the fire between us

chapter 24

Martinus's face, still marred by the trickle of blood, reveals his mixture of relief and frustration as he listens to me. "Y/n, please, let's not do this right now," he says, his voice earnest despite the strain.

I take a steadying breath, trying to rein in my emotions. "Fine. We'll talk about it when we get home," I say firmly, and he nods in agreement.

With a final glance of concern, I head back toward the dance floor, Martinus by my side. We find Nora and Marcus near the bar, their faces lit with concern as they spot us approaching.

"y/n?" I look at Nora who says my name, "yes darling?" I say, "let's go get some air" I nod.

Nora and I step outside into the cool night air, the lively sounds of the club muffled behind us. The street is quieter, offering a welcome break from the chaotic energy inside. We walk a few steps away from the entrance, seeking a spot where we can talk privately.

Nora looks at me with concern as we pause beneath a streetlamp. "Are you okay?" she asks, her voice soft and genuine.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm the lingering anxiety from the earlier confrontation. "Yeah, I'm okay. I just don't get why he would do that," I admit, the frustration evident in my tone.

Nora nods sympathetically, her expression one of empathy. "I know. It's really unsettling when people don't respect boundaries. And it's even harder when someone you care about ends up getting hurt because of it."

I let out a shaky sigh. "Exactly. I appreciate that Martinus was trying to protect me, but I hate that it ended up like this. I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me."

Nora places a comforting hand on my shoulder. "You're not to blame for what happened. Martinus acted out of concern, and sometimes things get out of hand in the heat of the moment. It's important to talk about it, but it doesn't change the fact that you're not at fault."

I nod, taking solace in Nora's words. "I know you're right. It's just hard to see him hurt and feel like I'm the cause of it."

Nora and I are about to head back inside when I hear a voice call out. I turn around to see the same guy from earlier, now flanked by a group of friends. His face is still flushed from the confrontation, and his friends' expressions range from concerned to curious.

"Where do you think you're going?" he says, his tone dripping with defiance.

My heart sinks as the group approaches us. Nora instinctively steps closer, her protective stance evident. "We're just trying to have a quiet moment," she says, her voice firm but calm. "We don't want any trouble."

The guy's friends look between him and us, clearly unsure of how to react. One of them, a taller guy with a grim expression, steps forward. "Maybe you should just leave her alone, man. It's not worth it."

The initial aggressor glares at his friend but doesn't back down. "I'm not letting this go."

The guy's words hang in the air, heavy with hostility. I step forward, my heart pounding, but my voice remains steady and controlled. "What is it with you?" I demand, meeting his gaze with a mix of defiance and frustration. "Why can't you just accept that your actions were wrong? You harassed me on the dance floor, and then you had the audacity to bring your friends out here like you're somehow in the right?"

He opens his mouth to respond but falters, clearly caught off guard by my assertiveness. His expression shifts from angry to defensive, but the words don't come. He stares at me, his bravado crumbling under the weight of my scrutiny.

"Got nothing to say?" I continue, my voice sharp and unyielding. "Maybe that's because you know you were out of line. Maybe you're realizing that your little show of aggression was just pathetic and unnecessary."