Fighting For Life

by Kylie Alyssa Forte

  His eyes wandered away from the guy in front of him, and they instantly locked with mine. I felt all of my breath leave my lungs. It was like all of my organs stopped working.

  I missed him.

  “I’m going to the restroom. I’ll be back in a few,” Brandon said, pulling my eyes away from Aiden, then walked away from the bar.

  The fight started within that minute, and I held my breath. I was terrified of the outcome of the fight. I was terrified of the next week. I was terrified of my life.

  Don’t get me wrong, I was one hundred percent rooting for Aiden. I didn’t want to fight anyone else but him. Not because I thought fighting Aiden would be easier or better than fighting someone else, but because he was the one that deserved to beat me. I deserved to get beaten. I deserved whatever was going to come to me when I didn’t come up with the money. I deserved it.

  Aiden seemed distracted, but his slight distraction didn’t affect the outcome of the fight, he won. Just like everyone knew he would. He wasn’t on his usual game, but he yet he still won.

  I was scared.

  “I’ll be back, I’m going to go talk to him,” Tommy muttered as he stalked off to go talk to his cousin.

  Aiden was just about to walk off of the mats, and if it were anything like the week before then he’d disappear almost immediately. Tom knew that moment was his only chance to talk to him that night.

  I nodded as I gulped the rest of my drink down. Jace slowly handed me another shot and drink with a sigh.

  “Aub, slow down. You’re gonna get real drunk real fast if you keep it up,” he commented.

  I stared into his eyes and slowly brought the shot up to my lips. I threw it back quickly. I let out a small giggle and smiled goofily at him.

  “That’s kind of the point, Jace!”

  Jace shook his head and rolled his eyes playfully. He replaced the shot then went to tend to the other customers.

  Yep, I’m very drunk.

  ***

  Aiden

  The pain in my chest when I saw her was excruciating. It’s why I had been avoiding her since the night we saw Ronnie. My mind reminded me of how idiotic it was to help her.

  Truth be told, I’d do it again in a heartbeat. She needed help. The least I could do was help her after she helped us. I wanted to help her. I wanted her.

  I wished my mind would just shut up! However, each time I thought about her, my mind painfully twisted the knife of my father’s death every single time.

  As soon as our eyes locked, the fire in my chest exploded and took my breath away. I missed her so damn much. We matched gazes for a few seconds, and I felt awful. I was glad when she looked away, it made my mind stop attacking me just for looking at her.

  The fight started quickly, but I was still lost in my mind. Thoughts of Aubry clouded my judgment. She needed to get out of my mind! Get out of my head. Get out of my heart.

  They guy’s fist came whizzing by me, clipping my chin slightly. I knew that needed to get my shit together. I was just so distracted though. I tried to make myself chill out and focus, but somehow, she kept fogging up my senses.

  I was over it. So, I finally just let loose. It wasn’t something that I normally did because I was always either too violent or too sloppy, but I was sick of trying to play it by my mind. I was sick of my mind. It was clouded and messed up, so I just let my instincts move forward.

  By the time it was called, the guy was laid out on the floor. I couldn’t really remember hitting him. I was a walking disaster. I was screwed up in the head. I was crazy.

  After the fight, I was off of the mats, ready to walk away when Tom approached me.

  “Good job, man. Although that wasn’t as quick as your usual fights. Are you okay?”

  I shrugged in response.

  “Are you ready to fight her, bro?” he asked cautiously.

  Wait, fight her? Oh, hell no! I hadn’t even thought about the next fight. I couldn’t fight her!

  He saw my panic and clapped my shoulder. “Don’t worry dude, it’ll be fine. Just do what you think is right,” Tommy said quietly.

  “Or better yet, just don’t fight her, forfeit,” another voice said from beside me. Brandon was standing there with a frown.

  “You want me to forfeit?” I asked incredulously. I mean, the thought had definitely crossed my mind, but he was supposed to support me. He was supposed to be on my side.

  “Well, I don’t want you to fight Aubry, so yes!” he said in a clipped tone. “Aiden, it’s what’s best for the both of you. You don’t want to fight her; I know you don’t . . .” he said softly with a hand on my shoulder.

  He was right, I didn’t want to fight her. I didn’t even think I could fight her.

  Suddenly Brandon’s attention was drawn from me to Tommy.

  “Tommy? What the hell? You were supposed to be looking out for Aubry!” he said in a slight panic as he realized that if he was over with me then no one was with her.

  “Would you relax? What kind of trouble could she possibly get in the five minutes we’ve been over here talking?” he asked with a shake of his head and a wave of his hand.

  Then his eyes widened at his statement. “Oh shit, it’s Aubry that we’re talking about.”

  My mind immediately went back through all of the trouble that she had been through since I had known her. Truthfully, a lot. She could get in a lot of trouble in only five minutes.

  Brandon sighed and looked at me. “Just think about it, Aiden. You don’t want to fight her, I know you don’t,” he said and dragged Tommy by the collar away from me.

  I really didn’t want to fight her, however, my mind was screaming about how she deserved it. My heart though, was telling me just to love her.

  Fuck, I loved her! I rubbed my forehead and sighed.

  I needed a cigarette. I didn’t really even smoke, but I had picked up smoking since the night that Ronnie had gotten Aubry hurt again. I needed something to alleviate the stress of everything that was going on around me. I needed something to help me.

  I had been drinking quite a lot too. I mean, most nights for the two weeks before, I had spent out in bars or there at the Underground. I liked the sting of alcohol, it made everything less real.

  I headed out the back door into the alleyway and backed up into the darkness. I didn’t want anybody who could possibly head out that door to know that I was out there. I didn’t want to talk to anybody. I couldn’t handle any human interaction at that point. I just needed a damn cigarette.

  I lit the cigarette and took a long drag. I let the smoke fill my lungs and sighed.

  I was so done. It was such a screwed-up situation! A screwed-up situation that I didn’t want to be in.

  I was almost done with my cigarette, and on my last drag when the door slammed open, making a lot of ruckus. I backed up further into the darkness and held my breath. I was just praying that it was no one looking for me. The only person that I really wanted to see or talk to, was also someone that I didn’t want to see or talk to.

  After a few seconds, three people spilled out of the building clumsily and into the dimly-lit alley. Two figures were holding another up in the middle of them. The one in the middle, obviously a girl, shook them off and stumbled forward in hysterics.

  Oh shit, this looked bad. Was this some sort of an attempted rape? As I was about to come forward to confront them all, the girl collapsed to the ground after taking a few steps forward, and she began throwing up. Maybe she was just really drunk?

  I walked forward just a little bit after throwing my cigarette butt out to observe the situation. I didn’t really want to get involved, but I certainly would if they were trying to hurt someone.

  “Fuck,” a voice I knew well said.

  I moved forward a tiny bit more as Tommy bent down and held the stray strands of hair that had come out of the girl’s bun. I could finally quite obviously see the girl was Aubry after I moved forward a little bit. She was bawling wildly while throwing up on the concre
te between the buildings.

  What the hell happened to her? Was she that drunk already? I had a hard time believing that she got that drunk that fast. I had never seen her get that drunk. She was good at handling her liquor.

  I stood there, frozen in place as I watched the scene in front of me. She was obviously extremely drunk. My heart yearned to comfort the crying beauty, but my head sneered insults at me.

  What was I supposed to do? Was I supposed to let them know that I was there?

  “Why did you have to get so drunk, Aubry?” Brandon sighed as he sat beside her. He helped her lean on him and gave her the water bottle he was holding.

  She took a drink and spit it out after a second, rinsing her mouth out. She was still crying, but she had calmed down a bit.

  I stayed rooted in place.

  “I know, I know. This is all my fault. If I hadn’t gotten so drunk then he wouldn’t hav—” she started with slurred words, but Brandon shook his head violently.

  “No, this isn’t your fault. I don’t care how drunk you are. He had no right to try and take advantage of you,” B said with malice in his voice.

  Wait, what? What was going on? Who tried to take advantage of my Au—Wait, no . . . just Aubry? Who tried to take advantage of Aubry?

  “B-But if I weren’t drunk, then it wouldn’t have happened in the first place. I’m such an idiot!” she slurred and began crying harder.

  “Aubry, he is the problem. Not you. Yeah, you’re drunk. And yes, you are definitely drinking for the wrong reasons. But that doesn’t matter. Remember our conversation about everything not being your fault? This is one of those times, Aub,” Tommy said softly. “He tried to take advantage of an innocent, drunk girl. Even after you said no!” Tom’s hand clenched as he smoothed her hair out. “Now, I’m going to ask you again. Did he touch you? Do not lie to me.”

  She stayed silent for a moment, and I held my breath while waiting for her answer.

  Who touched her?! I was going to kill him.

  She sighed and closed her eyes tightly. “No, not really anyways. Maybe a butt brush or two and a few uncomfortable touches, but nothing more than that. He didn’t really get a chance to since you two got there before he got me alone. I-It was just scary. I mean, I thought that no one was going to help me. They just watched him drag me away. I-I t-thought . . .” Her voice was shaky, and her cries were getting louder again.

  I couldn’t handle how broken she sounded. She was really shaken up by whatever was going on. I needed to figure out who they were talking about!

  “I-It just rem . . . minded me of . . . of . . .” she quickly leaned up off of Brandon’s shoulder and began puking again.

  Poor Aubry. I was ready to kill whoever it was.

  Brandon pulled her hair back with a broken face. He took a deep breath, and I could see him shaking with anger from my spot. “Of Sunny . . .” he seemingly finished her sentence from before.

  Who was Sunny? What was going on?!

  “I’m sorry, who?” Tommy asked confused.

  “Long story,” Brandon said over his shoulder.

  “Why?” she whimpered when she finally stopped throwing up. “Why me? Why did you stop me, B? Why does this shit happen to me? I should be gone right now!” she said and began to bawl again.

  “Aubry, you are strong. I don’t know why this shit happens to you, but you are here. You are alive with people who love and care for you,” Brandon said with a sigh as he hugged her to his chest protectively. “Here are my keys. Can you get her into the car for me? I’ll be there in a minute,” he asked Tommy and put Aubry in his arms.

  I watched him walk away. I was still so confused.

  After several seconds, Brandon turned around and seemingly looked directly at me. It was too dark to see me though, right?

  “Alright, come on out,” Brandon demanded with his arms crossed.

  “Wh- what? How did you know?” I asked incredulously as I walked out of the shadows.

  “I saw you flick your cigarette, then I looked harder, and realized it was you,” he answered slowly. “Why are you hiding in the shadows Aiden?” He smirked at me.

  “That doesn’t really matter. What happened? Who touched her?” I demanded.

  The smirk was wiped off of his face and look of fury was back in its place. Brandon’s fists balled up, and his teeth were clenched. He was just as mad as I was.

  I was going to mess up whoever it was. He couldn’t get away with hurting or even trying to hurt Aubry, My . . . no, just Aubry. He couldn’t get away with it. I wouldn’t let him.

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  Situations

  Aubry

  I took the shot that Jace had refilled and followed that by chugging the full cup of jack and coke that was sitting there, waiting for me to drink it. On top of the other drinks, I felt a head rush and began wobbling.

  Well, I said I was gonna get drunk . . . here we go.

  I was looking around, slowly waiting for the guys to come back, so I could have someone to drunkenly talk to when he walked up. Unfortunately, his chest pressed against my back, and I felt icky all over. Gross.

  “Well . . . hello there, Aubry,” he whispered into my ear, giving me the creeps.

  I shivered in disgust but didn’t let any emotion pass my face. “Trey . . .” I said cordially with a nod.

  “All alone again, I see,” he stated as he touched my shoulder-length hair. “You look beautiful.”

  “Thanks,” I slurred carelessly.

  “Are you drunk?” he asked while tilting his head to the side.

  “Pshh, no.” I answered too quickly.

  “Hmm . . . So, you’ll have a few drinks with me then?” he asked with a smirk on his face.

  I shrugged in response, though I knew it was a bad idea. I felt off about the whole thing, but I couldn’t really refuse him without pissing him off.

  “Great!” he asked Jace for a few shots.

  Jace looked to me skeptically but obliged his boss’s command. Two shots were placed in front of us each. Without waiting or giving him a chance to put something worse in it, took one shot right after the other. Trey looked at me amused and took his shots as well.

  “A woman who can hold her liquor is incredibly sexy,” Trey whispered in my ear.

  I tried to lean away from him while holding my breath. However, he had a hold of my arm, keeping me in place. I took a sharp breath in with a very annoyed and tight smile at him. He was gross, but he was also the guy who paid us, so, I really couldn’t afford to piss him off. Plus, neither Aiden nor Tom nor Brandon were there to help me. I figured that I really couldn’t just clock the man.

  “Hah!” I said, obviously uncomfortable while shifting around.

  “Come on, I want to show you something,” Trey said with another smirk.

  I began to deny, but he pulled me out of the seat easily. He dragged me along with him even as I was actively pulling away. I tried to pry my arm out of his hand, but he pulled me around to the front of him and pushed me along with his body. I tried to claw at his hands, but his grip on me wasn’t budging. I couldn’t even turn around because of how tightly he was holding me.

  I could feel the whole front of his body on the backside of mine. I felt gross. This was not a good situation. How the hell did I always manage to get myself into those types of situations?!

  I looked around, but nobody was paying any attention to us at all. Heck, even if they were paying attention, they wouldn’t do anything. It was Trey, dragging me along, the guy that ran the whole damn club. No one was going to stand in his way.

  I was screwed. This was a bad situation.

  The real messed up part about it, was that all the while as he was dragging me, all I could think about was if I hadn’t of screwed up with Aiden then it wouldn’t have ever happened. I would have been safe; safe with him.

  I looked up and realized that he was leading me to his office. I couldn’t go in there. I knew that there was a lock on that door, and I knew that
it was all over if he got me in there. There would be absolutely no hope for me if he managed to get me behind that locked door.

  I had to do something! However, in my drunken state of mind, I could barely even stand, much less could do something to save myself. I was an idiot for getting myself into that situation.

  I was dragging my feet, trying to slow him down. I was trying to buy myself some time to figure out a plan. I was stumbling and trying to wiggle out of his grip, but nothing was working. I was stuck, and I had no way out. I was trapped.

  My mind instantly went to the night before my fifteenth birthday, that night with Sunny. I choked back the vomit that was trying to make its way up my esophagus.

  That couldn’t happen to me, not again. I’d rather die.

  I flailed around violently, but his office door kept getting closer. We were rapidly approaching it.

  I felt my eyes fill with tears as my breathing became labored. No! Please, no!

  Trey’s hand rubbed against my body carefully and slightly brushed my ass. I heard him grunt in approval as he stroked my waist. I began crying as I tried to elbow him in the gut. No matter how much I hit him, it seemed to have no effect. He was probably high and not feeling much while I was drunk and weaker. I seriously couldn’t comprehend why I continuously got myself into screwed-up situations like that.

  “Aubry?!” I heard someone yell from behind me.

  I didn’t even hesitate or see who was looking for me. “Over here!” I screamed as loud as possible.

  At that point, even Ronnie would have even been better than Trey’s creepy ass. He tried to cover my mouth, but I screamed too quickly before he could react. Trey’s grip on my arm tightened even more, making my arm start tingling. I knew that it was going to bruise, but I felt no pain. I just wanted to be away from him!

  I saw the two boys, barreling towards us as they pushed their way through the crowd. They both wore looks of confusion and fury as they took in Trey’s hold on me.

  Thank God for Brandon and Tommy!