𝓛𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓑𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭

𝒻𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓉𝓎-𝒻𝒾𝓋𝑒

*warning: soft smut*

Or the part where secrets are revealed and loyalties are tested.

+ + + + +

"What the hell, Nellie?" Sweet Pea growled. He didn't miss how Nellie's eyes grew the size of platters at his touch but he couldn't help himself. How did he not know about this? Angry and humiliated, he searched for any sign on her face, anything that would calm him down.

Instead Nellie remained silent, too surprised to speak. Fighting the urge to shake her, Sweet Pea couldn't help but press his fingers deeper in the warm skin of her upper arms.

"Why?" he managed to get out. It came out restrained as he tried not to scream at the girl in front of him. He didn't know why he was so mad at the first place. He just knew he wished she had never climbed the damn stage.

"This is not the place," Nellie whispered, obviously shocked by his reaction. Her brown eyes searched for an escape route, a way the two of them could sneak out.

"You're right," Sweet Pea breathed, unclenching his hands. He hopelessly ran them through his dark hair. A strand tumbled in front of his eyes but he didn't seem to notice.

Against her better judgement, Nellie took his hand and dragged him up the stairs of the Whyte Wyrm. Sweet Pea followed, unable to form a coherent thought. Serpents were watching them in amusement, assuming the two had other plans. None of them knew of the fight that was about to occur.

Once outside, the cold evening air, reminded him of what had transpired. He still felt shocked at watching Nellie slowly walking up the stage. She looked calm and confident but Sweet Pea had felt anything but that. He hadn't even registered what was going on when F.P. had announced her. The true meaning of his words only hit him when the music started to play. He had wanted to run to the stage, grab Nellie from it and take her somewhere safe where she wouldn't be forced to expose herself to join the Serpents. Instead, he had watched, frozen as his flannel shirt was the first discarded item.

He had wanted to hate it. Wanted to hate the fact that the girl he liked was taking her clothes off in front of a club filled with gang members. The eyes of old men had lingered on her whilst she was looking in his direction. God, he wanted she had told him about it. Surely, he would've talked her out of it. Sure whatever problem caused her to join the Serpents, could've had another solution.

Nellie turned around, her big doe eyes scanning his face. "You're mad," she stated matter-of-factly.

Sweet Pea rolled his eyes. "Of course I am!" he let out, abruptly turning away from her. He let his hands rest on his hips as he frantically walked towards his bike. He still couldn't wrap his head around his thoughts. The truth was, he wanted her to get out of the Wyrm but he was also enjoying the view. Torn between his own desire and protecting her, he had chosen the selfish solution. Only later, when her performance had ended, had the consequences of it dawned on him. The obligations that now fell on Nellie.

"You should've told me," Sweet Pea hissed as he turned around. Unaware Nellie was right behind him, the girl nearly slammed into him. Chest to chest, their eyes fought a silent battle.

"You wouldn't have let me," she breathed, intimidated by his proximity.

Sweet Pea turned his head away. A calloused hand quickly ran over his face. "Of course not. What were you thinking?" His tone was accusing. Nellie didn't quite understand his emotion. By anything, Toni had given her the impression, Sweet Pea would react the complete opposite way. She hadn't really imagined fighting on a deserted parking lot at the end of the evening.