I'll Protect You (Original Version)

I'm going to have nightmares about Tropical Paradise

During the four hour car ride from the airport back to my small Paradise, I learned a few interesting things. Things that, oh, you know, made me feel like banging my head against Elijah's rented minivan window.

Zen and Minnie weren't just visiting America and to see how I was living as a girl that wasn't crown princess. Minnie had been babbling non-stop about my recklessness back at the palace, and how lucky it was that Alec was there. She then proceeded to slip the fact that it was great Alec was here to help her and Zen secretly guard over you.

If you dear ones can't understand why I want to put my head through a window after hearing that, I'll explain.

One: my grandmother was a liar. Alec wasn't sent to stay with me because I was sure to keep an eyes on him. He was sent as an extra eye to make sure I wasn't going to be in anymore trouble.

Two: there actually isn't a second reason, I just said "two" because it sounded more cool.

For the most part of the trip, Minnie had won control over the roadtrip playlist. So the guys and I spent the trip listening to cheesy love songs by, of course, Taylor Swift. I'm not saying I don't like her. But, come on, if you spent over an hour listening to about the same subject over and over and over again, you'd want to jump out of the car as well.

That wasn't even the worse part, however. Alec, being the total idiot he occassionaly was, almost let it slip that he was the one that I fought on the ship.

"So how good of a fighter are you, Darkwood?" Zen suddenly asked.

"Don't you usually ask how many words they can type per minute?" Minnie snorted, rolling her eyes and resuming her singing along to "Love Story."

Alec and I had gained the middle row, so from here, I could see the interest spark in Logan and Elijah's eyes as they swiveled to meet mine in the rearview mirror.

"I'm pretty good," Alec admitted bashfully with a shy smile on his face. He ducked his face and ran his fingers through his black hair. Zen leaned over the back of our seats, his chin resting on the back of his hands, folded neatly while his arms bent to meet.

"Really?" Zen mused. "How good? Good enough to beat my little Sparrow over here?"

He ruffled the red strands on my hair like I was some dog. Alec was a prideful kid, so of course he put on a smug grin and boasted, "Of course! The first time she and I went at it, we both ended up with such bad bruises and cuts."

At this point, I realized it was way too late to stop the others from asking more questions. I could practically taste the curiosity that was rolling off of everyone else in the car, even Minnie, who usually hated talking about anything to do with fighting.

"That's a lie," Logan snapped, turning around his seat, a dangerous fire blazing beneath those golden pupils. "The only bruises Park had this summer was from her encounter with the men who kidnapped Jasper. She hasn't had a single scratch on her since. I haven't let her even come near anyone harmful."

Great going, Alec. You just totally forgot about my incredibly protective bodyguard that kept a careful eye on me even though he spent most of his time away from me.

Alec sputtered, not knowing how to answer. Panic radiated off of him. If we could communicate telepathically, I'm sure his mind would be screaming, "PARK, HELP ME BEFORE YOUR BODYGUARD TURNS ME INTO STONE!"

Sure, Alec. But keep in mind that I'm only helping you because I'd be chewed out as well.

"You weren't always there, Cross," I snapped, narrowing my eyes into slits as I turned my glare on, hoping to look...well, mean. "So don't talk as if you witnessed everything. Ever heard of an exaggeration?"