Page 33 of Greased

“Not fucking worth it?” I bellow at Dawson. By the look on his face, he knows he just fucked up. But he is one stubborn motherfucker.

“I don’t know if you were hit on the fucking head or drank a dose of fuckwit in the last few hours but you are kidding yourself if you think that girl isn’t worth it!”

I get angrier and angrier as I get up in his face. Over the years, we’ve gotten into our fair share of bullshit fights, but this is different. She is different.

“Did you miss the last ten fucking years of our lives? Did you miss that trip to Australia? I’m not fucking blind, Dawson. I know whatshe means to you. To all of us.” I gesture to the other guys who are just standing back not expecting my outrage. To be honest, I’m not either. But when it comes to her, I would go to war without question.

“For you to go and treat her the way you just did is unforgivable. To belittle her feelings. To make her think she isn’t the fucking air I breathe. The literal light in the dark that is my life. You can lie to yourself all you like, but don’t you dare speak for me. Not when it comes to her.”

I shove Dawson as I step past him, making him stumble away. He’s a big dude on a good day but with the amount of anger coursing through my body right now, he doesn’t stand a chance.

“I’m going to get my girl. Try to fucking stop me.”

I tear out of the club just as quickly as Star did. As I come out of the club, I see the taillights of Rhodes’ bike off in the distance, her gorgeous blonde hair floating out behind her.

I race over to my KX450 and jump on it, starting it as quickly as I can before taking off after her. There is nothing in this world that could even begin to stop me from being with my girl. Not heaven or hell and sure as fuck not Dawson.

I follow after her as quickly as I can, pushing the limits of my bike. I know that she can ride. She proved that back in Australia on the day we took the bikes to that beach spot she loves so much. I don’t think there is anything sexier than my Scarlett sitting on the back of her bike, the wind in her hair and the look of bliss on her face. The image is imprinted in my mind.

It's obvious that Scarlett hasn’t been back here for very long. It wouldn’t surprise me if she had only just got here. She turns up the street that leads up to the Crux house. Sailing through the gates, shedoesn’t bother to slow for the guards. I slow down as I reach the gates and give the boys a nod as they usher me through.

I pull up at the front of the house, I find Scarlett still sitting on Rhodes’ bike with her head in her hands. Her shoulders are shaking slightly as she cries. My heartbreaks for her.

Dawson is so far out of line and seeing her heartbreak firsthand just makes me wild. A part of me wants to turn back around and rip his stupid fucking head off. To break him as badly as she is. Instead, I shove it down. Star needs me. My want to be here for her is more than my anger for Dawson. I kick down the stand on my bike and make my way over to Scarlett. Soft whimpers escape her chest, slowly getting louder the closer I get.

“Star,” I say quietly, my heart shattering knowing the cause of her tears.

She startles as she snaps her head towards mine. In her state, it's like she didn’t hear my bike pull up beside hers. I don’t blame her. I’ve felt this kind of all consuming hurt. A pain that just takes over. It's blinding.

I grab her off her bike and pull her into my arms. She fights me for a minute. I can’t blame her. I wouldn't want to see me either right now. Not when I am a part of this hurt she feels. Not when I broke her. Rhodes said as much. Fuck, if that didnt break me. Knowing that I did that to her. That I was so selfish in my want for her to be protected, to be safe, that I destroyed the only woman I have ever loved.

Eventually she gives in to the fight, her body sagging against mine. I lift her into my arms, supporting her like I know she so desperately needs right now. She can yell and scream at me later. Lord knows I deserve it. But right now she gives in. Allows me to comfort her. I don’tdeserve this privilege that she has granted me but I take it anyway. I’ll take whatever scraps she feeds me. The anger that has been building up inside of me slowly fades to the back of my mind and is replaced with contentment and love for this girl even while she breaks. Her sobs get louder as I make my way over to the steps on the front porch and sit down, still holding her tight in my arms.

“It's okay baby. I’m here and I’m never letting you go. Fucking ever.”

“H-How can he be so f-fucking cruel?” Her sobs make her hiccup over her soft words.

“I don’t know, Star. But he is a fool. You are the best thing about this punishing world and if he is too stupid to see that, it's not you that is missing out. It's him.”

“It hurts.” I pull back and bring my hands up to hold her face in my hands, mimicking the way she held mine in hers back at Pinks’. I lean in and kiss away the salty tears that are streaming down her beautiful face. Her eyes are puffy and red but she is a masterpiece. A perfectly broken sculpture.

“I know. But if it helps, I’m here. He will wake up to himself sooner or later. He is probably just shocked. Fuck Star, the last person I ever thought I would see in Pinks’ was you.”

I don’t know why I bother even trying to defend Dawson’s actions towards Scarlett. He doesn’t deserve it. But I can’t help but see reason amongst my anger.

“The last person I thought I would find here would be you too. After you guys left…” She trails off as she looks down at her hands that fidget in her lap. A small tear escapes her eye again.

“That has been one of the biggest regrets of my life, Scarlett. Ghosting you like that. You didn’t deserve it. When we got home, the club was in complete fucking chaos. We had to instantly jump in and fight. We had to protect you. These people that we are up against are fucked up. They will do anything to hurt the people that we love. Fuck...” I breathe out. “...they already hurt the one person that I love,” I say as I look at her. It takes a few seconds, but she eventually catches onto what I’m trying to say. Her eyes widen into massive saucers as tears still drip from them.

“Love?” She questions as she looks right into my eyes. I nod my head.

“I love you, Scarlett. I have loved you for a long time. I loved you as a beautiful little seven-year-old girl with pigtails that brightened any room she walked into. I love you now as the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on. I loved you before your accident and I love you now.”

“No,” she says, shaking her head but I give her a sad smile, nodding.

“I do, Star. Desperately, I do. If you let me, I will treat you right. I will make you happy. I fucked up with the way I handled things after leaving you back in Yeppoon. I will regret that every day of my life. But I will make it up to you. You are it for me baby. You are the only woman I have ever seen. My whipper snapper self even knew it.” Her lips quirk and I take it as a win, needing to see that smile on her face. God, that beautiful smile. The one that is still the same even ten years later that seems to light up her face.

“Dacre, I…” She begins but I interrupt her before she can continue.

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