Temptation

Six.

(( Dorian's POV))

My face hurts.

I can already feel the bruise forming with the force my mother had slapped me with, and as I race down the block towards home I know it will only get worse from here on out. And I'm pretty sure the boy, Derrick, saw it or at least heard it.

I'll have to tell him to keep his mouth shut. My breath is coming in gasps now and my eyes are watery. I'm so far from home and I know it'll take me another couple hours to walk there. It's already around five. I stop and look up at the grey clouds in the sky where lightning shines in the distance followed by a deep rumble of thunder. Great. Just fucking fantastic. I look down at my clothing and curse myself. I'm still dressed like a skank. Maybe at least this way someone will pick me up off the corner. Yeah. Right.

I walk down the streets, and I won't lie, I have absolutely no clue where I'm walking. Straight. I'll just go until I find dads house.

A drop of water lands on my forehead, slithers its way down to my chin and drips off. Another drop repeats the pattern and before I know it rain is pouring.

Good thing I wore no makeup.

My clothes are plastered to my skin, and goosebumps erupt on all my exposed flesh. Which, in case you didn't know, is a lot. I push my bangs out of my eyes and keep walking. I can't stop now. Going back would be worse than spending the night in this rain. Wouldn't it?

I'm beginning to wonder as thunder lights up the sky, which is now black. How did it get dark so quickly? I look to my left and watch all the cars pass. So many. And here I am, walking in the fucking rain. Does nobody have any decency? Probably not with the purple hand print across my face. A sleek silver Volvo pulls up to the curb beside me and the window rolls down to reveal two guys in the car. Driving is Derrick. In the passenger seat must be the other brother.

"Dorian," Derrick pleads through his brothers window. I shake my head and look forward. One foot in front of the other. Come on, Dorian. It's not that cold. My teeth are chattering. Just a slight chill, no big deal. I shove my hands in the pockets of my whore shorts and continue on my way.

"Um, Dorian, right? I'm Rhys, the younger brother. Will you please get in the car?" I look over at the boy. He's about seventeen, my age. I tilt my head to one side.

"No." I say, water dripping off me in waves. Derrick creeps slowly down the block beside me, patience radiating off him. I realize that I can't feel the bruise, so I reach up and touch my face. Oh shit, it's there all right. I flinch and drop my hand. Rhys blinks and narrows his eyes. I can see Derrick's jaw clench.

"I'm not going back there, so you can leave me alone!" I shout at them. Derrick slams on the breaks and climbs out, slamming the door behind him. Is he going to man handle me into the car? That's just mortifying. I wait for the man handling, but he just stands in front of me.

"I saw." Is all he says. I grit my teeth. "Nothing happened," I bite out. Derrick leans in towards me, "I would have said the same thing." He says quietly in that deep, husky voice. I can feel worry radiating off him and he crushes me to his chest. I lay my forehead against it and listen to his steady heartbeat. My tears are mixed with the rain.