Changing my Life

Chapter 9: The Bar

*THIS IS A VIOLENT CHAPTER, LOTS OF FEELS. READ ON, ITS LEADING TO EVEN MORE FEELS LATER >:)

I sighed heavily, taking the last box outside. It was 11pm ,and close to closing time at the bar. Mark had come and ordered a few drinks and played pool with Wade while I worked. I just had to finish taking out these empty boxes to the dumpster in the alley, then I could go home  "Hey lady" I turned to see a group of about five guys looking at me. All of them were burly, scary looking guys, and from the sounds of it they had a little too much to drink.  "Why don't you come over here, we wanna ask ya something beautiful." the speaker was a huge brute with a blonde crew-cut and dark eyes framed with heavy eyebrows. From the looks of his tattoos on his arm, he had been put away and let out recently. "Fuck off" I said, and turned back to my work. He laughed, " Litlle bitchy aren't you. Hey I got a better idea." he grabbed my arm, "Why don't you just come with me." I was afraid. I was going to be killed, or worse. I did the only thing that came naturally: I lifted my right leg and kicked him as hard as I could in the nards. He doubled over in pain, but his grip on my wrist tightened. He got up and wrapped his huge arms around me: one hand over my mouth, the other around my throat. "This is it," I thought," I'm going to die." I shut my eyes.

~Mark~

I walked outside looking for Riley.  Her boss, a nice man named Dale, told him that she could go on home. It wasn't much of a walk, but I wanted to make sure she got home ok. When I stepped outside I immediately noticed the scuffle to my right. "What the hell" I thought. Walking over, I noticed who the large men were reaching for and holding down. My vision went red. I started throwing punches, getting the bastards off her. The man that had her by the throat refused to let go, and I began unloading on him. I heard someone run up behind me and grab Riley. It was Maddie and Dina, good, they could watch her while I took care of him. I kept kicking and punching, getting angrier and more satisfied with every hit. No one was going to hurt her, and this unlucky son of a bitch was going to pay. "Mark." I stopped to turn and look at Riley: she was on the ground still, looking up at him with tear filled eyes, Dina and Maddie standing over her protectively. Maddie had dialed 911 to tell them what happened. I sighed and stepped away from the man. I needed to make sure she was ok.

~Riley~

I looked up at Mark, slightly afraid, slightly in awe. He was still furious, but when she called his name, he turned toward her, scooped her up, and carried her to Maddie's car. He gently placed me in the backseat, then to turned to my friends. Maddie nodded and gave him her keys. He got in without  word and we began to drive off. I watched Maddie and Dina walk into the bar before turning to Mark. He was gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles had turned white, and his face was scary. I didn't know what to do, so I gently placed a hand on his shoulder. He sighed and glanced at me in the mirror. I squeezed his shoulder before letting go and lying down in the seat. I was really tired all of a sudden. I could sleep knowing Mark was there, and I was safe. I closed my eyes again.

~Mark~

When I pulled up in front of the apartment complex, Riley had passed out in the back seat, her chocolate curls splayed across the seat. She was sleeping so peacefully, I almost didn't want to disturb her; nonetheless, I scooped her up and carried her inside my apartment. "Mark?" she mumbled fitfully. "Its ok," I said quietly as I set her gently on the bed in my spare room, "I've got you. You're safe now."