Tess was quiet.
Too quiet.
At the café, she didn't snap.
Didn't glare.
Didn't react.
She just worked.
Marcus noticed immediately.
He didn't lean over the counter.
Didn't push.
Didn't tease.
"…You're different today."
Tess didn't look up.
"I'm working."
He studied her.
The way her shoulders were tighter than usual.
The way her movements were sharper.
More controlled.
Something had happened.
Marcus leaned back.
Let it go.
For now.
School
Gym class.
The ball hit the wall harder than necessary.
Again.
And again.
Tess didn't hold back.
Every kick—
Too strong.
Too fast.
Too intentional.
Ava frowned slightly, watching her.
"…You okay?"
That—
That alone said enough.
Tess paused.
Just for a second.
Ava didn't usually ask things like that.
"…I'm fine."
But her voice—
Wasn't.
Across the gym—
Bruce's gaze shifted.
From Tess—
To Marcus.
Marcus stood still.
Watching.
Not moving.
Not interfering.
But not looking away either.
Bruce narrowed his eyes slightly.
Something had changed.
And he didn't like not knowing what.
Evening — The Bar
It was louder than usual.
Lights dim.
Music heavier.
The kind of place they weren't used to—
But kept coming back to anyway.
They were still new to this.
Still figuring it out.
Tess didn't hesitate.
One drink.
Then another.
Then another.
Marcus noticed.
Everyone did.
Logan even pulled out one earbud, glancing at her.
"…You sure you should—"
"I'm fine."
Same answer.
Again.
Marcus leaned back slightly in his seat.
Watching.
Not interrupting.
But his gaze didn't leave her.
And then—
They showed up.
A group of girls.
Slightly older.
Confident.
They approached Marcus like it was natural.
Like it was expected.
"Hey."
"Didn't think I'd see you here again."
Tess looked away.
Immediately.
Didn't care.
Obviously.
Marcus responded.
Light.
Casual.
Entertaining it—
Just enough.
That twist in her chest came back.
Stronger this time.
Worse.
It shouldn't matter.
But it did.
And she hated that.
Another drink.
Then—
Everything blurred.
Just slightly.
Too much.
Bruce leaned closer.
"…You okay?"
"I just need air."
She stood.
Too quickly.
Marcus and Bruce exchanged a glance.
Then followed.
Outside
Cool air.
Quiet.
Tess leaned against the wall.
Breathing slower.
Trying to steady herself.
Footsteps.
Not theirs.
Three guys.
Older.
They stopped a little too close.
"Hey."
Tess didn't respond.
Didn't move.
Her head felt heavy.
Thoughts slower.
Usually—
She would've snapped.
Shut it down immediately.
But now—
"…You good?"
One of them stepped closer.
Too close.
Another laughed softly.
"Bit out of it, huh?"
Tess frowned.
Something felt off.
Wrong.
But her body—
Was slower to react.
"…I'm fine."
Her voice wasn't sharp.
Wasn't controlled.
That alone—
Was dangerous.
One of them reached—
And then—
Marcus stepped in.
Calm.
Easy.
Like he'd always been there.
He leaned against the wall next to her.
Close.
But not touching.
Didn't even look at them.
"…You're in my spot."
His tone was light.
Almost bored.
The guys hesitated.
Marcus tilted his head slightly.
Still not looking at them.
"She doesn't like crowds."
A beat.
"And I don't like repeating myself."
Silence.
Then—
They backed off.
Just like that.
No scene.
No fight.
Gone.
Marcus exhaled softly.
Then finally looked at her.
And everything shifted.
"…Tess?"
His voice—
Was different.
Careful.
She didn't answer.
Her eyes were unfocused.
Her breathing uneven.
Not present.
Marcus frowned slightly.
"…Hey."
Nothing.
He didn't know what to do.
The door opened again.
Bruce stepped out.
His eyes immediately scanned the scene.
Marcus.
Tess.
Alone.
Close.
A flicker of something crossed his expression.
"…We should get her home."
His tone was calm.
But firm.
Marcus nodded once.
Their eyes met.
And for a moment—
There was tension there.
Unspoken.
Bruce didn't say anything.
But the look lingered.
And Marcus noticed.
Later
Tess stirred slightly.
More aware now.
More present.
The world steadier.
Marcus was still near her.
Not too close.
Not too far.
"…You okay?"
His voice—
Still careful.
She looked at him.
Really looked at him.
And something snapped.
All of it.
The tension.
The night.
The girls.
The guys who had approached her.
The feeling of losing control—
All of it.
Her eyes sharpened.
And for the first time—
There was no blush.
No hesitation.
No softness.
Just clarity.
"You don't get to do that."
Marcus stilled.
"…Do what?"
Her voice didn't shake.
Didn't rise.
It cut.
"Play with me like I'm something you win."
Silence.
Bruce looked between them.
Still.
Watching.
Tess held Marcus's gaze.
Unmoving.
"I'm not a challenge."
Another step closer.
Not physically—
But emotionally.
"I'm not something you wait out until I give in."
Marcus didn't speak.
Didn't interrupt.
For once—
He didn't have a response.
Her voice lowered.
Sharper.
"And I'm not one of those girls you can just walk away from when you're bored."
That—
That hit.
Hard.
Because for the first time—
Marcus understood something.
She wasn't reacting to him.
She was protecting herself.
From him.
And suddenly—
This wasn't fun anymore.
"…Tess."
But she shook her head.
"No."
Final.
Clear.
"I'm done playing this game."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Marcus stood there—
Still.
Frozen.
Because for the first time—
He saw it.
She wasn't something to win.
And he had almost—
Almost—
Made her believe she was.
And Tess?
She turned away.
Not flustered.
Not shaken.
Just—
Done.