CHAPTER SONG, Pineapple Skies, Miguel

By the time the game was over, the score was eight to four, and we have won our last game of the season. The boys were done, and when I asked wither either would play it again they both looked at me like I was speaking in a different language. I'll take that as a big no. Maddox said that he didn't mind it so much but it just took up a lot of time. And both said they would play it in their free time as a hobby but never play for life.

Now, as Maddox and I wait for Mateo to come out of the locker room, I find myself thinking. Yes, thinking. A bizarre thing that I have a feeling isn't going to get me anywhere good. But, when I noticed Tony standing at the other side of the gym, talking to his friends, I found myself thinking.

After the night he got beat up he hasn't bother me again. Actually, this is the first time I'm even noticing him around. He looks better than the last time I saw him on the ground, blood stained. And the only lasting effect I can see from here is the sagging shoulder. Something tells me that was left on purpose. It's cruel, very. Do I think he deserved it? No. Sure, he wasn't very kind that night, and he shouldn't have acted as he did, but no one deserves to be beat that badly. Will it change what I feel for Mateo? Nope. He protected me.

I glanced over my shoulder for the sixth time, my thought's building in my mind. When we broke up, I wanted a clean break. I wanted nothing to do with him. I didn't want to digest the relationship or drag it out. I wanted the pain to just end. Except now, I have lots to say. Too much, and the longer I keep all of it in the more I'm convinced the pain is going to linger on.

With the seventh glance, I finally made up my mind. I'm going to talk to him. Now, I needed to run that plan by my bodyguard who currently was Maddox. And he was perched on the back wall with his foot kicked up, and his hockey stick leaning against his chest. His phone had all of his attention. "Madds."

His gaze bounced up at me, hair still wet from the shower, and making his face a little more edged. He raised his unfairly perfect brow. "Lin."

I wish I could say I spoke loud and clear but that would be a lie. "Can you come with me?" I asked, pulling at the hem of my jacket. I might have gained a tiny bit of confidence, but not enough to want to go on my own. And Maddox is my best option here.

He shoved off the wall, clicking off his phone. "Where too, sweetheart?" he asked.

He was on protection duty right now which meant he wasn't going to be a fan of my plan. Because after all I was being protect from Tony, and here I was wanting to go right towards him. I pushed through it anyways. "I want to talk to Tony. His over there." I explained, pointing over my shoulder, and making his gaze zip past me.

Those pale eyes of his brewed with annoyance. "You see, sweetheart, I don't really think that's a good plan. Nor do I want to be a willing participate in this plan."

I chewed on the inside of my cheek, anxious as I answered, "Your probably right. But I need to talk to him. I have things to say, and I feel like I have to get some closure." Maddox is right, but I have made up my mind. All this baggage is too heavy to carry around anymore. I'm going to dump it all. Why should I have to hold onto it? I don't think I was the one at fault in the relationship, at least that's what I have concluded.

Maddox sighed, shooting a glance towards the locker room. "Mateo won't be happy about this." he said, looking back to me.

I nodded, understanding that too. Mateo's not his biggest fan, nor am I really, but I still had thought's I needed to spill. It didn't change facts. Which was why I was still going to go through with it. Glancing over my shoulder, I answer, "You don't have to come with me. I can do it alone." I didn't want too, but if I have too, I would. At least I would try. This was me giving Maddox an out. Because coming with me might get him on Mateo's cranky side.

I looked back just in time to see Maddox's eyes widened in horror. "Excuse you. Don't even think about it. I'm not letting you go anywhere on your own, are you kidding? Do you think I have lost my fucken mind? Have you met your boyfriend? I like my nose not bleeding and unbroken." he moved towards me with heavy steps before shoving his hockey stick in my direction. "Actually, take this. As a weapon." he finished.

I looked between the hockey stick and him, trying to figure out if his serious. The look of confidence on his face made me think he was. I began to shake my head, "No. I'm not going to hit him with that."

He stared at me with a scowl and pushed it closer. "Who said you need to hit him? Hit me, if I looked like I might attack him." he explained, his tone clipping in seriousness.

I sighed, giving up because there was no point in arguing. Maddox would win, or tricky me into taking is somehow. And when I grabbed the stick, Maddox's expression lit with triumph. To which I rolled my eyes and shook my head at his idiocy. I started waking and he trailed beside me before nudging my shoulder. "Lina, what do we do when we want people to be afraid of us?" he questioned.

I rolled my eyes, starting to wonder if maybe I can hit him with the hockey stick right now. I squeezed my grip on it, temped to try as I answered, "We act crazy."

He did a slow clap. "And what else?"

I thought about that for a second. Recalling all of his so-called advice and came up blank now. Looking over at him, I shrugged, "I got no clue. That's all you told me."

"New rule." he announced, "You act crazy, and you start swinging."

I really wanted to swing this stick at him matter of fact. "Swinging?" I questioned, sensing some nonsense coming my way.

He brought his hand up into curled fist, "Yes." he swung them forward in front of him, like he was boxing, "You know hands, feet, or in your case hockey stick. And we show teeth." he dropped his hands, looking over at me with pure determination, as if this conversation was totally normal, and his advice was reasonable. "We make ourselves look like we have rabies, and we are going to bit." he explained.

I slanted him a look. "I'm not an animal. And I'm not hitting him with a hockey stick." I replied, cringing at Maddox's terrible advice. Lord? You must have messed something up when creating this one. He needs a recall.

Maddox sighed, irritated that I wasn't too happy with his advice. And I nudged him. "Plus, I got you. I don't need to do all that, you can." I grinned.

He dodged a student coming towards us and left an inch of space better us. Before I could question it, he shot me a look. "And what if I wasn't around? Then what, sweetheart?" he asked.

I bared my teeth at him playfully. "Then we bit."

His lips curled up into a sly grin and he raised his hand to pat my shoulder. "Always a quick study."

By the end of that odd conversation, I halted behind Tony. Clearing my throat, I called out, "Hey Tony." Only my voice came out quieter than I would have liked, and that must have been why he didn't turn around. The gym was still to loud, and a lot of students were hanging out and talking after the game.

I sighed, starting to pull at the hem of my jacket again as anxiety built in my chest. Shooting a glance towards Maddox, I wondered what to do. Should I walk away? Because Lord knows this might not be a good idea. I might just be letting this led me into more overthinking, and more late night worrying. Expect, I'm here, and Maddox was looked at me with support and smiling. "Where's your bite? Roar little tiger." he said, playfully snapping his teeth at me.

I nodded, exhaling a breath and took that bit of confidence boost before calling out again, "Hey Tony!" I took a step backward, realizing I feel like I'm standing a little to close and maybe I should put a little space between us, for my own comfort.

Tony turned his head over his shoulder, searching for who called him and noticed me. He spun so fast he stumbled a little, and his expression twisted with fear as he raised his hand's up in a surrendering manner. "Lina, look I don't want any problems. I'm fucken sorry." he spud, voice trembling as his attention snapped to Maddox who stood right behind my shoulder. I could feel him there, like a slick fox just looking for a way to use you for his personal agenda.

Tony took a step away from me, leaving a pretty big gap and eyed Maddox with worry. "I haven't been bothering her." he winced, hand going to his shoulder to rub it, as if he was remembering the last time he was in Maddox presence.

Maddox didn't reply, but I heard him tisk. And somehow that sound came out threaten, and a little menacing. I could feel this already going badly, and I needed to do something quick. I smiled softly. "Tony, I – ah- have a few things to say. Maddox isn't here to hurt you."

Tony shook his head wildly at me. Expression full of unsureness as his breathing speed up. "Your kidding, right? His creaking his knuckles, and I'm not staying for this." he panicked, spinning after to walk away. But before he got far, Maddox took a step around me and spoke up in a sinister tone, "I wouldn't do that if I wore you. I would stay and listen to what she has to say. Otherwise, Tony, I'll make sure your shoulders match."

I glanced at Maddox, and he was indeed creaking his knuckles, and grinning like a menace. Yeah, I wouldn't stay in his radius if he looked at me like that either. And I understand why Tony felt the need to run, especially when his experienced Maddox's threat's coming to life before. Lord? You up there? Give me the strength not to start swinging this hockey stick at Maddox.

I reached out, poking Maddox in the forearm. "Stop it." I said, using my best stern tone.

Tony finally started to turn slowly, facing us again. He still looked like he wanted to run, but was terrified too. He kind of looked terrified to stay too.

Maddox jerked back an inch, but titled his head to look at me with a smirk. "I'm not doing anything." he said, but sometime about his smirk looked oddly forced.

I narrowed my best hard gaze at him. "Yes you are. Your acting all scary."

"Acting? I dont act, sweetheart. He should be scared."

I poked him again to which he didn't jerk this time. "Stop it." I repeated.

Maddox licked his lips as they curled up, and he looked like he wanted to laugh. "Sweetheart, if I don't make him at least piss his pants, I'm not doing a good enough job in protecting you."

I gasped, grossed out by the thought of Tony peeing his pants right here. Oh, please don't let him already have done that because I might actually puke. Shaking my head, I said, "You can protect me without doing that."

"Debatable."

I opened my mouth to argue back but stopped when I felt a palm fall on my shoulder. I jerked, panic slamming into me but the palm held me steady. And behind me Kirsan started talking in a monotone that held notes of dire in it, and I relaxed again. "You might want to make this incredibly quick, because the last time I checked he is too be twenty feet from you at all times. I doubt my brother will be pleased to see his broken the rules, again. This time, it might actually cost him his life."

"I was twenty feet! She came to me." Tony squealed, fear watering his eyes.

Maddox took a step towards him, chin tipping down in intimidation. "Blame her for one more thing, and you'll forget what it's like to have teeth." he threatened.

I don't know what came over me, but I found myself lifting the hockey stick and swinging it at Maddox. Not hard of course, but a tap for sure. I promise I didn't hit him hard, just enough to get his attention. Guess that prayer from earlier didn't work so much. And in front of me, Maddox tipped his head sideway and narrowed those pale stained eyes at me. "What the actual fuckery, Lina?" he clipped.

I brought the hockey stick back, leaning on it and sheepishly answered, "You looked like you might attack him, and you told me to hit you if you do that."

Kiran cleared his throat, sounding like he was doing everything to not laugh as Maddox looked at me like he wanted to go into a full argument with me. "Lina, dear, how about we get this over with?" Kirsan said, squeezing my shoulder before letting go and taking the stick from me.

I tore my attention from Maddox and nodded. "Right." I muttered, turning to look back at Tony who watched us with confusion and pure terror. I should make this quick, put him out of his misery and all. Straighten up a little, I took a breath in to find some more courage. "Tony." I started, "You hurt me. Actually, you hurt me bad. You made me feel worthless, and you firsthand knew how much of that I was already feeling. You disregarded our entire relationship for what? Because I don't understand. I thought we were good, I planned a future for us, and you crushed it all. Back then, I was hurt. I was devastated actually but I came to realize something. You were a steppingstone. I needed to be hurt because I needed to learn how to heal. I needed to understand weak love, in order to know strong love. I'm not proud of how thing's turned out, and I apologize for what you went through. But I wanted to thank you. Thank you for showing me how I shouldn't be loved."

He blinked at me, his fear fading away and remorse flooding his gaze. "I'm sorry, Lina for what I did to you. I was stupid, clueless, and you didn't deserve that." he said, looking so apologetic.

I nodded. "I didn't." I said, and for once I know that I deserved better. I'm not going to settle for less anymore. I smiled at him, "For what it's worth, I hope you find someone who can make you happy."

He smiled sadly, about to say something but that previews fear tore back into his eyes when he glanced behind me. My brow's creased in confusion, but I didn't have time to look behind me because a hockey stick wrapped around my torso and pulled me backwards. I stumbled, and before I could steady myself, it was done for me with an arm wrapping around my collarbone, and across my chest.

A solid body, ridged and tensed collided with my back and locked me into its hold. I smelt the raw sandalwood aroma, and the fresh scent of his shower and relaxed instantly in his hold. Dropping the back of my head to his chest, I could feel all my anxiety start to dissolve. Like always, it was like stepping through the threshold of your home.

I tipped my head backwards more, looking towards him and found his storm in the horizon eyes already on me. "What's going on?" he clipped, his attention bouncing between Tony and me.

I could see the snarl on his lips forming, and I smiled, hoping to ease him. "I had a few things I wanted to say to him." I explained, but I could see that Mateo's look was turned darker by the second, and it was no longer on me. The sleeping storm under his skin was waking, and someone needed to put it back to sleep before it swept across the world. I spun around in his hold and wrapped my arms around his torso. Instantly, his arm slide around my back and pulled me protectively closer to him.

I smiled, resting my chin on his chest as I looked up at him. "Hey pretty boy." I whispered; my attention being stolen by all of him.

His winter forest eyes snapped down to me, staring at me for a second in a harden manner before warmth finally started to peer though. He was still tense, but I could see him calming a little. But he didn't release his hold on me, I swear he held on tighter as if he was trying to hide me, or keep me secure forever. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"In your arms? Always."

His resting face remained hard around the edges, but I knew that was because of Tony, and I couldn't blame him for it. Clenching his jaw into sharp edges, he replied, "Don't talk sweet to me. What are you doing, love?"

"I need to get a few things off my chest." I explained, panic tightened my voice. I hoped he understand. And he did of course, because he was always understanding and supportive. His wilderness eyes filled with affection and compassion. "Did you do it?" he asked.

I nodded, smiling even more as I gazed up at him with so much appreciation and respect. I knew he didn't like the idea of me talking to Tony, but he didn't stop me. He didn't scowl me for it, and he didn't blame me for it. His first instinct was to protect me. A lesser man would have shamed me. And that's something I have come to realize. All those terrible things I blamed myself for. That whole freshman night, and even my betrayal with Tony, none of it was my fault. My dad walking out, it wasn't my fault. All their chooses were their own, and they were not based on me. They were based on their own hearts. And in my heart, I no longer blame myself.

He leaned down towards me so close that I could see the hiding patches of brown in his eyes, and smell his mint breath. "If you have anything else to say to him, do it now, love, because the idea of you talking to him makes me murderous. Actually, just looking at him making me want to peel his face off so I never have to see it again. Even knowing his breathing over there, the same air as you are, I want to pour dirt down his throat because his unworthy of it. So, love, do you have anything else to say to him or can he leave my sight before my ideas become reality?"

I should be revolted at his statement but I wasn't. Instead I smiled, and bouncing up onto my toes to get closer to him. "I have nothing else." I said.

His scowl returned sharply, twitching his upper lip. And his attention snapped up above me as he jerked his hockey stick at Tony. "You heard her. Get yourself far from me or I'll be needing a new hockey stick, and you, a new hospital bed, or grave. Which ever is quicker." he snapped, "And don't send another lawyer my way otherwise it will be you going missing this time instead of your laywer."

He tried to sue him? For the beating I'm assuming. But I didn't question it. Some things are better left unknown. And I didn't turn to see him run, I heard him, I heard Maddox laughing like the whole scene was start out of some comedy too.

Mateo looked back toward me, a smirk of triumph settling. "You shouldn't be that mean." I muttered, but he laughed and tipped his head downwards too me. "Mean? Love, that was me being nice and behaving for you. If it wasn't for your pure goodness he wouldn't have walked away."

I opened my mouth to respond but Kirsan spoke up, "We rather not watch you make out. If you plan to then please let us know so we can leave."

I pulled away from Mateo, who scowled at the fact but Kirsan was right. I didn't want to make him uncomfortable in anyway, and I'll bet watching his brother make out with his girlfriend isn't all that pleasing. But Mateo wasn't to happy about it because his jaw flex and his gaze darker up at his brother. "But you don't mind watching Maddox?" he clipped, making my eyes widened in shock.