Into Your World

5. Unexpected Alliance

Liza's POV

It was 7 AM when I finally stirred from my slumber, the early morning light filtering gently through the curtains. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, I glanced around my room, taking in the familiar yet chaotic scene. My bed was a sea of scattered notes and an open laptop, remnants of my late-night study sessions that had stretched into the early hours. It has been a week since Adrian entered my life. We've spent our time reading, scouring the internet, and trying to untangle the web of our situation. And barely talking. Today, we are heading to New Orleans to meet Rachel Greene. We discovered that Adrian, lacking any identity, is at risk of getting into trouble since he doesn't exist in our realm. Being an introvert and generally a rule-abiding person, I had to compromise my morals to find a fraudulent way to create a passport, visa, and other identification for him. Last night, we finally secured the documents, though it came at a steep cost.

With a sigh, I sat up, stretching and yawning, feeling the dull ache of fatigue tugging at my eyelids. Despite the late hour at which I had finally succumbed to sleep, my internal clock had roused me early. 

Reluctantly, I reached for my phone, hoping for a distraction to shake off the lingering grogginess. As the screen lit up, a notification caught my eye-a text message from Nate. In an instant, the last vestiges of sleepiness vanished, replaced by a flutter of excitement. My heart quickened as I saw his name, a smile spreading across my face. Eagerly, I opened his message, anticipation buzzing through me.

Nate: Hey, I heard about your leave. I hope you're good.

I couldn't help but smile wider at his text. He was concerned about me. Quickly, I typed a reply.

Me: Yes, I'm fine. I wasn't feeling well for the past few days. Thought I could use a break.

I put aside the scattered work on my bed and was about to get up when my phone buzzed again. Nate had texted back almost immediately. This was the first time in months he had ever replied so quickly.

Nate: You didn't tell me about this. Never mind. I'm coming to see you.

A frown creased my forehead. The initial flutter of excitement I had felt quickly turned into a knot of anxiety. Butterflies that had been happily fluttering in my stomach now seemed unsettled. Nate has been my best friend since forever but I never invited him here or anyone. Most people don't even know where I live. But the question was... How is he coming? I mean, since the day he's come into a relationship with Norah, we barely spend time together or talk... Now, how does he have time for me?

Before I could dwell on it too long, another message from Nate appeared on my screen.

Nate: What's your address?

My fingers hovered over the keyboard, uncertain of how to respond. What should I say to him?

Nate: I'm already in my car. I just need to hit your address in my GPS.

I quickly typed back.

Me: It's okay, Nate. I'm fine. You don't have to come here.

Nate: I need to see you. I want to make sure you're fine.

My heart did a backflip at his words. A warm smile spread across my face, and my cheeks flushed a deep rose red. Hesitantly, I typed my address and sent it to him. Then, I fell back on my bed, closing my eyes.

Nate Wilson Anderson.

Images of him in the classroom flooded my mind. Those warm caramel eyes captivate me every time I look into them. His lips, perfectly shaped, often break into a lopsided, boyish grin that softens his otherwise serious expression. His broad shoulders carry the weight of his confidence effortlessly, and his strong, well-defined arms only add to his air of quiet strength. And his hands—veined, expressive, and graceful—seem made for more than just holding chalk or turning the pages of a math textbook.