AellaSo the next day was wild. Lunchtime rush, orders flying, the espresso machine whirring like a monster—that kind of wild. I was knee-deep in the chaos, and then the doorbell chimed. My heart did this stupid little leap because I didn’t even have to look up because I have his earthy forest scent memorized. Jay walks in, and he has a rose in his hand. A single red rose. Could the guy be any more cliche? But deep down, I was kind of touched.He waits in line, his eyes catching mine every now and then. I try to focus on the coffee I was making, trying to keep my hands from shaking. Finally, he was at the counter. “A latte, please,” he said, sliding the rose toward me. “And this is for you. I’m really sorry about last night.”I take a deep breath, feeling everyone’s eyes on us. “Thank you for the rose, Jay. And the apology is accepted. But I haven’t changed my mind. You had your chance.”He nods, almost like he was expecting it. “Fair enough. Can’t blame a guy for trying, though.”I

RomanThe door clicks shut in front of me as I step away from Aella’s apartment, the soft click echoing in the quiet hallway. My lips, still tingling from our kiss, and a smile creeps onto my face before I can stop it. I touch my lips with my fingertips, almost as if confirming that the kiss really happened; the taste of her still lingers on mine.What the hell is happening to me? As I walk toward my apartment, I pull out my phone and hesitate, my thumb hovering over Kaden’s contact. Fuck it. I hit the call button.“It’s me,” I say when he picks up. “Date’s over. It went well.”Kaden chuckles. “I didn’t think you’d be the type to ‘date.’”“I’m not,” I snap. “It’s part of the plan.”“All right, easy,” Kaden says. “So, how’d it go, really?”I hesitate, my eyes drifting back to Aella’s door up the hall. “She’s... interesting.”“Just interesting?”I frown. “She’s different, okay? She doesn’t act like the others.”“Ah, our little bird has some spirit,” Kaden muses.“Yeah, well, spirit or

AellaThe blaring of my alarm clock was so loud, it felt like it was piercing through my eardrums. I groan, my head feeling like it was stuffed with cotton balls. The hours stretched on, and with every passing moment, the haunting memories and gnawing paranoia seemed to grow stronger. I dragged myself out of bed, my body aching for the rest it couldn’t have.The shower is cold that morning, jolting me awake. I need to get my head into gear right now, I can’t afford to be distracted at work.As I made my way to the café, each step felt like a marathon. My footsteps echoed through the quiet morning streets, with the sound of my headache pulsing in time with each step.The familiar chime of the café door greeted me, but even the comforting scent of coffee couldn’t lift my spirits. I ambled to the counter, where Sam gave me a concerned look.“You alright?” he asks, his eyebrows knitting together.“Yeah, I’m fine,” I mutter. “Just a rough night.”The morning rush began, and I found myself

AellaAs I unlock my apartment door and step inside, I can’t help but feel an odd sense of relief mixed with confusion. Tonight was a rollercoaster of emotions—fear, vulnerability, and an unexpected comfort in the form of Jay.My fingers absentmindedly drift to the place on my arm where he held me, as if I could still feel the warmth there.“I’ll walk you home from now on,” he’d promised. Something about the way he said it felt almost territorial. As if he was staking his claim, making sure the world knew I was off-limits. But that couldn’t be right. This was Jay, the guy who always kept a safe emotional distance. Could he be the same person who’d held me tightly last night, his grip almost desperate?I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I need to focus on the more immediate problem: someone’s been following me. Two nights in a row. And though it’s terrifying, the presence of Jay beside me on those nighttime walks makes it more bearable. Is this how I’m going to live now? L

AellaI wrap myself tighter in my fluffy robe, staring blankly at the Net-flix home screen. It’s asking if I’m still watching, and I can’t muster the will to click ‘Continue.’ I’ve taken the day off, not really telling anyone why. My phone sits on the coffee table, neglected, buzzing occasionally with messages and calls I’m currently ignoring.There’s a half-eaten bowl of ice cream next to me and a pile of tissues on the other side. My tiny apartment feels like both a sanctuary and a prison, and I’m wallowing in the tension of that paradox.I startle when there’s a soft knock on the door. For a moment, I consider pretending I’m not home, but the knock repeats—gentle, patient. With a sigh, I drag myself off the couch and look through the peephole. It’s Jay. My heart jumps, and the fog of my self-imposed pity party lifts slightly. I rush to clean up the discarded tissues and switch off my laptop before flattening my hair and pulling my robe around my waist.When I open the door, he’s h