Chapter 5 My Best Friend(5) Not A Burden

• “Sky, listen to me.” I step in front of Sky just as he’s about to leave the canteen.
• He snaps, “Why? Do you ever listen to me, Trouble?”
• I know his anger is justified, but last night I just lost control.
• “Sky, I started missing my mom last night and couldn’t control myself from drinking.” As I explain with a hint of pain in my voice, the anger instantly disappears from his eyes.
• He places his hand on my face and speaks in a soft tone, “I’m not angry about that, Trouble. You should have gone home with Alex.”
• “I know, but it was too early to go home, Sky.”
• And I don’t like to go there when there’s no one waiting for me. My heart aches to see the empty apartment.
• He already knows the reason, so I don’t have to explain. His expression softens even more. “You should’ve called me.”
• “I didn’t want to disturb you.”
• “You’re important to me, Trouble. You can never disturb me.”
• I know I’m important to him, but I don’t like to bother him with my problems all the time.
• “But you have your own life, Sky. You deserve to have fun without always worrying about me.” I feel a pang of guilt for always getting into trouble and disturbing him.
• Sky shakes his head, his eyes never leaving mine. “Zoe, you’re a part of my life. Worrying about you, being there for you—that’s my choice, and it’s one I’m happy to make.”
• I feel a lump in my throat as I listen to his words. He makes me feel so fortunate. I don’t know what I did in my past life to deserve a friend like him. But he can’t babysit me all the time.
• “I just don’t want to be a burden to you.”
• A frown appears on his face as he asks in a grim tone, “Do you seriously think you’re a burden to me, Zoe?”
• I nod in response, shifting my gaze to the floor.
• He lifts my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes. “Listen to me carefully, Zoe. You’re my best friend, not a burden. I care about you more than anything. So please, next time you feel like this, just give me a call. No matter what I’m doing, I’ll be there for you.”
• “Of course, I know you’ll always come for me—”
• “Trouble, please. No more words, or else I won’t take your photos next time.”
• I blink up at him, taken aback. Sky knows how much I love his photography. He’s the only one who captures me in a way that makes me look beautiful.
• “Fine,” I mutter, trying to suppress a smile. “You win.”
• His stern expression softens into a smile. “Good. Now, let’s eat something.”
• ***
• The next day, Sky takes me to my favorite cafe in New York. As soon as we enter, I make him take a thousand photos of me.
• “Wtf! You never get satisfied with pictures, Zoe. Now it’s enough.” He sits back in his chair.
• “One last one, please, Sky.” I bat my eyelashes, trying to melt his heart. I know he must be regretting taking me to my favorite cafe now.
• He complains, “You just take one picture of me, and I end up taking thousands of photos of you, Zoe.”
• “No problem. I’ll take more of you.” I snap his photos, laughing as he glares at me.
• “Stop it, Zoe.” He tries to take the phone from my hand, but I don’t let him.
• After taking a few more shots of him, I tease, displaying the photos, “Look, now I’ve taken plenty of photos of you. Now we’re even.”
• “You’re crazy.” He shakes his head in disbelief, causing me to chuckle.
• As we have dinner, Sky receives a call from his father.
• “Okay, Dad.” He hangs up and turns to me. “I have to go to a business meeting.”
• “Okay, but tell me one thing.” I wipe my hands with a cloth napkin. “How do you handle everything—studies, business, basketball—and manage to be perfect at all of it?” I stare at him incredulously.
• “How many times will you ask me this question, Zoe?” Sky chuckles softly, shaking his head. “I’m not perfect. I just try to do my best in everything I care about.”
• “But seriously, Sky. You manage everything so effortlessly. It’s like you have a superpower or something.”
• He laughs at my words. “No superpowers. Just a lot of dedication and a wonderful support system.”
• “Yeah, like me,” I tease with a grin. “Your personal cheerleader.”
• “Yeah!” he agrees with a smile.
• ***
• Sky leaves after dropping me at my apartment, instructing me to stay out of trouble as always.
• But is it really in my hands?
• No.
• As I come out of the bathroom after freshening up, I receive a call from Selena.
• “Hello—”
• She cuts me off, her voice frantic. “Zoe, a guy I hooked up with in the library is outside my house on his bike, circling around. I don’t know why he’s here. If my parents find out, they’ll kill me. I can’t let them down.”
• “Don’t worry, Selena,” I reassure her. “I’m coming, and I’ll handle this.”
• “Zoe, it’s risky. You can’t come alone. You need help. Where’s Sky?”
• “Sky is busy with a meeting, but I promise I’ll take care of this.”
• Selena hesitates but then reluctantly agrees. “Okay, just be careful.”
• I end the call, grab my keys, and rush out of my apartment.
• “Be safe, Trouble.”
• As Sky’s words echo in my mind, I pause at the doorstep.
• I know it’s dangerous, and Sky will kill me if he finds out about this. But he’ll understand because I’m helping my friend, just like he helps me when I need it.
• When I arrive at Selena’s house, I see the guy on his bike, still circling the block.
• After taking a deep breath, I approach him.
• “Hey,” I call out, trying to sound confident despite feeling a bit nervous.
• He looks at me with surprise and a hint of annoyance. “What do you want?”
• “I need you to leave Selena alone. She’s not interested in you, and showing up here like this is not okay.”
• His expression darkens. “Who the hell are you to tell me that? She was all over me in the library.”
• “I don’t care what happened in the library,” I retort, my voice firm. “She doesn’t want you here. So leave.”
• He scoffs, looking at me with disdain. “You think you can tell me what to do? Get lost, little girl.”
• “I’m not leaving until you do.” I step closer to him, trying to block his view of Selena’s house.
• Before I can react, he shoves me roughly aside. I stumble and fall, hitting my leg against the nearby fence.
• Fuck!
• Pain shoots through me, but I grit my teeth.
• “You shouldn’t have done that,” I warn, my voice tight with anger and pain.
• He laughs mockingly. “Or what? You’ll call the cops? Good luck with that.”
• I push myself up, ignoring the pain in my leg. “I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my friend. Just leave, okay? Selena doesn’t want anything to do with you.”
• He scoffs again. “Anyway, she isn't worth this trouble.” With one last glare, he mounts his bike and speeds away.
• Thank God! Finally, he left.
• But my leg—it hurts.