Scarlet Knives || Jungkook ff || DISCONTINUED

𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 9

"You can't be serious."

"I just think it might be the safer option. This type of stuff never happened to you--"

"I'm not leaving you, mom!" I exclaim. "We need to stick together. Don't ever try to push me away, got it?"

My mother sighs, worried creases wrinkling her forehead. "I don't want to lose you, too. I get that you want to be close by but if this place is putting your life at risk, I can't have you living in this town."

"It's a bump on the head, nothing to be concerned about," I assure.

"And it could've been worse. You do realize what those gang members are like, right? They carry guns, Nicole. It's not always gonna be fistfights around here," my mom argues sternly.

"It's wasn't one of them that did this to me--a coworker did."

"That just makes it even worse!" The older woman throws her hands up, exasperated. "So regular citizens are causing these injuries? That just proves how dangerous this town is."

"Mom, I can't just move again, that requires money that I don't have. If you really want me to go, I'd need a loan from you. And not only that, you'd be moving with me to wherever it is I'm going because I'm not leaving you alone anymore. So if you're not prepared to lend me that kind of money, you'll have to wait until I manage to get some cash of my own. And if you're against the idea of coming with me, I'm not going anywhere," I challenge, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Honey, I can't leave my town; it's the only home I know. My work is there, my friends are there. It's not as easy for me, a fifty-year-old woman, to just move out into a new city. But for you, it's possible. I know you're worried because of what happened to your father, but there's no need for you to babysit me. Go and live your life without worries, forget about me. If money is an issue, I might be able to give some so that you can get out faster but it probably won't be mu--"

"Whatever you say, mom." I open the car door to hop out, closing it behind me and ducking my head in through the window. "I'll see you when I see you. Don't think you'll be getting rid of me so easily. I'm staying as close as possible to you until you breathe your last breath and there's nothing you can do about it."

She scoffs and opens her mouth to get the last word in but I'm already skipping away towards my house. I wave to her from my porch before dashing inside my home. She'll probably text me later tonight or something to tell me that the conversation isn't over. I slump against the door as I realize I would be treading on a thin line from now on. All it'll take is one more incident that ends up with me in the hospital and my mother would be coming over to pack up all my shit. From now on, I need to avoid getting myself into any type of physical encounters.

But who am I kidding, there's a goddamn gang that runs this town. How long will it be before I'm thrown into the middle of another showdown?

◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸

"Do you think you can try and keep yourself from getting involved in fights for the next while?"

I snort and toss a glance over at Dan, standing in the doorway to the staff room. He sounds like my mother. "You think I wanted to get my head pounded in by a fist?"

"I'm just saying, you've had a ton of action in your life and you haven't even been here for that long," the man shrugs.

"Trust me, I'm not getting involved in that kind of stuff willingly."

"Are you okay to be around Miriam and Ty? If not I can ask them to keep their distance until you feel safe," Dan offers.

"Nah, you don't need to do that. Honestly, I'm completely chill with Miriam. Tyler is the only one who is somewhat problematic. This isn't the first time he and I have had issues so..."