@devoidacheā sent:Ā āi got you. youāre safe now.ā
She was panting, her hands gripping his arms twice as tight as his own were wrapped around hers, hands shaking as fingers clutched at his jacket sleeve. Her head turned back toward the alley, but there was nothing there, no shadow-drenched figures, no silhouettes of threat, no almost-silent crunch of boots on gravel. āThey- there were guys there, I swear, āDay, please you have to believe me-ā She turned back to him, the high ponytail sheād worn for her shift swinging into her face as she turned back to him, fear still etched across her expression and in her eyes. āThey got on the bus after me I didnāt even think about it but they got off at my stop and I recognized them from the club tonight.ā She hadnāt sped up, hadnāt ran- prey instinct was her main instinct and she knew running inspired a chase.
Instead sheād text Thursday, a desperate āplease come down and meet me at the streetā text, in hopes that she could get to his apartment before anything uncomfortable or downright dangerous happened. She had mace- she wasnāt stupid walking home in the dark- but there was a sharp tang of fear that it wouldnāt have been enough, not against more than one person.
Heād met her though, there were no shadows lurking behind her and his deep, reassuring voice told her she was safe. Her fingers still shook around the fabric of his sleeve, but her breathing had calmed somewhat and she laid her forehead against his shoulder long enough to take a deep breath before letting go of him and straightening her spine, unable to help the glance backwards. āCan I hang out for a little while?ā She asked softly.