Chapter 3

Victoria’s pov

*Earlier that same day as the previous chapter*

“Can I get that doughnut now, please?” I shouted in frustration at my co-workers in the kitchen.

This poor boy has been here for over five minutes, and all he wanted was a stupid doughnut that Kera was taking too long to give me. I huffed, seeing that I’d have to get it myself. Waiting on her was too much for my impatience.

“Give me a minute, sweetheart. I’ll be right back,” I told him softly, stunned at his immense patience. Smiling, he gave me a simple nod while I headed to the kitchen to get the doughnut for the little cutie.

“Here’s that doughnut,” someone said the minute I turned around, taking me off guard.

Unexpectedly, I collided with something mushy, as Kera splattered all the contents of the doughnut across my chest. 

Great. Just great.

I groaned as Kera gave me a sheepish smile with a hint of amusement in her eyes. I hated her sometimes.

“Go clean up, Vic. I’ll get this little guy another doughnut,” she said, stifling laughter. I rolled my eyes at her as I went to the backroom, hoping that the stain won’t last. 

Life with these people can take a toll on your mentality. Still, I smiled as I thought about how much I love their annoying asses. They were practically my only family, so even after I got the job at the hospital as a nurse, I stayed working with them.

I started working here when I was 17, right after I graduated from high school and was left on my own. I always wanted to go to college, so I applied for a job here at the local diner to help pay for my necessities, since the money my aunt left me covered most of my tuition.

It was here where I met my boss and non-blood mother, Charlette, and her two children who helped her out, Kera and Nick. They were always there for me and treated me like family. I spent all my Christmases with them, and they never shunned me, even in the hardest times.

When I got the job at the hospital a year ago, I reserved a day to work here. I’m too drawn to them to ditch them.

I headed to the washroom, where I caught Nick fiddling with something in his hands.

“Hey, what do you have there, bud?” I asked with narrowed eyes, as he quickly shoved it behind his back. They were all acting weird today. When I thought about it, they were actually acting stranger than usual. Realisation dawned on me as I understood too well what was really happening.

“I told you guys to drop it! You know how I feel about my birthday, Nick.” I huffed with a slight pout, knowing it affected him. He sighed in defeat.

“You know how mom is, Vic. she wouldn’t let it go. But if it makes you feel any better, we weren’t planning on doing anything today since you know what happened the last time.” 

I laughed, remembering how bitchy I acted last year after their little ‘stunt.’ They get it, though. They always do.

I chuckled again at his somewhat scared expression. I’m intimidating, but I’m not that bad. Right?

I quickly pecked his cheek, which made him visibly relax, before heading to the face basins. 

Grabbing a paper towel, I started the impossible task of getting my shirt clean. After a few minutes, I felt somewhat satisfied with the result. I heaved a sigh as I glanced at myself in the mirror. My long chestnut brown hair fell smoothly above my waist, and my blonde highlights gave it that touch it needed. My skin seemed a little pale today, contrasting with its natural tan appearance. I knew, however, that it was because I was under the weather today. 

Unlike every other human being, I hated my birthday. It was only dread and sorrow, and a reminder that I was nothing but a burden to my so-called parents. And after my aunt died the day of my graduation, I was a sad, lonely 17 year old trying to find my way in a hard, cold world. 

So, the festivities of a birthday? I never cared much for them. Kera, Charlette and Nick always tried to get me excited, though, and I had to admit, they almost got me. Still, celebrating my birthday never brought me joy. Still, they would always host a small party the day after my birthday, acting as if it was random. 

As if. 

Despite it all, I had to be grateful for them. They were the only family I ever had after my aunt died, so I had to love them. 

My wristwatch read 7:47 pm. My shift was practically over, so I walked to the employees’ lounge to get my stuff. I was on my way to the door when I heard Kera shout my name.

“Oh, I just wanted to say, happy—”

“Don’t even think about it,” I gritted out before she could finish. She sighed with a pout, but smiled anyway as she waved.

I felt terrible whenever I acted so cold towards them, but I couldn’t shake the gloominess in my mood. Sighing, I hopped in my car and drove to the place I went whenever I wasn’t having the best day.

***

I pulled into the clearing about an hour after I left the diner. I parked my car somewhere off the dirt road and strolled to my favourite spot.

The icy breeze swept past me in a rush, evoking small prickly bumps over my body as a shiver ran down my spine. I wrapped my arms around myself as a semi-human blanket, providing a little warmth from the harsh breeze.

The moon danced in the sky to celebrate something unknown on such a tragic day, but it was also radiant as it lit the scattered forested area. I could already hear as the water splashed against the rocks in a melodic song as I moved closer to the cliff, just as I liked it. 

As I got closer, I saw something strange standing on the cliff’s edge under the dense moonlight. Or... someone?

He was tall and muscular. His shoulders were tense and stiff, as if he was upset about something. His hair waved in the wind, making it more unlevelled and messy. 

I didn’t know who he was, but from behind he was hot. I itched to see what his face looked like.

Slightly impatient and annoyed at the fact that I wanted to be alone only to find this hot stranger in my spot, I spoke loud enough for him to hear.

“Well, would you look at that... Fancy seeing someone here in MY spot.”

It seemed like I took him completely off guard as he spun around with his eyes wide and his hand over his heart. I crossed my arms and kept a serious expression on my face, resisting the urge to drool. 

He was gorgeous.

His shocked expression changed to confusion, then to relief and disbelief mixed.

“Ella?” he whispered with a smile on his face as he stepped toward me. I was confused and slightly scared at this weirdo calling me Ella, so I shook my head.

“No. My name is Victoria.” I flashed him a sly smile to show him I was no threat.

He sagged as disappointment replaced his former excitement when he thought I was Ella, before turning around as if he didn’t see me.

“Sorry. I assumed you were someone else,” he said in a bored tone. He gazed off in the distance while I took slow, cautious steps toward him.

“Hey, you okay there, bud?” I asked in a slightly friendlier tone than the one I used before. He simply nodded, but kept his mouth shut. 

I rocked back and forth on my heels, unsure what to say or do now that I was sharing my spot with a stranger.

“What’s your name?” I asked. 

He glanced at me, looking as if I asked him how many stars were in the galaxy. I smiled nervously, hoping to soothe whatever pain he was obviously in.

“Luka,” he mumbled in a gruff, bitter tone. “And I would really appreciate it if you leave, Victoria.”

Well then. The sexy gorgeous guy is mean.

I shot him a glare of my own. I really didn’t appreciate his tone. I could tell that he was having an equally shitty day as me, but that didn’t mean he had the right to be rude. 

“This is my spot, so anyone who should leave is you.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do! So just go!” He looked pretty defeated and his words dripped with hurt. My heart ached for the stranger, and though the logical part of my brain told me to leave him be, somehow, I was glued to my spot.

“What are you? A lone wolf?” I joked, trying to lighten the mood a bit.

But instead of laughing, his head snapped to me so fast that I thought he might have whiplash. I raised my arms in defence. 

“Hey, calm down. It was just a joke.” I nervously laughed, at which he relaxed a bit. 

I cleared my throat as he turned around to face the open water—again pretending as if I wasn’t there. He stayed silent and still for the next couple of minutes, not making any moves to leave. So I finally took it as a sign to leave.

So much for alone time in my spot.

“Well, I guess I’ll see you around, Luka,” I mumbled over my shoulder as I increased the distance between us.

“Finally,” he muttered softly, but I heard it anyway. “Yeah, sure.”

‘That was weird,’ I thought as I glanced at him one last time. How come I’ve never seen him before? I’ve lived here all my life, and I even went to college right off the town’s border. Yet, his face was foreign to me. 

I shrugged, deciding to let it go. The carnival is in town, so maybe he visited from somewhere else. The dried, patchy paint on his face proved that he was there anyway, so that answered that question. 

Still, the farther I walked, the more it bothered me that I had to be the one to leave. Perhaps he was as stubborn as me and wanted me to leave first so he could feel satisfied. But this is my town and my spot! So, why did I have to leave? 

Huffing, I spun on my heels, determined that I needed a few minutes alone before going home. I moved as fast as my short legs could take me, determination in each step until… I saw him… again. 

Except, this time, there was something odd in the way he moved towards the cliff—something quite intentional.

My eyes widened when I noticed what he was about to do. No wonder he was so hellbent on me leaving. I didn't know this rude, sexy guy, but as a nurse, I couldn’t watch him hurt himself. And if I was being honest with myself, I simply don’t believe this is the way for anyone’s story to end. 

I pumped my legs faster till my heart felt like it was jumping out of my chest. But just as I was close enough, he put a foot forward, and the rest of his body followed.

“NO!”