Chapter 212 Casualty

Chapter 212 Casualty
Laurette’s POV

Our first stop had been yet another fancy restaurant, where Hosea had attempted to stuff me full with different kinds of incredibly tempting meals. I managed to stand my ground and only had one, although I had to physically look away from all the other delicious options in the menu to avoid foaming at the mouth. 

The next stop was a jewelry shop we stumbled across, after hearing the owner call out about a customization promo. I skipped at the thought of having a customized jewelry, but Hosea didn’t seem interested. However, when he caught me staring into the shop for more than five seconds, he sighed and pulled me into it. 

We came out moments later with two golden bracelets both having H&L charms and inscriptions on them. I pause to stare into the bag in my hand, where the bracelets lie in pretty little boxes, and I find myself grinning from ear to ear. 

Now, Hosea and I strolled through the somewhat busy streets in search of what else to try. Something about strolling casually in the street with my fingers swinging the bags of our customized bracelets and the warmth of Hosea’s presence closely behind me, feels like we are acting out a scene straight from a new age romcom. 

I turned around to face Hosea, walking backwards so the distance between us remains. “Where exactly are we?”  I ask him for the first time today. 

The streets were beautiful. With tall buildings and structures that gave the perfect city vibe, except there was hardly any traffic or hustle and bustle. It was lovely. And it was certainly not Greytown. 

“You would’ve known if you didn’t spend most of the journey asleep.”  He says lowly, and I almost don’t catch it when a loud vehicle drives by. 

I smile, slowing my steps a little bit. “It’s your fault for not waking me up. I had every intention to be present.”

“Right.”  He nods, sending a quick glance behind me. He closes the distance between us in one long stride, grabbing my arm and hauling me over to the side with him. I stare up in confusion, but as the small group of men walk past us with slurred words and loud laughter, I realize he was simply getting me out of the way.

“Almost forgot other pedestrians use the street as well”. I let out an awkward laugh, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear as I turn to walk side by side with him instead. 

He breathes out a chuckle, looking down in amusement. “You can do whatever you want.”

I rest a hand on his arm to get him to stop walking. “You haven’t answered me”. 

He blinks, tilting his head with a scoff. “You mean you have never been to the city you are dying to school in?”

I frown. School? I twirl on my feet to take one more sweep of the beautiful city, and as I do, the realization dawns on me like a ton of bricks. 

“Brookston?!”  I gasp, my hands coming up over my mouth in shock. I look around again, a frown between my brows as I try to find any semblance with the pictures of the city flying around online. Safe to say they totally understated the beautiful city. “But… how come? This isn’t what is on the public fliers. I mean yes I knew it was beautiful, but not this beautiful.”

“This town changes every year.”  Hosea tells me, shoving his hands in his pockets. “The ports are doing very well in pumping revenue into the city, which is why they are always ready for a development.”

“Whoa…”. I breathe, staring at the large glass board at the side of the street where fliers are advertised. There is a washed flier of the University pasted on it. Pft, if only I saw it sooner. “It makes me want to come even more now”. I gush, looking up at Hosea. He acknowledges my thrill, but looks above my head right after. 

“The city isn’t as clean as it seems. There’s a lot of shady shit going on in the shadows. On a grand scale, it isn’t much better than Greytown.”

“What? Shady shit like what?”  I fall in step with him as he walks forward, my ears peeled to his voice despite the sounds of cars zooming by. 

Hosea looks down his lashes at me, smacking his lips. “Nothing you should be concerned with.”

I huff, folding my arms across my chest. “You were the one who brought it up.”

“I don’t want to spoil the image of your dream city in your head.”

“My dream city?”

“Is it not?”

“I haven’t been to enough cities to decide which one is my dream. But this can serve for now.”  I rake my hopeful eyes over the tall buildings that reflect the clear blue sky. “As my dream city.”

The silence drags on for more than necessary, and I turn to find Hosea staring at something straight ahead, his brows furrowed in concentration. I try to follow his gaze, but only register a group of men gathered to smoke at the entrance of a dark alley up ahead. Looking back at Hosea, I notice the look of apprehension clouding his features but as soon as my hand grazes his, he blinks it away. 

“You wanna head back?” He asks. 

All of a sudden? I want to ask, but instead, I give him a nod and let him grab my hand, pulling me in the direction we came. His steps are faster than usual, long strides that covers enough ground but makes it difficult for me to catch up. 

“Is something wrong?”  I ask in heavy breaths, pulling on his hand to get him to look at me. 

He pauses, looking into my eyes. “No. But I need you to trust me okay?”

My brows furrow at his words, and I watch his eyes flit up to something over my shoulder. I look behind me, and to my surprise, the men who had gathered at the entrance of the alley were now strolling in our direction. 

Strange. 

That, coupled with his reaction is pretty much enough evidence to support my suspicion that something isn’t right and it has to do with them. 

“What’s going on?”  I wrap my fingers around his fist that is clenched tightly. Hosea is looking around us, and I can see the wheels turning in his brain. He doesn’t seem scared in the least, which grounds me in a way. But he looks very much pissed. As though this is the last thing he would’ve wanted to happen. 

Hanging his head, he pulls me to his chest. “Fuck sake…” he mumbles. “I should’ve drove here at least.”

I bite my lip. It was my idea that we walk for a bit. 

I look up, noticing that the men have gotten reasonably closer and are now sizing us up. Hosea sighs and pulls me behind him. My forehead meets his solid back, and for a moment the men disappear. But Hosea’s grave voice brings me back to reality,

“Stay behind me no matter what.”