The Heartbreaking Agreement

Chapter XV

Merry Christmas, everyone! <3

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Jerome's P.O.V.

She fell asleep. After a long day of discovering a true and brutal side of this city, she finally found peace. For now, of course.

She wasn't fit for this life. She was suppose to be a psychologist or whatever... She was suppose to be someone important, successful, admired. Instead, she became a member of a gang. Italians would call it a mafia, but we don't sell women and drugs, like they do.

We sell our freedom.

The only way you can feel alive again is in the eyes of death. Racing is the closest way you can get. In the edge of death and life, when adrenaline hits you better than any drug or alcohol, when the crowd cheers your name, when you know that if you win, you will be able to pay the rent and eat something else than noddle soups... Man, that feeling is amazing.

But it's not as good as freedom.

Angel gave up the most precious thing she owned for some asshole, just because they were friends in high school. Everyone knows you never stay friends with people, who you went to high school with. It's common knowledge! But they didn't want to accept that, so they have to pay the price.

What a waste...

I stopped in front of my apartment house. It was an old building, where mostly old folks lived. And there was also Mike, who lived with me for some time now. But his soul is so old, you could take him for a man in his eighties.

I looked at her face. She must have had a good dream, as she smiled a little. Her hand was still holding mine, warm and soft. I blamed myself a little bit for where she was back then. I blamed myself for calling her stupid nicknames back in high school - I pretend I don't remember her from those horrible four years, but I do.

She was something. A girl with bigger pon-pons on her stomach, than some girls had on their chests. When she walked through the hallway, everyone moved aside, not because of her size, but because of her eyes. Big, powerful, intimidating. One look and you got the chills.

She still has that look and honestly, I find that really attractive.

Big A wasn't dead though. She was still inside this Angel. She was still stubborn, smart, mentally strong, beautiful in her own way, which no one could handle.

Now, I know it sounds like I'm in love with her, but I'm not. She's just... fascinating.

But even if she's strong, it won't change the fact that she shouldn't be here. She shouldn't be a Tiger or a Phoenix. It will kill her. Sooner or later, someone or something will destroy her to million tiny pieces and no one will be there to help her.

Not her roommate, not Quinn, not her parents. She will be lonely.

She's not ready for this.

"Why is she here?" Mike asked, after I took Angel upstairs, still asleep in my arms. I took her to my bedroom and let her sleep on my bed. Mike, who wasn't her biggest fan as I noticed, looked at her from the doorway.

I sat on the edge of the bed, still watching how different she looked when she was asleep. How innocent and weak she was. How small and harmless.

"She's a Phoenix now" I murmured, answering Mike's question.

"A Phoenix?" he almost yelled, which made me look at him. He came closer, took my arm, forcing me to get up and both of us walked towards the kitchen. Mike stopped there, crossing his arms on his chest. "I told you it was a bad idea!"