Blurry Desires

Delilah's POV

A sharp, rhythmic pounding echoed in Delilah's skull, pulsing with every beat of her heart. She groaned, rolling onto her side, but the movement only made the nausea worse. The scent of alcohol clung to her skin, mixed with something metallic- something that made her stomach clench. Slowly, she pried her eyes open.

The room was familiar- her dorm, the posters on the wall, the desk piled with books she hadn't touched in weeks. But something was off... Her hoodie was stained.

Delilah sat up abruptly, her breath coming faster now. The dark smudge on the sleeve, the faint rust-colored streak near the hem- was that... blood?

Her pulse roared in her ears. She threw the blanket off, eyes scanning herself for injuries, but there were none. No cuts. No bruises, except for a faint one on her shoulder. Then she saw her hands.

Knuckles raw, skin scraped. Like she had punched something- or someone. The breath caught in her throat.

What the hell had she done last night?

Fragments of memories surfaced. The party. Music so loud it vibrated through the floor. The press of bodies, the taste of vodka burning down her throat... And then-fear.

A shadowed corner. A voice she didn't recognize. A hand gripping her wrist too tightly... Her stomach lurched.

She didn't remember how she got home. Didn't remember how the night ended... But someone had to know.

Delilah shoved off the bed, ignoring the pounding in her skull as she grabbed the first clean hoodie she could find. Her phone sat on the nightstand, unread messages lighting up the screen, but she didn't check them. There was only one place to go for answers.

Theo's POV

The scent of coffee and freshly baked pastries filled the café, mingling with the soft hum of conversation. Theo sat near the window, stirring his untouched drink, his thoughts elsewhere... Last night hadn't gone the way he expected.

He had gone to the party like everyone else, planning to have a few drinks and unwind after practice. But the moment he saw Delilah Monroe across the room, he knew something was wrong.

She had been tense, her expression shifting between discomfort and something sharper-something close to panic... Then he saw the guy.

Theo didn't know his name, but he recognized the type. The way he cornered her, the way his hand lingered on her wrist even as she tried to pull away... He had moved without thinking. By the time he reached them, Delilah had already thrown the first punch... A damn good one, too.

If Theo hadn't stepped in, it would have gotten worse. She had been wild-eyed, adrenaline-fueled, ready to fight. He barely managed to pull her away before things spiraled further... Now, she was looking for answers... A movement at the door caught his attention... She was here.

Delilah walked in with her shoulders squared, jaw tight, scanning the café until her gaze locked onto him. He set his coffee down as she made her way over, her steps quick, determined.

She didn't sit.

"Tell me what happened last night."

Theo leaned back in his chair, studying her. She looked exhausted, dark circles beneath her eyes, tension coiled in her frame.

"You really don't remember?"

She shook her head. "Only flashes." A pause. Then, quieter, "Did I-did I hurt someone?"

His jaw tightened. "No."

Her shoulders sagged slightly, relief flickering across her face. But he wasn't finished.

"You almost did."

She went still.Theo watched the way her fingers curled into fists, how she exhaled sharply like she was bracing for something worse. He kept his voice calm, measured.

"You were in trouble, Delilah. And if I hadn't stopped you, things would have ended badly."

Silence stretched between them. The café noise faded, the weight of his words settling.

Slowly, she pulled out the chair across from him and sat down.

"Tell me everything."

Delilah's POV

The warmth of the café should have been comforting, but Delilah barely noticed it. Her pulse was too loud in her ears, her hands clenched tightly together in her lap.

She forced herself to meet Theo's gaze.

He had always been intense. Even on the ice, there was something focused, deliberate about the way he carried himself. Right now, that intensity was turned on her.

"The guy at the party," she said. "Who was he?"

Theo exhaled through his nose, fingers tapping against the side of his cup. "I don't know his name. But I know his type." He met her eyes, voice steady. "He had you backed into a corner. You looked ready to fight."

Her throat tightened.

"I don't remember him," she admitted. "Just... feeling trapped."

Theo nodded like that made sense. "You threw the first punch. He grabbed you, and you hit him again. Harder."

A sharp inhale. "And then?"

"I pulled you away." His expression darkened. "Before he could do anything worse."

The words sent a shiver down her spine.

She didn't want to ask, but she needed to know. "What do you mean by worse?"

Theo's jaw tensed. He hesitated for half a second before answering. "His hands weren't just on your wrist, Delilah."

Ice filled her veins.

The hoodie suddenly felt too tight, her breath shallow.

She pressed a hand to her forehead, trying to force air into her lungs. "I-"

"You're safe," Theo said, his voice softer now. "I got you out of there."

Delilah nodded, but the weight in her chest remained.

"I should have remembered," she whispered.

Theo studied her for a long moment. "Maybe forgetting is your brain's way of protecting you."

She swallowed hard. It didn't feel like protection. It felt like she had lost control of something vital.

After a beat, she straightened. "What about him? The guy?"

Theo's gaze darkened. "I don't think he'll be bothering you again."

Something about the way he said it sent a shiver down her spine.

She didn't press. Not yet.

Instead, she looked down at her hands. The bruised knuckles. The proof that, even if she had forgotten, her body had remembered enough to fight back.

For the first time since waking up, something inside her steadied.

"I owe you," she said finally, looking up at him.

Theo shook his head. "You don't."

Delilah exhaled, a wry smile tugging at the corner of her lips despite everything. "Well, I'm buying you a coffee anyway."

For a second, she thought he might argue. But then he leaned back, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes.

"Fine," he said. "But only if you tell me why you punch like a trained fighter."

Her lips parted in surprise.

Theo smirked. "Yeah. I noticed."

Delilah huffed a laugh, shaking her head. "That's a story for another time."

He didn't push. Instead, he let her have that small moment of normalcy, letting the conversation drift into something lighter. Delilah felt like she could breathe again... But deep down, she knew this wasn't over.