Stella sat behind the counter of the grocery store where she worked part-time, still reeling from what had happened earlier with Simon. Her mind raced, replaying the moment when his lips brushed against her neck. The sensation of his touch, the way his eyes darkened, haunted her. She couldn't believe she had let him get so close—so intimate. But it wasn't just the closeness that unsettled her. It was the way he seemed to change in that instant, as if something primal had taken over him.
"Stella, you stupid girl," she muttered under her breath, mentally chastising herself for getting lost in the moment.
But there was no denying the magnetic pull she felt toward him. Her pulse had raced when he touched her, and now, sitting alone in the store, her heart hadn't fully calmed. Something about Simon was... different. She had always sensed an intensity in him, but today it was sharper, darker—almost dangerous. And when his lips brushed her neck, it wasn't just a kiss. It felt like something else entirely, something that sent a shiver down her spine. But she couldn't put her finger on what.
Her fingers absentmindedly traced her neck where his lips had lingered, the memory of his touch still fresh on her skin. She didn't understand why her body had reacted the way it did. There was something primal in the way he had looked at her, but she had brushed it off, thinking it was just tension between them.
Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a customer at the counter, their voice sharp with impatience. "Hey, where are you lost?" the man asked, his tone annoyed.
Stella snapped out of her reverie, flustered. "Sorry," she mumbled, quickly ringing up the items. Her hands were trembling slightly as she calculated the total. "That'll be ten dollars, sir."
The man handed her a bill, still eyeing her with mild irritation. She bagged his groceries, doing her best to keep her focus on the task at hand. As he walked out, Stella exhaled, leaning back against the counter, trying to calm the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her.
Why had she let Simon get so close?
Why hadn't she stopped him sooner?
And yet, beneath all her confusion, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something about Simon she wasn't seeing clearly. It wasn't just his intense gaze or the way he seemed to know exactly how to make her heart race—it was something deeper, something dangerous lurking beneath the surface. She had always been drawn to him, even when she tried to fight it, but now that pull felt even stronger.
And then there was that strange moment when his eyes seemed to change—just for a second, like they had flashed. But that couldn't be right, could it? Stella shook her head, trying to brush off the thought as an overreaction. Yet the memory lingered, nagging at her. Something wasn't adding up.
She couldn't help but wonder: what if there was more to Simon than she realized? The thought buzzed in her mind like a persistent fly, refusing to be swatted away. Just then, the bell above the grocery store door chimed, signaling the arrival of another customer. Stella looked up, her heart momentarily lifting at the sight of Milo.
"Hi, Stels!" he greeted, casually strolling toward the counter with two bottles of Coke in hand.
"Hi," she replied, trying to push aside her thoughts of Simon. "That'll be three dollars."
Milo handed her the money and she returned his change, noticing the easy way he smiled. "Party?" she asked, glancing at the bottles with curiosity.
"Nah, just a movie night for myself," he said, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I plan to binge at least six movies today."
Stella raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile creeping onto her lips. "Then will you sleep in the college tomorrow?" she asked sarcastically.
"What college?" he shot back, feigning ignorance. "It's a holiday!"
Stella tilted her head, her frown deepening as realization dawned on her. "Today is our last day of college, Stels. Tomorrow, we kick off the Christmas holidays. Seriously, where are you lost?" He chuckled, clearly amused at her moment of forgetfulness.
Stella slapped her forehead in disbelief. "Holidays, right," she muttered, shaking her head at herself. "I am really dumb."
Milo nodded, still grinning as he finished his transaction. Just as another customer approached, he waved goodbye. "Take care, Stels! Don't forget to enjoy the break!" With that, he left, and the door swung shut behind him.
As the weight of the realization settled in, Stella felt a rush of mixed emotions. It was the holidays! She could finally relax and take a break from classes, but the thought of skipping her training session with Simon hung heavily over her. Training was the only thing keeping her tethered to him, and the pull between them was hard to resist.
But today, she couldn't shake off the lingering unease from earlier. Her mind still wandered back to that moment—Simon's lips on her neck, his eyes flickering with something dark and primal. The way he had leaned in, his breath warm against her skin—it left her feeling flustered and confused.
Instead of heading to her training session with Simon after her part-time shift, she decided to go home. It felt like the right decision; she needed space to clear her mind. As she typed out a quick message to Simon, letting him know she wouldn't be coming today, she felt a mix of relief and guilt wash over her.
With her phone tucked away, Stella stepped outside into the chilly air, wrapping her arms around herself against the cold. She knew she could enjoy her holidays, indulge in some much-needed relaxation, but she couldn't ignore the gnawing sense that she was walking away from something significant—something that had the potential to unravel her entire world.
As Stella made her way home, juggling bags of junk food and healthier snacks, she felt the weight of the day slowly lift off her shoulders. The chill in the air was refreshing, a stark contrast to the heated moments she'd shared with Simon earlier. Once she arrived at her house, she paused on the porch, glancing into the parlor. The warm glow of the lights indicated that her grandmother was inside, likely engaged in one of her lively conversations.
With a deep breath, Stella entered the house, setting her grocery bags down on the kitchen table before going into the parlor. She gently opened the door, revealing her grandmother animatedly chatting with a friend.
"Hi, Gigi," Stella greeted, her voice cheerful as she stepped inside.
"Didn't go to the gym today?" her grandmother asked.
"No, is Mal okay now?" Stella inquired, her thoughts immediately shifting to Mallory.
"Worse, she got her period, and you know how that goes," her grandmother replied, shaking her head. The worry etched on her face spoke volumes about Mal's struggle.
"Is she sleeping?" Stella asked, concerned for her sister.
"No," her grandmother sighed, glancing towards the house.
Without another word, Stella turned and made her way back into the house. After quickly changing into comfortable clothes—a soft t-shirt and leggings—she headed up the stairs to Mal's room. As she approached, she could hear the faint rustle of sheets and the sound of her friend's soft whimpers, a sign that Mal was clearly in distress.
Mal had always had the worst periods, a cruel reality made worse by her struggle with endometriosis. The severe cramps and fever left her exhausted and in pain, but despite it all, she rarely asked for help. Stella couldn't understand why Mal was so stubborn; it only frustrated her.
As she opened the door, she found Mal crouched on her bed, clutching a hot pack against her abdomen. The sight tugged at Stella's heart. No matter how much pain Mal was in, she would try to power through it alone, her pride getting in the way of accepting the comfort and care she needed. This arrogant girl, Stella thought fondly, shaking her head.
"Hey, Mal," Stella said softly, stepping inside. "I brought some snacks and a little bit of junk food. I thought we could watch a movie or something."
Mal looked up, her eyes tired but brightening slightly at the suggestion. "You didn't have to," she murmured, her voice thick with discomfort.
"I wanted to," Stella insisted, crossing the room to sit beside her on the bed. "You shouldn't have to go through this alone. Let me help you." She reached out, smoothing Mal's hair back from her sweaty forehead.
Mallory shifted slightly, her face still contorted in discomfort. "Your fever has gone down a bit. How about we watch Vampire Diaries? It might distract you."
"Is it romance?" Mal asked, her tone already laced with irritation as she glared at Stella from beneath the blankets.
"Yes," Stella smiled, undeterred by her friend's trademark disdain. She knew how much Mal hated romantic plots.
Mal's eyebrow twitched in annoyance, and she groaned softly. "I'm not watching that cheesy stuff."
Stella chuckled, placing a hot pack on Mallory's stomach and a patch on her back, her gestures tender yet teasing. "You should, and you will. Remember? You promised me a year ago that you'd binge it with me during the holidays. This is the perfect time."
"I was thinking more along the lines of documentaries," Mallory muttered, trying to sound unimpressed.
"Too bad! Vampire Diaries it is," Stella declared, her excitement infectious as she shifted to grab the remote from the nightstand.
Mallory rolled her eyes but couldn't help but feel the warmth of Stella's enthusiasm. "Fine, but if it gets too romantic, I'm switching to something else. I can only handle so much drama."
"Deal!" Stella grinned, dimming the lights and pulling the blankets over them both. "Besides, you'll need to see how a real vampire romance works. It'll distract you from the pain, I promise."
"Your idea of distraction is torturous," Mallory shot back, though her voice lacked any real heat. She leaned into the warmth of the hot pack and her friend's unwavering presence.
As the opening credits rolled, Stella couldn't help but glance at Mallory, noticing the way her eyes flickered with reluctant interest.
And so, as the first episode unfolded, the laughter and drama filled the room, creating a sanctuary for both of them