Anger Issues

four

Austin

My phone rang me awake at midnight. I had to go to that fight.

I snuck out of my bed and to the bathroom, making myself look presentable, before sneaking downstairs to the kitchen.

Grabbing a protein bar, I quietly took my keys and made my way out.

As soon as I got down the porch, I began walking to North Hills.

Living in Manhasset, New York, North Hills was only about twenty minutes away when walking.

By the time I arrived there, I already saw crowds of people. I walked over, and suddenly all eyes were on me.

The circle opened a pathway for me. As I got to the center, there he stood.

Damian Holbrook.

Everybody went silent, as Damian took a step closer.

Damian's single swing caused everyone to go wild. I turned my body to the side, dodging his hit, while simultaneously throwing one myself.

I hit him in the jaw, but not hard enough. He grabbed my shoulder with one hand, and with the other, he threw multiple punches across my face, getting me to the ground.

Jessica was right. My vision blurred and I was in too much pain to think.

But then, I thought of the reason I was here in the first place - date money.

Remembering that made my blood boil. Before I even knew it, I was on my feet, and going after Damian.

It took a few hits for me to get him on the ground, but I didn't stop then.

He began crying out for me to stop, the he had forfeit but my body went crazy and had no control.

"Austin back off he's had enough," people in the crowd began saying. But naturally being this mad taught me to tune out anything else they said.

Blood poured from Damian's face, and then I was finally pried away from him.

Jessica

I couldn't sleep at all. I needed to talk to Austin because he always found a way to make me sleep, even over the phone.

I snuck out of bed and into my parents room. My phone lay still on the bedside table beside my dad. I tiptoed over there and quietly got it, getting out of there as quick as I could.

I had more notifications than usual. People who never snapped me, snapped me.

Then, I suddenly got texts from Austin's brother.

Caleb
Do you know where Austin is?

Me
He isn't home?

Caleb
Is Austin with you

Me
No. I'll call him.

But I didn't, because I knew exactly where he was. Just to make sure, I opened one of those snaps and made sure I was right. And sure enough, I was.

I grabbed my keys off my dresser and quietly went downstairs.

Opening the door, a hand on it shut it again. "Where are you going?" Noah asked.

"Noah please I need to go," I whisper-yelled. "Where?"

I sighed angrily. "I need to go find Austin because he's not at home."

"Let me go with-" "No, Noah. Just let me go he won't come if I bring you," I said.

He backed away from the door. "If you don't answer my texts, mom and dad find out."

I took that information before running out and to my car. The ten minute drive only made my heart beat faster.

I stopped the car when I saw a group of people and heard their chants. Hopefully Austin was still there.

I didn't need to go in the circle before seeing him get pried off of Damian.

I stayed outside of the circle, with my arms crossed over my chest.

"Here, take the money," some random guy said, handing it to Austin.

The crowd chanted and cheered on Austin, which made me even more angry.

By the time Austin appeared out of the circle, he was counting the money in his hands. I could see his veins from here. They got him mad.

When he finished counting, he looked up and immediately saw me.

"Jess.." He began.

I turned on my heel and walked back to my car, knowing he would follow.

As I sat down, he also got in the car.

"I asked you for one thing, Austin," I said, looking at his bruised and cut face.

"I know," he gently said. "Then why did you do it? Austin you know that my entire life has been full of promises that haven't been kept. My only question is why. Why would you make me believe that-"

"Because I needed the fucking money!" He yelled.

I stopped, confused and not knowing what to say.

"Jess you know that I don't have a good relationship with my family. My brother is the only one who looks out for me. My dad is always working and my mom is only there when I need shit like food or clothes. Basic life things," he ranted.

"For the past month I've wanted to take you to an amazing restaurant I've heard of. So I worked my ass off and got myself a hundred bucks. Winning this hundred bucks gave me enough to finally be able to take you."

"Austin.." I said, gently speaking to calm him down. "I could have paid for it-"

"That's what I don't want." He shook his head. "I want to be the type of boyfriend that can buy you things on the random, and take you on dates whenever I want," he said.

"You didn't have to fight someone to do that," I said. "Why is the fight so important?" He snapped again.

"Look at what he did to you, Austin!" I couldn't control myself anymore.

"What if it was worse, what if you had to go to the hospital, or something?" I asked.

"So then it would be my issue!" He yelled back. "Why are you so worked up on this?"

I didn't think I would say what I did say. Because I was afraid he would react differently. But I did it anyway.

"Because I fucking love you, Austin."