Fall

Chapter 5

My phone vibrated on the passenger seat next to me and I glanced at it.

*Are you almost here?*

I waited until a red light before I replied. I knew that if I didn't he would yell at me and that wouldn't make things any better.

*10 minutes away.*

The road was busier than usual and I mentally yelled at everyone driving past me for being so busy and slow. Jye wasn't going to buy it if I told him it was traffic and excuses were only going to make things worse for me.

Soon enough, I was pulling up to the curb out the front of Jye's apartment block, staring up at the small brick building. I didn't hesitate in climbing out of the car, remembering what happened yesterday when I hesitated. As I made my way up the path to the front door, I looked up at the sky. It was getting dark. I didn't want to have to spend the night here because I knew he wouldn't let me get any sleep. He'd be busy all night. 

Just before I pushed open the door, I pulled my hair out of its ponytail and parted it over my shoulders. As I opened the small grey door, I wasn't prepared for the scene in front of me.

Jyes clenched fist came into contact with the mans' jaw and I jumped back as the body fell to the floor, his hand stopping himself from falling too hard.

"Don't you fucking go near her!" Jye shouted.

My hands flew to my mouth and as soon as the gasp escaped my lips, his head snapped in my direction and his eyes met mine. My eyes looked down at his busted knuckles that were already bloody and then down at the man on the floor with blood smeared across his cheek.

"Bree!" Jye exclaimed, slightly shocked that I had arrived earlier than I'd said.

He shook his sore hand, sending small drops of blood to splatter on the floor.

I couldn't look at him anymore and I certainly wasn't going to spend the night with him. I turned and shoved the door open, tumbling outside with Jye's calls echoing behind me. I ran as fast as I could back to my car, but as I went to grab my keys out of my car, my hands were shaking too much and they slipped from my grip.

"Shit."

"Bree!"

I hesitated in bending down to retrieve them, but when I glanced behind me and saw Jye running down to me, I decided against it and ran past my car. He was probably enjoying this. This is the type of game that he enjoyed.

A chase.

My legs were tiny compared to his long ones and he was easily gaining on me. My legs were already aching and I didn't think twice before racing across the road. It was only when I saw the headlights blurring my vision that I saw the car.

"Bree!" Jye yelled.

My body froze and I turned and looked at the huge car that had slammed on the brakes. I jumped back as the bonnet nudged my stomach, my hands slamming down to stop it from coming into harder contact. I looked up at the driver through the windscreen and noticed the familiar curls straight away.

The look on his face told me he recognized me too.

"Bree!" 

I turned my attention back on Jye who was still chasing after me. I cursed to myself and quickly took off away from the black car that had almost run me over. I had only made it a couple meters from the road before I heard the footsteps nearing and pounding on the ground behind me. His breathing was rapid, as was mine. 

Just as I felt his hand on my arm, I shoved him away, stumbling over my own feet.

He tried again, grabbing my arm.

"Get off me!" I screamed, digging my nails into their hand as I struggled to get away.

"Hey, calm down!" they said, trying to pull me to slow down.

I turned my head to look at them and immediately my feet slowed, studying their face. Their green eyes, their curly hair, their right cheek that didn't currently sport a cheeky dimple. But it was so much better than who I had expected it to be.

"Help me," I breathed out, pulling him in front of me as a barrier between me and Jye.

"Bree," I heard him say.

"Get away from me!" I yelled from behind the curly-haired boy.

I felt bad. I didn't want this boy I didn't even know to get involved, but here he was. He didn't know what he had gotten himself into. Jye was dangerous, I wish he had known that before chasing after me.

"Move!" Jye yelled.

"I don't think she wants you to go near her," the boy warned.

"You don't know what she wants! That's my girlfriend!" he barked back.

I gripped the familiar boys' arm tighter and leaned around him.

"Then why is she running from you? Why are your hands bleeding?" He accused.

"Just back off mate! You don't know anything. She's coming with me."

Jye stepped forward. As he reached out to grab me, the cafe boy grabbed his arm and pushed him away. Shit, no. Don't fight. Please don't fight.

"Fuck off!"

"Don't come any closer or I will call the police," he threatened.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?"

"Go home, or I swear I will call the police."

"Yeah yeah okay mate. Fuck, move."

"You don't think I will? You don't think I have enough evidence to prove that you're assaulting this girl?"

This boy doesn't know what he's talking about. He's just throwing random threats in an attempt to scare him, but I know it won't work.

"Assaulting her? What the hell are you on?"

"You punched that guy," I whimpered to help the boy out, just loud enough for him to hear me.

Both boys' attention was on me. I shouldn't have said anything.

"We are going home, Bree. Now!" Jye yelled. I didn't even live with him.

As he went to grab me for the second time, the boy grabbed him again but Jye shrugged him off and swung his fist. The boy moved in time to dodge his attack and instead connected his fist with Jye's stomach, sending him stumbling back.

"Back off! Now!" He warned. I noticed his eyes had darkened.

Jye's breathing was rapid. He wanted to beat the shit out of this guy so badly. His fists were clenched and his chest was rising and falling unsteadily. He wiped his mouth and slowly stalked backwards.

"I'm going to pick you up in the morning Bree. Nine. Be ready," was all he said, before he turned and walked off. 

I didn't realize how tight I had been holding onto the boys' arm for protection until I had actually let go and saw the small red bruises that were already starting to form.