My Beautiful Boy ✔️

19

Leilana's name blows up my phone as I walk to school. Sighing, I quickly answer the call and press my phone to my ear. "Hey, Leilana." I say, willing my legs to walk faster up the hill towards college.

"Alayna!" Are you here yet?" She asked.

"I'm almost there." I tell her, and I hear her sigh into the receiver.

"Well, hurry up! I miss you already." She sighs, before saying goodbye and hanging up. I quickly stuff my phone into the pocket of my cargo pants. I huff and puff as I make my way up the treacherously steep hill.

Just as I'm about to turn the corner, someone crashes into me. I stumble back, the sun blazing my sight. "Sorry." I mumble, trying to step around them. But, the person steps to the side with me. I look up at them.

There's a deep scowl on his face and his dark eyes are boring into mine. I gulp.

"Can I help you?" I ask, trying to step away from him, but he throws his arm out, stopping me from walking ahead. Fear strikes me, and I try to run back, but the man grabs my arm, pushing me around the corner and out of sight. There's no one here to help me, I fear, and I'm not sure what to do.

"Help-" I try to yell, but his rough hands are over my mouth, squeezing my cheeks. Tears prick into my eyes, and I'm not sure what to do. What's going to happen to me? I'm scared and my body is shaking and lightning runs down my spine in fear.

"Be quiet." He grumbles, and I notice that he's bald. "Now, you're gonna do as you're told, okay?" He jerks his hand a little, and I nod my head, purely out of fear. I feel a tear slip down my cheek and land on his finger. He scowls at me.

"You tell that boyfriend of yours that if his father doesn't pay me, I'm coming for you, next. Not him." He grumbles, and my eyebrows furrowed in confusion. And, then, it clicked. Dawson. They've been watching us. If Dawson's dad doesn't pay what's owed, they'll hurt me. My heart skips a beat.

He lets go of me with a shove, and my back hits the wall behind me. As soon as he's not touching me, I'm wiping my mouth, trying to forget the feel of his callus hands on my skin. He smirks and walks away, turning the corner and disappearing.

I collapse against the wall, a hand on my chest as I try to come to terms with what the fuck just happened. More tears stream down my face, and I realise that I have to warn Dawson. I have to tell him that they threatened me.

Quickly, I grab my phone from my pocket and wipe away my tears. I bring up Dawson's number, pressing my phone to my ear and hoping that he answers.

"Hello?" He says, as soon as he answers. "Is everything okay?"

"Are you- are you home?" I ask him, running my hand through the top of my hair. "You're not at college, are you?" I asked him.

"No, not yet. I'm still at home. My first lesson isn't for another hour." He says, and I quickly hang up, turning the corner and rushing back down the hill. My muscles burn, but I need to get to Dawson's house as quickly as I can.

I reach his house in ten minutes. I'm hurriedly knocking on his door, running both hands through my hair and wiping underneath my eyes. Dawson answers after a few minutes, a confused look on his face. He steps out of the house, his gaze flickering all over my face.

"Are your parents home?" I ask.

"Yeah, but-" I don't let him finish his sentence before I'm taking his hand in mine and I'm dragging him out of the house. "Woah, what's wrong? Have you been crying?" He asks, but I ignore him, dragging him towards the park.

Dawson continues to ask questions, but I want to go somewhere that is public and has a lot of people there. When we finally reach the park, I don't have enough time to carry on walking before Dawson grabs my arm and pulls me back towards him.

"Can you just- can you just stop and tell me what the fuck is going on?" He asked, and I sigh, running my hand through my hair. My hands are on my face and Dawson stares at me like I'm going crazy. "Alayna?"

"The guy that your dad owes money to?" I look up at him, and Dawson slowly nods his head. "He threatened me. Said if you don't get him the money, I'll be-" My voice breaks. "I'll be next." I tell him, and Dawson's eyes widen in shock.

His mouth parts and he stares at me. "What... what do you mean?" He asked.

"Like, twenty minutes ago, some man stopped me and threatened me. He said that if you don't pay him, he'll... come for me." I repeat. Instantly, Dawson steps forward and engulfs me in his arms. He wraps his arms around my back and my face is buried into his chest. My own arms go around his waist as I'm squeezing him to me.

My body still shook from the encounter with the bald man, but it was oddly comforting being in Dawson's arms. "Did he hurt you?" Dawson mumbles into my hair, and I shake my head.

"No, he didn't. It was only a threat." I mumble, and I feel his fingers run through the bottom of my hair. I freeze at the intimate gesture, and Dawson slowly releases me. His hands are on my shoulders and his eyes flicker all across my face, lingering on my lips before lifting to my eyes.

"I'm sorry." He says, quietly. "It's all my fault, and he only threatened you because of me. Because you were seen with me-"

"No." I tell him, lifting my hand to rest on his. His gaze flickers to where our skin meets. "None of this is your fault, Dawson." I tell him, slowly stroking my thumb on his skin. His breath hitches as he stares at our conjoined hands.