Arabella Rivera "I'll admit. I don't like you for my daughter. She deserves someone better. But don't we all?" She whispers. "But we can't choose who we fall in love with. And Arabella seems to love you just as much as you love her." My heart leaped in anticipation. What were her true intentions? Why was she so calm? So many questions, yet I had no answers. And honestly, I was afraid to get them. Ten minutes later, Haiden was all cleaned up. Mother and I helped him onto my bed. "You can sleep here but you need to be out before dawn." Mom said as she moves away from Haiden and me. Haiden nods with a wince as he tried to get comfortable on my bed. His bloody shirt was discarded on the floor and his sweats were no longer covering his bottom half but were also thrown to the floor carelessly. "Well, it's not like you're unfamiliar with having to leave around that time now are you?" She asked dryly. And Haiden and I share an awkward stare. After a few more awkward seconds, she finally spoke. "Can I speak to you Arabella?" She asked. I turn to her. "Alone?" She mumbles looking at a tired Haiden. We had given him some painkillers a few moments ago and hopefully, it started kicking in because hearing his painful grunts was equally painful to me. I nodded, my heart beating furiously. "I'll be back baby." I whispered to Haiden softly and followed mother outside my room. I close the door softly behind us and crossed my arms under my breasts as a barrier to protect me from any incoming words that would potentially hurt me. I avoided her gaze and focused on the wall behind her as she turns around. "You could've told me about him Arabella." She finally speaks. Her words made me snap my eyes to her and pin her with an unbelievable stare. "You're kidding right? You told me to stay away from guys like him, he's bad for me, or did you seem to forget?" She flinches slightly before whispering. "He is bad for you- I snorted. "Of course," I mutter rolling my eyes. "What do you want me to say Arabella? You saw him tonight! He isn't exactly prince charming." She hisses lowly. "And I don't want him to be!" I snapped, breathing heavily.She nods. "Then that's that." Confused by her words, I looked at her questionably. "What are you saying?" "I'm saying that, you clearly love Haiden Arabella and there's nothing I can say that will change your mind. Just- Taking in a calming breath she finished her words. "Don't get hurt. You know what boys like him bring into your life." I nearly flinched when she lift her hand to pinch my chin. "If he does hurt you, I'll hurt him ten times worst. I'm always here for you Arabella if you ever need me." With that, she turns around and walks over to her and father's room. When I entered my room and locked the door, my eyes fell on a sleeping Haiden in my bed. Mother was right, he wasn't prince charming, he was my knight. And I wouldn't want it any other way. _____________ *Next day* "Hey, can you drop me somewhere?" I lean towards Gwen and whispered in her ear. We had five minutes until school started and right now my fingers were itching to curl into fists. I was angry. I was frustrated. Frustrated at father for not coming home last night and making mother worried. Frustrated that even though injured, Haiden would certainly fight again. Frustrated that I couldn't do anything about it. And there was one person I really hated so much that I would let my frustrations on. Snake. If he liked seeing others hurt, I wonder how he'd feel if he got a taste of his own medicine. Gwen turns to me confused. "Now. As in like right now?" I nodded. "Yeah like right now." Her eyes shift in shock. "Since when do you want to skip school?" I rolled my eyes, turning around to walk toward the double doors. "Since now." When we entered her car, she turns to me while putting on her seat belt. "So where to?" "Remember that guy we met at the store? Tattoos and older?" She nodded. "Are you talking about Malcolm?"Malcolm? Was that Snake's real name? "Scar?" She asked. I nodded quickly. "Yeah, that guy. You know where he stays?" She must be confused by my question. "Yeah I know, I went to fuc- "Okay I got it. Just drive to his place." I cut her off not wanting to hear her speak about that nasty asshole. I didn't want to suddenly throw up. "What do you want with Malcolm?" She asked curiously as she started the car and eases out of the parking space. "Just want to pay him a friendly visit." I shrugged, throwing my bag on the backseat. "I thought you told me to stay away from him? Since when are you friends with him?" She asked. I turn to her and lift a brow. " Can we skip those questions until we reach there?" She removes her eyes from the road to glance at me quickly. "What is going on Arabella? I'm confused." She voices out thickly with confusion. I sighed heavily. "Just drive Gwen." ____________ "He lives here?" I asked confused as I watch the same alley the street fighting takes place. I suppose it makes sense that he lived here. Gwen tapped on the steering wheel. "Well technically, I'm not sure if that's where he lives- I snap my head to face her. " I thought you said you knew where he lived?" She winces. "Well to be fair, that's where he wanted me to come so we could hook up." I narrowed my eyes on her in disbelief. She cringes. "There was a bed?" She shrugged in hesitation. I let out an irritated breath and rolled my eyes while unbuckling the seat belt, opened the door and got out. Gwen follows me after I close the door. "You still haven't told me what we're doing here?!" She hisses when she catches up to me. There weren't many people lingering around today which was very odd. "Arabella I don't think we should go there," Gwen whispered, looking around. "And why not? Didn't you come here already?" I snorted. She was such a hypocrite. "Yeah and it was really late, or I suppose I should say early in the morning. There weren't many people there. But from what I've heard, it's not really the best part of this street." She murmurs. "This street has no 'best part', " I grumble dryly before turning to her. "You're going to show me where Snake stays or not?" She stops and looks down at me confused. "Snake?" Huffing I rolled my eyes. "Malcolm." "Oh." She lets out before nodding. "Yeah. Just follow me." We walk through the alley where there were a few men leaning on the dirty stone walls smoking. One with dirty blonde hair and a few tattoos on his face stared Gwen and I down. "Two beautiful girls. What's up ladies?" I cringe inwardly, speeding up my footsteps. "Oh my gosh gross," Gwen whispers as she fought to keep up with me. Finally, she stops suddenly and jerks out her hand to grasp mine. "Here." She whispers, turning around to see if any creepy guy followed us. "I remember this door. That's where he brought me." She nudges her head towards the door I remember Haiden coming out of that day he tore me into pieces. I nodded, sucking in some air to calm myself down. What the hell was I thinking, skipping school to confront a criminal? Was this what love supposed to make you do? Fight battles for each other? As I stared at the door I contemplated if to barge in or call it a day and walk away, until Gwen opened her mouth. "Woah, someone must've bled a good bit there." She nudges her head to the blood on the concrete. My stomach twisted as an image of Haiden last night emerges. Fuck calling it a day and walking away. Snake was a bastard and needed to be knocked a few pegs down. Gwen gasped in shock, not expecting me to just burst through the door without knocking. The first thing I see is a woman on Snake's lap as he lies on a dirty bed in the corner. They had no self-respect for not locking that door while they were busy trying to get it in. Hearing the banging of the door on the opposite wall, Snake pushes the woman off of him and rises to his feet quickly. "What the fuck!" He roars when his eyes fell on Gwen and I.I don't think nor did my mouth move to speak. Instead, I let my legs draw me towards him and let my fist do the talking. Gwen's shocked scream made my ears ring as my fist connected with Snake's nose.