Song: Run The World by Heather Morris featuring Naya Rivera from the series; Glee

Chapter Twenty-two: You gave me the heebie-jeebies

"Did your shift just end?"

It was a little after 5pm, and my shift was finally over. After Jaxon left it had been pretty peaceful. I just don't understand why he wouldn't just leave me alone. There are a lot of pretty girls out there that would date him in a heartbeat. He couldn't be obsessed, could he? I mean what was there to be obsessed about? I'm average.

"Yeah. I'm going now."

"Bye Avery." Corinne waved at me.

"Bye." I waved back and walked towards my locker.

I planned to call Leyla when I was done with work. I know it seems late, but I slept early and woke up late. God knows why I'm still tired.

I ended up sending her a message asking if she wanted to meet up. I dropped the apron, grabbed my bag and headed out the back door.

It's more like a side door.

Well, we call it back door for workers only. I'm used to it. Let me be.

Once I opened it and turned to my right, I heard a jingling sound behind me. I turned around slowly and cautious, only to be surprised by a doofus resting on the wall, twirling keys in his fingers. I touched my chest and let out a breath.

I punched his shoulder. "Geez! You gave me the heebie-jeebies."

He chuckled and pocketed the keys he was twirling in his finger. "You could have just said you were scared."

"We can correct my English another time. Right now, what the hell are you doing here?"

He smirked. "Isn't it obvious? I came to pick you up."

I blinked in confusion. "Why?"

"I told you I would see you tomorrow, didn't I?"

"Yeah, but I just thought you didn't want to admit you didn't know what you were saying." I shrugged my shoulders.

"Haha! Very funny."

I laughed a little at that. "Where are we going?"

"You'll just have to wait and find out."

"You don't know where, do you?"

"Of course I do." He stuck out his bottom lip and touched his heart. "I'm upset you think so lowly of me."

"I can't help it. It comes naturally."

"Well, stop it." He warned. "I came from a different direction, so the car is out back, I'll meet you in front."

"Okay." I nodded to him. He started heading towards the back and then disappeared around a corner. I began heading to the front, when I heard a ding sound from my phone. Leyla had texted back.

Leyla: How about now?

I rested my back on the wall beside the door.

Me: I'm kind of busy. When else are you free?

I waited a while, but it didn't take long for her to answer.

Leyla: How about tomorrow at school?

Me: Can't it be before tomorrow? I wanted us to hangout.

Leyla: Maybe later on today. When you're done with whatever you're doing, call me.

Me: Ok. That's fine with me.

I was about to pocket my phone when I heard another ding.

Leyla: Are you at home?

Me: No. Why?

Leyla: It's just that Axel hasn't been answering my calls and messages and I wanted you to check if everything was alright.

I was too busy on my phone. That's why I didn't notice the hand snake around my waist. I looked up from my phone and was met with the black eyes of Jaxon.

I tugged at his hand to release myself. "Jaxon. What are you doing?"

"You refused to come willingly so I'm taking you with me."

"That's called kidnapping."

"I know your pretty mouth can speak pretty words. Let's go so I'll help you find out what else it can do."

I stomped really hard down on his foot, and pressed until his arm released me. He winced in pain as he held onto his foot.

"You're sick!" I spat before turning around to run towards the front.

Run faster.

I don't do sports. This is the best I can do. He's too busy wincing in pain, I'll get to the front before he recovers.

A hand grabbed mine, and the other one covered my mouth.

Wrong.

I didn't think he was serious about this kidnapping thing. He must be drunk.

He snaked the hand that was on my hand before around my waist and slammed me hard against his body.

I stomped on his foot and bit on his hand but none of that seemed to be working. I started screaming for Zane or anyone around to help me but my voice was muffled.

"Do not let me hurt you!" He warned to my ear.

That didn't stop me from what I did next. I bit so hard on his hand, it was sure to draw blood. I started screaming really loud for Zane.

Where is he?

It was getting dark, and although Jaxon had removed his hand from my mouth, his hand was still firmly around my waist. It had moved up to my stomach now, and he was clutching it so hard, I thought I might faint.

"Stop screaming!" He literally barked at me, but I didn't stop, hoping someone would hear me.

He released me, and I collapsed to the floor from sheer exhaustion. My phone dropped with a crack somewhere away and so did my glasses. Even my throat was hurting, from all the screaming.

I saw Jaxon's foot step on my glasses. I began getting up, but he kicked my side, making me fall back down to the floor.

"I told you I didn't want to hurt you. I would never want to, but you left me no choice."

I wasn't one to beg, but I think now was the time.

"Jaxon." Was all I could get out, before he kicked me again. He kicked me and kicked me. I coughed and coughed and grabbed my waist, trying to scramble away with the little strength I could muster. It was no use. He just followed and kept kicking me.

Ouch.

I was in pain and nearly unconscious, but I still struggled to get away when he grabbed me and threw me over his shoulder. I refused to give up. I think I was in tears by that time, but my head hurt so much, it was hard to realize. I kept hitting his back with my fists and kicking, even though it was weak, when he turned around to walk away with me. He stopped, and bent to pick something from the floor. "What is this?"

Before I could get to find out what he was talking about, I was dropped on the floor, harshly. My eyes slammed shut.

After a while, I forced my eyes open and saw Zane holding Jaxon against the wall.

"You need to understand that no means no!" I heard him bark out. Everything was blurry, but I could tell the shapes. I planted my hands to get up, but they were wobbly. I felt something furry beside me. I turned my head and my eyes seemed to catch something red.

Is that your wig?

I tried getting up one more time, but I collapsed.

"Zane." I breathed with a cough.

More like choked out.

The last thing I felt was being lifted up, before consciousness slipped away.

*************************

My eyes flashed open. Everywhere was white. Why is everywhere white? Ivy? Ivy!

I shut my eyes and tried to lift my head, but it felt so heavy.

"Keep it down." I felt a cold hand on my forehead. "Don't hurt yourself."

Zane? What's he doing here?

I turned to where I heard his voice. He was sitting on a chair on my right, holding my hand.

"Zane?" I breathed out.

Why do I feel so exhausted? My eyes fluttered open, but were still heavy. I could make out his silhouette.

"I'm here. It's okay."

And for some reason that felt very assuring as I went back to sleep.

***

"Do you feel better?"

It had been about 3 hours since the accident and I had finally woken up. Zane was still there though. I'm very grateful to him for being there when I needed him. I would tell him, I just hadn't had the chance to. Now Zane was sitting on a couch in the corner of the room, ruffling his hair.

I recalled the events of that evening when I woke up the second time. I used to dislike Jaxon, saying he was just an obsessed creep, but now I hate him. He is a serious lunatic that needs help.

"Yes doctor." I said sitting up a little. I still felt like shit, but at least I felt better. "What exactly is the problem?" I just woke up and no one told me anything.

"You had a concussion and you suffer from mild rib contusion."

"Uh huh." I nodded slowly not understanding a bit. "Translation please."

He gave me a half smile. "You have a few slightly bruised ribs."

"Oh." I nodded.

"We're going to release you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? Are you sure I can't go this night?"

That means I'd have to tell my mum. She'd want to know why? I know I can't hide it forever because bruised ribs would take a while to heal, but I thought I'd have time to think of an excuse to why I had bruised ribs.

"It has to be tomorrow. We've only made a diagnosis. An X-ray, MRI, or CT scan may be needed to confirm the diagnosis and rule out more serious injuries, such as a rib fracture or damage to internal organs."

I gulped. "I don't think I can afford all that."

He gestured to Zane who was staring at the ceiling looking like he zoned out. "Your boyfriend here said he'd take care of all the costs."

I had the urge to correct his insinuation, but I just let it go.

I turned to the doctor with a smile. "Please can I speak to him alone?"

"Of course. Don't take too long though. We plan to do all the scans tonight, so tomorrow is for resting." He said before he exited the room.

The door closing made Zane's eyes snap to mine. "What's wrong? Why is he gone?"

"You really don't pay attention, do you?"

"I'm serious Cherry." He said as he walked up to my side.

"So am I. What does he mean by my boyfriend," I put air-quotes around it, "would pay for everything?"

"He means exactly that."

Minus the boyfriend part.

It seems my brain is functioning well for you to be back.

"Let me just do the X-ray. I don't need the rest. They probably all do the same thing."

"Still. Three times a charm."

I wrung my fingers together and stared at them. "I can't let you pay for everything. I don't want you to see me as a burden." I mumbled.

He lifted my chin so I was staring right at him. "I would never see you as a burden. Plus, this whole mess is my fault."

My eyebrows creased in confusion. "How could it possibly be your fault?"

"I got carried away with my phone. I should have come sooner."

"Don't blame yourself. None of it is your fault. If not for you, who knows where I'd be right now?" I stared at my fingers again. "Where's he anyways?"

"He ran away when I rushed to you. I would have gone after him, but you were unconscious and I didn't want to take any chances. Who is he anyway? Why is he trying to kidnap you?"

I stared at my wrung fingers again. He must have sensed I didn't want to answer it, so he continued.

"He knows you were wearing a disguise. Your wig fell off. And your glasses too." He muttered.

"Oh."

Oh? All you can say is oh?

What am I supposed to say? I don't even know what I'm supposed to do.

"You can't go back there."

"What?"

"You can't continue working there." He rephrased. "It's too dangerous."

"And because of that, I should live in fear? There'd be no point because living in fear doesn't actually protect you from anything."

"Well then," He paused. "I'll have to go with you."

"Every time? I'm sure you have more important things to do."

He didn't reply because he knew I was right.

"Plus, I don't need a bodyguard."

"You sure do." He gestured to me. "I mean look what happened, and that's the earliest you said you leave work."

Now, I didn't reply because I knew he was right. I didn't need to anyway, the doctor walked in.

"Are you ready for the scans?"

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I hope you liked the update.

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PS: It's in Portuguese.

P.P.S: For some reason ;)