Love Alarm
The next few days at Kingswell High passed in a blur for Edward Collins. His focus was consumed by Mabel, who remained as elusive as ever, despite their brief conversation at the park. She still kept her distance, arriving late to class and leaving quickly at the end of the day. Edward watched her from afar, trying to piece together the fragments of her life that she had reluctantly shared with him.
It wasn't just curiosity anymore. Edward couldn't shake the feeling that Mabel was in real danger, and every instinct told him to help. But Mabel clearly didn't want to involve him. She was like a shadow-fading into the background, trying to stay unnoticed.
---
Meanwhile, Mabel Kingston was battling the storm inside her. The encounter with Edward had left her shaken. She had revealed more than she intended, and now the fear of someone finding out about her past weighed heavily on her. The problem wasn't just the dangerous man who was after her family; it was the secrets she carried, the truth she couldn't bear to tell anyone.
Her brother David had warned her over and over: Don't trust anyone. Keep your head down, stay out of sight, and don't make friends. But it was getting harder to do that, especially with Edward around.
Every day at school, she could feel his eyes on her, his unspoken questions hanging in the air between them. She couldn't afford to let him get too close, but she also couldn't deny the pull she felt toward him. He was different from anyone she'd ever met-kind, genuine, and for some reason, he seemed to care about her.
It wasn't long before the tension between them began to draw the attention of others.
---
On a rainy Wednesday afternoon, Edward found himself standing near his locker, lost in thought. He hadn't spoken to Mabel since their meeting at the park, and his frustration was growing. He couldn't get her out of his head, but she seemed determined to keep him at arm's length.
As he shut his locker, he was startled by a voice.
"Edward," Sherilyn's voice was soft but with an edge, as she sauntered up to him, twirling a strand of her sleek blonde hair between her fingers. Sherilyn Winters, the girl every guy at Kingswell admired-the queen bee of the school-had her sights set on Edward since sophomore year.
"Hey, Sherilyn," Edward replied, trying to sound casual, but he could already feel the weight of her attention pressing down on him.
"You've been distant lately." Her blue eyes narrowed as she tilted her head, her voice carrying a hint of accusation. "Ever since that new girl showed up, it's like you've forgotten we exist."
Edward tensed, knowing exactly where this conversation was heading. Sherilyn had never been subtle about her interest in him, and while they had flirted in the past, Edward had never seen her as anything more than a friend. But Sherilyn wasn't the type to give up easily.
"What's her deal anyway?" Sherilyn continued, her voice dripping with disdain. "She's weird, always disappearing, never talking to anyone. You're way too good for someone like her."
Edward's jaw clenched. "That's not your call to make, Sherilyn."
Sherilyn's eyes flashed with irritation, but she quickly composed herself, plastering on a sweet smile. "I just don't want you getting mixed up with the wrong crowd, Eddie. You deserve someone who's on your level."
Before Edward could respond, the conversation was interrupted by Jason, who appeared beside him, holding a basketball. "Yo, Ed, we're heading to the gym for some practice. You in?"
Edward hesitated, glancing from Sherilyn to Jason. "Yeah, I'll catch up with you later."
Sherilyn's face fell slightly, but she forced a smile. "Don't forget our study session tomorrow." She turned on her heel and walked away, her confidence never wavering.
Jason grinned as they walked toward the gym. "Dude, Sherilyn's not gonna give up, is she?"
Edward sighed. "She's just being... Sherilyn."
Jason raised an eyebrow. "You know she's gunning for you, right? You better be careful, especially now that you've got your eyes on Mabel."
Edward shot him a look. "I'm not 'gunning' for anyone. I just... I don't know, Jason. There's something going on with Mabel, and I want to help her."
Jason nodded slowly. "Yeah, man, but Sherilyn's not gonna take kindly to that. You've been her 'project' for a while now."
Edward groaned inwardly. He didn't need this right now. Mabel's problems were already complicated enough, and the last thing he needed was Sherilyn getting involved.
---
That evening, as Mabel walked home, the rain pouring down in sheets around her, she pulled her hood tighter over her head, trying to stay dry. Her thoughts raced. Edward was getting too close, and Sherilyn's jealousy wasn't going to make things any easier. She knew how girls like Sherilyn operated-she had seen it all before.
Just as Mabel rounded the corner to her house, she heard footsteps behind her. Her heart raced, and she quickened her pace. The footsteps followed, getting closer. Panic surged through her as she darted down an alleyway, hoping to lose whoever was following her.
But the footsteps didn't stop. They were right behind her now, and she could hear the sound of heavy breathing. Mabel's pulse thundered in her ears as she turned sharply, ducking behind a dumpster to catch her breath.
A figure appeared at the mouth of the alley, drenched in rain, and Mabel's fear spiked. She knew this wasn't just some random person. It was him-the man who had been hunting her and her family. The one who had torn their lives apart.
Her mind raced, searching for a way out. She couldn't run forever, and there was no one around to help. She was trapped.
Just as the figure took a step forward, something miraculous happened.
"Hey!" A voice echoed through the alley, cutting through the rain. Edward appeared, running toward her. His eyes were wide with alarm, but his determination was clear.
The figure hesitated, glancing between Mabel and Edward, before turning and disappearing into the shadows.
Edward skidded to a stop beside Mabel, panting heavily. "Are you okay? What the hell just happened?"
Mabel's chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath. She stared at the spot where the figure had vanished, her mind reeling.
"I... I don't know," she lied, her voice shaking. She couldn't tell him the truth-not yet.
Edward frowned, his concern deepening. "Mabel, I don't know what's going on, but I'm not going to let you deal with this alone. I'm here, okay? Whatever it is, I'm here."
Mabel felt a lump form in her throat. No one had ever said that to her before. She had always been the one to protect herself, the one to run. But Edward's words, his presence-they made her feel safe, even if just for a moment.
She nodded slowly, though the fear in her eyes remained. "Thank you," she whispered, barely audible over the rain.
---
As Edward walked Mabel home, he couldn't shake the feeling that something much bigger was happening-something far more dangerous than he had ever imagined. He didn't know who that man was or why Mabel was so terrified, but one thing was clear: Mabel wasn't just running from her past. She was running from someone who wanted to hurt her.
And now, Edward was involved.
Mabel, on the other hand, was torn. She wanted to trust Edward, but she knew that doing so would only put him in danger. The man chasing her wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted, and anyone who stood in his way would be collateral damage.
As they reached Mabel's house, Edward turned to her, his eyes filled with determination. "Whatever's going on, we'll figure it out together."
Mabel forced a smile, but inside, she was screaming. She knew she couldn't afford to drag Edward into her mess. But as she looked into his eyes, she realized that she might not have a choice.
Because no matter how hard she tried to push him away, Edward Collins wasn't going anywhere.
---
To be continued....