Behind The Hoodie

(Part 2) Chapter 10: CD's

I offer a sheepish smile and pull out my phone.

"This is on me actually, I offered to walk her home when these guys showed up and it went downhill from there," Jared says shamefully.

"So this is that old friend I'm guessing?" Gray asks with a smirk.

I nod my head with that same sheepish, nervous smile etched on my face.  

"And these are the friends that had kidnapped you?" Jared says holding his stomach.

I shrug my shoulders. Yeah, um. Not the ideal situation here.

"So what exactly are you doing down here?"

"She was at the boxing place with me and some other friends," Jared says for me.

But I can tell the guys are already annoyed by him, especially after answering for me.

"Do you want a ride back home?" Gray asks.

I quickly type on my phone, 'it's no problem, I can walk. You guys go ahead and go home. How much did you guys see?' I show it to Gray and the others.

"From the part where the guy grabbed your wrist, we just were waiting for the right moment to get involved. You are a frustrating individual," Mason says sighing.

I smile at them.

"We just can't go out together once without seeing you can we?"

"Who's idea was it to add you to the group again?" Trever says raising an eyebrow.

I point at Gray quickly blaming him. He put's his hand on his heart, "Such betrayal."

I silently chuckle at him.

"Alright then, see you later Beth," Gray says.

I almost thought I heard a hint of disappointment in his voice but he smirks at me anyway. I mouth 'thank you' to them as they all go back to their cars. Leaving me and Jared.

We both watch as they drive off and Jared turns to me. I quickly turn my head from him and begin walking home.

"Would you like me to explain?" He asks catching up to me.

I say and do nothing

"They were talking about me buying a gun from them."

"You're not helping your case," I quickly sign, not looking at him still.

He runs in front of me and walks backward.

"It's for my me and my mom. My stepdad has been really...over the top. My mom isn't doing so well so I bought her a gun for self-defense. I paid them the money just a moment ago but they said they wanted all I had and when I refused, they started on me."

My stone expression fades and softens as I look at him and I stop walking to try and get away from him. I look at him and I can't tell if he is the worlds best liar or actually telling the truth. But I choose to believe he's telling the truth.

I see relief fill his eyes and he goes back to standing beside me as I walk slower.

"I'm sorry about your mom."

"It's alright. She's doing a bit better now."

I smile sympathetically at him. We talk as we make our way to my house. He only talks vaguely about what is going on in his family and he starts to quiet whenever we do.

We soon make it to my house.

"This is my stop."

"You got placed in a new home or moved?"