Quit

"How are you doing?" Luca asks. and my eyes dart to his face again.

~Did he really ask that? Is he actually concerned?~

"I'm fine." I say, and flinch as he leans closer to look at my neck.

"They didn't bite you, did they?" He asks and he's so close to me that I can feel the cold temperature of his body.

~Why is everyone asking me this?~

I open my mouth to respond but Travis speaks first. "No." He answers Luca's question, and he's standing close to me again, his eyes still dilated. "there weren't any bite marks."

"That doesn't mean they couldn't drink from you." Luca points out, and I'm shaking my head as he says it.

"They didn't" I say. "And thank you for your help... I guess... But I'm going to-"

My words come to a slow stop when I see Luca and Travis staring at each other. Luca's eyes were on my neck but when he looked over at Travis his eyes snagged on him, and they begin to stare intensely. Like, death-glare staring. Travis stares back too, as if they're arguing with their eyes. Luca's sky-blue eyes and Travis' dilated eyes.

~they were talking and fine just a second ago, why are they suddenly-~

"Ahhh!" I scream when Luca suddenly sweeps me off my feet.

"Get your shit together!" Luca yells past me to Travis, as he holds me up against his chest, one of his forearms hooked under my knees.

~What the hell is going on?~

I look to Travis to see what offense he has done against Luca, but he's just standing there. Luca turns and leaves the club room at impressive speed and I'm stuck in his arms wondering how the crap I got there.

He turns back to Travis once more before we leave, "Watch your ass!" He says, and I'm so confused.

"What's going on?" I say and struggle against Luca's arms as he holds me against his chest. I knew I was light, but seriously, this guys is holding me as if I'm a baby doll.

Luca doesn't answer my question and he also doesn't drop me until we are outside of the gym. I push away from him, he finally relents, and I end up falling on my butt on the ground.

"Can you please explain what the hell is going on?" I say, and feel anger boiling in me again as I get to my feet and brush the dirt from my pants.

"I'm helping you." He says matter-of-factly, and I scoff.

"Well stop!" I respond and my voice cracks. "Can't you see, you're the reason my life is in shambles to begin with?"

"If I hadn't-" he begins.

"What did you do to Abby?" I cut him off, not wanting to listen to his lame excuses.

He rolls his eyes at my question. "Don't worry. They won't bother you anymore."

"Why the hell are you trying to help me all of a sudden?" I ask and let my voice drop an octave.

He doesn't answer my question, and it enrages me.

"If you want to help me, then you should NEVER talk to me again." I say, "Forget that I exist! If it weren't for you, I could be enjoying my new club. I could have friends! But instead, because of you, I'm being bullied!"

I expect Luca to laugh, to feel joy at the expense of my pain, but instead he frowns, his eyebrows pinch down. He looks so unhappy.

"What is it?" I ask, "What's wrong? Are you unhappy that it's other people causing misery in my life, and not you?"

He shakes his head at my question, and then -there it is- he chuckles. He rubs a hand over his eyes then looks at me, "You know, I think I like you better when you're angry like this." he says, and again his words send my mind spiraling into confusion.

~What are you talking about?~

"It's much more fun than when you're too afraid to talk." he elaborates.

I release an angry burst of air from my chest. "Well, It doesn't matter what way you like me better." I say, "Because I quit the ping pong club!"