Defy the Stars by Sophie McKenzie

Flynn willingly back away from an argument.
    ‘Let them go, Paul,’ one of the men nearby said with a grunt. ‘They’re just a couple of kids.’
    ‘Yeah, and you
were
hassling her,’ said another.
    Paul sneered at Flynn, ignoring his friends. ‘Don’t fancy your chances? Think I’d take you?’
    Flynn’s fists clenched again. But, as before, he glanced at me, his face creased with doubt. He hesitated a second then said:
    ‘I just want my girlfriend to be safe.’
    I stared at him.
    ‘That’s fair enough, Paul,’ said the man who’d spoken before. ‘Come on, don’t be a jerk.’ He put his arm around Paul’s shoulders and steered him
away.
    The others all followed.
    Seconds later the pavement was empty, as if the whole incident had never happened. A gust of wind blew a carton of juice across the path ahead of us. It scratched against the concrete, the only
sound suddenly apart from the distant hum of traffic.
    Flynn stood in front of me, his head bowed. The bruise I’d seen last week had faded from his skin, but his face still seemed thinner and older than I remembered from last year.
    ‘I’m sorry I called you my girlfriend,’ he mumbled. ‘I just thought it might help them leave us alone.’
    ‘You backed down,’ I said.
    Flynn shrugged. He still hadn’t looked up at me. ‘What mattered was, well, what I said . . . keeping you safe. A fight with so many people wasn’t going to do that. I’m
sorry if it wasn’t the right thing to—’
    ‘It was,’ I said. ‘Though that guy deserved a slap.’
    Flynn smiled. He looked up at last, his eyes meeting mine, full of longing and hurt and love.
    My guts tumbled and twisted inside me. ‘You were here,’ I said. ‘Watching over me, like you said.’
    ‘I have been since I saw you. I
promised
I would and I have. I’ve been hiding out of sight near the commune, watching who comes and goes. I’ve got a car. I’ve
only slept when I’m sure you’re safe.’ He blew out his breath.
    ‘Next you’ll be saying you’ve stopped smoking.’ I laughed.
    ‘I have,’ he said, moving closer. ‘You said you didn’t like it, so I’ve stopped. I only started because . . . well, it was like the drinking. I realised that what
I’d been doing before – not ever touching any alcohol – I was trying to be the opposite of my dad, but it was stupid – that way he was still controlling who I was . . . I
mean why shouldn’t I have a few drinks? It doesn’t make me him.’ He ran his hand down my bare arm. His touch sent a shiver running right through me. ‘I’m here,’
he whispered. ‘On any terms you like. All I want to do is make sure Cody doesn’t find you and hurt you.’
    I bit my lip, trying to ignore the delicious feel of his fingers on my arm. I moved slightly away. ‘I feel bad not going to the police and telling them properly about Cody agreeing to do
the hit. You know, giving my name, making a statement.’
    Flynn frowned. ‘I don’t think it’ll make any difference, but I’ll back you, whatever you want to do. All I’m asking is for you to let me carry on watching over you.
If Cody hasn’t found you in another week or so then I’m guessing he’ll calm down. Maybe he already has, but I want to be sure you’re all right.’
    ‘I thought I saw him earlier – there was a guy in a silver-grey suit. That’s why I ran.’
    ‘I saw him, it wasn’t Cody,’ Flynn said, meeting my gaze again.
    ‘You were watching me the whole time?’
    ‘Yes.’
    I wanted to ask Flynn why he hadn’t come up to me when I was alone just now or when I was walking between Mum’s and Grace’s houses earlier this evening, but suddenly the
question felt too exposing. It would show I cared, that I wanted him to be with me. And, after everything that had happened between us, I didn’t want to be that vulnerable in front of
him.
    Flynn took my hand, clearly sensing what I was thinking. ‘I wanted to come and speak to you before. I
want
to be