For Keeps

33. Scarlett

Her blue eyes widen just before I tackle her to the floor.
"You crazy bitch!" I yell as I pop her in the face right before I'm yanked off of her by my hair. I instinctively hit backwards making contact with whoever was pulling my hair.
"Ouch! You broke my nail!" Jasmine yells and kicks me in the ribs. I barely register the pain as I turn and kick her feet out from under her.
"Oh my God! Luke! Brett! Jesus Christ! Are you guys okay?" Karianne screams from the door.
"Golden." I say as I stand and back Stacey into the corner. "You think you're some badass? I'll fucking rip you to shreds without a second thought!" I yell in her face.
"I'll call the cops!" She threatens.
"Call them. Or I'll call them for you. One, you were assaulting Paisley and then turned on me. Two, you have no idea who you just fucked with. I can ruin your life without breaking a sweat." I glare.
"Fuck!" I hear Luke say behind me. "Jesus Scar, you're bleeding." He grabs my arm and I look down at a trail of blood leaking from a gash on the top of my forearm.
"At least it will match your others." Stacey scoffs.
"Leave Paisley alone. Leave Brett and Karianne alone. If you don't, I'm more than happy to turn you in for assault."  I hold up my bloody arm.
"What's going on here!" A huge bouncer says behind us. "Ma'am do you need an ambulance?" He says at my side. Stacey and her friends utilize this time to book it out of the bathroom.
"I'll be fine." I grab my clutch from Luke and grab some hundred dollar bills. "Nobody is pressing charges. I hope this covers the mess." I hand them to him and his eyes go wide.
"Yes ma'am. There's a back door you and your friends can use. It's down the hall and to the right." He says and leaves. I assume it's to go get stuff to clean the floors, but I'm too angry to find out.
"Are you okay, Paisley?" I ask as Luke presses a paper towel on my arm.
"Me? Are you okay!" Her tear streaked face is full of concern, but I can't help but look at her poor hair and a bruise already forming on her cheek. They sure did a number on her.
"Tis' but a scratch." I smile. "Let's get out of here." I say and pat her shoulder.
Nick is in the hallway and grabs Paisley and hugs her close. "Are you okay? What happened." He asks as we make our way out the back door. He gently caresses her eye, where the bruise is.
"They bombarded me in there. Carmen hit me and held me down. Stacey must have had scissors in her bag. I felt her snip at my hair and then Scarlett came in. Thanks for saving me." She sniffles.
"You're welcome. I should have kept a better eye on you." I frown.
"It's not your fault. I shouldn't have gone alone."
"I should have went. It's my fault she did this." Karianne says with tears running down her face.
"It was not. Look, it's over now. Paisley we will go see someone about your hair tomorrow."
"What about you?" Karianne asks.
"I'm fine."
"How bad is it?" Brett asks when we get to the cars.
"Honestly I'm not sure. It stings but there was so much blood I didn't get a good look at it." I shrug.
"Will you turn your flashlight on?" Luke asks Brett.
"Yeah no problem."
I close my eyes tight as they look at my arm. I hear Karianne gasp and Brett clears his throat.
"You need stitches." Luke says.
"Can you do them?" I ask.
"Me?"
"Yes. Can't you go all G. I Joe?" I smile.
"I have only done stitches once and it was half assed. Can we please take you to the ER?" He says.
I shift uncomfortably for a minute. "Maybe. I have to make a call."
Clarity registers and he helps me in his truck. "We will see you guys later." He says.
"I want to go." Karianne says.
"And piss off the ER staff?" I laugh.
"I live for it." She smiles.
We say goodbye to Nick and Paisley who are heading to Nick's apartment and we head to the ER.

When we get there I take out my phone and dial a number I have burned into my brain.
"Hello, Scarlett." Cam says.
"Hey friend, I need a favor." I say as I bite my nails.
"Anything for you, love." He pauses. "Why are you at the Emergency room? Please tell me you are working."
"Not working. I kind of got into a fight and cut with scissors. It's really not that bad."
"I'll erase every trace of you being there. Are you okay? " His husky voice drips with concern.
"I'm actually really good." I smile at Luke.
"You look happy." He chuckles.
"Are you accessing cameras?"
"Yes. From the club. That dress hugs every inch of you. I approve."
"Haha. You're funny."
"Tell Luke if he hurts you I'll ruin his life."
"He is a good guy, Cam. No worries." I sigh. "Since I have you on he line... Is he still looking?"
He takes a deep breath. "Yes baby doll. I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I figured. Thanks again."
"Anytime, gorgeous."
We exchange our goodbyes and I put my phone away.
"Friend?" Luke asks.
"Hacker friend." I smile
"Is Cooper..." He pauses.
"Yes. He's still looking. Luckily Cam is amazing at what he does." I kiss him briefly. "Shall we get me some stitches?" I smile.
"Yes." He smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes.
It's not busy so we somehow manage to get in and out quickly. They asked multiple times if I was pressing charges, which I told them no.
Twenty one stitches later we all leave. We say our goodbyes to Karianne and Brett and go inside Luke's apartment. Soon to be our apartment, I think to myself and my heart does back flips.
After covering my wound, we both get in the shower and wash away every trace of the night.
As we get into bed I can't help but break the silence that's been consuming us since the hospital.
"Talk to me. Where's your head at?" I ask him and turn on my side to look in his direction.
"I should have been able to save you."
"She actually didn't mean to cut me. I kind of jumped her." I curl up into him.
"It shouldn't have gotten that far. I should have taken off with you, not behind you."
"I'm really okay. Honestly I've had worse injuries." I kiss his cheek.
"And I hate that more. I hate that he is still looking for you. I want to meet him face to face and kick his ass."
"Me, too, but he is a powerful guy." I shrug.
"You can't stay hidden forever." He kisses the top of my head.
"I can try." I sigh. "I am stronger now. If I came face to face with him, I would be able to stand up for myself. I would tell him off and to never bother me again. I have thought about it. I just-" I take a deep breath. "I don't want to see him again."
"Do you still love him?"
I sigh. "I think if you ever truly love somebody, you will always have a certain amount of love for them. Forever. But I'm not in love with him. I wouldn't go back to him, if that's what you're getting at."
"Good." He pulls me closer. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
"Tonight didn't end as planned." He pulls me closer.
I have to laugh. "Well it will be something we will always remember. Maybe not a story for our kids, though."
He turn more towards me. "Whatever, they will think their mother is a badass. I'll brag about you every single day."
"But the important question is if you will go get me curly fries in the middle of the night when I am pregnant with them." I giggle.
"Of course. I wouldn't even judge you if you ate pickles and ice cream together."
"Gross!" I laugh.
"My mom craved that when she was pregnant with my sister." He laughs.
"Hopefully I don't crave weird things like that." I shake my head.
He rubs my arm softly.
"Can I ask you something, Luke?"
"Always babe." He kisses my head and I sit up.
"Did you really apply to the lab because of me?"
He clears his throat. "I'm not a stalker." He laughs. "But yes. That day I saw you in the lobby, I couldn't get you out of my mind. I found out you worked in the lab and I applied. I felt like I had to get to know you."
"Because you thought I was pretty?"
"I thought you were beautiful. God, you're the most beautiful woman I have ever seen." He kisses my head. "But it was more than that. I felt this pull towards you, and when you looked at me I just knew I had to know you."
"I couldn't stop thinking about you." I say. "I even had dreams about you. I tried to push my feelings down, but I hoped I would see you again. I found myself looking for you every time I was in the lobby. I guess I felt that same pull towards you." I smile in the darkness of the bedroom.
"I'm happy we found each other." He pulls me into his lap.
"Me, too. I don't know what I would do without you." I kiss him softly.
After a few minutes he breaks our kiss and his eyes search mine. "I didn't think I could ever be this happy."
"Neither did I. Who knew that two broken people could bring each other back to life?" I press my forehead against his.
"I didn't think it was possible, but I'm so thankful fate brought us together."
"Me, too." I say and I mean it.
This man holding me in his arms is my future, and I wouldn't have met him if my past didn't push me to this point.
It's funny how life has a way of throwing you through the worst storm you've ever seen, only to prove to you that you are stronger than you realized.
I pull Lucas a little tighter as I drift off to sleep.

The worst is over, and I can't wait for our future together.