~Alec~
"Fuck" she groans, burying her face into my chest. I can't help the grin that spreads across my face, her embarrassment oddly endearing. Looking back up, i shoot a look at the students gathering around, mouths agape at the sight before them. I curl my lip up into a snarl and the students immediately disperse, scattering like rabbits. I shake my head, trying to fight off the irritation from having to deal with the morons in this school, and resume bringing Erica to the nurses office. Once I bring her in and set her down, the nurse looks over her swollen face and busted lip, a deep frown taking over her face, her brows furrowed in concern. "Honey, what happened to you?" She looks up at the nurse, her good eye wide, and stutters out a reply. "O-oh. I-I um fell. In the girls bathroom" her face heats and her eyes shift to the floor, the nurses frown deepened.
Clearing my throat, I turn to the nurse, trying to ignore the feeling in my chest at the way Ericas head whipped up at the sound. "Stop lying. Mallory, or whatever the fuck that dumb bitches name is, and her dumbass friends jumped her in the bathroom. I know cuz I saw it." The nurse looks at Erica, her face full of pity, before speaking again, this time her voice is gentle and sympathetic. "Sweetheart is that true?" "N-no. I'm not sure why you're saying that Alec." I shake my head furiously, my blood starting to boil. "Stop lying to her and tell the truth! Why the fuck are you protecting her and her dumbass friends?!?" She shoots up off the bed, whipping her head to face me. "Because it didn't happen!" The nurse lets out a sigh, knowing there's not much that can be done, and finishes dressing her wounds before sending her home for the day. Erica stomped furiously out the door before bee lining for the front doors. I jog after her, surprised at how quick she was. I finally catch her just as she makes it to the student parking lot. Grabbing her from behind, I pick her up and spin her away from her car, her keys falling to the ground. She keeps her eyes pointed at the ground, her breathing rough and fast.
Tilting her head up to look at me, I take a deep breathe, trying to keep my composure. "Why would you lie Erica? She could have helped you! Those girls deserve to pay for what they did to you!" I can't help my voice raising each sentence, and my chest tightened when I notice tears welling up in her eyes. "Hey hey hey. Shhhh don't cry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell." I say in a soothing voice, approaching her slowly before cautiously tucking the stray strand of her hair behind her ear. She looks up at me as a single tear falls down her cheek. "I couldn't tell you the truth if I wanted to...." her eyes flick to the ground as I cock an eyebrow at her statement. "So change the details around. Or hell even take them out. But you need to get it off your chest." I feel her still in my arms, and looking down I see her forehead is crinkled with worry, her eyes narrowed, deep in thought. After a few minutes of silence, I'm about to give up hope on her telling me, when suddenly she starts speaking, her voice soft and cautious. "If my father ever found out I snitched... on anyone for anything... he'll kill me.." the last three words come out as a whisper, and I feel my body itch from the desire to avenge this poor girl for everyone's wrong doing.
I look down at her, empathy coursing through my veins. I knew all too well what it's like to have to be a specific version of yourself, no matter how scary, in order to please a parent. He also knew what it was like to have to hide the reason, though he wasn't sure why she'd be hiding it. But even with the reason being unknown it still brought him comfort to know he wasn't alone in his predicament. "I also know what that's like..." she looks up at me, her eyes wide in surprise before some form of realization and understanding flash in her eyes. "It really sucks..." her voice is soft and small. "Yeah it does. But you're not alone. From now on you are under my protection." She looks up at me, a light blush spread across her nose and ears, her eyes wide. "Y-you don't n-need to d-do all of that. " I barely recognize the sound that comes for my throat, before I wrap my arms around her, resting my head on hers. "I want to protect you. I don't know what dangers you may be in but from now on you're safe." Even though She'd just met me She couldn't help but believe every word I spoke, because all she did was nod. "We can't hangout outside of school" her voice just barely above a whisper. "I know. We can't. "