Colliding with Fate

~Fifteen~

I drove Fate home as I made him promise he would let me take him all the way home now. It took a few tries, but he finally gave in. Fate hadn't taken his hoodie off other than when he was alone with Mr Weaver, but I was still curious.

"Hey, Fate?" I questioned. He turned to me in curiosity, waiting for me to speak.

If I wanted Fate to open up with me, I needed to be honest with him as well. I had been worried sick late at night, thinking about my nightmare about him. Every time I had it, I felt like each time it was getting worse. Each time, it hit me harder than the last. I wanted answers.

"Can I tell you something?" I asked. "Anything," Fate replied, his voice deep. I got goosebumps as he spoke, even if it was just one word.

I took a deep, shaky breath. "It's going to sound weird, okay?"I received silence, a sign to continue. "I keep getting this nightmare about you. In it, I'm in the woods, running from something. In the distance, I see a train car and I hear someone whisper "I have told you before. I will not go back again," then someone is hit. I climb in the car and it's almost completely dark, the moon giving off some light. I turn behind me and see you... Your face is bloody and you're beaten. You told me to help you. You told me to look at you, Fate. You knew it was me. You were so hurt and broken..." When I finished, I was choking up, willing the tears to go away. I hated crying.

I hadn't realized it before, but I was stopped in the middle of the road, my knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel so tight. Beside me, Fate shifted in his seat so he was facing me. He tore my hands away from the wheel and held them in his calloused hands. I didn't mind, though.

As soon as Fate touched me, I knew I wasn't alone. I closed my eyes from the intensity of my emotions. "Hey. Hey, look at me. Evanine." Fate whispered, his thumbs rubbing my knuckles.

I shook my head. I hadn't realized this nightmare had affected me this much until now. It was crazy how much I felt towards one person. Fate lifted my chin up, willing me to open my eyes. "Evie, please."

Evie.

I opened them and saw that Fate's forehead was creased with worry, his eyes burning. "Listen, I care about you, okay? I'm not a man of many words but I will tell you this - I care about you. Without even realizing, you have helped me so much these past two months. I am okay. That nightmare isn't true. Please don't worry about me. Please, Evie, please don't worry." He said gently.

A tear fell. Two. Three. I was a mess. I was completely broken in that moment. But when Fate reached up and wiped each tear away, I slowly came back together. I was whole again. I understood now. Now I knew.

"Okay," I sniffled, rubbing my eyes.

I drove Fate the rest of his way home without crying, thankfully. By the time I turned onto his street, I was happy, actually. My chest wasn't heavy, my heart was happy. I was okay. I was finally feeling completely okay since I started having that nightmare. I hoped that now that I talked to Fate, now it would go away.

Fate sucked in a quick breath. I turned to him in confusion as I pulled up to his house. My eyes widened in terror as Fate cursed under his breath and leaped out of the car towards the scene in front of me.

An older man with light skin and light brown hair was throwing things from the doorway out into the yard. An old dresser, an antique lamp, dirty chairs. His hair reached to about his shoulder in waves. He wasn't fit like Fate, but he was tall.

I watched as Fate slammed my passenger side door shut and ran to a small black woman who was weeping, her shoulders shaking as her head was in between her knees as she cried against their home. He wrapped his arms around her, but she flinched away. When she looked up, there was pure fear in her eyes. My stomach dropped as she shook her head before clinging onto Fate for dear life.

I wanted to cry again. The man threw a couch cushion out of the door then spotted Fate. My legs became weak as he stormed over to Fate and ripped him away from the woman. I got out of the car, looking over the hood of the car at them.

"Stay away from her!" Fate yelled, approaching the man, whose hands were digging into the poor woman's arms before he slapped her across her face. "MOM!"

Oh my... My heart just broke in that moment.

I watched as Fate jumped on top of the guy. My hands flew over my mouth, holding back the blood-curdling scream in the back of my throat as Fate was sent an elbow to the rib.
"Hey! Get off of him!" I screamed, tests brimming my eyes. Adrenaline was bursting through my veins. My entire body was shaking. I knew I was on the verge of a panic attack, but I couldn't seem to help myself as my legs carried me to Fate. I needed to help him. Fate glanced worriedly at me. "No, Evanine-"

"This your girlfriend, son?" The older man spat. Now that I was closer, I could see the striking resemblance. They both had the same hair and eyes. I knew those eyes. This had to be. Fate stared hatefully towards his dad before turning back to me. "Get in the car. Drive home." I stood still, completely frozen. I couldn't move. I was too scared. The way Fate's dad staring me down made my brain on high-alert. It was disgusting and degrading, his gaze.

I scowled at him.

"Evanine. Now!" Fate exclaimed, pointing to my car behind me. I shook my head. I wasn't leaving when a situation like this was happening. I couldn't leave without at least trying to help. I didn't want to ditch Fate when things got hard. I wasn't like that. I wanted him to know that I was here no matter what, no matter when.

"Don't leave. Stay for dinner." Fate's dad smirked, his eyes full of mischief.

I felt bile rise in my throat. "No. Fate, bring your mother. Let's go." Fate's eyes widened in realization and gratitude as he turned towards the house, where his mom was poorly attempting to keep herself together.

When Fate whipped his head around, his dad grabbed him by his hoodie. "I have told you before. I'm not going back." He grunted. When he let go, he spat on Fate's shoes and gave him an unsympathetic smile.

"They are staying. Run along, missy. If you go to the police, you're dead. Have a nice afternoon."

"Hank. Enough." Fate ordered, glaring at him coldly.

hank. his name was hank.

I may not know a lot, but I do know one thing: Hank was trouble.

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Oh, yay.

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