Shattered

Carter (e)

"Don't mind Manny, it looks like he finally found someone to get his money from. Maybe we should go join him." I barely heard pouty-mouth's words when I fully turned around, the icy finger down my back urging me to forget about the girl.

Another muffled cry and I was moving toward the two figures.

Get away from her!" I shouted, willing my heart to slow as it pounded against my rib cage.

Both looked over, and to my horror and utter surprise, I realized who she was.

Hazel.

Quickly, I drew closer, grabbing hold of the man's shoulder to pull him off of Hazel, couldn't help but watch as his hand slid out from underneath her shirt. Not only that, Hazel's cheek was swollen and red from where the man had hit her.

With what I could make out, the guy didn't look much older than me. With a large white tee, jean jacket and saggy pants, I could tell he meant nothing good.

I could see him smirking at me, but my eyes didn't leave Hazel's face.

"Carter Wright to the rescue," he said with amusement. "Who knew?"

Gently, I grabbed hold of Hazel's arm, forcing the anger from my fingers as I steered her behind me when saggy pant's eyes fell on her.

"You really trust him?" He asked, eyes gleaming in the light when he moved toward us. Panic seized me when he did, the breath in my lungs suddenly scarce.

Hazel's breath hitched, her trembling fingers taking hold of my arm, trusting me to keep her safe. The feeling calmed me, and found myself saying, a sliver of confidence filling me.

"Get away from her."

I held my ground, but I was certain that it had something to do with being frozen in place.

"All I wanted was some money," saggy pants snickered, his eyes gleaming. He stopped moving to glance down at the ground, to the strewn contents of a purse. "But she wouldn't give me what I wanted."

When he moved to bend down to pick up some of the items, I took a step closer, my voice stopping him.

"Don't you dare." I said coldly. Despite everything inside of me screaming to run the opposite direction, I took another step toward saggy pants.

He looked at me, the smile falling from his face.

"Why do you have to ruin all the fun?" He said. His eyes didn't leave my face when he brought himself back to his feet, and I watched, fighting the emotion from my face as he stepped around us.

With one last, lingering look, the sound of his footsteps rang through the silence, and it wasn't long before saggy pants was gone. The others were, too, I realized. A breath of relief filled my lungs, but it was gone the moment I remembered Hazel was still behind me.

When I turned, she was already looking at me, had backed away several inches. Although, it wasn't for me, but her trembling frame and tear-stained cheeks glistening under the lights. Unlike me, Hazel didn't hide her embarrassment, and I felt my gaze soften.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"I-I should go."  She said carefully, quietly. Hazel tentatively stepped toward me as her dark eyes fell to the pavement.