Playing with Fire

Chapter 8

Their eyes widen as they takes in the ghastly sight of me; crinkled dress, dishevelled hair. smudged makeup. A small crowd had formed behind them and I realise all the screaming must have attracted a lot of attention. My eyes focus on Derek who was in a tight fitting black t shirt and some jeans. Even though it wasn't the time, I could not help but think he looked incredibly hot. He strides over to me from across the room and crouches down to help me up. His strong arms secure under my arms and I try to ignore the bulge of his muscles across my back. 

"Are you hurt?" Derek scans me for any signs of injury and finally focuses on my face.

"I don't think so.....just...shocked.." 

Tyler walks up to Lucas and his girlfriend, "Whatever you've done, I don't like it and I'd like the both of you to leave right now."

"I'll come back for you baby" Lucas smirks over his shoulder to me. I splutter, then death glare him.

"I'll make sure you won't" Chloe hisses.

As soon as they were out of sight and the small crowd had scattered, Tyler yells "Party's over, now get the hell out bitches!!" His voice travels through the entire mansion and eventually, the music and chatter dies out.

We huddle around and Derek helps me onto the couch. He unwraps his arm, the warmness immediately disappearing and I shiver in both coldness and disappointment. 

"What the hell happened up in there!?" Chloe asks first. All eyes trained on me, waiting for an answer. I sigh, and so, I tell them what happened from my first encounter with Lucas and with his girlfriend, leaving out the part where she slapped me and kicked me in the knee. Chloe, Sebastian and Tyler looked like if they were about to murder someone. Derek was the only one who managed to keep his composure and although the rest of his face was morphed into an expressionless mask, his eyes alone were enough to rumble the pits of hell.

 For a while we sit in a tense silence, processing what I had just told them.

"She slapped you didn't she?" Derek murmurs. "and kicked you hard in the knee. We waited for him to continue, "There's abnormal redness on only one side of the cheek and the ridiculous purple swelling on your knee." 

My mouth drops open a little, surprised that he figured out. His hand moves towards my cheek but he stops halfway and drops it.

Embarrassed and unable to meet their eyes, I hang my head and mumble a "yeah". Tyler slams his fist against the table.

"But I'm fine, really!" I attempt a smile and stand up, wincing at the pain shooting through my knee.

"You're clearly not" Sebastian gently argues.

"I've felt worse" I mumble to no one in particular.

"Do you wanna stay for the night?" Tyler asks. "I'm not sure your mother would react happily to the state you're in. You could at least reduce the swelling and redness on your cheek before she sees you"

I consider his point, "I mean if its okay for me to stay..?

"Of course, you're welcome anytime. This house is practically filled with empty rooms, about time we put them to use" Tyler winks.

Chloe insisted on staying with me and even went through the hassle of going back home to bring back an extra pair of pjs and clothes. My mother was more that happy when I told her I was staying over at a friends place.

Tyler knocks on the door and opens it just enough to peep through the gap. "I'll be in the room next door if you need anything" 

I'm too tired to speak so I just nod and force my mouth to stretch into a convincing smile. After I hear the door click shut I collapse onto the bed like a limp starfish. I  inhale in the bed covers, the smell of Chloe's borrowed pajamas I am currently wearing and listen to the drumming of water hitting the ground coming from the bathroom. The strangely comforting smell and sound wraps me into a deep slumber before I can even wait for Chloe to come out of the shower.