Kale's POV
I always had a sharp instinct, especially for the things around me: structures, nature, and sounds. My mom used to tell me that my hearing is much more heightened than other people's. Eli once said I had the concentration of someone lacking a sense organ because apparently when someone loses one of their sense organs... the others become more heightened to help the person get around.
I didn't lose any of my sense organs; I was just born this way... hyper aware of what is going on around me even from afar if I will myself to.
Though outside of my natural instincts, I also trained in the past, learning how to fight just to pass time; in fact, at some point in my life I was street fighting... If I go back to my hometown now, I'm sure I'll still be the best now, but that's all in the past.
I sigh and sit back in the car seat. Maybe it's because of the two cars following us that suddenly led me down memory lane. We're currently going to Amory's studio apartment. It's not long after we moved that I noticed the two cars following us. My eyes were fixed in the rearview mirror watching them follow right behind us, turning and switching lanes with us.
I looked at Amory as she made yet another turn...
She is driving almost like she is aware of the people following us.
"Where is the studio apartment?" I said, turning to her.
"A few blocks after our school"
"You're nowhere close to the school."
"I forgot to tell you, I have to pick up something at Carmen's shop."
I gave her a grim look as she stopped at a candy shop. I looked around the place, immediately noticing an alley at the back of the shop. This place looks shady, at least enough for whoever is following us to do what they want to in the alley.
I looked in the mirror again to see them right behind us... They stopped.
Amory got out of the car and I followed suit
"Kale, just wait for me in the car; I won't be long. I just need to pick up something."
I nodded at her and watched her disappear into the shop. Looking at the structure of this shop, it probably has a back door connected to the alley.
I looked in time to see two men leave each of the cars before moving towards the alley.
I don't really need anyone to tell me that they're here for Amory, and it's obvious they don't have good intentions towards her.
Almost by instinct I got out of the car immediately. I looked around and spotted another alley beside the building on the other end connecting the two alleys. I walked briskly to the other alley and turned in time to intercept the men before they reached Amory.
I stood before them, my gaze dragging in all of their stance and posture... They're not here to joke.
"Get out of the way, boy," the biggest of them all yelled at my face. I didn't move, not even as much as flinching or saying anything, and just stared.
"Are you dumb?" another came to stand before me, clearly irritated. No doubt I can beat these people to a pulp if I wanted to; I just have to raise my fist... I don't want that.
Lord, please, I need a way out... not with my fist though.
"I'm sorry I cannot do that," I said simply, looking around the alley. From here I could still see the road; people were talking and chattering happily.
One of them chuckled slowly, with no humor in his voice. "I don't have time for this." He moved quickly to grab my collar, but I moved out of the way. He turned to land a punch, but I ducked immediately, moving from under his arm. This just annoyed him because he now turned to me, full on ready to fight. I cannot fight him but was very good at making sure he missed every single time.
I don't need someone to tell me how irritated he is right now, and the others joined in, obviously annoyed by what I was doing, but I kept doing what I was doing, but I can only do this for some time; soon I'll be forced to throw a punch. I turned in time to block a punch to the face with my elbow, ducking to avoid an incoming kick.
Lord... Please something... Anything.
And there it was... Any officer standing at the road would be curious about what was happening at the alley, not exactly sure we are just playing around.
That's it...
I allowed one of them to lay their hands on me, grabbing me by the collar before slamming my back to the wall, his fist raised to hit me.
"Officer," I yelled, making his hands halt in the air before he glanced at the direction I called, the curious police already moving towards us. The guy above me cussed at me before retreating back. "Hey, stop there. What's going on here?"
And that was their cue to run; the police came to me briefly, asking if I was alright, before running after the assailants.
I breathed in, fixing my collar. Thank you, Lord...
I muttered before moving out of the alley, looking around frantically for Amory.
And I was accosted by her immediately. I was within arm's reach.
"Where did you go?" she yelled, her eyes briefly searching around my body, when I didn't answer.
Her eyebrows were scrunched together in disapproval as she came closer to me, "Are you alright?"
I nodded reluctantly, still not convinced. Her hands moved quickly to my neck, moving frantically to my chest... Okay, I'm not ready for this.
My hands immediately moved to hold both of her hands, moving them far from my body, before looking into her eyes. "I'm fine, Amory. I just went to use the restroom."
She searched my gaze briefly, and I nodded to reassure her before she immediately seemed to go back to her normal self, snatching her hands from my hold before moving to the car. Not saying a word to me, I followed her and got into the car.
The rest of the drive to the studio apartment was quiet; it's clear she is not acting her usual self. For some reason she looked shaken up, making me wonder if she encountered other people inside the candy shop.
"Do you have anything in mind?" I glanced at her briefly; her gaze was fixed on the road while she asked me.
"Not really, but if you can paint, I'm up for it."
"I used to paint."
"Good, that makes it easier; we just need to add a bit of poetry and make a video," I said as the car pulled up at an underground parking lot.
We got out and headed towards the elevator that led us to the last floor. We reached our destination with Amory leading, and we entered the studio, and…
Okay, I'm not ready for this.
I looked at Amory in clear horror at the state the room was in... But she just rolled her eyes at me, moving to sit on the couch.
This place is a disaster; everything was lying around—papers, snacks, shoes, clothes. I can even see some traces of paint and brushes and opened and half-eaten junk lying around on the couch...the same couch she is relaxing on right now.
"Well, how long do you plan on staying at the door and staring like a creep?"
"As long as this room remains like this."
"Like what?" she said, looking at me and then around the room.
"Like a dumpster," I said through gritted teeth.
"Oh... Well, it doesn't look that bad; I think we can make do."
"How?" I asked incredulously.
"I don't know, Kale; just pretend you don't see those food wrappers or the pizza box, and if you're uncomfortable with the clothes on the floor, avoid them too and just make your way to the couch."
I glared at her.
"What! The couch is fine " she said before looking at the half-eaten chips on it, her hand moving quickly to push it off the couch to the floor, its contents splattering all over the place.
"Well, it's fine now; come over here."
"No," I said, "nothing will make me stay on that couch before it's cleaned."
" Well we can't work with you standing at the door; you need to come closer somehow. We need to do research together."
"No, we need to clean this hellhole before I come inside."
"I'm not cleaning Kale," she said, taking her phone to scroll through it.
"Yes, we are," I said very strongly. I'm not a fan of cleaning, but I can't exactly stay in this dumpster for longer than 2 minutes.
"No, I'm not," I breathed in, trying to keep my cool. It hasn't even been long since I stayed with this girl, and I'm already losing my cool.
Lord help me... I don't want to lose my cool and act out of impulse; help me with patience."
"We need to clean to have a fresh, ventilated room in order to think and create beautiful art.
Amory looked at me; surprisingly, she did.
"Please," I added.
I saw her pupil dilate, her gaze seizing me up before she groaned and sat up.
"Fine! Don't look at me like that," she said before leaving that accursed couch.
I sighed in relief, rubbing the back of my head.
Thank you, Lord... Speaking calmly does help