Played (ON HOLD)

E L E V E N

"Even a good player will someday become a toy of a better player."

-

Veronica's POV

"She's mine so back off." Luke almost shouted.

Relief rushed down to my body as I saw Luke. His eyes were darker. Looking straight to the black haired man in front of me, barely blinking.

"And who are you?" The man didn't seem to be scared. His voice was full of confidence.

"Who are you?" Luke fired back. My heart was pounding inside of me. I'm barely breathing. I'm so scared of what might happen. I'm not used to this situation.

I wished that I didn't go down here. But me knowing only God knows what Michael's possibly looks right now if I didn't go down made my heart sinks. I couldn't imagine worst than what I've seen a while ago.

"Jesus! Stop it! You're making a fool out of yourself Drake! For God's sake! Just drop it!" Calum shouts. The black haired man with tattoos all over his both arms was Drake. He just shot a glare to Calum and a smirk flashed on his face.

"Not this time Hood." He look at the blue eyed man who was standing in front of him. He started to walk towards Luke. "I asked you first." He said through gritted teeth starting to ball his fists on his side.

Luke didn't seemed to be scared of Drake. He challenged him by just staring at him emotionless. "And so?" Luke muttered. "Already pissed? I'm not yet getting started. You are too confident for touching my girl a while ago. Now, I bet you are too to punch me in my face right now." Luke smirked.

My eyes went wide with his words. My brain can't even process the words that just came out of his mouth a while ago. Did he just say that I'm his and I'm his girl? Oh my fucking god. I was frozen in my place. Cold sweats are rushing down my forehead. The tension here in these four walls just increases minute by minute.

The brunette girl that was just comfortably sitting on the couch was now standing beside Drake. She cautiously touched the already white knuckles of Drake. Trying to calm him. But he didn't seemed to be affected by her touch. He slowly pull his arms to meet Luke's face when Calum yelled again.

"I said stop it! If you ever laid your fucking dirty hands on my cousin, you know already where you can be found." Calum let out a big sighed. Drake obliged what Calum said. But he was still glaring at Luke that was now smirking widely and evilly.

Drake finally sighed in defeat. "You'll pay me Clifford for your mess. And I want your fucking sister."

"Not happening Drake!" Calum blurted out. "Rules are rules."

"Yeah. Drake, you already have me!" The brunette girl whined.

Drake let out a deep sigh, again.

"I'll just talk to you about this tomorrow, you guys can leave." Calum instructed and the all of them exited except Drake. He glared once more to Luke. "I said-"

"I heard you." Drake snapped and finally exited the house. I heard the cars drove away.

We stayed silent for a moment until Luke made his way upstairs without saying a word.

Calum groaned in frustration. He look around the mess that scattered all over the living room. Broken bottles on the floor, cigarette ashes and empty bowl's of chips.

"Are you okay?" Ashton approached me in a second after Luke had gone.

"Yeah." Not really. I'm just fucking scared as hell a while ago. "Can you bring me alcohol and some cotton Ash?"

"Of course." He nodded and got his way on the bathroom. He came back with what I requested him to bring.

I sit down beside Michael who was still silent after what happened a while ago. I cautiously wiped his wounds with the cotton. He flinched many times.

I continue cleaning his face as Ashton and Calum started cleaning the mess in complete silence.

"I'm sorry..." Michael and I said in unison. I chuckled softly.

"Don't laugh. It's not funny."

"I'm not laughing!"

"Sure."

I'm glad that Ash and Calum already exited the living room. We are free and alone to be able to discuss something private.

I'm already done cleaning and plastering a bandage on his wounds.

"Can we talk about this later when we got home?"

"Of course." I smiled to him.

Calum entered the living room with Ashton.

"Michael, can I talk to you alone?" Calum insisted. And glance at me.

I know he wants me to leave them alone so I stood up not knowing where I supposed to go.

"Hey...come with me." Ashton pulled my arms leading us outside the house.

The cold air hits my uncovered skin causing me to shiver. I wrapped my hands hugging myself. Ashton walk towards the wooden bench on the front yard. He sits and tapped the space beside him instructing me to sit with him.

Ashton seemed to notice that I was shivering. His right arms slowly snaked on my back, slightly pushing me into him. I didn't refuse his actions instead I leaned my head on his chest burying my face.

My mind was occupied with so many thoughts. I don't know what to think right now. There's too much event happened on a short time and my mind cannot process all of it.

"I'm sorry for what happened a while ago, Nica." Ashton finally spoke after a long awkward silence.

"It's not your fault. I think it's mine. I should obeyed what Michael told me for not going downstairs." I sighed. I can now feel the guilt. I don't really know if it was actually my fault. But I'm sure I'm a contributor. "I'm scared of Drake.." I didn't mean to say it loud but I'm too late to stop myself.

In all honesty, it's true. My whole body shudders just with his presence. Drake was a dangerous person, I guess.

"You should be. He's a dangerous man. He was the respected leader of our gang. He can get all what he want, except you of course." He paused. Slightly rubbing my back with his hand. "But Calum has kinda have a hold of him. Like he was obliged to obey what Calum told him to do so. I don't actually know why, but all the gang members knows that. He have to respect Calum." He explained.

I just nodded in return. It was good to know that Calum have something more than Drake. In that way, I'm relieve that he won't let Drake do worst to Michael. But Luke? Why was he so confident while talking to Drake? I know that he know that Calum won't let someone hurt him but it's more like, Luke already knows about Drake, about the gang thingy.

I really don't know what to react anymore. I have too many unanswered questions in my head but I think that it was better to be answered by Michael, not Ashton.

We stayed silent and comfortable in our position. We quickly pulled away from each other when the front door opens.

"We need to go." Michael said. Making his way to his car.

I hastily stood up and faced Ashton who also stood up. "I need to go." I give him a small smile. "Thanks and sorry."

"No, don't say sorry." He smiled at me. "See ya' tomorrow." He engulfed me again with a hug as Michael's car was already pulling out from the driveway.

"Okay." I run fast towards my car and jumped in.

-

It's a filler chapter, I know. It don't make sense to me, to be honest. Sorry! I have just many things to do lately and school starts on monday. Yay! I'm a college girl! Lol. I'm excited. ;)

I hope you guys like it. But I understand if you don't. :) I promise to write a more enthusiastic chapter. The next chapter will be not this too boring. Yeah? Bye!

gracy xx