Lost Dad: Dan Smith

Thirty Nine: Dutch

Prepare for shit to go DOWN in this chapter. 

Dan POV:

As we're walking back from the vinyl shop, where we had picked out some albums that sound really amazing, Laura whispers in my ear.

"Can we duck in the alleyway? I'll explain in a second." She says. I obey and slide between two buildings.

"What's wrong?" I ask. Shit shit shit shit shit.

"I saw a guy who looks a lot like one of my mom's friends that lives here in London and always came to visit. He would touch me really uncomfortably and make me really creeped out whenever I saw or even thought about him." She says. An ambush of panic runs out with her voice. 

"Totally. I don't want that creep, or any creep to approach you." I reply. 

"Thanks." She looks sickly pale and is breathing heavily. She's obviously on the brink of having a panic attack. Her eyes glance around. I think she's thinking of five things she can see, four things she can touch, etc. It helps with anxiety attacks.

"Laura!" An exited voice says. A man, obviously on crack staggers into the alleyway we're hiding in. That's the guy, and I can already see why she doesn't like him. He puts his arm around her neck, resting his hand on her shoulder. 

"Dutch." She replies as a forced greeting. Her eyes lock into mine, sending an SOS signal.

"How've you been, baby girl?" He asks, smelling her and rubbing her shoulders.

 "Get your hands off me." She says, scooting away from him and pushing his arms.

 "I can't believe you got more beautiful. How'd you do it?" Dutch says, squeezing her thigh.

Laura kicks his thigh away. "I must've gotten your share."

"I'm not gonna hurt you again. I promise." Dutch says, touching her waist sexually and pulling her closer. His arms are covered in tattoos, most of which are women's names inside hearts. His hair is dyed a bright shade of blue and sticks out in all directions.

Nobody should touch a young girl like that.

"She says to get your fucking hands off her." I say intensely, giving no fucks about cussing this guy out.

"Wow! He speaks!" Dutch says, making eye contact with me and filing his arms. "Is this your sugar daddy? Did 'ya finally take my advice?" Dutch asks Laura.

We both stare at Dutch as if that's the stupidest question imaginable. Does he not see how similar we look?

"You finally got one! What did I tell you? It's not so bad!" Dutch says, touching her arms. Laura immediately pulls her arms to herself.

"I will have you know, Dutch." Laura starts. "That you don't have the slightest clue who he is, and I suggest you don't find out." She says, trying to be intimidating. She's playing the 'I'm going to attempt to scare you out of your own doing' card. 

"Oh I'm so scared!" Dutch wails sarcastically, laughing.

"Were you dropped too much as a baby?" I ask, wanting to continue but Laura cuts me off.

"I doubt dropped. Maybe thrown into a ceiling fan." She growls.

"So you're not gonna tell me who this is?" Dutch asks again.

"Theory confirmed." Laura mutters.

"Ohhhh! I know!" Dutch says, lighting a cigarette. "He's one of those gay guys you got sent to live with!" He says. "Ya wanna light?" He offers Laura.

"Why the hell would she want a light? Especially from you, of all people!" I say. I can't believe this man. What is bloody wrong with him?!?!?!

"You don't know what she wants!" Dutch argues.

"I don't want a cigarette, nor you to be anywhere near me. I suggest that you take your crap somewhere else before we call the police on you." Laura snaps back.

"Calling the cops? What have I done that's illegal?" Dutch says.

"Sexual harassment." I say.

"Offering a cigarette to a minor" Laura says

"Drug possession." I say, noticing and pointing at a bag sticking out of his pocket.

"Violation of a restraining order" Laura says.

"Wait- you have a restraining order on this guy?" I ask Laura. She nods. I turn to Dutch. "Ooooh you're in deep shit" I say, hoping he's too high to actually leave just so he can get in trouble.

"Oh, shit! I forgot about that last one." Dutch laughs. 

"How" Laura says, bewildered. "On earth" She pauses. "Do you forget" Laura blinks multiple times for dramatic effect. "A restraining order?"

Dutch looks furious "Shit. Bye, bitches." He spins on his heel, throwing his lit cigarette at Laura. "I don't care what documents are against me, but I'll fucking get you." Dutch yells and sprints back out onto the pavement, making sure we can't catch up to him.

Laura peers around the corner to see if he's near. She grins devilishly.

"I don't actually have a restraining order on him." She confesses.  

"Oh thank god." I say. "I'm relieved he hasn't done bad enough things to you for that to happen."

"Let's get out of here, though." She says. I notice her face is still the sickly pale colour it was before and she's shaking.

"Shouldn't we file a police report?" I ask. I don't want that guy running around the streets of London looking to get even with the pair of us.

"What are we going to say?" She asks. "Some guy I have a bad history with walked up to me and touched my shoulder? They can't do much with that." She says.

"He's obviously on crack, and he didn't just touch your shoulder. He also offered you a cigarette, which is not legal!" I exclaim. 

"It's fine." She lies. "I'm not worried." She steps out onto the sidewalk. "Can we please just get out of here?" She asks.

"Yes please." I say. You don't have to ask me twice.

=

Short, but I felt like introducing Dutch because it'll be important. I also wrote this in the back of my history class, so RIP, my grades.