The Quiet Ones

19. The Dating Plan

"Will you be my girlfriend?" Levi asked quietly as he began to shy away from me in embarrassment.

I laughed at his blushing cheeks and how his eyes squinted when he got nervous. The fact that Levi thought I would ever deny wanting to be his girlfriend- because trust me, at this point it's all I've ever wanted- makes me wonder what he really thinks of me. Do I come off to him as intimidating?

"Of course I'll be your girlfriend," I shrieked as I threw my arms over his neck and pulled him closer.

His body began to relax as he wrapped his arms around the small of my back and shifted his chin to rest on the top of my shoulder. We sat still in that disgusting and revolting prison cell hugging in happiness, but after getting on a new level with Levi, it didn't seem too bad. Either that, or it's the fact that the large and intimidating men were now clapping while they congratulated us.

We pulled away while I laughed at one of the men in the cells across from us who was giving Levi and I a thumbs up, while his cell mate was cheering us on. As much as they want to act tough, they obviously still have somewhat of a heart, even if it is deep down under their scarred and tattooed chests.

"Well, what now?" I asked as I intertwined my fingers through Levi's.

He looked down at our hands and a smile crept across his face, making small dimples form at the center of his cheeks. Knowing that he's mine makes me want to jump around and scream at the top of my lungs, not that I ever would, especially in a building with bloodthirsty men.

"Well, we can talk for a bit," he suggested as he shifted closer towards me.

"Sure, what do you want to talk about?"

"Do your friends like me?" Levi asked out of nowhere, which made my skin tingle at the thought of how I was going to answer that question.

It's not that my friends hate Levi, it's more that they don't understand him. Avery doesn't have much of a problem with him, given that she has never met him before. And Nathan on the other hand, well, he may be a bit sore at the thought of Levi being my boyfriend.

"They don't hate you," I insisted as I squeezed his hand tighter.

"Are you sure? Your one friend, the guy. What's his name? Noah? Nick?"

"Nathan?" I asked.

"Yeah, him. I don't think he likes me. But I want him to, since we're dating now and all. Do you think I can start over with him somehow?" He asked as concern dwelled in his eyes.

"I can ask if he wants to hangout. I'll bring my other friend along too, that way it won't be awkward. Would that be alright?"

"Of course. Thanks," he said with a sigh of relief.

I don't think Nathan will mind. He needs to get over it and realize that I'm going to meet other people. Besides, in a year from now he may be on the other side of the country. Avery, on the other hand, is probably going to be more than happy to meet the guy I've been talking about for weeks now.

"One other thing," Levi said as he rested his back against the stone wall behind us.

"Yeah?"

"I think we should get back at the taggers," he whispered quietly while he leaned in closer so nobody could hear.

"Levi, don't you think we're already in enough trouble?"

"Yeah, but what they did was wrong. We won't do anything illegal. All we'll do is expose them."

"And how do you plan to do that?"

"There's other groups Parker. We'll just gang up on them. You know, tell them their secrets and everything. Maybe we'll set up a few traps too," he said, raising his eyebrows at me.

I couldn't help but laugh at his mischievous face. He was clearly trying to act bad and like he knows how to get payback, but at the same time, his soft lips and comforting eyes didn't appear very intimidating. The best way I could describe his face is that it appeared to be more like a puppy rather than a rough and scary bear.

"Okay, fine. We'll get back at them. But for now can we just go to sleep and focus on getting out of here in the morning?" I asked as I yawned and rubbed the corners of my eyes.

"Sure, you can sleep. I'm going to stay up and make a plan."

"You're really mad at them, aren't you?"

"You think?" He asked, making his eyes go wide while he flailed out his arms in anger. And once again, his frustration came off as cuteness.

"Okay, well you can go make your evil plan. I'm going to sleep."

"Suit yourself. Sleep well. I'll see you in the morning," he said as he began to shift around and get comfortable in the makeshift metal bench in our cell, which shouldn't even be considered a bench because of how uncomfortable it is.

I pulled down the thin and scratchy blanket on the bed and carefully moved under the covers. I felt as if I was surrounded by a pile of dirt and blood, basically everything that past inmates left behind. But from being so emotionally drained, I eventually dozed off into a deep sleep with Levi's smile and sleepy eyes being the last thing that I saw.