Ahh, omg, I'm so so so sorry I didn't update earlier. I've had this chapter finished since Friday, but I didn't get a chance to post it as I had a two-day swimming gala and couldn't! You all probably hate me, but I promise I'll try to update really frequently, but it will be hard since school is starting back. (Seriously the amount of work they expect us to do is ridiculous, I'm only 13 for fuck's sake, I can't do like a hundred projects)!
But, anyway, this chapter is kind of a cool down because the last few chapters were very action-y and dramatic. I won't reply to the reviews from chapter eight because most of the stuff that was said was pretty much answered in the next chapter, and as I said, they were the same chapter originally. So, anyway, in reply to the reviews:
LeCrazz: thank you, and yeah, she does, but don't worry, she's very capable of taking care of herself, which you will see later on. Yeah, Matt's gang did pretty shit, but Phil's were angrier, and they wanted to win more. But, don't worry, you haven't seen the last of them. Xo
Darkrai842: thank you so much, I'm glad you're so emotionally invested in this story, it means a lot to me! And yeah, this chapter's not as dramatic, but there'll be plenty of drama to come.
Maashmellow: thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! I wouldn't go as far to say it was out of a novel, but yeah, I did like the way I wrote that part, so thank you for acknowledging it. And as for 'a gang if broken people' that pretty much just wrote itself. And I don't know what the IELTS exams are, but I assume that's really good, so congratulations anyway.
Guest: thank you, I really enjoyed that chapter myself. Xo
MegChambersLt: Don't worry, I do it myself, I only review every so often, and I know how stressful exams can be, my older sister's doing some really serious ones at the moment, and I know they take a lot out of you. And thank you so much, I'm really glad you're enjoying the story!
Guest: woah, woah, woah, slow down a little, I wouldn't go that far let. Their relationship is going to develop at a more realistic pace than most stories on here, where they literally fall in love at first sight, because I don't really believe in all that shit. Also, don't expect a happy ending, because I tend to write sad ones. Xo
Tobesaved: Thank You so much. X
AddictedFanfiction: Thank you, it means a lot to me to know people are actually reading this, and liking it. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
jcott3: You actually have no idea how much you help me with this story. Like a lot of the time, I have a vague idea of what I'm going to do with things, but the exact details a lot of the time I get from you, because your reviews are always spot on, and I think you understand the characters nearly better than I do! And that motto thing about guns is so true and well-written, I actually love it.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favourited & followed! 3 Sorry for the slow update!
Tell me what you think of this chapter!
Ciara x
"'Fuck's sake," Matt muttered, as he held a wet towel to the back of his bleeding head. "I still can't believe he freaked out like that,"
"Tell me about it," Kelly agreed, from across the room where Brie was plastering her foot. "Dude's fucking crazy,"
"I thought for real he was gonna kill you, Matt," Brie added, with a nod. "He would've actually, if it weren't for Phil,"
"Weird that, when ya think about it," Jeff said. "I thought the guy would love to see you killed,"
"Mm," was all Matt could say. He'd been thinking about that actually. The only conclusion he'd been able to come to was that Phil had wanted to kill him himself, which admittedly was not a nice thought.
"Seriously though, they beat us bad," Randy said. "When did they all get so damn good?"
"That's what I was thinking," Mickie sighed. "We used to be able to match them punch for punch,"
"We didn't have Show, though," Matt said. "And, anyway, their gang is breaking apart at the seams. We lost one fight, we won't lose another."
"Preach that,"
Seth Rollins hadn't slept a wink all night. He had gone over to Dean's, and had spent the whole night watching him sleep. He was bored out of his mind, but quite frankly, he'd decided that it was better than keeping Dean up all night.
It gave him plenty of time to think, though. God, less than two hours ago he'd held a gun to Aj's head. To think a single click and he would've killed her. He would've taken her life. He would've been a murderer. He shivered at the thought.
He wasn't going to stop fighting or anything, but he decided right there that night that he wasn't going to be the one to kill Aj. When the time came, he'd make it clear that one of the others should do it. As for Matt, well, that was a different story. He'd proven earlier that he could beat him in a fight, even with a little distraction from Phil, he'd still done the majority of the work.
And he would've killed him as well. If it wasn't for Phil.
Anger seethed through his bones at the thought of him. Phil'd never been there for him when he needed him, always opting to let someone else take care if him, despite him being his official guardian. But his mind kept wandering back to what he had said.
"I hate you,"
Did Phil really deserve that? Yes, he tried to tell himself, but it was no good. He didn't hate him, he couldn't hate him, he was his brother for fuck's sake. Maybe Phil did need to be told that, though. A bit of a reality check. To show him Seth wasn't going to let him push him around anymore. It had needed to be said.
So why did Seth feel so fucking guilty?
It was later that night, around half four, when Seth heard the knock on the door. He sighed loudly as he rolled out of bed, making sure not to wake up Dean. It was probably Phil. Then again, he wouldn't care enough to come all the way here. He'd probably sent one of the others.
He took a quick glance through the peephole. Layla. He'd been right; Phil had sent someone to check on him. Shame he didn't care enough to come himself. Opening the door, he greeted her.
"Layla, if Phil sent you to bring me back, you can just go back and tell him that I'm not going. Ever."
"What?" The surprise on Layla's face was genuine, Seth decided. "What are you talking about?"
"Nothing, it doesn't matter. So why are you here?"
"I need to tell you something. Can I come in?"
"Oh, yeah, sure, sorry," Seth moved to the side, and Layla walked in, sitting down on one of Dean's couches.
"Man, I forgot how much of a dump Dean's place was," She said, as Seth sat down next to her.
"Mm, I kinda like it," Seth said. "So what do you have to tell me?" Seth couldn't keep the curiosity out of his voice.
"Okay, Seth, just don't say anything 'till I'm done. This is hard for me to say, but just sit there and listen, okay?"
"Sure,"
"It was cold that night. Like windy, but in a nice way, kind of refreshing, ya know? So anyway, yeah, we were in New York. My first fight in the gang. It was going fine, till this one guy fired a gun. Everyone ran. Except for me. I don't know why. Then a guy from the other gang showed up, and before he could do anything I stabbed him. In the chest." She paused.
"It wasn't him, though. It was a different guy, I'd got them mixed up. A randomer. He had two kids, Seth. Two kids and a wife. He asked me to wait with him while he died. Said he'd always hated the fact that he might die alone, and that he'd do anything to stop that. He said he forgave me. Said he knew I was just a small girl caught up in a big game. Said he knew it wasn't my fault."
"I watched the light drain out of his face. I felt him turn cold and stiff in my arms. I watched him die, Seth,"
"And I know you hate Matt, Seth, and I know why. But I'm telling you now, telling you something I've never told anyone. If I could go back, I'd stab myself instead."
She got to her feet slowly and headed to the door.
"Seriously, Seth, you don't want to live with a murder on your hands,"
Phil woke up to the smell of a beautiful fry, cooked to perfection. Rubbing his eyes, he glanced up to see Aj in their kitchen.
"What are you doing?"
She looked over. "Making breakfast. First and last time. Help yourself," She left the kitchen and walked back to her room.
"Aj," Phil said. It was with a sudden realisation that she was the only person who hadn't left him. How pathetic was that? The only person who stayed with him was kidnapped.
"What?" She snapped. She was beginning to regret making breakfast at all; what had she been thinking? Why was she being so nice to the person who had fucking kidnapped her?
"Eat with me?" He hated how his voice sounded so desperate, and was just glad no one was around to hear it. But he suddenly realised he didn't want to be alone.
"I already ate," Her voice was icy cool, and he suddenly realised how stupid he'd been to expect anything else. He had kidnapped her after all.
"Please," he cringed, he couldn't remember the last time he'd said that.
She turned around, that had been the last thing she'd expected. "Fine," And she grabbed a couple of sausages and rashers, and sat with him on the couch.
Half an hour later, she was back in her room. She and Phil had spent the whole breakfast talking about old memories, well, Phil had and she had listened. Most were about John and Seth, and in that moment she had realised how much he actually did care for Seth, even if he didn't always show it.
She'd overheard Dean and Roman rant about how Phil needed to take better care of Seth, and she'd even heard Layla and Michelle discussing it. And she'd heard everything Seth himself had said last night.
But she'd seen Phil cry on the couch after Seth left him. After he said 'I hate you,'. And she'd listened as Phil recalled old memories of his little brother, from his first steps to his graduation.
And she realised that under all his sadistic ways, he was still a human and he still had feelings. He loved people, he hated people, and he was hurt by both.
It was then that she realised he wasn't as bad as he seemed.