Foreigner

Lila's POV

“So,” Thea said, mouth full. “Any last words before you become a foreigner?”

“I’ll miss you guys,” I said honestly. “You’ve always been there. Since we were kids.”

“Ugh, don’t make it emotional,” Maggie groaned.

“Too late,” I whispered.

They meant well, I knew. But part of me had hoped for something more. A shared memory. A joke only we understood. A moment where we clung to each other because we knew things were about to change.

But the moment never came.

It was nearly midnight when the girls left. They hugged me tight and promised to call as soon as I landed. I smiled and nodded, but I didn’t feel it.

After the front door closed behind them, I returned to my room to find Tobi leaning against the door frame.

“They not letting you go home?” I asked.

He shook his head. “Just wanted to say goodnight.”

I stepped closer. “Thanks for… helping tonight.”

He shrugged, eyes flicking to my mouth, then away again. “It was nothing.”

We stood there in silence, neither of us moving. I didn’t know what I wanted but I knew I didn’t want him to leave.

“Tobi—”

He leaned forward and kissed me. My mind reeled, had we done this before? The night of the party felt like a distant dream and to this day I have never been able to seperate the truth from what I recalled (in the end deciding to write the whole night off). His kids was slow and soft. Like he was memorizing the shape of my lips., his hands gently grazing my sides and finding their natural resting point at my lower back. My stomach flipped and tensed, my hormones making me feel feral inside. When he pulled back, he looked at me like he wanted to say something, anything but instead, he just smiled.

“Goodnight, Lila.”

And then he was gone.

My alarm buzzed too early, as always. For a moment I forgot where I was, then sat up with a jolt. Today. I was leaving today.

I jumped out of bed and headed straight for the shower my last one in my family home for the foreseeable future. Everything felt surreal, like I was floating through someone else’s morning. After drying off, I slipped into my comfy travel outfit: light blue boyfriend jeans, a white cotton tee, and my favorite mustard cable-knit jumper, which I carried in case I got cold on the plane. I tied my hair up in a high ponytail out of my face, but still cute.

I checked my bag one final time. Wallet. Passport. Phone. Laptop. Toiletries. All there.

Dragging my suitcase downstairs, I found Mum and Dad waiting at the kitchen table, smiling but with red-rimmed eyes.

“Lila, we’re going to miss you so much,” Mum said, already holding her arms out.

“Mum,” I said, hugging her tight. “I’ll be home before you know it.”

Dad stepped in next. “Our little baby girl,” he said, voice rough. “Be safe out there. The world’s not like Forreston.”

“I know, Dad. I promise I’ll be careful.”

Mum tried to rally. “Okay, breakfast. What would you like?”

I wasn’t hungry nerves had twisted my stomach into knots but she wouldn’t let me leave without eating something. I settled for an apple. Dad muttered something about it not being a real breakfast while tearing into his bacon and eggs. Under the table, I checked my phone. I hadn’t forgotten last night, Tobi’s kiss, his sudden coolness, the quiet chaos it had stirred in me. I needed to talk to him.

Not at the airport. Not in front of my parents.

Take me to the airport with you, I texted from underneath the table.

Read. No reply.

I waited five full minutes before my phone buzzed.

I’ll be there in thirty.

I looked up. “Hey, Tobi’s going to the airport too. Thought I could just catch a ride with him?”

Dad opened his mouth, but Mum beat him to it. “Of course you can, darling.”

“Thanks, Mum.” I hugged them both again. “I’ll call when I land, I promise.”

Right on time, Tobi arrived in a taxi. He jumped out, helped load my bags into the boot, and waved to my parents with a smile so charming it almost felt practiced. As the taxi pulled away from the curb, I was overwhelmed with emotion equal parts excitement, fear, and something else entirely. I was alone in the back seat with Tobi. And we had unfinished business.

“So,” he said, glancing sideways. “Why’d you message?”

The words caught in my throat. His deep brown eyes were focused solely on me.

“Well… you kissed me last night.”

“Yes,” he said, casually. Like it was nothing.

“Why?” I asked, arms folding without my permission. I hated how defensive I sounded.

“Because I wanted to.”

That was it? No explanation, no context? My heart pounded. “That was my first kiss,” I blurted out, eyes locked on my hands.

He went still. “I didn’t know,” he said softly. “If I had, I would’ve never made such a bold move. Please believe me.”

I glanced up. His expression wasn’t mocking it was sincere. Maybe even remorseful.

“I was hoping,” he added, “that once you were settled in Lenweil, we could spend some time together. Just the two of us.”

“Sure,” I said quietly.

He smiled, and suddenly, he didn’t look like the overly professional guy from my dad’s office. He looked like someone my age. Someone who made me feel seen.

At the airport, Tobi took control carried my suitcase, steered me toward check-in, hurried me along when I got distracted. He stayed by my side the entire time, like some protective shadow I hadn’t asked for but didn’t exactly mind. Once we reached our gate, I returned from the bathroom with two lattes. I handed him one.

“What’s this?” he asked, frowning.

“A latte,” I grinned. “Because you paid for the taxi.”

“You shouldn’t have bought me anything.”

“Don’t be weird. Drink the coffee.”

We sipped in silence for a while. I caught myself studying him his faint scars, the mess of his dark hair, the way his eyes flicked around like he was always calculating something. He was beautiful. But flawed. Human. And somehow that made him even more magnetic.

“Can I ask you something?” I said, surprising even myself.

“Should I be worried?” he smirked.

“No,” I laughed. “I just… I realised I don’t really know you that well.”

“I worked for your father for over a year.”

“You were on a working holiday, right?”

“Correct.”

“So, what’s waiting for you at home?”

His gaze shifted out the window. “Not much.”

“Come on. That’s a cop-out.”

He sighed. “My family runs a business. Been in the family for generations. They want me to come back and take over.”

“And you don’t want to?”

“I want to live my life first,” he said simply.

“Do you have siblings? Someone else who can take it on?”

“I’m an only child. Like you.”

“Cousins?”

He actually snorted at that. “Nope. That would cause too much drama.”

“My turn,” he added with a grin. “How do you feel about flying?”

“Oh… not great. I get motion sick.”

“Yikes. Well, at least I’ll be here.”

His voice was light, but the words landed heavy. As we boarded the plane, Tobi lifted my bag into the overhead compartment without asking.

“Hey! I can do that myself.”

“I know. I just wanted to help.”

I frowned. “I’m not used to people doing things for me.”

His expression softened, but he didn’t push. Once seated, I folded my arms, trying to calm my nerves. I hated takeoff. My stomach already felt unstable.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, noticing instantly.

“I just… feel anxious.”

He gently touched my chin and turned me to face him. “Don’t worry. I’m right here.”

I nodded, too overwhelmed to speak.

He dug into his duffel bag and handed me a water bottle. “Here. Sip this slowly.”

“Thanks,” I murmured, taking it gratefully. His attention felt steadying, even if it also made my heart race.

As the flight leveled out, I started to shiver slightly. Tobi unfolded a blanket from the overhead and draped it over me. I let out a soft sigh almost a purr and leaned against his shoulder without even thinking. He didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Just let me rest there like I belonged.