Pose

[Chapter 2]

'Minx!! I got the job!!' I run into my apartment before minx jumps up onto my shoulder letting me hug her and I toss her on the couch. 'We have to take this seriously!.. Don't look at me with that face! He asked me to come along with him in two days. He's just here on tour and he's headed back to Wolfshire in 2 days! Minx help me pack okay??' I run off going to pack some of my things and I eventually run out of things to pack. 'I actually own a lot less than I remember.' I shrug before sighing and Realizing the sun already set before I hear my stomach growling. Ugh.. I'm too lazy to make food.. I can eat tomorrow. I pet Minx on the head before she starts clawing at my leg. 'Minx! That hurts quit it! Fine I'll eat something!' Didn't say I'll make it though. I grab my phine before ordering food and I go sit on the couch while Minx lays down on my lap. The food finally shows up and I eat and head to bed. 

The next morning I'm woken by my alarm so I grab my glasses amd set the alarm off remembering I don't have work anymore.. Well. Not there anyway. Wait! I forgot to tell Andrea! I immediately start to look for her number and I call her. 'Ash.. What the fuck.. You realize it's 1am here..' 'Sorry.. I guess you haven't seen the news..?' 'No what news?' 'I uh.. I got fired and the producer made me sound like an asshole.' 'You don't sound as upset about it as you would be normally what's going on??' 'I got a new better job!' 'Seriously??' 'Seriously! Remember the dancing I do?? With my whips-' 'Kinky- don't tell me you became a stripper or a hooker-' 'Andrea, Light whips.' 'Oh right! Continue.' 'Bitch.' 'No Butch. It's spelled with a U.' 'Anyway, You know Zaiden, That famous model you're always talking about 'He's probably one of those guys saying he can turn even a lesbian straight-' 'What about him?? Please say you're not pretending to be a woman and being his Sugar baby!?' 'I- EW THE FUCK no!!' 'Thank the heavens..' 'Andrea He's my new boss.' 'You're his maid??' 'No! Oh my gods now I know your messing with me.' 'So he found your videos and decided you are actually good so he hired you for.. what purpose?? He's a model.' 'How did you-' 'I can put pieces together.' 'Him and some friends are starting a band-' 'Shit you're in a band!?' 'As a dancer don't get your hopes up-' 'Oh.. Still amazing. Oh! I remember Zaiden posted like a few song teasers on his story of ones you danced on. It makes more sense now I guess.' 'True, But I gotta go before Minx wakes up and terrorizes me for food.' 'Yeah yeah. You and your excuses.' The call ends and Minx jumps on my bed as I'm getting up. 'I'm coming, I'm coming.. Geez.' I walk over to the kitchen and fill her food bowl before I hear a ringing at the door and I stare at the door. I eventualky walk over and open the door slowly peeking past it and it's my neighbor. 'S-Sorry.. Nate... I'm busy right now-' 'ways busy aren't you?? I just noticed the Eviction notice. You can always come stay with me if you'd like.' 'No.. No thanks.. I'm good. I found somewhere better to stay.' 'Aw c'mon. Is this all still because of what happened the other night?? I was just drunk-' 'You crossed a Line Nate. I am not moving in with you!' Suddenly the door opens without me being able to stop it and Nate walks closer to me. 'C'mon don't be like that, We have a bond..' I flinch when he moves his hand over to my shoulder where he left a hickey and I yank his arm away and trip him pinning him to the floor. 'Fuck off you creep!' I sudde ly hear him laughing before he gets uo almost as if I wasn't even there and he shuts the door locking it and walking back over to me. 'You shouldn't be so nasty to alphas.' 'Alphas that deserve it! Now fuck off!' 'We're feeling brave today aren't we??' I notice Minx scratching and clawing at his leg before he kicks her off and I move over grabbing her. 'Minx!? Are you okay baby??..' I hold her in my arms but put her down on a chair when I notice Nate hovering over me from behind. Fuck.. not again.. Please not again.. I turn to Face him before he grabs my the throat holding me up and I start to claw at his hand pulling my ears back as I can't breathe. 'Where else will you go..? You have nowhere to stay! Andrea won't take you back you'll just put her out on the street too and you just got fired. Nobody will hire you after that review.' I start dazing off before he drops me making me cough trying to catch my breath and he grabs my by the arm pulling me over to the door and over to his apartment where he pins me to a wall. 'I'm moving back to Wolfshire! Leave me alone!!' 'Why so far away..?' He's really close and I can smell the alcohol and cigarettes on his breath. 'Because I got a job there..! Let me go or I'll call the cops..!' I hear him laughing before I remember.. 'You can't do that.. You wouldn't risk it.' I shouldn't have had the gun in the firstplace but it was self defence.. He was going to rape me if I didn't shoot him to get away but the Cameras somehow only caught me firing the gun and nothing else of the situation.. 'Nate let me go! Please!!' The guy keans in and tries to kiss me but I knee him in vetween his legs making him let go before I bolt for the door and back to my apartment locking the door before I hear him banging on it. 'ASH! LET ME IN YOU LITTLE TWERP!' I walk back over to Minx lifting her uo before I notice she's bleeding. Fuck.. Minx.. Baby hang in there.. I grab minx's Carrybag putting her in it cocered in blankets before I run over to the Gire escape by my window and I make my way down before I get in my car driving off trying not to cry. When I get to a vet's office I walk inside trying to get the attention of a vet before they take Minx and I sit down waiting for them to come back. After about half an hour a Vet comes over looking worried. 'Minx is stable.. but she's got internal bleeding.. she's going to need surgery..' 'Is.. It expensive..?' 'Unfortunately yes..' Fuck... Why does this have tobhaooen to me!? To minx.. my poor baby.. The vet give me a moment before I tell him to go ahead and do the surgery and I call Andrea. 'Andrea-' 'Why are you crying what's wrong??' 'Minx got hurt.. really bad..' 'What happened!?' 'Nate kicked her into the kitchen Island.. apparently she has internal bleeding and I don't have money to pay for her surgery..' 'tell them to do it and I'll send you some for it..' 'Andrea.. I can't take it.. I'll.. I'll Just ask dad..' 'No you're not talking to that Asshole!' 'Andrea-' 'Ask Zaiden! He has a dog, He probably understands and tell him you'll pay him back with your first paycheck or two.' I nod sighing. 'I guess I can try.. Thanks Andrea..' The call ends and I look for Zaiden's number staring at it before calling him and leaning down with my head in my hand. 'Hey, What's up?' 'I uhm... Fuck this is going to sound so.. So rude but I really need like.. my first paycheck and I'll have you cut off what I took from how ever many paychecks it costs,' 'What are you talking about? What's wrong?' 'I uhm.. Minx got hurt really bad.. And I don't have money for her surgery...' 'Oh, Uh.. What vet are you at?' 'Xena'sVet clinic..' 'Okay, Hold on I'm on my way.' 'No, You don't have to come all the way over here..' 'Yes I do actually, Now hold on I'm on my way.' The call ends and I stare at the phone in slight disbelief. I sit still waiting for an update on Minx, until Zaiden shows up walking in with Nora and Nora walks over to me outing her head on my lap and I pet her. 'How's Minx doing? Is she okay?? What happened?' 'She's.. Uhm.. still in surgery..Someone Kicked her..' 'Geez.. That hard..?? Wait if you didn't have the money why did you tell them to go through with it..?' 'I was going to ask my dad..' 'Why.. didn't you..?' 'My sister doesn't want me talking to him.. He was kind of.. and abusive asshile- I'm sorry i don't know why I'm opening up to you like this! It's so unlike me..' 'You're worried and hurting.. It's okay y'know. I'll pay it don't worry.' 'Thanks...I really do appreciate it.. I'll take it off my paychecks-' 'No, No no. You won't. I'm. Paying for it.' 'No please I can't ask you to-' 'Too late can't change my mind.' Zaiden sits down next to me and I stare at him in awe before I pull my knees up to my chest waiting for the vet to come back before Nora paws at my legs. 'Huh..?' 'She's.. telling you not to do that.' 'Do what..?' 'Put your legs down. It's.. she's trained to pickup things related to Anxiety..' 'Oh.. like an emotional support animal..?' 'Basically yeah.' 'Cool.. I'm guessing it's stressful being such a successful model.' I joke before he smiles back at me. 'Yeah life is fucking hard man. They make me do all these stupid poses and put a rediculous amout of effort into my hair! I look like somebody that just went swimming most of the time.' He starts joking back at me. 'Isn't that the new trend?? What was it called again? Thirst traps? I mean.. Even a noodle is straight until you get it hot and wet-' I hear Zaiden start to laugh before I start laughing a bit too. 'So you noticed the bracelet?' I nod. 'Though I thought nothing of it until I remembered your sister is lesbian so you must know what it means.' 'I do, I wear it for a reason but Nobody notices it anyway or they completely ignore it.' 'Hard for me to do.' I oull out my wallet before taking out a small Bisexualy pride flag I carry with me and he stares at it then back at me. 'That explains it.' I put it away again before we start chatting about some random things and the vet finally comes back. 'She's out and she's doing great..' 'Something tells me that sentence has a but..' 'But.. we need to keep her over night for observation just to make sure she doesn't rip anything or go into cardiac arrest or anything.' 'Alright.. Can.. I atleast go see her..?' I hug myself before the vet nods and I look over at Zaiden. 'Do you want to come too?' 'Sure.' The vet leads us to a cage where I see a poorly shaved Minx laying unconscious. 'Thanks for the free haircut I suppose..' I joke before sticking my hand in to pet her and the Vet smiles before walking off to give us a minute. 'I'm sorry.. All of this is really awkward.. You just met me, now you're taking care of my fur baby..' 'If it's a pet I'll do anything for it, no matter how little I know the owner.' 'It probably doesn't help my reputation after the whole news article..' 'With who?? Me?? I couldn't care less about what that Wine cork haired asshole has to say.' 'So it's not just me who noticed his awful hair color!?' 'Geez No. He looks like a gummy bear packet went through a mental break down then a car wash.' I start to laugh. 'That's one way to describe him.' I turn back to minx before I start to walk off and Zaiden follows before he takes over and walks over to the fron desk to pay so i just stand really awkwardly staring at the floor hugging myself before Nora jumps up pawing at my legs again and I juts pet her before I Ignore her and she starts barking towards Zaiden making me flinch. 'Nora,' I look up and Zaiden is staring at me as he turns outting his things back in his wallet and he pets Nora. 'Is everything okay..?' Don't say anything.. don't say anything.. Don't fucking say- 'Yeah.. Everything's alright.. I just have to.. M-make a call.' 'Ash, I can tell something's not right.. If anything is going on..' 'I'm.. I'm fine really It's just a guy-' Fuck! How stupid can I be..?? 'Woah what guy?' 'Nothing, Nothing's wrong. I don't know what could possibly make you think anything is wrong..' 'The way you're talking, the hugging, Nora barked at me meaning she did alert you about it but you ignored her and over all.. You're just really shaky..' 'Fuck.. It's.. It's just a guy.. He'll be gone when I get home..' 'Is he the one that kicked Minx??' 'Uhm.. Yeah..' 'You know where he is.?' 'I-.. I dunno why?' 'So I can teach him a lesson..' 'No.. No, That's okay really. He's just an asshole in general and Minx was trying to protect me-' 'Protect you..? From him?' 'Yeah- I- i mean no! The guy didn't even touch me-' 'Then.. why is your neck so bruised..?' 'M-My what..?' 'Your throat and neck are nearly entirely purple..' i try to pull my jacket collar up to try and hide it but Zaiden crosses his arms. 'I'm.. I'm okay really..' 'Ash.. Please..' 'He just.. He's just drunk.. He'll leave me alone when he sobers up...' 'Great and until the you're staying with me. We'll just quickly go get your things.' 'No! No please.. I'm.. I'm fine really..!' I suddenly hear Nate's Voice echoing through my head again "You've got nowhere else to go! Just stay with me." 'Ash, you're coming to stay with me, I don't trust that guy..' Zaiden moves closer to touch me and out of reflex I push his arm away and back off before Zaiden looks like he has a moment of realization. He calls Nora over before looking outside and back at me. 'Do you have a car?' 'A rental.. They're picking it up this afternoon..' 'Alright, C'mon.. at least let me drive you home.. You're in no shaoe to be driving.' 'O-.. Okay..' I move over to him and Nora before he leads me to his car and I get in after him with Nora in the backseat. 'Alright where do you live again..?' I guve him the Address and he starts driving back to my apartment. When we get ther I quickly excuse myself getting out and thanking him profusely for everything before I head inside and back up to my room. Before i reach my floor I take a deep breath and try sneaking uo as quietly as possible before I push my key into the door to try and unlock it without being Noise but I hear the door behind me open and I freeze in place. 'Really? The fire escape.. How tude of you to leave me like that, I invited you to stay with me and that's what I get in return??' I suddenly hear what sounds like Him punching a wall before I finally unfreeze and Unlock the door to head inside but when I got to shut the door he keeps it open and pushes it further before grabbing me again. 'You ungrateful little-!' I'm suddenly dropped when I notice Zaiden oushing the guy into a wall. 'Well well well.. Look what we got here.. If it isn't Zaiden.' 'So you know me?' 'Of course, Who doesn't?' 'Great.. Then you should know not to fuck with people close to me!' 'You know that little rat!?' 'Yes I do! What else would I be here for?? Cause it certainly isn't you.. Well.. Not unless I have to make it about you.' 'Don't threaten me. We're the same ranks. Let's talk this out Alpha to Aloha huh?' 'How 'bout you go talk it out alcoholic to alcoholic instead.??' 'Zaiden- What.. What are you doing here..??' 'You forgot your wallet in my car.. I just came to return it..' 'I-.. You stole it didn't you??' 'I needed an excuse for in case.' 'Zaiden let me go!' 'Make me scumbag! Wanna explain that bruising on his throat?? If he takes that hoodie off what else would I see that you've done to him??' 'You wouldn't see anything.  No ooint in checking.' 'Ash.. Did he touch you in any other way..?' 'I-I-..' I look over as I notice him glaring at me making me flinch back. 'N-No! No he didn't..!' 'Ash.. Look at me.. Eyes on me.. He's no here okay..? Did he hurt you or not..?' I try to ignore Nate before I turn my attention back to Zaiden but I can't get anything to leave my mouth. 'Can.. You show me if he hurt you..?' I pull my hands up to my shoulders before I slowly pull my jacket off revealing a bunch of cuts and bruises the guy has been leaving on me. 'Nothing to find??' Zaiden turns back to the guy before he lifts his hand and Knocks the guy out making me jump back and he turns back to me. 'Alrighty, While he's counting sheep, since Shadin can't take him yet, Why don't you quickly grab what you can and I'll get us outta dump.' I quickly nod before I scrambke off to go find my things aswell as Minx's things and Zaiden helps me carry it back to his car so I quickly head to the office and hand in my key since I'm leaving early and I go back over to Zaiden's car and I get in before Zaidens tarts driving back in the direction of his place. 'Thanks.. Uh. Thank you for.. All of that...' 'You really don't need to thank me. I'm not letting you get hurt. Not on my watch.' I start to nervously pull my jacket closed before I stare at the window but I flinch every time I notice Zaiden moving his hand to change gears of the car. Why am I acting like this!. He just helped me! Pull yourself together..!