"What do you mean, you can't go to the party?" Ruby demanded in a hushed whisper, careful not to let anyone else hear her. "It's Bree's party. Everyone's going to be there." She looked me over, her expression a mixture of concern and frustration. "What's the matter?" She glanced around and then leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Did your parents say no or something?" she asked. 

"Yes," I replied, frowning. "But not because of the party." I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. "They just said I need to stay home this weekend. For some reason." I shrugged. "I don't know. They won't tell me."

"What? That's crazy." Ruby shook her head, frowning. "You're turning eighteen soon and you're a senior in high school. You should be able to go out whenever you want." She put her hands on her hips. "I mean, you're basically an adult. What's the worst that could happen?"

"I don't know." I sighed. "Maybe they're just being overprotective." I shrugged. "Maybe they think something bad is going to happen. Maybe they're worried about me getting drunk or whatever." I shook my head. "Who knows? All I know is, they said no, and that's that."

"Well, that's not fair," Ruby insisted and paused, staring at me. "But tell me. Do you really want to go to Bree's party or not?"

"Maybe," I admitted, unsure. "I mean, I was excited about it. But now, with everything that's going on..." I trailed off, biting my lip.

"Right. So, why don't you just sneak out?" Ruby suggested. She grinned mischievously. "It'll be easy. Just wait until everyone falls asleep and then you can text me to come pick you up. No, wait," she paused and chewed on her lip. "I think Enzo must've gotten an invite to the party as well. Bree sent it out to everyone on the soccer team, and he's on the team, right? So, yeah, he's probably going to be there. Damn." She shook her head. "Well, there goes that plan. Never mind. We'll figure something out." She looked around the cafeteria. "Hey, aren't you going to eat your lunch? If not, I'll eat it for you." She smiled, showing off her pearly whites. "You know, as your best friend and all, it's my duty to help you in times of need."

I laughed and shook my head. "Thanks, Ruby, but I'm not hungry. You can have my lunch." I pushed my tray towards her and stood up. "I need to go to the library, but I'll catch you later." I turned to leave.

"Wait, where are you going?" she called after me, but I waved at her and kept walking. As I headed towards the exit, I heard her mumble, "Library, my ass. That girl is going to skip class and ditch school."

I didn't turn around to see if she was right. Because, if I did, she'd probably have seen me smiling.

As soon as I was outside, I took a deep breath and exhaled. The air was crisp and cool. It was a welcome change from the stuffy heat of the cafeteria. I closed my eyes for a moment, relishing the sensation. Then, I started walking towards the main gate. The campus was quiet, and the only sounds were the leaves rustling in the wind and the occasional bird chirping. It was peaceful, and it made me feel calm. Like nothing bad could happen. But I knew better than that. Because, in reality, something was wrong. And I was going to find out what.

"Hey, kid, what are you doing out here?" a voice called out, making me stop dead in my tracks. The security guard was standing near the gate and frowning at me. "You should be in class. Or in the cafeteria." He looked me up and down. "Is there a problem?" he asked. "Do you need me to call someone?" He raised an eyebrow. "Your parents? A teacher?" His tone was suspicious. He seemed to think that I was up to no good. And, maybe, he was right. But that was none of his business.

I shook my head. "No, thanks," I replied, my voice steady. "I'm fine. I'm just taking a walk. I needed some fresh air." He didn't look convinced. He narrowed his eyes. "Look, if you don't mind, I'd like to get going. I'm not feeling well." I gave him a weak smile.

He sighed. "Fine," he relented. "Just be careful. And make sure you get back to class. Don't make me write you up for skipping." He turned away and started walking towards the gatehouse.

As soon as his back was turned, I slipped through the bars of the fence and ran off. The moment I was clear of the campus, I picked up the pace and sprinted down the street. I didn't stop until I was several blocks away. Only then did I slow down and catch my breath.

 Once my heart rate had returned to normal, I began walking again. I was headed towards the park. It wasn't far, and it was a good place to hide. I could sit on a bench, read my book, and wait for the afternoon to pass. And, hopefully, no one would notice me. Because, if they did, it would be all over. I'd be grounded for life.

I reached the park and sat down on a bench. The sun was shining, and there was a gentle breeze blowing. It was a perfect day. The kind of day where everything seems right with the world. I leaned back against the bench and closed my eyes. My mind was racing, trying to figure out how I was going to get past Enzo if I was going to sneak out to the party. He was going to be a problem. Especially if he went to the party. But, maybe, he wouldn't. Maybe, he'd decide to stay home. Or maybe, he'd go somewhere else. I had to admit, I was curious.

I don't know how long I'd been sitting there, lost in thought, but eventually, I decided it was time to go home. So, I got up and started walking. The afternoon was beginning to wane, and the streets were getting busier. People were out running errands or heading to work. Some were on their way home from school. And some were just hanging out. I liked seeing the neighborhood come alive. It made me feel less lonely. Like I wasn't the only one living here.

I turned the corner and was surprised to see a group of boys walking towards me. They were laughing and joking, their voices echoing off the buildings. I recognized them as some of the boys from the football team. I'd seen them around school, but I'd never spoken to them. And, judging by the way they were acting, I wasn't the only one. They were loud and boisterous. They seemed like trouble.

I quickly ducked into an alley, not wanting them to see me. I hid behind a dumpster and watched as they passed. They didn't even glance in my direction. They were too busy talking and shoving each other. They were probably headed to the arcade. They loved that place. It was where all the cool kids hung out. I waited until they were out of sight before coming out of my hiding spot. Then, I continued on my way.

The walk home was uneventful. The streets were quiet, and the only sounds were the occasional car driving by or a bird chirping. The sun was beginning to set, and the sky was tinged with shades of orange and red. It was beautiful. I loved this time of day. Everything seemed so peaceful. So calm. Like the whole world was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

As I approached my house, I noticed that Enzo was on the front porch, pacing back and forth. He looked worried. When he saw me, his expression changed. His eyes lit up, and he rushed towards me. He grabbed my arm and pulled me inside, closing the door behind us. 

He let go of my hand once we were inside and faced me with a scowl. His dark eyes were burning with intensity, and his lips were pressed into a thin line. I had never seen him look so serious. It was like he was angry with me. Or scared for me. It was hard to tell.

"Where were you?" he demanded.

His voice was low and gruff, and it sent a shiver down my spine. It was the first time I'd heard him speak, and it was startling. It was like listening to thunder or watching lightning strike. It was powerful and terrifying. It made me realize how much I didn't know about him. How much he had kept hidden from me. His accent was thick, but his English was flawless. I stared at him, wide-eyed, unable to answer.

"You were gone for hours. I couldn't find you." He frowned. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" He reached out and touched my face, his fingers brushing against my cheek. His skin was warm, and his touch was gentle. "I was worried about you," he murmured.

I didn't know what to say. Did I worry him to a point where he had no choice but to speak? His concern was surprising. And his closeness was unsettling. He was too close. I took a step back.

 "I'm fine," I managed to reply, my voice shaking. "I just needed some air so I went for a walk." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either. "And, no, I'm not hurt. Thanks for asking." I tried to smile, but it came out as a grimace. He nodded, and his hand dropped back to his side. I took another step back. "You didn't have to worry about me. I can take care of myself." My voice was more confident now. I was getting used to him. He didn't say anything, but he continued to stare at me, his expression unreadable. I felt awkward, standing there, trying to avoid eye contact. "Anyway," I continued, shifting my weight from one foot to the other, "I'm going to go upstairs and get changed. See you at dinner." Without waiting for a response, I hurried up the stairs. I needed to put some space between us. I was rattled.

It wasn't until I was in my room, sitting on my bed, that I realized why. Enzo scared me. Not because he was big and intimidating, but because of how much he seemed to care.