The Boy Next Door

7 - Can I walk you home?

"What really, an instagram gossip account? This generation is so weird oh my god!" Jenna said, when I told her what had happened.

I let out a small laugh, "It really is,"

"Oh my god." Jenna said, suddenly, Staring at her phone "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god," She yelled.

"Whaaaaat, whats wrong?" I asked.

"Holy shit. Okay I need to go back to work. The article that was suposed to go up in tommrow's edition got completely scrapped and I need to fix it. wow. Uhm. It's late, Joe will give you a ride home. Pack the food, or eat here..whatever you want. I'll be back before 12. Please please lock the door, dont open it for anyone. You have the keys right ?" she asked, putting on her coat.

"Yes. Jenna I'm 17, I can take care of myself." I said.

"I knoww, I'm just not used to responsibility like this. Love you, text me when youre back home," She walked away.

"Love you, you're not responsible for me," I said back to her.

I finished my dinner there alone, and it was kind if nice actually. I considered meeting my uncle on the way back, but figured Id just go some other day, it was pretty late anyway.

Once it started to get dark, I decided to leave and packed my things.

I turned on my phone to check the time but it was dead.

Ah shit.

I could ask Joe for a ride, but the weather was nice and I knew the way back now..mostly.

I dexided to walk, and hardly a minute after I started walking I noticed that my usual route was blocked.

There were barricades put up.

I read the notice stuck to wall, it said that construction was going on, and would take another 2 weeks to finish.

I figured that I had no other choice rather than intuitively trying to find my way back home. I knew roughly where it was and I can ask someone I find on the way if necessary.

I walked for a bit and found an ally which seemed to be the only way I could go.

Again, back in LA I didn't walk. especially not through Allys, moe specifically, shady Allys, ESPECIALLY NOT IN THE FUCKING NIGHT.

Anyway I was pretty scared, but manged to walk through most of the stretch unscathed, until,

I heard a soft chatter from around the corner. As I got closer, the voices got louder, it sounded more like a fight.

C'mon Kiara, don't be a baby. I thought.

"Or what are you gonna tell daddy someone hurt you," A voice taunted.

"Shut the fuck up Craig, you're lucky your head still sits on your neck," The other one said.

I clenched my fists and gulped. I did not want to walk past whatever the fuck was going on, but I didn't see any other option. Hollering a cab didn't seem any safer, my mom was always iffy about drivers.

Okay, I said. I took a deep breath in and continued to walk. The side of my eye caught the group of men fighting, but I refused to look in their direction entriely.

I had almost crossed them, when,

"Hey there, I'm Deryl, can I ask which part of town your from? Walking outside at this time of the night isn't exactly very safe, especially in Brooklyn," He said, walking behind me.

"Deryl, back the fuck up" The other voice said calmly.

I gulped again regretting not taking a stupid cab for fucks sake.