Twenty Six

[Rose]

I walk out the back door searching for a uber even though Carried lectured me about denying Kaden and being rude to him. She was right, It was rude of me to deny him.

I just didn't see him helping me, and I thought it was a hassle for him. Afterall. All the other girls never get a ride from him or Coby all the time. They go home on their own. I have to learn to do so too. I stood there was a minute before my eyes noticed someone at my preferable vision. He was right there, near his car. About to get and I look at him.

My lips curl inward as I desperately teach myself to apologize for my rude behavior. . And I see a visibly sigh walking over towards me.

"Get in, I'll drop you" I bite her lip and he speaks. Something I couldn't avoid looking at. I could tell he was genuine. I just never saw him as someone who would wanna help me. Not trying to be anymore frustrating I gave in.

And walked behind him towards his car as he opened the car door for me. There was a minute of silence before I spoke.

"Thank you Kaden" He didn't say anything making me uncomfortable.

"If I was being rude then I am sorry, I just thought it was a hassle for you to drop me. You aren't my friend. It just troubling" I babbled.

"It's not a trouble for me Rose" He finally spoke after two long minutes. I nodded looking out the window and playing with the sleeves of my jacket bringing them up to my fingers.

When we finally reached my building I opened the door saying goodbye. I did hear him say a faint goodbye but it was masked by something falling. I didn't pay attention to it since I thought it must be something of his.

I could feel his stare at my back as he waited for me to enter the building before pulling out the road.

I sigh in a sleepy state and made my way up to the apartment.

As soon as I walked in I was greeted with complete darkness. It was very unusual. I always insisted on keeping a lamp switched ON near the kitchen counter at night in case one of us needed any water.

I walked slowly and the only source flight in the hall was now the lights from the window. My eyes scanning the place and walked towards the lamp trying to turn it on but I failed.

"Hey Rose" I gasp looking back at David standing right behind me near the couch.

"I am sorry, I broke that lamp of yours" I gulp grabbing my bag. "Ya, no, It's alright. Good night" I said walking towards my room when his voice stopped me.

"Hey wait wait wait, I just am so curious" I stopped to look at him.

"Why do you work at a strip club when you are employed?" my mouth opened in utter shock.

I had no problem, with anyone finding out about what I did for a living. But something about his tone of the question made me uneasy.

"I don't think that's any of your concern David. It just like any other work for me" He laughed. He was drunk. I stepped back turning the knob of my room to get in but I couldn't.

I realized I had to hunt through my bag to get my key and I start looking through my handbag when his hand grabbed mine making me gasp and push it away.

"What's your problem ?" I asked, and before I could start searching for my key he suddenly reached out his hand to push my back towards the wall. It was so unexpected.

My mind froze and I heard him talk but I struggled to get out of his hold and do anything.

"Why be so shy when you strip for men anyway?" His words fell upon my ears, his hands reaching out from squeezing my neck badly to my chest when I kicked him in his balls and pushed him away.

Unfortunately, I wasn't rough enough as he stood up immediately grabbing my hair and I yelled in pain.

I started yelling as loud as I could to try to get people living beside my attention when he grabbed my neck pinning me to the ground.

I was going to die, wasn't I. I could feel my heart beating loud. My tears falling from my eyes as I struggled to get out of his hold. I saw him pick up something shiny from his back pocket and I yell for the last time before accepting my dead.

The sudden loud thump from the other side of the front grabbed his attention. And I trying stretching his face but he didn't budge.

The loud bang following the thump and the front door suddenly broke open.

But I was being choked by David badly, I couldn't see anything. I felt my airflow stop and he was suddenly off me

I wheezy turning on my side and I heard someone beating him as I heard my neighbors voice yelling.

"Hey! Hey!" I opened my eyes to see my neighbor who I never knew helping me sit up. And the sudden view of Kaden. Punching David in his face and he stopped to look at me. Throwing David down on the ground before coming towards me and helping me stand up.

I wince as he grabbed my chin and lifted my face observing it.

"The cops are on their way." I heard someone say as they held David down.

" Where are you hurt?" Kaden asked, his hand still holding mine with his other hand under my chin, I shook my head as pain shot up my throat and I bring my hand up to it.

"I-I didn't think he would do this, I -" My voice cracked as one of the boys living beside us gave me some water.

"We heard you yell and thank god this guy could break the door. It was locked" I nodded staring at Kaden who had not taken his gaze off my neck.

"I'm fine" I whispered looking at him and he looks back at David.

[Coby]

I opened the car door for her staring at her beautiful ginger hair. It was always my favorite thing about hair. Those beautiful locks.

"Here," I said pushing a box on her lap as soon as I got in the car. She looks up into my eyes confused. "What?" she asked making me almost pinch her bubbly cheeks.

" Well, open it" I said and she stared at me for a second before going for it.

She gave out a sweet chuckle. I had bought her a pair of comfortable shoes and a hoodie, she once told me she wanted to borrow mine. I thought she liked it, so I got the same one for her.

"But why Alex?" she asked. I leaned back on the seat folding my hands staring at her in disappointment. She thought I wouldn't do that for her?

There was so much more she deserved than just shoes and a hoodie.

"Hide them well. Next time you won't have to walk over the cold ground barefoot while getting out"

"Thank you so much. I love it" she said and I hummed staring at her pretty face.

She blushed, biting her lower lip ever so slowly and slowly and letting it go and I look away to make sure I don't overdo things.

"So, How was your day?" She asked as I took the pair of shoes out and removed the papers around them.

"It was Meh" She smiles as I put the shoes near her legs for her to wear.

"Yours?" I asked and every time She smiled I swear I felt better. "I planted some berries today. If I harvest them, I'll gift some to you"

"That's nice" she added looking at the shoes. There was a moment of good silence between us.

"And, is everything alright?" I asked feeling her fidget with herself and she shook her head.

"Why is that?" I ask.

"My parents are taking me to our town, for a wedding" I did not like that. With what happened years ago. I really did not like it. I sighed closing my eyes in frustration. I wish I could just stop her but I couldn't.

"How long?" I asked. I could see the tension in her eyes. She leaned back on the seat.

"Four days," She said. I took her soft hand in mine" I won't let anyone hurt you Lily" she smiled.

"I know Alex" She whispered squeezing my hand softly. "Can we go get some ice cream?" I chuckled in my head. And nodded.

"Sure, we can," I said pulling my car out the driveway and driving towards the nearest ice cream parlor.

She chuckled wearing the hoodie and the oversized sleeves dangling off her fingers. "Thank you so much Alex" I nodded.

I stare at her as she took bites of her strawberry ice cream, My hands clenching in a fist, and couldn't help but stand up and sit beside her. She didn't question it. Continued eating her ice cream.

"I should run away"

"No, you aren't" I immediately cut in as soon as she finished her sentence which made her chuckle.

"Okay Alex" I hated it every time she called me that but I never felt the need to force her to stop, after all, she was the only one who remembered the real me.

"What is this?" She asked as she saw a bandage peeking out from the shirt near my neck I lean back and stare at her. "What? Did you get hurt?" I laugh.

"It's a new tattoo" She rose her eyebrows, Her mouth forming an adorable 'Oh'shape. "What did you get?" I shrugged. "You'll see it soon" She bites her lip looking state at my neck, somehow making me kiss her.

I dropped her off at her house by one and went to my apartment. As always, greeted with the mess. And the stench of alcohol I had last night. The darkness and the cold air slapping me.

I Had everything I wanted back when I was a kid and yet, I am not satisfied. Because the person I did it for doesn't belong with me.

I closed my eyes falling asleep on the bed, Waking up late as always, and running around searching for another pair of clothes.

I see the newly folded clothes on my couch with a clean hall and sigh. The housekeeper must have sorted them herself.

"Late" I roll my eyes getting behind the counter and grabbing the checks I missed yesterday. "How's the work," I ask and he shrugged. "Normal. Where have you been? You hardly come by to see your own place" I chuckled taking some things and getting out.

Kaden and I were thinking of doing some stuff for the next race. We had to keep up with people from fighting all over the place ever since Kaden started taking over. That man attracted blood everywhere he went.

[Lily]

"I should run away," I said and it didn't take him a second to reply

"No, you aren't" I chuckled walking to my room. He was an idiot.

I climbed into my room and closed my window, sitting on my bed and running my fingers over the soft hoodie. I wished I had his hoodie. But the little thought he put into getting me this made me cry.

It was tough. I wanted to walk with him, I wanted to go out and eat nice things with him. I wanted to spend time with him by having him run me home very time an hour past.

I hated it. I wish there was another way.

I stare at my painting. Taking a long breath I picked up my brush and continued painting. I had no desire of sleeping. All I thought was about him.