It Can Only Get Better From Here

Chapter Three

XAIVIER'S POV

The street went quiet and we all looked at Jack. He was our drummer, and quite the heartthrob of the band. Unfortunately, I was the favourite. And since I have a girlfriend, dating one of the fans was out of the question.

"Um, Jack? Maybe we should discuss this a little better..." The fat man shook his head. "Too late, boys. And, unfortunately for you, my price has gone up..." He grinned. "To 3000$." My mouth dropped open. We had that cash on us... just had that amount with a few worthless pennies left. I glanced around, meeting the eyes of the guards. I don't think we could outfight them. I was 6 foot 3, but very wiry. The rest of the members were only about 5''9, at the most. these guards had to be almost seven feet, weighing 350. Nope, escape was futile. We can only buy her to get out alive.

She whimpered, and her eyelids fluttered. My heart constricted in sympathy. The poor girl obviously had a terrible life, being sold for a living. And the scars on her face... I shuddered. I don't want to know how she got those scars.

Raphael spoke up first. "Well guys, pull out your wallets. We can't just leave her." I held back a groan. I always kept the most money in my wallet... which means I will be contributing the most. "Damn you to hell, fat man." I muttered under my breath. "And your stupid gorilla boys."

We handed our cash over to the fat guy. "Thanks boys. Come again any time." He walked over to the girl, who was sitting up, looking dazed, clutching her ribs and breathing heavily. "Get UP!" He roared, yanking her hair. "Stop!" I shouted. Everyone was silent.

"And why..." he hissed, stepping closer to me. "Should I?" I could smell the booze on his breath. "She is ours now... so we take care of her." I walked over to her slowly. She looked up at me, eyes wide. I was startled at how green they were in the pale light. I stuck my hand out to her. "Hi there... umm... so I guess you can come with us, since we... uh, bought you..."

She stared at my hand for a moment, then carefully gripped it. Her hands were cold. I pulled her up and she stood awkwardly, favouring her right leg.

"Is there anything you need to get? Like, extra clothes or personal belongings?" Jack spoke very softly to her. She glanced at the alley way. And opened her mouth to speak, but the fat guy interrupted. "You know, Katiana... the dogs are out tonight. You want to go back there to grab your guitar?" She stffened, and with one last despairing look at the alley way, she shook her head.

"Well, we ought to go now." Heith started walking away slowly, gesturing to us to follow. "Nice to meet you, sir." He said the last word mockingly, with no intention of being polite.

The girl-Katiana- started walking slowly too. She was limping heavily, but  gradually got faster and faster. A sudden series of growls and barks made her break into a run, with a fearful glance at the alley way. She couldn't run very fast though, so we kept up to her easily.

"Where's the fire?" I heard Anderson mutter. As soon as we turned around the corner of a building, she stopped and sank down against the wall to the ground, panting.

"T-thanks..." Katiana whispered, clutching her ribs again, her face screwed up in pain. "We need to go, he might be following us!" She struggled to her feet, and tried to walk. She stumbled, and I grabbed her shoulders.

"Let me carry you." The words popped out of my mouth before I could stop them. She gave me a weird look. "I can walk." She said, shivering.

"No, really!" I urged. "You look exhausted, it would be fine with me!" "Well..." She glanced at the others, who were watching for the fat guy or his gorrila men. "I guess so..."

I walked forward and put my  arm around her shoulders. After a slight hesitation, she wrapped her arms around my neck. I carefully lifted her legs off the ground, knowing that her right leg was somehow hurt. Despite her attempts to stay quiet, she hissed out a breath as I lifted her.

"Sorry" I said. "Its okay, let's just go now" She hissed through clenched teeth. Anderson pulled his phone out. "Oh, man! Frank is going to murder us in our sleep!" he moaned, showing me the time. 10:30pm. We are supposed to be in Ottawa for our next performance at noon tomorrow... we are going to be exhausted.

Raphael cursed under his breath. "Well, we better find the tour van. Did he say he would be by the Tim Hortons Downtown?" "No, Starbucks, you idiot" Heith glared and Raphael, who was known for being very absent minded and forgetful. We started walking down the street. Only 5 blocks away. Carrying a homeless girl.

I glanced down at Katiana. She was listening to the banter going on between the other four, an amused expression on her face. She met my eyes, then quickly looked away. Her face seemed to darken a shade, making me smile a little.

"Oooohhh, look at that romance! Xaivier saves a homeless girl and falls deeply in love at first sight, despite her smelling like garbage and looking like crap." Heith laughed. "Just adorable! Hand me a tissue, Jack!" Jack grinned and pulled a napkin out of his pocket.

"At least I have an excuse to smell bad, Heith. What's yours?" Katiana's face was hidden of all emotion as she spoke. Heith shot her a dirty look and walked faster. "No one likes a smart-ass, girl." I could see the begginnings of a grin around his mouth. I chuckled, and she looked up at me and smiled a bit. "Besides, Xaivier has a girlfriend, and I don't plan on staying for long." She looked at the ground again. "Being owned by five men isn't something I want to experience again." We all exchanged a glance. Again?

"What if we said that we want you to stay?" Raphael asked. "You could be the merchandise girl or something." Her face was doubtful. "Well... I guess that's okay..." her sentence was interrupted by a yawn.

"Try to sleep." I said softly. "Sleep? I have too many painful memories that lurk in my dreams." She whispered, almost to softly for me to hear. I could hear the pain behind it though. I once again felt overwhelming sympathy for this girl I just met. She looked out at the passing cars and didn't speak.

"Only 2 more blocks to go, guys, we are making great time!" Anderson nodded approvingly. He was the exercise fanatic, and couldn't stand our slow pace and lack of movement. Raphael playfully shoved him, and then the pushing war began.

"Don't push anyone onto the street" I warned. They all sighed at my motherly advice. They were used to it by now.

Katiana laughed. "You sound like my father, before he-" She abruptly stopped talking and snapped her mouth closed. "Before he what?" I asked, curious now.

"Nothing." She closed her eyes. "I'm really tired, maybe I will sleep, okay?" She leaned her head on my chest.

By the time we got the the van, her breathing was deep and I knew she was sleeping. I gently and carefully placed her on one of the bunks.

"Sweet dreams" I whispered, pulling the blanket over her shoulders. Although she was sleeping, she smiled.