Always For Keeps ( For Keeps part 2)

Thirty Nine. Scarlett

Song for this chapter:
Alex and Sierra- Little Do You Know

The crowd is cheering as I pick myself up off the floor. I spit some blood, in a not so lady like way, and I wait for her to charge. Carmella Deere and I are both tired; exhausted. This is the longest fight I've had out of all five.
My muscles are burning as she lunges at me. I get a good hit in, but it's a blow from behind that stuns me.
And another from the side.
The crowd is screaming and security is trying to push their way through. Another hit and I swing around.
There's four now, Camilla and some of her friends surround me.
"Fair fight." I smile.
Then all hell breaks loose. I'm fast, but I'm tired. I hit and hit and hit, until I hit the ground.
Camilla laughs until I push myself back up.
"Did your husband teach you to get back up after he kicked your ass?" She laughs with her friends.
"No, but he didn't hit like a bitch either." I smirk. She glares right before charging.
It's all or nothing. I use all my strength and hit her as hard as I can.
Her eyes go blank before she hits the ground.
The bell rings just as her three friends attack.
They hit, kick, punch, scratch; I block my body from their assault. Luckily, security pulls them off, along with a screaming Starla.
We collect my win and leave. She makes me clean up a little before at the hotel before we hit another party.
My face is swollen and bruised, but I almost don't feel it. I sit in the shower and cry; missing Luke and Cooper.
Maybe I should just go home. I long to hold them.
After I get out of the shower, I turn my phone. While notifications pour in; I quickly write them in a group message.

I would give anything to be held by you both right now. How can I feel so broken by you, but want nothing more than to be back in your arms? I miss you. I miss us. Please don't hate me. I love you both more than anything.
See you soon.
Always For Keeps

I turn my phone back off and don't wait for a reply.
I turn down the party with Starla and head to bed.

The next day, Starla scores a party with some famous A listers, and she wants to go shopping for a new dress. We spend some time out and about, we eat lunch, and head back to the hotel.

Aside from snakes, I'm really not afraid of anything. When kids at school would cry about monsters under their beds, I would laugh. Monsters are in our heads, not under our beds.
I asked my parents once if monsters were real. They obviously told me no. Later that summer, while both of my parents deployed, I lived with my grandparents. Late one night I heard my grandma tell my grandpa that my parents had killed "monsters". I honestly believed for years that my parents were professional monster hunters.
Maybe that's why nothing, besides snakes, scare me.
Who would be afraid monsters when your badass parents kill them?

As Starla and I head into the hotel lobby, we laugh at a lame attempt some guys just made to pick us up.
Before we make it to the elevators, I feel a cold tingle move up my spine. Some people's presence demand attention.
I stop dead in my tracks; paralyzed with pure fear.
Their eyes access me as I stand dumbfounded. Starla stops and looks back and fourth between us.
As my eyes shift between them, they finally settle on eyes that look like mine.
"Mom? Dad? What the fuck."

Ann and Mike Smith, aka my parents, are standing in front of me.
"We need to talk." My Mom says.
"I mean, I would love to, but places to see and people to be. Or whatever." I smile halfhearted but they both frown.
"Get you stuff. You have three minutes. Do not test me Scarlett Olivia Shay."
All. Three. Names. Mom means serious business.
"Yes ma'am." I say and head upstairs.

"Your parents are intense." She smiles.
"Yeah they are." I sigh and pack my stuff.

Two minutes and twenty seven seconds later, I scramble back into the hotel lobby.
"Let's go." My dad says and ushers me outside.
"Is it too much to ask for some In And Out before we go? Wait..." I look at the black SUV and back to my parents. "How did you find me?"
"Get in the car. We have lots to discuss." My mother says sternly.

As we drive, I assume to the airport, my parents are quiet.
It isn't until we pull in and I see the plane that my face reddens.
"Is he in there?" I as stomping towards it.
"No. He's home. Your home." My dad says.

Margo looks at me sympathetically as we prepare for takeoff.
Once we are in the air I look between my parents.
"So..." I say awkwardly.
"Cooper came to us after he saw your fight last night. He thought you would listen to us." My dad says.
"Imagine our surprise knowing you and Cooper, were you and Cooper again." My mom says.
"He has changed, I swear it!" I feel the sudden need to protect my husband. "Oh fuck, you didn't hurt him, did you?!"
"No." My dad sighs. "He seems to have changed. I wanted to punch him first, ya know, but after talking to him, I felt bad." He shrugs.
"So then image the bigger surprise when we met Luke." My mother smirks.
"Shit." I say and close my eyes and lean my head back.
"They explained everything. It was shocking, to say the least, but we aren't mad at that. Your grandparents are rolling around in their catholic graves at you, but Scarlett," my mom tilts my chin to her, "you have always been... different. Shy. We want you to be happy." She smiles.
"We want to help you." My dad says grabbing my hand. "You're still our little girl."
"Okay." I nod. "Are we going to New York?" I ask.
"No. Alaska." My Mom smiles and my stomach drops a little. I wanted to see my guys.
Soon. I'll see them soon.

I sleep most of the flight, but avoid the bedroom. I would only cry and think about Cooper in there.

When we get to my parents, I crawl into the guest bedroom and cry myself to sleep.
Days pass in slow blurs. I run every morning. It's really beautiful here, but it's not my home. Home is with Cooper and Luke.
I cry in the bathroom one morning as I feel insanely overwhelmed to see them, talk to them, hold them.
I smile at myself in the mirror. My bruises are starting to fade some so that helps. I've gained weight back, so I don't look too horribly thin.
Happiness begins coursing through me again.
This week has brought me back to life.

After breakfast, my dad asks me if I want to hit the punching bag a bit.
"You're weak." He taunts.
"I'm not." I say and hit the bag harder.
"Why are you the way you are?" He asks.
"Because I am."
"That's not a reason, Scarlett O. Come one. Own it!" He says.
"I've never fit it!" I yell and hit the bag. "Nobody wanted to be my friend. Girls hated me. I was always alone! I never felt like I belonged anywhere!" I'm crying now as I pound on the bag. I suddenly stop.
"Until Cooper. Until Luke. And Karianne. And Brett. And Hope. Paisley. Cam." I smile. They love me because I'm me." I wipe away the tears as my dad hugs me.
"You have always been the bravest, smartest, most kind, beautiful girl." He smiles.
"Do you think I'm crazy?" I ask.
"No. I don't think you're crazy." He says. "You're not boring though." He laughs. "Boring is... well it's boring." He laughs.
"What do I do?" I ask.
"You go be with your family."
"You're my family." I say sadly.
"And we are always here. Maybe Mom and I can come visit New York soon."
"I would like that." I smile and hug him again.
"Pack your shit, you're going home." He laughs .
"Yes sir." I laugh as we head inside.

I get to be with my guys. Soon. So very soon. And I have so much to say. I can't wait.