Title: Cuts Like A Knife
Author: Stress
First written: May 12, 2002
Edited and replaced: January 21, 2005
Summary: Part I of the Soul Mates Series; She thought that life couldn't get any better. She had friends and a family that loved her – she was taken care of and had no complaints. But that was before he came into her life. And, no matter how hard she tries to escape his grasp, he'll never let her go.
Following right behind Rip
"I wonder where the heck he's going." Spindle asked herself for the third time as she followed Rip down one side street and then another. She quickened her pace to keep up with him; she would never know what business he needed to take care of if she lost him in the on-setting darkness as the sun began to set.
Spindle stopped short when she noticed that Rip had turned right again and was heading straight toward a deserted alleyway. He continued walking until he reached the entrance. Pausing briefly to run his hands through his spiky black hair, Rip walked down into the dark depths of the street.
"What kind of business could he be doing this time of night and down that alley? I don't think this is good," she mumbled to herself, debating whether or not she should follow her boyfriend down that alley.
Realizing that she would live to regret her decision if she just walked away, Spindle held her head up high and went in right after Rip.
Her gasp went unnoticed when she spied Rip staring dreamily at Jess as he cooed, "I love you too, Miss Jess."
Spindle stood there, gaping at the hot and steamy kiss that Rip and Jess were sharing, before the information sunk in. "You're in love with that... that...that girl?"
Upon hearing Spindle's shriek, Rip and Jess broke apart. "This ain't what it looks like, Spindle," Rip stumbled out, trying to approach her, pushing Jess behind him.
But Spindle knew what she saw and exactly what it looked like. And she knew exactly who was hiding behind Rip. "Rip, I would advise you to stay out of this, now. This is just between me and li'l miss Jess over there," she said coolly as she reached into her pocket and slowly, right in Jess's line of vision, pulled out her pocketknife.
Jess, aware that Spindle's knife was drawn, began trembling like a leaf. "I knew this was going to happen. I don't know why I'm surprised," she said to herself, as she made a move to step forward.
Rip threw out his arm to stop her from getting any closer to Spindle. "Jess, just stay where you're at."
"But Rip--" she started as she tried to get past him. Jess saw the fire in Spindle's eyes and knew that it would be worse to make her wait. "At least this way it'll be quick and easy." She was surprised to know that she was actually anxious to receive the punishment that Spindle wanted to dole out for the crime of stealing her boyfriend.
"Jess, what did I say?" he thundered as he turned to face her, raising his hand to show that he meant what he said. She just didn't realize how desperately he was trying to keep the two girls apart. He was not going to let Spindle kill his "li'l Miss".
Jess ducked her head quickly, in case the target for Rip's hand was her face.
The lightning-speed of those motions were all the time that Spindle needed to make her move. In the split seconds that Rip had his back turned and Jess had her face hidden, Spindle leapt forward and pushed Rip to the side. Rip stumbled slightly as he veered to his right. With Rip no longer keeping his body in between Spindle and Jess, Spindle had a clear path to stab at Jess.
Swinging her knife wildly, her concentration severed due to the intensity of her anger, Spindle missed Jess with her first lunge. The precious seconds she wasted were enough for Rip to regain his footing. As Jess stood there, standing tall and prepared for Spindle's knife to plunge deep, Spindle threw one more stab at her. Rip jumped forward and shoved Jess out of the knife's path. As Jess went flying to her left side, Spindle's knife made contact with her flesh. Instead of hitting her chest, as was Spindle's goal, Spindle had sliced the skin across Jess's right shoulder.
Grasping her arm in shock, pain flooding her entire body, Jess pulled herself to her feet and started to back out of the alley. With both Spindle and Rip occupied, Spindle trying with all her might to go after Jess and kill her this time and Rip using his strength to keep her away from Jess, Jess's walk quickened to a trot, then to a jog and then to a full-blown run. "I got to get home before Spindle actually kills me this time." For she knew that Spindle wouldn't stop until she was dead. "I take it back! I don't want to die!" she cried to herself as she continued running, praying that neither Rip nor Spindle would come after her.
"Jess, get back here!" Rip screamed as he watched her run, clutching her right shoulder as she went. After catching Spindle off guard, he knocked her knife out of her hand. Without her weapon to brandish and threaten Rip was able to grasp her by the shoulders and push her to the ground. Once Spindle landed near the side of the alley with a thump, Rip took off down the street after Jess. "I thought you knew by now, Miss Jess, that you can't run away from me!"