♥ 𝓓𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓼 ♥ ~ A Your Boyfriend Game Fanfic/AU

Chapter 1: Part I - The Stranger

Soundtrack:

Whistle For The Choir by The Fratellis (Peter)

No Friends by Mazie (Lily)

People Are Strange by Echo And The Bunnymen

I sit on the park bench and sigh, taking a moment for myself after this stressful week. The evening autumn sun offers what little warmth it has. The comforting sensation soothes my rigid shoulders. I shrug farther into my hoodie and lean on the park bench's backrest.

My eyes droop closed, and I sigh again, feeling more of the tension leave my body. The cool breeze mixed with the warm sunlight keeps me in the present, and for a moment, I'm able to clear my mind.

A pair of quiet, almost hesitant feet stalk toward me. The weight of someone's gaze causes my shoulders to strain under the pressure again.

Please, just pass by. I want some time alone.

The park bench creaks as the person sits next to me. I release a harsh sigh at the sound. It's probably some old fart here to feed pigeons or watch the sunset. But why did they need to pick this bench?!

The stranger waits for a moment, as though expecting me to acknowledge them. I can feel their apprehension that I might return their gaze. Strange that I should be so in tune with this person's character.

I hear their lungs draw in breath, preparing to utter words that will probably annoy me in my current mindset. Just leave me alone. Maybe if I ignore them hard enough, they'll take a hint.

"Hi."

Or not.

I stand and start walking away before my eyes have fully opened. The stranger's stunned into silence. I'm five paces away by the time I hear them scramble after me. They catch up to me in three steps.

I scowl and turn my head to acknowledge their presumptuous presence with a sour expression.

"Woah, hey!" the man says. "I was just worried about you. You looked...stressed."

His vibrant eyes catch me off guard. They're a beautiful shade of blue that reminds me of stormy seas and night skies. His cheeks turn a soft pink color at my scrutinization.

"I am." I continue walking. His height surprises me. It also annoys me. It's hard to outpace him with my shorter legs.

If he's any sort of creep, he's probably surprised that I'm not more afraid of him. He'll be even more surprised to learn that he can't make me afraid. You can't scare someone who's already seen the worst.

"Well, are you okay?" His wide eyes stare at me with intense concern.

I look the stranger in the eyes with a bitter expression. "Does it look like I'm okay?"

He puts his hands up in a submissive gesture. "I just want to help."

He must just be overly friendly and kind, then. Still, he's pretty nosy for a guy off the street.

"You can start by leaving me alone." I quicken my pace, trying to out-walk him.

"C'mon, let me at least escort you to wherever you're going. There're a lot of creeps out here." The stranger, frustratingly enough, keeps pace with me easily.

I snort. Escort me? "It's nice to see you're self-aware."

"Are you always this...spicy?" the man exhales.

I smirk. "You caught me on a good day."

I expect him to get frustrated and leave me alone, or snap at me. Instead, he chuckles. It's a pleasant, soothing sound. My shoulders automatically relax, despite my annoyance, and my pace slows slightly.

"There's no reason to be afraid of me," the man says.

He puts his hands in his pockets and looms over me. I don't think he means to invade my space in the way he does. His body is just so lanky and tall. It makes him seem intimidating, in a way. But I bet I could take him in a fight.

I stop and glare at the man. "Oh honey, I'm not afraid of you."

I stand on my tiptoes to get in his face, letting him get the full effect of my hostile expression. I poke my finger into his chest.

"I've handled much worse than you," I snap.

The stranger's cheeks flush to a deep red color. He looks to the side, unable to meet my gaze. I have half a mind to shove him away, but I back off. He seems too bewildered to deserve that kind of treatment.

I shake my head and keep walking, my steps renewed with a new frustration.