happen.
Laura: Yeah. I showed up. Even Peter stopped talking to me that first week.
Jae: Peter?
Laura: We were neighbors. Before everything.
Jae: And that pissed them off?
Laura: I… don't think so.
Jae: Sounds like jealousy.
Laura: You think they didn't like me hanging out with him?
Jae: Yeah. Especially because of him.
I pause, staring at the words.
Was that really it?
Laura: I never thought about it that way.
Jae: They wouldn't target you if you didn't have something they wanted.
My chest tightens.
Jae: Do you still like him?
What?
Laura: …No.
Jae: Good.
Laura: Why is that good?
Jae: Because it's better that way.
Laura: How did you even know I liked him?
Jae: I heard you in the restroom. Before Isaac came in.
Heat floods my face.
Jae: Relax. I'm not holding it against you 😏
Laura: Thanks. That somehow makes it less humiliating. 🙄
Jae: The shame's on Peter. For letting them treat you like that. He's an asshole. You're better off.
Laura: I was trying not to be noticed.
Jae: Even so... I notice things.
My thumb hovers over the screen.
Laura: Like what?
A pause.
Jae: Like when someone's trying to act fine when they're not.
My chest tightens a little.
Laura: You're good at reading people.
Jae: Comes with the true crime obsession.
Laura: That's… not reassuring.
Jae: I know. But I'm on your side.
I stare at those words longer than I mean to.
Laura: You didn't have to do what you did that day.
Jae: Yeah. I did.
Laura: Why?
Another pause. Longer this time.
Jae: Because they shouldn't have cornered you.
Jae: And because you looked scared.
My throat goes dry.
Laura: I was.
Jae: I know.
Silence stretches between messages, heavy but not uncomfortable.
Laura: Thank you. For real.
Jae: Anytime.
Then:
Jae: Try to get some sleep, Laura.
Laura: You too.
Three dots appear. Disappear.
Then one last message:
Jae: And hey... I won't let you go through that again.
I stare at the screen, heart skipping.
Somehow, just reading that makes me want to feel safe.