“Fuck off, dude. This is none of your business.” Ian glares down, or should I say up, at the speaker.
An odd sense of relief fills me as I turn to see Aiden quickly making his way over.
“Take your hands off her,” Aiden growls darkly as he steps next to me.
A deep chuckle escapes Ian’s lips.
I frown. I think I’ve pushed him to his breaking point.
“Fuck it. She can’t be that mad. I’ve been trying to fuck her for the past three months and she just won’t give it up.” Ian admits.
I gasp as he forcefully throws my wrist down, releasing me.
“What? But you…” I choke back my tears. What is he talking about?
Aiden steps between us, gently nudging my body back. He leans towards me and coaxes in a soft voice, “Go, Emma. Be a good girl. Get in my car,” before slipping the keys in my trembling hands.
Unmoving and in shock, I simply stare at his car, tears brimming in my eyes.
Ian lets out a careless, drunken laugh. “I didn’t know you were coming tonight. This really isn’t my fault.”
I shake my head. I don’t know who this stranger is. He’s oozing typical frat boy behavior, something he claimed to detest.
Aiden sighs and turns his attention towards Ian, pinning him with dark eyes. “I warned you just now. Leave her alone.”
I take comfort in the deep growl of his voice towards my boyfriend. No, my ex.
“Why did you give her your keys? Who are you?” Ian’s eyes narrow in anger.
A smirk plays on Aiden’s face, his tone oozing boredom towards Ian. “I don’t see why that’s any of your business.” Aiden’s presence alone should make someone like Ian back down immediately, but he’s drunk and not thinking things through.
Ian takes note of the crowd; his frat brothers, and the girls I thought were my friends are staring in shock. After what happened, I am still surprised by Ian’s cocky demeanor.
“Honestly, I don’t care.” He laughs. “Maybe she’ll give it up to you. Good luck with tha–”
Aiden’s knuckles connect with Ian’s jaw, cutting him off.
I watch in awe as Ian lands flat on the ground, his eyes slightly open, and turns to spit out blood. He smirks arrogantly up at Aiden and I realize it’s a stupid decision, as Aiden violently jumps on top of him and begins to bash his face into the damp grass. His muscles flex with every rapid movement, threatening to rip his fitted white T-shirt.
“Aiden, please stop. Please!” I plead through muffled sobs.
A deep rage swirls in his green eyes when Aiden looks back at me.
I stare in horror at the sight of Ian. Unable to help myself, despite all the awful things he did, I kneel beside him and examine his wounds.
Aiden stares at me in disbelief. “You can’t be fucking serious!” He exclaims through ragged breaths. I see him move to walk away but hesitate.
Ian winces as I prod his face. He glares at me with so much anger, before pushing me off him and onto the grass. “Get off me, you stupid bitch.”
Aiden’s long legs glide back to us.
Instinctively, I throw myself over Ian to protect him.
Why did I do that? I don’t know. Pretty much the entire house is outside, and I probably look like an idiot. But there must be a reason for this. The alcohol is muddling my ability to think.
I stare down at his face, seeing nothing behind his blank blue eyes.
“Nope, fuck this. You’re not doing this,” Aiden mutters into my ear.
In one swift movement, I’m no longer on the ground but slung over Aiden’s shoulder as he heads towards his car. I can feel his arm securely below my butt, preventing any accidents from happening. Oddly, it warms my heart. I kick a little, but I’m suddenly exhausted.
“I’ll let you down once you calm down, but I’m not allowing you to embarrass yourself. Did you even hear what he just said to you?” His tone is laced with disgust.
“I do, I do remember. But I love him, and he lo–”
“You’re too sweet for your own good.” Aiden sighs. “I don’t know what you see in him. I only met him for two minutes and I already despise the guy.”
“You don’t even know me!” I scoff, hitting his back.
He opens the passenger door and carefully deposits me in the seat. He reaches around and buckles me in while I put my hands over my face in embarrassment of everything that has just happened.
I see Ashley rushing through the chaotic scene towards us through my fingers.
“Get in and don’t talk about it.” He orders, gesturing towards his side of the car.
Ash simply nods and climbs in the back from the driver’s seat. She peeks around my seat, her emotions raw, and rubs my shoulder in console.
Aiden glances towards Ian who is now standing, breathing heavily, as he glares in our direction. His fist is balled but he doesn’t dare to come closer.
Worried, I reach out the open window and grab Aiden’s shaking arm. His eyes meet mine and I watch as the rage tries to calm. There’s an internal struggle behind his eyes, but I see the resolve when his face finally softens.
Aiden shakes his head once, coming around to the driver side.
Then he yells menacingly, pointing his finger accusingly at Ian. “Fuck you.”
I’m thankful when he cranks the car up and the engine drowns out the scene we are driving away from and my sobs.
∞∞∞
My thoughts run through my head as though they’re trying to win a race. So lost in thought, I haven’t realized we are in the driveway.
It’s pitch black outside. Aiden flips on the interior light, the color is a warm tone. I’m thankful it’s subtle, and it doesn’t worsen my headache. He opens my door and kneels, staring at me with a worried expression.
My head tilts to the empty backseat. “Where is she?” My small voice is sore from my screaming earlier.
“I told her to go inside.” Aiden brings his large hand
