Wings

5. Tsvetok

Yuri's POV: 

I knew something was wrong the moment I saw her breathing unnaturally fast as she crossed the street and ran towards the park. Her auburn hair seemed almost red as she ran in the sunlight and abruptly stopped and slumped on the bench in front of the park. I stopped in my tracks and leaned against the lamp post in front of Ethan's grocery store, lingering out of her sight and making sure nothing was troubling her. 

I watched it all. Every single movement she made. Every cry that left her mouth, how her beautiful features collapsed into painful ones. I didn't move, i was completely frozen, this seemed so familiar that it made me freeze right down to my core. Isabella was broken, her shoulders shook as she wailed and covered her mouth with her hands, eventually resting her head on her knees. Move you idiot, go to her. And do what exactly? tell her that whatever she's going through is going to be alright? lie to her face just so that her heart can temporarily be at peace? Try to push her into exactly what I  was doing? Not thinking straight I walked up to her and just as I was about to near the bench she fell and hit her head hard on the pavement. Fuck. Pulling her cold form close to me I called out her name as she dazed blankly at me. She opened her quivering mouth and gazed at me with her red watery eyes before looking away and eventually shutting her eyes. I pulled her tighter to my chest and stood up, picking her unconscious form in bridal style, inhaling her sweet perfume all the way back.

She was completely ignoring me, and I am not surprised. Ever since she left my apartment yesterday, she hasn't uttered a single word to me, or even looked in my direction. I watched as her tired frame slumped behind the counter as she cleaned the coffee dispenser, her forlorn expression lightened a bit as she waved Derek and Sarah good bye before her eyes caught mine. Not letting go of her gaze, I waved at the couple leaving the café before I took off my apron and pushed it inside the locker, slamming it shut and walking up to her. She turned away from me and pretended to clean the sparkling clean countertops, I cleared my throat, "those countertops cant be more cleaner." She froze then threw the tissue in the bin before turning to face me. Straightening her frail shoulders, she gulped before looking at me and giving me a tightlipped smile. "lets lock up then", she whispered before walking away to get her coat. I nodded and waited outside the café, taking in her exquisite form dressed in a black dress shirt and jeans  as she walked out gracefully then locked the glass door. We crossed the street side by side, in complete silence until we reached the hypermarket. We stopped infront of the store as she bit her lip and looked down at her feet, "I just wanted to say that I'm very sorry for the way I acted yesterday. You helped me and yet instead of being thankful, I was the complete opposite." She rushed out and exhaled quietly before finally locking those brown eyes with mine. I shook my head, "no problem Ms. Isabella", she nodded and winced before looking away. huh? did something bite her? I ran my eyes down her form and stopped as I saw a few streaks of blood running down her palms, her nails covered in red as well. what the fuck? she was digging her nails inside her soft flesh, she was nervous. "its just Isabella Yuri, and thank you for understanding. Good night and see you tomorrow", she rushed out before smiling at me. It was that same smile, the one that knocked me away the first time, Fuck. I nodded and swiftly turned away from her, before calling out," you should clean those cuts on your palm, it can easily get infected"". She didn't reply but i knew she wouldn't in the first place. 

"Yuri, grandpa wants to see you. hes at the back, in the gym", Tom yelled from front as I sighed and rolled out from under the busted mustang. Now what? I nodded and threw the oily rug over my shoulder and placed the tools in the box, Drake always has a fit if his precious tools are not in place.I smirked, what a doofus. I walked inside the dusty old gym and circled the ring, I stopped in front of Ethan and waited as he looked up with a stern look on his aging face. "Tom told me that you were asking about this gym, were you a fighter once?", he asked before standing up and walking towards the ring, leaning against the stage and waiting for my answer. I nodded, "I am a fighter", I  am the most complete fighter, I never left it.  He looked at me, before asking me that one question which I've been pondering over all those years in prison, "what made you fight?". The list of those things was so long that I had lost any will to find the answer, I shrugged before looking away. like fuck I'm gonna tell you anything. He didn't seem to mind my dismissive answer as he nodded and looked at the right, "You took care of Isabella, she is very much like my own child, and as a gesture of gratitude, I'm giving you the keys of this gym. you can train here whenever you want". He placed the keys in my palms and walked away before patting my shoulder and giving me a look of respect, "take care of this place son, it was once my safe haven too." I nodded and watched as his rigid frame walking away, finally a place to let out everything that I've been holding back ever since I got out. Who knew taking care of Isabella, something I wanted to do, would end up with me having a free place to train.