Escaping Maximoff

Real Love Baby

"You what!" Sam screamed, making the delivery guys turn around and give us dirty looks.

I instantly clamped a hand over his mouth, begging him to "shut the fuck up."

"Considering you've just told me you kissed the hottest person in our school, I think I have the right to be a little bit excited," he said after rolling his eyes at my choice of language. I scoffed and patted his arm; I hadn't expected any other reaction from him. Even I couldn't believe what I had done the day before. My actions seemed to be spurred by an 'in the moment' confidence that had appeared out of nowhere. I wasn't exactly the most self-assured person, so I had anticipated the boy to be pretty surprised when I told him what happened. "Y/n, you need to teach me your ways!"

I sighed. "Sam, I have no clue what I'm doing." He raised an eyebrow at me, a strand of fluffy blond hair falling in front of his eyes.

"Well, you're doing something right."

"I guess," I spoke softly, busying myself with organising the front counter, which had been cluttered by Avengers trading cards and Milka chocolate wrappers. Part of me was worried that Victoria would suddenly realise how out of my league she was and not want to see me anymore. I liked her too much, and I'd rather just be friends with her than not have her in my life at all.

"Hey, you're the most incredible person I know. If anyone is lucky, it's Victoria," Sam said, taking my fidgeting hands in his.

I rolled my eyes. "You don't need to lie."

"I'm not," he promised, his piercing blue eyes holding nothing but sincerity. A smile broke out on my face as he pulled me into a hug, his cherry cologne enveloping my senses.

After the delivery guys left, we didn't have much to do in the store. The peak shopping time had come and gone, prompting us to play one of our favourite games: who can catch the most skittles in their mouth. Unfortunately, we were both pretty useless, but at least we were evenly matched.

"If I get this, I win," Sam declared, rolling a red skittle between his fingers. I knew it was all over for him when he threw it in the air, watching it soar in the complete opposite direction. Sam dove off the counter in a desperate attempt to catch it, but it was too late. I had won.

"Loser," I snorted, tipping the remains of the packet into my mouth as the blond boy jumped up from the floor, his hair sticking out in various directions.

The bell rang.

Sam scrambled to hurdle over the counter and join me at the other side, grabbing my wrist in surprise when the group of men entered the small shop.

It was them.

"Sam, what to we do," I hissed, running a shaking hand through my hair.

His thumb rubbed over my skin gently, trying to calm my nerves. "Just relax."

I nodded, eyeing the men from afar, watching them slither through the aisles, hissing whispers reverberating around the small shop. My limbs turned to stone when two of them walked up to the counter, their movements slowed by their heavy gear and massive, sleek guns. Sam took initiative, standing in front of me to ring up their items. My eyes were glued to the taller of the two; his arms and legs were tree trunks, root-like veins twisting along each limb – a physical taunting of his strength. His cold eyes were pools of black, unfeeling and unwavering, creating an overall intimidating appearance. Above his heart was a symbol. In our closeness, I could finally see it clearly. It was a sword. A strange logo for a strange group of soldiers.

One tattooed arm handed Sam a bundle of notes, way more than a few protein bars and beer cans cost.

He winked at me, a sickening grin pulling at his thin lips. "Keep the change."

I held my breath as they left, my eyes glued to their guns, a weapon I had always hated. Men and guns were my least favourite combination; it reeked of trouble and fragile masculinity. When a man felt threatened, he'd have no problem using it, especially if that trouble was a powerful woman called Wanda Maximoff.

I grabbed my backpack and rushed over to the door, flipping the sign to say the store was closed. I turned to my best friend, his smooth voice capturing my attention. "I think it's time I met the Witch."