Chapter.3*Cat Fight*

Once I walked out of their apartment someone clobbered her shoulder against mine. The excruciating pain hindered my movement and I took a step back to look at the person's face: Willow. 

Obviously, it has to be her. I had seen this look on her face every time I came into her sight. 

"He was right, you shouldn't be acting like a queen. There are certain rules and regulations you must follow." Willow in her smooth accent and sassy attitude muttered. It was the battling of her eyelashes for me that made me cringe. She kept rolling her eyes and passing these diva vibes. The other two girls just silently stood by her side like obedient guards. 

"Yeah! You are right." I was not in a position to start a fight again. All I wanted at that moment was to just walk with the flow and remain a low profile for at least a few hours. 

"You should burn some fat too." As I was about to leave, I heard her passing a gibe at me. I halted on my pace, her comment really fell rude to my ears. The snickers adhering Wlliow's impudent remark by the two girls fanned the flames even more. 

"What did you say?" I asked, looking her in the eye. I knew I was not fat, in better shape than any of them. The irony was, even if I was fat they had no business in body-shaming me. I highly believe it was Ryker's affirmation to such offhand comments that they felt obliged to join the crew. The two girls giggled dramatically, I don't know how they found it funny.

"Your thighs have quite a folds of meat on them," Willow mumbled as she bent down to dramatically point at my thighs, pulling her palm over lips to giggle while at the same time look fragile. 

"You know if you have brushed your teeth more often, you wouldn't have to hide them behind your hand." That was a quick comeback. Even though I was trying hard to stay in a better mood, their constant pounding on my self-esteem made me finally lose control. 

Though the two girls behind her suddenly went silent, Willow grimaced to show she didn't feel insulted. 

"That was so weak." She scoffed, her attempt to sound unbothered went in vain as her tears began to turn red. 

"Like your bl*** game?" I folded my arms across my chest and raised a brow. The moment my eyes averted onto the two girls behind her, they shared a glance and sneakily stepped back from following Willow's lead.

"How dare you!!!" Willow's jaw met the floor in amusement of my comeback and a growl left her lips. So, out of everything, this was insulting to her? 

I knew it was wrong, but what they were doing wasn't right either. They purposely poked me until I stood up for myself. What happened next was something I didn't see coming. Willow, with her mouth, hung open and her breaths racing, decided to slap me. Yup! You heard me right. She swung her hand right across my face, but it didn't land on my face since I was much taller than her, and luckily my reflexes were fast enough to dodge it. But it did scratch my chin as I failed to protect myself completely. 

I stepped back to quickly check my chin with my fingertip and anger rushed through my veins. The sleeping ninja inside me jumped awake. 

"You wish!" I frowned, narrowing my eyes as I touched my finger on my chin again. That girl, she hit me.

It was all happening quickly, as soon as she scratched my chin, I swirled my hand and grabbed her hair in a tight fist. She tried pushing me away by placing both of her hands on my stomach but I knew she was kinda fragile next to me. By that time, I had grabbed her hair in both of my hands, pulling her to the wall and slamming her with the force. 

I had no idea what had gotten into me but with the anger that had been bottling up inside me, I kind of just lost it. 

"Ah!" She screamed loudly, I pushed her back as I untied my grasp over her hair. She launched back at me while I grabbed her neck and pulled her away from me. She kept kicking my thighs and honestly speaking, she did bruise up my thigh too, but not like I had done no damage. We were fighting like cats, scratching and kicking each other and I bet, I felt like a giant next to her.

The two girls, I don't even know what they were doing. Probably, had peed their pants as well in fear. But I had no time to worry about them as I had to win the world championship belt. Yeah! Sadly, the amount of passion Willow and I showed into wrestling each other, it did look like we were doing it for some kind of a prize. 

''Enough!'' Scarlet's voice echoed through the corridor, making us both jump away from each other. We stared at her embarrassedly; breathing profusely and mending our clothes while she jogged from the distance. 

''She started it first.'' Willow voiced like a little spoiled kid and pointed a finger at me. Her face had turned red due to a goose egg on her forehead. 

I was puffing air through my nostrils like a mad bull.

''What do you expect when you raise your hand at someone?" I retorted, matching the tone with hers. I was vaguely bleeding from scratch on my skin. Scarlet watched our faces in disbelief and then bobbed her head angrily. 

''No more words coming out of any of you two's mouth.'' Scarlet was raging, I bet she felt like she had adopted two little girls. ''Are you girls freaking seven? This kind of behavior is not welcomed here. Pack your stuff and leave.'' she commanded and stretched his arm out at the stairway. No way this was happening. Where would I go? What about the hospital bills?

My whole existence was shaken in seconds. The defensive posture I once carried dissolved promptly after realizing I was in no state to do such slip-ups. 

''Ma'am, no please!'' before Willow could utter a word, my broke self begged as my life depended on this job, which actually did. I had my whole body directing towards Scarlet as I made a plea. 

"My father will be very upset,'' Willow whispered into her mouth, not even saying it aloud. She lowered her hand and hugged herself very gently to avoid making eye contact with any of us for a moment. We did mess up and all that for what? 

''Fine, but if I see you girls laying hands on each other ever again, you are out.'' she yelled, I knew we had bothered her a lot. ''this is the work schedule, all of you have to follow it and your dinner is with us tonight. Be on your best behavior tonight.'' her voice was rough as she announced the invitation to us. She walked back into her apartment before passing one last stare at Lacy and Nichole, who despite being grown-ups did nothing to pull us apart from each other. Willow scoffed in anger loud enough to be heard by me, but I ignored her. I really can't afford to lose this job. 

As we all pull-apart to our rooms, I believe each one of us felt like crying. 

I sighed, scanning my chin. Marching into the bathroom, I washed my face several times before cleaning the scratch. I don't know what she has been doing with her dirty fingernails but she has definitely put her germs in me. Now there was only one issue left, I had no perfect dress for the dinner. All I had were jeans and some old tops. But it was a casual dinner at home, were other girls thinking the same? 

I mean, we were invited by a fashion designer, but it wasn't a party, ugh! I was confused in my mind. Also, there was nothing I could do even if it was a fancy dinner. I couldn't waste my money on outfits. 

So it was decided, I'll wear my jeans and a simple top, heck with what these girls are going to wear.

I wasn't in a good mood since I officially had a bad day. There was nothing else to do so I decided to get a nap and luckily I woke up in time. I couldn't be late again, not for the dinner.

I showered, wearing black jeans and a red top to make it look a bit fancier. Since I was not so much keen on makeup, I applied eyeliner and wore lip gloss.

I left my room to meet up with everyone in Scarlet's apartment but was instantly hindered by the jammed door. 

"What the hell!" I furrowed, holding the doorknob and twisting it with force. The door opened slightly and then got shut again. There was something placed against the door from the inside that was blocking the door to open completely. 

I let go of a loud breath and adjusted myself on the door. I forced open it slightly and slipped my hand inside to remove whatever was causing the issue. 

I couldn't see as my face was planted against the door. I stretched my hand abruptly and held the object. But why was it wrapped in a tight clothing?

"Yas!" I cheered at the success but the loud groan from the other side made me quickly jump and let go of it. 

"The hell!" it was Ryker grunting from the other side. His raging grunts resulted in me stepped back from the door in fear. 

I've no idea what happened but whatever did, I had my hand in it. 

He burst open the door and threw the broom he had removed from in front of it outside the apartment. I stared at him in confusion and tried to understand why did he react that way. 

"What do you think we're you doing?" he muttered through a hushed tone and glared in my eyes beastily. 

What did I do now? 

I remained silent in shock for a moment before regaining my posture after my eyes fall on the broom, "I was trying to open the door and this thing was blocking it." I averted my stare from the broomstick to his face and found him staring at me in dead silence.

"Oh! I think you too came to remove it." that's it, I cracked the case but why did he still look so pissed? 

"Can't you differentiate between a broomstick and a body par*?" he didn't finish the sentence and slowly groaned in pain while clenching his jaw angrily.

I narrowed my eyes in the space to understand his words and that's when it hit me. 

"Ha!" a loud gasp escaped my mouth and I quickly covered my lips in shock, did I grab his? 

"Oh no! No! No! No! I didn't mean to." I stuttered through the words in embarrassment and as my brain apprehended that the same hand I grabbed him with was over my mouth to cover the shock, I swiftly shook it and pulled up my nose in disgust, "Eww!" 

I ceased again, I raised my face in a swift move and our eyes met again. 

Shit! 

"No I didn't mean your th---" I bit my lip as I kept digging my grave deeper and deeper. 

He clenched his jaw and straightened his posture while the rise and fall of his chest through the perfect attire he had for the evening made me obvious of his anger. 

"Don't-" he muttered under his breath, making a tight fist over his hands to subside his anger, "Don't touch me again." he threatened with his finger pointing at my face and swirled around to leave for his apartment. 

Wait! Hey! He really thought I loved to touch him? Like I get it he was handsome and all but his attitude was so nasty.

Now the main query was, how the hell was I going to attend the dinner and look him in the eye after this incident? 

Relax! It'll all be over if you pretend as nothing happened. I calmed myself with this thought and joined the others in the apartment. 

I saw the girls already perched on the dining table with Ma'am Scarlet. Willow was wearing a beautiful designer black dress and so were the other girls. 

I secretly checked myself out and a hint of sadness rushed through my body. 

It was not the right time to think over it, not like I had a choice. 

"Hi!" I voiced, grabbing their attention. 

"Welcome!" the smile from Scarlet's face from whatever they were talking about vanished as her eyes landed on me. She took a whole minute to examine me. 

Brassed off of my outfit choice, she still managed to act normal. Willow secretly whispered something in Lacy's ear and they both giggled while making sure I notice them. 

"Welcome everyone." It was Ryker whose voice gained all the attention. Wearing a stunning black suit and looking like he just did a photoshoot, he leaned back against the chair very elegantly. I hurriedly in another direction to not think about what happened a few minutes ago. 

The girls were all set to jump in his lap, but he only had his eyes for his girl. He held her hand gently and kissed the back of it, I could tell Willow wasn't entertained. 

He was seated down with Scarlet on his right and Nichole on Scarlet's right side. Willow was seated on the left side of Ryker, followed by me on her Left, and then Lacy at the end.

There was this solid one minute of awkward silence that engulfed the surrounding until I found Ryker passing me a stare. All of a sudden, Ryker chuckled, pretending to subdue his laughter as he turned his face away to his right side. 

"What's wrong honey?" Scarlet asked, confused. She looked at all of us one by one and then watched her boyfriend again. I had a feeling something was about to go down and I wasn't wrong. 

"Ehem!" He cleared this throat, looking at me while Scarlet followed his stare, "have you ever been to a dinner?" That question, I know what was running in his head. 

Of course, he had to make fun of me. I knew he wouldn't let me stay in peace. With us constantly ending up in awkward situations in one day, I had a feeling he was not going to let it rest. 

"Yes!" I nodded in response to what seemed like was his way of ridiculing my poverty. There was this annoying giggle, I heard every time he made fun of me from around that made my vision blurry with newly formed tears. Maybe I wasn't even upset for not having fancy clothes, it was just a little heartbreaking that for them I was someone who couldn't afford clothes and for me, I just wished to afford my brother's bills. 

"Is this how you always attend dinners?" He finally asked, making Scarlet look at his face in disbelief. At that moment, I knew it was going to be another hour of embarrassment.  

I lifted my face to share a glance with him and found a smirk on his lips. With the intensity he watched my face I bet he noticed my watery eyes. That was it? Was his ego satisfied? 

Is that what he wanted, to make me cry? 

"Answer him," Willow's fainted Whisper brushed through my ear and she hid her face behind Nichole right away. Lacy too held her hands over her mouth to prevent herself from bursting out loud with laughter. 

Was it really that funny?