I never thought I would end up where I am today. But God, am I glad. My name is Clare Jackson I am a 18 year old girl graduating high school soon, I have a good family, good friends, and a good life. From a quick glance at me you would think I'm just a average teenage girl and carry on your way. But Lucas Lakewood looked deeper and saw the real me. He thinks I changed his world but he really changed mine and the only thing I can do now is repay him. You are probley thinking that's the most cliche thing a teenage girl can say over a boy, but it's true. This is the common romance story of two wild teens. They meet, they hate each other, they grow closer to each other, and then they fall in love. But to me it was so much more. It changed me, and the way I looked at everything. It made me see that things happen for a reason. Bad things don't just happen to make you feel awful, they happen to show you a better way. I can only hope that Lucas feels the same.

I fall on the side of the ground towards the edge of the ring. I wipe the blood pouring from my mouth away. I can't hear anything anymore. I blocked out all the yelling a while ago. I can barely see anything. But I can see Lucas. And that's all that matters. His hands are in fists, he's ready to end this and so am I. My head falls to look at the ground and I watch his feet come towards me. He grabs a fist full of my shirt and pulls me off the floor. I can't stand on my own anymore so he has to hold me up. My right arm felt week, I couldn't block anymore. I look up to see a raging Lucas. His eyes are deadly and now I know how all his opponents felt as they bleed and fall under the beating of him. His hands are covered in blood. My blood.

I shiver at that thought and tears from in my eyes but I hold them back. Im too weak to say anything. Im so weak, I can barely keep my eyelids open they are swollen and bleeding. Finally he lifts up his fist and I look into his eyes. His eyes are what drew me to him the first time I met him. His eyes were like a field of green grass. They would light up when ever I smiled, but tonight they held no sign of that light.

As if in slow motion everything happened at once. Lucas fist starts to pull towards my face. At the corner of my eye I could see Lucas sister, Jackie, run threw the door in a rush. She knew what was happening. She was worried and even with my swollen eyes I could see that. She yelled for Lucas to stop but it was to late. His fist landed on my face and I fall to the floor defeated. Blood pours from my body onto the fighting ring. That punch was it. I was done, and so was he.

Everyone and everything starts to blur. I saw the faint blur of Jackie trembling above me. The pain hurts too much for me to do anything. I don't want to think, move, talk, or even blink. She shakes my shoulders trying to keep me awake. She calls my name out but I can't reply. I slowly close my eyes.

I did what I had to do. I repayed Lucas for saving me from myself.

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Prologue to Stained Hearts♡♡