I'm a what?!

"Yes, I know it was risky! But she's with me, alive and safe!"

In the distance, I hear Tom's angry voice. The sunlight shining on my face makes me open my eyes. I stare at the white ceiling and a moment later I realise it is not the one from my room!

"Tom? Tom!"

"Here, she's even awake. I'll call you later!"

I sit in the bed and lean on the cold wall but the moment I get up, I regret it. My stomach is in a knot and a monstrous headache stabs me.

"Heey, Mal. How do you feel?" Tom sits next to me on the bed and places his hand on my bare knee.

"Tom, where I am?" I ask, staring at my own hand, trying to focus my blurry vision. What the heck happened last night?!

"Mmm, in my bed," Tom shyly notes.

"Why?!" I shriek in fear of what we've possible done last night and again, my whole body pulsates, stroked by the migraine.

"Because last night you kept repeating you can't go home. I couldn't leave you on the street so here you are."

"But we didn't... you know..?"

"Oh, God, no! No, no! I won't touch you without your permission. Neither I'm a fan of necrophilia," he chaotically gesticulates with hands in a denial.

"Necrophilia?!"

"Mal... how much do you remember from last night?" Tom moves his hand to my shoulder and leans closer to me. A fresh scent of mint and sweet perfume attacks my nose.

I try to remember what possibly happened last night, but the memories are in pieces and too blurry to puzzle them out. I feel like I am about to throw up and beads of cold sweat roll down, tickling the skin of my back.

"Erm... not much," I admit.

"Okay, I'll tell you something but I don't want you to freak out, so please don't!"

"When someone tells me to not freak out, I usually do so," I cross my arms and throw Tom a doubtful look, trying to look as calm as I can, but I'm pretty sure he can hear my hammering heart.

"Okay, here goes nothing," he takes a deep breath and remains quiet for a moment or two.

"Tom!!"

"Okay, okay. Listen, what I'm about to tell you may come confusing or scary to you, so please just listen to me and ask all the questions you have, before doing something we both might regret."

"Tom, you're scaring me," I whisper and look into his eyes, trying to figure out what's going on.

"Last night I brought you to the party of a friend, you remember that?"

I only nod. I do remember that. And I do remember drinking.

"Do you remember the people I presented you to?"

"I... I think so." A blurry picture of a few guys pops up in my head. And amongst all, the clearest one I see is the face of that boy... Matthew? Was it Matthew?

"Now, here's the part where you should not freak out..." he takes another deep breath. Whatever he's about to tell me must be a hard pill to swallow. "One of the guys... Matthew... He got the wrong signals and drugged you. He tried to do something with you."

I gasp for air and choke. My mind becomes cloudy and the room starts spinning... I roll into a ball with my head between my knees in a fetal position.

'Hey, hey! Mal! Please, breathe!" Tom places both his hands on my shoulders and forces me to face him. For probably a minute I try to calm my unsteady heartbeat and hyperventilation. "I won't let anyone do anything to you, Mal. Keep that in mind. I'll keep you safe."

Tom's reassuring words make me cool down a little. And I finally lift my head. Only to find the guy's face just a breath away. Maybe I'm still drunk, or I see Tom in a different light now, but I take the opportunity and place my lips on his...

For a moment he hesitates. I startle him with my sudden act, but then he relaxes and kisses me back. I shove my tongue in his mouth and he crawls on top of me...

We kiss for a while and I feel more and more heated. Tom lets a quiet moan escape his mouth and I know he wants it too. I slide my hands under his T-shirt to take it off, but instead he lifts and takes it off himself. I stare at his athletic body, the muscles twitching after every movement of his. Then I reach for his pants and he attacks my lips again. 

Tom snakes his hand on my thigh and under my dress. I press my body close to his and grind on him.

"Mal..." he moans my name without stopping the kiss.

"I... want... it."

I unbutton his jeans and I feel his grown erection. If this will be my first time, I'm happy it'll be with Tom. I push a finger under the elastic line of his boxers and he suddenly stops.

"Mal, stop..." he sighs, peeling off his hands from my body and looking down at me from top.

"What's the matter? Don't you want me?"

"No, no... I- I like you very much, Mal. Too much..."

"Then why did you stop?"

Tom throws himself in my right, the mattress of the bed sinks under his weight.

"I can't... We can't do it," he says while staring at the ceiling with a note of concern in his voice.

"But why? You like me, I like you--"

"Because you're not mine," he interrupts me.

I jump back to the sitting position and look at him. He hides his eyes by holding his right arm on them, his other arm is loosely left on the bed and I grab his hand.

"What do you mean I'm not yours? You need a commitment before having sex?"

"No... It's something else."

"What's it then?"

"You're just not mine. That's all. You belong to someone else."

"I don't belong to anyone!" I jump out of the bed and shout at Tom, clearly confused and humiliated by his rejection.

"You won't understand it... Not yet."

"Then explain it to me!"

"No, not yet. You won't understand," he sighs again.

"Try me." I fix my dress and cross my arms in a defending position, while I keep staring at Tom.

"Mal..." he turns on his left side and looks at me and I notice the regret in his deep silver eyes.

"Come on, Tom."

"I'll drive you home."

"No! I won't move a step until you explain to me!" I stomp my left foot to show my irritation.

"Mal, you're probably still drunk. I'm pretty sure once you get sober you'll regret doing this."

"Bullshit! Tell me what did you mean by saying that I belong to someone else!"

"Viktor Russo." I feel the colour of my face draining as Tom whispers this name. 

"Wh- what do you mean?! How do you know him?!"

"You're his." Tom stares at the ceiling with no expression on his face. Now to say I'm confused will be a misunderstanding. It's much more than confusion. I'm totally lost.

"This is ridiculous. I don't even know this man!"

"But you agreed to a date with him."

"N-no... I- I thought he's joking," I stutter, ashamed and still confused as of how Tom knows about Viktor and more specifically, that I agreed to meet with him.

"He liked you, Mal. And once he claims something as his, it's his."

"This is complete bullshit! I'm not someone's toy to claim!"

"Mal..."

I grab my heels and run outside the room barefoot. I hear Tom calling my name behind me, but I'm running around, trying to find the exit and once I find the door, I leave.

                       ***

"Mallory?!"

"Spare me the words." I crawl inside the hall and my mother closes the door behind me.

"What did I tell you about not coming back home?! And where are your keys?!"

"I... I don't know. Leave me alone." I drag myself to my room and throw on the bed, face buried in the pillow.

"Mal? Mallory..." I feel my mom sitting next to me and placing her hand on my back. "Mallory, what happened?"

"Nothing. Leave me alone. Better yet, you can tell me 'I told you so' and then leave."

"Oh, baby. Did someone hurt you? Where have you been?"

"No, I'm fine. Please, mom, leave me alone."

And she does so. She leaves, carefully closing the door behind her. Strange. She didn't start another speech as I expected. She didn't shout at me, didn't tell me ' told you so'. 

Maybe we both learned something. Me to not trust people like she was telling me and she to not suffocate me because, in the end, I'll do whatever I want.

I quietly cry myself to sleep and I'm happy that my mother doesn't disturb me.

                             ***

"Mallory? Mal!" I hear my mother's voice and feel her shaking me in an attempt to wake me up. I spent the whole Sunday in my room, mostly crying and sleeping.

"What?"

"Mallory, you're gonna be late for work."

"What time is it?!" I jump out of the bed and look around myself for my phone, then I realise I forgot my bag at Tom's. 

"It's 7 AM."

"Oh, great." I grab a towel from my wardrobe and rush to the bathroom and accidentally throw a few clothes down, but I can't deal with that now.

I take a quick shower and put that awful dress of a uniform on.

"Mallory! You need to get breakfast."

"Not now, mom. I'm gonna be late."

"But I made your favourite..." she begs me with wet eyes as I'm putting on my shoes.

"Pancakes?"

"Yes," she nods.

"Okay. I'll grab two and eat them on my way to work."

"Great!"

                             ***

"Heeey, why in such a hurry?"

"I'm late!" I bump into the cleaning lady as I fly through the staff exit.

"Silly, you're not late! In fact, you're half an hour early!"

"Wait, how?!"

"It's 7:30 AM, love."

I look at the big clock hanging on the wall of the bar and that's right, it's 7:30 AM! Hell, my mother woke me up way too early! 

There's still no one of the other staff members, so it's just me and the cleaning lady. I've been here for a week now and this is the first time I see her.

"Hey, do you want a coffee?"

"Sure, a long one," she nods. "I'll join you in a minute."

I grab two mugs and push some of the buttons on the coffee machine that I've seen Tom push and a moment later the pleasant scent of freshly made coffee fills my nostrils.

"Are you coming?"

"In a minute."

I get the two coffees and carry them to the staff table in front of the bar.

"What's your name, dear?" the lovely lady slides on the couch in front of me and grabs her mug.

"Mallory."

"Oh, nice to meet you, Mallory! I'm Ava."

"Nice to meet you too," I smile.

We have a small and easily flowing chat, maybe for ten or fifteen minutes, before my peace get ruined.

"Mal!" a now painfully familiar voice calls me by name.

"Ugh, I just have to be the same shift as you, don't I?"

"Mal, you forgot your bag yesterday."

"Hmmmm." Ava throws me a questionable look and giggles before taking a sip of the coffee.

"Yeah, thanks." I get my clutch bag and open it to get my phone. I haven't touched it in two days and considering my social status as a total introvert I don't expect someone to have searched for me, except my mother.

Now you can guess the surprised look I have written on my face as I unlock the phone and see I have over ten messages from ... you can guess who.

"Heyy little birdie, did you forget about me?

Mallory, how do you imagine our first date?

I think about you all the time ;)

Little birdie? Why don't you answer?

Are you mad at me?

I hope you're still up for the date!

I'm looking forward to seeing you again :*

I'm coming back on Monday and I might come to get a coffee!

Mallory?

Please, answer me back!"

I read through all the messages and lock the phone. So much for having a peaceful morning.

"Mal, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"No, Tom. I have to go get the garden ready." I grab a cloth and the windows cleaning spray and go outside to wipe the tables. I have no power to deal with Tom.

                           ***

"Two times cocktail Long Island."

"Seriously?"

I only shrug apathetically. Despite the fact we're overcrowded and we literally can't catch a breath, I keep suggesting people to order more complex drinks. And I do it with the sole idea of torturing Tom. Cocktails? You got them. The harder it sounds to make, the better.

My shift passes by quickly but feels like it was one hell of an eight-hour rush hour. I am completely and utterly exhausted, almost dead. My feet burn and pulsate but hell, now I count the money so I can give an account for the sum, I see I have over one hundred dollars worth of tips! My friend was right, the tips are "gooood"! 

I sign on the list with the total earnings and give the money to Tom so he can stow it wherever he keeps it until the boss collects the total for the day.

"Hey, Mal... I--"

"Don't try, Tom. Leave me to go home, I'm tired," I interrupt him then grab my bag and am about to leave when Tom catches me by my wrist and pulls me back to face him. "Tom! What the fuck?!"

"Listen, Mal... Viktor is outside and is looking for you."

"Tell him to fuck off."

Tom only laughs but I see the fear in his eyes. It's that kind of uneasy laugh that actually makes you shiver. That kind nervous laugh that you just know it's to hide the concerns of someone's.

"That's not how it works with him."

"I don't care."

"Come on, Mal. Just go outside and greet him."

"No," I cut and try to escape Tomas's grip.

"Please. Or this might be the last time you see my pretty face."

"Um, what? Is he death-threatening you or what?"

"No, no. But he can beat my ass up."

"That's ridiculous. And how do you even know him?" This question still bugs me off.

"It doesn't matter. Please, go greet him. That's all I'm asking for... Please, if you care at least a little about me," Tom begs me and his dark-silver eyes flash wet, full of concern.

"Hmph... Fine," I grumble and drag myself outside after I see the fear in Tom's eyes. Why am I such a kind person?

"Little birdie! Hey!" a flashing white smile almost blinds me.

"Um, hi," I cross my arms out of awkwardness and just stand there, looking at the empty space behind him.

"Please, sit down," Viktor points with hand to the empty seat in front of him.

"No, I- I'm actually going home."

"Why in such a hurry?" he tilts his head and a vein pops up on his neck from under the collar of his shirt. It's sexy, I'll admit that.

"I... I have stuff to do."

"Oh, come on." The man leans back on the couch, relaxing his body. Dressed in classy dark-grey slacks and a white shirt. Whatever he works must be well-paid. Who else wears long sleeves in June?!

"I... I really have to go home." I feel nervous under his gaze. It feels like he's devouring me with eyes. Or more like, undressing me. 

By now I think I got used to this kind of look, remember how short our uniforms are? But this one is somehow different. It's not perverted and disgusting, it's more... lustful.

"Come on, please. Sit down, order something, it'll be on me."

"There's no need for that..."

"Are you really going to leave me alone here? I came especially for you." He furrows his eyebrows and the way he's looking at me makes it harder to say 'no'. He just makes me feel overall guilty for rejecting him... somehow.

"Okay, fine." I sit on the couch in front of him and cross my legs. The super-short uniform and his pitch-black eyes make me feel uncomfortable in my seat.

"See? It's not that scary." He waves at one of my coworkers and she comes immediately.

"Yes, sir?" The way Margaret looks at him makes me shiver. She stares at him with such a flirtatious grin on her smug face, like any time now she'll jump on him and ride him.

"Mallory, what do you want to drink?"

Margaret faces me and her expression changes the very moment. Now pure jealousy is written on her face.

"I... I'll take a bottle of water."

"Seriously?" Viktor asks me doubtfully and Margaret rolls her eyes in complete sync with him. "Give her one of mine."

"Sure." Margaret bounces and leaves.

"One of yours?" I arch an eyebrow.

"Yes. Espresso and a strawberry smoothie," he laughs. "Come on, little birdie. I can see how tense you're. I don't eat people. Neither I'll hurt you."

"I heard otherwise," I murmur to myself.

"Huh? What?"

"No, nothing."

I fall into silence, just trying to look somewhere else but not at him. Because every time I even see him with the corner of my eye, I see what a huge grin is spilt on his face.

"Your order," Margaret interrupts the silence and leaves me the coffee and the smoothie, almost throwing them.

"Thanks." I take the coffee mug in hand and I notice there's something written with a marker on the little cup.

"Smile a little :)". 

I immediately look at the big glass windows separating the cafe from the garden and I see Tom just standing there, looking at me. I sigh.

"What's wrong?" Viktor asks me.

"No, nothing," I try to smile but instead I feel like I'm about to cry.

"Are you still down for the date tomorrow?"

"I thought that if I sit here with you now, it'll count as a date?"

"Oh no, no, silly," Viktor laughs and I must say despite the rough and thunderous voice he has, his laugh is kind of melodic. Even pleasant to listen to.

"But..."

"I have planned something much better than a coffee here."

"Like what?" A tone of curiosity sneaks into my voice.

"It's a surprise. All I can tell you for now is to dress elegantly."

A weird feeling gets over me. Tomorrow I will go out with a man I don't know. And not only that but a way older man. Well, not that old, but still older than me. I'm barely eighteen and if I can rely on my judgment, he's around, if not over twenty-five.

"I... I have nothing to wear." I try to think of an excuse to not go to that 'date'. Something feels suspicious.

"We can always go buy you something." So much for this being an excuse.

"No, no...I can't accept it..."

"No! It's actually a great idea!" he claps with hands. "This way you'll wear something that matches the theme of the date!"

"No, no... I'll figure something out. I- I don't feel comfortable with the idea of going shopping with you."

"Hmm, whatever you decide," he shrugs and takes a sip of his coffee.

                                  ***

It passes maybe an hour since I've sat down to have a coffee with this captivating man. And although I was skeptical at first, even a little scared, I must say I was wrong. He's easy-going, smart and funny. We talk about everything. About dog breeds, colleges, the weather and other random nonsense.

Maybe my gut was wrong about him. Or it was the constant fear my mother kept keeping me in? It looks like not all people are as bad as she was saying.

Viktor asks for the bill and Margaret comes immediately. Does she teleport or what?

"Sir, the drinks will be on us," she purrs and flutters with her thick black lashes, her voice sultry and pours like honey.

"No, God," Viktor laughs in her face. "Tell Larry this is unnecessary and bring me the bill."

"But..."

"Come on. Or I can call him too?"

"No, no..."

"How do you know my boss?" I ask out of curiosity as I just can't figure it out. Viktor is way younger than Larry, so I exclude the possibility of them to had been coworkers or something. 

"We just happen to know each other," he just shrugs casually.

"But how?"

"Mutual friends, I think. Once he needed a favour and now he feels forever obliged."

Margaret comes back with the bill and after Viktor pays, I'm ready to leave. 

"Little birdie, are you ready to go?"

"Um yeah, I'm running late. And also... can you please not call me like that?"

"Huh, but why?"

"It makes me feel comfortable," I admit.

"Then how do you want me to call you?"

"Friends call me Mal, Mallory works too."

"But you're my little birdie..."

"I'm a what?! No, no. This is wrong." I grab my bag and am about to leave, but as I get up, Viktor reaches with a hand and grabs me by my wrist.

"Wait, no! Mallory! I'm sorry!"

I face him and my heart starts beating like crazy. His touch feels like an electric wave through my body. I can't explain it... If you haven't felt it, you wouldn't understand.

"I need to go."

"Will I see you tomorrow?"

"Sure," I almost immediately answer and he lets me off his grip.

"Do you want me to drive you home?"

"I wouldn't mind but it's not the best idea." My pulsating feet are killing me and a drive to home sounds just perfect.

"How come?"

"I don't want my mother to see me in a car with a man."

"You live with your mother?" he asks surprised. Way too surprised, if you ask me.

"I'm last year in high school, where do you want me to live?" I roll my eyes.

"High school..." he mumbles something that only he is able to hear. "Come on, I'll drop you somewhere near yours."

"Eh, alright."

We walk to the parking outside the cafe and once he reaches for the car keys in his pocket, he taps a button and brand-new dark silver Mercedes winks at us.

"God, what are you working?!" I shout maybe louder than it should've been.

"Does it matter?" he chuckles and gets in the car.

"I mean, this car costs more than my life," I slide inside the leather white salon and immediately regret it. "God! It's burning hot! I got glued to the seat!"

"Relax, lil... erm, Mallory."

Viktor pushes some buttons and a moment later the engine starts along with the air conditioner blowing cooling air in my face.

"Better?"

"Mhm," I nod thankfully.

"Where to drive?"

"I'll tell you."

And like that, we leave my workplace. Good thing the windows are black-tinted. No one should see me in this car.