F*cking cliché

18

'Are you sure you want me in the new location?' I ask standing before the garage door.
'You believed it was Daniel right?'
'Yes?' 'Then it doesn't matter.'
'Hold on is he.. is he still,' I stumble over the right words to say.
'Working? Yes.' 'But!'
'We got no proof.. it's his word against yours and since he can blame it on mister fuckboy I think you'll lose.'

My chest seemed to ache at the words he spoke.. dammit I let Levi get into my mind. My hands make their way through my hair a few times before rubbing my eyes.

'Hmm.. alright.'

'Don't worry.. everyone is in different buildings right now.'
'So it doesn't matter if a small group dies?!' I snap.
'I don't think that the person who did this is going to strike when everyone is split up.' 'I don't trust it.'

'Let's just go inside,' Rose says to stop our conversation.

I mutter some unintelligible words as we open the garage door and climb down the small ladder.

We end up in a small gray area with just a few desks and computers.
It was a hide out spot.. that's all I knew.

We're all spread out in these hide out spots all over town.
I just been here for a few weeks and suddenly everything goes wrong.

'Cub you're in the left corner.'
'Far away from the others, got it!'
'No behind the best working computer, but if you want to have a tantrum over a computer that doesn't work right be my guest.'

I decide not to pick a fight with someone who just a few days ago told me he respects me and sit down on the wonky office chair.

'So.. what are we going to do now?'
'We need to keep an eye on our criminal and on theirs,' Rose explains pointing to the other group in our room.

'So what am I going to do?'
'Can you look up these people?'

A few pictures get dropped upon my desk.

'On it,' I mumble as I start spreading them.

I take a look at the pictures before choosing one to start with.

My eyes fall on a face I recognise.. they got him.

I grab my phone from my pocket and quickly send a text to tell Levi.. I don't know why I do it. Maybe to get information out of him myself?

I decide to put his photo underneath the pile I was creating.. even though it wouldn't take long for me to find him.

'

It's late, but I'm on my way home now. Yes I decide to walk to work today not realising it would be this dark once I finished.

'Overtime again?'

Normally his sudden presence would've scared me but.. I saw it coming this time.

'Basically,' I mumble.
'And that's the fourth time this week correct?' He asks.
'Do you keep an eye on every move I make?'
'Basically,' he quotes me in the same way.
'Stalker,' I mumble not sure if it was smart or not, but his snickering answers that concern.

'So they got Grayson?' He asks fidgeting with his jacket nervously.
This man could get nervous? I didn't know that?
'Among others yes,' I answer.
'And what did you do?' 'My job.'

He sighs and grabs my upper arm to stop my tracks.

'Calum can we talk about this?'
'Aren't we already doing that?' I reply.
'Proper talk about it.. how long until you're home?'
'Twenty minutes.. I guess.'
'You have a car for a reason!'

I chuckle quietly as I free my arm from his grip and continue walking.

'I felt like walking today,' I answer.
'And get raped?'
'What the fuck are you talking about?!' I reply.
'Think about it Calum, you're young, short, thin and not even a bit mascular. You're an easy target.'
'Well.. great I have you to protect me from that horrible fate then,' I state sarcastically. 'Stop being difficult.'

I stop to turn and look at him.
His face is barely recognisable with the hood covering far more than just his forehead.

'What's fun about that?'
'My car is around the corner come on,' he states and ignores my statement.

'I'm walking fine.'

He puts his hand on my back and starts leading me the other way.

'It wasn't a question sweetheart.'

'Such a gentleman,' I mutter when he opens the door for me.
'Oh I know.' 'Such a big ego.'
'Oh I know,' he repeats, 'Do I need to help you put on your seatbelt or are you good?'
'Hm? Oh.. uh yeah I'm good.'

I slump in the seat as I stare out the window.

'You're awfully quiet suddenly.. are you alright?' He asks.
'I'm fine.. the wounds just.. sting a bit.'
'Well focus on something else.'
'I'm trying,' I mumble.

In the corner of my eyes I notice him glancing at me for a few seconds.

'I can turn on the radio?' He suggests.
'Do whatever you feel like doing.'
'Okay are you just tired or emotionally drained?' 'Both.'

I flinch when he puts his hand on my knee. He waits for me to calm down and lightly squeezes it.

'It's going to be alright Calum.. just give it time.'
'Why are you being nice?'
He sighs. 'I'm worried about Gray.. he's my buddy.. you know?'
'He's mostly far to young to be pulled into these kind of games,' I respond.