Caught (completed) - brance

2

The pain from my cuts and bruises was quick to set in as I woke up the next morning. Thankfully it was Saturday, so I didn't have to worry about having to deal with it at school. I reached over to my nightstand, grabbing my phone which had been charging overnight. (If u didn't read the desc this is a modern au. I don't usually like doing these, but I'm trying it out ig)

I had a few notifications; mostly from my friends talking to each other in the group chat, but two unusual ones from Instagram;

vhopp13 liked your post
vhopp13 started following you

I froze in place. It couldn't be? It shouldn't be!? I clicked on the profile, and sure enough, it was Vance. He had only like 5 followers, and he only followed three people, so I wondered how he found my account? When I checked his followers I noticed we had one mutual connection, but did he really find my account through Robin Arellano? It could happen, I guess. Oddly enough—yet also not really surprising—he only had one post. It was a picture of him and Robin at some park.

When I went to see what post of mine that he liked, I felt a wave of embarrassment. It was an old post which was taken when I was 12 and Amy was 2. In the photo we had been trying to bake a cake for our mom's birthday, but we were both covered in batter and I was on the verge of tears in the photo. At the time when I had made the account my mom had begged for me to post that, and of course I listened to her.

I sighed, setting my phone to the side for a moment to collect my thoughts. As I went back to Instagram I hesitantly followed Vance back, hoping nobody would notice. Obviously Vance would notice, but I hoped that—like—my mom wouldn't notice. And that was it—for now.

I exited out of insta and went to messages, where my friends were spamming the gc about going to bowling this weekend. Everyone agreed, except for me, but I did soon text in agreement that I would try to go. Though, thats when Robin requested if he could invite Vance. Why is everything so—vance-y lately? I thought to myself as I bit my cheek.

I'm fine with it, i texted.

that'd be okay I guess, Finn texted soon after me. I knew he wasn't a fan of Vance, most people weren't. He was actually one of the many who feared Vance. But like...he deeply feared Vance.

So did Billy, who texted, just make sure he isn't a dick to anyone. He wasn't wrong to texted that. Vance was known to be an asshole and violent and just overall a bad person. Though, he did help me out in that fight yesterday. Robin assured everyone that he'd make sure Vance behaved, and that was that.

I was taking a ride on my bike through the town. I was getting pretty bored and my phone was at home charging. Tonight wasn't the night we got to go bowling, that was Sunday night, but tonight I had to babysit Amy and Finney's little sister Gwen. Gwen was a little older than Amy, Amy being 5 and Gwen was 8. Gwen was nice to Amy though, and she looked out for Amy at school.

I came to a stop at the corner of the road that lead towards my school. The school was pretty far away from my house, and pretty near the direction of Denver. I decided that was the furthest I should go today. Someday I'd go past there, but lately there had been reports of a some creeps and a kidnapping of a young boy in Denver. I sure didn't want to be kidnapped. And I know my parents would probably be pissed if I went too far.

I turned my bike around and began peddling back the same way I had come from. While I was peddling I passed by Billy. He was doing the evening paper, a cup of coffee in his little D.I.Y cup holder. He had made one last summer since he needed water for his afternoon rides. "Hey, Bruce," yelled Billy from across the street.

I waved at him, giving him a small smile. Billy looked both ways, like all of us kids had been taught from a young age, before he crossed the street. "Out doin' the evening paper?" I asked, though I could see the papers in his basket right in front of me.

"Mhm!" Billy answered with a simple grin on his face. "You taking a ride 'round town?"

I nodded my head, a simple smile on face. Though, the curiosity of what he thought about Vance being at bowling tomorrow night did cross my mind in that. Was he uncomfortable with it like Finn was? "So..what do you think of Vance being at bowling tomorrow?"

Billy bit his cheek as he stared at me. It wasn't a stare like 'why did you just ask me that?', it was more of a thinking stare. As if he was contemplating on if he should answer my question. "I think it's gonna be awkward, if that's what you mean," he muttered out, looking away from me.

"I do too," I assured him, a small smile on my face. He nodded his head, a deep breath escaping his lips. For a second I contemplated telling him about Vance adding me on Insta, but I kept quiet. He'd probably figure it out himself anyways. I looked out to the sunset, deciding this is where we needed to end our conversation. "I've gotta get home," I told him.

Billy looked at his phone, nodding his head in agreement. "I'll see you later, man," he grinned, patting my shoulder. He said by to me as he began to pedal away.

I watched him for a moment before he turned into some neighbourhood. I turned away, starting to bike back in the direction I was heading.

When I got home Finney was on my porch with Gwen as they spoke to Amy at the door. Amy glanced behind them at me, giving me a 'finally' look, which was followed up with a, "took you long enough."

I just grinned as I set my bike against the side of my house like always. "Have mom and dad already left for their trip?" I asked. Our mom and dad had to take a trip up to our grandparents house because they moving out.

Amy nodded her head, "they left right as Finn and Gwen got here." I nodded my head, relieved that she wasn't just left alone. I know mom and dad would've killed me for leaving a five year old home alone.

For an hour or two I sat at the kitchen island talking with Finn as our sisters played upstairs in Amy's room. Finn was still in 8th grade, and I'm a freshman. We met during some baseball game last year, which we were on opposing teams. Even though we were on different teams we still managed to become pretty good friends.

"So...I know you said you were fine with it," Finn started, trailing off into an awkward few seconds of silence. I sat there, waiting for him to start talking again. He looked unsure, a little uncomfortable even. I nodded my head at him, trying to let him know he can keep talking. "Are you really okay with Vance being there tomorrow night?" He suddenly blurted out, not a breath in between his words.

I sighed, glancing away from him. "I'm fine with it, honestly," I shrugged my shoulders, still avoiding eye contact. There was a level of uncertainness in my voice, and I knew Finney could tell. "It'll just be a little weird, but I'm sure it'll be fine."

Finney let out a quiet sighed, letting his head drop. "I'm just worried, Bruce," he mumbled out, lifting his head slightly to look at me. I nodded, understanding how he was feeling. I was worried too, but I didn't really want to admit it. "What if he picks on one of us? What if he gets angry and hits someone?" He started to question 'what if this', 'what if that's, and I just listened.

After a while he got quiet, and I put my hand atop his. "Finney, it's going to be okay," I told him in a calming tone. "Robin will always stick up for you." He nodded, but he still wore an anxious frown. "Remember when Robin punched me for laughin' at how you're not the best batter?" I reminded him, hoping to cheer him up.

Finney cracked a smile as a stifled laugh escaped him. "Or that time he yelled at Billy for hitting me with a newspaper one morning?" He laughed, looking at me.

I laughed as well, smiling wide. "See? You're—like—his number one priority in life. He loves you," I assured Finn, who nodded with a smile.