𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍?

𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗

I wake up to a burly cop pulling Stone away from me. The cop shoves my friend against the wall and kicks his legs apart, pushing his hands above his head and patting him down. He then yanks Stone's hands down behind his back and cuffs them, tightening the steel bracelets until Stone whimpers in pain.

"I think you're cutting off my circulation." Stone laughs nervously.

"I know. And I couldn't care less."

I can tell Stone is fighting back tears and it makes me want to backhand that stupid cop right across the face. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure that wouldn't be a smart move, so I settle on sassing him instead.

"Aren't you gonna manhandle me, too?"

"You're not a threat, Missy."

And it takes every bit of self restraint that I have not to seriously injure him. I might be unarmed, but I'm pretty sure that the sole of my boot to his nuts would be a pretty big threat.

"Y'know what, fuck you." I snap.

"Tell your bitch to shut up." The cop snarls at Stone.

"Nova..." Stone looks at me, and I see a single tear roll down his face. "Please."

I stop talking, but that doesn't mean I'm done. I raise my middle finger and scowl at the cop, who, in return, yanks the chain between Stone's wrists.

"Ow!" Stone yelps.

"Shut up, or your boyfriend gets hurt." The cop growls.

I might be angry, but I don't want Stone to suffer at my expense.

Stone clenches his jaw, and another tear slides down his cheek.

"Someone's come to pick you up. I don't know why they're letting you off scot-free. If it was me in charge, I'd lock up all you long haired ruffians." The cop scowls, dragging Stone down the hall, me hot on their heels, and pushing us through a set of doors. In what I assume is the lobby, Gracie is standing next to a blonde guy who I guess is her boyfriend, Layne. He's got his sunglasses on inside, which is a little weird, and his curls are pulled back with a scrunchie.

"Nova! Stone!" Gracie calls. The cop frees Stone's hands and pushes us forward. I notice Stone rubbing his wrists where the cuffs rubbed his skin raw and bloody, and my blood boils when I think about how badly they've treated him.

"You're free to go. Don't get caught with drugs again, or you're both facing at least five years of hard time." He commands, and Stone and I follow our friends out the door.

"Are you guys okay?" Gracie asks, and then, "Oh my gosh, you're wearing Stone's jacket!"

"I was cold." I blush, quickly slipping off the sweater and handing it back to Stone.

"Sure." Gracie smiles. "I want you to meet Layne. Layne, this is Nova. Nova, Layne."

"Hi." I hold out my hand for him to shake.

"Hello." He pulls off his sunglasses. I'm shocked by how soft and gentle his voice is, and Christ, his eyes are beautiful. "Nice to meet you."

"Fuck the system." Stone growls bitterly.

"What?"

"Look." He holds out his hands. "All because of my hair. Y'know, Jerry once told me that they were biased against guys like us, but I never believed him. Well, I believe him now."

"It's so fucked up." Layne drops his glasses back over his eyes. "Makes me angry as hell, too."

"I swear, Stone, if I hadn't been afraid of what he might've done to you, I would've hurt him. Bad."