The girl behind her smile

- 9 -

"I- I don't really know what to say," I draw in a trembling breath, "Why is he doing this? W-what even is it? An underground ring or something? A-and Jasper, why was he just sat there, it's all so confusing and I really want to punch Jasper in the face."

He lets out a small chuckle, "It's some sort of underground fight club, I don't now the technical terms or anything, but it seems like the viewers and investors bet their money on a fighter and whoever wins gets a cut I presume."

"Money? Why does Ezra need money?" I frown

"I don't know, but it seems to me that Jasper owns this ring," I look sideways at him, "I know he owns a few around the city and even some outside, this must be one of them."

"Wow..." I scoff, "He's uh.. He's rich alright." 

He owns these rings, masses and masses of them, he's not new to blood and gore, he introduced it to the city. He suddenly feels different, his place in society is way more influential than anyone his age, and the aloof aura his presence emits now feels like a facade. But when I turn to look at the boy sitting next to me, I can't help but think how different they are. Zayn seems to make me feel at ease, knowing what to do and what to say to help me. The complete opposite of Jasper, the one who puts me in situations that make me feel like I am anything but at ease.

I wonder how they are together, do they get along?

"That he is." Zayn pauses. "Shall we head back then?"

"Yeah, lets go."

-

All the way to school I kept giving Ezra side glances, I was still contemplating on whether or not I should ask about his injuries.

I had arrived earlier than Ezra that night, and I had purposely avoided him to reel in my anger towards his decisions. I could hear him conversing with the rest of my family downstairs, the hustle and bustle of early evening activities. Nothing seemed unusual, which was confusing, was no one going to ask about the bruises on his face? Where he had been? 

The car comes to a halt in the schools car park, and we all clamber out. Ezra yanks my arm and takes me to the back of our car. I look up at him confused.

"What do you want to say?" He asks.

"What?" 

"You've not stopped looking at me since you've woken up, what do you want to say?" His brows furrow.

I take few seconds before I ask him the question that's been dying to leave my mouth.

"Where'd you get that bruise, and don't say it's from the fight at school, I know that one is already healed."

He sighs, "This is from training yesterday, remember? I told you guys not to wait up for me because I had a session with the coach."

I purse my lips, "Ok." I reply warily, letting him know that I wasn't fully convinced with his answer.

"Can I go, now that you've asked what you wanted to?"

I nod my head, signalling to him that he was free from me.

I watch him walk away with clenched teeth. He had a cover story ready, I forgot about his MMA training. Does he even go there anymore, or has it only been a thing to cover for the underground fights he's involved in? Though they are both some form of fighting, one is clearly less dangerous and more legal than the other. 

-

The school day runs by quicker than I had anticipated and I had not yet run into Jasper. I was thankful honestly, I'm not sure if I would be able to keep my temper in check seeing him. Although I know that Ezra is the one who made the choice to join, I can't help but feel like Jasper is responsible partly. His satiated smirk watching my brother fall makes me writhe in anger. Jasper has a way of pushing my boundaries unknowingly, I am slowly retracting the promises I made to myself for my own sanity. I try hard not to hate or stay in my own anger, but I fear I will soon reach my limits. And I am scared. I am so scared that if I continue along this path, I will fall somewhere dark and deep, and I won't be able to come out. 

Just as the final bell rings, everyone makes their way out of the common room, I stay seated, only beginning to pack my belongings when a few minutes tick by.

A searing pain shoots through the left side of my head, I drop my bag on the floor and my knees grow weak as the pain increases. With one hand I grip the surface closest to me, whilst clutching my forehead with the other. The pain forms a pulse, beating in synchronisation with my racing heart and I struggle to keep my eyes open. The lights in the room become unbearable, forcing my eyelids to slam shut. I struggle to rip my bag open, hoping to find water and painkillers. My hands shake as I bring the water back down after finishing it, sinking to my knees and taking deep breaths, hoping for it to pass. 

A few beats later, the intensity of the pain has decreased considerably, however I remain seated on the ground, confused. My mind races with questions in the void of the beating pain. The pain was something I have never experienced before, it seemed to intense to be brushed of as a normal headache. What's happening to me?

I give myself time calm down, before I stand back on my feet and grab the bag next to me.

"Enjoy the show yesterday?" A cocky voice asks from behind me.

The last thing I needed was for him to taunt me. Finding my resolve to ignore my searing vexation, I take a deep breath before spinning on my heels, staring at him straight in the eye. His smirk falters at my look of indifference.

"Yes, in fact." The lie slips off my tongue like honey, I wasn't about to let him see my mask slip.

His eyebrows raise, "Oh? I didn't know you enjoyed watching your brother get beaten up."

I stalk forward, "I enjoyed it, because it proved to me how pathetic and petty you are."

I pause before passing him, my shoulders lining up with his own, my head turns to the right, looking at his face, which was still positioned to where I was stood before, "You know, I really feel sorry for you." All I could feel was the rage that had been bottled from yesterday, if I was careful not to let the lid blow then, then it can definitely be contained now, "What kind of fucked up childhood did you have, to be satisfied with the destruction of other people?"

I continue on forwards, "Oh, and let me remind you, Jasper, you don't scare me, you don't frighten me, and you certainly do not hold any power over me."

The slow beating in my head had once again picked up its pace, I took this as my sign to leave, not giving a chance for Jasper to respond. 

The overwhelming feeling of dread takes over my senses, I had forgotten momentarily who was and what power he holds. As long as Ezra fights in his ring, he is not safe. Jasper has the power to control who he fights and when he fights, and the animosity between them, I am sure, makes it harder on him as it is.

I glance up, seeing my siblings wait in the car makes me shove my fear away.

I have to tell Ezra that I know. I have to tell him to stop before something unreversable happens. And I have to do so soon.

———

Hey guys, 

Hope you enjoyed today's chapter, please don't forget to VOTE and COMMENT any errors in my writing.

Thank you,

 Elle x