A Kiss Wouldn’t Ruin Our Friendship

Chapter One Lena’s POV The sky was slowly turning gray when I realized I had nowhere to go. I stood on the sidewalk outside the foster care building that had been my home since forever, gripping the handles of my two worn suitcases so tightly my fingers ached. Today, I had officially aged out. In fact I have since three years ago but I couldn’t get any placement. With the help of Mrs Carter, I was there till I am now 21 years old and now there is nothing she can do anymore but to let me go. No more curfews. No more shared bedrooms. No more weekly check-ins from social workers pretending they cared about where life would take me. Most of the friends I made there have gotten a place. I was just unfortunate. I have always been. Mrs. Carter had hugged me before I left. She smelled like lavender soap and the cinnamon cookies she baked every Sunday. “You’ll be fine, Lena,” she had said softly, squeezing my shoulders with reassuring warmth. “You’re one of the strongest girls I know.” I had nodded and smiled because that was the polite thing to do. Now the building’s doors were closed behind me, and the world stretched out in front of me like an endless road with no signs. I exhaled slowly, trying to calm the restless knot twisting inside my chest. “You’ll figure it out”, I told myself. I always did. I shifted one suitcase in my hand and looked down the street. Cars passed occasionally, their headlights flickering on as evening slowly crept over the city. My phone buzzed in my pocket. A small phone Mrs Carter had gifted me. She had given me some money too. She was fond of me and taken care of me like her own during my stay at the foster care home. I had seen a room apartment and contacted the landlord earlier But when I opened the message, my stomach dropped. ‘Sorry. Someone offered to pay six months upfront. I had to give it to them.’ I stared at the screen for a long moment, waiting for the words to rearrange themselves into something less cruel. They didn’t. Of course they didn’t. A bitter laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it. The home was my only hope and now it is gone. I had little money and I had already planned I would pay for a month and worked for the remaining month but I guess fate had other plans The wind picked up slightly, brushing strands of hair across my face as the sky darkened above. I checked the time. 8:37 PM. Night was settling in, and with it came the terrifying realization that the city would not pause just because I had nowhere to sleep. I started walking. I didn’t really know where I was going. My suitcases rolled unevenly across the pavement, the wheels catching in every crack.n The streets grew quieter the farther I walked. Shops were closing and Lights flickered off behind glass windows. And the sky above me finally surrendered. The first raindrop fell against my cheek. I looked up instinctively. Dark clouds stretched across the sky like a heavy blanket, and within seconds the rain began to fall harder. Great. Just great. I quickened my pace, scanning the street for somewhere. anywhere to take shelter. But the rain came faster than I expected, soaking through my jacket and dampening my hair within moments. My vision blurred slightly as drops clung to my lashes. Finally, I spotted a small convenience store up ahead with a narrow awning stretching over the sidewalk. Relief rushed through me and I dragged my suitcases under the cover just as the rain began pouring in earnest. The sound of it hitting the pavement was almost deafening. For a moment, I simply stood there, catching my breath. Water dripped from the ends of my hair and slid down my neck, making me shiver slightly. My arms trembled from pulling the heavy luggage all evening, and exhaustion crept into my bones like a slow poison. I sank down onto one of the suitcases. The reality of my situation settled over me like the storm outside. I had nowhere to go. No family. No backup plan. My throat tightened painfully. Don’t cry. I told myself I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the tears away. Crying wouldn’t solve anything, I know but I just can’t help it. A quiet sniff escaped me just as a shadow suddenly appeared in front of me. I looked up. A black umbrella hovered above my head, shielding me from the stray droplets blowing beneath the awning. And beneath it stood a boy. Well… a man, actually. Probably around my age. Or older. He is tall and his dark hair is slightly damp from the rain. His features were sharp but calm, his expression holding a strange mix of curiosity and concern. He tilted his head slightly as he looked at me. “You know,” he said gently, his voice low and warm, “most people avoid sitting in the rain voluntarily.” For a moment, I simply stared at him. I hadn’t even noticed someone approaching. Embarrassment flushed my cheeks as I quickly wiped my eyes. “I wasn’t sitting in the rain,” I muttered. “I was under the shed.” He glanced up at the narrow awning, then back at me with a faint smile. “Right,” he said. “My mistake.” The rain continued pouring behind him, creating a soft curtain of silver streaks. For some reason, the moment felt oddly quiet. He shifted slightly, adjusting the umbrella before speaking again. “So…” His gaze flicked to the suitcases beside me. “What exactly are you doing out here this late?” I hesitated. Normally, I wouldn’t answer a stranger’s questions so easily. But something about his voice didn’t feel intrusive. It felt… sincere. Still, the truth tasted heavy in my mouth. “I’m just…” I paused, searching for a simpler explanation. “Figuring things out.” His eyebrow lifted slightly. “Figuring things out,” he repeated thoughtfully. Then he gestured subtly toward the street behind us. “At almost nine at night. In the rain.” I sighed quietly. “Something like that.” For a moment, he simply studied me. More like he was trying to piece together a puzzle. Then he sighed softly, looking at my suitcase and back at my face. “Let me guess,” he said. “Landlord backed out?” My eyes widened slightly. “How did you…” He shrugged. “Lucky guess.” He stepped under the awning beside me, folding the umbrella partially so water dripped onto the pavement instead of the floor. Up close, I noticed how calm he seemed. “Look,” he said after a moment. “You don’t have anywhere to stay tonight, do you?” The question made my chest tighten. I hated admitting weakness But lying felt pointless. So I shook my head slowly. “No.” He ran a hand through his damp hair, thinking. Then he said something that completely caught me off guard. “You can stay at my place tonight.” I blinked at him. “What?” “It’s not a big deal,” he added quickly. “My house is nearby” My heart immediately filled with hesitation. “I can’t just….” “You can,” he interrupted gently. “And before you start worrying, I’m not a serial killer.” A small laugh slipped out of me despite myself. He grinned faintly. “See? That’s already progress.” I bit my lip. Everything in my life had taught me not to trust people easily. But the rain was getting heavier, the night getting darker and I had nowhere else to go. My pride wrestled with my desperation. Finally, desperation won. “…Just for tonight,” I said quietly. His smile softened. “Of course.” He reopened his umbrella and stepped closer. “Come on. Let’s grab a cab.” The cab ride was short. So short the driver stopped barely five minutes later. “This is it,” the man said, paying the driver before grabbing one of my suitcases. “You didn’t have to…” “I know,” he replied easily. “Don’t fight it” The apartment building was small and slightly old, with faded paint and narrow hallways. But it was clean. That alone made me relax slightly. He unlocked a door on the second floor and pushed it open. “Welcome to my place,” he said lightly. I stepped inside. The apartment was simple. A small living room with a couch and a low table. A tiny kitchen tucked into the corner. One closed door that probably led to the bedroom. There wasn’t much furniture or decorations. But everything was neat and organized. Like someone had carefully arranged the little they had. He placed my suitcase down. “Sorry it’s a bit empty,” he said. “I just moved in recently.” “It’s nice,” I said honestly. And it was. He walked toward the kitchen. “Tea?” he offered. “It’s the only impressive thing I can make.” I nodded. “That sounds good.” A few minutes later he handed me a warm cup. The heat seeped into my cold fingers, instantly comforting. “You can take a shower if you want,” he added. “Bathroom’s through that door.” I hesitated. “You’re really okay with this?” He shrugged casually. “It’s just one night.” “Thank you,” I said softly. I am taking a big risk but what’s the worst that could happen? Besides, he looked harmless. The shower felt like heaven. Warm water washed away the rain, the exhaustion, and some of the fear clinging to my chest. When I came out wearing fresh clothes, he was sitting on the couch scrolling through his phone. He looked up and observed me for a minute before speaking. “Oh uh just so you know,” he said awkwardly, “I only have snacks for food tonight.” “That’s fine,” I replied quickly. “You’ve already done enough.” I was hungry but I wouldn’t want to inconvenient him. Besides, he looks like he doesn’t have much also. I wouldn’t want to finish his stuffs. He nodded, relieved. Then he stood up and gestured toward the bedroom. “You can take the room.” “What? No…” “I insist,” he said firmly. “I’ll sleep on the couch.” I looked at the small couch. “You sure?” He smiled slightly. “Of course…” He stood up and walked towards the bathroom. I looked around the apartment again checking for how to escape if something goes wrong. “He wouldn’t do anything” I tried assuring myself. Suddenly, a phone began to ring. The sharp sound cut through the quiet apartment, making me lift my head from the couch where I had been sitting. At first, I thought it was mine. But the ringing continued, echoing softly through the room. My eyes drifted toward the small table near the couch. His phone. The screen lit up brightly, vibrating against the wooden surface as the call kept coming in. I frowned slightly. “Hello?” I called out instinctively, raising my voice toward the bathroom. The shower was still running. Water rushed loudly behind the door, drowning out my voice. He probably couldn’t hear me. I looked back at the phone. The screen kept glowing. Someone was calling him repeatedly. A strange thought crossed my mind then, making my stomach tighten slightly. I slowly stood up. The apartment suddenly felt quieter than before. I walked toward the table, my bare feet barely making a sound against the floor. The phone suddenly stopped ringing before I can see the caller’s ID And then a realization suddenly hit me. I froze and my heart skipped. I didn’t know his name. The thought came so suddenly it made my chest tighten. Thinking about it now, He didn’t know my name either. A cold shiver ran down my spine. What if…. My breathing slowed. What if this guy was a serial killer? Or worse… A kidnapper. The thought made my pulse race wildly. I had walked into a stranger’s house. Accepted tea. Taken a shower. And was now standing barefoot in his living room. My fingers curled slightly. Lena, you i***t. Fear slowly crept into my chest like a dark shadow spreading through my body. The phone vibrated again. My eyes dropped to the screen. Maybe I should check who was calling. I took another cautious step toward the table. The phone continued buzzing softly, the bright screen lighting the dim room. My hand hesitated in the air for a moment. Then slowly, I picked it up. The moment my fingers wrapped around it, the ringing stopped. Silence filled the apartment again. My heart pounded loudly in my ears. And then, I felt it. A presence right behind me. Close enough that the warmth of someone’s body brushed against my back. My entire body went rigid. My breath caught in my throat. “What are you doing?” His voice was low. Fear exploded inside me. A scream tore from my throat before I could stop it. “Aah!” The phone slipped from my hands, crashing onto the floor with a loud clatter.