Threats / Chapter 10

The next few days dragged on.

Harley was in and out of consciousness.

I kept assuring him things were fine, I was fine, his job was fine, he didn't need to freak out.

He had me call a few people to cover his shifts since I wouldn't let him go to work. He said he was fine.

Which he wasn't. He winced often, my brother always seemed to be in pain.

We mainly stayed home and watched movies over the remainder of the weekend.

I was his biggest concern at the moment, which made me feel very guilty.

Harley knew nothing of Case. Even now. It was just some crazy robber...or something, I assured him.

I told him I threatened to call the cops and the 'crazed robber' left.

I mean was I really lying? If I was it was only a little.

Harley didn't let me go to the ice skating rink to give lessons. He said if he couldn't go to his job, neither could I.

Which left us both apartment bound.

On the bright side, we watched the Harry Potter marathon on Freeform. It took the rest of the weekend.

"Alex you should sleep. You have school tomorrow..." Harley said, around four, Monday morning.

"But Harley..." I stopped to yawn, "only one movie left...we can't stop now." I insisted.

He sighed. "Your right. I'll make more popcorn.."

I loved him so much.

We had been living off popcorn the past few days.

Life was good.

Sadly, the weekend ended.

As I was getting ready for school, my phone buzzed, I flinched and dropped the bowl of cereal I was holding.

Milk went everywhere.

After I cleaned it all up, I glanced at the text.

Case🙄- Don't go to school today.

Of course. It was his fault I spilt my cereal.

I must have been glaring at the screen really hard, because Harley looked over.

"What did the phone do to you Alex?" He joked.

I rolled my eyes as I blocked the number and put my phone in my back pocket.

Harley smirked at me as he tossed me my backpack.

"Be careful ok..? You better answer if I call." He said.

"I will. I promise." I said.

He nodded and hugged me. "And come here right after school."

"Fine." I hugged back while sighing.

"Thank you." He smiled,

"Hey Harley...I uh...when should I go back to Gloria...?"

I didn't want to go back. I really didn't.

But she had been suspiciously out of the picture for awhile. I didn't know what she was doing, or if she was planning on getting me back.

Harley suddenly turned angry. "Your not going to go back." He growled.

I nodded quickly. "Yeah but what if-"

"I told you what was going to happen." He snapped.

I swallowed. "Yeah. Sorry. See you after school Harley..."

He sighed dramatically behind me.

"Fine then...I'll be here. Alone."

"And resting. Use the ice pack."

And with that, I walked out the door.

At School

As usual, school had been hell.

And it was only third period.

Honestly, the whispers and stares were kind of funny.

All of these people, freaking out over something that wasn't even true. The rumors had grown, and it was hilarious to hear them.

Did you hear about that Alex girl? She's in a gang.

Ive heard Alex is doing the you know what with Case Woods.

Oh my god, that girl Alex, she smokes pot with her gang behind the school.

So yeah.  I do drugs with my gang behind school. You know when I'm not getting intimate with Case Woods. Ew.

Oh but here's my personal favorite,

She broke up with him because he refused to father the child she's pregnant with.

Obviously, right?

As I walked down the hall towards my next class, I noticed some older boys glaring at me.

Not really a, what a slut look. More of a, she's so dead, kind of look.

I walked faster, looking down.

All in my mind, I was sure.

Suddenly Cases text came to mind.

Don't go to school.

If he was really worried about something happening he would have done more than text...right?

I mean, I guess maybe it did make sense to stay under the radar for awhile.

I had kinda angered more than one dangerous gang....

But I had been inside all weekend.

Besides, who was going to kidnap me at school, if kidnapping was even what I was dealing with.

God I overthink everything.

I went into class and slept through the hour long lecture.

My head shot off the desk as class ended, "oh.." I mumbled, standing and heading to my next class.

So there I was, walking down the halls, the face of innocence.

Ha. Ha.

I felt my arm being jerked and suddenly felt myself being slammed against the wall.

That never happened anymore. After Case and Brendon...

I looked up at whoever had grabbed me. 

Three boys were staring at me as though I were painted green.

All three of them were dark haired and tanned skinned.

They'd been in a fight recently...unless those bruises were from falling down the stairs of something of the sort.

Who were these guys? They didn't even go to this school as far as I knew.

I glanced at their clothes and my eyes widened.

It was a logo. Each of them had one on their sleeve.

It looked like a skull. The skull had a hat and a bandana on. Very cool. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

Either way. It was a logo for a gang.

Crap they were from a gang.

How did I not see this coming?

Why couldn't I have  just listen to Case for once.

"So this is the girl Case cares about?" The seemingly oldest asked his two other friends.

I swallowed and looked down.

"I guess so....I don't see why...didn't think she was really his type," Chuckled one of them,

"I mean sure she's kinda a babe...she's got the figure." he said, glancing over my body. My groan was barley audible.

"I guess she's hot but..." they looked at me as though trying to figure something out.

"kinda emoish huh?" He laughed, lifting a strip of my hair.

"She dresses it too." One of the others pulled at my jacket.

"I'm still here you know." I snapped, "and thats not a word.."

"What?" He said angrily, looking at me as though he was furious I would actually speak.

"I said it's not a word. Emoish." I repeated.

"So Woods likes this girl?" He stared at me in disbelief,

"He doesn't." I assured.

"Oh, he obviously does. Why else would he have stopped those guys from giving you what you deserved?" He smirked.

"Maybe he didn't want blood on his hands..." I mumbled.

"He's got plenty of blood on his hands." The guy looked happy, seeing the expression on my face.

"Let go of me I'm going to be late for class." My voice was angry.

"And we really don't care. But I guess we're done with you," he said, looking over me once more. "Watch your back...princess." He smiled, like he knew something I didn't.

He let go of me.

I quickly walked in the opposite direction, hearing their laughs and feeling their stares.

Why don't we just skip pass the crushing anxiety and endless teasing?

Back at the apartment, Harley had gotten me a nightstand. White and pink like typical little girls furniture.

"What's this?" I asked as I set down my backpack,

"Your nightstand. See it's got drawers and...yeah." Harley smiled.

"It's great Harley, but uh...why?" I asked.

"Cause until I can afford a bigger apartment, this is your room. Lucky, you got your own TV." He nodded happily.

Ohhhhh. Ok. He was trying to make a statement about how I wasn't going back to Gloria.

That was nice I guess.

"It's great Harley. Thanks. How do you feel?" I asked, walking to him.

He shrugged. "I mean it's not that bad. Just bruises." He said, in an almost mocking way.

A frown spread over my lips as I tried to understand what he was getting at,

Wait. Oh. Oh ok. Gloria. That was my main line, their just bruises.

He smirked at me and I rolled my eyes, "oh whatever, use the ice pack."

"It melted."

"You have to put it in the freezer and re-freeze it."

"You said not to move it. " he sounded confused.

"Harley. I know your not serious."

"Sorry Alex I...I'm confused." He said.

"Oh my god." I took the melted ice pack and put it in the fridge.

He frowned, as though accepting he didn't understand.

"Huh. So, I'm going back to work tomorrow."

"Uh...you sure?" Worry crept into my mind,

"Yeah Alex, I need to get paid." He said in a duh kind of way.

"Yeah. True. I'll find a job-"

"Yeah. No." Harley intervened quickly,

"Why not?" I sighed,

He put his arm over me, "your my little sister, you gotta let me protect you ok?" He said.

I leaned against him. "Yeah. Ok Harley..." I decided, knowing that's what he wanted.

I'd find some way to make money, but for now,

it was nice to just be held.

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SORRY I HAVENT UPDATED. I'm still grounded but hopefully I'll be able to update again soon! Thanks for all your reads guys! I love y'all! Vote and comment! 😘😘