six

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we say goodbye to buck and walk out to dals car. he's able to drive, and it would hurt less than him having to walk everywhere.

he sighs "where we off to?"

"my place first" i reply with a smile.

"no, that was apart of the deal. you won't make me socialize with anyone else."

"jesus dal, you can park around the corner if you'd like. i just gotta grab the supplies."

he shakes his head and we drive to my house. he parks around the corner like i said so that no one knows he's around.

i run inside and am immediately questioned. "you find dal?" pony asks "what's he been up to?" two asks next.

"um..." i'm not sure if i should say that i found him or not. i'll just say no for now. "nah, couldn't find him. but i'm gonna go to the park and paint, alright? i just want to be left alone for a bit" i half-lie and walk into my room to find my moms old paint set.

i pull it out of my closet and head back out the door without saying goodbyes.

i run back around the corner and back into dals car, holding the set on my lap.

he starts the car again, while looking at my paint set then back at me a couple times.

"the hell is that?" he asks with a funny look on his face.

"we're painting, dal. go to the park" i say, buckling myself.

he scoffs "god, you're pathetic."

"right..i'm the pathetic one" i say thinking about how he had gotten himself shot cause the only person he had let himself get close to, died.

"don't get wise" he replies as we pull around the corner, nearly to the park.

once we get to our destination, i grab his hand, pulling him up the hill with me.

i sit at the top, where the view is the best. the sun will set soon, and it'll be beautiful.

he pulls out a weed, lighting it with the pendulum around his neck.

i roll my eyes at him as i set out the paint set.

"sit" i tell him.

he doesn't argue, and he sits next to me where his small canvas and paintbrushes are.

as i pick up my brush, he does the same. he watches as i mix colors together, creating a deepened purple.

next, he watches as my hand flows onto the canvas, creating all types of shapes.

i don't have a certain thing i'm going for, so i just doodle random things for fun.

he bites his lower lip and begins doing the same, though with a shade of red.

i don't pay much attention to his, not wanting to make him feel embarrassed.

i fill my canvas with different colors; yellows, purples, pinks, etc.

"i gotta take a piss" he says as he stands, walking down the hill and across the park where the public restroom is.

i stop painting as i wait, and look at his. he has created what seems to be an attempt of a rose.

poorly drawn red petals, and a green stem with leaves poking out, and a small hint of brown thorns.

i chuckle to myself, surprised that he would paint something such as that.

dallas winston, painting a flower? nothing anyone would expect.

i hear footsteps coming back up the hill, so i stop my laughter, not wanting him to think i'm making fun of him.

as i looked back to smile at him, i'm stopped by a blade being put to my throat.

my breath hitches, heartbeat quickens and eyes widen.

the boy leans down to my ear "such a shame, what happened to little johnny boy, huh?" they whisper slowly, pressing the blade in deeper.

the stench of alcohol, burning my nose.

"randy.." i say as my voice quivers. his friend, ryan benz, whom i've seen around school a few times, comes around in front of me.

he looks down at the canvases. "what beautiful paintings" he says sarcastically. "who are you here with?"

i don't answer, too afraid to move.

"answer when spoken to, scum" randy says as he pushes the blade further in my neck.

i feel my blood drip, i look down as it spots onto my painting.

my tears start to stream, and i shake violently.

not knowing what else to do, i swing my head back, crashing it into randy's, sending him to the ground.

ryan shoves me on my back, getting on top of me and pinning me down by my wrists.

he begins punching me multiple times, leaving a scar on my jaw. randy comes back up and starts kicking my sides.

i scream in pain, but suddenly, they stop.

"aw, cmon man, put that shit down!" randy shouts as he wipes the blood from his nose.

ryan jumps off of me, and i sit up slowly, in pain.

"get the hell out of here and i won't have to use it" dallas says as he points his gun toward randy.

the two run off, i watch as their car speeds away.

dallas tucks his gun into his pants, putting his shirt over it so that it's not visible.

he walks over and looks down at me for a moment before kneeling slowly, himself still in pain.

he gently puts his hand on my neck, examining my fresh cut.

he shakes his head and sighs, putting his arms around me, helping me up.

i whimper as i rise, and struggle to walk. dallas helps me down to the car, not saying anything.

once i get in, he walks back up the hill and collects the paint set. i watch him from inside as he looks down at my painting, with the new spots of blood.

he comes back down, and puts the set in the trunk of the car, closing it loudly making the car shake.

he comes around and sits in the drivers seat, starting the car.

before we head off, he looks over at me, sizing me up. i lock eyes with him, furrowing my eyebrows, wondering what he wants.

he lifts his, and forms a smirk.

"what?" i ask weakly, wiping the dried tears from my face.

"you're gonna form some real tuff bruises" he says looking ahead and begins driving.

we ride in silence, until he pulls into bucks parking lot.

"normally, i would've taken you to your place but, yknow" he says hopping out of the car.