Love in the dark

Some years ago, I was happy, but those days have passed. These days, I spend all my time on my own or with Natasha and Jaxon. When I’m with them, I look happy, and sometimes I almost feel that way. Then the time is gone, and I remember everything we experienced. I dressed in a clean, green tank top, a pair of jeans, a leather jacket, and combat boots. “Today please!,”Natasha wailed on the phone. “I know. I’m coming I swear.,” I chuckled. I had been deciding on an outfit for an hour now, and my friends were getting impatient. “Why do you care about what you wear? You hardly ever care.,” she huffed. She had a point. What made me care today? I had yet to figure it out. Was this because I wanted people to see I was okay? I mean, everybody thinks I’m still angry and hurt these days. Is that it? I thought about it, zoning out completely. “Baily! Earth to Baily! ,” Natasha snapped her fingers in the phone a few times. “Huh? Oh. Um… I don’t know. I guess I just want people to know I’m okay.,” I shrugged. “Are you?,” she asked with an uneasy voice. “The only reason I dated James was because of the music.,” I admitted. “Oh.,” she laughed,”well, I suppose that means it’s good you look so strong in everything.,”. “You just want to leave.,” I looked at myself in the mirror for what seemed to be the five hundredth time today. She stepped through my window hanging up the phone,”Still gorgeous.,” she smiled. “Thanks.,” I put my purse over my shoulder and turned to face her. “Finally ready?,” she grinned with joy. “Yeah, I think so.,” I chuckled. She held the door open for me, and we walked to Jaxon’s car. “Hey Jax.,” I smiled, sliding into the passenger seat. “Hey, how goes it?,” he grinned. “How goes it? You’re such a loser.,” I teased. “Well, at least I have left the house during the past week.,” he smirked, knowing he had left me speechless. He pulled out of the driveway, and turned onto the main road. We got out of the car and sat down at the bank of the Hudson. “ Are you okay with everything, Bales?,” asked Jaxon, anxiously.“I’m fine.,” I playfully punched him in the arm. “Okay. Okay.,” he raised his arms, as if turning himself in. All of us laughed and rested on our backs, watching the clouds. “Where is everyone, by the way?,” I stood up, drawing my attention back to Natasha. She looked at her phone,”They should be here in about… thirty minutes.,”. “Then, why are we here so early?,” I leaned back on my hands and tilted my head back, groaning. “Why not?,”she shrugged. “Besides, we never seem to hang out alone anymore.,” she whined. I rolled my eyes at her and shook my head,”You’re hopeless.,”. “But you love me.,” she giggled in delight. “Yeah, I guess I do.,” I sighed with a smile. Less than five minutes later, we heard a shrill cry for help. “What was that?,” Jaxon frowned and went still. “It sounded like someone was screaming.,” replied Natasha, with a voice of fear. I didn’t say a word, even when they started looking at me. “I’ll see you guys later. Tell everyone I had to go.,” I stood up, and I slid my purse over my neck and left shoulder. “Now?,” Natasha seized my hand swiftly. “Sorry, I can’t stick around. I promise I’ll make up for it.,” I assured her. “Okay…,” she frowned, letting go of my hand. I took off around the corner, and I went to check out what we had heard. “Well… well. Look who it is. Baily Preston. We meet again, at last.,” he smirked as he looked me up and down. “Rick.,” I took a breathe, meeting his eyes. “Surprised to see me, darling?,” he chuckled. “Don’t call me that?,” I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. “Why not?,” he took a step closer to me, and I drew my dagger. “Whoa. I didn’t even touch you, love. Do you really want to do this? ,” he tilted his head a bit. “Yes.,” I sliced at the air in front of him, and he took a step back. “As you wish, my dear miss Preston.,” he bowed and drew a knife of his own. It was pure black iron. I felt chills as he smiled upon me. We fought for at least an hour, knives, cutting and slamming. We were breathing heavily, and we were both covered in sweat. I was also covered in cuts and blood, but we both went on. All of a sudden, we heard rustling in the trees and we took a break. “What was that?,” I glanced at him, briefly. He shrugged,” I have spent an entire hour fighting with you. How would I know?,”. I breathed,”I’m going home.,”. I walked away, blood still dripping off my body, and didn’t look back. I stopped in the park before I went home, and I searched my purse to find out what first aid I had. I pulled out the wrap and rubbing alcohol. I shakily poured the rubbing alcohol over my wounds and winced. I wrapped my arms and legs where I was bleeding and I put away the first aid supplies. I threw my purse over my shoulder, and I began to walk to the house. I went inside and I immediately heard Katie’s voice full of anxiety. “ What in heaven's name happened to you?,” she shouted. “ I got hurt.,” I responded with a high level of sarcasm, to lighten the mood. “ This is not funny.,” she frowned and narrowed her eyes. “ Okay… I know. I’m Okay. I can take care of myself. Take my word for it, Katie.,” I put a hand on her shoulder. “ Wait.,” she grabbed my arm as I tried to walk upstairs. “ What is it?,”.