𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐒 𝐌𝐄

─ ❝ act xii ❞

⎡ act xii - decay ⎦

┊❝ I like you crying, that's all ❞┊

── WALKING out of art with Sawyer, listening quietly as he chatted away, something she was more than comfortable with, she found it strange how she so suddenly was able to find a friend just because of a partner project. Well, he wasn't technically a friend yet, but they were on friendly terms, so she was hoping that perhaps they could move on to that stage. She hoped that it would ease the lonely ache that resounded so deeply in her chest.

"Hey, Sawyer!" A feminine voice soon called out, snapping (Y/N) from her thoughts.

Sawyer's expression lit up.

(Y/N) followed his gaze.

Immediately, her eyes widened upon seeing the girl whom had helped her out only a few nights ago, recognizing her name as Shariah. Apparently, Shariah was just as surprised to see her since she stopped in her tracks when meeting her eyes.

"Hey... you're that girl... (Y/N)," Shariah blinked, obviously confused. "Wait, you go here?"

(Y/N) gave a slow nod.

"You two know each other?" Sawyer raised a brow, seemingly puzzled as to how his friend knew someone she had never mentioned to meeting. "When did that happen?"

"This past weekend," Shariah blinked. "I was just out, and she—" She cut herself off when seeing the flash of desperation and a type of pleading cross (Y/N)'s gaze, that type of look being displayed only when someone eminently didn't want something shared, instead exclaiming, "...and she was getting picked on by a cashier for having a declined card that she didn't know about, so I stepped in to help her. That's all."

Shariah's smile softened.

(Y/N) couldn't help but feel relief, her eyes flooding with the reflection of gratitude.

"Hm," Sawyer hummed as he watched Shariah fiddle with her bracelets before smirking as he slid his hands into his pockets. "Always a saint. But, I'm glad. And, sorry that happened to you, (Y/N). A lot of people are jerks, but usually there's nothing we can do about them. Even less people step in to stop those people. It's good that Shariah helped you, and that you're okay. It would kinda suck if you weren't, since I wouldn't have been able to meet you." 

(Y/N)'s face warmed at that.

It was clear she also wasn't expecting such kind words as she awkwardly looked away, unsure of how to even reply to him.

"You're so cheesy," Shariah elbowed him jokingly in the ribs with a roll of her eyes. "Gross."

"Whatever," he shrugged.

"Hey, (Y/N), wanna eat lunch with us?" Shariah extended an invitation to the girl after teasing Swayer again for a few minutes, her dark eyes holding a hint of expectance. "If you don't already have plans. I think it would be nice to be able to hang out with you and... just get to know you more. You down for that?"

"Oh!" (Y/N) blinked in pleasant surprise. "No, I don't have any plans, so—"

"Hey...! (Y/N)," a sudden voice proclaimed, the familiarity of the brazen tone making her stiffen just as an arm was slung across her shoulders, slowly her gaze traveling upwards to meet Dylan's rather frigid honeyed gaze, Ian not too far behind him staring intently at Shariah and Sawyer with a dark undertone to his steely grey eyes, almost as if he were looking at the dirt underneath his shoes. "We were waiting for you in our usual place... I was very sad when you didn't show up..."

"You know these guys, (Y/N)?" Shariah questioned as she crossed her arms over her chest, obviously tense from the way she flicked her eyes back and forth between the two boys.

"Of course she does, Shariah!" Dylan chuckled in amusement as if she had said something funny.

"I'm sure (Y/N) can answer us herself," Sawyer narrowed his eyes at the boy.

"Hm?" Dylan's smile twitched. "Who're you?"

"Sawyer," he answered, a furrow to his brows that suggested he wasn't as at ease as he wanted others to believe, his gaze flicking down to (Y/N) in concern, something she appreciated with all her might. "You're Dylan, and the one behind you is Ian, right? Where's Carmen? I would've assumed she would be following behind you like a little puppy."

Dylan chuckled at that.

(Y/N) stayed tense, her lips parting.

Carmen?

Why bring her up?

"Wow, Shariah," Ian rolled his eyes with a scoff, leaning back on his feet with a temperament of absolute carefree abandon, a slight smirk rolling on his lips at the sight of both Shariah's and Sawyer's prominent glower. "Are you really using this guy as a shield to fight your battles? Over what? A falling out with your ex-girlfriend? As I recall, Carmen chose quite easily herself what she wanted. It's rather pathetic of you to bring up the past... are you still not over her? How sad."

"You're an asshole," Shariah spat, fury prominent in her dark gaze. "Why I never saw that before, I'll never understand. Why Carmen herself doesn't see that is also something I don't get. If anything, I just feel sorry for her for choosing to associate herself with people like you."

"Hah!" Dylan laughed, tightening his grip on (Y/N) to an insurmountable about. "What about people like me? I'm just... better."

Shariah's lips twisted into a scowl.

"(Y/N)," Sawyer stepped forward as if to grab her hand. "Let's go."

"She's not going anywhere," Dylan hummed in satisfaction as he practically forced (Y/N) away from Sawyer, standing in between them so he could look down at the other boy in a derogatory manner considering he was somehow taller than him who was already quite tall. "I suggest you back off. After all... she isn't leaving me."

With that, Dylan and Ian walked away with (Y/N) in between them, leaving Shariah and Sawyer standing there in stunned silence.

"Why..." (Y/N) whispered hoarsely, catching Dylan's and Ian's attention. "Why are you doing this?"

"Hm?" Dylan raised a brow. "Why am I doing this... to you, specifically?" He shook his head, his expression twisting in delight as he said, "You're not special, (Y/N). You remember that first guy you tried to save, and then Ryan, right? But why I'm doing this to you, though? I guess it's pretty simple, actually. I like you crying, that's all."

(Y/N) grit her teeth harshly.      

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To be continued...