Not So Innocent

Chapter 12

"Don't be dramatic angel. I was gentle. Put this on and make sure your ready

to head out the door in ten."

I sit beside the bed, unclothed and curled into a ball.

I made the mistake of trying to get out of bed.

The pain shooting through my body was like my first menstral cycle all over

again.

There's not much I can do now though. I've lost everything. My virginity, my

family, myself altogether really.

Deciding it would only be worse if I made Archer any angrier, I stand slowly

and grab the spare clothes I keep on... My secretly ex boyfriends closet shelf.

Slipping on the outfit, I'm dissapointed to see my face in the mirror.

I look like I got by a car. Both sides of my foread have dried red cuts, my chin

is covered in bruises still, and now I have a split lip from who knows what.

It's ironic, Archer taking me to see his fight tonight, but I look like the one who

got in a fight.

At least I'll fit in.

"Ready?" He asks popping his head in.

The ride to Hunkys gym is excruciating.

Archer gives me disgusting kisses and and holds my hand.

How did I go from loving him to despising his very presence?

My brothers were right.

When we arrive, I don't bother going to the men's locker room with him, I

stead opting to take my seat.

It's lonely without Natalia here, but I wouldn't want her to see me like this

anyway.

I watch the first fight, not surprised that the scrawny man lost.

It's the second fight that keeps up the anticipation.

For the first time in my life, I pray Archer will get his ass kicked.

Unfortunately, it's a breeze for the reighning champ.

He sends a wink my way before exiting the ring, making me cringe in disgust.

I'm surprised to see Stark enter next. He looks cockier than usual and hypes

up the crowd with his jumping.

His demeanor changes however, when he sees me.

His entire face falls and he seems pissed.

It looks like he's about to walk out of the ring again, but the ref beckons him to

the middle.

I earn one last look before the whistle sounds and the very first knockout of

the night takes place.

Starks opponent is out with one punch to the throat and he doesn't even wait

for it to be called before jumping over the side of the ring and rushing towards

me.

Clearly the cheering people think he's coming to kiss me again, unaware of

my state.

He surprised me even when he grabs my hand lightly, leading me out the door

we came in from with rushed steps.

"What are you doing?" I ask confused by his actions.

"We ca-"

He cuts me off by taking us out the side door and shoving me into his car.

"You won't go back to him."

The car door slams and he jumps in the other side before ripping out of the

lot.

"God, what did he do to you?! Look at your face!"

Stark has a fire in his eyes that's equally dangerous looking as it is

passionate.

"You don't ever have to see him again, I promise."

Normally I'd argue, but for now I burst into grateful tears.

He doesn't know what happened and it will have to stay that way. He saved

me and he has to still think it was worth it.

..............................

"I know it's a bit girly, but it was originally made for my little sisters visits,"

Stark explains showing me the room he's going to let me stay in.

"No, I love it," I say genuinely.

He gives me a pat on the back.

"Make yourself at home... Since this technically is your home now. Dinners at

five thirty, I'll order chinease okay?"

I hold back the tears that threaten to fall again.

I know he kissed me unexpectedly that time, but he didn't harm me.

He's been so kind already and as my emotions overwhelm me, I attack his

torso in a bone crushing hug.

He chuckles returning the gesture.

"If you need anything ask. I've got a friend bringing you some clothes later so

any other essentials just stick em on the grocery list."

I nod and pull away.

Even if I can't go home, this is a close second. Probably as close a second as

I'll ever get.

.................................

"Favorite play," I ask in a deep voice due to my balancing a noodle on my top

lip like a mustache.

Stark chokes a bit at the funny voice and answers,

"Macbeth. You?"

"The sound of music!"

He nods agreeing it's a good one. His face turns serious and he puts down his

noodles.

"Can I ask you more personal stuff?"

Attempting not to seem sketchy or uncomfortable, I nod in agreement.

"How did you end up with Archer? Why did you stay with him when he did that

to you," he asks pointing to my face.

I sigh preparing for a speech.

"My best friend introduced me to underground street fighting. I liked it and

caught the eye of Archer. He was sweet and I'd never had a boyfriend, so I

gravitated towards him. He was okay until about a week and a half ago. I had

to stay with him really. He..."

Took me from my family? I can't say that, truth or not.

"He just did something unforgivable that I can't escape from. So there was

really no point in trying to escape him at all."

Stark seems sad, even though his eyes are now hard.

"Did he r-"

His prodding is cut short when the door opens and a singing voice reaches

our ears.

"Oohhh Stark and Starks new friieenndd... I brought presents!"

I turn to see a brunette dressed in slightly skimpy clothing.

She holds at least ten different shopping bags as she skips over to us.

"I'm Renee! You must be Sky! Ya know this guy has a huge crush on y-"

"Sshhhshhppshpsbbhhh!" Stark hisses out silencing noises.

"Anywho! He said you were looking to be my size so I bought for me

baisically... But for you... If that makes sense."

I nod and giggle at her enthusiasm.

"Now I also bought this new board game, 'dont get me started' and even if you

don't want to play it, you're gonna play it because once you start playing you'll

want to keep playing."

Her rush of words is difficult to follow, but Stark said she was like this around

new people.

At least I was warned.

After we each take a turn in the game Renee speaks up again.

"I'm starving! Aren't you too?"

I shake my head.

"We just ate, but I can get you some leftover Chinese if you want."

She nods excitedly and jump up and head to the kitchen. Pulling noodles out

of the fridge, I stick it in a bowl and microwave it for two minutes.

Grabbing a fork since she probably can't use chopsticks, I head back out to

the living room.

Renee and Stark both sit on the couch with wide eyed and horrified stares

directed at the television.

"What are you watching?"

I plop down between them and put the noodles on the coffee table.

Looking at the tv, I freeze to see a picture of me.

Off to the side, a reporter talks to my dad's and I can see all of my brothers

solemnly standing in the background. Daddy Kai comforts my crying mother

and daddy Jack speaks into the microphone.

"If anyone can give us information on the whereabouts of that psycopath and

our baby girl we have a reward for you. The bounty of our daughter, alive and

her captor, dead or alive is one million dollars."

Renee seems to choke seemingly on thin air before looking at me with her

mouth agape.

Stark does the same, only his eyes seem to be more haunted.

"Holy s**t," they say simultaneously.