Here is another chapter…

I stood looking at myself in the full-length mirror of the ladies' locker room at Max-Gen, I was new to this gym but Jennifer said it was great and she was standing behind me smiling. I wore a red Gymshark sports bra, it was hardly there and my Aunt nearly died, but explained was going to the gym and not a brothel, a pair of black Gymshark pants with white running shoes, Layla was ever so kind after declining to come to give me a water bottle with fruit inside. "Come on, you look fantastic honestly." In no way did I believe her but together we leave heading for the work out areas they provided.

"Zumba?"

UMM NO…"No,"

"Yoga?"

"No but you go right ahead, I'm going to go to that vending machine," have a few bucks tucked into my boobs. "Work out not pig out," waving her off. In the gym I had no worries, no homework, no boyfriend but even after didn't have one, no nagging Mom or irritating Aunt - it was just me and the cool metal of the bars. Moving with robotic precision but organic fluidity, stroke after stroke nailed to perfection.

When my hair lies like a second skin over my cheeks and I look as if I were just caught in a sudden storm, I let myself step off the exercise machine. My legs are empty and there is a rising feeling of nausea from my stomach. It never ceases to amaze me that the muscles that were working so hard only seconds ago now struggle to hold my weight. I need water and air, last was a Snickers but instead, I was cursed. "Bexley," that deep voice making my heart hammer faster as I glanced behind me seeing Peace looking like a sweaty pig.

Running the red towel over my face trying to smother myself instead of answering him. "Low and behold, it is you," was too tired to talk or deal.

"What are you doing here," He looked confused at his question. "Sweating like a pig…but to better explain it working out. New to Maxville and had to join a new gym to avoid my ex. And you since we are being stupid?" but my eyes just racked him, every inch was muscle and what I took as tattoo's covered areas. "Same as you,"

Jennifer touched his shoulder, "Better not be giving her a hard time, come on Bex, no Snickers,"

"I have boob sweat money for that vending machine go back to your class," taking the money out and god was it sweaty, but in the end, I was holding my snickers walking away from them both.

Warren's point of view…

I stand in front of Kai, his crew behind him and mine behind me this was personal and if I truly hated anyone it was him. I say this one last time, "Stay away from, Bexley. She would be stupid to forgive you and I take it she just isn't stupid with all the smartass barbs she shoots at me. You are scum and well we both know she isn't some whore," I was taller and a hell of a lot more powerful, only a select few knew about my actual powers.

His tongue grossly ran over his bottom lip before he answered me, "Why do you care Peace, that girl has been mine for two years." The bonfire raged around us none the wiser I was wanting the bitch away from Bexley.

I could play this game all day with him, "I made it my business to care the moment you touched her, I am the worse of us and we both know what I have done. But never would I hurt a female who I cared for, now you make your choice stay away and let her alone or I will end your days," every nerve was on fire as we stand toe to toe, Jackie his eyes slid to Kai in fear.

He offered me, "We will take our leave, but this isn't over by a long shot, Peace. Seems you think she would ever look at you like she once did me,"

"Once, she looks at you with contempt she wouldn't even be with you, so you got your shit wet with some skank bitch," Jennifer chimed in, damn it, she should have left with Vic. She was placing herself in harm's way now that her mouth opened. Once we are alone again I called out, "Pack up, a twenty-four-hour guard on Jennifer. You should have said nothing, he knows your friends and with you going against him in such a way it puts you in danger. You have hung with this crew and learned nothing," I liked James but not like that, not anymore at the least.

I knew she was here by the text Jennifer sent me, I promised my mother's best friend Snow that I would do my best to not kill her daughter, I was supposed to guard her but Bexley hated me and made it very hard to do as such. There she was her long hair pulled into a shitty but hot bun, a top that moved with her, she was a wildling and everything about her was what I truly wanted deep down. I watched her while I worked out knowing that girl was a walking danger magnet, but damn could she work out. "Chill Warren, benching that much," Kyle smiled down at me taking the set, everything hurts when I finally stop seeing her in a cooldown mode.

I offered a grin, "Can you grab me a green protein smoothie," giving a shit less, my body was a temple, I smoked and drank but other than that I was very healthy. I ate well and worked out and now it wasn't so bad with the new girl here, it smelled but it went down in a single gulp. "Thanks, bro,"

Chuckling, "No chance, it would take moving timelines for her to look at you the way you're looking at her," what he said clicked, Kai might not know but I did, it was her and I meant to stop him. "I don't like her,"

He scoffed making heads turn, "Yeah and I just didn't get head in the showers," fucking god man, I just head her way seeing her stumbling from the machine. Her body was coated in sweat making her glow in the most alluring way. Her hair was sticking to her pale face as I got her attention, "Bexley," she glanced at me and it wasn't such a hate-filled look, annoyed though.

Running the red towel over her face wiping the sweat from it, "Low and behold, it is you," she was a sarcastic bitch I'll give her that.

"What are you doing here," that was the stupidest thing I could have said, her face assured me she felt the same. "Sweating like a pig…but to better explain it working out. New to Maxville and had to join a new gym to avoid my ex. And you since we are being stupid?" I noted she was staring at me, Jennifer said she had a thing for long hair and tat's, and in no way was I getting gauges or some shit.

"Same as you,"

Jennifer touched my shoulder, leaving a cold spot, "Better not be giving her a hard time, come on Bex, no Snickers,"

Snapping out at her friend, "I have boob sweat money for that vending machine go back to your class," I give her props, she used that cash to get herself a king size snickers. I smirked at Jennifer, "She is something else, but Kai has big plans for her and if Jackie is right everything is at stake for her. Keep me updated and keep her in your sights, I understand your best friends but we promised her mother,"

She flipped her long silver hair, "I'm doing this because I care about her, after this going to Dutch and just maybe you could show up. Vic is going to be there and he said he saw Jackie,"

Yawning, "Yeah, that walking trash mouth is a full-time job," There are days the tiredness comes in both forms, physical and mental. My body needs to rest yet my mind needs it to move, to burn the anxiety right out. Without exercise my mind will keep me up all night long, without rest my body will spiral into exhaustion. "I will head there now so it looks like she followed me not the other way around. People think I'm a dog in heat after that girl,"

"Aren't you,"

Waving at her, "Not in heat…yet," Gazing straight ahead, only half-aware of a world outside the claustrophobic comfort of the car, of my hands, stroking the wheel, the almost soundless changing of the gears, the pattern of traffic lights...I rebuilt this Mustang and daily I am happy to have done so. It was semi packed, the drive through the worse as I stand in line when Vic comes to my side, "Where is trouble and trouble the third,"

Smirking, "How do you put up with Bexley?" Where is Magenta?"

His tone was deep and husky, "On her way, Bexley she isn't bad, well maybe to you. She is rather awesome and a damn loyal friend, I just want her happy," I saw all this she was very loyal to her friends and those she cared about even that walking shithead Stronghold.

A nasal voice chimed in, "What can I get you hotties?" everywhere was the same, girls hit on me or whoever I was hanging with, it was rather disgusting. "large sugar-free iced rebel, Dragon Slayer," I ordered as Vic ordered the same but a Dinosaur Egg. Wait. Wait. Sounds easy, right? Thirsty. Hungry. Hot. Aching muscles. Bored. I'm supposed to wait here until those girls arrive, at least it's Vic he is good company as we find shade under an umbrella. "Pulling in," was all he said as I took another drink nodding my head.

She and Jennifer looked like they were glowing, a good workout can do just that as they order, but like clockwork Bexley, her eyes land on mine. "If I keep getting caught looking she might get an impression,"

"She already has the impression you're crazy, bro. Here they come," he was up hugging them while Jennifer bent down hugging me, yes it is very possible to be friends after a break-up. I pulled my sunglasses down before I opened my mouth, "You following me Bexley,"

She snorted, "You are not a Snicker's bar," she had a thing for them I see, never touched one myself, that shit was poison for your body. "Those things are poison for your body," helping her see the error of her ways.

She leaned down, my eyes, I tried to keep them on her eyes, seeing them up close and from that moment on nothing, not even her breast could compare to them. Her tone was sly, "So is your dick, and only one is going into my mouth," she stood straight taking her drink and walking to another table leaving me in awe, now that girl was my equal in every way.

I was covered this in shit and it was her fault as I used my strength getting to her, my fingers biting into her hips pulling her to me. She for a split second smiled until annoyance filled it, "Nope, you are staying put since you thought this be fun," she wiggled and wiggled but in this shit, she couldn't do very much. "Let me go, I can't tell which one is worse this goo or you touching me," I grimaced she was impossible, just impossible.

Boomer boomed. "Peace let her go," she struggled to the ledge where Vic was waiting to drag her out. "GAME OVER, SHOWER AND YOU CAN LEAVE!" Layla and Bexley are the first to hit the bleachers from his power, but now it was like a punch to the gut feeling my power wash over me.

The Greenish, yellowish, jiggling, glistening, lumpy porridge-like coagulations swirled up from the pool, his eyes bore into mine. Her eyes are filled with fire that lit me up as the glowed, "YOU BITCH," bellowing at her smirking face.

"You say I'm a bitch like it's a bad thing," but she just let the cyclone hit me. I swear if she wasn't cute she be six feet under as it finally stopped and I scooped the junk from my eyes and mouth.

The shower alone has a panel with more than a hundred options you can choose regulating water temperature, pressure, soaps, shampoos, scents, oils, and massaging sponges. When you step out on a mat, heaters come on that blow-dry your body. Instead of struggling with knots in my wet hair, I merely place my hand on a box that sends a current through my scalp, untangling, parting, and drying my hair almost instantly. It floats down around my shoulders in a glossy curtain. We walked out seeing the girls looking perfect and laughing, god that is it her smile was worth all the trouble, but just once I want it directed at me.

The club was dark, Kai was here and so was I, but then she walked in with Magenta, Jennifer, and Vic. "Go, Bandit, Magenta should have her man with her," my friend left heading to his annoying girl with dark Magenta hair who beamed the moment she saw him.

The beer was cold as I held it knowing if I didn't keep myself it check it explode in my hand…again. She was in some skimpy dress. In the club, the good vibes flow like a virus, but a good one. There's love in the air, all hyped up and ready to give us a good time. Jennifer weaves through the guys and girls like a pro, his smile wider than the golden gates.

The nightclub was rainbow lights and the sort of beats that revved up the soul. They danced for some time before heading to a table, they ordered, I watch from here ready to raise hell if Kai moved. With Kai, hatred brings me to kill him and him to kill me. Hatred climbs under our skin and pumps fear into our veins, switching off any part of our minds that should protest. Hatred convinces us that others will come to harm those we love and the only way out is to end their lives first, for without the abuse of loving feelings hatred is too weak to cause damage. He killed someone close to me, I loved her, not as a love interest, but she was my family and two years before Bexley she left him and he killed her for it. I see it happening again with Bexley, she is more powerful but so hesitant to use it, I refuse to lose her like my cousin.

I was up beer in hand when Kai thought it wise to grace us. "So this is about Lucie, you think I'll just off Bexley like I did your cousin. Now, Peace, I tried to explain with Lucie it was just an accident," like a caged animal I was snarling at him as my fist was connecting with his jaw. "Don't you ever mention her, she was a fucking kid. A kid doesn't get torn to shards you waste of space. I will be the end of you," I seethed every ounce of will power kept me from burning this place down. The cold hands of Jennifer helped keep it at bay.

Her words whispered, "Not here, you'll kill more than just him. You've done years before this time you'll never get out, Warren," In that frozen second between the standoff and fighting I see their eyes flick from me to Kai. Our faces are unreadable, no fear, no invitational smirk. I am banking on them making the mistake I predicted they would years ago in the cool of the old bank, and they do. In that instant they fly at me, ignoring Jennifer. I am the one protecting "my ex," but the fight breaks out.

I shove her behind me as Kai, his body slammed into mine, and I tossed him into the table. "Get out now," but when I look again she is cornered, Vic is fighting with my crew against the rest. There is blood on my knuckles and a bruise above my right eye as I used so much force in every blow. I rained blows onto Kai as if I meant to smash him into the very earth and he did the same. Each didn't just want the other dead, they wanted the other smashed, obliterated, nothing left to bury. I saw a flash dart by Kai and me, aiming for the silver hair, turning and seeing it was Bexley.

Floored.

She moved with grace I didn't know who threw the first punch, but suddenly my her fist was slamming into the guys face while he sunk his into her stomach. Blood pooled in his mouth as he gagged. They stumbled apart for a brief second to catch their breaths before diving back at each other, eyes narrowed in determination.

She dodged his fist and came up with her own; for a brief instant, her eyes widened before she managed to tilt her head back and slam it into his. The dude looked to shake it off, blindingly throwing a sloppy kick.

She stepped back, easily evading the kick. "Is that all you got?" she crowed, smirking infuriatingly at him. She took them out and was blocking Jennifer, her hands raised we all slammed into something, my body broke a table with Kai at my feet as she radiated immense power. She was in a rage this was a first I've seen of it.

She just turned to help Jennifer who had a cut above her right eye, Vic picked his girl up and jumped the rail with Bexley walking calmly away. I watched her go not wanting to go after her, she was fine and walking right past the Commander, Jet Stream, Freya, and Luner this wasn't good news.