Chapter 11
Helen picked me up this morning, and the first thing she asks me was ‘are you and Rhett okay?’ I smiled at her and told her that everything is fine between us. I spoke to Ed this morning and said that I would start my work soon, as I have been coming to work with Helen. Hoping that today Chloe might open up to me a little.
Walking over to the table where Chloe is sitting, taking my coat off, I sit down. “How has your day been so far?” I ask looking out the window.
“It’s been okay, how have you been?” She asks, still not looking over at me.
“Could have been better, but every day is a new day to make things right.” I say turning in my chair to look at her, “so what’s on your mind today?” I ask she seems a little off today.
Turning in her chair, I give her a smile. “I know something happened to you, can I ask what?” She asks, and I look at her for a moment, and think do I want to tell her the shit I’ve been through. “I want to talk to you, I do, but I don’t think that you will understand, no one else does.” She adds as I go quiet for a moment.
“Bullet points?” I ask, and she nods her head, and I take a deep breath in, getting myself ready to tell her. “My parents were murdered when I was five, and my brother was one, we got put in a foster home, my foster dad abused me for years,” I say looking at her then out the window, she doesn’t know the full details of what he did to me.
“And your boyfriend knows about this?” She asks.
“Before him, I thought I was only good for one night stands, but he was the first man that wanted more from me, I told him what happened, and he is still with me.” I smile, “and I could not be happier that he fought for me.” I say leaning my arms on the table.
I take my phone out and send Rhett a quick message asking if he can take an hour out of training and come here so that I can introduce Chloe to him. He set a message back fast.
Rhett - Taking a break now, can be there in ten mins.
I smile putting the phone away and look at Chloe, “My mom's boyfriend use to come to my room, and do things to me. He used to call me his little princess, and that my mom was very proud of me for keeping him happy.” She stops and looks at me, I had a feeling it was something like this, “I finally had enough and called the police, my mom hates me for doing that, and the police gave me the number to this place, Helen has been great, but I still feel worthless.” She turns to the window.
“I was the same I promise you things will get better, you’ll find a friend that will be so amazing that she will become a sister, and you will find a boyfriend that is so amazing that your past won’t even matter to him, like my boyfriend.” I look over at the door as Rhett walks in, “talking about boyfriends, here is mine,” I say leaning my head up so Rhett can give me a kiss. “Chloe this is Rhett, Rhett Chloe,” I introduce them.
“Oh shit, you’re…you’re Rhett Johnson,” she puts her hand out for him to shake it and I smile, “this your boyfriend?” She looks over at me, nodding my head at her as Rhett sits down next to me. “I feel like your lying to me,” she says making me and Rhett laugh.
I look behind me, “Helen, can you come here please.” I ask her, and she walks over, “Rhett’s mom,” I point to Helen, “Chloe thinks I’m lying, and Rhett’s not my boyfriend.” I look at Helen stood next to Rhett.
“Yes they are dating,” she looks down at Rhett, “you’re meant to be training.” She points to him.
“Terry kicked my ass yesterday, my body hurts, he give me a longer lunch, he is picking food up for everyone and should be here in a bit,” Rhett tells her.
“Everyone?” Helen questions.
“Yes everyone, just need to let him know how many,” Rhett tells his mom.
“I will call him then,” Helen walks away giving Chloe a smile.
“I think there is one more thing I should tell you, the guy Rhett is fighting is my foster dad’s son, so if I can find Rhett, I know that you can find someone too,” I tell her.
Rhett leans forward on the table, “I know Scarlett hasn’t told you everything, and I’m hoping she won’t, she hasn’t even told me everything, but one thing that I can say is. That she is one strong woman, and if a guy can’t handle your past, he’s not worth your time.” I look over at Rhett smiling, “to a guy, no matter your past, you are still the most beautiful girl in the world, because for me this one, is my world.” He says pointing to me.
My smile gets bigger, “and that is why I love this man,” I lean into his arm, “Chloe you can’t let your past stop you from doing things, making a friend.” I look around the room and see a few girls sitting down watching TV. “Go watch TV, even if they don’t talk to you today, they will but you have to open up to them too. Chloe, you have people around you that have had a messed up life, and everyone wants to make it better. I didn’t have anything like this; I was alone.” I say.
Chloe looks over to the two girls sitting on the couch and just watches them for a moment, then looking back at me, “you’re still here right?” She asks me.
“Right here,” I give her a smile, I watch her walk over to the girl, they look up at her smile and make some room for her to sit down. I look at Rhett, “thank you for coming.” I tell him, giving him a kiss.
“Anything for you, Jay said he’s going to pick you up and we can meet at the pub,” Rhett says looking at the entrance as Terry walks in with food.
“Yeah, but I want to leave soon as you get there, you’re tired and need to chill out at home. What is your training like around Christmas?” I ask, which is only a week away, and this morning while I was watching TV noticed that they have a channel just for Christmas films, that is my weekend filled.
“Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day off, then it is training as the fights not long after, Terry said it’s the first time I’ve had a girlfriend for Christmas I should spend it with her.” Rhett says, moving some of the papers for Helen to put our food on the table, “you going to be okay having Christmas here, if you want we can go back to Vegas for two days, then come back,” Rhett says, looking over at me, then back at his food.
I watch him for a moment, he sounds serious, he would buy a ticket for two days to go back to Vegas so that I can see my parents, I mean who does that? “No, I will be okay here,” I say looking over at Terry who is smiling at me. “So Terry, how much longer you planning on punishing Rhett?” A small laugh escapes my lips.
“Not sure yet, I have a week until he has a three day break, I’m enjoying it,” Terry looks at Rhett who’s shaking his head, “plus I’ve given him a long lunch,” he says.
“Thank you,” Rhett answers him, taking my wrap from him, “Do you need anything for Christmas?” Rhett asks me.
“No, I’ve got everyones gifts, got my sweatpants, which I plan to stay in all day, so I’m fine.” I reply, I know it’s a lie and I have to pick up a few gifts yet, but I was going to ask Helen if she would like to go shopping with me next week.
“Scarlett,” I look over at Chloe walking over to me, “thank you,” she wraps her arms around me, “I’m just going to the shop with the girls, will you still be here?” She asks, looking at Helen then back at me.
“I will be here; I will let you know when I’m leaving,” I tell her, she seems a little bit happier which is what I wanted. I want to get her a journal as a Christmas present, and explain to her that I have them to help me remember the good times, and even write what's on her mind.
“See you in a bit,” she says while walking away from us.
Turning back to everyone, Helen gives me a smile, “something that I’ve been working on for weeks, has taken you a few days, maybe she just needed someone that knows what it feels like.” Helen says and I give her a smile.
“Are you two coming to the pub tonight?” I ask them, not wanting to talk about Chloe and my past, I want to move forward from that time, I want to start looking forward to what life can bring me without worrying about how my past will affect me.
“No, I have paperwork to do, and Terry said his words, ‘I want to sleep,’” Helen says making me laugh and looking over at him.
“Who’s working who out here, seems like Rhett is training you,” I say making him laugh. This is nice having a normal conversation and laughing; it feels good.
“I’m not as young as him anymore, I need sleep.” Terry looks at me, “How is Noah?” He asks.
“He’s good, spoke to him yesterday, spending Christmas with Penny’s family,” taking a sip of my water.
Someone shouts Helen’s name and she walks over to them, I look at Rhett walking over with her, “how are you?” Terry asks.
“Yes, I’m happy and glad I came here,” I look over at Rhett and Helen talking and looking back over at us, “Terry…” I look over at him, “I don’t know if he is, but I have a feeling he is, so I think it is best you tell him that on Christmas Day do not ask me to marry him because the answer will be no.” Terry’s face changes, he bites his lip, “not because I don’t love him because I won’t even think about saying yes until he talks to me, so I think you should tell him, and not ruin everyone's Christmas.” I smile at him because now he has to have that conversation with Rhett.
“Sweetheart, you know that Rhett is a son to me, and I promise he will talk to you, but I will stop his plans of proposing to you.” Terry stops talking as Rhett comes over to us again.
“I will see you later Sweetheart,” Rhett gives me a kiss, “send me a message when you get to the pub.” Taking his coat off the chair, “I love you,” he says, Terry walks over to Helen, standing up I give Rhett a kiss.
“See you later,” I say, picking up all the lunch of the table.
“I’m going to have to work for you to keep saying you love me,” Rhett jokes.
“Best get working then,” I look at him over my shoulder with a smile, giving him a wink, “see you later,” I say.
I can say it to him all the time, but I like playing with him, it’s fun, because he wants to hear it all the time every day and soon I will but for now let him work for it.
* * *
Jay picked me up from Helen’s workplace; I told Chloe when I was leaving, I told her that I would come over on Monday, as I want her to spend some time with her new friends, get to know them. I told her that for all she knows their pasts might be worse than hers, and she needs to open up to them not about her past but the girl that she is now, boy bands, their celebrity crush, food they hate, anything to get to know the person they are. She was a little nervous about it, but she was open to it, which is good.
“Jay, what do you like, I have no idea what to get you for Christmas,” I ask him as we walk into the pub.
“I like everything, but you have already given me the best present, free drink at this place,” Jay says looking at Grant with a smile.
“You’re a lucky bastard that's all you are.” Grant says putting a beer in front of him, and places a J2O in front of me, “Scarlett I would like you to meet my daughter, Amy come here.” I look over to where he’s looking. I can see why Jay likes her she is beautiful, and I mean beautiful, maybe Jay is out of her league, “Amy this is Rhett’s girlfriend Scarlett.” He introduces us.
“Nice to meet you,” She puts her hand out for me to shake.
“Nice to meet you too,” I reply shaking her hand, “you have to join us for a drink, I kind of feel left out when Rhett comes, and the sports talk starts,” I ask her.
“Sure, I will come over, would love to get to know you better as we will see a lot more of you.” She says giving me a smile.
I follow Jay over to the table, “we don’t talk about sports,” he looks over at me, “it’s more like you two will ignore me,” he starts laughing.
“I know that, but she doesn’t Rhett and me will stay and when I think she is fine we will just leave, but if your being a dick then we will stay longer,” I tell him, looking over at the pool table, waiting for it to be free.
“Okay, note to myself be charming today.” He gives me a wink, and I shake my head at him.going
“To be honest she is way too beautiful for you,” I tell him and he pushes me away in a playful way. Laughing I sit back up, “want a game, and where can we change the music?” I ask, I mean I like the eighties, but I want something more fun.
“What you want to listen too?” Jay asks as we walk over to the pool table.
“Anything that is not the eighties,” I smile.
Jay walks away and talks to Whit, then comes back over to me pulling me closer to him as the music starts, Queen, Have A Good Time. “Dance?” Jay asks spinning me around under his arm.
“I would love too,” I say, then singing along to the song with a huge smile on my face.
As the song comes to an end, Jay’s smile fades, “nice to see you smile princess,” I turn around and see Zach walking over with two other guys behind.
“What are you doing here? How did you even know about this place?” Jay asks, placing a protective arm in front of me.
“I have ways, I came to see Scarlett,” my body shivers as he says my name, “so how are we?” He asks, walking closer to me.
Jay stands in front of me, “get out,” Jay tells him, I hold his coat from behind him.
“You and me both know that your no match for me,” Zach starts laughing.
“That might be very true, but to talk to her, you still have to get through me,” Jay tells him, God my heart is pounding, Jay is willing to get beat up for me.
Zach grabs him by the neck, then punches him the face, Zach starts laughing, “I like how you think you can stop me.” Zach shouts at him.
“Jay…”
“Star, stay behind me,” Jay shouts at me, I look over at Grant walking over, and Whit is behind me, and some of the others I’ve seen here before.
“Get the fuck out of my pub,” Grant stands in front of Jay, “you might be able to take Jay, but can you take us all?” Grant shout at him, as everyone stands to protect Jay and me.
Jay pulls me in closer to him, I look at his cut lip, “I’m sorry,” I whisper to him, I don’t know why I’m saying sorry to him, but I am.
“Hey, like I was going to let that fuck hurt you,” Jay wraps his arm around me, Zach still standing there.
I look over at the door opening and see Rhett walk in, and his face goes hard, he looks at me then at Jay. Walking faster towards us, he grabs Zach’s neck from behind him and smashes his face into the table.
“Is that how much of man you are, you come to her when I’m not here,” Rhett shouts at him, “you come, or even look at her I swear to fucking God I will kill you.” Rhett drags him off the table, and pins him to the wall, “one week, and I will make sure you don’t walk out of that arena,” he tells him, letting him go, Rhett walks over to me.
“Just so you know you’ve not seen the last of me,” Zach shouts as he walks away.
Rhett pulls me closer to him, “you okay?” He asks me.
“Yes, Jay protected me,” I move away from Rhett to look at Jay’s lip, “look at that, my new hero.” I smile at Jay, “Amy do you have a first aid kit?” She gives me nod, “can you bring it over to us please,” I ask her and give Jay a smile. “Everyone loves a hero,” I whisper to him.
“Jay mate, you okay?” Rhett asks him as we walk to the table, I sit next to Rhett in the booth, and Jay sits on the chair.
“Yeah, stings like a bitch, though,” Jay says, and Rhett starts laughing, “that's what I get for protecting Star, you laughing,” Jay says laughing.
I look at Amy pulling the chair out for herself, dipping some cotton wool into the water, “may I?” She asks Jay, who turns to face her, “that was nice what you did for Scarlett,” she says.
I smile as I see Jay just looking at her, “Rhett would have done the same if it was the other way around,” Jay replies, “well I hope he would?” Jay turns to Rhett.
“Yeah the only difference is I wouldn’t get hit,” I hit Rhett on the shoulder, “sorry, really mate. Seriously thank you for protecting her,” Rhett says, “Grant, sorry mate.” Rhett takes the beer of him.
“No, can’t believe that asshole thought he could come in here, Jay you okay?” Grant places a beer on the table for him.
“Yeah,” Jay pulls away from Amy as she finishes.
“Amy the three of us are going for dinner tomorrow, you want to come, it would be nice to have some girl company?” I ask her and look at Jay watching her.
I look at Amy; I think she knows what I’m doing, “sure that would be fun, Jay can you pick me up?” She asks him, I look up at Grant, as he watches them both. I get up to walk over to the bar, to get some water.
“I know what you’re doing,” Grant walks behind the counter and gives me another drink, “she is my little girl and…”
“Grant, I don’t know you, so I'm not going to say anything lame shit for you to like Jay, but I know he likes Amy.” I look back at the table, then turn to Grant, “Jay is a really nice guy, just look what he just did for me. If he can do that for me, what would he do for his girlfriend, and I will be the first to admit your daughter is way too beautiful for him, but I know Jay will treat her well.” I say looking at him.
“Did you know about this?” He asks, and I look to my right to see Rhett walking over to us.
“Know what?” Rhett asks, wrapping his arm around my waist.
“Your girl, trying to set Amy up with Jay,” Grant looks at Rhett.
“No, but he’s been in love with her since we first walked in here, and she seems to like him,” Rhett says, taking a sip of his beer.
Grant takes in a deep breath, is he going shout at us? “Fine, I won’t stop it here, and that's only because I love you, Rhett.” Grant pats Rhett’s shoulder and walks to serve someone at the end of the bar.
“Are you okay, Sweetheart?” Rhett leans closer to me, “I’m sorry I wasn’t here with you, how the hell did he know you’d be here anyway.” Rhett asks, rubbing my back. I know that he is worried, but there is nothing that he could have done he wasn’t here, and now he's going to make sure he knows my every move.
“I’m okay, just a little-shaken that is all, but don’t want Jay to know, as he did look after me, and I don’t want him to think he didn’t do a good job.” I say looking back at him talking to Amy, Rhett takes my hand as it pulls on the band, “I just hope this time it’s over,” I say leaning into him as he wraps his arms around me to give me a hug.
For a moment Rhett just holds me, and that's all I want from him right now. “I’m going to make sure it’s over this time sweetheart,” Rhett whispers to me, “Shall we go home?” He asks, cupping my face.
I look at him, his beautiful green eyes staring at me with worry, but at the same time, the love in them for me is pouring out of them.
“Yes please, just say bye to Jay,” getting off the bar stool, I walk over to the table, Rhett’s arm tightly around my waist. “See you guys tomorrow,” I lean down to give Jay a kiss on the cheek, “thank you again,” I whisper to him.
“Star, anytime. Even if he kicks the shit out of me next time,” Jay starts laughing, I shake my head at him.
“I think you need to come to the gym with me, get you fighting ready,” Rhett slaps his back.
“No thanks, I’ll leave the fighting to you hoping after next week it’s the last we have to see that dick,” Jay stands up, “be right back,” he tells Amy as he follows us out of the pub, “did Grant say anything about going out tomorrow night?” Jay looks between me and Rhett.
Rhett starts laughing, “Nope, said he wouldn't stop her going out with you. You know that we aren’t going with you, so you have to make up some lie why we aren’t there,” I tell him, “I swear it’s colder,” my body shivers. “I want to know if you sleep with her, but no details, not one,” I tell him, making sure he hears me.
“Oh come on, just one…”
“No,” I cut him off, “go back inside before she thinks you are talking about her” I tell him moving in closer to Rhett, I need body heat.
“Okay, I’m coming over on Sunday, Helen making Sunday dinner again?” He asks Rhett.
“Mom cooks dinner every Sunday, so don’t worry,” Rhett tells him, as Jay walks back into the pub, Rhett shouts back to him, “Don’t fuck it up, you finally have a shot.”
I start laughing, as Rhett puts his arm around my shoulder and pulls me closer and we walk up the street. Seeing Zach today yes it hurt me, but I was strong enough for it not to affect me like it did before. I have no idea why that is; it could be because I’m finally accepting the fact that I’m not alone in this battle, and have Rhett to fight along side me.