Forever Love (Stauren) {Book 2: Completed}

Chapter 15

A/N: You guys definitely deserve an early update for being so supportive and nice soooo here you go!! I hope you enjoy!

°•°Emmie's POV°•°

••Flashback••

Cold.

That was the one word that repeated over and over in my head as I walked along a sidewalk in the middle of the night. The freezing Georgia wind blew by me, making even more goosebumps appear in my arms. I had made the mistake of not bringing a jacket when I ran away from home after I had a fight with Lauren about dad.

Although I didn't want to admit it, I was terrified. Nowhere felt safe without my dad or Lauren.

I finally looked up in front of me to find a park. From where I was standing, there was nobody there, so I continued to walk into the park. Then I recognized it, it was the park that dad used to always take me to when I was younger.

It had the best playground and a lake that was surrounded by grass. There was even a beautiful bridge that crossed over part of the lake.

I hugged myself tighter and made my way over to a small brick shack that had the bathrooms in it. Around the back, there was a metal trashcan filled with papers and food trash. I pulled my small backpack off of my shoulders and opened it up, digging around in it.

First, I pulled out my flashlight. Then, my hand grabbed a small piece of paper. It was a picture of dad and Lauren. I sighed and put it back in my bag. I finally found the lighter that I had packed and pulled it out.

It only took another minute to start a small fire in the metal trashcan.

I sat there in silence for a while, trying to warm myself up when I suddenly heard footsteps behind me.

"What's a little kid like you doing out here all alone at this time?" A rough voice asked. I didn't turn around to look, making whoever was behind me come around so that they were in front of me. "We got a stubborn one here."

"Leave me alone," I muttered, glancing up briefly before looking back down at my feet. There were five men who seemed to be in their early thirties standing in front of me. Their clothes were dirty and torn, and their skin was covered in dirt.

"And she's feisty too!" The same man said. "Now tell me, what's your name" They all stepped closer to me and I suddenly became scared out of my mind.

My hand slipped down my side and slowly grabbed onto my backpack. Within a split second, I jumped up and took off running, only to soon be grabbed by one of the men. "I'm trying to have a conversation with you, and you just run off! Now is that any way to treat a person?"

Without thinking, I spit at the man.

Big mistake.

I soon felt a strong stinging sensation throughout both of my cheeks and quickly realized that the man had slapped me across the face....twice.

"Now I asked you a question missy, so sit down and answer it." I did as the man said and told him my name.

"Emmie," I sniffled, holding my face while looking at the ground

"See, now that wasn't so hard, was it?" He replied. "My name is Derrick." None of the other men said anything. "What are you doing out here?" His tone was softer, but still rough and terrifying.

"It's none of your goddamn business," I said coldly.

"Looks like little Emmie's got a mouth on her too," Derrick said to his buddies who chuckled.