RECAP:

"You look lost." She giggled. I would have usually replied but her american accent caught me off guard.

"Um- yeah, I guess I am." I smiled back at her whilst my fatigued eyes requested to close.

"Need some help?" She offered warmly, probably taking in my state.

I nodded back to her and held out my hand.

"I'm Becca by the way" She reached her own out, shaking mine in the process.

"Oh, I know." She smiled, but paused after noticing my confusion and face palmed her forehead. "And I'm super creepy... But I usually go by the name Maisy." She said with a chuckle and I couldn't help but laugh back.

Why the fuck is becca here? I thought to myself as I stood beneath a large archway that overlooked the lively night.

I didn't know that she began going to parties agan. Ethan never mentioned her going out or anything so I just supposed that she wasn't ready yet, considering what happened.

Just watching her in this kind of atmosphere brought back all the memories from Vinnie's houseparty. The memory alone re-sparked so much anger inside of me.

I remember breaking away from making out with some girl, after noticing that Becca had vanished. I tugged a frustrated hand through my hair and began to run through the kitchen, asking around the house if anyone had seen her.

I tapped on the shoulders of countless teenagers, but the little shits were so occupied in getting fucked that they didn't even care if a girl was missing.

But she was never just any girl.

After searching the whole of the downstairs and getting nowhere, I was about to run up the stairs when I found Ethan and Josie standing together with drinks in their hands.

I told them that I hadn't seen Becca in a while and whilst Josie's face began to fill with worry, Ethan's resembled something similar to mine.

I continued to rush up the stairs, not caring about the many doors that I flung open in search of her.

There was a single door left and I welcomed a sudden feeling of dread that came with the situation. Not wasting any time stuck on the thoughts of 'what if's', I stormed into the dark room.

The small amount of light from the corridor enabled me to see Becca's unconscious body and the fucker that was removing his belt on top of her.

Without hesitation, I ran up to the large man and threw him against the wall. My hand tightened around his neck and I began to throw punches towards his stomach.

His groans were like music to my ears as I pounded the hell of him. He began to choke on his own blood whilst gasping for air, making me wish that I continued the torture so that he could never breathe the same air as Becca again.

Once he was no longer in a conscious state, I let go of his neck which met him with the cold floor.

Turning around with heavy breaths and busted knuckles, I made my way to Becca who was being cradled in Ethan's arms.

"I s-should of-" Ethan sobbed.

"It's not your fault bro, at least we found her before anything happened." I breathed out, attempting to reassure him.

"But what if something happened Ash? I would never forgive myself. I'm meant to protect her and I can't even do that." He continued, but I was too focused on the movement in the corner of the room.

I wandered towards his injured state and clicked my knuckles before continuing with round two...

He was going to pay...and it was going to be fucking expensive.

Whilst my punches became more and more violent, I promised to myself that I would never let another man touch Becca again...

...Which somewhat became a challenge when I moved away the next week.

As creepy as it sounds, I spent the next half an hour watching Becca.

I felt like it was my duty to protect her, although I know that she is more than capable of protecting herself now.

I guess, I didn't want anything to happen to her. I know that she had only been here for two days, but It was like I couldn't escape Becca. Or maybe, I just didn't want to.

I don't know, It seems hard to believe that I hadn't spared much of a thought towards her for over two years, due to the unhealthy way that she now consumes my every thought.

Maisy noticed my strange mood and asked about the mystery thief who was stealing my attention.

And so...I told her.

It was only quick, obviously leaving out embarrassing parts of our childhood such as us taking baths together and hosting a fake wedding at the ages of 5 and 7.

I also left out the night of Vinnie's party, I don't even need to explain why I chose not to tell her that.

So, in the end, there wasn't really much to say. Half of our story belonged to both Becca and I, so it felt too personal to share in such an open environment...But the rest of the story?

....That was still yet to be written.

"Well you're fucking whipped." Maisy laughed as she reached into her bag.

"I'm fucking not." I said with anger laced in my voice and looked away from her growing smile.

"Isn't that what a whipped person would say?" She grinned and patted my back before disappearing off to find a bathroom.

Propped against the archway, I scanned the ever-growing crowd of bodies, trying to find a certain someone.

But once I found who I was looking for, I instantly regretted my action.

Heading for the water was Becca with her tongue down the throat of another boy.

The other boy being that son of a bitch from the beach yesterday.

I remained watching the two of them as Becca's hands roamed through his hair effortlessly and her elegant body looking so unappreciated in his hold.

She was too good for him.

With my known short temper, I found my legs striding onto the golden sand, shoving past anyone who got in my path.

Once I made it to the shore, I was taken back by the sight of an agitated Becca rushing away from the water.

Her hair dripped onto the large T-shirt that she wore and her arms cuddled her small waist, despite the summer heat in Marseille. Mascara smudged beneath her eyes and all I wanted to do was hold her and comfort her, just like I wished to at the houseparty.

I stepped back into the darkness as I let the scene unfold before me.

As much as I never wanted for Becca to get hurt, a toxic part of me wished for the french boy to break her heart so that I could fix it for her.

I know how that makes me sound, but I'm being completely honest. On so many different occasions, I unintentionally broke hearts. But for once, I found myself fantasizing to heal one.

One that was so pure and innocent many years ago, but was now fiery and aware of the cruel world that we have slowly become slaves to.

The boy raising his voice at Becca tugged me away from my thoughts.

"Or what Becca? I'm not going to let you walk around by yourself. Look at the way that you are dressed, your practically aski-"

"Or I'll punch you in the fucking face." I said without a second thought. I couldn't bear to hear him finish the sentence, not after what Becca has gone through. Also, what a fucking objectifying bitch.

The colour draining from his face sparked me with pride.

Recasting my gaze, my eyes flicked to Becca's. She looked as if she was attempting to read my expression but I just gritted my teeth and remembered what brought me down here in the first place.

"Was he trying to hurt you?" I gritted out, looking down at her.

"Why on earth are you here?" She asked in an irritated tone, avoiding my question.

"I could ask you the same thing." I stated "Was he trying to fucking hurt you Rebecca?" I immediately disapproved of my decision to raise my voice as she jumped back slightly...All I wanted was for her to be close to me again.

"Of course not! But you don't always need to be a fucking hero Ashton!" She yelled at me before disappearing into the crowd.

I sucked in a deep breath and raked a hand through my scruffy hair.

Glancing at the distressed boy in front of me, I knew what we would need to do.

"Ecoute, je ne sais pas qui tu es bordel, mais je m'en fiche. Tu m'aideras à la trouver et je la ramènerai à la maison. Après ce soir, je ne veux plus revoir ton putain de visage. D'accord?"

("Look, I don't know who the hell you are, but I don't care. You will help me find her and I will bring her home. After tonight, I don't want to see your fucking face again. Okay?")