LIL THE NEEL

Continued in the protocol. Full text in TGC: STORY-DRIED CRAP
LINK: https://t.me/ykurenayashval

In the fall of 1995, a quiet neighborhood on the outskirts of the city lived its own strange life: old Khrushchev-era buildings stood side by side with the mansions of the new Russians. The last thing she wanted, a sophomore, was adventure. Her world consisted of dusty books, notes, and solitary strolls through the park. She was a gray mouse in a shapeless sweater, invisible in the group, and that suited her just fine.

One evening, taking a shortcut through an abandoned cafe, she saw him in the dim light of the headlights—Neil. A crime boss, a legend, feared even by the cops. He stood with the big guys, but he looked at her, frozen with a folder and backpack. She jumped, almost falling, and ran away, accompanied by his low, booming laughter. The next day, a black Volga was parked at the college gates, and Neil was waiting, leaning on the hood. He smiled silently and nodded toward the passenger door. She walked past, her head hunched, her heart pounding in her throat.

It became a ritual. A Volga at the college. Neil in a black coat that fit like a glove. He didn't push her, didn't grab her like the thugs. He simply waited. "Need a ride? Rain's coming," he'd say in a husky, enveloping voice. She'd silently shake her head and walk away, feeling his gaze on her back.

Then came the gifts. A teddy bear with a pink ribbon appeared on her bench. Then a modest bouquet of daisies tied with twine. Given his status, this was odd. Later, expensive candies and a simple player with a Mirage cassette tape. He was guessing what the quiet girl might like. He looked at her not as a trophy, but as a porcelain figurine. A man accustomed to taking by force showed angelic patience.

The attitude at college changed instantly. Those who hadn't noticed before were now whispering behind her back. A local fashionista hissed at her friend, loud enough for her to hear:
-Neil is meeting her in a Volga. So much for the quiet one. They're having an affair. Lucky fool, she'll be rolling in gold.

She was burning with shame, and the affair that never happened became the main legend of the college.

The climax came a month later, when she was walking in the evening and a group of drunken guys blocked the road. One grabbed her by the sleeve, wafting alcohol breath. She pressed herself against the wall, realizing that screaming was useless. Headlights cut through the darkness. A Volga came flying around the corner, its tires screeching. Neil emerged silently and fearfully. With icy fury in his eyes, without a word, he grabbed the offender by the scruff of the neck and threw him into a dirty puddle.
"If I see her near me again, I'll bury you alive, " he said. The hooligans disappeared into the darkness.

Neil turned to her. Under the streetlight, his heavy gaze softened. He draped his coat over her trembling shoulders . "You're cold. Get in, I'll give you a ride. Stop wandering around the alleys ." His voice held a gentle but unwavering steel. She sat down, inhaling the scent of cologne and tobacco.

He drove the car with one hand. "Wonder, why are you always running? I won't hurt you. I'm coming to you with all my heart, and you're like a frightened sparrow, " he chuckled with warmth and genuine bewilderment.

THC: STOPPED CRAP
LINK: https://t.me/ykurenayashval