Chapter 3 Deadly Blows

  "Hello?" I asked the person on the other side of the phone who had balls to call me at such an ungodly hour. My voice sounded raspy. Well for some people it might sound sexy as hell, but when it came to me I sounded like a dying whale with my raspy voice. It's not like I was asleep or anything. I was just laid in my bed, staring at the ceiling since the past two hours, reminiscing the amazing memories about my family when my mother was alive. But due to the fact that I didn't utter a word since the past couple hours, my voice had gone raspy.

If this call turned out to be a wrong number, I was so giving the person a earful and he or she or maybe it is going to regret buying a phone altogether.

  "You bitch!" The voice shrieked and I immediately shot up from my bed, recognizing the venom filled voice without a problem. It is none other than the Bitchy Taylor. Well Taylor Jones, the Queen Bee for other students of Riverdale High, but the Bitchy cousin to me. She had always hated me and wished for my worst always. She acted like a perfect daughter in front of our parents, but in alone and in school she was a whole new person. She was my number one bully. And considering the fact that her best dancer, Hailey was my best friend, it gave her all the more reason to hate me 'cause everyone thought that Hailey can do better than me. But does Hailey care? Nah, she didn't give a rat's ass to what the people said. She loved me no matter what happened to people, what gossips they create about me or her or about us.

  "Taylor? Are you okay?" I asked into the phone, keeping my thoughts on bay. I mean no matter she is bitchy to me, she was still family to me albeit she doesn't believe I was hers.

     "It's all because of you. You're the reason she's dead -" she slurred into the phone and continued,"she was the only person who honestly understood me. And I loved her so much you have no idea. You should have gone to the supermarket not her. She asked you to go there and get eggs for the next morning's breakfast, but you being the lazy bum you are decided that you don't have to go. You should have been dead," she said as she broke down on the phone in sobs.

  Ouch.

   I didn't try to think much about it as she was drunk and tomorrow morning won't even remember drunk dialing me. But me being the stupid, concerned person I was, decided to rescue her because I couldn't let her do something she'll regret altogether tomorrow morning. I had to be the sensible one.

    "Taylor? Where are you?" I asked her as she sniffed on the phone and took sharp intake of breath.

"I'm at this club called '69 Moves'," she slurred, hiccuping. I knew this club, Hailey used to talk a lot about it as it has the best night experiences as she explained. And she even got us fake ID's that I hadn't ever used until today. Today in order to save Taylor, I would be going to the club for the first time.

    She truly was drunk. She never talked to me like a civil person.

    "Okay. Wait there. Don't go anywhere. I'll come to pick you up," I said as I got out from my bed and threw the first outfit I could find. A large navy blue jumper, black leggings and slipped into my worn out white converses.

     I quickly sneaked out of my room, tiptoeing my way down the stairs being careful enough not to wake anyone up.

    Quietly making my way down, I grabbed the keys of my Vespa, which were hung on a key holder in the kitchen. Being as discreet as possible, I scurried over to the door and pulled the knob open. Unlocking the door, I quickly stepped out into the porch and let out a sigh of relief.

     I quickly made my way to the driveway where my Vespa was parked. I opened the trunk of my scooter and placed my wallet inside which had my fake ID and some money. I quickly started the scooter and left the driveway, the cold air of late night hitting my skin in waves. Adrenaline pumping into my veins as I sped up the road. At one point, I smiled because of how thrilling ao much adrenaline rush made me feel. I didn't even put on my helmet as I let the cold gushes of wind attack my face. It felt great to lose control for a moment.

   I felt free. Free from my thoughts. My emotions, my haywire cerebration.

   But every best feelings in the world had to come to an end, so did this moment.

     I reached the club and quickly parked my Vespa in the parking lot. I stepped out and had a look at the club. It was a big one with neon pink and blue colored sign saying '69 Moves'. There was a small queue of young adults waiting to get inside. At one o'clock in the bloody morning, who the hell on earth thinks about dressing skimpily, partying and getting laid. I would rather sleep in my comfy bed at this ungodly hour.

      I joined the queue and waited patiently for my turn. In front of me was a group of girls not too big, maybe in college dressed in slutty skimpy outfits that made them look like prostitutes in a freaking brothel. The girls turned to me and looked at me like I was a slug, with a sneer. One girl in specific glared at me but you know what I did? I simply rolled my eyes and looked away. I mean why would I look at people who would downgrade me? Worthless girls. I was going to ask them don't they have bloody some studying to do? But I knew better than to have a dispute with college girls who can claw out my face with those long nails of theirs.

    Soon enough, it was my turn. The bouncer standing outside asked for my ID and I gingerly got the ID out of my wallet, hoping he won't make it out that it is fake. Or else I was screwed. I closed my eyes and hoped for the best to happen. Considering my luck, I thought I was going to get caught but imagine my surprise when the bouncer handed me my ID back after examining and let me in.

    I quickly made my way inside the club not wanting to stand near the bouncer any longer as it risked being busted.

    As I made my way inside, the lights dimmed as 'We Can't Stop' by Miley Cyrus blasted through the gigantic speakers. Due to the dimmed lights, I couldn't see properly. I could see the people on the dance floor grinding with each other, practically having dry sex. I quickly looked away and started searching for Taylor. As much as I know Taylor, she might be drowning down her sorrows in alcohol by the bar.

   I looked around the club to search for the bar, but it was a little tough considering the lights were dimmed except for the neon lights scorching through the led bulbs. I found the bar across the dance floor and true to my words Taylor was there downing some alcoholic drink that surely wasn't pumpkin juice, cue Harry Potter.

    I quickly started making my way through the dance floor that was filled with sweaty people grinding and snogging, making sure to keep my eyes on Taylor as if even one second of looking away might cost me losing her. Suddenly out of nowhere, I ran into this broad wall that made my nose pain, rather acridly. I rubbed my nose gingerly and looked at the bloody wall that appeared out of nowhere. Imagine my surprise when it didn't turn out to be a wall? Instead I found myself looking at the most handsome specimen to ever walk on this earth. I felt captivated by those sea green orbs that seemed familiar to me. I felt like I've seen those eyes somewhere but I couldn't quite put a finger as to where. He was wearing a white V- neck shirt paired with a classic black leather jacket and dark blue denim. He smelled like lemons and apples. That was pure heaven. I might sound like a creep but I couldn't help it. I didn't even realise I was checking him out till I saw him smirk in amusement and I quickly looked away, embarrassed.

     I remembered the real reason of me being here, to take Taylor home. I tried moving away from him but he came in front of me, avoiding me to move any further. I tried moving away again but this time too he stopped me. Annoyed by his actions, I turned to look at him with a deep scowl etched on my face. He was still smirking. No surprise there, eh?

"Can't you bloody move a little and let me go you silly?" I asked him, annoyance clear in my voice. The smirk etched on his face didn't seem to fade away even after me referring him as an idiot. Maybe he was deaf after all.

   "Why? Like what you see?" He said huskily, his accent not sounding British at all. In fact it sounded somewhat American.

    Or maybe he was not.

I wondered if I' had seen him somewhere, somewhere in my school maybe. He was one fine specimen, I didn't know how I hadn't seen him if he was from my school. But I couldn't jump to conclusions.

     "Get off my face, you crazy!" I exclaimed as I pushed him away from me by shoving his fine lick worthy chest, which was by the way as hard as granite. He didn't budge. Not even an inch. Maybe it was his lean figure. Or maybe it was his height, 6 feet 3 inches tall, I tell you. He was too goddamn strong.

   If I were a cartoon character, you could see steam blowing off my ears. I was fuming, to say the least. I quickly pivoted on my heels and turned away from him as I took a sharp intake of breath and turned to look at him again. I thought of talking to him like a civil person, hopefully that could work for me. He still had a cocky smirk on his full pink lips of his. I was this close to punching his face and ruining his smirk, but I don't think that even punching the daylights out of him would make that smirk go away. It seemed permanently etched on his face.

   "Look, I really don't want to create a scene here. You see I'm here for someone and if you don't leave my sight in the next ten seconds, I swear to God that I won't be responsible for the damages to that pretty face of yours?" I threatened him in the hope of him leaving me alone, but in response he only bloody let out an amused chuckle.

"You think my face is pretty?" He asked, his voice kind of husky as if he was trying to seduce me. And trust me if it wouldn't have been for the fact that I had a good self control over myself and my actions, I would have shuddered and given him the satisfaction of getting a reaction out of me.

   That was it. Those words just made me lose my calm demeanor and I raised my clenched fist to punch his oh-so-pretty face. But just as my fist was going to collide with his face, his hands caught my wrist and stopped me. I glared at him hard, through my eyes.

    "Okay, okay. No need to get your panties in a bunch," he said as he moved aside and let me go.

    I gave him one last deathly glare that would have killed him if looks could kill, and quickly left his side to rescue Taylor.

    But what I saw when I reached Taylor? A guy, few years older than us was practically pulling Taylor to the dance floor to grind or something like that, but Taylor didn't budge. He tried to run his arms along her long legs, that give Candice Swanepoel a run for the money, trying to seduce her but Taylor had it bad. She just didn't pay any attention to that guy in a hope that he'll get bored and disappear from the face of the earth.

   Thinking I had enough of that man trying to seduce my cousin, I stormed my way there and stood in front of the guy.

    "Leave. Her. Alone," I said menacingly enunciating every word slowly, giving him one of my best death glares that I had to use not too long ago.

     The guy raised his hands in mock surrender and opened his mouth to say but he reeked of alcohol and I quickly held onto my dear nose, trying to block the stench of alcohol real bad.

       "Not my fault, eh? She's some fine lady," he slurred as he stumbled a little. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

     Why on earth would someone drink so much that they couldn't even bloody stand without stumbling?

     "You know what else would be fine? Your face when I'm done redecorating it with my fist," I said as I cracked my fingers to add to the effect of scaring him away. But he only seemed aggravated at my comment. His hazel eyes turned darker by the second and his face turned into a scowl.

    "You are going to pay for that you little bit-" he didn't get to complete his sentence because my fist already connected to his face and he went down sprawling on the floor. The people around us stopped doing whatever they were before our little encounter. Taylor sputtered on her drink and mumbled something like 'the nerd can punch just fine.' I ignored her. The guy started cursing as he covered his nose that was pouring thick blood that trickled down his face. He glared at me that would have frozen me in the past. But not anymore, I felt badass. I turned to the mob of people around us and glared at them.

    "Don't you all have lives? Get on with it already!" I yelled as the people started scurrying away from the scene.

    I turned to the man lying on the floor, who was now being picked up by some people around. He was still cursing while glaring at me.

    "I'll get my back on you," he said as he cursed again and left the bar.

    Well, that went well.

    I looked at Taylor and she had that shocking look on even while being intoxicated. I made my way to her and helped her get up.

    "Why are you here? I don't need your help,"she said stubbornly as she crossed her arms against her chest in a defensive manner.

   "Look Taylor, you're drunk and I'm not going to let you do anything regretful when you're not in right state of mind," I said explaining as she sighed and gave in.

    "Okay. Mom would kill me if I came home drunk. Take me to your place," she said shrugging.

    "What about Aunt Becca? Won't she get worried if you don't get home?" I asked furrowing my brows in confusion.

     "I told her that I'm with Zoey," she said referring to another one of her cronies.

    "Oh, okay. You sure you want to come with me?" I asked her. She had never liked me. What if when she was intoxicated, she would come but when she would get sober she would pounce on me saying I was meddling with her business.

    "I've always been a bitch to you, I know but right now I definitely need some sleep. Take me to your place, I'll crash there before I pass out here," she said as she stifled a yawn.

   Well, she certainly had improved a great deal.

     "Oh and don't think I don't hate you anymore. I still do," she added on an after thought.

      Or maybe not.

    "Okay then," I said as I grabbed her by the arm and together we started making our way outside the club. But then again, the luck wasn't on my side I see. Just as we reached the entrance, the guy with American accent stood in front of me. I glared at him, hard. He looked so handsome. If I would have met him on any other day, I would have melted right then and there because he was so hot. But right now, I couldn't care less.

   "Your punch was epic there, Vespa girl," he said, an amused grin on his face.

    "I won't mind imitating it again," I said menacingly and he raised his hands in mock surrender.

     "Well, you're quite fierce for a girl," he said, amused.

     "Leave us alone idiot," I said as I pushed him aside and took Taylor's hand in mine and soon made our way outside.

  "Who was that hottie there?" Taylor slurred as she pointed her chin to the direction of the club.

   "Just some idiot I met while coming to get you," I said shrugging.

   "Then how does he know you own a Vespa? Isn't that why he called you 'Vespa girl'?" She asked me and I froze. Taylor was right. How did he know I owned a Vespa?

     "Maybe he saw me coming on my scooter?" I asked hoping this to be the truth. If not, then this was some serious crazy stalking case.

   Taylor just shrugged in response.

     We reached the parking lot and towards where I had parked my baby. I opened the trunk and got out two helmets, one for me and one for Taylor. She did complain about wearing it saying it would ruin her hair but I shut her up by giving my one of those pointed looks. I asked her to hold in tight to me as she might lose her balance. She agreed politely.

    I quickly revved up the engine and soon we were off. On the way she was mumbling something along the lines of 'flying unicorns overing the sky instead of stars', but I ignored her and just hummed along with her as my response.

     The moment we reached my place, we quietly got out and I helped her sneak in through the front door, after fishing out the keys from my wallet.

    When we reached my room, I asked Taylor to change into something comfortable and she changed into some sweatpants and some white large shirt from her black dress from today.

      "Hey you sure okay with me sleeping along with you on the bed? I don't mind to take the floor?"I asked her when in reality I didn't want to sleep on the floor. It gave me back pains, and stiff neck.

    "Come on, now. Stop being so damn formal," she said as she rolled her eyes and patted on the place next to her.

    I quietly got beside her and we both immediately fell into deep slumber.

    But just as I was about to drift off to peacefulness, I heard Taylor mumble something that vaguely sounded along the lines of 'you are not half as bad as I make you to be.'

      I smiled. Just maybe this was start to another friendship.

      The only question running in my mind before drifting off to slumber was, 'Am I really responsible for my mom's death?'