Chapter Text
Kylar was the first person to notice that anything was off about her. The girl of his dreams, the one he would get together with despite it all. At first, he thought it was a good change, even though she was perfect to begin with. But who wouldn't want to see the love of their life smiling more, laughing more, maybe opening up a little? It felt exhilarating to sit in that English classroom this Monday morning, right next to her, and discover this change.
So coincidentally, they were assigned to work in groups. Usually, she would look around first, looking a little lost, maybe asking around once or twice before coming back to face him. Seeing that there was no other person to work with, she would comply, but Kylar knew deep down that it was all just for show. That they were destined to sit next to each other and he was meant to hear her ramble on about her favorite subject. Of course English was her favorite; it was the only class she shared with him. And, just as if about to prove this theory of his, this Monday was different than the other days. Just as the teacher explained the group work that needed to be done this period, Kylar's future wife turned to face him immediately, even with a small smile on her face. Kylar instantly felt his face get overwhelmed by this unknown, warm feeling of being treated so kindly. All she needed to do was smile to turn his world upside down, and she didn't even know it.
"Wanna work together again?" she asked, slightly pushing their desks closer. This felt... Different. Was she doing this out of pity? Or was she just growing so attached to Kylar that she couldn't even hide how happy she was to work with him?
Kylar nodded immediately, not even thinking before he spoke. "Y-yeah."
"Great!"
Of course, as much as Kylar wanted to show off that he wasn't actually half bad at making up creative answers, he couldn't help himself from stealing peeks. Maybe a few too many. Every single minute passing with her sitting practically right next to him made him closer and closer to exploding.
She smelled just like candy; it's that perfume she always buys but complains that she can barely afford it under her breath. If she had only let him, he would've bought her not only the perfume, but the entire store. But yet again, she was never specifically in the store with him to begin with. It was always just her, and him right around the corner, guarding her. Making sure that no one is hitting on her when she tries to have a nice time out.
The sweater she had on was also from that exact same mall, that exact same day. He still remembered imagining how she'd look in it when she looked around. It must have been fate that she picked this exact one. As if she's been reading his mind all along. But if that happened... Wouldn't his thoughts make her run away?
"Um... Kylar? Everything okay?" her voice immediately grounded him in the moment. He zoned out again, just when he had such an amazing opportunity to impress her. To be close to her. Maybe to even touch her arm and have her brush it off as an accident. This wasn't good.
"S-sorry. I... Zoned out." Kylar turned away in an instant, realizing that the whole time he was recalling the weekend he spent by her side, he was shamelessly staring at her face. There's no way she hasn't noticed. It was a matter of time before she found out, anyway. It's not like he didn't make his feelings as painfully obvious as possible.
She even caught him sneaking around the orphanage garden once. There was nothing more incriminating than that. And yet, she still talked to him.
"It's fine."
Surprisingly, she responded in a calm manner, brushing a strand of hair away from her face and tugging it behind her ear. Like a model posing for a photoshoot. Like a living, walking goddess.
"...Can you figure out the answer to that question?" she followed up, pointing to a sentence Kylar was too distracted to read. "You're better at the creative stuff than I am."
Kylar nodded quickly, now trying to decipher what was written so clearly in the printed worksheet. His heartbeat sped up the second her hand brushed against his, pointing at the sentence. There was no heaven in the world that would feel as freeing as her touch.
As he started writing down whatever answer he came up with, though, he couldn't help but notice his work partner (and soon-to-be relationship partner) trying to fit a book she got from the library into her teddy bear-shaped bag. It was enough for her to unzip it a little too much and hold it a little too weak, and... It was just a matter of time before she dropped it, the contents spilling out of the bag the second they got the chance.
Kylar, at the moment, thought of it as just an accident, a clumsy aspect of his love that just made her more and more adorable. Little did he know that just a while after, he would see it as a message sent by the gods, if any existed and watched over this cursed, unloveable town.
Between the books, a page stuck out to Kylar, and so under pretense of helping pick up her things he quickly kneeled down to take a took. Under closer inspection, it appeared to be some sort of a list. It looked like a shopping list at first; some clothes, snacks, deodorant, that amazing sweet perfume of hers... Documents? A train ticket...?
Before Kylar could try to read through it again, the list, along with other books, was practically snatched out of his hands by the girl. "Sorry!" she laughed nervously. "I didn't mean to... Thanks for trying to help. Let's... Let's just go back to the worksheet, okay?"
Her words were fast, she wasn't thinking about which one carefully like she used to in any conversation he's previously heard. Something was wrong. The love of his life had something to hide from him, and he just had to find out what it was. But not before he finished writing down the answers and showing them to her, sliding the piece of paper along their now joined desks, hoping she would be able to decipher his messy handwriting. She always did.
"You finished the whole thing...?" she asked slowly, now more similar to the way the girl he loved spoke. Carefully weighing every word. "You seriously didn't need to... Thank you, Kylar."
The very way she spoke his name sent shivers down his entire body. She was perfect. Absolutely perfect for him and for no one else. And that's precisely why she shouldn't hide anything from him.
"A-about that..." he nearly whispered, avoiding her gaze. "That list. What... What was that?"
"...Oh?" she turned to look at her bag, and then back to him. "Ah, that was... I mean... It's not important, really. Just a to do list. Of sorts."
A few minutes of silence followed, since Kylar, having no idea what to reply in this situation, got too occupied by his thoughts yet again. What could she possibly mean by what she said? Was it possible that she was preparing for some sort of a trip? Going away? When would she be back? Why would she go anywhere by train when there's no train station in this town? If the worst case scenario occurred, and she really did try to get away, then... Kylar would have no choice but to...
"Actually..." maybe troubled by lack of response, she made Kylar look at her again. "I think I can tell you. But... You need to promise me that you won't tell anyone. Alright?"
"I... I promise!" he instantly turned to face her, turning red in less than a second. Was she trusting enough towards him to let him keep a secret of hers? Something she wouldn't tell anyone else?
"Okay..." she sighed deeply. "After school, you're usually at the park, right?"
"Y-yeah." How did she know where he was? Was she just interested in his routine as she was? Or was it just his imagination playing tricks on him again?
"I'll tell you then. I don't want anyone from school to hear it. Not like they would care, but... Better be careful in this town. You know what I mean, right?" She kept talking in her quiet manner, not attracting anyone's attention but his, making the teacher think they were still working on the assignment that was long finished. She even drew his attention even more when she started nervously playing with her long, brown hair. God only knew how much, in that very moment, he wanted to comb his fingers through it. "Ever since I kind of withdrew from everyone, you're the only person who's been nice to me. Just thought I'd let you know I appreciate it. As much as I would love to just avoid everyone all the time, it's kind of impossible, you know? And you made me feel seen for the few months we've been in this class together. The good kind of seen. Not the kind where creeps just stare at you in the corridors to try to get something out of you." She looked at the watch on her left wrists in between sentences. "Damn... Sorry, I guess not having anyone to talk to for the past few months made me talkative suddenly. But you don't seem to mind, do you?"
"I d-don't mind at all!" he quickly reassured her, now studying every little detail of her face, every single freckle on her cheeks, every mole on her neck, every strand of her long, brown hair. They were more than just perfect, they were angelic. That was the best he could ever describe the aura around her. Angelic. Pure. And so, so distant up until today. Maybe whatever she had to tell him after school wasn't so bad if it made her so happy? Maybe... Maybe it was a love confession?
Kylar quickly shook his head at the thought, but his classmate just took it as a sign of reassurance and kept talking.
"I bet you can relate to me, huh? You don't seem to have anyone to talk to, either. But honestly, I didn't mind it up until recently. I tried to blend in for months. To be unnoticeable. And then I discovered the privilege of being pretty and never went back. Woah, that sounded narcissistic." She laughed a bit louder, unbothered by the fact that everyone in the classroom could hear her. "No, but really. When you put your hair up in twin ponytails, wear a dress and put on some makeup, you have no idea how much you could make at the cafe. That's... Probably not interesting to you, anyway. Didn't you live in the rich part of town? I heard some people gossiping about you the other day. Honestly, I had no idea. Take that as a compliment. Most people from there are creeps. Most people in this town, anyway."
Of course, Kylar knew about all of it. Every single detail. He was the only one who noticed her when she was hiding in oversized hoodies and one of her many admirers when she started to show off her good looks for benefits. It was only for cafe tips, anyway. She would never do anything lewd of that sort... Kylar was sure of it. He trusted hair. As she said, he was the only one who could make her feel seen. And he would bask in the glory of being noticed by her for his entire life.
Content with just listening, Kylar started sketching something in the margins of his notebook until the lesson ended, giving her nods in response. She even said goodbye and waved to him when she walked away from the classroom after their shared lesson. With a smile on her face that could only be described as akin to an angel's. And yet, Kylar could only wave and smile wide, awkwardly, in response.
He wasn't brave enough to be able to talk to her normally just yet. Not without stuttering through every word and turning so red, he would embarrass himself. One day, he would trust himself and her enough to be brave, to be bold and loving, but... He was special to her, and maybe it wasn't enough, because it could never be enough for Kylar, but it was a necessary step. The only important part of that conversation, and the only new information he heard anyway. Kylar's suspicions were one thing, but the confirmation from his one and only true love made him almost melt into his chair when he heard her speak. It was a special day, for her and him alike. It was the day Kylar started feeling convinced that he would never be traded for anyone else by her for the rest of their lives. He didn't even feel that jealous when she decided to sit next to Sydney in some corner at lunch... Well, maybe he was a little jealous, but old habits die hard, don't they?
In any case, for the very rest of the school day Kylar could not keep his mind off of their conversation. He could just stare at her, shamelessly, not paying attention to anything else in the world. So close to her face, enough so that he could touch her by just barely moving her hand. Taking care to speak quietly, she was leaning in closer at times, unbothered by the almost nonexistent distance between them. She wanted to be close to him, just like he wanted to be close to her.
Maybe he would make his move at the park?
~~~
"You're here!" she walked up to Kylar after taking the passage from the rear courtyard to the park, just like he did to be as unnoticeable. She would never risk running into Whitney at the front gate, she wasn't stupid, especially since she'd been chosen as her target after showing off her looks a little more. Kylar knew his future wife was intelligent enough to know that only talking to him was safe. "Thought you might get a bit discouraged, honestly. I haven't talked this much in months."
"It's alright! I... I like h-hearing you talk." Kylar stood up immediately, as if invited for a walk. They took a stroll around the park, not really talking at first. Kylar felt his heart beating faster. Wasn't this the first time she initiated talking outside of the school like this? "So... What did you want to t-tell me?"
Noticing how close Kylar's hand lingered next to hers, the brown haired girl gently took it as they walked, making him unwillingly shake. To her, it was nothing special. She knew exactly how to interact with the cafe customers to make them pay more; reading one's body language was child's play. And it just so happened that everything regarding Kylar just seemed to scream and begged to be noticed, to be touched.
"I don't think I've ever been happier... In my entire life, honestly." her words made his heartbeat speed up. Was it because of this intimate moment they shared? His hand immediately held hers tighter, making her smile. "I finally managed to save enough money."
"For what?" Forgetting his own nervousness for just a split second, he turned to look at her instead of staring at the ground in embarrassment. She didn't look away.
"A little room in a bigger city. Combined with a scholarship and some odd jobs... I might just be able to get out of here." she sighed in contentment, but he didn't hear that anymore.
He couldn't decipher any more words coming out of her mouth anymore. He immediately, without even realizing it, stopped walking along with her, his grip on her hand still strong, making her turn back to look at him. But he couldn't even see her anymore. All he saw were shadows. Dark shadows of people surrounding him, each confirming his biggest fear. He didn't think about that piece of paper, that list with all needed materials to escape, since she'd been so nice to him today. She talked about herself a lot, she even praised him for being such an incredible boy... I mean, friend! So it didn't make any sense! If she was so happy and content just being there in English class with him, if she took his hand while walking, if she said all those amazing words of praise... Why would she ever want to leave him?
'I might just be able to get out of here'... She didn't mean that, did she? She couldn't have. There was no world in which she'd want to leave him. No possibility of Kylar being alone ever again. No way of her choosing anyone else to spend the rest of her life with. It had to be him, there was no other choice to be made. They would get married right after graduating, live together in his mansion; him as a provider, and her as a beautiful housewife who would help him clean, cook him meals and take care of their wonderful children together. A family that Kylar craved ever since he lost his own. She was the only person he could build this dream of his with, and now she's saying that...
"You can't leave." those cold words escaped his mouth before he could think of anything else. Anything that could keep her at his side, no matter how desperate.
"W-what?" The love of his life, though, seemed to not understand what was happening at all. They stopped in the middle of some path in the park, him holding her hand as if it was a lifeline and refusing to let go, and now speaking as if he were possessed. This wasn't the adorable, if not a little intense boy she liked being noticed by. It was a different side of him; a side so desperate, so longing for connection that it seemed there was nothing he wouldn't do to keep her by his side. It was terrifying, if not a little fluttering. It was nothing she had ever been used to before. Every creep that ever followed her wanted to use her and leave her to rot.
Before she could see this different side of him up close, though, something seemed to have switched in his mind. He quickly let go of her hand, now looking around flustered and completely unaware of his surroundings. If they weren't in public, she swore she would have expected him to drop to his knees right there and then.
"I... I... I'm sorry! I w-wasn't thinking..." he muttered under his breath, but loud enough for her to hear. "I d-didn't mean that... I pro... I promise!"
"Hey, it's... Fine." she tried to be calm, but seemed cautious instead, slowly walking up to him and trying to hold his hand again. "You're just going to miss me, aren't you?"
He nodded in response. He couldn't tell her how dark his thoughts had gotten ever since he apologized. He would never tell her how much he wanted to take her to his house and never let her leave again. Never let her escape. He lied to her; he meant every word when he told her she couldn't leave. Because it was true. He would never, ever let her leave him. Even if he had to chase after her in yearning and secrecy for years, he could wait just as long as she was in reach. As long as she didn't disappear. And she seemed so irrationally happy because of this plan of hers... Was she this happy to be able to get away from him? No, it was impossible.
"I'm... Sorry I upset you." Her carefully picked words melted Kylar's heart once again. For some reason, she always knew how to make someone think a certain way or do certain things. It only didn't work on bad people, such as Leighton or Whitney. Or maybe it was just Kylar she had such a big impact on? He could never fully know. "You see a future in living here, don't you?"
Kylar would've been the happiest person alive if he had only been able to tell her about the future he saw; the one in which they were together, happy, but he couldn't. Anything that would only scare her away more would only make it worse. She had to want to stay with him, one way or the other.
He needed to make her stay.
"I... D-don't like living here." he managed to say after a minute. "T-too many perverts. But... I can't... I can't leave my parents alone."
"I see..." she sighed, as if expecting that response. Kylar immediately wondered if she would've wanted to hear something different. Maybe if he had offered to run away with her... But it seemed impossible. Leaving his parents, his house behind... He would only do that if she asked him to, with this angelic smile and shining eyes of hers. If she asked him to, he would do anything. But himself... He would never be able to offer anything of the sort. Not when his curfew was fast approaching.
"Well..." she continued talking, now a bit quieter, without a smile on her face. It was Kylar's fault, he was sure. If he hadn't reacted so harshly, this would've been different. Maybe it could've turned into a pleasant conversation. Maybe even a confession... Maybe she would've begged him to go with her, or told him that she would always love him and they were star-crossed lovers forced to seperate, maybe she would invite him to the orphanage for a more romantic final goodbye... But he was the one who messed it up. And yet, she kept talking. "I did want to thank you, really. And... I hope you understand why no one else should know about this. Gossip spreads fast, you know. I have no idea what Bailey would do if she heard... It's terrifying. And a lot of the people from our school are from the orphanage."
Kylar couldn't find it in himself to respond anymore, barely listening but instead secretly creating a plan in his head.
He couldn't tell anyone, that was for sure. He didn't want her to be hurt by anyone, or forced to live in that orphanage. He knew it wasn't a good enough place for his one and true love. No place except for his home would be good enough for her, that was obvious. But dragging her there unwillingly, no matter how amazing, would scare you. He could trust her enough to know that soon, she would only belong to him, so he had no reason to tie her up as of yet. That would be a last resort plan.
So all he had left would be... To scare her out of running away... Or convince her to stay with him. By whatever means necessary. She already deemed him as someone special, so why wouldn't he try to test the waters? It was about time they got together, showed the entire world they belonged together, got engaged and married as soon as possible. Building a family from nothing takes a long time. He had to start as soon as possible.
And so, he needed to check how realistic this plan of his was, exactly. As incredibly made for her as he was, he doubted she'd change her decision in a day or two. She was strong, independent, intelligent. All traits he adored in her, but also all that made it more difficult to charm her. But Kylar didn't mind. He liked a challenge.
"W-when will you be...?" He asked meekly, looking away from her, not even awaiting a response.
"Oh... I was thinking next Monday." She smiled softly at his question. "I always pay Bailey on Sunday, so I doubt she'd hold it against me. The sooner I never have to see her again, the better. You have no idea how hard I've had to work to make this happen."
"I would have never made you work." he whispered under his breath, uncertain if she'd heard it or not. In any case, he didn't regret saying it. He could treat her so much better than any person out there. He would treat her like she deserved to be treated. She deserved to be treated like a goddess.
Kylar looked at the clock; had it really been so long since they started walking? Perhaps he made the conversation too boring with his long periods of silence. Maybe he should've been more engaging... But how could he be under this threat of being left all alone?
At least now he knew that he had a week exactly to make this happen. To convince her to stay. To charm her by any means possible.
And his work starts today.
"I... I need to go." Kylar unwillingly let go of his love's hand, and started walking away. "It's getting l-late. See you t-tomorrow!"
"Aww, that sucks." she sighed, further confirming Kylar's delusions. "See you around, Kylar. It was nice talking to you."
But Kylar already stopped listening, now creating an intricate plan in his head. All possible options he had to charm the love of his life in only a week. Anything that could work... Had to work. Otherwise, he might just fall apart and break. And, while he's at it, break her too.