gangleader and the abused girl

chapter.2. the conversation

Mia's POV:

Tuesday morning came, and I woke up at 5:00 am to get ready for school. As I got dressed, I stared at myself in the mirror and couldn't help but feel disgusted. I tried to cover my arms and back with long-sleeved shirts, but they only made me feel hotter and more suffocated. I looked like a freak.

I sighed and headed out the door, not wanting to be late again. As I walked down the street, I noticed a shadowy figure in the distance. It was James. I froze, feeling like a deer caught in headlights. I had no idea what he wanted from me.

As I got closer, he stepped out of the shadows and walked towards me. I held my breath, waiting for him to say or do something. But all he did was look at me with a piercing gaze.

"Hey," he said finally.

I felt my heart skip a beat. "H-Hi," I stuttered.

He seemed to sense my nervousness and smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you," he said. "I just wanted to make sure you're alright."

I looked at him skeptically, wondering why he would care. "What do you mean?" I asked.

He gestured to my arms and back. "I saw the bruises. I know who did it."

I felt my face grow hot with shame. I didn't want anyone to know what was happening behind closed doors. "It's nothing," I lied. "I fell down stairs."

James raised an eyebrow. "You expect me to believe that?"

I shrugged. "Believe what you want. It's not your problem."

He looked at me intently, then sighed. "Fine. But if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here."

With that, he walked away, leaving me standing there, feeling oddly comforted by his words. I couldn't explain it, but something about James made me feel safe.

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James' POV:

As I watched Mia walk away, I couldn't help but feel angry and frustrated. I knew she was lying to me. I've been around enough people to know when they're not telling the truth. But I also knew her situation was complicated, and I didn't want to push her away.

I'm not a hero, but I've seen enough crap in my life to know that sometimes people need to be saved. And there was something about Mia that made me want to protect her. I couldn't explain it, but I didn't want to see her hurt again.

I had to find out what was really going on. I had the resources to do it, but I didn't want to scare her off. I knew I had to approach her carefully, and I had to gain her trust first.

The next day, during lunch, I saw Mia sitting alone in the corner of the cafeteria. She was staring down at her food, looking sad and defeated. I decided to sit next to her.

"Hey," I said casually.

She looked up at me, surprised. "Oh, hey."

"What's up?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Nothing," she muttered, refusing to meet my eyes.