Victorious || Ethan Dolan

Round 10

Your POV

When the fight ended, your Dad came out to the truck to try to mend things with you, but you shot him down before he even had the chance.

The entire ride home you sat in silence in the back while your Dad and Ethan gushed about the win. You were happy for Ethan, you really were. You just wished your Dad had been less of an asshole to his only child. The passing trees and cars take the interest of your mind as they turns into fast blurs by the windows.

"Hey, Honey, you wanna stop for some food?" Your Dad asks you as he glances through the mirror at you. You say nothing.

Ethan tries next, turning in his seat. He places a friendly hand on your knee smiling sweetly, "are you hungry?" You eye him instead of the shades of green and blue, nodding. He smiles wider, "where to?"

"Anywhere" you shrug your shoulders to let him know you weren't in the mood for picking a place to eat. Your Dad picks up his phone, calling Hal who drove the van behind you guys.

He told him to follow you into the restaurant on the side of the road. It was more of a small diner - fit for a few people who were just at a musty boxing match. At least Ethan wasn't bruised badly. Only a small red mark beneath his left eye. Other than that, he was perfect.

The truck stopped in a parking space and you all emerged, as did the guys in the van. Hal smiled at you and you sent back a small one, not in the mood for anyone else at the moment.

Once inside, you took a booth closest to the door. Your Dad, Hal, and the two other guys sat at a table, leaving Ethan to slide awkwardly into the bench across from you. "You okay, Y/n/n?" His hands were on top of the table, folded neatly. He smelled of sweat and pride in his victory.

You just nod, annoyed when an all-too perky waitress comes over. "Hi y'all. I'm Annie, i'll be your server today." She places menus in front of you and Ethan, then proceeds to take out a pen and a notepad. "Can i start y'all off with some drinks?"

She had an oddly thick Southern drawl to her voice. Her bright blue eyes were set on Ethan while her blonde hair was pulled back in a tight pony tail. "Uh, yeah can i have a Lemonade, please?" Ethan spoke first, smiling politely at the waitress.

"Sure, hun" she turns her head to you, her smile faltering slightly, "and for you?"

You glanced at the menu, not caring for anything shown there. "Can i just have an ice water, please?" She nods and walks away, back behind the counter to gossip with her co-worker as she looks back at Ethan.

"You sure you're okay" Ethan asks once again, opening his menu to look at the food options. You silently nod, resting your head on your hand.

"She was basically eye-fucking you" you blurt. Your voice was laced with venom, unintentionally of course.

Ethan lets out a small laugh "jealous?"

You shake your head, denying it in any way. "No, i just think you should be aware of the Southern princess" you mock her voice when the words slip from your mouth. Ethan laughed a bit more, loving your actions.

You glanced over at the table of men, seeing your dad laughing with the other three. It made you mad how he could roll it off his back like water on a leaf. He didn't care that he hurt you. He certainly cared that Ethan defended you.

"What did-"

"Here are your drinks," Annie comes back, placing your ice water in the middle of the table, and Ethan's Lemonade directly in front of him. Ethan thanks her quickly, telling her you guys needed more time for deciding on your food.

"Alright, sugar" she says before leaving once again.

Ethan takes a deep breath, sighing after. "What were you going to say?"

You glance up at him while you place a straw in your drink, "uh, nothing... It's not that important, E."

His eyes grow concerned, his face drooping in sadness as well. "What" you ask softly, careful not to let out your anger on him. He did nothing wrong.

"You didn't call me Killer" he jokes.

"Sorry" you say, genuinely apologizing because you knew it made him feel better. "I just-" you breathe in, looking at the table. The red top was clean and shiny, "what did Simmons say about me that was so bad?"

Ethan swallows his Lemonade slowly, eminently trying to avoid the topic of conversation. "I don't really want to-"

"Ethan" you plead, placing your cold hand on top of his warm one.

He sighs, turning his hand over so yours could rest comfortably in his palm, "he said you were pretty." Your brows furrow as you wonder why that was such a bad thing.

"So, you got pissed because he said i was pretty?"

He shakes his head, "no." He breathes out harshly, taking a look around the restaurant, "he was talking about how he would love to... do things to you."

You feel your skin crawl, just thinking about what could have went through that man's sick head. "And how he'd love nothing more than to beat me and take you from me." Ethan speaks in a low voice when he retracts his hand from underneath yours. It'd be even worse if your Dad saw all of this.

"Oh" was all you could manage. "Thank you."

He shakes his head, "it's fine." His eyes search yours, "i still won, didn't i?" A triumphant smirk broke out on his plush pink lips.

A smile emerged on your own, "yes you did, Killer."

Ethan's POV

Fred dropped me off at the gym after we had dinner. Turns out, Y/n was right about that waitress. She slipped me her number when she handed us the check.

I threw it out the window on the highway headed back home. Y/n watched me and stifled a laugh.

The dim outside light of the gym flickered along the parking lot as i entered the gym again, seeing Hal and the others place the bags and gear into the closet.

"Great job, bud." They said as they passed me on their way out. I thanked them and went to the locker room where i was surprised to see Y/n.

She got out of the truck too, because her car was here.

It was just us in the gym. Alone. Silence spread throught the building like wildfire through dry leaves.

"Aren't you going home?" She asks, tucking her sweatshirt into her gym bag.

Curiosity peaked inside my mind and i walked to sit next to her on the bench. "Well, yeah, but i need the rest of my stuff."

She just nods, wiping her cheeks to rid them of the warm tears trailing down the soft skin. "I was just leaving too" she justified. I didn't care that she was still here.

"Take your time" i tell her. "I just have to wait for you so i can lock up."

She lifts her head to look at me, "oh i'm sorry." Standing quickly, she grabs her gym bag and heads for the exit of the locker room. That is, until i stop her. She smiles weakly, "what are you doing?"

My hand lightly takes the strap of her gym bag off her shoulder, "making sure you're okay to drive home." Since she had been crying before, she may be in a bad state to drive.

"I'm fine, Ethan" she whispers to me.

I didn't believe it by the way she sniffled. "Are you sure" i ask her. I dip down lower to her face, dropping her gym bag lightly on the floor. The thick tension of the room encircled us, "because if you're not, i can make it better" i tell her. My lips were so close to hers.

Her soft y/e/c eyes pierced my soul when she looked into my own. She was so beautiful. "I'm fine, Ethan" she grabs her bag again, "goodnight."

She maneuvers around me to leave, and i let her this time. The only thing i could manage to say was, "goodnight."

Word Count: 1409