Noah's POV

"Just jump, I'll catch you," Tyler said and I shook my head brushing my long hair from my face.

"I scared," I said and he shook his head.

"You have nothing to fear, baby girl," he assured me and I looked in his eyes, searching for truth behind that assurance.

"You promise?" I asked and he smiled.

"I promise, baby girl," he said. "Jump." I jumped towards him and he held out his arms, just as he was about to catch me. He moved.

I jolted awake and shot up, my heart was pounding and my breathing was labored. I looked around and noticed this wasn't my room. It was Braxton's.

"You're awake," someone said and I looked at Braxton. "I was about to drag you out by your hair."

"Oh right, because simply shaking me is too much," I shot back and his eyes narrowed.

"We have somewhere to be, so go get dressed," he demanded and I got out of the bed.

"Go where?" I asked and he turned back around to me.

"Does it matter?" He asked.

"Yeah actually is does, because it affects my outfit," I shot back and his eyes narrowed.

"We're going to the gym, I need to teach you to defend yourself," he said and walked to the bathroom. I flailed my arms and walked out heading to my room.

I shut my door and walked to the closet, I opened it and I searched around. I grabbed my outfit and tossed it on the bed.

I slipped on some shoes and started to head out from the room and down the stairs. Braxton was on his phone and he looked at me.

"Finally," he said and walked to the door, I made a face at his back. "Don't make faces like that," he turned and looked at me. "It's not ladylike."

"If you look real closely," I said in a whisper. "You'll see how much I don't care." With that, I pushed past him.

The ride was quiet as we drove to the gym and I was pretty fine with the silence. We finally stopped and I looked at the building. Braxton got out and I followed his action.

He opened the door and I walked in first, I looked around and it was huge. It was mostly men working out, I didn't see any women. I looked back at Braxton as he laced his hand through mine.

We walked through and the guys were definitely getting good looks at me. In result, I gripped Braxton's hand tighter and he glanced down at me.

"They're harmless," he said. "Besides, they wouldn't be stupid enough to touch what's mine."

"Braxton, where the hell have you been?" Some guy yelled and he pulled from my hand.

"Coach, I told you what would be happening for a couple days," Braxton said.

"That doesn't give you any excuse," the guy, Coach, shot back. Then his brown eyes fell on me. "Who are you?"

"I'm Noah," I answered, I attempted to appear with confidence, but his cold stare made it drain.

"I'm guessing this is the newly fiancé?" A voice sounded as they approached us. I turned to see who the voice belonged and my breathed hitched in my throat, god spent time on him.

"Yeah," Braxton replied blandly, I rolled my eyes at his rudeness. They started to have their own conversation so I let my eyes roam, they fell onto the weights.

I let my hand run over the cold metal as I looked over the different sizes. I finally settled in one and wrapped my hand around it, I lifted it but my hand instantly weighed down.

You got this, Noah Love

I closed my eyes and with all my might, I started to lifted it. It started getting lighter as it rose up from the floor. I'm doing it! My eyes flew open, but only to see Braxton pushing it up.

"Stop playing around before you hurt yourself," he said as he put the weight back. "You need to stretch first."

"Those guys are staring," I said looking at the weights.

"You're a girl, but you're mine," he said and I looked at him. "What's mine is mine and they know better." I took off my jacket and tossed it to the side.

I stretched my arms first and then my legs. Braxton was just standing there watching me stretch.

"Ok, come here," he said and I followed him to a pull up bar.

"I can't do that," I said and he raised an eyebrow. I jumped to grab the bar but I was too short, he grabbed my waist picking me up and I grabbed the bar. I pulled all my body weight but I still couldn't get up.

"At least do one pull up," Braxton said and I heard some guys laughing. I dropped and looked up at Braxton. I locked his fingers together and stepped up on his hand to grab the bar. I took a deep breath and pulled myself up once and twice, I dropped before I could do the third.

"I don't like this gym," I said.

"What'd you say?" Someone yelled in my ear and I jumped and looked at Coach. "Why don't you like my gym?" I looked at Braxton and he shook his head, I looked back at Coach.

"I just don't like that people are watching me and laughing, sir," I answered and he shot looks at the guys watching. They looked away quickly and he looked back at me.

"Well munchkin, you shouldn't give them anything to laugh at," he said and walked away.

"Yeah, Coach really has no heart," Braxton said and I looked at him. "Come on, you can spot me." I followed him over to the weights and he put weights on the bars. He laid back and wrapped his fingers around the bar. He lifted it and started lifting it up and down.

"Braxton, you need a spotter," someone said and I looked at the guy who said he was his brother.

"He has one," I said and the guy looked at me and laughed.

"You couldn't even do three pull ups," he said and Braxton put the bar back. "Give me a break."

"I'll give you something alright," I said as I went towards him but Braxton grabbed my waist pulling me back.

"Cool it," he snapped and I stopped. "Leave her alone."

"Oh little brother, you actually believe I'll listen," he said and Braxton clenched his fists. "You need ahold on that temper of yours." Braxton grabbed my arm and dragged me across the gym. He put me on the treadmill and he turned it on. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a knife.

"Stop and I'll cut you," he said and my mouth gaped. I looked away from him and kept running.

After awhile my legs were starting to get sore and I was sweating like crazy.

"Braxton," I breathed.

"Three more minutes," he said. "You can do it, Grey." After three minutes passed that felt like an hour, I stopped and heaved. He gave me water and let me sit down as I downed the cold water.

"I'm not made for this," I said.

"It'll get easier, most likely," he said. "Now come on, we got things to do."

~

I don't know what hurt the most because everything on my body hurt. Braxton finally let me rest while he took his turn to work out. I slept all the home and Braxton was in the shower.

I was fixing a bubble bath and I ran my hand through the hot water and bubbles. I turned the water off and dropped the robe. I got in the bath and sighed as the water hit my aching body.

The view was perfect and I was in heaven. Well I was till the devil himself ruined it.

"Isn't this just a present," Braxton said and I looked at him. My eyes widened and I was thanking God for the bubbles being there.

"Get out," I said and he walked over beside me. He sat down on the step. "Apparently, you don't know English."

"Your body still sore?" He asked, but I only ignored his stupid question.

"Why didn't you tell me you had a brother?"

"My brother and I don't exactly get along," he said. "What about your brother?"

"I don't want to really talk about it," I said.

"I told you about my brother problems, tell me yours," he said. "I mean, is he that big of a deal?"

"It's a lot more than just not getting along," I said. "It's just not a place I want to relive."

"Ok," he said and stood up. "The football game is starting soon and you still have to do your part."

"How could I forget?" I asked and faked a smile. He walked out and I closed my eyes once again relaxing.

I soon got out and dried myself off, I wrapped the towel around me and walked to my closet.

I walked out of my room–it was so weird calling it my room. I headed downstairs and Braxton was messing with something on the island.

"Where's Talon?" I asked.

"He's not coming," he said as I walked closer. I saw a hundred dollar bill with some green stuff broke up on it. He glanced at me. "Never learned about drugs in school?"

"I'm not a good girl, Braxton," I said and he chuckled.

"I haven't heard one curse word from you," he said and I walked away from him. "I don't want a servant with an attitude."

"You get what you get," I shot back and he mumbled something under his breath.

I made Braxton what he requested, which was oddly Ramen Noodles. He blew out smoke as I walked up, I laid the bowl down. I sat down beside him and watched as he took another hit.

"But Ty, that's not good," I said as I watched him smoke.

"Tell me that when I actually care," he said and blew out smoke.

"Well, can I try then?" I asked and he looked at me. He laid the blunt down and grabbed me.

"If you ever think about even going near this, I'll beat your ass," he threatened. "We clear?" I nodded quickly and he let go.

I snapped out of my trance and Braxton was taking a bite of his noodles. I laid down on the couch away from the TV, I closed my eyes.

"No sleeping on the job," Braxton said and I looked at him. "Get up." I rolled my eyes and sat up.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked. "Feed you?"

"Please," he said and looked at me. "What do I look like getting fed?"

"Well you act like a spoiled brat so it would be acceptable," I said and he grabbed my wrist and he pressed it. Pain shot through my arm and I let out a noise of pain. "Braxton, that hurts."

"You're going to stop disrespecting me, Noah," he said and I whimpered. "Do you understand me?"

"Yes, yes, I do," I said quickly while tears formed in my eyes. He let go and I backed away from him as I grabbed my wrist. He grabbed his bowl and leaned back eating his noodles.

He laid the empty bowl down and I stood up, I grabbed the bowl and walked past. I put the bowl in the sink and decided to wash the dishes.

I was almost through until a presence came behind me.

"I'm just washing the dishes," I said and turned the water off, I turned around to Braxton. "You gonna get mad and hurt me again?"

"I didn't even do it that hard," he said.

"It still hurt you idiot," I snapped and pushed him. "I was starting to accept this because I thought I'd be safe here. But now, I'd rather be with an alcoholic than here any day." I turned around and I headed upstairs, I went to my room and made sure I slammed the door.

~

I was sitting in my windowsill watching the rain, it was dim outside so building were lit up.

I could hear Tyler's heartbeat beating steadily. His hand was on my back and running his fingertips across my smooth skin.

I suddenly heard the front door open and a guy ran in, I recognized him as Tyler's friend.

"Dude, you gotta get a load of this," he said and Tyler stood up sitting me on the couch.

"But Tyler you promised you'd watch Beauty & the Beast with me," I said and he looked at me.

"Just watch it," he said. "I'll be right back and we'll finish it."

A sudden knock on my door snapped me from my daydream. My eyes stayed looking out of the window as the door opened. I could see the vague reflection of Braxton.

He didn't say a word as he walked over to me. He put something in my lap and I looked to see a bear. I grabbed it and threw it on the floor.

"I don't want it," I grumbled.

"I'm trying to say sorry, so can you not be a bitch?" He snapped and I got down and pushed him.

"Just kill me already!" I yelled. "I can't spend the rest my life with you!" I swear something flickered in his eyes before he got angry.

"You think I want to spend my life with someone who can't appreciate shit?" He yelled back and he threw something across the room. "I tried to do something nice for you and I'm repaid by you being be a fucking drama queen!" With that, he walked out slamming my door. I looked at what he threw and I saw a green book. I rushed over and I grabbed it.

"Always hold it close baby girl," my moms voice echoed in my head.

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Scrabble. Every played it? Well I suck at it so I don't care.

Welcome back! How was the chapter?

Noah waking up in Braxton's bed and that flashback. Ooh mystery. Then the gym, how was the change in her attitude? Then new character, Braxton's brother.

Then another flashback and Braxton losing his temper, once again. Then his solution and her not liking it. I mean, I would've preferred food over the bear, but eh.

Anywhore, don't forget to click that star because you are a star. Then also leave a comment or two, or a lot. Or ideas for the next chapter.

-Penguin Ducks Unite