Paise's P.O.V
'Dance! Come on, dance for us,' Chad and his crew taunt.
I close my eyes, wishing I didn't exist and could somehow escape this torment. I should've known better than to storm out of the house after I had an argument with my mom. How could I have be so stupid not to know that Chad was always lurking behind the shadows?
One of the guys pushes me up against the brick wall behind me. He's light skinned and has blonde hair and bright green eyes, just like Chad. He's tall and quite good looking but I shouldn't be focusing on the thug's beauty while they all try to assault me.
He pulls himself closer to me so that his weed scented breath fans across my face. I feel dizzy just thinking about what might happen to me next. These guys are so unpredictable. How on earth am I going to escape this situation?
I try to free myself by wiggling around, but that only makes Blonde Guy push himself even closer against me. I squeeze my eyes shut and pray to somehow make it out of here in one piece, or at least with my dignity. Just as I'm about give up, someone interrupts my awkward situation.
'Leave her alone,' I hear a deep and familiar voice in front of me.
I turn my head slightly and see a guy standing a couple of meters ahead, clenching his fists tightly. His dark hair is luminous in the late evening sun and his clothes hug his lean but muscular body nicely. Even when he's meters away his perfect eyebrows and long eyelashes are prominent. I squint my eyes and look closer at the mysterious boy.
Landon?
A million questions instantly buzz around in my head. What's he doing here in the ghetto? Shouldn't he be in his perfect neighborhood living his perfect life in his perfect house? Why is he here, trying to protect me?
Chad turns his head when he hears the voice and narrows his eyes before erupting into a violent laugh. All the other boys join in. Landon's eyebrows knit closer together and he takes a few steps closer. Now I'm really confused.
'Touch her and you will fucking regret it,' he says menacingly. Chad stops laughing and looks at Landon with an angered expression.
'What's it to you, white boy?' He snarls and looks down distastefully at Landon; his designer clothes and expensive watch are probably worth more than his hustling family earns in a decade.
Landon ignores his crude remark and reaches for my arm.
'Not so fast,' Chad says, stepping in front of me.
He reveals a knife from his dirty sock and signals to his friends to back off. I'm grateful when Blonde Guy finally steps away from me. I've never been in such close proximity with someone else and it felt so strange to be pushed up against him.
I look between Landon and Chad. Landon didn't even flinch when he saw the massive butcher's knife. His eyes remain angry and show no sign of fear whatsoever.
Oh no. Someone's going to get hurt. My heart starts beating frantically. I know that I should be used to this, it's the ghetto so what should I expect? This sort of violence is habitual around here, but out of all the times my mother abused me, she never went as far as threatening me with a knife.
Chad lifts up the weapon and lunges towards Landon, but before it could slice his flesh he stops him with a powerful kick, aimed at his pretty face.
Chad falls to the ground, holding his face as blood trickles down from his nose and split lip. He groans and mumbles every swear word there is before rolling around in pain.
Two of Chad's guys pounce at Landon, but before they made contact, he swiftly jumps out of the way and they both land hard on the concrete. A small pool of blood starts circling around them. I take a closer look and one of them has a deep cut to his forehead and another has a massive graze to his jaw.
The remaining boys lift up their friends and start to drag them away to safety. Both their noses are busted and blood is just pouring out. Another dude lifts Chad up and takes him away, too.
Chad hurls insults at Landon but he just stands there, unfazed by all the commotion. His knuckles are white and his eyes are noticeably darker.
As they disappear around the corner, I stand near the wall and watch as Landon's chest heaves as he pants. He looks so fragile and distant even though he just took on several hoodlums. He looks gentle and confused; not the rude and mean Landon I'm used to.
Before I could process my emotions, I run towards him and fling my arms around his neck. He's taken aback by my sudden actions, but surprisingly hugs me back.
We stand there for a while, holding onto each other. I'm lost in his intoxicating and spicy scent and he's lost in his own world.
I'm brought back to reality when I'm being shoved away, hard.
'Don't touch me! What do you think you're doing?' He yells, realizing the position we were in.
I stumble back and fall on the concrete path, landing on my rear. Looks like old Landon is back from his very short vacation.
'Why did you help me?' I ask, ignoring him. I stand up and brush the rocks from my jeans.
He looks at me, confused before he gets angry again.
'Well did you want me to just stand there while you get molested by five guys?' Landon asks folding his arms across his chest.
'You didn't answer my question,' I retort back, looking into his complex grey eyes. He snorts and kicks some rocks off the path.
'A simple thank you would be nice,' he speaks sarcastically.
I look up at him incredulously. I know he did just save me from the hands of crooks, but he can't be entirely trusted, either.
'What?' Landon asks warily, reading my expression. I shake my head.
'It's just. Well... Out of all the times you hurt me you never said sorry, so how do you expect me to thank you so easily for the one decent thing you've done?' I question confidently, avoiding his gaze. I eventually look at him and he looks to the ground, ashamed I hope.
'Touché,' he mumbles, running his hand through his thick locks.
Touché? What about an apology?
We awkwardly stand there in silence, not knowing what to say or do next. Why was I even conversing with my bully?
'So what are you doing out here?' Landon asks, breaking the silence. He furrows his eyebrows in confusion.
'What are you doing out here?' I respond plainly. This earns a snicker from his direction.
'Stop answering my questions with questions!' He replies.
I scan his face. His soft eyes and curious expression imply that he genuinely wants to know the reason. I sigh heavily, deciding to cooperate. Two stubborn people won't get you anywhere.
'I had a fight with my mom so I decided to take a walk. What's it to you?' I confess, giving him the cold shoulder. Landon's eyes widen before he looks away.
'It's nothing. I guess we've both ended up here for the same reason then,' he says, looking distant again. What's up with this boy's mood swings?
I'm curious as to why Landon would storm out of his rich neighborhood and into the projects just because of an argument with his mom, but decide not to press the matter further. It's been a long day and both of us need space.
I have enough of just awkwardly standing with my enemy so I decide to leave. The conversation was heading nowhere and it's about time I got home- well sneak into my house through the window of my room to avoid being interrogated by Mom, but still.
I walk briskly past Landon, trying to ignore how amazing he smells, but only get as far as a few steps before he grabs my arm.
A weird tingly feeling rushes up my arm as his skin voluntarily makes contact with mine. I wonder if he felt that, too. By the look of the bored expression on his face, I guess not.
'What?' I ask, pushing him away. I've had enough of people touching me whenever they felt like it today. He releases his grip and the tingling sensation subsides.
'Uh, I'm lost,' he says ambiguously.
'And?' I reply, raising an eyebrow to show I didn't care.
'Well the least you can do is show me the way back to my house, or neighborhood,' He says angrily. Bipolar people, I swear.
'The least I can do? As far as I'm concerned I didn't ask for your help, so don't start thinking I owe you favors now, okay?' I retaliate angrily, taking a few steps closer.
His expression changes to a more softer one.
'Sorry.'
I look into his eyes, thinking about what he just said. What is he sorry for exactly? For being rude now or for the years of bullying-related depression I had to endure because of him?
I shake my head, forgetting about it. Why am I thinking about this after one encounter? This is a psycho, arrogant and malicious dickhead I'm talking about here. Of course he wouldn't be sorry for what he's done. He's never sorry.
'Okay,' I sigh. 'I'll show you to your house.'
Landon's face immediately lights up and he smiles gratefully at me. It's weird. That's the first time he's ever genuinely smiled at me, usually it's sarcastic or mocking.
He has a very nice smile. His grey eyes twinkle and very faint dimples appear on either side of his cheeks. His teeth are so white and straight, like the fake looking teeth you see on the posters at the dentist.
Everything about his appearance is undeniably perfect, but even with his charming features I'm not stupid enough to overlook someone's attitude because of how they look like. Beauty is found within, not at the surface. Skin sags and wrinkles appear, but inner beauty is everlasting.
I guide Landon away from the ghetto neighborhood, remembering to avoid dangerous alleyways where drug deals and other criminal activities go down.
We walk in silence. He seems to be in deep thought, and to be honest, I really have nothing to say to him anyway so it's best if I retain the peace.
'We're here,' I say as we arrive outside Landon's mansion. I still remembered where he lived from his party a few weeks ago, plus it's fairly close to Ashton's, too.
I cringe as I think about the party. It's pretty up there on my list of one of the worst days of my life.
'Oh,' Landon says, waking up from his daze.
I'm so curious to find out what he's thinking about. It seems like he always disappears someplace far away and is unaware of reality for a brief period. I'd give anything to be able to teleport into my own world and temporarily escape the drama associated with existing in a corrupt society.
I stand there, unsure of what to do next.
'You can come inside, if you like. To get a drink or something,' Landon politely suggests, digging his hands deep in his pockets. An intricate wave of presumably hope washes over his expression as he anticipates my answer.
I consider the offer, but shake my head. I only agreed to walk him home, nothing else.
I turn to walk back to my home, but I'm interrupted by the millionth time today.
'Paise?' I hear Landon's voice.
He's standing near his front door and has an unreadable expression painted on his face. I turn my head around to listen to what he has to say.
'Don't think that today changed anything. I still hate you, got it?'
I roll my eyes at him before heading back to the ghetto where I belong. I should've known.
Typical Landon.
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Again, I apologize for the lateness. I promise to try really hard to update daily again, sorry for leaving you guys hanging for so long!
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~peace