Crossed Paths

You'll Be Okay

Nalia's POV

I actually made it through the entire school day without leaving halfway through. It sucked, but I did it and I feel slightly accomplished. Maybe I'll make it after all.

Too soon to assume, though.

I couldn't remember my bus number so I just decided to walk home like usual. It's easier that way, anyways. No one will try and talk to me. And for some reason, today, it didn't bother me as much.

'Maybe it was because of Logan?' I asked myself.

Even though, when I woke up this morning, he was gone, I still couldn't help to think that he was still there in my room last night. That sounds so creepy, but I feel different. I feel weird. I feel giddy. I feel kinda happy.

The cold weather wasn't that bad today so walking home was bearable. I had on a pair of warm black leggings and two jackets with a scarf and gloves. I held the straps to my backpack and continued my walk.

I was about two blocks from my aunts house when I heard a familiar voice. I couldn't make out what the voice was yelling about until I got closer. I started towards the group of voices around the block.

A group of I think four boys were shouting over by the park and I couldn't see why. When I got closer I saw that there were five boys and the fifth one was Carson.

"Don't fuckîng touch me!" Carson yelled back at the other boy. I started to run towards the park.

I watched as one bystander pushed Carson towards the boy that, what looked like, Carson was trying to avoid.

"Hey!" I yelled from a distance. There was a good 100 meters separating me from helping poor Carson who was now being pushed and shoved around by all four of the boys.

"Get up you little shît!" The older boy kicked Carson in the side and I immediately started running towards them faster.

"Stop it! Don't touch him!!" I kept yelling, but they were slapping and punching him while he was trying to get back up and attempting to dodge the hands he could.

I reached Carson and I started pulling the boys away from him.

"Get your hands off my brother!" I heard a stern voice yell. I looked over and Logan was running towards us from across the park. The boys all started to book it down the street.

"That's right, you better get outta here!!" Logan reached for Carson and brought him to his feet. I stood up from kneeling down and brushed the dust off of Carson's jacket.

"Stop." Logan pushed my arm away and put both his hands on both of Carson's shoulders, "What was that? What the helł were you doing?! You're supposed to stay out of trouble! Not get in fights!"

"I-I know... I just... I don't know what I was doing..." Carson tried looking Logan in the eyes, but he looked back down at the ground.

"Why would you pick fights with the older kids, Carson?! Huh?" Logan shook Carson's shoulders.

"Hey, come on! He literally just got beat up and you want to yell at HIM?" I tried defending Carson.

"This doesn't concern you. I'm talking to my brother, not you." Logan said harshly. I tried not to get too offended since it was in the heat of the moment, but that hit me pretty hard.

"Woah, from what I recall, I'm the one that tried to help so ya, this does concern me!" I looked over at Carson and he was still looking down at the ground. I didn't care what Logan thought, I wanted to know if Carson was okay.

"Are you okay, Carson?"

"Ya, I'm fine. They hit like pussîes." There weren't really any bad marks on him so his assumption might just be correct.