The Outlaws

thirteen.

Picture: Daniel Sharman as Nathan Dalcour

CHRISTIAN

"What the hell are you doing here?"

I turn to glance at Daniel then shut the door quietly.

"What do you mean?" I try to clarify. "What are you doing here?"

I walk past him and into the kitchen, filling up a glass of water. He follows and leans against the counter, folding his arms.

"Firstly, what happened back there?"

I swallow then look at the ground. "That ape she's been dating almost raped her."

He nods slowly. "We've dealt with this before. She'll be okay."

"I know."

Lindsey was raped three years ago and it's taken her two years to recover from the trauma. But then again, I'm not sure you can ever fully recover from something like that.

When I met her, we were in an elevator together, going for therapy. She eyed me cautiously, afraid that I might suddenly jump her in the elevator. Then I found out we go to the same school. I talked to her and got closer and here we are.

Daniel exhales and waits for a while before telling me, "I've never seen you so angry in my life."

I glance up at him. "Again, what do you mean?"

"I mean, you smashed his face in like the fucking Hulk," he whisper yells, since the kids are sleeping.

I can't help but laugh at that. One way or another, Daniel always cheers me up, even if he doesn't mean to.

He continues, enunciating each word, "Dude. What the hell are you doing here, at home?"

I sigh in frustration. "Seriously, man? I have no idea what you are talking about. I'm supposed to be home today to help Hannah. You're not. It isn't your turn today."

"I didn't think you'd come home tonight, so I did," he shrugs.

I frown and slip off my tie. "Why did you think that?"

"I thought you'd stay with Lex."

I don't say anything, simply because I don't know what to say. I'm completely clueless as to what is going on.

He drags a hand over his face. "Chris, stop being a fucking idiot. Go to her. Right now," he orders. "Go. I got you covered for tonight and you don't even owe me."

I gape at him. "Are you sure?"

He nods. "Get out of here," he tells me.

I shake my head, unable to wrap my mind around the idea that someone would be so generous and kind to me. "Thanks, man. I mean it."

We do the bro hug thing before I go to my room to change, then I walk out the door again and jog over to her house.

***

ALEXIS

I gasp and jolt upright.

Who on earth is ringing the doorbell at 1 a.m.? Could it be Mum? Maybe she forgot her keys and is home early...

I carefully slide out of bed, tiptoe all the way down to the kitchen, grab the rolling pin and tiptoe back to the front door.

Praying that I won't see Jeremy, I look through the stained glass that surrounds the door. Unfortunately, I can only make out a figure, but it's definitely a man.

I ignore the small voice in my head that's telling me it's Jeremy. For some reason, I really don't think it is.

Releasing a shaky breath, I ask, "Who is it?"