Frequencies of Us Chapter 81: Stairwell Heat and Crashing Fear

Mateo POV

I’m dragging Noah through Lincoln High’s halls, my hand locked tight with his. My heart’s still pounding from the auditorium, from that scream outside the door. Jocks yell slurs as we pass, their voices loud and mean. I pull Noah faster, dodging them. My legs burn, but I don’t stop. We need out, away from the crowd, the ledger, Lena’s laugh. I spot a stairwell and yank him inside. The door slams shut behind us, cutting off the noise.

I push him against the wall, hard but careful. My hands grab his waist, holding him close. I kiss him fierce and fast. His lips are warm, tasting like adrenaline and him. He kisses me back, just as hard. My tongue slides into his mouth, rough and needy. He moans, low and shaky. My hands tug his shirt up, quick. He pulls it off, letting it drop. I touch his chest, fingers sliding over his skin. He’s hot, trembling.

I press closer, feeling him against me. He’s hard already. I am too. My hands undo his jeans, fast and sloppy. They fall, and I grab him, tight and warm. He gasps, loud, legs shaking. I move my hand, slow then fast. He bites his lip, holding in a moan. It slips out anyway, raw and desperate. I kiss him deeper, swallowing the sound. His hands fumble with my shorts, pushing them down. He touches me, firm and hot. I groan, loud, my whole body buzzing.

I stroke him, matching his rhythm. Our breaths mix, quick and messy. He grabs my hair, pulling a little. I growl, kissing him hard. His tongue fights mine, wild. I rock into his hand, hips moving fast. He’s shaking, close. I feel it too, tight and hot. “Mateo,” he whispers, voice cracking. That’s it. I lose it, spilling over his fingers, groaning rough. He follows fast, trembling against me. We hold each other, panting, sticky and close. His breath’s warm on my neck. It’s sweet, perfect, even now.

I pull back, grinning. He smiles, shy but real. I fix my shorts, hands slow. He pulls his jeans up, laughing quiet. “You’re crazy,” he says, soft. I shrug. “Only for you.” My chest feels big, full of him. I step closer, kissing his forehead. He leans into me, warm and safe. For a second, it’s just us, stolen and ours.

Footsteps stomp close. I tense, turning fast. Ryan steps in, blocking the stairwell. His smirk’s ugly, mean. He tosses a photo at me. It flutters down, grainy but clear. It’s me, holding a spray can, paint dripping red on Ortiz’s wall. Fake, but it looks real. My stomach twists, mad. “Nice try,” I say, voice hard. Noah shoves Ryan, snarling loud. “Back off!” Ryan stumbles, laughing sharp.

I step forward, fists clenched. “You’re full of it,” I say, low and angry. He smirks bigger, leaning close. “Believe what you want, Vargas.” His breath’s hot, nasty. My hands itch to swing. Noah grabs my arm, pulling me back. “He’s not worth it,” he says, quiet but firm. I nod, breathing hard. Ryan’s eyes glint, dark and mean.

A roar cuts the air. My head snaps up. An engine, loud and close. Headlights blast through the window, bright and blinding. Tires screech outside, high and sharp. My heart jumps, fast. “What the hell?” I yell, pulling Noah behind me. Ryan laughs, stepping back. “See ya,” he says, turning quick. He’s gone, disappearing down the hall.

I look out the window, squinting. A car’s speeding toward us, metal glinting in the light. My stomach drops, hard. “Move!” I shout, grabbing Noah. We stumble back, hands locked. The car’s coming fast, too fast. My chest tightens, scared. Noah’s breathing quick, scared too. “Mateo!” he yells, voice breaking. I pull him tighter, ready to run.

The headlights grow, filling the stairwell. My legs shake, stuck for a second. I push Noah up the stairs, fast. “Go!” I say, loud. He trips, grabbing the rail. I follow, heart slamming. The roar gets louder, shaking the walls. My mind races. Is this Lena? Ryan? Ortiz? Someone’s trying to get us, bad. My hands sweat, slippery on Noah’s.

We hit the landing, panting. The car’s right outside now. Tires squeal, sharp and wild. I look back, fast. The window’s big, glass shining. My stomach flips. “It’s gonna crash,” I say, voice rough. Noah nods, eyes wide. I pull him close, arms around him. His heart beats fast against mine. I feel sick, scared stiff.

The engine cuts off, sudden. My breath stops. Silence falls, heavy and wrong. I wait, holding Noah tight. “What’s happening?” he whispers, shaky. I don’t know. My chest burns, mad and worried. The headlights dim, then flare bright again. My heart jumps, loud in my ears. Something’s coming. I feel it, deep and bad.

A door slams outside, loud and hard. My head snaps up. Footsteps crunch, slow and heavy. My stomach twists, tight. “Someone’s out there,” I say, low. Noah grabs my hand, squeezing hard. “Who?” he says, voice small. I shake my head, jaw clenched. My mind spins. Ryan’s photo, the car, the scream from before. It’s all piling up, crashing down.

I step back, pulling Noah with me. “We need to hide,” I say, fast. He nods, following close. We move up the stairs, quiet as we can. My legs shake, weak. The footsteps stop, right below us. My heart’s in my throat, pounding wild. I hear breathing, rough and close. My fists clench, ready to fight.

A voice calls out, low and mean. “I see you, Vargas.” My blood runs cold. It’s not Ryan. Not Lena. My mind blanks, panic rising. Noah grips my arm, hard. “Mateo,” he whispers, scared. I nod, pulling him tighter. The footsteps start again, climbing slow. My chest hurts, scared and mad. They’re coming up, hunting us.