Page 37 of Fragments of You

“Do not ever put your hands on her.” Another hard punch, this one causing blood to spray from Felix’s nose.

“Stop!” A shriek fills the air around us, and it takes a good ten seconds before I realize it came from my mouth.

Nash’s wild eyes shoot toward me just long enough for Felix to have time to recover and take a swing of his own. It connects with the side of Nash’s face with a sickening crack, sending him to the left.

“Stop!” I scream again as I lunge toward the two men on the ground.

I no more than reach them before something strikes the side of my head, just above my ear, the action jarring my entire body. I have no idea who or what hit me, only that whatever it was, it was enough to send me toppling to the ground.

“Paisley.” Felix’s voice sounds far away.

“What the fuck is wrong with you two?” It’s Iris this time, though my eyes have a hard time focusing on her as she kneels down beside me.

“P...” A panicked Nash is suddenly in my face.

“Get the fuck away from her,” Felix roars, his face taking the place of Nash’s.

“How about you both get the fuck away from her.” Iris grabs me under the arm and tries to pull me up. “Come on, Paisley, let me get you out of here.”

“Iris.” I hear myself say... Or at least I think I said it. I feel super disoriented, everything coming at me in flashes, almost like photographs rather than live action.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” It’s Felix this time... I think.

“Getting her the hell away from the two of you.”

I’m on my feet now, but I feel strangely off balance.

“Can you walk?”

I blink, and like a light switch being flipped, everything comes back into focus.

“Yes,” I croak, touching the side of my head. “Why is my hair wet?” I ask to no one in particular, pulling my hand away to see blood staining my fingertips. “Someone hit me.” My gaze darts from Iris to Nash, and then lastly, to Felix.

“I’m so sorry, Paisley. I didn’t see you there. You know I would never...” Felix swipes at the blood still trickling from his nose. “This is your fault,” he spits at Nash.

“My fault? You’re the one who fucking hit her. You’re lucky I haven’t beat your fucking skull in yet. But don’t worry, there’s still time.”

“I’m standing right here, aren’t I?” He snarls.

“Really, guys? She’s standing here bleeding because of you two jackasses and still, you can’t help yourselves.”

“I just want to get out of here,” I say, still feeling a bit off-kilter.

“I’ll take you home.” Felix steps toward me, but I hold a hand out to stop him.

“Not you.” I shake my head. “Not either of you.” I briefly glance at Nash, whose jaw is bright red and swollen. “Can you take me home?” I look at Iris, who’s standing next to me, her arm linked through mine, helping to keep me steady.

“Can you find a way home?” she asks, presumably Nash. Whom I can only assume nods because seconds later, she turns back to me with a nod. I hadn’t even considered they had ridden together, but I guess that makes sense.

I can’t deny that the two of them spending time together bothers me. It does. Not because I’m jealous, or maybe I am, but also because, after everything, I expected her to be on my side, not his. Then again, the sides are so blurred these days, I’m not even sure whose side I’m on.

“Let’s go,” I say, eager to get the hell out of here.

“P...”

I don’t look up, but I can hear the plea in Nash’s voice in that one syllable.

Instead, I turn my gaze to Felix.

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