Daniel POV

When I got to the liquor store, Ethan was already there. He had sunglasses on and was leaning against an old, run down car with what looked like bullet holes in some places- and a lot of broken glass. He looked like he was texting.

"Hey." I said to get his attention. He had an old school rap station on at a low volume. He jumped a little and smiled, taking off his glasses.

"Hey Daniel. Here get in, there's no glass on the seat don't worry." He laughed, I gave him a weak smile in response.

As he walked to the driver side I got in the car, trying to hide my bloody, cut shirt. He got in the drivers seat but seemed to notice that my mood was different than earlier.

"Hey... is everything okay?" His brows drew close together and his eyes met mine. He scanned my face,  and I could tell he was trying to read me. I looked away and nodded.

"Everything's fine. Thanks for picking me up." I said nervously. I wish that I could tell him everything... but I hardly knew him. I didn't even know why I was compelled to call him for this, I just knew that I didn't want to be alone. But it had only been a few hours since he last saw me, so I felt a bit weird. He watched me for another few seconds before I saw him nod from the corner of my eye and start the car.

"No problem. Hey, put on that hoodie and take these." He handed me his glasses.

"Uh, why?"

"It's just the neighborhood you know? Don't want anyone dangerous seeing you." He reassured me and I nodded. I dug my jacket out of my backpack which I had completely forgotten about. I pulled it on uncomfortably, but was careful to not show any signs of being in pain. After throwing the hoodie over my head and popping on Ethan's sunglasses, I felt more comfortable.

The drive was only two blocks before Ethan slowly pulled up next to an alleyway and hopped out of the car. He walked to my side and grabbed my backpack for me which I was secretly grateful for. After manually locking his car, he led me to a shady looking apartment complex. We walked all the way to the end and Ethan quickly ushered me in the last room, number 707. I took off his glasses when we were inside and looked around. It wasn't too bad, there was a corner full of empty beer cans and some random movies scattered.

"Nice apartment." I said and looked out the window, recognizing one of the alleyways I walked through to get to school.

"Thanks. So, what's up? Did anything happen at school?" I knew he was referring to why I'd asked him to hang out, but I played dumb.

"Nothing really. Just felt like company." He gave me a surprised look. I smiled back.

"Why wouldn't you tell me what was wrong on the phone?" I froze for a second.

"I just... didn't want to be there." His expression softened and he uncrossed his arms.

"Well give me the grand tour, where's your room?" My face heated up when I realized how that sounded, but I kept my mouth shut knowing I'd only embarrass myself more if I didn't. He laughed, not seeming fazed.

"Yeah. So there's four guys living in here and two rooms, so I share one with my buddy Fox. I think you met him..." There was an moment of silence so I nodded.

"Yeah, sounds fun."

He led me into a surprisingly neat room except for a corner with some laundry on the floor. I noticed that there were no pictures, just a closet and two mattresses on the floor.

I smiled.

"Which one is yours?" I said pointing to the mattresses. He pointed to the one with black sheets.

I nodded, feeling uncomfortable.

Why am I asking him about his mattress?

"Wanna go find something to watch?" He asked me, catching my attention.

"Oh yeah, definitely." We walked out of the room and sat down on the couch. I winced a little as my back hit the couch, and I hoped Ethan didn't notice.

"Thanks for picking me up." I said nervously.

Ethan gave me a strange look before suddenly pulling me into a hug. I was taken aback and waited a minute before timidly hugged him back. I flinched a little though when he hugged me a bit tighter before letting me go.

"What? What's wrong?" He said, noticing.

"It's nothing." I said, my face turning red. I knew if he found out I might have a panic attack and wanted to avoid that at all costs. He gently touched the back of my hoodie on then looked at his hands.

"Why is your hoodie covered in blood...?" He looked shocked, and reached down to pull it away from my skin.

"No— no it's fine, it's probably nothing." I said holding onto my jacket. Ethan stood up and got a paper towel and lightly tapped my back with it.

"Yeah... it's blood." He said, showing me the bloody red paper towel.

I froze, starting to panic. Ethan noticed and gently but firmly grabbed my shoulders.

"Daniel don't worry, I won't hurt you."

I tried to control my breathing and my uncontrolled breaths turned into deep ones and I could feel the attack fading away slowly, as I looked into Ethan's striking green eyes.

He took a deep breath and smiled.

"Good. Can you take off your jacket?" I slowly took off my jacket and held it in my lap not wanting to get blood everywhere. Ethan stood up quickly and walked behind the couch. He pulled my shirt apart from how it had been cut earlier and froze.

Ethan POV

I felt my blood run cold as I saw what was beneath Daniels shirt. I couldn't move for a second then I felt Daniel shift uncomfortably which brought me back to my senses.

"Who did this?" I asked, my voice like ice.

He waited a long time before answering.

"Just some kids."

"I assume they have names?" He didn't answer me and put his head in his hands. I studied it a bit longer, luckily the cuts didn't seem too deep. His back heaved slightly, like he was crying. I quickly walked around and saw him wiping tears away from his scrunched up face. I sat down next to him again and pulled him to my chest carefully avoiding his back.

"It's okay, you don't have to tell me now, don't think about it." When the crying stopped and my shirt was soaked, I turned my attention to his back again. It would likely get infected if it wasn't cleaned soon.

I got up and searched the bathroom cabinets for our emergency kit, then grabbed a towel.

"Daniel, sit facing the side of the couch, I need to clean your back." He looked at me hesitantly, before turning.

"What does it say?" He asked me in a quavering voice that didn't sound like he wanted to know at all. I can't tell him.

"It's... um.. it's not important... we'll get it fixed somehow..." I responded in an unusually high voice. He stayed quiet so I quickly moved on. "So this is gonna burn a little but I'll do it quickly." I said and he nodded. I poured some of the rubbing alcohol on a small towel and quickly rubbed over his many cuts. He hissed and moved away, before letting me continue. I tried to do it as fast as I could, to minimize the pain.

"I'm almost done. I'll put some cold water on it okay?" He nodded, his jaw was clenched in pain. I took the bloodstained towel away and got a clean one, soaking it in cold water, before putting it on Daniels' back. I could see him relax a bit. I got the rest of the blood cleaned off and put the gauze over the cuts with the tape.

"Okay, all done." I said to him and he turned around, mumbling a thanks. I got back up and went to my room, looking for a shirt he could wear. I found a black one that seemed to be a fraction smaller than the rest and walked back out.

"Here, take this,"  I handed it to him. He mumbled a thanks and pulled it on. It was clearly too big for him but it was better than the alternative.

"Thanks," he said it clearly now. "I should probably get going before your friends find me here." He laughed nervously.

"They won't mind. But if you're going, let me walk you home." He nodded. I grabbed an extra one of my hoodies to give him because his was too bloody. After a lot of pestering, I got him to wear mine. He was pretty quiet during the walk to his house.

When we got there, he turned to say goodbye but paused and looked at me for a moment.

"Would you want to come in?" I looked back at him, surprised. It seemed out of character but, what did I know? I'd only known him a day. I nodded and followed him into the quiet house, then to his room. 

Daniel POV

I shocked myself when inviting Ethan to come inside. It just blurted out. But when he followed me in, I felt a bit more safe, despite him being a gang member. He didn't act like he was one around me.  We got to my room. I had offered Ethan to watch the TV downstairs while I did some of my late assignments, but he just watched me do them instead, getting me sidetracked. Eventually, it came time for bed.

"Hey so I'm going to bed. Did you... wanna stay over?" I figured I might as well offer, feeling like it'd be rude to kick him out.

"Would you want me to?" I paused for a moment, thinking about it for a little before deciding that I'd probably feel safer with him there. But I felt selfish.

"Sure, but you don't have to..." He smiled at me, his eyes seemed to light up. He nodded.

"Okay, you can have my bed I'll go get a mattress-"

"No of course I'll take the mattress, it's your bed." I was too tired to argue so I shrugged and helped him get the mattress out of an old closet. After, he shut and locked my door, then texted his roommate Fox, telling him he wouldn't be home that night.

We lay in silence and I began to wonder what Mason had carved on my back. I would've gone to the bathroom to check but I was too tired to move. I turned my head and saw Ethan fast asleep on the mattress.

I have a gang member sleeping in my room...

I gazed over his tattoos trying to figure out what some of them meant and drifted off to sleep.

Vote, comment, etc. ;)
Q: What's something you love to do?