Falling for the Gang Leader (M.C.)

Chapter 7

As soon as Grace and I became visible to the boys, they all smiled at us. Except for one. Ashton, Calum, and Luke were all smiling at us but Michael didn't look happy at all. His expression was more of a worried one. We walked up to the boys and continued our walk to the park although I did notice that Michael made sure that he was always by my side and glancing at me the rest of the way to the park.

We got to the park and Ashton grabbed Grace's hand before he took off running. Luke and Calum also took off running in a different direction which left only Michael and me. I turned to look at Michael, to tell him about the texts, to find him already staring at me, and still having that worried look on his face.

"Michael are you okay?" I asked, growing concerned for him.

"I could ask you the same thing. You don't have to tell me, but why did you pull Grace away from us? What were you talking about?" He asked.

"I was actually planning on telling you. But you have to promise me that you won't get mad and you have to let me finish speaking before you say anything. You have to listen to why I did what I did." I said, trying to hold back tears as I thought about how Travis said he was coming for me.

"Okay." Michael said and we walked and sat on a bench, turning so that we were facing each other.

"Okay so I might have lied to you about something." I said as I watched his face go from worried to mad.

"Before you get mad at me I want you to know why. So remember how you asked me this morning and when we were at Pizza World if Travis had done anything?" I asked, praying that he wouldn't get mad and turn on me. I may not have ever seen Michael mad at me, but I saw him that night on my way home from Grace's beating that guy up and I saw him with Travis and he scared me.

He just nodded and then waited for me to continue talking.

"Okay so I lied. Before school, Travis had texted me but I didn't read it. I didn't read it until after I pulled Grace aside and talked to her. She made me read it. The reason that I didn't tell you that he texted me is because I didn't want to start anything between you and your rival gang. I don't want you guys to fight because of me. I don't want you and the boys to feel like you have to protect me. The reason that I pulled Grace aside earlier is because after we left Pizza World Travis texted me again. This was the second time and I was already feeling guilty for not telling you about him texting me the first time so I pulled Grace aside and asked her what I should do. Like I said, she made me read them and yeah that's what happened." I said, not mentioning what they said and hoping that he wouldn't ask even though I already knew that he would.

"Okay. I'm not mad at you. I was at first but after you explained why you lied to me I understand why. But I need you to tell me the truth about something okay?" He asked softly, his light green eyes staring into my blue ones.

I nodded, already knowing what he was going to say.

"I need you to tell me what the texts said." He said.

"I still have them if you want to see. I want to tell you, but they scared me." I said, looking down at my hands.

"Okay that's fine. I just want you to know that I want to protect you. I want you to feel safe with me. I never want you to go through what Travis did to you again. I don't know if you know exactly what he does or what he can do, but I do and I know that you don't deserve any of that. I just want you to be safe." He said. When I lifted my head back up he was still staring at me.

"I know. Thank you Michael. You don't have to do this, and yet you do. Thank you." I said, handing him my phone. He just smiled at me before looking at my phone. I could see his eyes moving from side to side as he read the messages. I noticed that he started to tense up and and his fists started to clench. He looked up from my phone and looked at me and I could tell he was mad.

"Sophie. I promise you that asshole isn't going to lay a finger on you. Hell he won't even get near you. My gang and I will make sure of it. But I think that it would be best if you start hanging out with the guys and I more so we can protect you more we'll even take you to and from school. I'm not putting your safety on the line." He said staring at me and I noticed that his eyes were back to the dark green that I saw the very first time I had ever seen him.

"Michael that's nice and all, but Grace always takes me to school and takes me back home." I said, hoping I wouldn't anger him even more then he already was.

"Okay." He said. 

"Michael I know I've said this a lot but thank you for always looking out for me. You don't have to, but you do." 

"Sophie can I tell you something?" Michael asked, looking me in the eye and I could tell he was a little nervous.

"Yeah. Of course." I said smiling, hoping that he would feel more comfortable to tell me whatever it is that he wants to tell me.

"Sophie, I don't want you to avoid me now because I'm telling you this and you might not like it." After hearing that, I got kind of worried what could he say that would make him think that I would avoid him? What aren't I going to like hearing? What is he planning on telling me?

"Sophie I-" He started but was cut off by the boys and Grace running back over to us.

"I'll tell you later it wasn't that important anyway." He said, smiling a little, but it looked forced.

"Oh okay." I said, a little sad that he wouldn't tell me what he wanted to say.

"Hey Michael do we still have that one important job to do tonight?" Calum asked and I realized that it was starting to get darker out. Of course, they rule the town at night. I guess this would be when Grace and I would leave and get home before they do whatever it is that they're planning on doing tonight.

"Yeah." Michael said.

"I think that you girls should probably start going home now. It's starting to get dark out." Luke said, looking at us.

"Yeah I guess you're right. Well it was nice meeting you guys." Grace said hugging each of the boys before leaving.

"Actually I can walk you two back." Ashton offered.

"It's fine Ash." Grace said.

"I agree. We'll be fine." I said smiling as I started hugging the boys and saying my goodbyes.

"No, I think Ash should walk you girls back just in case." Luke said while Calum nodded. Grace and I both looked to Michael to see what he would say and he just agreed with them.

"Looks like I'm walking you two back." Ashton said smiling.

"Ashton meet us back here when you're done." Michael said before coming over to hug me.

"If anything weird happens or Travis does anything I want you to let me know okay?" He whispered.

"Okay." I whispered.

"Promise you'll tell me?" He asked looking down at me.

"I promise." I said looking up at him.

"Okay good. Bye Sophie" He said before pulling away.

"Bye Michael." I said before walking over to Grace and Ashton who were laughing about something. They so like each other. Next time Grace makes fun of me I know who to tease her about I thought to myself as we started the walk back to Grace's car.