The Criminal's Girl

Chapter 12

Friday morning rolled around far quicker than I would’ve liked and I was sticking on a skirt and lacy top, pairing it with a neat pair of strappy sandals and WAG sunglasses when Dan called from downstairs. He’d apologised earlier in the week for his paddy over my love-bite and I’d accepted, he did, after all, pay my bills.

“Just coming!” I replied and swung up my bag and folders needed for college that day. I galloped down the stairs, mid-eyelash-apply as I approached the front door and paused. “Oh,” I said.

Standing at the open front door was Dan, a confused-frown gracing his features and on the other side of the entrance, Xavier, with a bouquet of flowers and a very uncomfortable look on.

“Hey,” I said with a small smile.

“Um, hey,” he greeted me. A quiet cough sounded and both our attentions flicked to Dan whose expression had moulded into one of frustration.

“Oh, um, Xavier, this is my older brother Dan. Dan, Xavier,” I introduced them both and Xavier held up his hand to shake. Dan ignored it and crossed his arms, shrugging at my glare and said, “You off to school?”

I raised an eyebrow at him in irritation. “Yeah, I’ll see you later,” I said. I nipped into the kitchen and grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl before rushing back out the door. Xavier had headed over to the motorcycle and so I had a moment alone with Dan.

“What is your problem?” I asked him.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Dan replied nonchalantly.

“Knock it off, Dan and leave the attitude at home because Xavier is actually okay and doesn’t deserve you being a dick to him,” I announced sternly.

“We’re at home, Harls, I can’t leave my attitude here,” Dan responded cockily.

“Don’t be a smartass, it’s annoying as hell,” I said crossly. I started walking towards the bike when I heard Dan call out, “Hell no, you are not riding on that to school, Harleigh Ann Swain!”

“Quick,” I told Xavier and leapt on the back of the bike, tucking my arms around him while he pushed a helmet on my head. I waved goodbye to a running Dan and we sped off. “See you later, Daniel Peter Swain!”

We pulled into school and he parked the bike in the car park within the college grounds. I smiled brightly at him and removed the helmet.

“Hey,” I said.

“Hey, to you too,” Xavier replied, smirking. “Were good now?” He asked nervously.

I took a deep breath in again. I wasn’t entirely sure whether or not I would ever be okay with that half of his life. I detested violence and was surrounded by it almost constantly and so I welcomed the times I was free from it. He was dangerous but I understood also that, like me, he was stuck.

I nodded slowly. “Yeah, were good,” he breathed a sigh of relief but I stopped him mid-release. “But, Xavier, I... You know when you took me out that first time? Well, we talked a bit about our lives and I think I might as well make it clear I don’t like mine very much. I hate violence... I-I can’t cope with it and I know you were only doing it to protect me but it didn’t have to go that far,” I trailed off softly.

There was a long pause as Xavier stared at me. He finally spoke, “I didn’t know, Angel. I’m sorry I upset you, it’s just... When I saw that guy trying to... touch you, I just lost it,” Xavier bowed his head and his fist were clenched tight.

I held his hand in mine and coaxed his face up so I could see him. “It’s alright Xavier, just, take it slow. I’m new at this whole thing and you need to ease me into your world.”