Jaytee walked beside Nora in silence. Fluorescent lights were shining above, casting elongated shadows on the floor. Nora moved carefully, her steps were slightly uneven, but Jaytee was close, he was too close. He had kept his promise and had stayed till she woke up.
Every time she swayed even slightly, his hand hovered near her lower back, ready to catch her if she stumbled.
She glanced up at him. His expression was unreadable, his eyes focused straight ahead as if he were deep in thought.
"You don't have to walk me home, you know," Nora said lightly, breaking the silence. "I can manage."
Jaytee didn't look at her. "I know."
"Then why are you doing it?" Nora asked
"Because I don't trust you not to collapse halfway there." His voice was flat, but there was something else in it, something she couldn't quite place.
Nora smiled, holding her head up. "So, you do care."
Jaytee sighed. "Don't start." She laughed softly. Despite everything, teasing him was easy. Too easy.
They stepped outside, the night air was cool against her skin. The city was quieter than usual, with only a few cars passing by, their headlights illuminating the pavement in brief flashes. The wind blew at her hair, and she pulled her jacket tighter around her.
Jaytee didn't seem affected by the cold. If anything, he seemed warmer than usual, an odd contrast to the chill around them.
She glanced sideways at him. "You're warm," she murmured.
Jaytee shot her a questioning look. "And?"
She shrugged. "It's just weird. You act all cold and distant, but you're actually… warm."
He exhaled sharply. "I'm human."
"For now," she echoed teasingly, recalling their conversation from earlier.
Jaytee's lips twitched as if suppressing a smile.
They walked in silence for a while, the sound of their footsteps filling the empty streets. At some point, their hands brushed. A brief touch, skin against skin. But neither of them pulled away.
The touch lingered for a second too long, sending a strange thrill through Nora's chest. She swallowed with her heart pounding.
Jaytee didn't look at her, but his fingers curled slightly, almost as if he was debating whether or not to take her hand.
"Jaytee," she said quietly.
He finally looked at her, his expression unreadable. "What?"
She hesitated. "I…."
A loud noise shattered the moment. A car passed. A sharp echo from the alley beside them. Both of them froze. Jaytee instantly shifted, his body moving protectively in front of her. His hand went to his pocket, a habit she had noticed before, though she had never seen what he kept there.
Nora's pulse spiked. "What was that?"
Jaytee's jaw tightened. "Stay close."
She did. The alley was dark, the shadows deep and stretching far into the distance. Jaytee's eyes scanned the area, sharp and alert. For a moment, nothing happened. The street lights shone, and the air was thick with tension.
Suddenly, there was movement. A figure darted between the buildings, fast. Too fast.
Nora barely had time to react before Jaytee grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. His grip was firm but not painful, his body tense as if ready to strike.
The figure stopped at the edge of the alley, just outside the reach of the streetlights. It was impossible to see the face, but Jaytee felt a presence.
Jaytee didn't move. His senses were very active.
There was a long silence between them and the figure.
Then, just as suddenly as it appeared, it vanished. Jaytee didn't relax.
"What was that?" Nora whispered.
He didn't answer immediately. His grip on her wrist loosened slightly, but he didn't let go. Finally, he muttered, "Nothing good."
Her heart pounded. "You know what it was, don't you?"
Jaytee finally looked at her, his gaze dark and unreadable. "Go home, Nora."
Nora's pulse spiked at the way Jaytee said those words, low, firm, almost pleading. But she wasn't going to let him shut her out. Not this time.
"Not until you tell me what's going on," she insisted, her fingers tightening around his.
Jaytee didn't pull away, but he didn't speak either. His gaze remained locked in the other direction as if expecting something to emerge from the darkness again.
"This isn't the first time something like this has happened, is it?" she asked softly.
He exhaled sharply and turned to her, his expression was unreadable. "Nora, go home."
There it was again. That edge in his voice, like he was warning her. But she wasn't afraid. Not of him.
Nora stepped closer, her voice quieter now. "You don't get to do this. You don't get to act like you care, and then shut me out."
Jaytee's fingers twitched against her wrist before he finally, reluctantly, let go.
"I'm not shutting you out," he said, though it sounded more like a lie than the truth.
"Then tell me the truth." Nora requested
He hesitated. His hands clenched at his sides, his shoulders tense.
"I can't." He replied
"Why?"
"Because it's not safe," Jaytee murmured, his gaze dropping to the pavement. His voice was softer this time, almost… conflicted.
A silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words. Jaytee took a step back, distancing himself like he always did when things got too personal.
Nora felt a bit of frustration like he was pushing her away again.
"You don't get to decide what's safe for me," she said, crossing her arms. "I'm not a child."
Jaytee let out a humorless chuckle. "Could've fooled me."
Nora swallowed, she was quiet.
He smirked, but there was no real amusement in his eyes. "Nora." He called her name more calmly
The tension between them was unbearable. It wasn't just about the alley, or the strange figure that had vanished, it was about them. About the way, Jaytee was always there but never really letting her in.
She sighed, wrapping her arms around herself. "You know… I wish you'd stop pretending"
Jaytee's expression flickered, just for a second. Then, he looked away.
"I have to pretend," he whispered under his breath.
Something about the way he said it made Nora's stomach tighten. There was pain there, buried beneath layers of indifference.
She wanted to ask what he meant. She wanted to break past whatever walls he had built around himself.
But before she could, Jaytee spoke again. "Come on. I'm walking you home." His voice was firm, final.
Nora hesitated, then nodded. She had pushed enough for one night.
They walked in silence for the next few blocks, the earlier warmth between them now replaced by something heavier.
When they finally reached her house, she turned to face him. "Jaytee…"
"Go inside, Nora." His tone was gentle this time, but distant.
She frowned, frustrated by the sudden shift in his demeanor. "Will I see you tomorrow?"
Jaytee didn't answer immediately. Then, finally, he said, "No."
Her chest ached at the finality of his voice.
And then, before she could say another word, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the night. Nora stood there, staring after him.
Her fingers were tingled from where he had touched her. Nora liked this guy.