The air outside the library felt heavier than usual.
Elena didn't even remember walking out, but suddenly she was there — a few steps behind Raven, her fingers still slightly trembling.
The rival boys stood near the parking lot. One of them kicked a small stone across the pavement like this was just some casual hangout.
It wasn't.
"This isn't your area," Raven repeated, voice calm but sharp.
The leader — taller, smug-looking — smirked. "Relax. We just heard you've been… distracted."
His eyes shifted to Elena.
She felt exposed. Like she didn't belong there.
"She's not part of this," Raven said quickly.
"I can see that," the boy laughed. "Looks like she studies for a living."
Elena swallowed. She wanted to speak. To defend herself. But this wasn't her battlefield.
"Go back inside," Raven muttered without looking at her.
"I'm not a kid," she said quietly.
His jaw tightened. "Elena."
It wasn't loud. But it was warning enough.
The rival leader stepped closer. "You really changed, Cortez. Since when do you protect civilians?"
Before Elena could react, one of the boys shoved Raven's shoulder.
It happened fast.
Too fast.
Raven pushed back.
A punch was thrown.
Then another.
Elena gasped as everything turned chaotic. The sound of fists hitting skin echoed in the empty lot. She saw Raven take one hit to the jaw — the same spot that was bruised before.
"Stop!" she shouted.
No one listened.
One of the rivals grabbed Raven from behind. Another raised his fist again —
"Enough!"
Her voice cracked through the noise.
For a split second, everyone paused.
Elena stepped forward without thinking. She stood between them, heart racing so hard she thought she might faint.
"Are you done proving whatever this is?" she said, trying to steady her voice. "You're fighting over pride. Over rumors. For what?"
The rival leader stared at her, amused. "You're brave."
"No," she replied. "I just don't like stupidity."
Silence.
Raven looked at her like she had just done something unbelievable.
The tension slowly shifted. The rivals exchanged looks.
"Let's go," their leader finally said. "This isn't worth it."
They walked off like nothing happened.
Just like that.
The parking lot became quiet again.
Raven ran a hand through his hair, breathing hard. His lip was bleeding slightly.
"You shouldn't have done that," he said.
"You shouldn't have either."
They stared at each other.
For once, there were no walls. No gang reputation. No nerd labels.
Just two teenagers standing in the middle of a mess.
"You could've gotten hurt," he muttered.
"So could you."
He looked away first.
"That's different."
"Why?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he took a step closer — not intimidating this time. Just close enough for her to see the tiny cut near his eyebrow.
"Because I'm used to this," he said quietly. "You're not."
Elena hesitated before reaching into her bag.
She pulled out a small packet of tissue and alcohol wipes.
"Sit."
He blinked. "What?"
"Sit down. You're bleeding."
For a feared gangster, he looked strangely obedient as he sat on the low concrete bench.
She stood in front of him, carefully dabbing the cut. Her hands were gentle but firm.
"You don't have to fight every time someone provokes you," she said softly.
"That's how my world works."
"Well, maybe your world needs updating."
He almost smiled.
"You talk like you're fixing software."
"Maybe I am."
Their eyes met again — closer this time.
"You weren't scared?" he asked.
"I was," she admitted. "But I was more scared of you getting hurt."
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Silence.
Real silence.
Raven looked at her differently now. Not curious.
Not amused.
Something deeper.
"You shouldn't care about someone like me," he said quietly.
"Maybe I don't care about labels."
A car passed in the distance. The normal world continued as if nothing had happened.
Raven stood up slowly.
"You're going to make this complicated," he said.
Elena looked up at him. "Maybe it already is."
For the first time, he didn't look like the leader of the Black Serpents.
He looked like a boy who didn't know what to do with feelings he never planned to have.
And Elena?
She was starting to realize that loving someone dangerous didn't feel dramatic.
It felt terrifyingly real.
To be continued…