Never Ever

51| Before Midnight

My first instinct is to throw my arms around Addy, who looks seconds away from a full-blown panic attack. Noah's first instinct is to protect me. His body stiffens, eyes darkening as he turns.

"Blue, I need you to stay up here with Addy."

Then he's gone, running down the stairwell before I can open my mouth to argue. Addy and I lock eyes for all of two seconds before we follow him, lungs burning and legs shaky by the time we burst back into Jesse's apartment.

The sound hits me first, a wall of noise that twists my stomach and leaves my chest tight. I shove Addy behind me, my hands trembling as I take in the scene. The Calbears are a blur of fists, with Jesse and Pax locked at the center of it while Noah fights to drag them apart. There's blood on his face–God, please don't let it be his–and bile scorches the back of my throat. 

"Stop it!" Addy screams, voice cracking.

No one even looks at her.

Pax slams Jesse into the coffee table, wood splintering as it collapses. Jesse retaliates with a fist to the jaw that makes me flinch like I've been hit too. Noah's straining between them, every muscle in his back drawn tight.

Addy lunges forward as instinct takes over. I grab her wrist hard enough that it'll probably leave a mark, but at least it'll keep her safe. "Addy, don't. You'll get hurt."

Finally, Riley makes a clumsy attempt at helping Noah, shoving himself between Jesse and Pax, only to take an elbow to the eye. He stumbles back, swearing and wearing a look that says, Fine. Kill each other, then.

"Why aren't you doing anything?" Addy shouts at Carter. 

Carter just shrugs, and Mason's lazy agreement from the couch makes my blood boil. "This shit's been brewing for weeks. They need to get it out of their system." He nods at Riley, who's nursing his eye as proof of why he's not getting involved. 

"So you're telling me the only person who gives a damn about this team is Noah?" I snap. "You're really going to stand there and let him hold this team together on his own?"

They hesitate, and for half a second, hope flares in my chest. But before they can move, Noah snaps.

"Alright, that's enough." In one quick motion, he seizes Jesse and Pax by their shirts and wrenches them apart. Pax goes skidding back, slamming into the wall. Jesse's fists stay clenched, his jaw rigid, but slowly, his hands drop. No one dares say a word. Captain or not, they still listen to him like he's in charge.

When he's sure they've calmed down enough, Noah lets go, his chest heaving as he scans the sorry-looking bunch. "You're supposed to be Calbears. The best of the best. And right now, you look like a pack of wild animals tearing each other apart. Coach would have a fucking coronary if he could see you now."

"Jesse started it," Pax mutters, sulking.

"I don't give a fuck who started it," Noah growls. "You're Calbears. That means you're a team. You stick together. If anyone here doesn't want to be part of that team, there's the fucking door." He jerks his chin toward the exit. "Walk through it now."

No one moves, which is probably a good thing. Noah looks about ready to tear the next person who does apart. "Good," Noah says. "Then it's settled." His gaze sweeps the room, daring one of them to interrupt him. "This is the last fucking time a Calbear lays hands on another Calbear. Go home, sober up, and get your ass to practice early on Monday, or so help me god, I will make your lives a living hell." 

One by one, heads bow. Carter, Mason, Riley, and the others file out. Pax and Jesse start to move too, but one look from Noah keeps them still until it's just the five of us left. I swallow hard, watching as Jesse and Pax stare at Addy like she's the epicenter of this earthquake. Pax is slouched against the wall, arms folded, barely acknowledging the blood dripping from his nose. Jesse's more aware of his injuries, wincing every time his fingers brush the gash at his forehead.