THE NINETEENTH

Rhea's back hit the bed with a soft thud, her breath catching as Aiden hovered over her, his fingers still tangled in the hem of her blouse.

His touch was slow...Intentional.

"Someone might walk in," she whispered, even as her hands slid up his arms, pulling him closer.

"We locked the door, who's gonna walk into a locked door?" he asked against her throat, voice low, husky, almost teasing.

She could feel his smirk as his lips brushed her skin - warm, dangerous. It made her shiver, though not entirely from desire.

He always made her feel like she was the only thing in the world he could see... like she was a secret he wanted to keep all to himself.

But sometimes, just sometimes, his gaze lingered a little too long. Like he wasn't admiring her... like he was studying her.

Possessing her.

She shook the thought away as his fingers found hers again, lacing them together before kissing her like he had all the time in the world.

"You drive me crazy, Rhea," he murmured.

"I hope it's the good kind of crazy," she smiled, breathless.

He only grinned.

"I love you Aiden".

His reply was a moan between their wet kisses.

*

"I'll go to the mall before I head home, I need to get some groceries and toiletries". Rhea said, walking out of the bathroom, drying her hair with a towel.

"You want me to drop you off?" Aiden asked from the bed, back relaxed on the wall, hands under his head as he eyed her - her body.

Rhea had a slender, curvy body and who wouldn't ogle at such art.. Plus she just walked out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel..

Their just concluded love-making still playing in his head and he just couldn't get enough of her.

"It's okay, I'll save you the trouble". She replied.

"Can't you just get your stuffs tomorrow?"

"Why? You want me to stay?" She raised an eyebrow teasing him.

"I mean.. Yeah". He ogled at her again biting on his lower lip.

"Ugh!" She rolled her eyes..

"You literally just devoured me.. It's still a wonder I'm able to walk".

"Meaning I failed coz normally, I'm supposed to have you curled up under the duvet. Drained. Unable to walk and... "

"Aiden Cross, you are unbelievable". She gasped out cutting him off and rolling her eyes again.

"I'm definitely going to the mall okay? You can't persuade me into staying.. I also have some assignments I have to do at home".

"Even if I begged you to stay?". He stood up from the bed, only his lower body covered.

Her mouth watered at the sight but she fought back with determination.

"Don't beg... Please". She looked away quickly, clearing her throat.

"No need to get all nervous... I won't hold you back, just promise me you'll visit soon okay?". He leaned in for a kiss and she smiled.

"Of course silly, I'll visit soon".

She kissed him and began dressing up.

After slipping out of Aiden's apartment,

At the mall....

The glass doors of the mall slid open, welcoming Rhea Morgan with a gust of cool, citrus-scented air and the buzz of weekend shoppers. She brushed her caramel hair over one shoulder, tugging her hoodie down slightly to cover the fading hickey at her collarbone...

Aiden.

That boy had no shame.

She smiled to herself.

Her phone buzzed.

Mary 🧃: You better not be buying more candles or we riot.

Rhea: Too late.

She chuckled, typing quickly, when she felt it...a weird... prickling sensation.

Like being watched.

Her fingers hovered above her screen. Slowly, she glanced up.

Across the perfume aisle, wedged between mannequins and racks of pastel lingerie, stood a girl.

Pale.

Still.

Eyes locked on her. Icy blue.

She wasn't holding anything..Not shopping..Not moving..Just staring.

A chill danced up Rhea's spine.

The girl looked young, around her age..maybe thinner, almost too thin, with shaggy brown hair that framed her face like it hadn't been brushed in days. Her hoodie was oversized, sleeves covering her hands. Her expression?

Blank.

Not angry. Not sad.

Just... haunted.

Rhea blinked.

And the girl was gone.

Like she'd slipped through the racks and vanished.

She swallowed hard, the earlier excitement from Mary's text now buried under a weight in her chest.

Mary 🧃: Girl, You alive?

Rhea: Yeah, Just thought I saw someone.

She didn't text back that the "someone" had looked like she knew her.

And she didn't know it then, but that wouldn't be the last time she saw that face.

NEXT DAY....

RHEA'S CAMPUS..

"Oh..my..God, that was one of the most exhausting lectures ever". Mary Steinfield, Rhea's best friend said, as they walked out of the lecture room.

"You can say that again, I stopped listening at 'Good day class' ". Joe, their male best friend concurred.

"I caught you sleeping in 4k" Rhea laughed, waving her phone.

"You... didn't!"

"Yes I did".

"Delete it". Joe became rebellious..

"Send it to me first". Mary chuckled..

"I'll post it on our school's platform and get their hilarious comments".

"Why are you both like this?". He face palmed himself.

"What are best friends for? Duh." Mary teased.

"Uplifting and not ruining your reputation... Excuse me..? " Joe replied.

"Boring.. We do both instead".

She and Rhea did a high five..

"Please..?" Joe joined his hands together, with a plea as he didn't want to imagine being humiliated.

"On one condition.. " Rhea stated, folding her arms.

"No... Please... Ugh! " Joe rolled his eyes...

Their requests were always so - expensive and draining.

"You'll sponsor my spa day" She squealed.

"Yeah, and mine too". Mary raised her hand.

"You have a rich boyfriend who can cover for that with no stress, why me?". He face palmed himself again.

"You're my best friend". She simply replied and shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't have a boyfriend though". Mary said, trying to back up her request.

"Then get yourself one, what the hell". Joe groaned in frustration.

"Why get one when I have you?"

"I'm not your boyfriend!".

"Right - you're my best friend". She linked her arm with his, playfully.

"You both should be sued for blackmailing, extortion and bullying". He grumbled.

"Aw - c'mon, I know you love us". Mary teased..

Rhea's cheeks were hurting as she smiled while they went back and forth with their banters.

Soon, her eyes caught a silhouette.

That same paranoia washing over her as she sighted something - someone partly hidden behind their school garden's tree.

Her head poked out as her gaze lingered on Rhea not diverting. Just fixed on her like she was watching her prey.

Rhea looked away quickly, trying to brush off the feeling but she couldn't.

Those eyes.

That same pale skin.

That same shaggy brown hair.

Then it clicked....

The girl from the mall.

A scoff escaped her lips as she thought prolly she had gone crazy or it's the creepy girl-stalker who's actually crazy - well, She IS crazy from the way she looked and all.

"You've got to be kidding me". She ran her fingers in her hair, looking away.