↳ 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐑 ー 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐘

𝐋𝐗𝐗𝐈𝐗 ー 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞

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Hushed voices can be heard from the kitchen. The couple approach with the younger girl fidgeting along the way. Bright eyes flicker between her mother and uncle. She clears her throat.

Grayson retracts his hands from either side of Sierra, both of them folding their arms. Hope scratches the back of her head.

"I need to tell you both something. But before I do, I want it known that I'm completely fine. As you can see I'm good, I'm okay."

Sierra narrows her eyes. "This isn't a great start."

Rosa squeezes her hand. Hope takes a breath. "Yesterday a man followed me."

"What?" her mother grits.

"Like I said, I'm fine. Nothing happened. Rosa got to me in time. Wait that sounded badー I didn't mean it like that. I meant... I don'tー help."

"I was close by anyway," Rosa interjects. "It seemed like he didn't want me there. I could tell he had an earpiece but I don't know who he was talking to. I don't think he wanted me because he left shortly after I showed up."

"That doesn't sound much better," Hope whispers.

"I'm saying he just wanted yoーI see what you mean, that sounds much worse."

"Nothing happened?" Sierra clarifies.

"Nothing."

"I could only read his lips for part of it. He told the other person the girl is here. Everything else was too difficult to tell."

"What did he look like?"

"I got a photo." Hope unlocks her phone and pulls up her camera roll, selecting the photo.

"Wonderful. He looks like every ordinary male," Grayson comments.

"He didn't act like one," Rosa reveals. "He didn't care about making a scene or looking suspicious. He'd be easy to spot even if you didn't have a photo of him."

Nails dig into her palms the longer Sierra surveys the image. Grayson's hand finds her upper back which is exposed thanks to her shirt. The skin on skin briefly frees her from her own mind.

"Send it to me. Until I find out who he is I need you both to stay here or at least stay at Diego's."

"We'll be here." Hope nods.

"My dad might be on the way... I mentioned it to him on our way over and he's pretty mad."

"He should be," Grayson replies.

"Your dad isn't awake yet." Sierra grabs her keys.

"He might be mad too." Grayson shrugs.

"Wait why?"

"My fault this time." He closes the door behind them.

"Maybe we should've stayed at mine," says Rosa.

"I'll deal with it. My dad I can handle." Hope sighs and melts into her embrace.