Thomas Sangster

Their personal war began back in elementary school. First, it was erasers and pigtail pulling, then sarcasm and mean jokes. Mia and Thomas couldn't stand each other. To her, he was "Hey, you," "Jerk," but not Thomas.

That Friday night, all the rules fell apart. Mia had arrived for a meeting with some guys from her year, but quickly realized the situation had escalated. The jokes became raunchy, and someone grabbed her by the waist. Terror gripped her throat, and when fingers dug into her shoulder, she instinctively kicked out with her knee and ran.

"Hey, stop!" came a voice from behind her, and she quickened her steps, her heart pounding in her throat. Tears of fear clouded her vision, and the street became a blur.

Suddenly, a silhouette appeared in the streetlight—a tall guy in a dark jacket. It was Thomas. Mia rushed toward him, needing anyone, anything, to avoid being left alone with the hooligans.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, Thomas turned around, bracing for a jab, but he didn't have time. Mia flew into him and hugged him tightly, hiding from fear.

Thomas froze, his hands hanging in the air. He looked at her with bewilderment.

"Smith...?" he began, but Mia looked up, her face pale and her eyes full of panic.

“Thomas...” she barely said, and in that moment everything changed.