CHAPTER FIVE – STRANGER

The darkness was settling in, and Stella couldn't help but attribute it to Murphy's Law. It was precisely what she had hoped wouldn't occur. Not that something was more likely to happen in the dark, but again, it was getting dark. From the first light of morning, Stella embraces the day with open arms. She revels in the vibrant hues of sunrise, and her energy thrives under the golden rays of the Sun. At night, she prefers to stay home. Her mom, on the other hand, is more of a night person. Unlike Stella, she draws her energy from the moon. Stella's father is happy with both of their personalities. He gets to hang out with her daughter all day and with her wife all night. So yeah, he's a happy man. And right now, Stella is far from happy.

"Musa walk with me. You're moving too fast."

Hearing her friend's worried voice Musa turned around to look at her, "Stell, are you scared?"

"No," even Stella couldn't believe herself, "Yes."

"It's okay we're leaving soon. As Fiona said, he's not dead. So I just have to know how he is?"

Stella nodded, "Interesting, you mentioned we only need to know if he's alive. But I believe seeing it for yourself would be better. I wouldn't want you to come here alone."

Musa started to laugh at Stella's words but she knew she had a point. She would've come here if she didn't saw it or hear it with her own eyes and ears. Rolling her eyes at herself she took Stella's hand and started to walk to the bikes.

"Hey, you two! Away from the bikes! What's your interest in here?"

Stella didn't know if this guy was a gentleman or a bull. Because he was kind of build big but the way he was talking and approaching the girls was careful. And 'what's your interest in here?' instead of 'what the hell do you want?' is a good point for him. Well done big guy, well done.

"Calm down we're not here to steal or to touch the bikes. Just wanted to ask something about someone."

The guy checked Stella from head to toe. "What?" he said.

"I think there was an accident with one of the bikers. We just wanted to know if he was doing okay."

The guy now checking on Musa, answered involuntarily "I don't know why I should give you this information but… Brandon is fine."

Stella furrowed her brows, "We were asking for Riven." Who the hell is this Brandon?

The guy that had unpleasant expression all of a sudden changed it to anger. "Are you one of the Andros?!" he was moving towards he girls with such quick and scary moves both girls forgot everything about self-defense and started to back away with the same speed the guy was doing.

"No!" both of the girls exclaimed. As Fiona mentioned, the guy must be thinking that the girls were here because the Andros racers sent them there.

"Then how do you know that Riven was there?!"

Stella's temper reached the high level and she started to scream at the big guy with the same anger and attitude, "How dare you to come upon us like this! We saw the area incident happened and his helmet was there! If you think that you are owning a big secret you are bloody wrong you big man! There were traces all around and the helmet," That fucking helmet, thought Stella to herself. "Was right in front of our faces! You clean what you do before you start screaming at the girls who are not even half of your size!"

Musa was speechless. And so was the big guy. Actually everyone was speechless. Stella can get very angry if someone crosses her boundaries.

"What is this noise?"

Stella turn her neck so quickly Musa thought she broke it. Her friends temper was wow. Good luck bikers!

Now it was Stella's turn to be speechless. What is this guy made of? He has a strong, athletic build. Stella wondered how many bikes he could carry with his broad shoulders. His tousled hair giving him a casual yet effortlessly handsome look. Stella had to close her eyes for a second to imagine how tall he looks next to her. She couldn't quite understand that, he's tall though. His eyes were a color close to emerald and those lips! What. The. Hell. She thought to herself. She shook herself without anyone realizing it and cleared her throat before she started to talk.

"It's me. I had to defend myself in front of the guy five size bigger than me because he doesn't know his manners."

Musa was still looking at Stella like she didn't see her coming there with her and was just noticing. But Stella didn't change her attitude at all and was looking at the big guy so she wouldn't have to look at the handsome one. Seriously, what was he made of?

Handsome took a step forward so now Stella had to face him instead. "You came all the way here, in his place, to accuse and scold him?"

'Okay now', Stella thought, 'I don't care how handsome you are, you don't get to talk to me like that.' While she was looking at the guy's face all her nerves dancing. The handsome guy was just staring at the girl in front of him dumbstrackted. It's a common thing for guys just to stare at Stella, she was pretty and everyone in town knows that. Well everyone who knows Stella knows that. But the look he was giving her, may have caused Stella's legs to shake a bit. His presence exuded an air of mystery and strength, his sharp features and intense gaze impossible to ignore. She couldn't deny the magnetic pull he had, and she felt a thrill of curiosity mingled with a hint of challenge. Intrigued, Stella locked eyes with him, refusing to back down from this unspoken exchange. She could sense the confidence in his stance, a trait she recognized all too well. This was a man who was used to being in control, just like her. Her grace and confidence were impossible to miss, and it was clear she was used to being the center of attention. Brandon couldn't deny the allure she exuded, but he was no stranger to catching the eye of strong-willed women. As their eyes locked, he couldn't help but be intrigued by the challenge he saw in her gaze. She met his stare with a determination that suggested she was no pushover, and he respected that. This was a woman who knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to go after it, a quality he could appreciate. A smirk played at the corner of his lips, intrigued to see where this encounter might lead. Stella mistook his smirk though.

"I'm so glad you found amusement in this situation but you know what? There's none!"

"Let them go Brandon, don't you see this one is crazy." Brandon turned his head towards the voice. He didn't like the comment Nabu had about this girl. She wasn't crazy at all, in fact something so powerful was coming on her way and Brandon didn't know if it was her scent, beauty or her aura. Nabu, usually quick with words, fell silent under Brandon's stern scrutiny. He recognized the look on Brandon's face, a look that said this was not a situation to be taken lightly.

"Did he just call me crazy?" Stella asked Musa but couldn't say anything more because Musa stopped her. "Stella, you just said to me we're not here to fight. Look what you're doing!"

Stella couldn't say anything to that. Musa was right. But she also had to protect herself!

"Fine. Just ask and we'll leave." She crossed her arms and was tapping her foot on the floor while waiting for Musa.

"We wanted to know if Riven is okay." Musa's voice came low again so Stella had to give her stern looks too.

"How do you know Riven? And how did you find out he had an accident?"

"That's what I was saying! They obviously are one of Andros!"

"No we're not!" exclaimed Stella, "And if you don't stop pointing that finger towards me I swear to God…" the big guy's anger sound made Stella stop talking but she didn't back away.

Brandon looked at big guy behind his shoulder and whatever he did made the guy take a few steps back. 'That's right, you back away!' even though Stella knew the guy wasn't scared of her she had to give herself some credits. Brandon turned to Stella again, looking at her eyes even though Musa was the one that asked the question.

"He's fine. He's resting." Turning his head slightly, he glanced at Stella. "Why are you so curious about him?"

Stella felt like this question was directed to her so she answered, "I'm not. My friend here is."

Brandon now turned to Musa, he didn't ask anything, just looked at her asking the same question he asked to Stella but silently. Musa felt her palms grow sweaty. While she tried to wipe them on her pants, she was also trying to find her voice to speak, "We used to talk. We don't anymore, but when I heard about the accident, I got worried."

Brandon squinted his eyes, searching the truth from the faces of the girls. "How did you hear about the accident?"

Stella thought maybe it's for the best if she speaks, Musa was starting to look at her like she could faint any time now. "We were going to school and our way to there was through the road that accident was."

"So you were the ones who called the cops?" asked Nabu.

"I'm so sorry if my human instincts kicked in and I did the right thing. I couldn't think straight." Stella's sarcasm took Nabu off guard, 'this girl can talk' was what he was thinking.

Brandon was watching Stella with amusement present in his eyes. He liked her style and personality already. 'I wonder what else you got princess.'

Stella didn't want to stay here anymore, they got what they needed and that was enough for the day! She needs to take a shower, read something while drinking coffee and sleep! Thank god it was Friday tomorrow so she doesn't have to wake up early. Their teacher was doing online classes because she was sick. Of course she doesn't want to rest, she's a mathematician. And this guy, Brandon, was giving her some deep stares. Her insides started to warm up. This feeling is new! So she had to get the hell out of this place.

"Musa, you heard them, Riven is doing just fine. We have to leave it's already dark and I don't like you driving in the dark."

Musa nodded her head, she was looking around for nothing. Riven wasn't here. This place is not his home so of course he's not here. Anyway, she can hate him forever now.

"Let's go then."

Brandon was watching them leave, so her name was Stella, that's what her friend called her. He had never seen her before, so she probably isn't from Gardenia High or Andros. She must be from Alfea. He didn't realize he was still standing there watching where the girls just walked out, there was no one there anymore. No Stella.

"Would it be too cliche if I say, that she's too good for you?"

"Yes." Brandon looked at Nabu, shutting him up one more time with his look only. He won't allow anyone to step in, in his life. Even if this person was Nabu, his big brother. Well, they're not brothers but their team is close enough to be called like that. Even if so, how could he just let this go? How is he supposed to feel like this again?

"But I don't care."