Page 20 of Shattered

“There are no young girls around here for you.” That probably came from Dylan, seeing as he seems to have the biggest problem with us now.

I ignore them and keep walking, keeping my gaze forward.

I’m not a violent person, but I will defend myself if need be. However, there are five of them and only one of me, and at least two of them were on the football team. The fact we’re not in school anymore would give them even more incentive to start a fight with me.

My heart rate triples once they’ve crossed the street and caught up with me.

Flanking me on each side, one of them asks, “Where ya headed?”

“Leave me alone.” I try to move forward, but I’m blocked by two of them.

Dylan lays an arm across my shoulders even though he’s shorter. “No. No, I don’t think we will.”

I shake him off and step away from him. “What do you want?”

“We just want to chat. That’s all.” He tries to stifle a snicker. “In Derek’s backyard.”

“Fuck off.” I attempt to free myself from the group, but they crowd in on me, faces turning from playful taunting to pissed scowls.

“I hope your boy Jacob gets what he deserves.”

“And if he’s innocent?”

Dylan steps right in front of me. “He’s not fucking innocent. And I think you’re already well aware of that, which makes you a guilty party in my books.”

Adrenaline spiking, I stare down at him, my blood rushing at a quickened staccato beat. My fists clench in preparation for a fight, and every muscle in my body tenses. More drops are falling now, and the low rumble of thunder shakes the skies.

Just when I think he’s going to cock his arm back, a car pulls up beside us with a honk of their horn. Everyone turns their attention to it, and I must say, I’m relieved to see Kate and Sienna in the front seats.

“How about you boys move along?” Kate suggests, using a tone I don’t often hear from her. “Neil. You need a ride?”

The guys unwillingly pull apart enough for me to leave their little group, and I make my way over to Kate’s car.

“Looks like you’ve already got a hot little thing to play with,” Dylan remarks quietly enough so they don’t hear it.

I force myself to ignore it and not turn around and hit him like a part of me wants to. After getting into the back seat, Kate and Sienna turn to look at me.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Facing forward again, Kate starts driving. “I just picked Sienna up from Sarah’s. Good thing we were in the area.”

I mumble an agreement, my heart still trying to come down from the adrenaline.

“You should just come back to our place,” Sienna says. “Mom made that buffalo chicken dip you love.”

“If you don’t mind being there without Jason, you’re more than welcome to,” Kate adds.

I give it only a moment of thought before I agree. “Okay.”

...

Neilix: Is everything okay?

Sunflower: There are some things going on with a family member and I’m feeling a little down about it.

Neilix: What can I do to cheer you up?

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