Beneath You're Beautiful (EDITING)

Chapter 35: Empty Promises

* Alice's POV *

"Do you think Aaron's going to come after us?"

Thomas was using a damp cloth to dab on my cheek, which was more red than what it would have been if I was blushing.

"No, I don't think he has the guts."

"I hope so, I can't be bothered with all of their craziness."

"Same here."

He dabbed my face with the cloth one more time before putting it down and kissing my forehead.

"Alice can you promise me something?"

I looked at Thomas' face suspiciously.

"It depends on the promise."

"Please, can you never...ever...try to defend me again?"

"Why can't I defend you?"

"Because one: you don't need to. Two: you shouldn't have to. And three: you'll get hurt."

"Thomas, you and I both know I can look after myself."

"Alice, I know you can fight for yourself but you keep getting hurt and I can't stand it."

"Well I'll practice a bit more, it'll be fine."

"Look, can you just promise me you won't try to defend me if anything happens?"

"...I can't, not unless you want an empty promise."

"Please Alice."

"I can't Thomas, you mean too much to me."

"You mean a lot to me as well which is why I want to protect you."

"Then who would protect you?"

"I don't need to be protected."

"And I do?"

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"Well if I do, then you do too."

"I can't win here can I?"

"Nope."

Thomas moaned and put his head in his hands. I removed them and lifted his face back up to look at me.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

We went home after saying goodbye to all of the guys. They said they hoped my cheek was okay and that I was a 'badass'. When we walked out of the stadium, the group was waiting for us. Of course, they all wanted to know why my cheek was so red so we told them everything that happened.

"Oh god Alice are you okay?!" Luke's eyes widened as he looked at my face. Olivia and Penny had their hands over their mouthes and Zack left his wide open in shock.

"Yeh I'm fine!"

"Why didn't anyone stop him from slapping you?!" Olivia spoke with an irritated voice.

"Well I pushed Thomas out of the way and the guys were in shock so there was really nothing that could've been done to stop it."

"I still can't believe you pushed me out of the way Alice."

"Thomas we've gone over this, I wasn't gonna let him hurt you okay?"

"What so you don't care if that means you get hurt in the process?" Thomas' eyes showed anger and frustration as his fists tightened and his knuckles whitened.