Edge of seventeen

Chapter 49

We hadn't planned on going anywhere special, just wanted to get out of the house for a bit and clear our heads. So we ended up taking a walk down one of those long, quiet streets lined with trees and old houses. It was nice. Peaceful. Exactly what I needed.

Elliot was walking beside me, his hands stuffed in his pockets, and I couldn't help but steal a glance at him every now and then. There was something about the way he looked tonight—relaxed, almost happy—that made me feel... I don't know, lighter, maybe. Like everything wasn't as fucked up as it seemed.

We'd been walking for a while, talking about nothing and everything, when a group of guys appeared on the sidewalk ahead of us. I didn't think much of it at first. Just some random dudes hanging out, whatever. But then I noticed the way they were looking at us. The way their eyes narrowed, their lips curled into sneers.

"Hey, faggots!" one of them yelled as we got closer, his voice dripping with hate. My stomach dropped, and I felt Elliot tense up beside me.

We kept walking, trying to ignore them, but they weren't having it.

"Where you going, huh? Got a little date night planned?" another one taunted, stepping into our path.

"Fuck off," Elliot muttered, trying to push past them, but one of the guys shoved him back.

"Look at these two," the first one sneered, eyeing us up and down. "Bet they're just dying to get each other's dicks in their mouths."

My blood started boiling. I've heard shit like this before, but it's different when it's aimed at you. When it's aimed at someone you care about.

And then the asshole just had to go there. "What are you doing with this ugly fucker anyway?" he sneered, looking at Elliot with disgust. "You could do better than this piece of shit."

Ugly? I almost laughed at the absurdity of it. Elliot was the exact fucking opposite of ugly. He was gorgeous, beautiful, handsome, hot—the list could go on and on. But before I could even process what was happening, one of the guys swung at me.

The punch landed squarely on my jaw, sending me stumbling back, pain exploding in my head. But before I could even react, Elliot was on him.

"Motherfucker!" Elliot growled, and the next thing I knew, he was beating the shit out of the guy who'd hit me. It was a blur of fists and curses, but Elliot didn't stop until the asshole was on the ground, groaning in pain.

The other guys took one look at their friend and decided they didn't want any of that, so they scattered, leaving us alone in the middle of the sidewalk.

"Jesus Christ," I muttered, rubbing my jaw and spitting out a bit of blood. "You didn't have to go that hard, man."

Elliot turned to me, breathing heavily, his fists still clenched. "You kidding me? That fucker deserved it." He looked me over, concern flashing in his eyes. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I nodded, still dazed. "I'm good."

We stood there for a moment, the adrenaline slowly wearing off, and then Elliot let out a breath, running a hand through his hair. "What a fucking night," he muttered, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

I couldn't help but chuckle, despite everything. "No shit."

We started walking again, this time in silence, both of us processing what had just happened. But then, out of nowhere, Elliot turned to me with that mischievous grin of his.

"You know," he said, his voice teasing, "if those dudes thought we were together, then it seems we make quite the couple."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop the smile that spread across my face. "You're fucking impossible, you know that?"

He just laughed, the sound light and carefree, and for a moment, it was like nothing had happened. Like it was just us, two friends, walking through the night, with nothing in the world that could touch us.

But as we headed back home, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed between us. Something that had been there all along, simmering just beneath the surface, was now out in the open, undeniable.

And for the first time, I wasn't sure if I was ready for what that meant.