AGAIN

Chapter Fourteen

Flashback

.

.

Clock ticks.

.

.

.

I pulled the keys from my bag and opened the car. But just when I was about to climb inside, Alden grabbed me back, turning me around. He leaned closer and I knew instantly that he was going to kiss me.

I held my breath, unable to move in shock, waiting for the inevitable. Then suddenly, in just a fleeting second, his body was pulled away from me. I froze when his body was slammed onto the car next to mine. He stumbled to the ground and I watched in horror as another guy punched him directly on the face. It took a moment for me to recognize the figure and when I finally realized who he was, I ran towards them, breaking my heel and falling to the ground.

********** 

"This is your fucking fault!"

"Me? Ha! You're the one who came out from nowhere and punched me on the face! Asshole!"

I wailed in pain, rubbing my left ankle, as the guys continued with their unreasonable clash.

"Dale, are you okay? How are you feeling?" Alden knelt down and asked me. His cheek was badly bruised but I was relieved to find nothing else was seriously damaged other than that part of his face.

"Your—" I was about to say something but Red interjected.

"Seriously man? Look at her. She's obviously not okay. Idiot." He grunted and then bended down, scooping me up from the ground. I was surprised by what he did but could not protest due to my condition. Crap. My foot hurt like hell and my butt was still painful from slamming on the concrete floor.

Alden stood up, looking totally furious by Red's action. "What are you doing? Where are you taking her?" He exclaimed.

"Back to her dorm. Your keys?" He asked me, not minding Alden's deadly stare. I just stared at him, dumbfounded. It's like too many things were happening all at once and I didn't know what to say or do. I was still in pain but being closed to him pacified all my sufferings.

"He knows where you stay?" I almost forgot Alden's presence. I turned to him and he looked terribly confused, his cheek was a mixture of blue and red.

"Well, he—" I finally uttered some words, trying to explain, but again, I was interrupted.

"You're not going to take her." Alden said angrily before trying to grab me from Red's strong arms. Red, expecting Alden's action, moved away quickly, hugging me closer to his body.

I covered my eyes with my hands, expecting the worst. They were like kids fighting over a toy—and that toy was me.

"Oh, please." I whispered.

"And who's going to take her? You?!" Red yelled, his chest heaving frantically. I pressed my ear closer to hear his breathing. "And then what? You're going to take advantage of her again?"

I lost my concentration on the rhythms when he said the words. It brought me back to when it all started.

Alden tried to kiss me. I forgot about that.

I removed my hands from my eyes and twisted a little to look at Alden and waited for whatever he was going to say.

"I— I did not take advantage of her." He stammered, his expression softening as his gaze turned to me. "I did not try to kiss you. Please, Dale. You can't go with that bastard. Look what he did to me! He's nothing but trouble. I already warned you." His voice was strong but recognizably pleading.