Scarlett ❤️

Chapter 15

I manage to get out of sixth form the next day. I got a pass from my photography teacher to go out and do practical work. All my photos are from the same places, she wants me to 'branch out' and 'try a new angle'. That's part of the reason I find myself walking into the gym with my camera.

The other reason: I can't help but feel drawn to the place, to the guys. They all made me feel welcome there, comfortable, like real friends. I was starting to think I'd never have any more real friends.

There's also Noah; he's like a brother to me. I'm so happy he's back in my life and I want to hold on to that. Then there's Finn. I'm not really sure what we are. I figured he would be another brotherly figure, a friend. Something just feels different.

"Hey" speak of the devil.

"Hi" that weird feeling hits me head on and I suddenly feel kind of nervous. "would it be okay for me to shoot some photos in here?"

"Yeah, no problem"

"Just of some of the equipment, I won't get in the way" I'm too busy anxiously fiddling with my camera to notice he already answered.

"Scarlett... you can take all the photos you want" his smile makes this new feeling spread all over my body. God what is going on with me.

"Thanks" I return the smile, still fiddling with my camera when Finn walks back over to the guy he was training with before. I think his name was Caleb, he is the smallest out of the guys here, and I'm pretty sure he is the youngest too.

"Missing us already?" Austin steps in front of my camera while I'm getting photos of the empty gym equipment.

"What ya doin'?" Lucas leans on one of the benches that was also in my shot.

"Sorry did you need these?" I ask, assuming I'm in their way.

"Nope"
"You looked like you were in need of some models"
They both start posing and Austin removes his T-shirt before flexing his muscles.

"I don't usually include people in my photos" correction, I don't usually have anyone willing to be in my photos. "but I suppose it would be nice to try something new".

About one hundred photos later, Noah pulls me aside telling the two of them it's their turn to clean and throwing them a basket of cleaning supplies. That gets him a lot of grumbling from them both but he just laughs and continues guiding me to the seats on the opposite side of the gym.

"They would literally pose all day if you let them" he rolls his eyes as we both take a seat.

"I don't mind. Since Chloe left, Finn's sister, I don't really hang around with too many people... it's just nice to be around people who are so relaxed" I admit and Noah nods in response. "How long have you known these guys?".

"I've actually known Miller the longest, Finn. We had a few new guys come to the home, after you left, they were part of the group he got involved with" Finn had mentioned how he got here and why his family had left. "They knew I would be ageing out of the home soon and were trying to recruit me. Miller was just getting out then and offered me a place to stay, stopped me before I got involved."

"He told me that's what this place is" it sounded like he'd created a space to keep people out of trouble, give them a second chance to make the right decisions.

"Yeah, all the guys here are working on a second chance and we don't talk about our pasts much but we've definitely all bonded over our experiences and new found brotherhood". They did all seem really close and the gym is still pretty new so that haven't know each other that long. "Lucas and Austin were next. I had mentioned, vaguely, my new living arrangement to my social worker when she was signing me out of the system. She introduced me to Lucas who was another case of her's in a similar position. I offered him the same thing Miller had for me and he took it, reluctantly. There's a lot of trauma there but he won't let it show" I've noticed that he hides behind humour, sarcasm.

"I think we both know enough about that" I too am laughing off our own traumas now and Noah just laughs it off with me. "What about Austin?"

"It was around the same kind of time. Austin was running from some guys he'd upset and ran straight into Miller. He let him hide out in the gym and I guess he never really left" that made Noah laugh, and I could see him thinking back to that time. "He's a player, Austin, and he picked the wrong girl, upset a local gang leader. He won't admit it, but he was scared to go home; not for himself, he was scared of bringing that trouble to his families door."

"Something Finn would have understood" I guess and Noah nods.

"Jace" the guy I remember they described as 'antisocial', who kind of scares me, "he actually came to us. He said he'd heard of what Miller was creating here and that he knew a couple of guys from his local area that could really use this place" he nodded over to Joey and Theo who were messing around by the desk. "He had seen them struggling to keep out of a local gang and said he knew what that was like. He never explained his own past, and we never asked. After getting Joey and Theo here, we learnt that Caleb, who is Theo's little brother, had gotten tricked into doing small jobs for this gang. When these jobs were getting more intense, Theo offered to take his brother's place and as Theo's best friend, Joey tried to help him with the jobs and they got in over their heads."

"How did Jace end up staying here?" I hadn't seen him here today.

"Like I said, we didn't push him to talk to us. Miller put the offer out of a job and place to stay and after a few visits here, he took it. He doesn't trust easily, but he's a nice guy".

"and Ollie?" He really didn't strike me as the type to be involved in anything big.

"He was trying to protect his sister from a guy she was seeing. He did a lot of things he wasn't proud of to get her out of the relationship and made an enemy of the boyfriend and his brothers in the process. His sister went straight back to the guy so Ollie convinced his parents to send her to school in a different city. Austin said Ollie was an old friend in need of a place to stay."

It was nice to hear about how Finn had been responsible for this safe space and giving these really great guys the chances they deserved. I only wish his family could see it.

I almost didn't notice the time!

"Oh my god, I'm sorry. I'm late for work I'm going to have to go" I start grabbing my things from around the gym, shouting goodbye to each of the guys I pass on my way round.

"I'd walk with you but I've got a PT session in fifteen minutes" Noah tells me, but he's not looking at me, he was looking at Ollie and Austin behind me.

"I'm hungry" Austin announces, throwing an arm over my shoulders.

"I've got nothing better to do" Ollie shrugs, flashing his beautiful smile.

"Wait up, I'm coming" Finn announces, jogging across the room towards us.

I can't help but smile.