by Hart, Rebel
Except with Rae.
“You’re fucked, you little piece of shit.”
I grinned. “Gotta take me down first.”
I hooked my arm around his neck and bent him at the waist. Throwing my head back, I cracked the other guy in the nose behind me as he growled and cursed to himself. I laughed as I choked off the boy’s air supply before an elbow came down into my back. And as I dropped to my hands and knees, it gave me the perfect angle to wrap my arm around some other boy’s legs.
I didn’t even know who was who. At this point, it was kill or be killed. Just like in my house.
And I sure as hell wasn’t on the menu tonight.
“Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!”
I heard chanting kids racing for the field. A crowd gathered as I shoved myself up off the ground. My jaw was swelling, my lip was busted, and one of my eyes was already swelling shut. More decorative scars and colors to go along with the ligature marks that took me for fucking ever to cover up this morning.
“You’re dead,” the kid snarled.
I simply smiled before I charged him.
“Clint! Clint! Clint! Clint!”
I yelled out as I tackled him to the ground. I straddled him, throwing punch after punch before his buddies dragged me off him. I slung my fists around like wildfire, feeling them connect as the crowd’s chanting grew to a dull roar. I smelled their blood. Felt their fear. And it fueled me forward as I fisted a handful of hair and pulled some dude’s head back.
“This is for fucking around with our field.”
I punched him in the nose before someone tackled me to the ground. Kids cheered and girls cried out for me to stay safe as I rolled around on the turf with him. I smelled that piss growing closer. My eyes widened as we kept rolling around. I slid off his body, gripping his coat as I dragged him through the grass. Through the mud.
Right through that fucking urine stain his buddy left behind.
“What the—?”
I chuckled. “Tell Mommy Dearest that hot water really helps get out the stench of piss.”
I tossed him off to the side before whipping around. One of the gangly boys charged me, and one knock of my fist had him on the ground. I clotheslined the other boy barreling for me, reveling in the glory as people chanted my name. This was where I excelled. This was my golden goose egg. I dabbed at the blood trickling down my chin as I turned toward the crowd, tossing my fists in the air.
Thankful for the distraction from all the misery that had been sinking me into the trenches.
“Watch out!”
The girl shrieked just before I got knocked to the ground. The asshole had me pinned, his fists flying in my general direction. And without thinking, I took a play out of Michael’s book. I crossed my arms over my face, deflecting his pathetic attempts at being a man before I had the strength to roll him over.
Before someone gripped my jacket and pulled me off him.
“Clint! Stop it! Right now!”
A familiar voice rose from the crowd as the boy holding me tried tossing me to the ground. But, really, all he did was cause me to stumble around a bit. My eyes darted about, looking for that familiar voice. Listening out for the booming tones that echoed over the chants. Over the screams. Over the warnings from other girls that would surely pour themselves all over me to help clean up my cuts and scrapes.
“Stop this right now!”
Rae’s voice pierced my fog of anger and helplessness as she appeared at the fence line. My eyes found hers, and I felt my heart leap in my chest. She was saying my name. Calling out for me. It was the first time I’d heard her voice in days.
“Rae,” I whispered.
Then I got clocked. Right in the fucking jaw.
“Stop it! Please, Clint!”
Her voice spun around in my head as my back hit the ground. I felt my mouth pooling with blood as those three assholes danced around me. Swirling, like vultures, ready to strike the second I got up. I rolled over and planted on all fours as I spit out a mouthful of blood.
Then I felt someone drag me to my feet.
“That all you got, boy?”
“You’re pathetic, you piece of shit.”
“Looks like someone already got to him once, though. Serves him right, needing a reminder.”
Those words lit my world on fire, and I wrenched away from the guy’s grasp. I whipped around, clocking him with my fist straight into his gut. He doubled over and I threw my elbow back, connecting with someone’s ribcage before I heard something fall to the ground. I turned around, bashing my head into the other guy’s nose and watching blood pour down his face before I turned my attention back to the boy who was doubled over.
“Ready for the final countdown?” I asked.
I brought my knee up into the boy’s forehead, watching him drop to his knees. The crowd erupted in applause as teachers tried pushing their way through, and then I heard it again. Rae’s shrieking voice. Her words were muffled as adrenaline pumped through my veins. I twirled slowly, taking in the three boys who were flat on the ground at my feet.
I took a moment to revel in my victory before I felt someone tugging at my arm.
“Clint. That’s enough. Stop this bullshit.”
I looked over and saw Rae. Her voice pierced through my anger and my red-dripped vision slowly filtered back into regular color. Her eyes stared up at me. Her hands felt soft around my arm. She tugged me away from the circle of assholes I’d laid out on the football field, her eyes filled with frustration and fury.
And a bit of worry on the side.
“Rae,” I said.
She huffed. “Come on. We have to get you out of here.”
“What are you doing?”
She shook her head. “Keeping you from making anymore dumbass mistakes. Just leave those boys alone. Come with me. Please.”
She tugged me a couple of steps away, but I heard the crowd gasp. I heard people calling out my and it caused me to whip around. My arm wrenched away from Rae and I felt her trying to grab me. Her hands wrapped around my waist, trying to tug me off the field. I heard her pleading with me. Begging with me. Calling out my name just to get my attention. But all I saw were those three assholes charging me again. Stumbling on their feet and coming for more.
Which was something that made me smile.
“Give me a second, Rae.”
“Clint, no!”
One of the guys attempted to sucker punch me in the gut, but I caught his wrist. I twisted his arm behind him before kicking him to the ground, then whirled around and trained my sights on the other two. I reached out for the next one that came for me, wrapping my large hand around his neck. I squeezed until he started beating his fist against my forearm, and I felt it again.
I felt Rae’s hands fisting my leather jacket.
“We need to get the fuck out of here. Cut the shit, Clint!”
When I felt her hands fall away from me, I heard her yelp.
“Get the fuck out of my way, bitch.”
My hand dropped the guy’s neck as I slowly turned around. I vibrated with fury as I came into contact with the jock I had just kicked to the fucking ground. Rae lay there, gasping for air as she tried to roll over onto her stomach. And as my eyes slowly lifted to the jock that was standing beside her, he tossed me a wild grin.
“Getting your bitches to do your fighting now?”
I snarled. “You pathetic little fuck!”
I saw nothing. My vision tunneled, and the only thing I saw was his face busted into pieces on the ground. I snapped, lunging at him, wrapping my hands around his throat as I wrestled him back to the ground. I heard Rae whimpering, still telling me to stop, even as she gasped for her own air. I straddled the fat bastard and landed punch after punch, refusing to listen or stop. Refusing to cease my movements until this asshole stopped breathing.
I’d kill him for laying his hands on Rae.
He rolled me over and the fight changed. His blood dripped down onto my face as he punched m
y gut. I braced my abs, conserving my energy as he wore himself out. But, four punches in, he was ripped from my body. I saw him flying through the air like a bird in the sky before a familiar figure came into view. I looked over and saw Allison scooping Rae off the ground. I quickly got up, trying to figure out whether or not Rae was all right before I heard footsteps rushing up behind me.
“Oh, no you don’t.”
And as I turned around, I saw Michael land a punch straight on the fucker’s nose.
Then he turned his anger onto the boy who’d put his hands on Rae.
31
Raelynn
“Hey, Rae. You okay? Can you talk to me?”
I finally caught my breath as tears rushed down my cheeks. I nodded, but I didn’t want to speak. I’d landed my back directly on a rock, and it knocked the wind clear out of me. Allison tilted me to the side, raising up my shirt to see if any damage had been done. I felt her fingertips against my skin as the fight raged on, making me angrier with every punch I heard landing in the distance.
“You’re bleeding. Hold still.”
I drew in a shuddering breath. “Make him stop.”
Allison didn’t answer me and it forced my eyes closed. I felt her wiping something across my skin as sirens sounded in the distance. Fucking hell, that was becoming the school song at this point. With Clint’s fighting and Michael’s temper, they probably had the damn police on speed dial. It seemed like the entire fucking high school had gathered for this fight. And why Clint was fighting them, I could only theorize at this point. My back hurt. My wrist hurt. My head felt swimmy, and I wanted to go home.
And finally, the fight drew to a close.
I heard grunts and groans of the three guys lying on the ground. I had no idea why the hell the teachers weren’t intervening, but I figured they’d given up on this point. Given up on Clint. On his fighting. On trying to rein him in. It made my heart sick for him, but I also couldn't blame them.
“Heads up,” Allison murmured.
I felt her smooth my shirt down before a hand came into my watery view. I slowly raked my eyes up the arm, taking in the worn leather jacket before my eyes found his. Clint stood above me, concern filling his eyes. It was the only reason I took his hand, why I wanted to touch his bloody skin.
Because he genuinely looked worried.
“You’re an absolute numbskull, Clint. You know that?”
Michael’s voice filled my ears, but I was paying too much attention to Clint. His hands cupped my wrist, inspecting it before slowly turning me around. I felt him inching my shirt up before a smack resounded. I felt Clint’s hand fall away from my body, and I closed my eyes, readying my ears for the punch I knew Clint would toss Michael’s way.
But a punch didn’t happen.
“I’m just making sure she’s okay,” Clint said.
Michael scoffed. “She would’ve been fine had you not gotten into the fight in the first damn place.”
Allison sighed. “She didn’t have to follow him on the field, though.”
Michael’s voice grew louder. “You know how she feels about this asshole! Of course she would!”
And then, Clint shocked us all into silence.
“You’re right.”
I slowly turned around, trying to make sense of what I’d just heard. I gazed up into his eyes, seeing nothing but remorse filling them. I peeked over at Michael and Allison, and even they were shocked. The kids fell silent behind us, waiting for something else to happen. Waiting for the sirens in the distance to come screaming into the parking lot behind the school.
“Principal! Scatter!”
Roy’s voice boomed over everyone’s heads and Clint reached out for me. Before I could even react, he took my good hand, tugging me alongside him as he ran off. I heard Michael yelling after me. I heard Allison calling out for me. But I didn’t stop. I threaded my fingers with Clint’s and ran alongside him, despite the pain in my back.
“Fine! I’ll fucking cover for you assholes!”
I giggled and shook my head as Michael’s voice filled my ears. Clint slammed through the gate at the end of the football field, pulling me behind him. We took off for the front of the school as the principal yelled after us. I knew teachers were running for us. But I also knew they wouldn't catch us.
“You’re such an asshole, you know that? And stop pulling me, fucking hell, Clint. My wrist hurts.”
He stopped in his tracks. “This is your bad wrist?”
I shook my head. “No. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t fucking hurt.”
“Then, come on and shut up before we’re both in a hell of a lot of trouble.”
I scoffed as he took my hand again. “We wouldn't be in this damn situation had you not fought in the first place!”
“No one asked you to intervene.”
We started running again. “Yeah, well. Fuck me for caring, I guess.”
We kept running until we got around the front of the building. Among the chaos and the insanity, the pain in my back and my wrist grew. I was pissed off at the entire world. For Clint and his bullshit fighting ways. At those boys for whatever the hell they’d been doing on the football field. For that asshole that actually knocked me down.
I’d never been knocked down before.
Clint makes you weak.
Ain’t that the fucking truth.
We didn’t stop running until we got to his bike. He tossed me a helmet and I slid behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist. I tried to ignore how wonderful it felt as he cranked up the engine. And just as the police were speeding into the back of the school, we sped out of the front.
“Hold on. We’re gonna take these corners a bit sharp.”
I wrapped my good hand into his leather jacket and let my hurt wrist fall between his legs. I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths of the wind as it swirled around our bodies. It felt like I was inches away from the asphalt as he careened out of the parking lot. It felt like we were breaking the sound barrier as we sped off into the distance. Even with my eyes closed, I knew where we were headed. I had the turns and directions memorized.
And when the stench of my neighborhood wafted under my nose, I felt my stomach clench.
I sighed as Clint pulled into my driveway. He put his kickstand down and turned off his engine, but he didn’t move. I rested against the breadth of his strong back. I felt tired. Anxious. And yet, happy.
Happy to be against him again.
“Why are you such an idiot?” I whispered.
Clint cleared his throat. “Your mom home?”
I shook my head. “She’s out putting in job applications.”
“Good for her. Let’s get you inside, then.”
“You’re coming with me?”
“I’m sure as hell not leaving you in this condition, no.”
He slipped off the bike, then eased the helmet off my head. He smoothed my hair down around my face, then tucked some loose strands behind my ear. His touch ignited a fire in my gut. I didn’t even understand how much I’d missed it until I felt it again. I let out a soft sigh, wishing for nothing more than his palm against my cheek.
But he pulled his hand away before he caved to the temptation.
“You need help?”
I scoffed. “I’m good. Thanks.”
“Just a question, Rae.”
“And a dumb one, at that. I can hold my own, Clint. Despite the fact that that douchebag knocked me off my feet.”
“I should’ve killed him for that.”
“And spend the rest of your life in jail? Nice.”
“Does anything ever make you happy?”
I planted myself on my feet in the driveway before my eyes met his.
“Yeah. I’ve got plenty that makes me happy. But bullshit boys and their stupid fights don’t happen to be one of them.”
I turned on my heel and made my way for the porch, figuring he’d leave, drive off into the distance and never come back. So imagine my surprise when he stayed behin
d me, following me into the house. He closed the door behind us as I made my way to the couch. I watched as he found his way into the kitchen, and I wondered what he was doing. I started to stand up to go find out, but he must have heard me.
“Stay there, Rae. I’m coming with ice.”
I leaned back into the couch with a sigh before I winced. I felt like utter shit. Clint came around the corner and sat down beside me. He reached for my wrist and slowly molded the ice pack to it. I watched him work, his bruised eye trained on my swelling skin. He helped me lean up before he slid my shirt up again, taking stock of the small wound on my back. And when his fingertips fell against the dried blood, I flinched.
But not because it hurt.
“You’ll be bruised. The cut’s only topical, though. We’ll give the ice a few minutes on your wrist, then we’ll move it to your back.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
He leaned me back into the couch before settling into the cushions beside me. I couldn't take my eyes off him. Couldn’t stop looking at him as his hands fell between his legs. He stared hard at the wall, licking his lips, which were cracked open and bleeding. I wanted to lean against him, but wasn’t sure if it was a good idea.
“I’m sorry.”
Clint’s words pulled me from my trance and I furrowed my brow.
“Wait, what? Why?”
He sighed. “I’m sorry for getting you hurt.”
I shrugged. “Well, you didn’t hurt me. So, yeah.”
The pain that rose up in his eyes left me breathless.
“No, I didn’t. But, I was reckless. And that got you hurt.”
I had no rebuttal to that statement, either. Because he was technically right.
“How about we deal with one blow at a time, Clint. Okay?”
He nodded slowly. “Deal.”
He moved the ice pack from my wrist to my back, leaning me up just enough to slide it between my skin and the couch cushions. I shivered at the cold as he leaned me back. Then he reached for my swollen wrists.