Taking The Risk

Posted on Sun Sep 15th, 2024 @ 19:55 by Mia Misati & Hamish McClean

Chapter: Besieged
Location: New Cresthill
Timeline: Friday 29th January
1101 words - 2.2 OF Standard Post Measure

"Look, it's not a 'date'. It's just that with everything going on lately on the news, I just thought it would maybe be a good idea for us not to go into town unescorted..."

Hamish's explanation drew the most sardonic of looks from his female companion.

"I'm sixteen, Hamish. I can look after myself. I don't need an 'escort'." Mia rolled her eyes, but then smirked as she looked over at him coyly. As much as she absolutely didn't want or need a boy to go with her into New Cresthill, she knew it would drive Shauna and Catriona absolutely crazy to hear that Avalon's handsome young Scot was being her chivalrous gentleman companion. "But, I suppose I can let you carry my bags if you insist..."

"If that's what it takes," Hamish shrugged. "Wait - where did you say you were going?"

"The beauty store, and maybe clothes shopping...you're okay carrying bags from those places, aren't you?" she winked.

"Hmph...maybe not such a great idea after all..." he sighed, only for her to giggle at his befuddled expression.

Up ahead of them, right before the turn-off to the store, they could see Gabriella's Corner Bakery, still with the wooden replacement window. Kicking a ball around in front of it was a group of young men of varying ages both sides of the two 16-year-olds. Although content to make sure they kept to themselves, Hamish's idea of being left alone was sharply broken by a stray kick and a football bouncing his way.

"You gonna give it back?" Mia asked softly.

"Uh, yeah, I guess so." Hamish grabbed the ball and gave it a kick, watching it soar through the air and rattle off one of the streetlamps being used as a goalpost. Of course, that only seemed to draw more curiosity from the boys rather than grunts of gratitude.

"Ey yous." The thick call-out set Hamish's bristles faintly on edge. He looked over as one of the older kids barked out. "Yeh, yous. Could play for Rangers with a kick like tha'. Ey, you're from tha' castle on th' hill there, aren't ye?"

Remaining guarded but polite, Hamish was the one who nodded back.

"Full'a weirdos and freaks, isn'tet?" The boy laughed. Hamish paused only to smile and nod a little, his heart sinking as the boys left their street game to come closer. "Who's yer wee bird there?"

"She's not my bird, she's just a friend," he replied.

"Ah, that means she's fair game then, aye?" the larger kid grinned. Hamish gave Mia a glance. Although not showing in her face that she might be afraid, she was moving slightly behind him. "Whassa matter? Cat got yer tongue?"

"I dinnae think she's interested, pal..." Hamish retorted, trying to keep it friendly and slipping into his mother accent a little more.

"Oh aye? Tha's not up to you now, is it pallie?" The bigger kid grunted. The atmosphere and tone of the conversation had slipped quite a way from polite greeting and chat by now. Especially with the larger boy's friends seemingly backing him up. "Like yous said, she ain't yer bird now, is she?" he added, taking a step forward somewhat in challenge.

"We're just gonna keep on going now, aye?" Hamish said softly, indicating that he was about to walk away and challenging the other boy to escalate.

"Aye. You are. But yer friend there, maybe she wants to hang oot with someone wi' a little more backbone, if you catch me?" the boy snickered. "Wha? Not gonna say nothin' to tha'?" he added with a cocky sort of leer.

Hamish turned to face him more fully, feeling a rush of annoyance and frustration building inside. Of course, there were a half-dozen of them only himself between them and Mia, so personal honour demanded a response.

"Na. But I will give you fair warning yourself, friend. Another word out of your mouth and I'll be giving you a Glasgow kiss..." He sneered back. The larger kid, looming at least an inch over him, smarted. Hamish could see him winding up to throw the first punch - which never came. Instead he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder, and Mia's extended fingertip touching the boy's forehead.

"You're so sad. So very sad. You're going to go running home to mommy because you're so upset..." she murmured, her breath carrying a hint of something ethereal. In that moment, everything stopped. The boy looked down at her, at first racked with confusion. But then his lip began to quiver and tears began to streak down his face. The loudest sob anyone had ever heard suddenly burst from the boy's mouth as he put his hands to his head to try to stop them coming.

"Oh...no...no..." The boy who had until that moment been filled with cocky testosterone-filled antagonism suddenly turned and ran down the street weeping like a little girl. At the sight of this, the others in his group determined that perhaps a confrontation was a particularly bad idea and streamed after him.

Hamish watched, in a state of shock and surprise. His fist was still balled-up, and it took him a few breaths to cool down enough to release the tension. He looked at Mia, who more than anything seemed fairly pleased with herself.

"Why'd you do that?" he asked.

"Why not?" she shrugged, unconcerned. "He was being a dick."

"But...well, that's not the point..." he frowned, unsure why she was so unperturbed by that.

"So?" Mia just winked. "Come on, you promised to carry my bags." And with that she started to carry on up the hill.

Hamish watched her walk for a second, then turned to check the rest of that group had gone. A strange conflict filled his mind as he watched the disappearing teens. He'd been ready to throw down and defend her honour. Or perhaps his own, really. It wasn't clear how much of that escalation had been down to him. Mia had been the one to de-escalate it, but at the risk to herself of outing their nature to the world. Perhaps that was a risk he was less willing to take - although it seemed a little contrary that he would be willing to risk a beating to hold that secret back.

Resigned to not being able to do much about it now but promising himself he'd be more prepared next time, he finally turned and wandered after his companion, who it seemed was far less in need of his escort than he was of hers.