7. I will deal with you later.

MEGHAN

How was this fair?

I was being ganged up by two other girls who looked older and possibly stronger than me. This was such a fucked up situation, I thought. Even if I knew how to fight, which I didn't...I couldn't fight them off both as I was outnumbered.

And what are we even fighting about anyway? For a guy I didn't even like?

"This is stupid," I said. I shook my head as they were gaining on me.

"Are you calling me dumb? You slut?" Rita snapped.

"No, I am not calling you dumb. I am saying this whole thing is dumb. This is a big misunderstanding, that's all. I don't want Luke. I already told you this a thousand times," I said.

"We don't fucking believe you," Rita's minion barked.

Twirling her hair on her finger, Rita stepped even closer to me. So close that I had a hard time breathing as the stench of alcohol in her breath overwhelmed my senses. "I think a lesson needs to be learned. What do you think?" She placed her indexed finger on my chest and then poked it hard, making me wince.

"Why don't you call Luke here and hear what he has to say about this?" I suggested.

Someone opened the door, so all three of us looked. Hope flickered in me. The other people at the party will see this and stop this madness. We were grown adults, for Christ's sake. Fighting is for kids, and no one would tolerate that. Right?

Wrong.

I looked in shock as I saw a small group of college kids standing around and laughing. No one looked remotely worried about me. Too drunk to care anyway.

"Just let me go home. I've had enough of this place," I said. Where was Luke? Why didn't he come back already."

"No, no, no. You are not getting off easily. I need to make a point because everyone needs to learn what happens when you try to get with MY Luke," Rita's lips curled into a small smile.

"Kick her ass, Rita!" someone in the crowd screamed.

Oh great. Just what I needed. Some drunk asshole to egg her on.

"Close the door again, Tracy. Things are about to get ugly, and we don't want anyone to interrupt," Rita smirked.

Tracy obliged without having a second thought.

Rita looked at me with a tight jaw and said, "Apologize to me."

"What?"

"Say I am sorry I tried to steal your man. I am slut, and Luke isn't good enough for me," Rita ordered me. Her mocking tone made my insides twist into knots. I had been trying to stay calm this entire time, but she was making it harder and harder to do so.

"I am not saying that. No way," I shook my head.

"Say it. Say, 'I am a no good slut who isn't good enough for Luke and will leave him alone from now on," Rita urged me.

I stood up straight with my feet planted firmly on the ground. "Alright, Rita. If that's what you want me to say. I'll go ahead and say it. Rita, YOU are a no good slut who isn't good enough for Luke. Not to mention a raging bitch," I declared.

"YOU BITCH!" Rita swore and swung her fist at me, and everything went dark.

I didn't wake up until I heard someone banging on the door frantically.

"Meghan! Open the fucking door!"

Adrian?

I pried my eyes open. Or attempted to but managed to open only one of them. I saw Rita looking down at me, but her eyes were wide with fear.

I forced myself to sit up and groan as the back of my head hurt from falling on the floor. I cupped my hand on my right eye, it felt swollen. I am going to have one ugly blackeye later.

Great...how am I supposed to explain this to mom and Steve? I just got back in town and already causing trouble.

"Open the fucking door before I break it down!" Adrian raged on the other side. My heart jumped. He sounded hella angry and I wondered: Will he defend me or congratulate Rita for beating me up? He can't be that cold, can he?

Rita opened the door, and Adrian stormed inside. I quickly covered my eye with my hand because, for some reason, I didn't feel like showing it to Adrian. I didn't want him to feel satisfied when he saw I'd been beaten and defeated.

His eyes instantly landed on me sitting on the floor, and anger flickered in his pupils. "What the fuck is going on here?"

"I am teaching your slutty sister what it means to mess with what's mine," Rita said smugly.

"Did you hurt her?" he asked but immediately looked at me for an answer before she had the chance to reply. "Did she hit you?" he asked me directly this time.

I didn't reply. Instead, I just sat there, letting tears stream down my cheeks. Like a fool.

Adrian crouched down in front of me. "Let me see."

"I'm fine," I said, choking back a sob.

"Move your hand and let me see," Adrian asked, less demanding this time. His eyes aren't as cold anymore.

"Move it before I force it to move. I don't have time to fuck around with you, Magpie."

My heart jumped. He called me Magpie. He used that stupid nickname when he felt close to me. Hope flickered inside me. Maybe he wasn't mad at me anymore. I moved my hand and let him see my bruised eye.

"Motherfucker..." Adrian groaned. He walked away from me and then stood in front of Rita.

Luke suddenly burst in before Adrian opened his mouth. "What the fuck, Rita? What the hell do you think you are doing to Maggie?" Luke raged.

"I got this under control." Adrian looked annoyed.

Luke ignored him and kept his eyes on Rita, who suddenly had a change of demeanor. "Baby, it's not what it looks like," she cooed.

Oh would you look at that, Ms. dragon lady suddenly became Ms. Sunshine. Someone give her an Oscar for the best actress award.

"Did you do that to Maggie?" Luke barked, then ran to my side. He grabbed my arm and pulled me up to my feet.

I wiped my tears. "Guys, I am fine. It's just a small misunderstanding. I don't want any more problems so just take me home."

"Why did you beat Maggie, Rita. Answer me, right now!" Luke held my hand tightly while glaring at Rita.

"Because she is a slut. She is trying to play tricks on you, so you would be cheating on me!" Rita screeched.

Luke shook his head. "Are you for real? We aren't even dating."

Adrian walked to my side again. Taking my other hand in his, he said: "Enough with this drama. I am driving her home."

Luke didn't let go of my hand. "I can take her home. It was my fault, it seems, so I feel responsible."

Adrian's jaw tightened. I could tell he wasn't happy about Luke's offer judging from the way he was eyeballing Luke's hand on mine. "She is my sister and I am taking her home."

"It's okay, Luke. None of this is your fault. Let Adrian take me home," I said meekly.

Luke sighed. "Alright. Whatever you want."

Adrian looked at Rita, who hadn't moved from her spot. "You...I will deal with you later."

My heart skipped a beat as I saw the anger in his eyes. I couldn't imagine what he meant by that. Adrian can be scary sometimes.

"I am not done with you either, Rita. You better get ready to explain this shit to me," Luke turned to Rita and snarled.

I didn't get to stand and watch Luke's wrath as Adrian pulled me out of the bathroom.

Pushing through the crowd, he didn't slow down as he kept dragging me away.

"Ouch!" I yelped as I couldn't keep up with him and tripped on my shoes. I fell to my knees. My wrist throbbed as he held it too tight. Now I will wake up with a bruised eye AND a wrist.

"For fuck's sake, Maggie. Stop dragging your feet," Adrian barked. I guess him being nice to me back there was temporary.

"I am not dragging my feet. I just tripped. I hurt my head when I fell, but I guess you don't care about that, do you?" I said meekly. The last thing I wanted was to get yelled at by him some more.

" I am sick of taking care of the princess, just hold on to me and shut up" Adrian sighed.

I did just that and forced back my tears.