𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐇𝐈𝐌 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You used to think being wanted would feel like a dream. Like walking into a room and finally having the eyes stay on you. Like all the years of being ignored would suddenly feel worth it.

But no one warns you that being wanted by the wrong person feels exactly like being hunted.

At first, Christian made you feel like you mattered. He showed up when you felt most alone, said all the things you were desperate to hear, touched you like you were some precious, breakable thing. But then things got… weird. Too fast. Too intense. The way he looked at you started to feel less like admiration and more like obsession.

And today? Today he followed you.

you were running with Brick—to lose the weight you gained from binge eating—and Christian was parked across the street. Just sitting there. Watching.

“Is that Christians car?” You stormed over to his car, asking him why he was following but Brick quickly interfered.

“Hey, what the hells going on here?”

“Christians stalking me.” You quickly replied. Brick didn’t hesitate. He ripped open the door, dragging him out of the car and started throwing punches. Brick got him pinned against the car, yelling at him to stay away from you until Christian got in his car and drove away.

“We still got another mile, so let’s go” He picked up his bag and started running like nothing happened.

You should’ve felt relieved. Instead, you felt like you couldn’t breathe.

Home didn’t feel safe anymore.

Mom was out of town with her boyfriend, and every creak of the floorboards made you flinch. Then you walked into your room and found it.

A little box. Wrapped in silver ribbon. Sitting on my bed.

You didn’t open it. You didn’t have to.

You left.

You didn’t even realize where you was going until you was standing outside Brick’s door, my fingers frozen just inches from knocking.

He answered on the second one. “{{user}}?”

You looked at him. You must’ve looked wild—no makeup, hair barely brushed, breathing like you’d just run a marathon. But he didn’t laugh. He didn’t ask questions.

“I… need your help.”

He nodded once, like he’d already guessed that. “You can stay here. For as long as you need.”

That was all he said before he opened the door and let you in.

You were in Bricks room before—when you were dating, of course— but it feels different now. It feels like a safe house for you now that you know Christian can get into yours with ease.

You and Brick were making his bed, getting ready for you to sleep there. You didn’t want to sleep alone. You wanted Bricks company. His protection. After you saw what he did to Christian today, he was the only person you felt safe around.

“There’s extra towels in the bathroom and I’ll be downstairs if you need me, so just call.” He turned to walk out.