Hurt Me, Heal Me: Falling in love with the girl that ruined me

“Who are you, and what are you doing here?” Cole’s voice came out sharper than he expected, edged with confusion and a hint of irritation. His brows pulled together as he tried to make out the identity of the figure standing in front of him. The light on the balcony was dim, barely doing its job. It flickered faintly, struggling to stay alive. It was a sensor light—one he had meant to fix for weeks now—but like many other small responsibilities, he had pushed it aside, telling himself he would get to it later. Today was one of those days where everything seemed to be working against him, where even the smallest inconveniences stacked up until they became unbearable. First, training had been exhausting, then the long walk back, and now this—someone standing in his apartment uninvited. He narrowed his eyes, staring at the figure that had barged in before he could even say come in. His heart hadn’t started racing yet, but something about the situation made him uneasy. “Shhhh.” The figure raised an index finger and placed it gently against her lips, a silent plea for him to keep quiet. The gesture was calm… almost too calm for someone who had just forced their way into a stranger’s apartment. Cole blinked, his irritation pausing for a moment. The finger—he noticed now—looked soft and slender. Not rough or threatening. His gaze adjusted again, trying to gather more details from the darkness. This time, he caught sight of hair resting against the figure’s back, faintly illuminated with a blonde tint. A female. As if the moment itself wanted to confirm his suspicion, the faulty bulb suddenly came alive with a soft hum, shining brighter than usual and flooding the balcony with light. Her face was revealed. Cole’s breath hitched for a fraction of a second. She’s beautiful, he thought, the realization coming instantly, almost involuntarily. Beautiful… but bruised. His expression tightened as his eyes traced the marks on her face—the faint discoloration, the swelling that hadn’t fully settled. Who could have done this to her? The thought came just as quickly as the first, replacing admiration with concern. “Who’s chasing—” The sudden, aggressive knock on the door cut him off. The sound echoed through the apartment, sharp and demanding. Cole’s head snapped toward it instinctively. Without taking his eyes completely off the girl, he began to move, watching as she immediately dropped into a crouch, her body shrinking into itself as if trying to disappear. “Hold on, I’m coming!” Cole called out, irritation creeping into his voice as the knocking continued, louder now, more persistent. Everything was happening too fast. He had barely stepped into his apartment after training. His muscles still ached, his clothes clung to his skin, and all he had wanted was a shower and his bed. That was it. A simple end to a long day. But now— A stranger in his home. Another at his door. And a situation he did not understand. Cole lived alone in an apartment complex reserved for students. It was quiet most of the time—predictable. He liked it that way. As a second-year science major balancing academics with football, structure was everything. He didn’t have the luxury of chaos. He needed this life to work. He needed college if he was going to go pro in the sport he loved. And so far, things had been lining up—assistant captain of the college football team, a solid GPA, a future that finally looked like it was taking shape. And yet, right now, all of that felt distant. Because standing between him and his bed… was this. He reached the door, exhaling slowly as he grabbed the handle. Why his apartment? Of all the doors in the building… why his? The door opened. “Yes, how may I help you?” Standing in front of him was a man of average height. His presence filled the doorway in a different way—not physically, but with intensity. His face was tight, serious, and his breathing uneven. He had been running. Cole noticed it immediately. Motive… unknown, Cole thought, studying him carefully. “Did you see anyone walk by or come to you? A female, to be precise—around twenty-two, blonde hair.” Cole tilted his head slightly, letting a pause hang in the air. “That’s a pretty detailed description. Are you with the police?” His eyes shifted subtly, glancing left and right past the man, searching for anyone else. There was no one. “Besides… who are you? Isn’t it normal to introduce yourself before asking a stranger for something?” “Pardon me,” the man replied quickly. “I’m Jake. I stay downstairs. I just moved in a couple of months ago… although this is my first time coming to the second floor.” Despite the introduction, impatience bled through his voice. His jaw was tight, his eyes restless. He clearly wasn’t here for conversation. He had asked a simple question. And Cole had given him nothing useful. Jake’s irritation grew, but he held it back. Barely. Cole could see it. And strangely… he leaned into it. “Well, Mr. Jake,” Cole replied casually, “I’ve seen no one. I just got in myself. I’m sure this is our first meeting—and hopefully, it’ll be the last.” He forced a smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. Jake didn’t smile back. “Is that so?” he said, his voice lowering slightly. “Then you don’t mind if I come in and take a look around, right?” That was where things shifted. Cole’s expression hardened. He straightened up, no longer leaning against the door. His posture changed completely—relaxed to guarded in an instant. Jake stepped forward. Too soon. Cole reacted just as quickly, using his height and build to block the entrance completely. One hand came up, pressing against Jake’s chest just enough to push him back. “Why would I let you do that?” Cole said, his voice no longer casual. “Even the police need a warrant to come inside. And clearly… you are not one. So back off, neighbor.” The air between them tightened. Heated. Jake’s eyes darkened, anger rising to the surface. It would have been easy—too easy—for Cole to just step aside and let him check. If nothing was there, then fine. But Cole’s refusal only made things worse. It confirmed something. Or at least… it felt like it did. “Alright then,” Jake said finally, forcing the words out. “I’ll leave. But if you do see anyone with the description I gave… tell me. I stay at 3B.” “What description?” Cole replied immediately, tilting his head again. “I have a short memory span. Hard to hold onto information for long.” He paused, then added, “If you don’t mind, Jake… can you remind me what your name was again? And what are you doing at 3B?” Jake’s face twisted, anger flashing openly now. For a second, it looked like he might actually lose control. Cole saw it. And used it. Jake didn’t want a scene. That was clear. And Cole pushed just enough to make staying no longer worth it. After a tense moment, Jake turned and walked away. Cole watched him go, not moving until he completely disappeared from sight. Only then did he exhale. All that’s left… is the girl inside. She was still in her crouched position, her body folded into itself as though she was trying to take up as little space as possible. Even with the danger seemingly gone, she hadn’t moved, hadn’t relaxed. Her shoulders were tense, slightly trembling, and her eyes remained fixed on the floor as if looking up might somehow expose her again. What could have happened for her to be this scared? Cole wondered, his brows knitting together. He shifted his weight slightly, unsure of how to approach her. Every instinct told him to say something, to help, but another part of him held back. He didn’t want to say the wrong thing. He didn’t want to be misunderstood. He especially didn’t want trouble. Past experiences lingered at the back of his mind—unpleasant ones he had no intention of reliving. Situations that started small but spiraled into something else entirely. No… he had to be careful. Very careful. “He’s gone,” Cole finally said, his voice coming out less steady than he would have liked. “And I think you need to leave too. I don’t want any more scenes in the drama you both are producing.” Even as he spoke, he could hear the slight shake in his words. It annoyed him. How was it that he could stand his ground so easily against Jake—speak firmly and confidently—but now, in front of this girl, his composure slipped? His eyes drifted back to her hair. That blonde tint. It kept catching his attention, pulling at something buried deep within him. Memories he had long forced himself to forget began to stir, faint but persistent. There was something there. Something he couldn’t quite grasp. But he knew—he knew—something wasn’t right. “Th-Thank you very much,” she said, her voice fragile and uneven as she slowly pushed herself up. “I am grateful, really.” She steadied herself, though it was clear she wasn’t fully composed. “I’ll be leaving now,” she continued, avoiding his eyes, “and please… if you don’t mind, don’t say anything to anyone.” Cole wasn’t listening anymore. Not fully. That voice. The moment it reached him, everything else faded into the background. It echoed in his mind, clear and unmistakable, striking something deep inside his chest. It felt familiar. Too familiar. A voice he had heard before. A voice he had buried—along with everything attached to it. His heartbeat began to pick up, slow at first, then faster, louder, as realization threatened to surface. No… it can’t be. Before he could gather himself, before he could even properly process what he was thinking, she had already turned and was heading for the door. Panic—or something close to it—pushed him forward. His hand shot out, grabbing her wrist just as her fingers brushed against the doorknob. “You—what’s your name?” he asked, the question leaving him almost instinctively. There was no caution in his tone now. No restraint. All he wanted… was denial. For her to say he was wrong. For her to laugh it off and tell him he had mistaken her for someone else. Anything but confirmation. “Why?” she responded, her voice edged with confusion and a hint of discomfort. “It’s Gina.” Cole’s grip tightened slightly, his eyes narrowing. “Other name,” he said quickly. “As in… last name.” “That would be Patterson,” she replied, her brows furrowing now. “Why all the questions? And could you please let me go? I might have taken refuge in your apartment, but that doesn’t mean you should try to take advantage of me.” The words snapped him back. “I’m sorry—” Cole released her immediately, stepping back as if her words had physically pushed him away. But it was already too late. The confirmation had landed. It is her. The one he hated the most. The one whose name alone carried weight in his memories. The girl who had dragged him into a darkness he had barely managed to crawl out of. The one who had almost taken everything from him—his peace, his focus… his dreams. Gina Patterson. The idol of Westshore High. His first love. And his greatest regret.