Fear flooded my body, my knees started to shake. Scared that Jesse would be here soon made me feel sick.

"Mare, I don't think I should go out." I cried

"Abby, don't do this! Look after you buying like 5 dresses today, I can see you are ready to move on. Don't let that douche make you think you deserve any less. Please if you don't go out you are letting Jesse win. That's not what you want." America stared me down.

"I'm just afraid. America I feel like he can ruin me."

"Don't think that way. Come on, Shep is waiting on us. We can go to the Red Door and forget about Jesse; you can find a hot guy to talk to. I'm sure even if you don't Finch will dance with you."

I smiled at my friend. I wondered sometimes what I did to get someone who always had my back in all times of my life. Walking hand in hand we walked out into Morgan's busy parking lot, seeing everyone going all directions. I smelled pot; I heard giggles, bottles breaking. I wondered why I couldn't be so carefree like these girls.

"Let's do this! READY ABBY BECAUSE YOUR PAST KISS YOUR ASS" America screamed into the night. Everyone hollered and chanted along with her. I'm not sure because if they were drunk or they wanted to get riled up but I know I was feeling lighter and feeling better. Ready to face my night.

Shep pulled up in his shiny Charger, my guess is he got it washed and waxed up for tonight. I seen Travis sitting shot gun with a cigarette in hand and blowing out a faint cloud of smoke, it seemed almost as if he were modeling for the bimbos swooning as they seen him pulled up.

"Hey Baby!" America chimed

"Hey Mare. Ready?"

"Yes we are."

Travis opened the door and pulled the passenger seat forward so he can sit in the back. America pushed me into the car, forcing me to have to sit next to Travis. I felt shivers and though I had on a coat something wasn't sitting well with me. America was singing along to the radio and my phone kept buzzing.

"Um Aren't you going to answer that?" Travis asked

"No."

"Why not? That shit is annoying Pigeon" He laughed

"Because I just don't want to ok." I whispered

"Fine by me" Travis responded irritated

I kept staring forward and my nerves were already on edge and my cell was still going off and everyone looked around to see if I would answer it.

"Oh Abby, just let me answer and I tell his ass where to shove it" America sang

"Who?" Travis asked

I kicked the back of Americas seat "nobody Travis"

"Abby, who's giving you shit?" Travis asked

As I kept quiet, my phone continued to buzz and very quickly did Travis snatch my purse and grab my phone out

"What the fuck Travis?" I screamed

"This shit is annoying."

He pulled my phone from my clutch and pressed end and kept my phone. "What the hell? Please can I have my phone back?"

Travis held my phone and shook his head "No."

Again my phone lit up in his hand there it was in bold letters "Jesse". Travis just stared at the name for what seemed a lifetime. He looked over to me as he answered in a really firm tone "Hello?"

Travis still looking and me I had no idea what was being said till Travis put Jesse on speaker. My knees were shaking and I was so nervous that my dark days and secrets would be revealed in the matter of minutes.

"Who the fuck is this?" Jesse replied very quickly

"You called my girls phone dipshit who the fuck is this?" Travis was still looking at me. Giving me a sly grin. I could tell he wanted to laugh but he seemed like he wanted to be in control of this conversation.

"Your girl? Yo douche Abby is my girl."

Travis nodded his head at me as if he were asking me if it were true. I quietly shook my head no.

"Well it doesn't seem like that to her. We been linked since school started so don't call her again."

Travis hung up my phone and shoved it into his pocket. "Don't worry he aint gonna fuck with you no more."

"Oh. Em. GEE! Travis you just fuckin told off Jesse!" America shrieked.

Shep simply kept his eyes ahead and turned up the radio and I quickly mouthed to Travis "Thank You"

He winked to indicate he knew what I was saying.

We arrived at the Red Door. As Shep and Mare were hugged up and walking into the club, Travis pulled me aside away so Shep and Mare couldn't hear us. We were still standing by the charger as Travis took a long drag of his Marlboro red.

"What's the deal with Jesse?" He asked flat out. I was nervous to answer him. What could I say? Suddenly all the old feelings started to rise. I could hear the traffic, music and casino sounds in my ears. I was not getting sucked back. No way would I let that happen.

"Jesse is my ex-boyfriend from Kansas" Shit why did I say Kansas? I felt really stupid. Given if that Jesse did show up you could see he definitely was not a farming kid from Kansas.

"Why you guys break up? LD?"

"No. He wanted me to stay behind and be his arm candy. I have bigger aspirations then being some girl on arm. Especially when he flirted too much for me. It just didn't work. He didn't think coming to college was such a great idea."

Travis just looked at me. I wasn't sure if I was scared or curious to know what was going in his head. I just studied his face. As I was going to open my mouth, he tapped his pocket as to where my cell phone was. "If that dick calls again. I'm ready."

"Travis I don't know why you're helping me? We met pretty roughly and we barely know one another. For all you know I'mma drama queen starting this shit." I spoke softly with curiosity as to the real reason he was defending my honor to Jesse.

"Look. I'm not a douchebag. Well yea, maybe I am but look Pigeon all I know is that if you were not worth defending I wouldn't have answered your phone at all. If you were a hoe it would show, because like the night we met you could of easily tried to come up and rush me to be the next girl. I see it in your eyes Pigeon. You are definitely worth fighting for."

I stared at him with suspicion. His motives seem to be true, but I can't help to wonder if he is playing the good guy to be that guy, that guy who butters me up to be in my pants. I just want to just nod and continue walking into the club, but my mouth starts to speak. "Thank you Travis."

"No problem Pigeon." He smiled and

"Why are you calling me Pigeon? My name is Abigail Abbernathy. Call me Abby or Abigail." I exclaimed. Seriously. I'm even wondering if he remembers my name.

"I know that AB-BEE. But Pigeon means young lady. You're a pigeon to me." And a huge smile crept on his lips.

"Oh so your going to give me a nickname that is meant for a rat with wings. Nice that's rich" I went walking up to the entrance and did not care if Travis was behind me coming or not.

Walking into the Red Door, it was packed. People dancing, making out, taking shots. Nothing new I haven't been exposed to. I walked up to the bar. I needed a beer to start off my night.

"She'll have Corona with Lime and keep 'em coming. I heard a voice yell over the music. I recognized the voice. As I turned to my left it was Jesse.

I couldn't believe it. I actually thought he would leave back to Vegas. But Jesse stood before me. Most of the girls were so jealous of me since we were dating. We practically grew up with each other, I was mousy and didn't grow into my look yet. I have wavy caramel brown hair and Jesse who was a skinny tall kid, grew up and looked like he was off the Jersey Shore. His smile was gleaming off the lights that roamed around the bar.

"Abby. Who knew you'd be here."

"It's the only place that's crackin on Saturday" I responded "Why are you here Jesse?"

"I'm here for a beer. I was checking out some stuff for my dad."

"Seriously Jesse? God you know I just wish that you could just accept that you and me are done. You made it clear to me how you felt about my education. Your just pissed off that I didn't wanna marry you."

"Abby it's not like we just skimming by. We were engaged. You fuckin played me."

"Well I can pay for my own beer thank you."

"How are you getting by?"

"None of your business."

I felt someone behind me. I was truly just hoping it was America to pull me away so we could salvage the night. I glance over my right shoulder and it was Travis. At that moment I felt my heart stop and the hair on my neck stand up. I started to breathe deeply as his presence grew closer.

Travis hugged me from behind and left me a soft kiss on me head. "Pigeon you ready to dance?"

"Ha! Whose this fuckin clown?" Jesse laughed as he sipped his beer.

"I'm Travis. I'm Pigeon's Boyfriend."

"Oh so you're the guy getting all loud on the phone. Your bite louder than your bark?"

Travis shook his head "Look dick, my girl doesn't want you. She made that clear, now move the on or else."

"Or else what?" Jesse sneered

Travis moved me behind him and walked up to Jesse. I see both of these guys sizing each other up.

"You guys please stop." I pleaded as I pulled Travis back. I didn't need this. I started to see that everyone was trying to see what was going on. We were causing a scene. I heard Shep and America yell "MOVE! MOVE!"

"Abby!" America yelled I turned to her and she pushed me farther away. But I as I made my way back to Travis and Shep, America was in between both guys yelling at Jesse.

"WHY THE HELL ARE YOU HERE? YOU ARE GOING TO RUIN HER" America chanted over. Just trying to get Jesse to leave but he still wouldn't go.

"SHE FUCKIN OWE'S ME I'M BRINGING HER BACK WEATHER SHE WANTS IT OR NOT."

In that moment I'd seen Jesse fall to the floor. I looked up and I seen Travis breathing hard and just staring Jesse down. Daring him to get up and challenge him. Jesse got up from the floor with blood all over his face, pulled his arm back and laid one hard punch into Travis's face.

"That's your ONE bitch." I heard Travis growl. And after those words left his lips he went into frenzy and charged Jesse into the bar. I didn't stick around to know what happened since Shep pulled me and America out to the parking lot.

"SHEP! WE CAN'T LEAVE HIM." I screamed trying to pull him back towards the bar.

"DON'T WORRY! HIS BROTHER IS SECURITY AT THE BAR." Shep yelled as he pushed us to the charger.

As we scramble to figure out what was going to happen we pulled out and parked 2 blocks from the Red Door.

"Don't worry Travis know we won't ditch him." Shep said as he turned the ignition off.

I couldn't help to lean my head to the window. Wondering why I got him involved in my mess. I ran away from Vegas. In my mind I kept thinking how this was even going on. Why did Jesse come? He wanted more than a cordial relationship.

"I'm totally fucked." I mouthed

America at that moment turned her head and looked at me "You are going to have to face him Abby."

I nodded. I rather it was later than this soon.