Masked love

Chapter 12

Nikita's eyes were closed, as she waited for the first punch of pain. She felt a small breath of wind and a new presence in front of her. There was no pain or punches. She opened her eyes to see a taller and buffer person in front of her. Even from behind, she recognized him instantly. He was taking each blow for her. Why would he?
"Move out of the way, Zeak! Stella told me you were switching sides, but I never thought you would stand in the way like this!" Braxen shouted.
"What Stella is doing is wrong! If you want to hurt Nikita from now on you'll have to get through me!" He shouted back. His stance was strong as he took each punch. The skin of his arms were turing blue from the force of the punches.
Students were now surrounding them chanting, "Fight! Fight! Fight!" Over and over again.
Holding his hands in front of his face, he looked behind him slightly. "Nikeet, no matter what stay behind me." He whispered. She nodded quickly. In that instance she decided to trust him, but she still hadn't forgiven him. He turned back around, only to receive a sharp punch to his stomach. Zeak was done playing defense. He threw a punch straight at his face and followed it with a punch to the gut. Braxen fell back throwing up his hands. Zeak quickly took the opening. He ducked down sweeping at Braxen's legs. Braxen fell to the ground. His eye was already starting to swell up from Zeak's punch. "Stay down. You've got to know that this ain't right. I don't know what Stella told you, but Nikita hasn't done anything to deserve this."
"Oh really, she betrayed her. She just stood by while her friends bullied my little sister." Braxen said, standing up. "If you even cared about Stella you wouldn't be standing in my way. Even after she got her father to adopt you, you still decide to go against her, you ungrateful bastard." He threw a punch straight for Zeak's face.
Zeak side-stepped out of the way, using his hand to keep Nikita behind him. He quickly grabbed the lower arm with one hand, and the upper with the other. He was prepared to break his arm. "Don't make me do this. Has Stella ever shown you any proof? Do you really want to ruin your chances of being a football player, not to mention your school record?" Zeak said with hesitation. Nikita and Zeak looked at Braxen's face. He was starting to doubt himself. "It's time for all of us to talk to get the full story." Zeak loosened his grip on Braxen's arm.
Braxen instantly pulled it away his arm. He looked at the floor grumpily, "I guess you're right. Stella's waiting to hear how this went at the bus loop. We'll go talk to her and set things straight I guess. But if it turns out that she has been hurting my sister, she's dead."
"If you lay a finger on her, you'll be in the hospital." Zeak quickly threw the threat back at him. "Stella can say whatever she wants, I know for a fact that Nikita never hurt her." Braxen rolled his eyes, but he knew that Zeak was capable of putting him in the hospital. He turned around, and the crowd of students instantly began to disperse. He walked down the hall, without waiting for them. Zeak looked behind him at Nikita. She was still feeling the fear, and her body felt like it was frozen still. Zeak offered her his hand, "let's end this Nikeet."
Nikita looked up at him, with her hands clutching the envelope for Stella. For that one moment it seemed like things could revert back to the ways they once were. She nodded silently and took Zeak's hand. Then reality came flooding as she grew worried."Wait, Joseph was supposed to-"
"Nikita! Are you ok?" Adam came running towards them as soon as the crowd disperse. Nikita let go of Zeak's hand and ran up to him.
"I'm fine, where's Joseph?" She asked adverting Adam's eyes. She was concerned about Joseph, he should have been there by now.
"He got caught up in class and asked me to meet you. No wonder he was so worried about you. I mean I know you're pretty and all but to have the captain of the wrestling team and captain of the football team fighting over you, when you're already spoken for, is a little much." He said jokingly. Nikita looked at him questionably. Adam pulled his phone out of his pocket, as Nikita heard it vibrate softly. "Joseph just texted me saying that he's on his way."
"We can't wait for squirrel to get here. We have to settle things before they get worse." Zeak said walking up behind Nikita. She turned around to look at him. She could see the disapproval on his face. She he was right, but she wanted Joseph beside her. Nikita nodded sadly as she looked down at the floor.
Adam came up behind her and held her shoulder. "You shouldn't call Joseph a squirrel. If Nikita wants to wait for him then she can and I will wait with her." Zeak stared down at them.
"Will you be able to protect her when the football captain comes back to finish what he started?" Zeak asked with anger edging into his voice. Adam gulped cowardly, but nodded his head.
"No, Zeak's right we need to get going." Nikita said sadly, as she pulled away from Adam. The three of them walked quickly down the hall, with their minds made up.
Adam got close to Nikita and whispered, "hopefully we'll run into Joseph on the way. I know you want him to be here for you." He gave her a little ray of hope. She smiled slightly and nodded.
As they got to the end of the hall they Joseph running towards them. He was barely able to stop as he saw them. "Niki-"
"There's no time to explain just come on squirrel." Zeak said grabbing his arm to keep the group moving.