Fire Meets Ice

Chapter 16: Energy Vampire

I withheld myself from entering into new relationships for 3 more years...

Until, in my first year as an undergrad. That was when I met Hayden online...

I was 19 and he was 21...

One day in her apartment room, she mindlessly watched MSA videos on her phone until some random account DMed her on Instagram. It had a profile picture of an anime demon and the user said @alucard_guy21. The message said, "Hey love ur posts. You inspired me to make nightcore."

After a brief moment of contemplation, she typed her response, her fingers dancing across the screen. "Hey, thanks. I appreciate it."

Moments later, her phone buzzed again. "You're kinda cute. What's your name and where are you from?"

Her heart raced at the unexpected flirtation. She hesitated, unsure of how to respond. But after a few minutes, she decided to take a chance. "My name is Alexa, and I'm from Colorado. What about you?"

"I'm Hayden," he replied almost instantly. "I'm from Colorado too. What city are you in?"

"Denver," she texted back, her curiosity growing.

"What? Me too! You must live close by," Hayden responded. 

I spent all night talking and getting to know him.

2 months later, he decided we should meet up in person...

I wasn't sure whether to be happy or anxious...

It was a Saturday afternoon when Alexa decided to meet him in person. They arranged their meeting place to be at Starbucks at 3pm and Hayden arrived 12 minutes earlier than her. She sat down across from him. Hayden had medium length black hair, black eyes, and wore a sleeveless dark shirt with dark green cargo pants. He also had tattoos adorned on his arms and chest.

When I saw him, I was a bit intimidated but intrigued by his looks.

He wasn't the typical gentleman you would meet on a first date.

He appeared as a rebel and someone who's always up for some "good" trouble.

"Hayden Garcia? Is that you?" she asked, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

"Yeah, that's me," he replied, a sly grin breaking across his face. "You're the Alexa Winifred chick, aren't you? It's splendid to finally meet you in person."

Alexa smiled. "Same for me. First time I met someone online who lived in the same city as me. Must be a coincidence."

"Nah," he shook his head, leaning forward slightly, his gaze unwavering. "I think it's fate. You're much cuter in person than in your pics. I can tell there are going to be a lot of hangouts together with me."

Her cheeks flushed at the compliment, though she felt a twinge of wariness at the way he eyed her.

"You should smile more, you know," he continued, his tone teasing yet earnest. "I don't like it when good girls frown. Only bitches do."

Talking with him in person was even more overwhelming, but exciting...I lost track of time and spent 4 hours inside with him.

As I got to know him more personally, I realized how broken he was...He was as broken as me.

He had a hint of badness in him, but I didn't mind. I grew attached to his company...

Coming from a toxic family with an absent mom and a former gangbanger dad, he grew up depressed and problematic.