Love Alarm
The next day at Kingswell High, Edward Collins found himself more distracted than usual. His mind kept drifting back to the fleeting encounter he had with Mabel the day before. Despite her efforts to blend in, she was impossible to ignore. That spark of curiosity was burning brighter now, and he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her than met the eye.
Edward strolled into first-period chemistry, finding his usual spot next to Jason. The room buzzed with the usual chatter of students catching up after the summer, but Edward's gaze kept scanning the doorway, waiting for Mabel to appear. She didn't.
"Still thinking about her?" Jason asked with a knowing grin.
Edward shot him a look but said nothing. He couldn't deny it, though. He was intrigued, and not just because Mabel was new. There was something about the way she had looked at him-just for a split second, but it was enough to make him wonder what was going on beneath the surface.
As class droned on, Edward's mind wandered. He thought about the last time someone had caught his attention like this, but no one had. Not in this way. His usual relationships had been fleeting-girls who were interested in him for his name, his money, or his looks. But Mabel didn't seem to care about any of that. She hadn't even seemed to recognize him.
---
Mabel's Morning
Across town, Mabel Kingston stood in front of her mirror, trying to steady her nerves. She didn't want to go back to Kingswell, but skipping wasn't an option. Her brother, David, had made it clear that they needed to maintain a low profile, and disappearing would only draw attention.
She glanced at her reflection-her tired eyes, her plain clothes. She could still feel the weight of Edward Collins' gaze on her from the day before. The way he had spoken to her, the curiosity in his voice-it unsettled her. She couldn't afford to get involved with anyone, least of all someone like Edward.
Her brother's voice echoed in her mind, stern and protective. "You can't trust anyone, Mabel. We've made it this far because we've kept our distance. Stay under the radar, don't make friends, and whatever you do, don't get attached."
Mabel sighed, grabbing her backpack. She didn't need the reminder-she knew what was at stake. But there was something about Edward that made her feel... seen. And that scared her more than anything.
---
Back at school, Edward's day dragged on, his attention slipping in and out of conversations and classes. By lunchtime, he was restless. He hadn't seen Mabel all morning, and a part of him wondered if she was avoiding him. It wouldn't have surprised him, considering how she'd rushed off yesterday.
As he sat in the cafeteria with Jason and the rest of their group, the usual noise and chaos filled the room. Jason was deep into a conversation about their weekend plans, but Edward's mind was elsewhere. He finally spotted Mabel, sitting alone at a table by the window, her nose buried in a book. She looked so... detached from everything around her.
Before he could second-guess himself, Edward stood up. Jason looked at him curiously. "Where are you going?"
"Just need to check something," Edward replied, brushing off the question. He grabbed his tray and made his way over to Mabel's table.
Mabel didn't look up as he approached, too absorbed in her book. Edward cleared his throat, causing her to glance up in surprise.
"Hey," Edward said, offering a small smile. "Mind if I sit?"
Mabel hesitated, her eyes flickering with uncertainty, but she nodded. Edward sat down across from her, setting his tray on the table.
"You weren't in chemistry this morning," he said casually, trying to keep the conversation light.
Mabel shifted uncomfortably, her fingers tracing the edge of her book. "I had some stuff to take care of."
Edward nodded, sensing that she didn't want to elaborate. "Look, I know we don't really know each other, but I wanted to see if you're okay. You seemed... I don't know, upset yesterday."
Mabel's eyes widened slightly, and she looked down at her hands. "I'm fine," she said quickly, her voice tight. "I just... have a lot going on."
Edward leaned forward, his curiosity piqued even more. "Like what?"
Mabel tensed, and for a moment, Edward thought she was going to shut him out completely. But then she sighed, a heavy, tired sound. "It's complicated," she said quietly. "You wouldn't understand."
"Try me," Edward replied gently. He could see the conflict in her eyes, like she wanted to open up but was afraid to.
Mabel glanced around the cafeteria, her gaze darting to the familiar faces of Kingswell's students. She knew they were all watching, even if they pretended not to. Edward Collins was talking to the new girl-the one no one knew. It was bound to raise eyebrows.
"I really don't want to talk about it here," Mabel finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Edward nodded, understanding. "Fair enough. How about we talk after school? We can go somewhere quiet. No pressure."
Mabel hesitated again, but something in Edward's tone made her trust him, just a little. She gave a small nod. "Okay."
---
The Meeting After School
That afternoon, Edward found himself waiting by the school gates, watching as students poured out of the building. He leaned against the fence, checking his phone and glancing up every few seconds to see if Mabel had shown up. He wasn't sure she would. He didn't know her well enough to predict what she might do, but he hoped she wouldn't back out.
Just as he was about to give up, he saw her walking toward him, her steps hesitant but deliberate. She had changed into a simple black hoodie, her hair pulled back into a messy ponytail.
"You came," Edward said, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Mabel shrugged. "I said I would."
"Come on," Edward said, nodding toward the parking lot. "Let's go somewhere we can talk."
They walked in silence to Edward's car, a sleek, black convertible that screamed wealth. Mabel hesitated before getting in, but Edward's relaxed demeanor made her feel slightly more at ease. They drove in silence for a while, the only sound the hum of the engine and the occasional beep from Edward's phone.
After about fifteen minutes, Edward pulled up to a small park on the edge of town. It was quiet, with only a few people walking their dogs or jogging along the path. Edward parked the car and turned to Mabel.
"This place is pretty peaceful," he said. "We can talk here."
Mabel stepped out of the car, her heart pounding in her chest. She wasn't sure why she had agreed to come with him, why she felt this strange sense of trust with him. But now that she was here, she knew she couldn't back out.
They found a bench under a large oak tree, and Edward sat down, gesturing for Mabel to do the same. She hesitated before sitting next to him, her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap.
"So," Edward said after a moment of silence. "What's going on, Mabel? Why are you so afraid?"
Mabel bit her lip, her mind racing. She had never talked about this with anyone-had never even considered it. But there was something about Edward, something in the way he looked at her, that made her want to trust him.
"I've been running," she said quietly, her voice barely audible. "From my past. From things I can't escape."
Edward's eyes softened, his curiosity tempered with concern. "Running from what?"
Mabel hesitated, her hands shaking slightly. She couldn't tell him everything-not yet. But she could give him a glimpse, just enough to keep him from asking too many questions.
"From someone dangerous," she finally said. "Someone who... who hurt my family."
Edward's heart clenched at her words. He could see the fear in her eyes, the way her body tensed as she spoke. He wanted to reach out, to comfort her, but he didn't want to scare her off.
"Who is it?" Edward asked softly. "Who's after you?"
Mabel shook her head. "I can't tell you that. I shouldn't have even said this much."
Edward leaned back, his mind racing. He didn't know what to say, didn't know how to make her feel safe. But one thing was clear-Mabel was in danger, and whatever was haunting her wasn't going away.
"I won't push you," Edward said after a long pause. "But if you ever need help, I'm here. You don't have to go through this alone."
Mabel looked at him, her hazel eyes filled with a mixture of fear and gratitude. "Thank you," she whispered.
For the first time in a long time, Mabel felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, she didn't have to face this all on her own.
---
To be continued....