She is beautiful. Never in my life have I seen a woman so gorgeous. I stare at her like I'm in a trance. I must be, because it's impossible to look away. Her red lips. Her soft closed eyes. He long blonde hair. Her hips. Her hands in the red sparkly...
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I stand in the alley, watching her walk away when suddenly I hear Steven and James calling out my name. I turn and make my way toward the nightclub entrance, where the two of them are waiting, dressed in their soldier uniforms. Though I'm stronger than both of them, they're undoubtedly more attractive. James has short black hair and brown eyes, managing to look both funny and flirty at the same time. Steven, on the other hand, is different. He's shorter, with blonde hair and blue eyes, much more shy and reserved. He follows James around like his shadow. They're like yin and yang—James always takes control of the group, and Steven follows. I've always been the odd one out, just tagging along.
"Where did you go?" James asks. "We were worried," Steven adds, his voice a little too sincere.
"That's bullshit," I tell them with a grin, but Steven just smiles back, undeterred.
"Well, where did you disappear to?" James asks again, more insistent this time. "You've been sneaking off a lot lately. Does this have anything to do with that singer?"
"Well, um..." It's all I manage to say before Steven cuts me off with a teasing tone.
"Are you two a thing?" he asks, eyes wide with both excitement and concern.
"Wow, Steven," James says, smirking. "Do you really think a girl like her would choose a guy like him?"
"Excuse me?" I reply, trying to sound offended, but I know he's just messing with me.
"No offense, Michael," James says, still smiling. "But are you two an item or what?"
"Well," I say, "she hasn't rejected me yet."
James raises an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
I pause, thinking back. "Maybe she did the first night, but I'd say we've got a friendship going."
"Then what were you doing in the alley?" Steven asks with a smirk.
"Shut up, Captain America," I say, giving Steven a playful shove. We call him that because, with his blonde hair and blue eyes, he's got a resemblance to the character. Of course, Steven's not exactly Captain America in personality. While Cap is brave and bold, Steven is more reserved, just following along most of the time.
"I'm heading back," I announce, turning to leave.
"Michael!" James calls after me. I turn around. "Don't abandon the group for a girl, promise me."
I stop and look into his brown eyes. "James, she's not just a girl... she's an angel."
"Promise me," he insists, more seriously this time.
"I promise," I say, even though I know it's a promise I might not keep. James nods, and I turn back toward the apartment.
The night air is cold, but the warmth of the apartment feels like heaven when I finally walk inside. I expect to see Ashley, but she's nowhere to be found. Then I hear the sound of the shower running. I guess she's still freshening up.
I flop onto the bed, too tired to take off my uniform. Every time I close my eyes, I see her—her lips on mine, the way her touch lingers in my mind. I can't sleep with all these thoughts swirling around in my head, but honestly, I don't mind. There are worse things to think about.
But then, the reality of it hits me. I'll have to leave in just a few weeks. Three, maybe four. How can I leave someone like her behind? How can I leave my angel? Even though she probably doesn't realize it, she's helped me so much. She's helped me forget all the bad things.
What I wouldn't give to stay here forever, to feel this forever. I finally understand why people say they would die for love. Just a taste of it makes you crave it for the rest of your life. Some people would give everything for it. I used to think that was crazy, but now? I get it. I would give her the whole world just to keep her by my side.
Am I in love? Or am I just obsessed? Maybe it's both.
Suddenly, the bathroom door opens, and Ashley steps out, wrapped in a white towel that barely reaches her thighs. Her long blonde hair is still wet, drops of water clinging to her skin. She looks radiant, but my eyes catch something else—scars, faint but noticeable, running down her back. She tries to hide them with her hair, but as she moves, they come into view again. My heart sinks. Those scars... they must be from her father. A wave of sadness washes over me. Like a dark cloud starting to rain. How could someone so incredible, so full of life and beauty, have come out of such a horrible situation?
"There you are," she says, her back still turned to me as she rummages through her closet. "I figured you got lost since it took you so long."
I catch a glimpse of a smile on her lips—those lips. They tasted so sweet.
"Steven and James distracted me, like they always do," I reply, trying to sound less annoyed than I feel.
"Why aren't you hanging out with them?" she asks, finally pulling out an outfit she seems satisfied with.
"How could I, when I have an angel right here with me?"
"Shut up," she says, rolling her eyes, but the smile doesn't leave her face.
"Make me," I tease.
She turns, her blue eyes sparkling like sapphires—sapphires that are far more valuable than any jewel. "I can think of a thousand ways to make you shut up," she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "One of them involves cutting your head off."
"I wasn't thinking of that, to be honest."
"Oh, look," she says, feigning surprise. "All your confidence just vanished. Poof and it all went away" she says almost singing.
"It's not gone," I defend myself, sitting up slightly. "One can only be so confident for so long."
"I hate you," she says, but there's joy in her voice, like she's enjoying our banter.
"If you hated me so much, you wouldn't keep kissing me," I tease again.
"Why don't you go fuck yourself," she says with a grin.
Her presence is intoxicating, like being in heaven. When I first arrived in the district, I thought it'd just be a month of training and nothing more. I never expected this. But now? I wouldn't trade it for anything.
"Be honest," I say. "You enjoyed it."
Her smile fades into a more serious expression. Her face says do you really wanna do this? "Enjoyed it?" she repeats. "It was the fastest way to get out of that situation."
I raise an eyebrow. "So, it was your first idea?"
She sighs, "You're just too stubborn to leave. But to be honest, if there hadn't been so many people around, I probably would've kicked you where it hurts."
"Then you would probably get thrown out of the apartment," I chuckle. "And we wouldn't want that."
"You," she says, pointing at me with mock irritation. "You're impossible."
"I'm not denying that."
She rolls her eyes and heads back into the bathroom to change, leaving me sitting there, smiling to myself.
