reticent

30

• AMALIA •

I stare at the text in horror.

"Mase?" I whisper breathlessly. Not again, not again, not again. Why can't whoever this psycho is just leave me the hell alone?

"Yeah?" He questions, glancing down. He peers his eyes to read the text waiting there, and I notice his jaw harden. The arm he has wrapped around me tightens. "It's okay, piccolo orsacchiotto."
(T—Little teddy bear.)

"Why don't you go to bed?" He suggests. "I'll keep your phone."

"But—"

"It's late. Go on. I'll show dad, don't worry." He says. He kisses my cheek. "I promise it'll get sorted. You don't have to worry."

I frown and stand. I don't say goodnight to anyone before rushing back upstairs. But instead of going back to my room, I decide to go to Archer's.

I knock first, but when there's no response I walk inside. The room is filled with the soft sound of Archers breaths. I walk over to his side, sitting down by his thighs, and shake him awake.

"Archer." I whisper.

He yawns as his eyes peel open. He tilts his head a little bit. "Amalia."

"Sorry I woke you up, I just.." I drift off, not exactly sure what to say. Am I supposed to tell him? Keep it a secret? The stalker has been in this house, and now Ally and Archer are staying here. Am I putting them in danger?

"What's wrong?" He asks. He moves over to the middle of the bed and pats the spot beside him, opening the covers for me. I send him a small smile as I shuffle over. Once I'm beside him, he folds the covers back over me. "Did something happen? Did Ally start snoring again? She always does that. I don't know how to—"

I cut him off with a small laugh. "No. I just can't sleep."

"Oh." He says. He lifts up my fractured hand and sets it on his chest, then begins to run his fingers up and down my arm, lightly scratching my skin. I smile, suddenly drawn back to the day we were on the bus. Everything was practically fine then. It's always been fine when I'm around him.

Archer doesn't bring up our kiss earlier, and neither do I. It's not that I'm embarrassed or ashamed—that's the last thing I'm feeling. I just don't know what to say about it. And I'm not sure if I'm ready to jump back into another relationship.

I know Archer isn't anything like Frankie. But what my ex boyfriend did still lives in my mind rent free, constantly reminding me of what he said. Each nasty word directed at me runs through my brain, and I shake my head to rid myself of them, but they just keep coming back.

Maybe things would've been different with Frankie and I if I had done better to please him. He was right—I never tried to talk to his friends. I never did what I was supposed to do. I was a shitty girlfriend, and that's the last thing Archer needs, especially after what's happened with his mother.

"I'm glad you decided to stay here." I whisper.

He looks over at me. He smiles, his lips curving upwards. "Me too. Thank you."