The boys next door

The dinner

Me and Alec walked in to find everyone at the table already starting to eat. My mom throws a questioning glance at me when she sees Alec's arm around my shoulders. I just sent a shrug her way and sat down next to her. Before Alec could sit down, his mother called out to him.
"Alec, why don't you go get cleaned up?!"
"No. I'm good." He responds. He starts to sit down but she stops him again.
"I wasn't asking!" She warns. He huffs out a sigh and walks away. Alli who's on the other side of me, pokes my shoulder.
"Will you play with me after dinner?" She asks me cutely.
"Of course sweetie!"
"Hey Alli, come sit by mommy. You know that's Alec's seat." Emily looks at my mom and gives her a wink. What's that all about?! Regardless, Alli gets up and sits by her mother.
"Ok. I'm back. Hope you didn't miss me too much!" Alec says entering the room, sitting next to me and winking in the process.
"Nope. More like we were enjoying the peace and quite!" Alec gives me a cute boyish pout that makes me playfully roll my eyes and giggle. I see my mom smirking out of the corner of my eye. What's up with her?!
"So Ridley, what do you do in your free-time?" It's a hard question to answer. My father never really let me do anything after school. He didn't want me to have any friends either. He didn't want anyone to find out what he was doing to me. So I just stuck with the answers mom gave me.
"I like to red a lot." It technically wasn't a lie. I loved to read. Mostly because I couldn't do anything else but it still kept me busy.
"What about friends?" Her question brings tears to my eyes, but I don't let them fall.
"I had a few but I was a bit of a nerd. I never really had time for them." My answer is honest but not the complete truth.
"What about boyfriends?!" Alec asked with a waiver in his voice.
"I had one but that didn't end so well." Everyone takes the hint that I don't want to talk anymore and go off in their own conversations. A tear slips out from the corner of my eye but I wipe it away before anyone sees.
I'm snapped out of my thoughts by a warm hand grabbing mine. I turn to look at Alec. Are you ok?! He mouthed. I nodded and quickly excused myself to the restroom once I was done eating.
I was about to close the door to the bathroom when a hand clasps around mine. By the tingles in my arm I can sense it's Alec. I open the door wider and he yanks me out, taking me to where I guess is his room. He pulls me in and shits the door behind us.
"That stuff you said about not having any time for friends, I don't buy it. Not for a second. I don't believe that you were just having a nightmare the other night either. And don't think I don't notice how you always wear long sleeves. I've never seen you in anything else!" He slowly walks towards me and stops right in front of me. He leans close to my ear.
"You can trust me." He whispers soothingly. My stomach does a nervous flip at the close proximity.
"I don't know if I can!" I say so quietly that I'm surprised he can hear me. His hands rub up and down my arms, making me relax a little until I feel him freeze. I look up at him only to see him looking down on my arms. My bare arms. His fingers trace over every scar and cigarette burn marks. I pushed him away crying a bit.
"P-please! Don't tell anyone!" He looks at me with an angry expression.
"Who the hell did this too you?!" He asks. His tone deadly.
"I-I-I can't! He'll hurt you and find me!" I cry out and grab onto his arm. He looked down at me and his eyes softened. He took my arms from around his arm and placed them around his neck, he then put his arms around my waist and rested his chin on my head,hugging me close to him. This wasn't like the other time he hugged me. That what's awkward, but this one was protective and warm. I didn't ever want him to let go.
"Ridley! Your moms- oh! My bad. Continue on." Emily says walking into the room. Me and Alec sadly broke apart but he still stayed right next to me. "Your moms looking for you." She says before running out of the room. Alec laughs awkwardly turning to face me.
"I guess we should go see what they want."
"Yeah. I guess we should." We walk down the stairs side by side. We find our moms leaning over the counter, drinking coffee, and laughing. My mom looked up at us and started talking.
"It's almost time to go home sweetheart. You're gonna start school tomorrow! Aren't you excited?!"
"When is anyone excited to be the new kid?! They get picked out the most!" My mom gives me a look of shock as if she couldn't believe it.
"Don't worry sweetheart! I'll protect you from those big mean bullies!" He jokes wrapping his arm around my shoulders. He's a bit touchy!
"You head home. I'll be there in a bit." My mom tells me. I nod and turn around only to stopped by Alec.
"Don't be in such a hurry sweetheart. I'm walking you home." He declares throwing his shoes on and taking me outside. Once we're out I spot Tommy walking out of his house. He spots us and starts running our way.
"Hey Ridley! How are you?!" He says cheerfully. Alec wraps his arm around my waist protectively, pulling me closer to his side.
"Since a few hours ago, I think she's fine. And she was with me which makes her great!" Alec replies. I mentally roll my eyes and make a note to hit him when we get in the house. But Tommy ignored Alec completely.
"So what are you guys heading off to do?!" He asks a bit to curious for my liking. Before Alec can answer with some dirty situation, I beat him too it.
"He's just walking me home." Alec gives me a little pout when I beat him too it.
"Oh! Well I can take over from here." Tommy says, smirking when Alec's jaw clenches.
"But she needs someone to stay with her until her mom gets back and her mom trusts me so I think I should stay." Alec replies almost full on smiling. "Well that was a nice chat but we better get going! Bye bye Tammy. See you around!" Alec grips my waist as we walk away. Once we get in the house, I smack him over the head.
"Ow! What the hell was that for?!" He cried in pain.
"That's for trying to scare off one of the very few friends I've made here!" He bursts out laughing. "What's so funny?!" I ask a bit irritated.
"Trust me sweetheart, he doesn't wanna be 'just friends' with you."
"How do you know that?! What if he's a good guy?!"
"Ha! I doubt it."
"You know what?! I'm done! I'm taking a shower and going to sleep!"
"Want me to join you?!" He smirks. I walk up to him and place my hand on his chest. Ignoring the tingling sensation I bring my lips up to his ear.
"YOU'RE AN ASSHOLE!" I yell into his ear. I run up the stairs hearing him calling me a tease.

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What's up my dudes?! I know it's early in the book but I wanna know. Do y'all ship Tomley or Ridlec??

Don't forget to share, vote, and comment!

Lots of love until next time!
-Rockyscarlett