We walk out of the gate and turn left on the main street and continue walking for about five minutes. After passing some small shops we turn left into a small alley way next to a convenience store which is just in front of where we arranged to meet Justin for our daily rounds.
Just then my focus on where we are going is interrupted by the noise of footsteps not too far behind us. The backdoor to the convenience store is on the other side and the building next to us has been abandoned for years so no one goes in or out. “I sense someone following us.” “me too.” I reply, so I stop and turn around but they stop. “Keep walking.” I signal with my hand to Nathan, and he does what I say. Sure enough the other footsteps continue. I hide in the doorway of the bordered off door to the abandoned building. When the footsteps turn into the alleyway I jump out and the person falls over. He is wearing denim jeans with black converse and a blue t-shirt with some sort of logo on it. Oh no. Nathan is beside me about to bow a fuse. I open my mouth to calm him down but I’m too slow.
“What the hell are you doing here!? Why are you following us!? What does leave us alone mean!?”He yells to a stunned looking Niall on the ground. As Nathan continues yelling I notice someone else is coming towards us. Great, I think more unwanted attention. But as the figure gets closer it has an air of familiarity about it. It’s Justin, thank goodness. I look at Nathan and he is starting to transform ever so slightly, if he does transform here it won’t end well for anyone. I need to get him away from Niall.
“Justin, can you please take Nathan to where we agreed to meet up?” I say with a shrill of panic in my voice. He goes to grab Nathan by the arm but he is not quick enough and Nathan lurches forward on top of Niall while still yelling. This is starting to turn into madness.
“Justin Please stand back.” I say looking at him, he now looks just as stunned as Niall.
“Nathan?” I say trying to break his focus, it doesn’t work.
“Nathan Look at me you need to calm down.” It’s not working. I can feel panic start to rise up inside of me.
“NATHAN!” I yell he stops, looking straight ahead with one fist tightly holding Niall’s shirt and the other raised, ready to punch Niall’s face in.
“Nathan, look at me. Everything is fine, all you need to do is calm down and let go of Niall.” He doesn’t respond, so I move closer and touch his shoulder.
Suddenly he lets go spins around and lunges at me I try to duck and as he jumps at where I was standing, his knee knock me in the head and I fall to the ground. I stand back up and face him but he is staring at me in shock. I look at my hands which are stinging slightly and see blood dripping on them and onto the ground. I realise now that my left temple is hurting, my hand raises to touch it, but instead of feeling soft skin or wet blood I feel something hard and rough. I manage to pull it out, it is a rock or piece of gravel from the ground, it is bleeding more now but I don’t have time to worry about this.
“Justin can you please take Nathan somewhere else.” He nods and quickly moves the distressed Nathan toward the open end of the alleyway. I turn to Niall, he is looking a bit pale and dirty, at least he is standing now.
“Now do you see why I said not to come?” Irritation running through my words.
“I-I’m sorry I didn’t think-” he starts to reply but I cut him off.
“No you didn’t think. We are on our own for a reason! Nathan has a hard enough life without people like you snooping around and being nosey. So do us a favour and just ignore us like everyone else!” I turn and walk away. my head tings more now but I ignore it, all I can think about now is Nathan.
