#vandalist

She looked around them every now and then almost too afraid to get caught. She’ll be in big trouble if anyone sees her with him, or even worse, if her father sees them together. She knew it’s wrong to be out at this hour of the night in the presence of the most wanted vandaliser in town. Everyone wanted to find who is the one that destroys the walls and masterpieces around New Jersey, everyone wanted to put their hand on him and punish him just as the law demands it to be punished. But he was way too smart for them. He never gets caught.

Ethan saw her retention and looked at her beautiful face while putting his hood on his head. He held in front of her his red bandana, waiting for her to take it and put it on her face just as he taught her a few months ago when he brought the courage to finally ask her on these adventures of his, afraid she might not like it or find them boring. She looked in his hazel eyes which appear darker due to the surroundings and she took the bandana from him, brushing delicately her fingers on top of his hand. While never breaking eye contact, she put it on, letting it fall around her neck and she pulled her hood over her head just as Ethan did. He looked at her adorringly before coming closer and pressing his lips on her forehead for a few seconds, taking a step back afterwards.

“I’m scared.” (Y/N) whispered, embracing herself with her cold hands in an attempt of heating her body a little in the cold night.

“Do you trust me?” Ethan asked, coming closer again. He looked down at her, seeing the cute little gesture she does with her feet but he abtains his chuckle.

“Of course I do!” She scoffed. “It’s just… I told you, if my father ever catches us it’s end game for both of us!” Her voice became louder with each word and Ethan just stood there, watching and listening to her. He was a little scared too to be honest, he didn’t want her to get in trouble because of him mainly because her Father was a cop… and not any cop. Her Father was the head of the main police station in New Jersey and when you have a parent inside the law, you can’t allow yourself to bring such shame to him and your family. Sure, when something happen he can always run and escape, but leaving her behind it’s not good for any of them for so many reasons. During the day everything is good, but once the night settles… everything changes and he takes these risks only because he loves her and wants her to experience something new, to feel the adrenaline he feels every night and to accept his world just like it is, to accept him.

“I don’t want that, Ethan.” She continued when she saw his response delays to appear. She comes closer and put his hood down, locking her hands through his dark hair, a thing Ethan loved. He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead on hers, letting out a sigh.

“It won’t happen, (Y/N).”

**

“Okay, I think it’s safe for us to stop.” Ethan shouted after (Y/N) who was running ahead of him and she didn’t seem to stop any time soon. They were both laughing like crazy as the sky lightens in streaks of pink and orange and clouds are lit from the bottom in a fiery glow. Sunrise intensifies with each minute, growing brighter and sharper, and visibility improves as night is cast off. Their laughs stop just as fast as they began, only big smiles remaining on their faces while Ethan comes closer to his girl. She looks up at him and he push delicately a strand of messy hair behind her ear, inching closer to her face. Her eyes seem heavy and her cheeks were a light color of red due to her hysterical laughing and the cold that pierced her face as she ran. He was impressed with her running skills, she literally surpassed him. But maybe that happens when you tell someone to run for their life, he actually feels a little bad. Ethan decided to take (Y/N) on that side of the city where it can’t happen anything bad if someone saw you because there are not security cameras and other things that might compromise their adventure but while he was “tagging” a wall with his signature, a man saw them and started shouting after them. (Y/N) almost screamed and she could feel her air caught up in her throat while Ethan casually catched her arm and started running in the opposite direction. They finally made it downtown and stopped running.

“I must admit it, beautiful, I’m hurt and impressed.” He let out a laugh, moving his hand to the back of her head and her smile grew bigger. “Maybe you’re not just a book-worm after all.” He rolled his eyes jokingly and this time she let out a laugh. Even though they wanted to stay like this forever, the tale must come to an end.

“I think it’s time for me to go…” (Y/N) began slowly. “I don’t want my father to wake up and find out I’m not home.”

“Yeah, I know.” He sighed, looking into her caramel eyes that always seem to melt into his own hazel eyes whenever he watched her. He cupped her face with his other hand and pressed his lips to her cold ones in a short and sweet kiss. “Take care, beautiful.” He then kissed her forehead and she nodded before kissing him one more time. She smiled and turned around, heading home and leaving Ethan watching her tiny sillouette until she dissapeared around the corner.

(Y/N) tried to walk faster while adjusting her hood on her head and then putting her hands in her hoodie’s pockets. Ethan’s bandana hung loosely around her neck and the smell of his cologne invaded once again her nostrills. She took in his scent she adored so much and tried to calm down a little. It basically just started to light outside, her father won’t be up until at least 6:30 o'clock. Shrugging that off, she anyway started to walk faster just because she was cold and tired and she wanted to throw herself on her bed and drift off to sleep, but the morning air caught up in her throat when she saw her father’s car in the distance, driving down the dimly lit and desserted alley. She stopped dead in her tracks, her heart beating like crazy and she ran toward the corner of the street, praying that he didnt see her. She took her phone out, checking the time, confusion washing over her face. It wasn’t even 6 in the morning, what was going on? She decided it was best for her to arrive home as fast as she could so she started running down the alley that led behind her house. Looking around, she didn’t saw anyone or anything out of ordinary, it was really quiet, only the birds started chirpping. She went inside the house, closing the door slowly behind her so that she won’t make any noise and tip-toed through the house and up the stairs until she entered her room. She let out a sigh she didn’t know she was holding and threw herself on the bed, falling asleep almost instantly after she closed her eyes.

____________

Ethan woke up around noon, a little alerted. (Y/N) didn’t call him nor texted him and he started worrying a little, it was unusual for her to do this but as he was complaining about it, his phone buzzed beside his pillow. He turned over, taking the phone in his hand, a smile appearing on his face when he saw the name of his girl on his phone’s screen. He opened her message, his smile growing bigger with each word read.

“Hi handsome! :) sorry to bother you if you’re sleeping but I just got you something and I’m excited for you to see it. I’ve also bought a few pancakes from that place you love so much and I’m waiting for you at our bench.

Hurry! They’ll get cold! 💋”

**

“Am I late?” Ethan shouted from the distance, bringing (Y/N)’s attention back. She smiled, looking at him riding his BMX closer to her until he hopped off of it, letting it down. She closed the book she was currently reading and placed it in her open backpack, turning back again to Ethan.

“I think you made it, the pancakes aren’t that cold.” She put her hand under her chin as if she was thinking then let out a giggle. Ethan’s heart grew bigger at the girl in front of him if that’s even possible and he had this stupid smile on his face. He couldn’t resist anymore and stepped closer, cupping her face with his hands. Pressing a soft and loving kiss on her lips he knew in that moment he was the luckiest guy in the world. She smiled shyly at him before breaking eye contact. “I have something for you!” (Y/N) said excited, searching inside her backpack while Ethan took one of the pancakes. He let out a moan and rolled his eyes.

“These are so fucking good!” He grumbled, his voice a little muffled because of the amount of food he had in his mouth. (Y/N) frowned and turned to him.

“Language, young man!” She said through gritted teeth and for Ethan she was the most adorable thing in the entire world. He chuckled but decided to play along.

“Sorry!” He let out, swallowing. “They are just too delicious.” He shoves the rest of the pancake in his mouth before taking a seat beside (Y/N). She took his hand in hers and placed the book in the palm of his hand. He looked curiously, taking it from her.

“Verity, huh?” He asked, turning the book over. “I’ve never heard of Colleen Hoover.” He admitted and (Y/N) let out a laugh. Of course he never heard of her, he only read the few books (Y/N) gave him. It was kind of like a tradition - she would give him a book, he’ll read it and then he would “transform” his art to fit the content of the book. It was really romantic for him and in that way, (Y/N) knew as well he read the books. “Tell me a little about it, why Verity?”

“I chose this book for you because I’m sure you’ll love it.” She began to spoke and Ethan stopped all of his movements, keeping the book in his hands and listening to her voice. “What I’ve come to appreciate most about Colleen Hoover’s work—whether it’s an emotionally charged love story or in this case, her first go at suspense—is her penchant for pushing boundaries. For telling the unexpected story.”

“And how do you know I’ll love it?” He asked, not turning to look at her. (Y/N) smiled.

“This storyline is dark, and the lives of the characters that inhabit the pages are far from perfect, so don’t kid yourself into thinking this is something it’s not. Verity is horrifying, maddening, and what-the-hell-inducing, but it’s also sustenance for that looking to satisfy a craving for something different.” She explained, leaving him dumbfounded as always. He didn’t say anything so she continued. “I’m sure you’ll like it because you too are different and that kind of person that people always judge by its cover and catalogs as something that it’s not when in reality, you hold a lot of a different story.” He listened to her talk, her voice soothing him and they stood in silence for a few moments before he turned to her.

“Thank you, (Y/N)! It means a lot to me and I really appreciate it!” She smiled widely at him and kissed his cheek lovingly.

“Hope you’ll manage to read a few chapters until tonight, I want to go on another adventure.” She winked at him and Ethan’s smile grew bigger.

____________

“Dad? Are you home?” (Y/N) shouted from the front door, getting rid of her barely there-black sandals. She let her backpack down and looked around, going straight to the living room.

“Yes, cupcake, I’m in the kitchen!” He shouted from where he was and (Y/N) cringed a little at the nickname. She didn’t mind though, that meant he’s in a good mood. She entered the kitchen, seeing her father there in his cop uniform. He was eating a bowl of cereals with fruit yogurt and looked ahead of him at the tv on the counter.

“Hey, I woke up when you left this morning, it was quite early.” She spoke softly and her father hummed in response.

“They called me for another graffiti.” He answered, not looking at her. “It was at the end of the city, but they ran before we could arrive.” (Y/N) shifted uncomfortably next to the table, it was the same spot she and Ethan were a few hours ago. Thank God they left immediately.

(Y/N) took an apple from the table and sat down on a chair beside her father. She turned her head to the tv as well and saw the images on the news, feeling her stomach tighten. They were talking again about the vandalisers, about Ethan.

“Why don’t they let them be? I don’t see anything wrong with the graffers.” She scoffed, taking another bite from her apple. Mr. Dawson threw her a look before turning again to the tv.

“You don’t understand and I’m not expecting you to do so.” He began to speak, not looking at her. “These vandals damage the surroundings and I’m not gonna allow that. Not in my city!” He continued, turning to her this time. It wasn’t fair.

“I think what they do can be called art. Have you seen the ones done by V? They are amazing and contain every kind of color and themes.” She tried to change her father’s mind, but he only glared at her. “He did that wonderful and dark landscape on the front wall of the Penitentiary, how amazing was that?”

“Oooh, you’re talking about that one that also graffed the Police Station wall with A.C.A.B. and signed under it with V for VANDALISM.” Mr. Dawson tried to sound excited but (Y/N) felt the irony and anger in his voice and let out a long sigh, turning her head to the tv again. All she hopes for is that Ethan or any of his friends won’t get caught.

“Admit it, they draw on the most secure buildings, full of cameras and guardians on every step and they somehow still managed to never get caught. They are really smart.” She shrugged, taking a few more bites from her apple and watched as her father took his bowl and put it in the sink.

“No, dear, I think they are just a bunch of hooligans who only try to cause trouble around the city.” He chuckled but his daughter saw it wasn’t a real one, he wasn’t amused, he was frustrated that this bunch of hooligans were a lot smarter than all the cops in the city. Now (Y/N) was amused.

“Whatever.” She threw the apple spine in the trash and turned around. “Dad?”

“Yes, dear?”

“Is it okay if I go out tonight with Ethan and our other friends?” She asked in that sweet voice of hers and her father couldn’t tell her no. Also he knew Ethan and liked him very much so he knew his daughter is in good hands. Oh, if only he knew…

“Yeah, I don’t have any problem with that. I’m on my night shift anyway, just be careful!”

____________

“Some families are lucky enough to never experience a single tragedy. But then there are those families that see to have tragedies waiting on the back burner. What can go wrong, goes wrong. And then gets worse."  (Y/N) almost hummed the quotes as they walked toward the meeting point. Ethan started smiling and passed his right hand through his hair just as he intertwines fingers with the delicate girl to his left.

"The Crawford’s have experienced devastating tragedy in the loss of their twin daughters. Lowen can’t help but feel sympathy for the grieving Jeremy and his remaining son. Then she uncovers Verity’s unfinished autobiography. Page upon page of bone-chilling, psychotic admissions. As Lowen uncovers Verity’s deepest, darkest secrets, things between her and Jeremy begin to intensify.” Ethan explained, proud of himself after he finished and he looked down at (Y/N), seeing how she was already eyeing him with adoring eyes so he winked at her. She looked somewhere else, feeling her cheeks heating up and Ethan let out an angelic laugh, stoping and coming in front of her. She put her hands on his chest while he carefully cupped her face, almost too afraid she was gonna break in his hands. They were so different, yet so similiar. Even though he comes from a whole different world than her, he just couldn’t let her go for anything in life. He was attracted to her in a way he can’t explain but he wasn’t complaining. (Y/N) was everything for him and she’s the only person that can take his pain away and soothe him with just her voice. He wasn’t like the rest of the boys and she knew that too, he had problems, he was difficult, tough, stubborn and so on but she wouldn’t change a thing about him because she loves him just the way he is and no one in the world can compare to the vandaliser in a hoodie that stole her heart.

“I love you, bub!” He let out after a while of only looking into her eyes; her beautiful and gorgeous eyes he adored so much. (Y/N) smiled and cupped his face as well, taking him down to her for a kiss. He almost did it in a brutal way but his lips became fast sensual above hers and he pulled her closer if that was even possible.

“I love you.” She whispered, giving him a sweet “butterfly kiss” and Ethan could feel his little heart beating faster.

“Hey, Dolan!” An unknown voice spoke, making (Y/N) frown a little and looking up to Ethan with an eyebrow raised. He took her hand back in his and dragged her among him towards the boy. He wore a snapback over his dirty blonde hair as they could see from that little gap. He had piercing blue eyes, a silver nosering and a lot of tattoos, one of them being visible from under his purple hoodie and up his neck. He adjusted his bag on his shoulder while letting out the smoke from his cigarette.

“Ivan.” Ethan greeted him coldly. “It’s been a while.” He spoke again, a look of pure boredom on his face. (Y/N) stood a little behind him, tightening her arms around Ethan’s and she looked up at the boy. He screamed clearly trouble.

“Is this your girl?” Ivan ignored Ethan, putting all of his attention on the small girl beside him. She gulped and wanted to take a step back while Ethan remained still. “She’s very pretty!” He exclaimed, turning his attention back to the man that was now almost fuming. He wanted to punch him in the face and erase that stupid smirk of his but he tried to remain calm and keep his composure. He didn’t want to scare (Y/N).

“Are you done?” Ethan asked, his voice and face stone cold. (Y/N) looked at him, embracing him now, afraid he might say or do something bad.

“Oh wow, just offering a compliment.” Ivan laughed, throwing the cigarette-butt away. “I’m sorry if I offended you.” He smiled to both of them but Ethan was still imagining how he could crush his head.

“Come on, E.” (Y/N) spoke softly to him, not breaking eye contact with Ivan. “Let’s go!” She said a little louder this time, pulling Ethan’s hand. He obeyed without any words and started walking again to the meeting point, leaving Ivan behind.

After arriving and meeting each other, the boys and even a few girls started exchanging the spray cans they needed. (Y/N) bit her lip, the thought of her father catching them tonight making her shiver. She looked down to where Ethan stood, putting the spray cans in his bag.

“E?”

“Yes, love?” He answered instantly, not turning to her. She bit again her lip, then spoke.

“My father is driving around the city tonight.” Ethan stopped his movements, taking in what she just said and her gaze was fixed on the back of his head. He chuckled before turning to her.

“Are you scared?”

“Yeah…”

“Me too.” Ethan admitted lightly before getting up and approaching her. She widened her eyes, then furrowed her brows and sighed.

“We’ll be good.” She assured him and he nodded before taking his bag and putting it on his shoulder.

**

(Y/N) didn’t have that much fun in her entire life and she was a whole new person when she was with Ethan. He couldn’t even finish the draw he was currently trying to make because he was looking at her continuously. She took one of Ethan’s sprays and shakes it before coming to the wall. She draws a crossed V which she then embraced it in a heart. Ethan smiled and came to where she stood, adjusting the shaky heart she made, looking adorringly at it.

“Thank you for showing me the night life.” She spoke over his shoulder, smiling widely and Ethan turned to her, leaving the spray can down.

“You like it?” He asked, coming closer, putting his hands on her hips. She was so little in Ethan’s hands and that thought alone made wonders in his mind, remembering those times they made love in his room, on those same mattress that keep all the secrets and memories they both shared.

“I love it!” She exclaimed, her eyes having that specific shine. He kissed her, a kiss full of love and passion that stopped way too soon for their like.

“Dolan! We have problems!” Annelisse shouted from the distance, running towards them. She was Ivan’s sister and Grayson’s girlfriend. Even though her brother was a big asshole, she was really chill and didn’t cause any trouble to the people around her beside the cops that wanted her too for her art. She tried to make Grayson to come with her in these adventures at night just as Ethan did with (Y/N) but he wasn’t in for it. He loved her, of course, but the danger was too much for him and he couldn’t risk it. Annelisse was kind of jealous of their relationship but somehow happy that Ethan found the perfect girl for him. His face always lit up when he talked about her and just a few days ago he told the boys he wanted to surprise her with a graffiti, but not too soon. Not after what happened.

“What’s going on?” Ethan turned to her, observing the tears in her eyes and panick in her voice. She was franticaly looking around them. Something bad happened.

“They got Ivan! They picked him up!” She screamed, more tears coming down her face now. (Y/N) and Ethan’s faces were shocked and they just looked at her in disbelief. “We need to leave! Now!” She screamed once again before the sirens of the police’s car started hearing again in the distance. Ethan turned to (Y/N) who began to panick, tears forming in her eyes as well and he put his hands on her cheeks, forcing her to look him in the eyes.

“Breathe, baby! I’m here! Nothing’s gonna happen, okay?” He tried to calm her down, breathing in and out in sync with her, wiping away her tears. “Just follow me.” He kissed her forehead then took the rest of the spraying cans, stuffing them in his bag. “Everyone! Hurry!” He shouted over to the rest of the people, taking (Y/N)’s hand in his before starting to run. The sirens were too close and the noise began to feel unsupportable for their ears. They all started running after Ethan. The sirens echoed through his head and he heard them from everywhere around him, making it hard for them to realize where they actually come from. His fear transformed instantly in panick and pure dread when they ran just around the block and five cars of police were waiting for them there, with the flares-up in red and blue. They stopped abruptly in front of the headlights, mouths agape. They don’t have any chance to run now, they are surrounded.

“Everyone down on their knees!” (Y/N) heard what sounded like her father’s voice shouting at them and her heart skipped a beat. She wasn’t sure though, everything now in her head buzzed and her sight was blurry due to her tears that threatened to fall any time now on her cold cheeks.

“As for you, young lady, I’m so dissapointed in you!” She knew for sure now that it was her father. She finally let the tears fall and sobbed hardly, looking how he approached her. “If only I knew my daughter hangs out with you…” He looked over to Ethan who just stood in front of her father, not being able to do or say anything. “I’ll make sure you won’t be near her again, am I clear?” He shouted at Ethan and he gulped, letting his head down.

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. (Y/N), get in the car, we’ll have a talk at home. You’re in a lot of trouble, young lady!” Mr. Dawson was now in front of his daughter who didn’t seem to listen to him.

“No.” She said between sobs and all of the eyes were now on her.

“I beg your pardon?” Her father looked at her confused, anger evident in his voice now.

“Baby, what are you do-”

“I said no!” She brought up the courage to shout at him and Ethan couldn’t believe his eyes and ears just as her father. “I’m not going anywhere, Dad!” She continued, not knowing what made her do this but she didn’t complained. She was sick of this situation.

“Enough with these nonsenses!” Mr. Dawson was the one who screamed now and everyone got silent. “Go get them!” He shouted at the cops before they rushed to catch the vandalisers. (Y/N) screamed when she saw two of them put their hands on Ethan and she tried to stop them before she felt a pair of strong arms catching her from behind. Everything around them slowed down and with only a few seconds left, they both strrugled in the arms of the cops to make a step toward each other. Their lips caught each other in a desperate kiss full of all the fear and passion they had in them. It was that kind of kiss that made everything around them stop and just live the moment; the kind of kiss that said “please, don’t leave me!” and “don’t worry, I’ll be okay.”

They were both hardly pulled apart and (Y/N) looked at Ethan who mimicked those three words that made her world sink in an infinite abyss, her heart breaking into pieces.

“I love you.”

____________

“What is it guys?” (Y/N) asked Jake and Isaac, another two friends of Ethan and graffers. They somehow managed to escape that night, two months ago to be exactly. Since then, (Y/N) seemed to lost all of her shine, they took her happiness from her, they took her Ethan and she swore she’ll never gonna forgive her Dad for it. She sometimes visits and hangs out with Grayson, just so that he can forget about the tragedy too. Annelisse was caught and with that, Grayson’s world sunk deeper than (Y/N)’s. They got his brother and his girlfriend.

“Uhm, we wanted to show you something for a while and we decided that now is the moment.” Isaac spoke, a little awkward because they didn’t know how to behave in front of her now, not after all that happened.

“Just… Close your eyes or something, it’s not that far.”

**

“Okay, you can open them! Take your time, we’ll wait for you at the corner of the street.” Jake spoke this time, taking off his hands of her shoulders, taking a few steps back. He dragged Isaac after him and left (Y/N) there.

When she opened her eyes, she saw the most beautiful and realistic graff of them all. There, just a few steps ahead of her, on the white wall were two people; a boy, which was down on one knee, nikes on, shorts, a black hoodie -which hood covered up his head so that you could see only his nose and mouth from the profile- and in his hand he had a red rose that he offered to the other person: a girl that was looking down at him, sandals on, light pink dress and her hands were on her face, not believing the gesture. Next to the amazing drawing was the same crossed V, embraced in a little heart. (Y/N) came closer, a big smile on her face and her eyes fell down in front of the wall.

The same red rose was waiting for her together with a white paper. She took them up, her smile growing wider and she opened the paper.

“Okay so this is like the 4th or 5th page I’m trying to write cause letters are not my thing.” She read on the paper, letting out a laugh and knowing immediately this was Ethan.

“I don’t know how to start this and obviously I don’t know how I’ll end it either but I’m gonna try for you.

I hope you like the graff you just saw because I wasn’t able to see it. It was a surprise I had in plan for you for a long time now but I couldn’t do it anymore… I hope those fucks guys that did it nailed it cause if they didn’t, I’m gonna rip of their heads when I come out.

I’m sorry I’m not that kind of boyfriend that you always find in books and can stay with you everyday and make you happy. I’m sorry for the trouble I brought to you and I hope you can forgive me. I know I have a lot of defects but I’m working so hard on them and to be a better person. You taught me a lot of things and I’m so grateful for that, for you, that even after what happened I still have you in my life. I’m a really lucky guy.

I took the books from you here and I already finished them, it’s really boring here and the food is crap. But don’t worry, I’m fine! I didn’t drop the soap ;) (omg that was so bad, I’m sorry). I have a few more months of staying here and after that we can finally see each other! I’m extremely excited about it!

Anyway, tell Grayson I said "hi!” and to not worry cause me and Annelisse are okay and we’re missing him!

I hope I’ll see you again in no time baby cause I miss you so, so, so much and I want to see your beautiful face again.

I love you, bub!“

Tears fell uncontrolably down her face and she let out a few sobs, raising her eyes to look again at the beautiful picture in front of her. She misses him so much it hurts.

"I love you too, E!”

____________