LOVE ALARM

e A

e fleeting encounter he had with Mabel the day before. Despite her efforts to blend in, she was impossible to ignore. That

The room buzzed with the usual chatter of students catching up after the summer, bu

t her?" Jason asked

ot just because Mabel was new. There was something about the way she had looked at him-just f

but no one had. Not in this way. His usual relationships had been fleeting-girls who were interested in him for his n

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's Mo

n't want to go back to Kingswell, but skipping wasn't an option. Her brother, David, had made

ward Collins' gaze on her from the day before. The way he had spoken to her, the curiosity in his voic

t anyone, Mabel. We've made it this far because we've kept our distance. Stay

she knew what was at stake. But there was something about Edward t

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sses. By lunchtime, he was restless. He hadn't seen Mabel all morning, and a part of him wondered i

as deep into a conversation about their weekend plans, but Edward's mind was elsewhere. He finally spotted Mabel, sit

, Edward stood up. Jason looked at h

ed, brushing off the question. He grabbed hi

absorbed in her book. Edward cleared his th

offering a small smi

certainty, but she nodded. Edward sat down a

orning," he said casually, tryin

ngers tracing the edge of her book.

k, I know we don't really know each other, but I wanted to see

wn at her hands. "I'm fine," she said quickly, h

his curiosity piqued

hut him out completely. But then she sighed, a heavy, tired sound

ld see the conflict in her eyes, like s

l's students. She knew they were all watching, even if they pretended not to. Edward C

ut it here," Mabel finally said,

ough. How about we talk after school?

Edward's tone made her trust him, just

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ing Afte

e leaned against the fence, checking his phone and glancing up every few seconds to see if Mabel had shown up. He wa

, her steps hesitant but deliberate. She had changed into a si

a small smile tugging a

ged. "I sai

ng toward the parking lot. "L

ed before getting in, but Edward's relaxed demeanor made her feel slightly more at ease. They drove in

edge of town. It was quiet, with only a few people walking their dogs

y peaceful," he said

ure why she had agreed to come with him, why she felt this strange sense of

n, gesturing for Mabel to do the same. She hesitated before s

t of silence. "What's going on,

anyone-had never even considered it. But there was something about Edward

y, her voice barely audible. "From m

curiosity tempered with co

tell him everything-not yet. But she could give him a glim

she finally said. "Someone

her eyes, the way her body tensed as she spoke. He wanted to

rd asked softly.

't tell you that. I shouldn'

didn't know how to make her feel safe. But one thing was clear-Ma

g pause. "But if you ever need help, I'm he

filled with a mixture of fear and gr

elt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe,

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ntinued.