The Bad Girl

Chapter 17 ~ Don't Fight

Chapter 17 ~ Don't Fight

Jacob P.O.V

I rub my sore head and squeeze my eyes shut.

"What the fuck is wrong with you, Jake?" Riley growls.

"I could ask you the same question."

"What? So we break up but I'm not allowed to talk to other guys? Is that what you're saying?"

"You broke up with me! I never wanted to!"

"Because you kissed my fucking twin sister!"

"It was an accident and I apologized like a thousand times!" I yell in defense.

"You didn't have to go and beat up my friend!"

"What friend?"

"Er, the guy I was talking to in the club!"

"Oh please! He was feeling you up right in front of me!"

And suddenly, without warning, Riley's face falls from anger to sadness and she bursts into tears. She sits against a stone wall and cries into her knees. The clouds crack above us before rain starts to pour down, matching Riley's tears.

"Why are you crying?" I ask her while trying to stay angry.

"Its because of me. Everything is because of me."

"What are you talking about?" I say, the rain falling even harder.

"I fucked everything up with us, Jake. I shouldn't have listened to America and just stayed living at your apartment."

"It was America's idea for you to move back?"

"She said she missed me. And then I convinced myself it would be better because I didn't want to ruin our relationship so early. But I've done that anyway."

I wipe my damp hair back from my forehead. "I'm sorry. I know how hurt you were because I accidentally kissed your sister. But it wasn't my fault!"

"I know," she cries harder and stands up. "I've been such a bitch. I never wanted to break up with you, I was just scared of getting hurt."

"But then you go back to the person you were a few months ago? The bad girl?"

"I didn't know you were going to be here!"

"That's hardly the point! Less than forty-eight hours and you are hooking up with some other guy!"

"I wasn't hooking up! I was hurt and scared I'd lost you from my life forever! You are the first guy who ever treated me right. Like I wasn't just some object to be passed around. I love you so much, Jake. And now I've fucked it up." She turns and starts to walk away.

I grab the back of her coat and pull her back to me.

"What?" She yells over the sound of the rain.

I grab the sides of her head with both hands and push my lips onto hers. I kiss her with all the love and anger I have in me. She puts a hand on my shoulder for balance as I lean into her, trying to kiss her harder.

"Never in a million years did I think I could fall so hard for someone I never even dreamt of having in the first place." I whisper against her lips.

"And never did I think I could ever love anyone the way I love you. And I'm sorry, for everything."

"So am I. But I need some time to clear my head." I move away from Riley.

The rain buckets down onto our heads, our clothes already drenched right through.

"I'll see you around." I yell back to her as I begin to jog away towards my car.

I climb into the drivers seat and shut the door, glad to have the rain off of me. I breathe heavily, resting my head on the steering wheel.

My phone buzzes in my wet pocket and I pull it out, swiping the damp screen.

"Hello?" I pant.

"Jacob. Are you alright?" Chase asks.

"I'm fine, just sorted some stuff out with Riley I guess."

"I have some bad news." He says. Judging by the background noise, he is still inside Shadows.

"Well I got thrown out so I can't come back in. Just tell me now over the phone."

"Paisley has been hearing about how there is an underground fight a bit later on tonight."

"And why should I care exactly?"

"Because you'll never guess who put their name down."

"Oh you've got to be kidding me."

"Yep. Riley Dean."

"Text me the address and time, I'm going home to change." I say panicked.

"Ok, I'll meet you at the fight after I take Paisley home in a taxi."

I hang up the phone as I veer away from the curb, pushing down on the accelerator.

That girl is going to get herself killed.

I try ringing Riley over and over again all the way home. She doesn't answer so I decide to send her a text.

'Don't do this, Rye. Please don't fight.'

To my surprise, she texts back just as I enter my apartment.

'I have to and I want to.'

'U don't have to! I can't let U get hurt like this!'

She doesn't reply to me after that and I begin to panic even more. I rush to my bedroom to find dry clothes to put on. I think about having a warm shower but decide I have no time.

Chase messages me as I'm grabbing a quick drink from the kitchen.

'Old gym building in basement on far west of campus. 1am.'

I check the clock. It reads 12:35am. I scull the rest of my drink and grab my car keys, locking the apartment door behind me.

Riley P.O.V

The crowd roars to life as tonight's designated commentator speaks through the megaphone.

"Who's ready for a fight!?" He shouts and the crowd erupts into cheers.

I jump from one foot to the other, taking deep breaths in and out. I'm in a side room that looks like it used to be some sort of office. The furniture is all pushed to the walls and collecting dust.

I tighten my ponytail and adjust my sports shorts on my hips, pulling my tank top down afterwards. These fights don't really have many rules, but boxing gloves are allowed so that's what I'm wearing.

Suddenly Jake bursts through the office door and immediately looks at me with panic, Chase right behind him.

"Don't fight, Riley." He breathes.

I look behind him into the basement full of people, lanterns hanging across the roof to light the room.

"I want to. I won last time so I can win again."

He steps closer to me and looks down into my eyes.

"I have a bad feeling about this. Something feels wrong, Rye. Just please don't fight."

"You can't change my mind." I say as the commentator announces my opponents name.

"I'll do anything. Let's just go home." He pleads.

"This isn't about you, Jake. This is about me wanting to do this. I'll be ok." I reach up on my toes and kiss his cheek.

"Riley....."

"The least you could do is stay and watch." I smile to him before heading out into the fight ring as my name is announced.
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