It was late, and the campus was unusually quiet as I made my way back from the gym. The cool night air brushed against my skin, and I pulled my jacket tighter. Just as I was passing by the old courtyard, I heard voices—loud, mocking, and unmistakably aggressive.
Curiosity mixed with caution, I moved closer, keeping to the shadows. That's when I saw her—Scarlet—backed against the wall by three guys. One of them was leaning too close, his hand gripping her wrist.
"Come on, sweetheart. Don't be so stuck up," one sneered.
"Leave me alone!" Scarlet snapped, trying to yank her hand free.
Rage boiled inside me. Without thinking, I stepped forward. "Hey! Get your hands off her."
The guy holding her turned, sizing me up. He had a cocky smirk, but it faltered when he saw the look on my face.
"Who the hell are you?" he shot back, trying to sound tough.
"Someone who's about to break your nose if you don't back off."
The guy laughed, but I could see the hesitation. His friends exchanged glances, unsure whether to fight or flee. Scarlet looked at me, eyes wide, tears threatening to spill over. That was enough to push me over the edge.
The guy tightened his grip on her, and I didn't hesitate. I grabbed his wrist and twisted it behind his back, forcing him to release Scarlet. He cursed, trying to wriggle free, but I shoved him into the wall, hard.
His friends tried to rush me, but I was faster. A quick jab to the first guy's jaw, and he was down. The second swung at me, but I ducked and delivered a hook to his ribs. He crumpled, gasping for air. The leader tried to retaliate, but I landed a solid punch to his face, sending him sprawling.
"Get lost," I growled. They didn't need to be told twice. Dragging their friend, they stumbled away, muttering curses under their breath.
I turned back to Scarlet, who was still leaning against the wall, visibly shaken. "You okay?" I asked, keeping my voice gentle.
She nodded, but I could see the tremble in her hands. Without thinking, I pulled her into a hug. At first, she stiffened, but then she melted into me, clutching my jacket as if it were a lifeline.
"Let's get you out of here," I whispered, guiding her away from the courtyard.
We walked in silence to my place, Scarlet's hand still gripping mine. I didn't let go, even when we reached the apartment. Once inside, I locked the door and led her to the couch.
She sat down slowly, staring at the floor. I knelt in front of her, brushing a tear from her cheek. "Hey, you're safe now. They're not gonna hurt you."
Scarlet looked up, her eyes glassy and red. "I was just walking back from practice... I didn't think... they just cornered me out of nowhere."
My jaw tightened, and I swallowed down the anger. "You're okay now," I assured her. "I've got you."
To my surprise, she leaned forward, resting her forehead against my shoulder. I hesitated, then wrapped my arms around her, holding her close. She didn't say anything—just stayed there, breathing in shaky bursts.
Minutes passed, and eventually, her breathing evened out. I felt her relax, her grip loosening but not letting go entirely.
"You didn't have to do that," she mumbled, her voice muffled against my shirt.
"Yes, I did," I replied without hesitation. "Nobody gets to treat you like that."
She pulled back just enough to look at me, her face inches from mine. Her eyes held a mixture of gratitude and something deeper—something that made my chest tighten. Before I could figure it out, she sighed and leaned into me again, her head resting against my shoulder.
"You're really warm," she whispered, almost like she wasn't aware she'd said it out loud.
I couldn't help but smile, brushing a hand through her hair. "You should get some rest."
She didn't argue, just stayed there, curled against me like she didn't want to move. After a while, her breathing slowed, and I realized she'd fallen asleep on my shoulder, her fingers still gripping my sleeve.
I shifted carefully, trying not to wake her. I scooped her up gently and carried her to my bed, laying her down and covering her with a blanket. She stirred for a moment, muttering something incoherent, then settled again.
I took a deep breath, glancing at the couch. No way I was sleeping in the bed tonight—she needed it more than I did. Grabbing an extra blanket, I made myself comfortable on the couch, still half-alert in case she needed me.
As I stared at the ceiling, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed tonight. Seeing Scarlet so vulnerable, needing me like that—it made me realize just how much I wanted to protect her.
Maybe it wasn't just friendship anymore. Maybe it never had been.