Hold It In

Just a Small Town Girl

Sorry for the short chapter

<Querell POV>

  I flinched, waiting for Alex's fist to hit me. It wasn't rare- quite common, actually- where he'd just randomly lose his shit and nobody would know why.

  But before it could hit me, a disappointed noise came from behind me. "Tch, tch, Alex, what did I say?" A group of purple strings were floating just in front of Vince's hand, latching onto Alex's fist. "Now, I can't have you attacking Querell. In that case, I'd have to kill you." His eyes glowed with anger. "Wouldn't that be a shame?"

  Alex backed up a few steps. I could tell he liked Vince, and how he wanted to tell him, it's just that Vince is absolutely terrifying. There was no way he could say something without provoking Corinth or Vince. "What now, freak?"

  Vince's eyes blared, but Corinth rested a hand on his shoulder before he could tackle Alex. "You touch her again, I will end you."

  Alex growled something deep in his throat. "What? Are you gonna threaten me to death? Scare me? I go through abuse every day, I can take you."

  I backed away. I could practically hear the snap in Vince's head as he lunged at Alex, pinning him to the wall. He raised his fist up, ready to punch him. "Would you mind repeating that?"

  "Vince!" Cornith cried.

  "Get off of me!" Alex roared, kicking Vince in the stomach, lashing out wherever he could.

  But it didn't do any good. Vince just took it and raised his fist higher, the kicks absorbing straight into his cloak. Alex eventually landed a punch on the side of Vince's face, with let a little blood dribble onto his lip, but Vince just let his fist fly with a sickening crrack. 

  Alex screamed and punched Vince again.

  "Alex!" I shouted. "Don't!"

  Crrrrack!

  A little more blood dribbled down Alex's lip. He shrieked and kicked out at Vince, who took the blow to the ribs like it was nothing. He raised his fist again.

  "Wait!" Corinth pulled Vince off of Alex. "Hey, calm down! He didn't mean to-"

  "Yes he did!" Vince hissed. "He nearly hit Querell and-"

  "I-it's okay," I stuttered. "I'm fine. Just shook."

  Alex struggled in Corinth's grasp, but Corinth was just so much bigger and more built than him. "If he hits me again, I'll kill him next time!"

  Vince surged forward, and I had to grab one of his legs to keep him from clubbing Alex. "I SWEAR-"

  Corinth yanked Vince back into his room, where I could hear Vince murmuring quietly to Corinth. Alex scrambled backwards, almost falling down the stairs. "W.. what was that?"

  "It was an angry Vince," I responded. "He might kill you tonight."

  "Don't joke like that, dammit!" He stood up and brushed himself off. "He's just a lucky bastard, nothing more!"

  I rolled my eyes and stepped into Corinth's room. Corinth was pacing nervously, and Vince was muttering something as his hands lit up with a purple aura.

  "You guys okay?" I asked softly, looking around more.

  "Yeah," Vince replied, glancing up with a smile. He always tried to be like that, despite his awful conditions. He was often the only person that told- or signed- me good morning, and always brought something he knew would make me perk up on a bad day. The by far coolest thing he'd brought me was an emerald necklace that glowed if you hid all light from it. "I'm all good. Are you okay?"

  I plastered on a fake smile. "I'm fine."

  Vince narrowed his deep purple eyes. "Why don't I do a healing spell? Maybe second or third level would help-"

"No!" I shouted quickly. "I don't need it! I'm fine!"

  "No, you aren't," Vince said firmly. "It may not be physical, but you need help." He point to a spot on Corinth's bed. "Sit. Talk."

  I huffed and crossed my arms. "I don't need it. No."

  Suddenly, Corinth scooped me up and plopped me on the bed right next to Vince, ruining my hair and the frill on my dress puffing up. Vince let out a muffled laugh and Corinth chuckled as I squeaked- no kidding, squeaked- and tried to sit up. Corinth sat me up like a doll and sat firmly in front of me, so I couldn't run if I tried.

  Damn, there goes my escape plan.

  "Talk." Vince demanded.

  I sighed. "About what?"

  "Alexander? And him losing his shit on you randomly?" Vince now looked mildly angry. His eyes were starting to spark purple. "What the hell? Why the fuck did you not tell me about this? He's a total asshole, and you let it happen-"

  "What he means," Corinth interrupted. "Is that he's worried, and so am I. Alex shouldn't be treating you like that. Just because he has bad home conditions doesn't mean he should take it out on you."

  "I can beat the shit out of him," Vince offered hopefully.

  Corinth laughed, cracking his fist. "And I can make sure he doesn't come back." 

  "No," I said quickly. "He's good, he just needs that extra push to keep being good."

  Vince snorted and looked out of the door. Alex was pounding his against the wall, then caught a glimpse of Vince and tackled him. Vince hissed and threw him into the wall with surprising ease, stones sliding out of place when Alex hit. Alex screamed in pain and lunged at Vince, who punched him in the nose and grabbed him by the collar and pressed him against the wall.

  "Lay the fuck off of Querell," He hissed in Alex's face.

  "I could say the same to you," Alex spat back.

  I held Vince back as he went to clock Alex in the nose. Vince growled lowly but stalked back into Corinth's room, and Corinth stepped in front of me for a minute.

  "You sure as hell better have a good reason to try and beat the shit out of Vince again," Corinth growled at Alex. "I'm getting tired of your bullshit."

  Alex balled up his fists after Corinth walked back into his room. "This is stupid. That bastard Vince... he needs to learn his lesson." He turned to me with a sly smile. "Will you help me? It's easy. Just get him where it hurts, I can-"

  I don't know what came over me. Maybe it was the fact that Alex nearly hit me earlier, maybe it was the fact that he was asking me to hurt a selectively mute person, I don't know. But I lost it. I instantly clocked Alex in the nose, throwing him down and balling up my other fist.

  "WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" I screamed. "WHAT HAS YOU AGAINST HIM? WHAT DID HE DO TO YOU?!"

  Alex stumbled back. I never yelled. Barely raised my voice above a whisper. But you don't talk to my friends like that.

  "Hey!" Vince barked. I froze for a second before he cracked a huge grin. "Beating the shit out of him without me? How dare you!"

  Alex surged up. "I don't need this!" He shoved a finger in Vince's chest. "You and me. Midnight tonight. Bring your weapons."

  Vince suddenly started laughing. Not triumph or acceptance, just cold, emotionless laughing. His hand lit with purple fire. "Deal."

Alex shook it without hesitation.