Fake Date, Real Fate-Chapter 103: Pulled from the Brink

Adrien had been surprisingly insistent. "A day off, Isabella. A full Saturday. No emails, no work calls, no thinking about deadlines. Just... rest."

He’d even given me a small, wrapped box containing a fancy bath bomb, neck massager and a fluffy pair of socks. "For maximum relaxation," he’d added with a rare, soft smile.

And I had tried.

I really had.

I’d slept in a bit, walked around in my pajamas longer than usual, and even contemplated using the bath bomb. But by mid-morning, the silence in the house felt... strange.

Too quiet.

My hands felt idle. Resting, apparently, was harder than working.

I finally dragged myself out of bed around ten, pulling on a comfortable pair of leggings and an oversized hoodie that may or may not belong to Adrien.

Halfway to the kitchen I heard rapid‑fire button mashing and the metallic clash of virtual swords.

"Leo?" I called. "I know you hear me, Game Goblin."

still no answer — just the triumphant ding of a level‑up.

I cleared my throat. No response.

I cleared it louder. Still nothing.

I walked over and stood directly in front of the screen.

"Hey!" he protested, pulling off his headphones. "I was in the middle of saving the world!"

"The world will have to wait," I said, hands on my hips. "Operation: Stock the Fridge is a go."

He blinked. "Huh?"

"Groceries, Leo. We’re out of milk, eggs, and that weird, green juice you seem to live on."

He immediately flopped back down dramatically. "Ugh, groceries? Why me?"

"Because," I said flatly, "you live here and eat the food. And because I said so."

"But... it’s Saturday," he whined, reaching for his headphones again. "And... boys aren’t supposed to go to markets. It’s like... against the code or something."

"What. Did. You. Just. Say?"

He swallowed, but for some reason, decided to repeat his crime. "I said... why must I follow you? Boys aren’t really... supposed to go to markets like that. It’s boring and not manly."

I took a slow step towards him. He seemed to sense the impending doom and scrambled to his feet, instantly towering over me.

See, that was the problem.

One minute he was a scrawny kid I could easily wrestle into submission, the next he’d shot up like a weed, all gangly limbs and surprising strength.

My eyes scanned the room. Aha! The sturdy armchair.

I marched over to it, hauling myself up onto the seat. Now we were almost eye-to-eye.

His eyes widened slightly. "Uh, Isabella...?"

Before he could react further, I lunged, my hands shooting out to grab his ears.

Not hard enough to actually hurt him, but firm enough to make him yelp.

"Have you forgotten," I said, keeping my voice level but laced with pure, unadulterated older-sister authority, giving his ears a tiny little tug, "that I am your older sister?" I tugged again, just a little. "Just because you’ve grown taller than me," tug, "doesn’t mean you should grow wings, Leo." I gave his ears one last, slightly longer pull, not enough to hurt, but enough to make him whine.

"Ow, Bella, okay, okay!" he yelped, swatting gently at my hands.

"Not until you’re out the door," I replied with a smile.

"You’re a monster! I can’t believe-!"

I grabbed the front of his t-shirt lightly and started directng him towards the door, already grabbing my keys and my phone. "Less complaining, more moving. You brought this upon yourself with your ridiculous ’not manly’ comments."

"Mercy!" he pleaded playfully, letting me drag him a few steps.

I released him with an innocent smile. "Good. Grab the tote."

He rubbed his ears, muttering about human‑rights violations, but snatched the big canvas bag off the hook.

"Remember," I warned, pointing at the bag’s seams, "no overfilling. You split my eco‑tote last time."

"That tomato avalanche was not on me," he protested, but followed me out the door, still barefoot.

"Shoes, genius."

He shuffled back inside a few steps, muttering something about cruel and unusual punishment, then reappeared moments later wearing a pair of beaten-up sneakers without bothering to tie them.

"Alright, let’s get this over with," he sighed dramatically, hoisting the tote bag onto his shoulder like a burden.

"That’s the spirit," I said dryly, locking the gate behind me.

We were walking casually toward the bus stop, sun warm on our backs and the grocery tote swinging between us when my phone rang in my hand.

I glanced at the screen.

Levi.

Levi? I hadn’t spoken to him in... ages. Not since... well.

"Hold on," I said to Leo, holding up a hand.

I answered the call, trying to sound casual. "Hey! Levi, wow, long time no hear. What’s up?"

"Hey, Isabella," his voice was a little distorted, maybe on a speaker? "Yeah, it has been. Listen, I just got back in town. Was travelling for a bit."

"Oh, welcome back!"

"Thanks. Are you busy? I was kinda hoping I could catch up. There’s... something I wanted to talk to you about." His tone was serious, maybe a little hesitant.

I was so focused on his words that I wasn’t paying full attention to where we were. We had stepped down from the pavement onto the edge of the sidewalk.

"Uh, well, I was just about to head to the market with Le—" I started, stepping slightly back to the curb, phone pressed to my ear. "Yeah, maybe, what did you—"

SCREEEEEEEEEECH!

A deafening horn blast ripped through the air, followed by the sickening squeal of tires.

In the split second my head snapped up, I looked up just in time to see a black car turning sharply into the narrow lane we were crossing. It was going way too fast for a place like this — way too fast, period.

I froze, phone dropping slightly from my ear. The world seemed to stop, the car rushing towards me like a black blur, tires screaming their protest against the asphalt.

There was no thought, just instinctual terror seizing my muscles.

Before I could even register the full horror of the near-miss, a strong force grabbed my arm and yanked me hard, pulling me back and away from the edge with desperate strength.

It was Leo.

I stumbled with the sudden, forceful pull, my feet tangling together. A sharp, searing pain shot up my left leg as I hit the ground hard.

I cried out, a strangled gasp escaping my lips as the pavement connected with my left knee and hip.

A wave of agony washed over me, hot and sharp. My breath hitched, and for a second, all I could hear was the ringing in my ears and the fading screech of the car tires as it sped away, leaving nothing but the echo of its recklessness.

"Bella! Oh my god, Bella, are you okay?" Leo was instantly kneeling beside me, his face pale, eyes wide with a mixture of shock and panic, looking from me to the empty street where the vehicle had been moments before.

I tried to push myself up, but another wave of pain hit me. My ankle... it felt wrong. Twisted. Hurt. Badly.

"Ah!" I gasped, clutching my left ankle. "Leo... my ankle..." I couldn’t put any weight on it. It pulsed with a throbbing ache that was rapidly getting worse.

Everything faded away, replaced by the throbbing fire in my leg and the lingering shock of how close I’d just come.

My day off had taken a very sharp, painful turn.

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