Alexandria's Superman

(four) hurt people

(Liam's POV)

I had just gone to the bathroom and put my toothbrush on my teeth when Taylor frantically called me back into the room.

Still brushing my teeth, I returned to Taylor's side as he stayed engrossed in the television.

"We are outside of Lexi's, the local fashion boutique located in downtown Chicago. Late last night, the store was vandalized by unknown vandals and nearly broken into before the Chicago PD showed up." My mouth fell open as the reporter explained what happened to Ali's store.

"Shut your mouth, you're going to get toothpaste and drool everywhere." Taylor glared at me.

Back in the bathroom, I spit my toothpaste out, then rinsed my mouth out with the cheapest mouthwash money can buy from Walmart.

"Looks like that damsel is going to need a little more help from her superman." Taylor smirked at me. "Maybe her own personal bodyguard?"

I don't know Ali. I've met her in a face-to-face encounter once and that one time she was drunk. I'd hardly say it counts. Yet, the thought of someone trying to hurt her made me uncomfortable. Sure, I don't know her, but judging by her innocent and strong demeanor, I don't imagine there is much to dislike about her.

Sure, she's rich and most rich people are snobby bitches, but that's not to say all are. Even if Ali is one of them, why are vandals targeting her specifically? There's a ton of other rich bitches among us in Chicago.

"Real talk, though, man, I hope no one is actually out to hurt her."

You're telling me.

Later that afternoon, on our way to the grocery store, I decided to take a detour through downtown Chicago by Lexi's. There was a U-Haul on the side of the building and employees were moving most of everything, besides furniture, into it. The windows were still stained with the red spray paint from the vandals.

She's fucking 23 years old, who would do this to someone so young?

"You look pretty mad, bro."

"She didn't do anything to deserve that." I gestured to the mess we just passed by.

"You didn't mind watching it happen to other rich business owners in this city." My eyes narrowed in on Taylor for a hot second before I trained them back onto the road ahead of me.

Walmart wasn't all that busy compared to how it usually is in the late Saturday afternoon. Not that I'm complaining; I hate how ridiculously long the checkout lines can get.

I went down the furthest aisle from the entrance to get cheese and yogurt while Taylor took our two plastic bags full of empties to the bottle return.

I was up about 3 aisles by the time Taylor caught up with me.

We had bought two 12 packs last week, meaning we had 24 cans to return, making it 2 dollars and 24 cents to go toward groceries this week.

While I grabbed a 12 pack of Pepsi and Mountain Dew, Taylor went to go get our pop tarts and chips from the next aisle.

I put the Mountain Dew under the cart next to the Pepsi pack and looked up to see Taylor coming back around the corner with no food items in his hands.

"Come on, Taylor, stop fucking around."

"Your damsel is here." Ever since Artie called Ali my damsel in distress, all my coworkers at the bar started referring to her as my damsel. "In the next aisle."

"Doesn't she have someone that should do this type of shit for her?" I grumbled.

"Judging by the way she was standing in her heels and staring up at something on the top shelf, longingly, I'm going to go out on a limb and guess she doesn't come here often."