A few seconds passed. Then half hour. Then a full hour. We remained in silence, the only sound was the occasional disgruntled sigh that left Devon's mouth as he fought to kick the covers off himself.
Eventually, I felt sorry for him. Here he was, prone, and I was basking in it. I got up and yanked the blanket off the bed, folding it and placing it on the seat I was once sitting on. Devon watched me with a shocked expression. He opened his mouth to speak but quickly shut it.
"The word you're looking for, is thanks." I deadpanned, walking around the room and surveying the posters. They were your average medical posters, "got the flu?" And "if your pain lasts, act fast." I giggled at them as I read them.
All the while, Devon was watching me. His usual unreadable expression on his face again, I decided to give it a name. It's the best fitting one I could come up with, "Buttmucher". He was wearing his Buttmuncher expression right now.
"What did you just call me?" He asked, slightly amused.
Did I say that out loud?
I stammered for a moment, "I didn't call you anything." My childish retort earned a strained laugh.
"Buttmuncher?" He repeated, "I'm certain that isn't an illness.".
"Venereal disease?" I tried to save myself, however, it didn't work.
"Buttmuncher disease, sexually transmitted?" He reasoned, I watched him think on it for a moment, "then again... it fits." I laughed, hard.
Devon just watched me with amused eyes, but a downturned mouth. Does this guy not smile? Ever?
"So..." I began, "When was I going to find out that everyone I made friends with recently was part of you gang?" Devon averted his eyes and trained them onto a spot behind me.
"You weren't." He said simply, "although, I would've found out about Isaac one way or another." He shrugged, a flash of pain registering on his sunken face.
"But I still saw you at the mall, you still helped me, wouldn't that ha-" I was getting frustrated, my voice deepening with every word. I calmed myself down and took a deep breath, "Sorry." I said quietly.
"Don't be." Devon blurted.
The room fell silent, neither of us making a move to speak. I looked at him carefully, noticed his dark circles under his eyes, the paleness of his skin. His breathing was still shallow, and I hadn't noticed. Instead, I'd pursued him to talk. I felt bad, the guilt slowly falling over me.
Then I remembered, even when he was hanging- virtually lifeless- between two men who had severely injured him. He swore his protection to a girl he had known all but 48 hours. A single tear fell down my face as I recalled his words...
"Aria- she needs help. She needs protecting, she needs my protection from you.""Aria?" Devon said slowly, "Everything okay?" I looked at him and laughed, even when he is prone on a hospital bed, he is asking if I'm okay. Devon frowned at my laughter and lay back.
"Protection." I mused, "You really want to protect me from Isaac?" I asked.
He sucked in a breath before looking towards me, "Of course I do." He said calmly, "I told him so." Devon shifted slightly, "and I am promising you." My mouth quirked up at the sides, "I always keep my promises." A small smile made its way onto his face as we stared.
I was about to say something when Harrison burst through the door- I wasn't sure what I was going to say... but I would've thought of something- Devon shot his head up and looked to Harrison, any signs of kindness had long gone.
YOU ARE READING
The Dark (DEVON) // ✔️ // [NEWADULT]
RomanceMoving to a new city was supposed to be a fresh start for Aria Davidson and her mother - but it was far from it. Gangs, rivalry, murder, bloodlust and love. Everything all in one. Will the secrets that are being unravelled undo her? Or can she...