Carter
15.
I pulled up to my home, the drive, which seemed to have taken much longer than I would have liked, left my mind spinning and my eyes bleary with thought. With the person calling my phone every couple seconds, I figured that was the reason why.
When I finally picked up the phone, my heart began to pound in my chest at the thought of why Thomas could be calling. There was only one reason that made sense.
"I met her." His familiar voice said into the phone. The sound that was once a haunting memory, now just as real and familiar. His voice was steady and not what I had been expecting. Not drunk.
Although, when I realized Thomas's words, I sat up straighter with a sliver of anger. I didn't even have to ask to know who he was talking about.
"What did you do?" I asked, gripping the phone hard as if that would keep the bite out of my voice.
"Why do you think I did anything? All I did was talk to her."
"Thomas." My voice warned.
"She seems nice. And said you weren't terrible."
Immediately, I thought back to Hazel's conversation, the relief that I had felt in the fact that she didn't mind working for me. It's not that bad, she had said, but whoever she had been talking to had clearly thought the opposite.
Who wouldn't?
Thomas's words rung in my head, and couldn't help but snicker with the disbelief that filled me, the hand that tightened around my chest reminding me that she had ignited the same feeling in the span of only a few short weeks.
Usually, I waited until the evenings to eat because the anxiety stole my appetite most days, but today, there was no possible way I could've kept the surprise from my face when Hazel took notice.
"Stay away from Hazel." I said, a challenging tone in my voice.
Along with the surprise, I had felt the embarrassment, a feeling long since hidden and forgotten. Embarrassed that Hazel had even noticed.
"What happened, Carter?"
Thomas's voice reeled me from my thoughts, from a certain dark-eyed girl who made my head spin much too hard. Whatever it was she was doing to me, I didn't like it.
And now Thomas?
I didn't try so hard to forget the last eight years just so I could have it all thrown back into my face.
"You left," I snapped coldly. "That's what happened."
Thomas didn't say anything, but his sharp intake of breath told me he was still on the other end. It only made me angrier. I snapped before I could listen to his voice again, sure that I'd lose my mind.
"Don't think that you can just come back here and pretend that everything is fine, because it's not. I was doing just fine without you. I don't need you anymore."
I couldn't help but lower my voice on the last words, blinking back the sudden tears of disbelief and anger and fear—all of it a giant hand pressing on my chest, taunting and jeering for me to give in.
I was this close. Too close, in which I could feel my heart as it began to pound.
"Just don't hurt her," I heard Thomas tell me. "Whatever you do."
Before I could think to speak, or even think at all, I hung up the phone, my chest heaving.
"Like you hurt me?" I whispered to no one. "I could never."
She said you're not that terrible.
Those words sang in my head, but by the time the bitter cold air hit my cheeks, they were barely a whisper. For a moment, the cold was a haven, and was nearly enough to have me ducking back inside, but the reminder of my brother's voice was just enough to keep me moving. The panic that squeezed my chest that reminded me that this was better off.
It would do us all a favor.
My feet pounded hard against the pavement, my breath like white smoke against the night air. My lungs and my body screamed for me to stop, but my head was louder. It always would be.
There were suddenly voices not far off, nearly enough to catch me off guard. I couldn't have run very far, not with the familiar surroundings around me, but I didn't recognize the voices. The shouts of displeasure and taunting at whoever was the culprit.
That made me shake my head, suddenly angered that that had been enough to deter me, and felt the flood of anxiety as I began to pick up my pace. Just a robbery I wanted no part of.
Although, the shouts and the taunting seemed to grow louder, and just when I thought I might be in the clear, a voice called out to me.
"Hey! Is that Carter Wright?"
That made me slow my steps, turning to find two darkly clothed men making their way toward me. I shouldn't have been afraid, not with our height differences and their skinny, stick-figure-like bodies, but I couldn't help the pulse that began to pick up inside my chest.
They came toward me, closer now, to which had me taking a step back, afraid that if they came any closer, they would be able to make out the fear I hardly had the strength to hide. I wanted nothing more than to continue down the path I was headed, to put an end to the misery that this night only reminded me of.
I heard one of them chuckle. "What? Are you scared?"
"It is him," the other smirked. "Awe, look. The big bad Wright is afraid. What are you doing on this part of town? Shouldn't you be locked away in your mansion with all your maids and pretty women."
"Man, I wish I had that." Said the one with wide, full lips that felt more devilish than friendly.
"Too bad we ended up in prison." The other replied. He looked at me, a dark look crossing over his features that made my stomach churn, absentmindedly taking another step back. Could only pray that the dark hid my suddenly fearful gaze.
As it filled me, begging me to put the distance between us, movement to my left suddenly caught my attention. I hardly paid it mind, afraid to look away from the men whose laughter rung in my ears.
It was only when the sound of a gasp and the sound of a muffled cry filled the silent air that I forced my gaze away from the two men and toward the dark alley. I noticed the two struggling figures immediately, the shouting.
I could tell the one was female, pushed up against the wall as the man pickpocketed what could only have been a purse. When she struggled, he slapped her, the sound ringing through my ears.
"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.
For a moment, I just watched her hastily grab for her purse and its contents, but with shaky fingers and unsteady balance, she struggled to get each item into the bag.
When I crouched beside Hazel, her breath hitched with a quiet gasp, her eyes flying to mine when I began to pick up the fallen items. I didn't say anything, and willed myself not to look at her. One glance in Hazel's direction was enough to fill me with about a hundred unfamiliar feelings. Ones that made me dizzy and a little less angry.
"Thank you." Hazel said when I stood. I did look at her then, but her eyes were on the ground, a hand pressed to her cheek. She winced with pain and quickly pulled her hand back.
That made me frown ever so slightly, brows drawn in the anger for what that man had done to her.
As if able to feel my stare, Hazel glanced up at me, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of my face.
"I'm fine," she said, smiling a little. "It's just a bruise."
Her smile dropped with a second thought, her fingers tugging at her shirt. My heart clenched.
When Hazel turned to walk away, I followed her.
"Did you walk?" I asked. I had to know, the sudden fearful thought of Hazel getting hurt again filling my mind.
She nodded. "I don't live far from here."
I couldn't help but notice the dark look and the furrow in Hazel's brow when she said this. It made me wonder why she was even out here alone in the first place.
"You shouldn't be out here alone—especially at night."
Hazel nodded slowly. "I...I wasn't thinking. I should've..." Hazel shook her head in afterthought and found interest in the ground. It made me wonder if she was embarrassed—whatever she was thinking about. Images of those men taunting and touching her made me ball my hands into fists.
I winced from the stinging pain that shot through my palms, glancing down to find them covered in dried blood.
My heart jumped into my throat, suddenly thankful for the darkness that shielded me.
Let me walk you back." I said, pulling her gaze back to me. Dread filled me at the thought of Hazel noticing, but I felt it even more so at letting anything happen to Hazel. I didn't think I could leave her just yet.
I did my best to hide any trace of emotion from my face, any trace of the last few hours—as if I didn't care. I tried to remind myself that I didn't.
She shook her head, eyes meeting my face with a small, embarrassed smile.
"I don't want you to have to do that," Hazel replied. "I might be okay this time."
"No," I said, the word sounding harsher than I had intended. "Let me walk you back."
When Hazel nodded, I blew out a relieved breath and began to follow after her.
The air was thick and heavy between us, not because it was uncomfortable, but because I could tell Hazel was nervous. I couldn't miss how she kept glancing around us, fidgeting with her hands, the hem of her shirt. Her brow creased and worried.
I began to think it was because of me. Her cruel, heartless boss who who was walking silently next to her. It was no surprise that people were nervous around me, casting expectant glances and lingering looks, waiting for me to snap. Most of the time, I could ignore them, but more than anything, the stares bothered me.
"My apartment was broken into again." The anger inside me was quick to dissipate as Hazel said this.
Instead, I was filled with shock, and couldn't help myself but say,
"Again?"
We stopped moving, and I found myself scowling down at the ground. The bright lights from the billboards reflecting it were nearly blinding.
"I...I came home and the entire place was wrecked. It just doesn't make sense—I keep my apartment locked and I have all my keys..."
"I'm afraid to go back there." Hazel added quietly.
Silence fell between us as I mulled over her words, fumbling with my hands as I fought the panic that bubbled into my chest at the thought that entered my mind. A single, fleeting thought that didn't need much to make my heart pound.
I just prayed that I wasn't making a mistake as I found myself opening my mouth.
"Stay with me tonight."