Sugar Coated Pain [Boxer!Calum Hood AU] PUBLISHED -- SAMPLE ONLY

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

BEFORE NOELLE COULD comprehend, everyone suddenly dispersed after Ashton's shout, taking off in different directions. Even Camille and Benny didn't have to think twice as they took off with Clark, running up behind Luke and Michael towards the other end of the sidewalk, leaving the passersby that were lingering around staring after them in confusion and surprise.

"Wha—" Noelle choked out a gasp, her feet seemingly frozen as the sounds of the sirens grew louder and closer as she had no idea what the fuck to do. She wasn't sure if she was frozen in shock or fear.

"For fuck's sake," Calum deeply grunted before making his way towards her and grabbing Noelle's hand, his grip warm and hand much larger than hers as her gaze snapped down to it. "Let's go."

He didn't give her much of a choice as he took off in the opposite direction of where everyone else had gone, pulling a startled Noelle along as her feet practically stumbled under her as she tried to keep up with Calum's fast pace. Her heart pounded in her ears and grip on Calum's hand tightened, feeling the cool metal of his rings against her skin as he led them down the sidewalk to put distance from the police sirens behind them.

Oh, my God—we're running from the police. Oh, my God.

Calum's curls bounced slightly as they ran, the wind ruffling both of their hair as their feet slammed against the pavement while they ran. Was this the wrong moment for Noelle to notice how warm Calum's hand felt in hers—especially when it was the same hand that was just wrapped around some guy's throat only moments before? God, something really is wrong with me.

Her lungs were burning from the unforeseen exercise, though Noelle was sure it only felt so intense because of her heart threatening to burst out of her chest in overwhelming anxiety.

To further send her into a frenzy, the sirens seemed louder and she heard Calum curse before they took a sudden change in direction and Noelle let out a startled yelp when she was yanked to the right and directly into a dark alley. The kind of New York alley Noelle refused to walk past alone at night.

She almost stumbled over her feet as Calum pulled her halfway deep into the long pathway between buildings, the scent of trash rudely greeting her. But that didn't seem like the issue anymore because suddenly she was pressed against the brick wall and instead of smelling trash, all Noelle could smell was cigarettes and Calum.

Noelle's chest deflated as she let out a sharp breath, feeling Calum's front against her own as her palms pressed on the brick, his lower arms against the wall on either side of her head as he leaned into her. She wondered if Calum could hear the erratic beating of her heart because of how close he was, her eyes flickering up to meet his through her lashes and despite the lack of light in the alley, she could still see his deep brown irises peering down at her. Oh, God, how in the hell did she end up in this situation? In some alley, running away from the cops with Calum after he almost choked someone? Her breath had stilled at their unexpected proximity, but when she inhaled softly all she was aware of was Calum.

Noelle couldn't help the way her voice quivered when she whispered out, "Why're we here?"

Calum's lips parted, his warm faint breath that smelt of cigarettes—which she luckily liked, since she grew up around men in her family that smoked—tickling her face before Calum turned his head to look towards the opening of the alley. Noelle's hand itched to brush back a stray black curl that fell over his forehead. She suppressed the shudder that threatened to pass through her when his raspy voice murmured, "Wait for it."

She hesitated before following his gaze, swallowing inaudibly at their closeness because with every breath they took, their fronts brushed up together. When she looked at the front of the alley, absolutely nothing lined up against the walls to block her view or them from the opening of the path, she saw the bright reds and blues of the police car that was slowly cruising its way down the street until the vehicle finally came into view. Noelle took in a breath, grateful they were towards the back end of the alley because one of the cops in the car shined a flashlight into the alley, most likely looking for them as Noelle's heart pounded wildly in her chest for two reasons.