Dysfunctional Love - bwwm romance [original version]

chap. 3; The Request

non.

Ever since Grace's quick trip to her work and back when she forgot her phone at her work, her car had broken down due to her reckless driving. She had been trying to drive back home to her mother when she ran over a large, sharp rock.

Now here she was, walking home from her pageant practice. She had never thought it took longer than four weeks for her car to get a tire change.

She made sure to walk home under the street lights and made sure she was around some sort of urban civilization.

She slung her bag over her shoulder and listened to the tune of traffic as she walked back home. Suddenly she saw a familiar black hoodie walking not so far ahead. Too familiar. "Derek?" She called out, getting closer.

She knew it was him when she saw the figure fidget. For the past four weeks, Grace and Derek have been talking with one another.

Sort of.

More of Grace approaching him and Derek just dismissing himself from the conversation. It's been going on and off though she never could really just let go of him. It was this weird attraction that Derek had that she couldn't help but be attracted to.

He turned, facing her small petite body which was as small and skinny as a pencil compared to his. She was a bit startled to see that his hood was completely off. His brown dark eyes showed his of his dark attitude along with his jet black wavy hair, tracing the outline of his somewhat symmetric face. His nose was slightly bent yet was an sharp arched shape. Her mouth parted as his face was illuminated by the full moon's light. She gasped as she saw it whole. He has cuts on every corner of his face and a slightly swollen left eye along with his plump chapped lips.

He was gorgeous.

"What?" He asked as he wiped his wet towel across his face, glaring down towards her. The towel was clearly stained with blood. Though she kept her comments to herself. The last time she offered to help, he yelled at her in front of her own classmates. His jaw tightening. She blinked herself back to reality and only began to shake her head.

"Nothing... It's just-"

"My face. Yeah, I know." He reached down to lift his hood back over his head but she reached his arm, stopping him.

"I never said you looked bad." She slowly brought his arm back down at his side. "You look very handsome without it on."

The two stared at one another. The racing cars filing in the silence between them both. The silence only made the pink stain on the back of her neck grow larger.

I can't believe I just said that! She darted her eyes away as her hand awkwardly brushed up and down her right arm.

"Thanks..." He answered back. Grace, being embarrassed beyond belief, took it upon herself to just assume that he was smug about it. She just nodded in response.

"Anyways, it's getting late. I should start getting home." She barely whispered even though she sounded like she was screaming. His lips stayed glued to the other as he watched her back away. She turned back forward and with a deep breath, she began to resume her way back home. A strong grip on her arm stopped her.

"Wait, let me walk you home." He muttered, his eyes searching hers. Her lips parted as they stared off into their wondrous eyes.

She began, "That won't be necessar-"

"Just let me walk you." With the tone of his voice, Grace could tell he wasn't going to back down.

Within the last couple of weeks, she would always approach Derek, cautiously and concerned. She would always ask how could she repay him for the kind thing he'd done. She'd never forget what he'd done for her and her mom. And if allowing him assist her home meant paying him back, she'd gladly allow him to.