Dark | shawmila

54

Shawn's POV

"Girl fight!"
Noah perked up considerably, animatedly glancing around to see where the bitchy brawl was taking place. When unsuccessful he focused back on his beer in dissatisfaction. The lull in conversation didn't last long, the vibrant blue earning inquisitiveness.
"Hey, mate, where's Camila?" He asked a little perplexed.
I'd left her by the pool with Andrew, insisting that he watch out for her while I was absent. I had hoped the time would give them an opportunity to talk. However, Andrew's state of intoxication would probably dictate a discussion more inclined to inform people on the colour of his socks than anything of great depth. He was even more of a menace than usual when offered a full glass.
Noah continued to stare, impatiently waiting for my answer. His eyebrows were raised in question, a prompt. It was a push that I neglected until a breathless male barged into the casual atmosphere. His hair was a mess and the shirt he was wearing appeared to be buttoned up in an odd order, the remains of a drink spilt down the front.
"Oi, come on, there's some girls down the end of the garden going at it!"
The stranger retreated the way he had come, skidding haphazardly over the laminate flooring and out the double doors into the night.
Fuck.
Surely not, not Camila , she was the least likely person to ever participate in a fight. It couldn't be her. But that reassurance didn't stop me scrabbling up from the sofa and making a dash for the French doors at the back of the house. Noah was right behind me, sprinting across the decking and down the steps. The pool was to the back of the garden, the informer weaving between the small gatherings of partygoers, a path which we made our route almost as if tail-gating an emergency service vehicle.
"Camila!"
My heart plummeted as I identified the hard, protective stance Camila used to stand solidly by the side of Hayley. I'd experienced a comparable stature before, recollecting the time she had sheltered me against a wall when I could barely stand. A somewhat small but effective blockade preventing my body from receiving a continued onslaught of violence. She'd practically carried me back to her house that night. The night that I'd told her about my dad.
As we drew closer, it was plain to see the situation panning out. They were attracting an increasing crowd of thirsty onlookers, the three girls exchanging heated words. I was unable to put a name to the third girl, she stood taller but not by much, her height elevated by the heels she wobbled in. And even more so as she roughly lunged forward.
"Let go of her!" Hayley screeched.
A fist full of Camila's hair was taken, yanking her in an attempt to divide her and Hayley's concrete alliance. By the time I reached the surrounding ring of audience, scratchy nails had left marks on skin. I'd seen many catty fights on numerous nights out, but it never came down to blows; at best it was tingling pink with a slap to the face. And it was almost always caused by a cheating guy who thought he could get away with having it off with two girls at the same time.
It was all a little surreal, not quite sure of how something could escalate so furiously, especially with Camila in the middle; quite literally as her hair was clenched in the aggressive female's fist. I fought through a compacted wall of people as shrieks were heard from the inside the temporary ring.
A hand that clasped to my shoulder was shrugged off, only for the force to be reapplied with more authority moments later. I soon discovered the owner of the unwanted constraint, shoving the arrogant twat away.
"Let them fight it out," he complained, breath reeking of mixed drinks.
Of course he'd want a girl fight, nothings more entertaining to a gang of lads than having females potentially rip at each other's clothes whilst screaming in competition.
"Back off," I spat.
His stocky frame recoiled a little when he identified me. For the past couple of years it became something of a regularity to have people cower back in my presence. Word of mouth travels fast when you beat a jumped-up prick to the floor one night.
My battling endeavour to reach Camila continued, elbowing the hindrance of bodies out of my way. Hayley had struggled to remove the hold the girl had on Camila, but apparently she didn't need help. My girl had raised her forearm to deflect the bitchy claws that intended to damage the skin of her neck. It proved as a valuable distraction, enough for Camila to screw her right hand into a fist and make a solid impact to the girl's middle. She'd doubled over, clutching her belly before releasing the strands of dark hair from weakened fingers.
It sickened me as the boisterous gathering seemed to strongly react, cheering in encouragement. I'd had enough of this.
"Move!"
The last few wide-eyed faces had dispersed, enough for me to witnesses the aftermath of the girl taking a sharp kick to her shin. She moved forward to take a swipe at Camila's face, but Hayley selflessly placed herself between them, taking the hit and staggering back.
I grappled Hayley around the waist and unwillingly persuaded her to me before securing my fingers to the material of Camila's cardigan. She desperately tried to resist my attempts to drag her to me, struggling at the strength we both exerted. Her stubborn nature was being displayed quite vividly, frustrated that she was stunted in progressing in the situation.
"Camila."
When I got a good hold on the clothing I tugged a little harden, knocking Camila off balance for her body to lurch back towards me. The opportunity arose and I grasped at it, almost losing Hayley in the process as I wrestled Camila into my right side. It was optimistic of me.
"Get off!" She screamed.
Fingers clawed at my skin, frantic with thoughts of escape. I'd seen her fraught with emotion before, but that event had been mixed with sniffs and trickles of tears. This was different, she was angry.
"Camila, calm down."
An arm was tightly coiled around both of the girl's middles. It became more difficult to contain the situation as the pair were determined to shake off my hold to launch at the female opposite. I didn't recognise the guy who had stepped in, but I presumed it was her boyfriend detaining her in a similar manner.
We were going to end up in a heap on the floor if the tug of war continued.
"Noah, I can't hold both of them!"
He was wide eyed, unsure of what to do as the crowd he'd just emerged from continued to press. He'd never been one for confrontation, always with a smile on his face and a stupid anecdote to make the people in his presence laugh. But not tonight.
I was grateful as Tom quickly stepped in, taking Hayley from me and lessening the burden. But I had neglected my attention concerning my other reluctant hostage.