For some reason, I ended up back at ==Hazelwood== cafe. I stood on the opposite side, staring into the window for no reason. Then someone waved their hand in my face I turned my gaze to look at them, it was my ==neighbour== Marissa ==Oden==. I never liked her, she always came to my aunt’s house to gossip I’m convinced that’s what old ladies love to do the most besides pinch babies’ cheeks. In so many ways she’s just like my aunt acting younger than they actually are, going to parties, bringing guys home it’s childish. “May! long time no see, how are you dear” I was tempted to roll my eyes but instead I gave a little fake smile “Hey, miss ==Oden==. I’m living I suppose what more is there” I shrugged, she laughed showing the wrinkles under her eyes “Oh dear May you need to be more fun and call me Marissa miss ==Oden== makes me feel old” “Yeah okay sure” and I knew the next time we talked in the far future I would still call her Miss ==Oden==. “Where is your aunt? I was supposed to pick her up for a party but she isn’t picking up her phone” she took out her phone and started to scroll through it “she should be at home, probably with some guy” she’s always with a guy it’s kind of annoying to see guy after guy that she flirts with and brings home, “Oh she getting more than me ” she laughs putting her phone away, I held myself back from gagging at that so I rolled my eyes and looked back at the window “Well, I’m gonna go see if your aunt’s home, bye May,” she said and waited for a minute without looking back at her I nodded then, I could hear her heels getting quieter and quieter. I found a bench and sat down and took my sketch pad out, I started drawing my mystery boy or what I remember of him. I drew his muscular arms, his tall form, his hair was in a high fade I heard a little girl shout and it snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked around trying to see where the sound was coming from “HELP!” I heard her shout again I turned my head and saw a little girl about 6 years old running into an alley and a man close behind. My pencil fell to the ground and I stood up instantly I looked around trying to find someone else who saw what I was seeing but coincidentally no one was there I sighed, my first instinct was to run find help but I knew the little girl wouldn’t be safe if I left. So many thoughts were running thru my mind. I forced myself to focus, then I heard her shout again but this time wicker and muffled, I ran shutting out all the thoughts from my head I got there just in time to see him hovering over my tiny body “Stop!” I shouted still trying to collect my thoughts, he turned towards me with a tiny grin on his lips “Can I help you?” he said slyly “Leave her alone” I was shaking now trying to control myself he took a step closer his smile getting wider. “And what are you gonna do if I don’t? Are you gonna call your friends do you really think you stand a chance I can smell your fear from here” he took a step closer, the gap was getting smaller my breath was getting fast and then I saw it, I looked down and in his right hand there was a knife my blood went cold my breathing stopped it was as if my body forgot how to work. I looked back at the little girl curled up in the corner her face already a bit bloody. I looked back up and into his eyes, they were dark and cold black even. I knew I only had one choice left. " fuck” I whispered under my breath before I charged at him dropping us both to the floor, I quickly stood up without hesitation and ran straight for the little girl. I got there and found her breath coming out in a wheezing gasp, she was still breathing and it was getting worse. my blood went cold again when I heard footsteps, I whipped my head around he was on the ground walking towards us. “shit’’ I mumbled, that was the part I didn’t think through. he wasn’t smiling anymore " you stupid little girl. Do you know what I am? " he repeated not waiting for my response. ” pity you won’t live to find out’’ he started smiling again as he approached us with a dark look in his eyes. " well that’s a bummer I was really hoping to see the shock on their faces’’ I looked around trying to find out who said that but no one was there, the man stopped in his tracks, slowly gazing at the area, he stopped and stair into the distance, I followed his gazed but still saw on one. “oh I’m sorry didn’t mean to interrupt anything,” the voice said again in a mocking tone. " what do you want?” “Nothing big just the two hostages you have” “in your dreams, they’re mine and if you don’t mind I’d like to finish what I started” the guy sighed “well I did try and be nice” and at that moment I saw a pair of purple eyes hiding in the dark and in about 10 seconds, faster than my eyes could see the man was down and the other guy was on top. I sat there shocked the guy on top was a mystery boy and he looked so much better up close. “Take her and run” he shouted but I was still in shock and didn’t move “RUN!” he shouted again still trying to maintain his position on top of the man. i tried my best to lift the girl slowly as not to hurt her any more than she was. I ran past them holding her tightly to my chest, I ran all the way back to the bench and laid her down gently, I gently pulled the hair back from her face. she groaned she was clutching her stomach she continued to groan, I knew what was going to happen so I slowly rolled he onto her side it took a couple of minutes but she threw up all over the floor she slowly brought herself on her back and took a slow shaky breath “Hey, I’m May. I’m here to help you” I paused waiting to see if she would respond “what your name” I continued she slowly opened her eyes at turned her head toward me. “==Zoey==,” she said faintly " okay ==Zoey== do you know where you are,” I said trying to keep my voice steady, it was hard not to cry she was so little and didn’t deserve this. “no where’s my mommy” “don’t worry help is on the way you just need to stay awake, okay?” she took a deep breath and nodded. I tried to take a deep breath to calm myself but that was cut short with I felt a hand on my shoulder, I felt myself stiffen under its touch “it’s fine, it’s just me” he moved beside me and knelt down “Is she okay” I wanted to reassure him but she wasn’t doing wonderful “yeah from what I can see, her breathing was more or less normal but I think she might have some broken bones” I looked at him my breath was cut short when I realized how close he actually was. His intense baby blue eyes met mine, I could feel my body getting hot, he broke our gaze, he glanced at ==Zoey== and stood up, I looked at my hands for a couple of seconds. I looked back at ==Zoey== and I could see her eyes were getting watery. A couple of seconds later I hear the sirens, I smiled a little now that ==Zoey== would get through it “==Zoey== your gonna be okay the ambulance is almost here,” I told her “Can you hear it you’ll be safe soon” she looked like she was going to smile but had barely enough energy. 10 minutes later the ambulance got there and took ==Zoey== I didn’t see her mom or anything but I assume she was on her way to the hospital Everything was silent again, I was still in the same spot by the bench looking down at my hands trying to blink back the tears. I don’t even know why I was crying, ==Zoey== was safe but I just couldn’t bring myself to move. “You okay?” “Yeah” I pulled myself together wiping away the tears that had escaped. I tried to get up but I tripped over my own foot and stumbled backwards, he caught me as I fell into him, I felt an instant shake when he caught me. I turned around to face him, he had a confused n look on his face as if I was the only one affected. We stood 2 feet apart my hands frozen two his, our eyes locked in an intense gaze We didn’t even notice the car that pulled up all I could hear was the honking of a car horn, we both dropped our hands, I looked around him to see who it was, and of course, it was my aunt. “MAY NICOLE THOMSON, WERE ON EARTH HAVE YOU BEEN I’VE BEEN LOOKING EVERYWHERE FOR YOU” and by looking everywhere she means she called my phone and I didn’t pick up “You are in big trouble young lady, you can’t just wander off like that, I’m not going to put up with your bullshit. Now get in the car we’re going home” she got back into the car and slammed the door, I took a deep breath and turned around “Thank you” I whispered hoping my aunt wasn’t secretly listening “yeah no problem, I guess I’ll see you around then” “Yeah sure” I was going to walk away but then I realized I didn’t know his name “you never told me your name” he looked like he was contemplating if he should tell me. Then he smiled for the first time that night and it was stunning, “Logan” " May I don’t have all night” I turned my head to see she rolled down the window and was pointing to her imaginary watch, I rolled my eyes as she rolled her window back up “Well, bye Logan” I gave him a little smile and wave as I walked back two my aunt’s car. I looked out the window and watched as Logan disappeared into the distance.