I Hate You...I Think (14 page)

             
"What?" I asked shocked.

             
"Well, the next races are about to start and you’re on my bike," he grinned.

             
"Then tell me to get off," I rolled my eyes at him and jumped off the bike. There was no way I was going to ride with him in the race. His driving here scared me I couldn't imagine going faster than that especially with other racers close by.

             
"Are you going to give him a kiss for good luck? It might be his last race ever. He might not be as lucky as that guy was," Jake mused. I glared at him, but my stomach clinched. What if Oliver did wreck?

             
I looked up at Oliver my cheeks burning red. Glancing back at the other guys they looked away but I could tell they were grinning. I reached up and gave Oliver a quick peck on the cheek. He smirked grabbing my face before I could pull away and kissed my lips.

             
"Get a room," Logan told us in disgust.

             
"Come back in one piece," I muttered to Oliver looking at my feet.

             
"I will," he promised. With that he hopped onto his bike. Along with Jet, Alex and Eien.

             
Oliver looked over at Jake. Jake came closer to him and they talked quietly. Jake looked over at me and nodded to Oliver. I wonder what Oliver had told him? It was clearly about me.

Jake clapped Oliver on the back and the four boys headed off up the track to the starting line. The race went by quickly. I hide my face in my hands the whole time to afraid to watch. Oliver won and did a whee
lie on his way back to collect his money. Has he rode past where we were standing he winked at me. I rolled my eyes he's so cocky.

              The fighting arena looked like a steel cage. There were make shift bleachers on the two sides. Some people resorted to jumping up on the side of it and hanging over. I was utterly appalled at watching the men in the ring beat each other’s faces in.

I was even more grossed out when two girls got in the cage and started wrestling. The men cheered as one girl ripped the others shirt off. She didn't even try to cover herself up, which made me
want to throw up.

The only guys fighting tonight were Jet, Alex and Oliver. Oliver had his arm wrapped tight around me as the crowd booed or cheered. A few times
someone got shoved into me but instantly backed off when they took one look at Oliver and also Jake who was close behind me. When Jet went up I felt like rocks in the bottom of my stomach. I honestly didn't want to see him get hurt.

             
Jet came into the ring and did a sideways flip gaining lots of cheers. His opponent came in and started doing flips as fell. He flipped and turned in circles around Jet. Jet's eyes never let the guy. In one leap the man launched at Jet. Pushing off the side of the cage Jet send a flying punch into his face and it was over. I clapped and cheered along with everyone else. The opponent had yet to get off the ground when Jet exited the cage with a handful of money.

             
Alex's match wasn't so quick. His opponent was two sizes big then him. Compared to his opponent Alex looked short and lanky. For the first few minutes of the fight Alex became a rag doll. I jumped back against Oliver in freight as Alex was lifted and slung into the cage directly in front of me.

             
Oliver knelt down to talk to Alex. Alex's lip was bleeding and he looked out of it but he nodded. The big giant of a man had his back to Alex and was trying to get people to cheer louder.

In a split second Alex jumped up as if he wasn't hurt at all and slammed into the man from behind taking his legs out from under him. Alex rolled out of the way as the large man tried to grab for him, however now on his back he could hardly move or even seem to get up.

He rolled on his side trying to get up off the ground and Alex shoved the heel of his boot into the man’s face. I cringed as I heard a crunch. Alex won and his opponent lost...a few teeth.

             
Anxiousness twisted in my stomach as it was the final match of the night and Oliver was going up against Jason. I glanced up at Oliver worried. His face was hard and drawn as he stared across the ring at Jason, who stared back with the same intensity.

             
"Oliver," I muttered uncertain. Oliver jerked his eyes away from Jason to look down at me.

             
"Be careful, please?" I whispered softly gazing into his eyes. I was a bit lost in his stare.

             
He gave a wry smile. "Don't tell me you’re worried, Ever," he chuckled teasing me.

             
I pursed my lips. "Well, I'd rather not like to see any more blood. It makes me queasy," I told him crossing my arms and looking away embarrassed. I was worried that he might get hurt, but I wasn't about to tell him that. Jerk. Oliver reached up taking my face and making me look at him. Looking back up into his eyes I was mesmerized.

             
"Thank you for worrying about me but I'll be okay," he said kissing my nose softly and turned abruptly and entered the cage. The door was locked with chains, causing my stomach to flip. Jason jumped over the rail with a look of amusement on his face. Oliver moved to the right and Jason to the left. They circled each other till Jason was in front of me now. Jason half turned to wink at me. Jake was standing next to placed his hand on my shoulder glaring at Jason.

             
"When I beat your boyfriend, I'll be back over here to take you home with me," he sneered.

Oliver was closing the gap between them taking Jason's off guard moment to his advantage.

              "No, you won't be," I told him matter-of-factly, just as Oliver lunged.

Jason snapped his head up and dodged just in time. Oliver's fist just barely grazing Jason's cheek. Jason stumbled a little but recovered and stepped toward Oliver sending a violent punch at his head. Oliver of course dodged and snatched Jason's arm kicking his legs out from under him. Jason went down but didn't stay down for long.

              He rolled out of the way as Oliver went to kick him. Jason was back on his feet and swung at Oliver missing his target. Oliver grabbed his hand and then the back of Jason's head bringing his knee up and got Jason in the face. I pressed my hands to my mouth watching with worry.

Jake squeezed my shoulder in a way of
reassuring me. Jason was kneeling now. Blood running down his chin from his busted lip. He wasn't far from where I stood. A glint of metal caught my eye. I gasped and lunged forward pressing myself against the cage.

             
"Oliver," I yelled in warning, but as I did so Jason launched at Oliver with the knife. Oliver jumped out of the way but not before receiving a large gash across his chest. It wasn't very deep but Oliver clutched his chest hissing in pain.

             
Jake was cursing behind me still yet to release me, perhaps in fear I would somehow climb over the side of the metal fence. Jet stepped up on my left side ready to climb in the ring if needed. Oliver dropped his hand and took fighting stance again. Jason sneered shifting the knife in his hand for a better grip. I couldn't take my eyes off the bloody gash. Oliver's shirt was ripped and I could see it running down his chest.

             
"Jake, does Oliver have freaking knife? If not give him one, dammit," I growled angrily glaring at Jason. What a freaking coward!              

             
"Relax Ever, this is how it goes. Nothing is legal or illegal in street fighting. Oliver can hold his own, trust me," Jake told me, but his face was strained as he watched Oliver and Jason circle each other.

             
"Has Jason ever pulled a knife before?" I asked holding my breath as Jason lunged at Oliver. Jake tensed.

             
"No," he told me gruffly. I stared at him in horror. I watched as Jason lunged at Oliver again. Oliver dodged. It seemed like Oliver was waiting for him to get tired. Jason looked over across the ring at his gang. I followed his gaze and meet Sam's eyes. Sam smirked and nodded his head to the other guys. They dispersed half going left, half going right around the ring this way.

             
"Jake," I muttered keeping my eye on the group. Jake half turned his head to me.

             
"We have problems," I looked to my left Jet was up against the ring not even paying attention. Jake looked back at me then up at the men coming up. They were a few feet away. Jake grabbed my arm and pushed me behind him so I was stuck between him and the cage.

             
"We come to take what belongs to us. We did find her first the other night," Sam sneered.

             
Jet had turned around and was facing the group now. Alex and Logan were definitely in no shape to fight but they were there prepared to jump in along with Tyler. I had no idea where Eien was. Noticing the tension the crowd began to back away.

             
"You’re not taking her, get lost," Jake told them his jaw was clinched. It happened in a slit second Jake and Sam were on the ground and everyone else followed suit. I was left trapped between the mayhem and the cage. Jet slung some guy toward the cage and I dove out of the way rolling on the ground to get out of the middle of the all-out war, only to be lifted into someone else's arms.

             
I twisted to get out of whoever's arms I was in. However, they tightened their arms around me crushing my ribs making it hard for me to breath. I was lifted off the ground and I knew instantly who had me.

             
"Nice to see you again, girly," Aaron whispered in my ear.

             
"Let go of me," I demanded struggling. I tried grabbing a hold of his arm and prying it off but none of my Kuk Sool Won training was going to help. While I was busy trying to get away I wasn't aware I was being carried away from the ring.

I glanced back to see both the gangs in an
all-out brawl. Oliver and Jason were still going at it. Oliver kept glancing at me as I was being carted away. I didn't stop struggling but the more I did the tighter Aaron's grip became. I felt light headed and it hurt to breath.

Bringing my leg back I caught Aaron in between the legs. He grunted
losing his grip on me enough so I could bring my elbow back into his face. He slung me to the ground I hit the dirt on my hands and knees. I kicked back into his stomach but he had recovered and caught my ankle twisting it painfully. I gasp as he jerked my leg and left me sprawled on my back.

             
"You little brat," he growled. Aaron raised his foot bringing it down on my ribs. I screamed as fire ripped across my side. He didn't stop there though. He kicked again sending me flying over on my right side. I covered my head in protection. He grabbed my hair and started dragging me. He was moving too fast for me to get my legs underneath me not that I could if I wanted to anyways.

              Running footsteps reached my ears. Aaron was suddenly taken down hard to the ground by Jake. Glancing back at the ring it seemed everyone was in on the fight now and weapons were out in full swing. Literally. Jason and Oliver had broken up their fight to take on others with bats and chains.

             
Jake appeared at my side and tilted my face to look at him. I couldn't fully see his face due to the spots clouding my vision. I gasped as a searing pain shot through my side... I was then scooped off my feet quickly but gently. Looking up I expected to see Jake but instead it was Oliver. The others close on his heels. Aaron was trying to pull himself to his feet but as Jake passed by he gave him a boot to the face.

Not a word was spoken as we got to the bikes. I cringed when Oliver swung his leg over his bike with me still in his arms. He placed me in front of him and started the bike peeling out of the arena. The gates stood open as we passed through them. I wrapped my arms around Oliver's neck tight and hid my face in the bend of his neck.

              "I'm sorry I brought you here. It was a bad idea," he told me.

             
"You didn't know this was going to happen," I reassured him. He didn't speak another word, jaw clenched and his lips in a hard line. I wish I knew what to do to tell him it was okay. I thought about it a moment and pressed my lips to his throat. He jumped a little and relaxed.

             
"What was that for?"

             
"So you know it's not your fault. I'm okay."

             
He looked down at me giving me a hard look. "You’re not okay. I could hardly lift you without your cringing," he glared back at the road. "I wouldn't be surprised if your ribs were broken."

             
The rest of the ride Oliver didn't speak, after a while of riding I fell asleep.

             
I woke in a warm comfortable bed. Snuggling into the sheets further I tried to remember how I had gotten here.