A New Fight

"Fancy meeting you here," one of them smirked.

"What do you want, James?" Alice asked suspiciously. "Haven't I taught you guys a lesson?" she looked around and all the members of the Black Phantom gang were there.

"We still have unfinished business Alice," Dan chuckled. "We made a plan on how we could get revenge on you and Grant at the same time."

Alice's eyes narrowed. "Why would you need revenge? Your gang is already known as the best since Grant's gang is gone right? Why not just leave us alone?"

"That would be too easy," Kristoff scoffed. "Besides, we could use that pretty face of yours from time to time." he winked.

Alice looked at them in disgust. She mentally cursed since she has no weapon to use against them but she tried her best to maintain her composure. Alice laughed and this made the group stop.

"You think you set me up? I'm one step ahead of you," she smirked.

"What?" Adrian exclaimed.

"I was planning on beating you up. Come on Grant, let's beat these losers!" Alice called. James and the others looked around and when they returned their gaze onto Alice.

"She's gone?" Zack gasped.

"She was bluffing! Find her!" James shouted angrily.

Alice dashed through the streets, she turned to an alley between two buildings and she saw another street. "I'm gonna make it!" she shouted happily, but then it happened. At the time she didn't want it to happen the most, she slipped and when she was about to stand up, a hand wrapped up on her neck and slammed her onto the bricked wall of the buildings. "Shoot, not my head again." Alice started to feel nauseous, then she was lifted from the ground, her toes barely touching the concrete beneath her. She tried to claw the hand but the grip only got tighter, then she realized that the one holding her was Edmund.

"You can panic now Alice," he smirked. Suddenly she was slammed onto the wall and this time she lost consciousness, she only heard the sniggering of the delinquents fading.

"Well we got everything on the list," Mark said. "Well that took longer than expected, I wonder if Alice is already waiting?" Grant said as they arrived at the parking lot.

"I guess she's not yet here. What if we wait for her inside?" Mark asked and Grant agreed.

"Hey, wake up!" a rough voice said. Alice woke up in an unfamiliar place, it looked like a warehouse. "Where am I?" Alice asked as she tried to move.

"Relax Alice, we're not planning on harming you yet and I suggest you don't move, you'll just strain yourself. Your hands are all tied up." Michael said.

"What will you gain from this? I'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with me joining," Alice glared

"We just want to take revenge. Since we have you, Grant would have to surrender to us." James snickered.

"You're fools, no matter how hard you try, Grant will never surrender to a bunch of lowlifes like you." Alice spat. Suddenly her hair was pulled roughly.

"What I few give it a try?" James smirked as he took out Alice's cellphone.

"Don't you dare continue this!" Alice hissed.

"Watch me," he said as he dialled Mark's number.

"She's also not here," Grant sighed.

"Oh wait, she's calling." Mark took out his phone. "Hey slowpoke," he chuckled.

"Hello," James greeted.

"You're not... Alice," Mark said suspiciously, his blood ran cold.

"I like your reaction, give the phone to Grant." James ordered. Mark handed the phone to Grant.

"Who's this?" Grant immediately asked.

"Hey there Grant," James smirked.

"James," Grant hissed.

"Oh good, you still remember me. I believe you also remember Alice?"

"What do you want?!".

"Relax boss, we just want revenge. However, if you surrender yourself to us, she'll be safe." James shrugged.

"Don't listen to him, Grant!" Alice shouted.

"Why you!" James took her arm and twisted it. Grant could hear Alice's shouts.

"Alice! Shit, James don't you dare touch her, I'll go there!" Grant cursed.

"Good, then tonight at around eight, meet me at the park at the bridge, Alice and I will be there," James said.

"You better be there," Grant said as he hung up. Mark heard everything and he was shaking in anger. He pulled Grant's shirt collar

"This is your fault! You're the one that has unfinished business with them and now Alice is paying the price!" he said furiously.

"I never intended this to happen Mark," Grant shoved him away. Mark balled his fist and got ready to punch Grant but his expression softened when he saw that Grant made no movement. "We shouldn't be fighting at a time like this Mark."

"I'm sorry," Mark apologized.

"Let's just save Alice, she needs us now," Grant said and Mark agreed.

"You lose Alice, Grant agreed." James chuckled.

"I feel sorry for you. I never thought you'd actually stoop this low, whatever happens, you're still a sore loser and a weakling, you don't even have the confidence to fight me so you have to tie my hands, it's so sad to see how hopelessly stupid you are." Alice laughed and she was suddenly slapped on the face.

"Someone, untie this girl's hands." James commanded. Alice rubbed her wrists once they were released. "Let's try to fight now,"

Before Alice could even attack James she fell on the floor and she felt sudden numbness, Michael attacked her from behind. "You're such a cheater," Alice snarled.

"I don't want to waste my energy, you should be glad that I'm at least entertaining you like this." James laughed. He forced Alice to look at him by tilting her head upwards. "I love that look on your face, your eyes clearly show hatred, too bad I can't make you cry. I wonder if this will." James said as he leaned forward. Alice pulled her head back but James roughly pulled her forwards.

"Don't do this," Alice said, her voice getting weak. She tried to push him but her efforts were to no avail, she closed her eyes tightly and when James' lips were only centimeters away from hers he chuckled. Alice felt his breath on her face. "Don't worry, if ever I'll go that far I'm planning on doing it in front of Mark and Grant," Alice's eyes widened.

"I'm gonna kill you," Alice threatened.

"I'd like to see you try," James laughed.

"This is the place," Grant said as they walked to the bridge.

"It's kind of dark, plus no one's around since the city is a few blocks away, he's pretty clever." Mark huffed.

"Gosh I'm worried," Gerald said worriedly. Grant and Mark decided to inform the other guys as well since they know who they're up against.

"Good evening gentlemen," the members of the Black Phantom gang greeted.

"Alice!" they gasped when they saw Dan roughly pulling Alice with him.

"Wait a sec, go near us and she falls off the bridge and into the narrow river she goes," James warned. Grant looked down and he saw the rapid rush of water. "She can't swim, right? Oh, it would be such a pity." James laughed.

"Let's cut to the chase, you'll release her if I surrender right?" Grant asked.

"Apparently yes, but seems like you brought company. That's a penalty," James said as he grabbed a hold of Alice's neck. "I'm sorry that I had to tie your hands up again, you were just annoying." James whispered. Alice glared at him.

"Wait James, is that a bruise on her cheek? Didn't I tell you to not touch her?!" Grant exclaimed.

"Oops, I had to slap her because of her arrogance." James shrugged.

"You bastard!" Mark was shaking in anger.

"Release her now, James." Grant calmly said.

"Sure, but there's one thing I haven't done," there was a mischievous glint in James' eyes and Alice had a hunch about what it is.

"Just hurry up and do it," Mark shouted.

"Shit," Alice cursed.

"You said it," James chuckled.

James pulled Alice towards him and forced her a kiss. The guys were taken aback. "I will kill you!" Mark ran towards him.

"Mark! Don't!" Josh shouted but it was too late.

"I warned you," James smirked as he threw Alice off the bridge. The last thing Mark saw was Alice's surprised face before she splashed onto the water.

"Get her!" Grant yelled, without thinking Mark dove into the cold and rapid waves. "You'll regret this," Grant charged towards James and so did the other guys to the other members.

It was hard for Mark to search for Alice, it was too dark, the water was freezing cold and the torrent was too strong. Alice was slowly sinking as she drifted away, she couldn't move because her hands were tied up and her feet were exhausted. She was close to giving up when she realized that protective arms were wrapped around her and she knew she was safe.

Once Mark caught Alice he swam to the surface and got out of the water. He quickly untied her hands, Alice coughed and inhaled greedy amounts of air. "M-mark," she managed to stammer out. She was shaking because of the coldness, she was panting heavily and she looked very tired.

"Did they beat you up?" he asked. Alice made no move, Mark repeated his question, and this time, Alice nodded.

The others approached them, all of them were bruised from the fight. "The others made a run for it, but I still have this idiot," Grant said as he pushed James towards the ground. Mark approached him and started to kick him repeatedly.

"Mark," Alice called. Mark's kicks only got stronger. "Mark," Alice called again, no use, Mark still continued.

Alice stood up and embraced him from behind. "Mark stop this, I'm okay now. Let's go home," she said softly. Mark stopped.

"I called my driver and my former members, it will be over soon. You should all head home," Grant sighed. Alice nodded. "I think I'll sleep first," Alice said as she sat down and closed her eyes.

Alice woke up in her room at Grant's house. "I'm glad you're awake," Mark smiled.

"Mark, what are you doing here and where are the others?" she asked.

"I'm staying over for the night, and I told them to go home but they really were worried." he replied.

"I ordered one of the maids to have you changed so that you won't get a cold and she also treated your wounds," Grant said.

"Thanks," Alice muttered.

After a few moments of silence, both Mark and Grant suddenly looked panicked. "James!" they both shouted.

"What?" Alice asked as she tilted her head.

"He kissed you and you were with a bunch of guys!" Grant whined.

"While you were with them, did they do anything else like that?" Mark exclaimed.

"No, the kiss was the farthest James got," Alice said with embarrassment and the two boys sighed with relief.

Alice smiled, suddenly tears started falling from her eyes. "I'm so sorry, I caused too much trouble, I-I was too weak, I-I even got you involved I'm such an idiot. I made you both worry, so much." she cried.

"Shush, no one wanted that to happen," Mark wrapped his arms around her. Grant stepped away from the two.

"Why am I so useless? Why was I the one who needed to be saved? It's already the second time I became this weak," Alice sobbed.

"Alice, you're not useless, I'm sorry, I wasn't able to protect you. I'm sorry you got hurt." Mark gently said.

"Mark, thank you for being there, all this time you've always been there to save me. Thank you so much." she sniveled.

Grant grimaced as he saw the two, he quietly left the room and went to his own, he slammed the door shut and he leaned onto the door.

Alice was crying, she was so sad. Mark is the only one whom Alice ever shows her vulnerability to. It's so frustrating to know how much she trusts that guy. Suddenly Grant felt something in his eyes, he wiped it with his hand. "Tears?" his eyes widened.

Way before he transferred to Alice's school, he was a complete jerk but she changed him. He's happy to be friends with Alice but he can't help but wish for something more. But how can he compete with someone she obliviously loves? Grant has always been prepared for something like this but he didn't expect that it would hurt this much.