The Moons Darkside

Chapter Six | Welcome Stranger

Tara couldn't sleep for the next few nights. The feeling of being followed or the thought off was still in her body; it made a shiver crawl down her spine. Tara desperately needed a break. Not that studying with Seth in the late hours of the night was terrible; those were the times of the day she didn't hate. But being on high alert made her get less sleep, and school worsened her. She woke up from tossing and turning. Tara lifted herself on her arms and looked around; it was 1 am, and she groaned, walking to her bathroom. Tara flicked on the light, squinting when it got bright and splashed cold water on her face; she looked up, saw the black blur, and turned back quickly. Nothing, Tara felt panic settle in her lungs, and she let out a breath. "God, kill me now."Tara walked back to her bed.

"Not okay...not okay."She closed the light and walked back to her bedroom; she turned in the morning and grabbed her phone. She texted the only person she hoped would be up. Seth.

'You up?'

'Yeah, just came back from a run.'

'at one in the morning?'

'I was safe; I was in the woods.'

'why do you like the woods so much.'

'why do you like texting me at one in the morning?'

'it's just a bad habit; I woke up early.'

'you can get help for that.'

'yeah, maybe.'

'do you want to talk about it? What's keeping you up?'

'i don't know, just stressed.'

'cool your breathing, count to ten, and find the stress problem. ill wait when you're done.'

Tara was following what Seth was telling her. The feeling of her heart being squeezed finally left her body after a few calming breaths. She grabbed her phone and texted him.

'All better.'

'Text me if anything happens, and I'll come to get you.'

She closed her phone and fell back to bed. She could have just scrolled at her phone looking at the past text with Seth, but content felt her body, and she fell back to bed; she woke up at 7; she turned and looked at the clock getting up with a huff and got in the shower cleaning herself with the lack of sleep shes been having.

She walked outside and grabbed her bag to go to the library and check out some books. She grabbed the book she was reading and walked out of her apartment; she pressed the elevator door and said hi to her door attendants and her car. She was pulling out of her parking, going to her favorite coffee shop then heading to the library.

She had her headphones in, enjoying her music while she walked inside the coffee shop till her face got crushed in someone's chest. making her fall on her ass."Omg, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."She got up quickly, and she looked at the person.

"It's okay, and I'm okay. I didn't get hurt. But are you okay? You look a little red." the man said

"Oh no, I'm fine, sir," Tara said

"Oh please, I'm no sir, my name is Ki. I'm sorry for bumping into you again."

"No, it was me, and I'm Tara," Tara said, looking at Ki.

"Let me get you a drink as an apology," Ki said, directing her toward the line; they stood in line, and she continued to look at him; his frame was not very muscular, but he was strong, he was tall, and he had a tattoo on his forearm she followed the vein and saw his hands and a ring.

"Tara, dear? What would you like to drink," Ki said, popping her out of her trance, and she ordered, thanking him as he paid. They took a seat, and they started talking.

"I haven't seen you before, are you new? Tara asked.

"Oh no, I've lived here before moving to England. my family originated from there."

"Wow, I've grown up here my whole life. What England like."

"Well, it's quiet, and the colors are dull, but Rosehaven has always been my home, and I'm happy to be back."

"Wow, that's amazing. Are you a college student? Maybe we go to the same school?"

"I doubt that; I studied back in England, but I live here and work for my father."

"What do you do."

"it's a family business, "He said as the girl called out our drinks; he grabbed them; she looked at him as he walked to hold their drinks. He seemed kind.

"So what about you? Are you doing anything?"

"Well, I'm studying in college to be a freelance writer; I can take jobs from big companies, and I can work from home; I'm also taking English and Science. If I wanted to be a teacher."

"Seems like you have a plan, little rose," Ki said; she blushed at the little nickname. How can someone she just met be so charming, so addicting? Like they're hiding something, and you desperately are trying to find out what it is, you get caught up in the constant euphoric feeling.

"Yeah, I guess I do? Can you tell me a bit about why you moved? You seemed to enjoy Rose have so much?"

"When I was a kid, my father wanted to meet with another business partner in the town. My job was to be close friends with the other company owner's children. It worked, but it was like something had changed in that meeting. Like they became animals. I almost died that day."

"Oh, my... are you okay? that must have been traumatizing." Tar looked shocked

"I'm tougher than that; I'm thankful I got out of there with my life. A lot of our employees weren't that lucky. From then on, we left Rosehaven and lived in England."

"until now, you had little owe me bump into you like a warm welcome," Tara said, making Ki smile at her joke.

"here, I thought you were some serious scholar girl who was no fun when you got some jokes up your sleeves."

"Me smart,psssh please," Tara said, blushing at the compliment.

"You must be one of the smartest people to take so much on and not hate the idea of endless homework," Ki said, making Tara laugh.

"It's easy to know what you're doing and reading."Tara said, smiling at him; his eyes held some red to them, but they were this, but they were these light firecrackers."I-I uh need to head to the library."

"It's still here? Would it be alright if I joined you? I haven't seen it since I moved back?"Ki said

"I think that's an amazing idea. I would love to take you.' she grabs a napkin and writes down the address.' meet me there."She smiled, leaving the coffee shop before him.

Ki left after she and Milo got out his phone calling someone. "Seth, bro, we need to talk."