NEVER TAP OUT

~17~

Emerson's POV
Saturday
In this moment I was buying party food. Tonight, we were having a celebration party at Archers house. A few of our friends were suppose to be coming. So I'm getting food and drinks for all of us. "20.08" a young teens voice said.

"Huh?" I said knocking out of my daze. She pointed to the groceries already in the bags. "Oh, here you go" I handed her the exact change.

"Wait, I know you from somewhere" she said pointing at me. I gave her a confused look. "Yeah, you're the new champ" the light bulb appeared over her head as she spoke. "Emerson Kendall, right?" I smiled as I heard my name. "Dude, you are so awesome, can I have your autograph?" I took the pen from the girls hand and signed a piece of paper.

She went on to calling some person saying how she met me. I grabbed my groceries and left to go to Archers house. "Let's go" I said hopping in the car with Annie. She was driving considering I didn't have a license yet. My mom says that I'm to young still.

"So, what's this party for again?" Annie said backing out of the parking space. I sat my phone on my lap, after letting Archer know that we were on our way.

"I told you it's for Archers cousins birthday" I lied. We were both quite the whole ride, just listening to the radio, occasionally sing random songs.

"If it's a birthday party, then where are the balloons?" Annie asked as we walked in the front door. I just shook my head and laughed.

"Hey girls" One of Archers drunk friends said. "Oh food" he said burping up a storm.

"Em, this is Nate" Archer said gesturing his arm over in front of Nate. "Don't mind him, he's a bit drunk" I rolled my eyes and followed Arch out of the kitchen.

"Where's your mom?" I said laughing a bit. "Wouldn't she be mad if you had a party?" Archer smirked and pulled me closer so I could hear him over the music.

"Don't worry about her, just relax" he suggested. So I did as he said, I grabbed a cup of soda and went back to the living room with Arch and some of his other friends.

"Oh, Archie who is this fine thing?" Some guy with dyed red hair asked. I just stood near Archer and ignored the dude.

"This here beautiful lady, is my girlfriend" he said a little harshly. "Touch her, and you won't wake up tomorrow" Archer spoke with venom, he was protective, which I like. He smiled up at me, I leaned down I kissed him softly.

"Yo, take it somewhere else" a guy with blonde hair yelled. He laughed patting Archer on the back. They both started their own conversation as I just sat and listened. "She's the one you talk about all the time?" He smirked while looking me up and down.

"Em, this is Jax" I shook the guys hand and smiled. Archer through his arm around me pulling me tight against him.

"I'm gunna go find Annie, I'll be right back" I kissed Archer on his cheek and ran to go find Annie. I checked all the common places like the bathroom, but no Annie. I decided to text her and see where she was.

E-*hey, where are you?*

I waited and waited but got no response. "So you think you can beat me and get away with it?" A girls voice yelled from behind me. When we met eyes, I instantly remembered her.

"Layla, right?" I stuck out my hand. She slapped it away. I grabbed my hand with a ball of anger bubbling in me.

"Come on, let me see you try to beat me now" by now a crowd was circling us. "If you think you can win" she yelled. This bubble of anger began to rise, so did my fist. She stood with her fist pointing at me, I copied her position.

"I don't think, I know" was the last words to leave my mouth, before a right hook swung at her face. We went at it for awhile before Archer came and pulled us apart.

"Em, stop..just stop" was all I heard. His hands grabbed me and pulled me back against him. Layla and I were still making eye contact. She had blood all over her face. When I looked down, I found blood on my knuckles. "Come on" Archer said pulling me into the nearest bathroom.

"Let me go" I said struggling to leave his arms. He would hold tighter when I'd squirm. "Let me go" I yelled one last time.

"Emerson,stop" he yelled. "Look at you..you're covered in blood" I looked down at myself, I turned and looked in the mirror. I had scratches all over my face. "Why, did you do it?" He said with anger in his voice.

"I didn't, she started it all" I could feel tears brimming my eyes as I stared in the mirror. His arms reached around my waist and pulled me close to him. "I'm sorry" my weak voice whispered.

"It's okay, she intimidated you" there was a knock on the door, as tears slowly rolled down my cheeks. "Yeah, hold on a second" Archer yelled.

"Is Em okay?" Annie's voice weak as well. Tears fell in the sink as my head hung in shame.

"Yeah she's fine" I just cried even harder. "Em, baby it's okay" Arch pulled me closer to him.

"Are you mad at me?" I said in a whisper. He kissed my shoulder, which made me spin around.

"No, why would I be?" I laid my head on his chest as he rubbed my back. I wiped a few tears out of my eyes before answering him.

"Everyone else is" his hand grabbed my cheeks, his thumbs wiping every tear away.

"I'm not everyone else" he whispered back, before pressing his lips against mine. "Let me help you clean this up" he smiled, I sat on the counter as he did what he had to.

What do you think will happen next..🦄😂