Losing Home✔️

2. Falling Already?

A loud nasally shrill sounded before the flailing arms and tamed blonde bleach curls followed closely behind. "Penny!?"

At this moment when the crazed woman came into sight, Peyton's arms wrapped around my leg, clinging to me as she tried to hide behind me. Is this who Peyton was talking about? Alex?

Penny? Really? Did she really not know her actual name.

The woman appeared to be around the same age as me and she frantically shook her head from side to side looking for someone, or rather, Peyton.

Okay, even that gave me whiplash.

Her head whipped in our direction and her eyes narrowed in on Peyton's small figure behind me. She stalked our way with a scowl on her face. Her anger evident with her tight-lipped lipstick covered lips.

Every stomp in her 6-inch heels clicking along the pavement grew louder the closer she got to us. However, Ace had gone into protective mode. His body moved in front of mine and Peyton's, his stance broadening and a low rumble erupting from his chest. His eyes fixed themselves on who I assume is to be, Alex.

As she reaches us, she went to grab Peyton's arm but stopped when Ace growled darkly at her and inched toward her. She pulled her hand back and proceeded to glare at Ace and Peyton, then finally to me.

"Control your mutt!" She spat vehemently, scowling at me. "Get back here now!" She yelled at Peyton.

With all of this shrieking of Alex's, quite a crowd had formed around us with a mix of confused stares, worried and scared looks. Most of which landed on Ace, as he growled at Alex. Great.

"Don't yell at her like that and my dog is only acting out because of your aggressiveness" I draped an arm around Peyton, pulling her closer to me and stepping closer to Ace.

"Excuse me? Who do think you are huh?" A hand rested on her hip sassily and she scoffed.

"I am the person taking care of this little girl, because of your incompetence," I said quite proud of my quick comeback.

Alex's eyes narrowed into slits and they were solely focused on me. A wave of bubbling rage simmering beneath her poorly retained resolve. Peyton was clinging onto my leg, constricting the blood flow, and sniffling into the back of my thigh as she watched the exchange in front of her.

"She's with me! I'm looking after her for my boyfriend" she emphasised 'boyfriend'. "Are you trying to kidnap her you sicko?" She accused, her frustration and anger bubbling over the edge.

I knew Peyton was getting scared from the way her nails dug into my thigh as well as the new wetness I felt rolling down the back of my leg.

"Look, just calm down okay?" I said to Alex as I turned my attention back to Peyton.

"Peyton, honey. Are you okay?" I squatted down to her eye level after unwrapping her arms from around my leg.

Her watery eyes switched between Alex and me a few times before she nodded coyly.

"Do you know who this woman is?" I asked wiping the tears from her face.

Before Peyton couldn't answer, the woman stepped in, confirming my belief. "Of course, she knows who I am. I'm Alex, Penny's brother's girlfriend!" She stomped her foot on the ground, even more agitated. "Not that it's any of your business" she scoffed.

The crowd had grown more, parents holding their kids and watching the scene unfold in front of them. Some people are so nosy I swear, never minding their own business.

Whispers had started to circulate. Some about me and some about Ace which angered more than I could express. Other parents were shaking their head in disapproval at us.

"Do you want to go with her or wait for Xavier?" I asked Peyton quiet enough so Alex couldn't hear.

Peyton shook her head, her bottom lip trembling.

"Just hand her over you creep!"

"Stop for a minute, okay? Can't you see she's upset?" I turned around to face Alex annoyed at her blatant ignorance towards Peyton's state. "She doesn't want to go with you right now we'll just wait- "

Before I could finish or before Alex could say anything, Peyton had bolted from my arms into a man's muscular ones. The crowd spreading for him to emerge.

He was definitely a sight for sore eyes. Disheveled dark brown hair, sharp jawline with hollowed cheeks. He was only dressed in a casual black tee and jeans with worn white converse but, you could see the outline of his defined chest and torso. His arms flexed when he reached down to pick Peyton up from the ground.

"What's wrong Princess?"