Delicate (mxm)

Chapter Nineteen.

Caleb was wearing the new clothes—and the new underwear that Eddie had bought him after the catastrophic fundaiser party. Well, catastrophic was maybe an exaggeration, but Caleb did think it hadn't gone well. Because of his dad. He shouldn't have expected him to be any different, because his father was always like that. But the fact that he had to go through that in front of Eddie really pissed him off. He just kept showing himself vulnerable in front of him, but he couldn't help it. He realized it when he was alone, but then once he was with Eddie again he seemed to don't give a fuck and show all his weak spots; his dad, the food, the addiction.

Caleb was getting pissed at himself. But then when he was with Eddie it didn't matter.

And now he was walking down the streets, with his new clothes.

This morning he had skipped work. Honestly, he really wasn't in the mood. He decided to take one of his mental-health days off, not because he wasn't feeling well, but because he needed a break. He needed to rest. A lot of things were happening in his life and going out for a walk around the city sounded much more appealing than having to be locked up with three idiots to make coffee.

He closed his eyes and felt the cold air blowing in his face. As winter was arriving, the days started to become colder and colder. Caleb liked that. Winter was his favourite station; perfect to stay in all day... and now to cuddle with Eddie the entire day.

Winter was great. Winter was beautiful.

He glanced around the streets and tensed. The protective instinct inside of him became alert.

On the other side of the street, the other block, a teenage girl was walking fast. Behind her there were two men—two big and large men—that were clearly following her.

He kept walking, now keeping an eye on them. The girl had clearly noticed that they were following her. It was clear she was scared and uncomfortable by the way she glanced behing her and walked everytime faster. But Caleb wasn't going to let anything happen to that girl. She wasn't older than sixteen. Hate grew in his chest for those two men.

He kept walking, and noticed they were getting in a more deserted street. The poor girl looked lost. When they started cat-calling her, Caleb lost it.

"Hey!" One of them screamed.

The girl froze.

They started saying gross things to her, and before they could get any closer, Caleb crossed the street.

He didn't think about it, honestly. He didn't think about how they were two and he was one. He didn't think about how they were muscular and tall and he was a skinny short boy. He didn't think about it. He just thought about the sixteen years old girl that deserved to live a life without gross men. He just thought about if he could stop them and save her, there wouldn't be another victim like his sister. This girl deserved to be saved and Caleb could do it. That's all he needed to think.

He crossed the street and pushed one of them.

"What the fuck are you doing?" He sneered, placing himself in front of the girl.

The men seemed to forget about the teenager and looked at him, frowning. Caleb turned around and whispered,

"Leave."

The girl froze.

"B-but..."

"Leave. Now."

The girl ran off.

Caleb turned around to see the two men glaring at him.

"What do you think you're doing, faggot?"