Age Of Innocence (AOI) [Sequel To IR]

Chapter 17 } Fear Drives Bravery

Part 1:
Ala's POV
"Okay. What do I have to do?" I asked, scared. I didn't know who to trust but a little part in me still had hope and trust for Greyson, and I guess that led me to this decision.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't find you. And knowing Fulton he will come and check himself. You... You need to let him find you." Greyson whispered.
"But then he'll hurt me. He'll hurt Matthew."
"No, he won't. He might try to hurt you but Matthew will get so angry he will be able to escape those weakly tied ropes and knock Fulton out, and I will be there to help Matthew. It's the only way for you and Matthew to escape." I took a deep breath in. "Please just trust me okay?"
"Oh- Okay." I answered Greyson smiled a little then stood up.
"Did you find her?" Fulton asked.
"Nah I didn't see her." Greyson answered.
"I know that little bitch is here somewhere, she wouldn't leave without Matthew." Fulton walked over to inspect the area I was in just how Greyson said he would. I squeezed my eyes shut, scared of what would happen when he found me. I then felt a hand touch my arm making me jump in fear. "AHA! Sorry princess looks like your hiding place was found." He gripped my arm tightly yanking me up with so much force. I looked at Matthew, he looked petrified, but also a little angry.
"No! Dont hurt her please! Do what ever you want with me! Just leave her out of this!" Matthew cried. He sounded so weak. Oh no. If he was really this weak Greyson's plan wouldn't work. Fulton was strong. I was pushed against the wall.
"Don't worry Matthew I'll take really good care of her." Fulton smirked and connected his lips with mine. I turned my head sideways to stop it. But there were limited things I could do with both of my arms practically stapled down to the brick wall behind me. "Regie!" Fulton yelled to a guy who emerged from the darkness at the calling of his name. "Hold her arm down." Fulton continued. I was confused why would he hold my arm down? But my answer was soon given as Fulton hand was released from my arm and gripped my chin holding it straight, Regie grabbed my arm and held it. There was no stopping what was happening, I just couldn't. Fulton kissed me and kissed me.
"NO! Let her go! Stop please! Hurt me! Kill me for gods sake, just stop touching her!" Matthew screamed while tears were rushing down his face. He struggled to escape but was repeatedly forced to watch what was happening. His weakness. It was me. He could do nothing, he was held against the wall by a huge guy. Why did Greyson think this would work,it obviously isn't. Unless he set me up, he probably did. He did this on purpose. My thoughts were interrupted when Fulton was thrown off of me causing me to fall on the cold pavement as well. I looked to my left to see Matthew punching the shit out of Fulton, who was completely helpless. In seconds Fulton was no longer conscious, but that didn't stop Matthew. I stood up and pried Matthew off of him.
"Matthew he's knocked out, just leave him." I said. I just wanted to leave, I wanted to escape this nightmare that was reality. Matthew looked down on Fulton as he stood up.
"Dont ever touch my girlfriend." He spat at Fulton's lying body. I smiled so lightly nobody would notice. Matthew did it. He saved us. The rest of the guys were too scared to approach us after what they just saw so they let us walk away. As we passed Greyson I stopped.
"Thank you." I said.
"No problem. Just stay safe and protected at all times, when he wakes up, he won't be happy." Greyson warns. I nod and make my way with Matthew out of the alley. We go out of the private beach area grabbing our clothes from the sand silently, and closing the previously locked gate behind us. Matthew turned to me, his bloody, swollen face hovering over my normal one.
"I'm so sorry." He said with overfilling sadness emerging. "I wish you didn't have to see that. I wish you weren't involved. I wish you wouldn't remember this, or that I didn't protect you. I just wanted this to be so perfect, and I wanted us to be happy. And it just won't happen." He said a tear rolling from his eye.
"Matthew don't you dare apologize. It's not you fault. I promise." I said wiping the tear, gently from his cheek.
"It is my fault. The only reason they came was because of something I did." I gave him a confused look.
"What did you do?" I asked.
"I can't tell you, I can't tell anyone. It's too awful." I respected his decision to not tell me, because I knew he was in no mood to argue or fight. He was broken and beaten.
I brought him to my room where he laid on the bed curled into a ball, because his stomach hurt so bad, Fulton had thrown repeated punches there. It would hurt. I walked into the bathroom and got band-aids, a wet washcloth, rubbing alcohol, and a some Ibuprofen to control his pain. I walked back into the room, Matthew was still surely up into a ball hugging his knees. I knew he was in so much more pain then he showed, but him being a guy with their enormous egos, he tried his hardest not to show it. I sat next to his lying body and put my hand on his back. He sat up slowly with his teeth clenched trying to hold back his pain. I silently started cleaning the cuts, he winced at the pain and sucked in air through his tightly clenched teeth. After I finished cleaning the running blood, and bandaging his cuts, I went to the kitchen to get ice for his stomach. I approached him again, where he was silently playing with his fingers. He noticed my presence and sniffled a little while looking up at me.
"Ala." He whispered.
"Yeah?" I said softly.
"I'm so sorry." He whimpered closing his eyes.
"Matthew you don't have to be sorry, it's not your fault." I said sitting next to him.
"Yeah, it is. This would have never happened if I didn't do something." He looked down.
"What is 'something'?" I asked.
"I can't tell you." He hesitantly spoke.
"Matthew you can tell me anything."
"Not this Ala. I did something so terrible, and-." His breath got choppy like he was going to cry. If he did I would be shocked. He never cried, especially in front of me, he told me it was because he didn't want to show weakness, I told him emotions weren't weakness, but power. "I'm so sorry." He cried. He broke. I turned his head towards mine, wiping his tears with my thumbs.
"Baby it's okay. If you really don't want to tell me, you don't have to."
"Th-thank you." He stuttered, forcing himself to stop crying. "But I am sorry you had to watch them hurt me. I told you I wouldn't let anyone touch you. And his hands were all over you. I told you I would protect you. And I couldn't even protect myself."
"Hey." I said lifting his chin. "You did protect me. You knocked Fulton out so he wouldn't touch me. You saved us Matthew." I saw a tiny smile form on Matthew's pink plump lips.
"Ala, is it okay-?" He paused. "Is it okay to be scared?" He asked quietly.
"Of course it is."
"But I'm not supposed to be scared. I'm supposed to be brave."
"Fear is power. Fear is what drives bravery."
"When did you become so wise?"
"I'm sixteen now remember, I'm practically an adult." I joked. He laughed.
"You know were only going to be the same age for two more days."
"Yeah. But it's been an honor to share the same number of years on this earth as you."
"Whatever." He laughed. Neither of us said anything. But I was tired and really wanted to sleep, it was a long day for sure. I scooted back on the bed and laid down. Matthew stood up and joined me wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his head on my chest. "I love you Ala Dausonn." He whispered.
"I love you too Matthew Espinosa."