Megara finished her shift and was heading out when a hand grabbed her wrist, yanking her toward the garage. Instinctively, she reacted, twisting the attacker's arm and delivering a swift, precise strike.
"Ouch! That hurts!" Nathan groaned, doubling over.
Megara stared, stunned. Part of her yearned to comfort him, but she steeled herself. He'd humiliated her in front of his fiancée and their guests.
"What are you doing here, Nathan? I told you, we're done," she said, arms crossed, her eyes sharp.
Nathan straightened, wincing. "I'm sorry she did that, Megara, but you overreacted. You ruined our friendship."
Megara rolled her eyes. "So, you're not apologizing. You're blaming me? You're unbelievable." She pointed a finger at him. "This just proves you're not sorry, just sorry you were ignored."
"That's not true! I value our friendship. I don't understand why you're making such a big deal out of this," he said, reaching for her arm. She pulled away.
Megara's frown deepened. "A big deal? You watched your fiancée insult my pride, and did nothing. I thought... I thought you were different," she scoffed. "I loved you, Nathan. Not as a friend. As a man. And you proved I was wrong to trust you."
Nathan's eyes widened, a flicker of shock crossing his face. "I... I didn't know that's how you felt."
Megara chuckled, a bitter, disbelieving sound. "Of course you didn't. I never expected you to, since you weren't exactly carrying a torch for me in your heart, were you?"
She turned to leave, but Nathan grabbed her arm. Before he could speak, Hugo punched him, sending him sprawling.
Hugo smiled, rubbing his knuckles. "When a lady says no, she means no," he said, his voice cold. Nathan remained on the ground, tense and silent.
Megara was momentarily speechless, a whirlwind of shock and excitement warring within her. "What's he doing here?" she murmured, her eyes flicking between Hugo and the retreating figure of Nathan. "Is he here to... lecture me about what I said? I was just being honest." She finally met Hugo's gentle, questioning gaze. "Hugo, why are you here?"
A warm smile spread across Hugo's face, a flicker of satisfaction that she remembered his name. "I was on my way to the cafe," he explained, his voice laced with a hint of protective annoyance, "when I saw this... individual... dragging you out."
Nathan, still sprawled on the ground, looked up, his eyes darting between Megara and Hugo. "Megara, how do you know him? This is Hugo Arnold, the supermodel. Are you... friends?"
Megara's eyes narrowed, her gaze hardening as she looked down at Nathan's bruised face. "He's my school mate, Nathan. And get your mind out of the gutter. You know me better than that." She crossed her arms, a clear sign of her displeasure. "I attend Royal Von High now. And tell Brenda she can have Demetrius High all to herself, because I'm done with that place."
Hugo stepped forward, his expression turning cold. He leaned down, his voice a low, dangerous whisper. "Listen carefully, Nathan..." The rest of his words were lost to Megara, a low, menacing rumble that made Nathan's eyes widen in terror. Hugo straightened up, his tone hardening. "...And don't let me see you anywhere near her again."
Nathan scrambled to his feet, fear propelling him away. Megara watched him go, a mix of exasperation and quiet satisfaction settling over her, but a nagging curiosity gnawed at her. What had Hugo whispered to him? Whatever it was, it had clearly terrified Nathan more than any physical threat. She glanced at Hugo, a question lingering in her eyes.
Hugo returned, each stride a bold echo of his newfound confidence. Megara, however, was a whirlwind of unresolved questions, a persistent itch in her mind.
"What did you say to him?" she demanded, a mix of fury and sharp curiosity in her voice.
Hugo offered a dry laugh, his gaze steady. "Nothing to trouble you. Just...boy stuff. Rest assured, he won't bother you again." A small, reassuring smile flickered across his lips. "Where are you headed?"
Megara frowned, tension tightening her shoulders. "My shift's over. Why do you care? Are you Uriel's watchdog?"
Hugo closed the distance, his voice almost a whisper. "I came to see you. I'm Uriel's friend, not his errand boy."
"He bosses everyone around," Megara retorted, her eyes sharp. "People are just afraid to say it."
"That's his...quirk," Hugo conceded, running a hand through his hair. "He's got his issues, but he's a good guy. You're very observant."
Megara scoffed. "It's called perception. Uriel's a control freak."
"Enough about him," Hugo said, a sharper edge to his tone. He gestured towards the cafe. "I want to talk."
Megara's gaze was calculating, wary. "We can talk here. I'm tired, hungry, and I'm leaving. You have three seconds."
"Always this blunt?" Hugo asked, his eyes tracing her form.
"Always this arrogant?" she countered, her voice laced with steel. "I don't follow orders. Talk, or watch me walk."
Hugo, momentarily stunned, felt a flicker of Uriel's stubbornness in her. He composed himself. "My apologies. Please, inside the cafe. If I waste your time, you're free to leave." His voice, smooth and persuasive, softened Megara's resolve.
(Inside the cafe)
The cafe's serenity did little to ease Hugo's growing tension. His confidence waned, replaced by a nervous energy. His shyness, though almost endearing, was struggling to make an impact on Megara's guarded presence.
The air crackled with unspoken tension, a heavy silence that Megara met with practiced composure. Tobi's overly bright smile and pointed wink did little to ease the awkwardness. "What would you gentlemen like to order?" he chirped.
Hugo, his gaze steady, set aside the menu. "My usual: bonito and a tapioca pearl bubble tea." He turned to Megara, his tone smooth. "What about you, Megara? Anything you want, it's on me."
"Just water," she replied, her voice clipped. "I'll eat when I get home..." A sharp kick from Tobi under the table cut her off. "Hahahaha! She'll have the gingerbread latte, extra frosting!" he announced, his voice booming.
Megara shot him a venomous glare. Once Tobi was gone, Megara spoke, her voice soft. "Don't mind him. He's... enthusiastic."
"I'm here to talk to you," Hugo continued, his eyes fixed on hers.
Megara raised a brow, her gaze sweeping over him. "And what, exactly, do you want to talk about, 'tough boy'?" she asked, a sardonic smile playing on her lips.
Hugo sighed, a weariness creasing his brow. "I want us to be friends. Real friends."
"Friends?" she scoffed. "With a rich kid? And you seem to have forgotten I'm poor and brutally honest."
"I apologize for earlier," he said, his voice earnest. "I genuinely want to be your friend. I helped with Nathan, didn't I? I've been interested since the start."
Megara's expression remained unmoved. "I could have handled Nathan myself."
Tobi returned, bearing their orders. "Here you go, guys. Bubble tea and bonito. And for you, Megara, the extra-frosting latte." He leaned in, mouthing, "He wants to be friends. Nathan payback, rich friend. Don't be stupid."
Megara's eyes narrowed. "How did you...?" she mouthed back, glancing at Hugo.
"Lip reading and sign language, remember? Accept it, or coffee spit," Tobi warned, then flashed Hugo a fake smile and left.
Hugo, oblivious to the silent exchange, looked at Megara, his blue eyes intense. "Tobi's... energetic. So, can we be friends, Meggie?"
"Friends, no strings attached," she agreed, a small smile softening her features. "Tobi seems to like you. We'll see how it goes."
Hugo's face lit up, and he impulsively hugged her, causing a stir among the other patrons. "Eyes front, people!" he declared, silencing the room.