It Will Come Back

I came back for you

“You,” I mutter, the word barely audible as it escapes my lips. My gaze locks on the guy from school—the one who caught me earlier today, saving me from an embarrassing spill. His presence here sends a strange burning sensation coursing through my fingertips. Instinctively, I shake my hands, trying to dismiss the odd, tingling heat that seems to intensify.

His expression hardens as he folds his arms across his chest, his broad shoulders blocking my exit. “What the hell are you doing snooping around my brother’s bedroom?” he asks sharply, his tone demanding yet eerily calm.

“I…” My voice trails off as I blow lightly on my fingertips, the warmth growing uncomfortably stronger. “Could you, uh, step back a little?” I manage to murmur, unable to meet his eyes as I focus on cooling my hands.

He looks at me like I’ve completely lost it, but to my relief, he complies, taking a step back. “Sure,” he says slowly, though skepticism practically drips from his words. “Now, are you going to answer my question, or are you just going to keep staring at your hands like a lunatic?”

“It’s not my hands; it’s my fingers,” I mutter under my breath, shaking them again before forcing myself to look up at him. He’s still glaring, waiting.

“Well?” he presses, raising a single eyebrow, his voice laced with impatience.

I roll my eyes, masking my growing discomfort with feigned exasperation. “Luke lent me a textbook. I was just bringing it back,” I say with a shrug, trying to keep my tone casual.

“Oh, really?” His voice is thick with suspicion. “That’s interesting because my mom just told me you said you lent him a textbook.” He pauses, his piercing gaze pinning me to the spot. “So which is it? Or are you lying?”

A knot forms in my stomach as I glare back at him, the heat in my fingers now nearly unbearable. “This feels a lot like an interrogation. Shouldn’t I at least get a lawyer before I’m sent down for… I don’t know, the crime?” My sarcasm only seems to amuse him.

“Ah, the crime of rummaging through my brother’s personal belongings,” he counters with a smirk. “So, why were you snooping?”

His words hit me like a challenge, and for a split second, I consider telling him the truth. But then I feel the weight of Luke’s diary tucked securely under my arm, and I know I can’t. “I… I fancy Luke,” I blurt out, surprising even myself. “My brother dared me to surprise him, but he’s not here, so I was just about to leave when—”

“When you decided to invade his privacy instead?” he interrupts, his tone cutting. “You found his diary and thought, ‘Why not be a full-blown weirdo and read it?’”

“It’s not a diary; it’s a journal,” I snap, though my voice lacks conviction. “And you don’t have to be such a jerk about it!”

He snorts, shaking his head. “You’re unbelievable.” He takes a step closer, his presence suddenly overwhelming. The burning sensation in my fingertips flares, forcing me to back away until my legs hit the edge of the bed.

“Just… get out of my way,” I growl, clutching the diary tighter as I sidestep him.

“You didn’t answer my question,” he says, reaching out to grab my arm. His touch sends a jolt of electricity racing up my arm and into my neck. The lightbulb overhead flickers ominously, making us both freeze.

“How did you—?” he begins, but I shake my head vehemently, yanking my arm free.

“I didn’t do anything!” I insist, though my trembling voice betrays me. Without another word, I rush past him, my heart pounding as I descend the stairs.

“Wait!” he calls after me, but I don’t stop. I mutter a quick thank-you to his mom as I bolt out the front door.

Outside, I gasp for air, clutching the diary tightly to my chest. My eyes dart across the street, searching for Ravi, but his car is nowhere in sight. “s**t,” I whisper, scanning the area. A sound behind me—a door creaking open—sends me running. I dive behind a bush just in time to see him step out onto the porch.

“She’s gone!” I hear his mom call from inside the house.

He lingers there for a moment, his sharp eyes scanning the street, before retreating back inside.

“Levi,” I murmur, tasting the name on my tongue. It feels strange, yet oddly significant.

Twenty Minutes Later

When I finally make it home, I storm up the stairs to Ravi’s room, my fists pounding on his door. “Ravi! Open up!” I shout, my voice echoing through the empty hallway. No answer. Frustrated, I run back downstairs and spot a crumpled note on the kitchen table.

Staying with James tonight. Sorry I ditched—got scared. See ya, b***h.

“Unbelievable,” I mutter, crushing the note in my fist before tossing it into the trash. The doorbell rings, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts.

I peer through the peephole, half-expecting Yasmin. But instead, I find someone I wasn’t prepared to see.

“Ash,” I breathe, opening the door to reveal him standing there, looking healthier than the last time I saw him.

“Well, that’s a warm welcome,” he quips, his smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

“Sorry,” I stammer. “Let me try again—ugh, Ash is back.”

He chuckles, stepping inside. “Much better. So, what’s on the menu tonight?”

“Nothing,” I admit, closing the door behind him. “I’m not baking tonight. It wouldn’t feel right.”

He tilts his head, studying me. “Why not?”

I hesitate, my mind flashing to the girl from my dream—the one who died. “Someone I knew… she’s gone,” I murmur. “I don’t know the details, but…” My voice trails off, unwilling to say more.

Ash nods, his expression unreadable. “You know,” he begins, his tone softer now, “you can talk to me.”

I laugh dryly, shaking my head. “Why does everyone think I need to talk? I’m fine.”

“Are you?” he asks, his blue eyes narrowing as if he’s trying to see straight through me.

“I’m surviving,” I reply flatly.

He leans forward, resting his elbows on the kitchen table. “You don’t have to do it alone, you know.”

“And why do you care?” I ask, my voice sharper than intended.

“Because you saved my life,” he says simply, his gaze unwavering.

I swallow hard, his words hitting me like a punch to the chest. “I didn’t think it was that big of a deal…”

“It was,” he says, standing and stepping closer. “And whether you believe it or not, I came back for you.”

Let me know if you’d like me to add or tweak anything further!