Daniel’s POV.
The morning air was sharp and biting, cutting through the thin fabric of my shirt as I leaned against the hood of my car, parked just down the street from Aria’s house. I had barely slept-not that I cared. Sleep didn’t matter when my thoughts were consumed by her. By the way she looked at me last night, her eyes filled with questions I couldn’t answer fast enough. By the way she drove off, leaving me standing there like a fool.
I’d never felt this kind of desperation before. It clawed at the edges of my sanity, twisted my thoughts into knots. I couldn’t let her go on believing whatever lies Elena had planted in her head. Aria deserved the truth. But more than that, she needed to hear it from me.
The front door of her house swung open, and my heart jumped into my throat as I straightened, watching her step outside. She was wearing a soft gray sweater, her hair pulled into a loose ponytail that swayed as she walked. She didn’t see me. She didn’t even glance in my direction as she headed toward her car, keys jingling softly in her hand.
I’d been waiting for this moment, rehearsing what I’d say. But before I could make a move, another car pulled up to the curb in front of her house. A sleek black sedan. My jaw tightened as a guy stepped out, grinning like he owned the damn world.
Who the hell was this?
I watched as he waved at her, his confidence radiating in a way that set my teeth on edge. Aria hesitated for half a second before stepping toward him. My blood burned as I saw her smile-small, hesitant, but still a smile-as he opened the passenger door for her. She slid inside, and he walked around to the driver’s seat, climbing in with a cocky ease.
I didn’t even think. My body moved on autopilot, and before I knew it, I was in my car, gripping the wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. The engine roared to life, and I followed them, my mind spinning with possibilities. Who was he? Some classmate? A friend? Or something more?
The thought made my stomach churn.
They were heading toward the university-I knew that much. But I couldn’t wait until we got there. I couldn’t sit there, stewing in my own thoughts, watching this guy act like he had any right to be near her.
No. This ended now.
The road narrowed as we neared a quiet stretch just before campus. I gunned the engine, pulling ahead of them, and slammed on the brakes, forcing the other car to screech to a halt. My heart was pounding as I jumped out, slamming my door shut behind me.
“Daniel! What the hell are you doing?” Aria’s voice was sharp, cutting through the morning air as she scrambled out of the car. But I wasn’t looking at her. My focus was locked on him-the guy who dared to think he could sit beside her, laugh with her, touch her.
He stepped out, his hands raised in mock surrender, a smug grin tugging at his lips. “Whoa, man. What’s your problem?”
“My problem?” I stalked toward him, my fists already curling. “You think you can just pick her up like that? Like she’s some kind of prize for you to win?”
He frowned, confused. “Dude, chill. We’re just classmates-”
He didn’t get to finish. My fist connected with his jaw, the impact sending him stumbling back into the side of his car. Pain shot through my knuckles, but it was drowned out by the surge of satisfaction as he groaned, clutching his face.
“Daniel!” Aria’s voice was louder now, filled with a mix of shock and anger. She grabbed my arm, trying to pull me back, but I barely felt it. My blood was boiling, my vision tunneled on the guy who dared to get in my way.
“Stay away from her,” I growled, my voice low and dangerous. “She’s not some game for you to play. I don’t care what your intentions are-you’re done. Understand?”
He didn’t respond, his eyes wide with shock and fear as he nodded quickly.
“Daniel, stop it!” Aria tugged harder at my arm, her voice breaking. “You’re acting crazy!”
Her words finally broke through the haze of anger clouding my mind. I turned to her, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with disbelief. She wasn’t scared of him. She was scared of me.
“Get in the car,” I said, my voice rough but quieter now.
She shook her head, taking a step back. “No. You can’t just-”
“Get in the car, Aria,” I repeated, this time softer, pleading. “Please. I need to talk to you. Alone.”
She hesitated, her gaze flicking between me and the guy still slumped against his car. Finally, with a heavy sigh, she nodded. “Fine. But this doesn’t mean I’m okay with any of this.”
I didn’t care. I just needed her away from him.
I opened the passenger door for her, waiting until she climbed inside before slamming it shut and rounding the car. As I slid into the driver’s seat, I cast one last glare at the guy, who still hadn’t moved. Good. Maybe now he’d think twice before going near her again.
The drive to campus was tense, the silence between us thick and suffocating. I kept my eyes on the road, my grip on the steering wheel tight enough to make my fingers ache.
“You can’t just do stuff like that,” Aria said finally, her voice trembling with barely contained anger.
I glanced at her, my jaw tightening. “He’s using you, Aria. Guys like that don’t just drive girls to class for fun. He’s playing nice because he wants something from you.”
“You don’t know that,” she snapped. “And even if he was, it’s none of your business!”
“It is my business,” I shot back, my voice rising. “Because I care about you. Because I can’t stand the thought of someone like him taking advantage of you.”
She laughed bitterly, shaking her head. “You don’t get to decide who’s good enough to be around me, Daniel. You don’t get to control me.”
Her words stung, but I didn’t back down. “I’m not trying to control you. I’m trying to protect you.”
“From what? From some imaginary threat you made up in your head?”
I slammed on the brakes as we reached the parking lot, the sudden stop making her lurch forward in her seat. I turned to her, my eyes burning with frustration. “From getting hurt. From trusting the wrong people. From making a mistake you can’t take back.”
She stared at me, her chest rising and falling as she struggled to form a response. But before she could say anything, I shook my head, exhaling sharply.
“You don’t get it,” I said quietly, my voice tinged with resignation. “And maybe you never will.”
Without another word, I got out of the car, slamming the door behind me.
Because as much as I wanted to protect her, I couldn’t force her to let me.