'Now we are falling, falling down'

After work I go back home, but I couldn't shake this sick feeling in my stomach. I didn't like being apart from Tyson, not after those two guys hurt him so effortlessly.

Anna is studying on the couch, her lecture notes spread out with her laptop resting in her lap. "Why the shit did you come back here so early this morning?" She asks.

"Sorry, I had an early shoot." I head to my room to pack my bag.

"You staying during the week too?" She asks as I head back out.

"Yeah, is that okay? Are you alright here?"

She waves her hand, "of course, I will just invite Lincoln over;" she winks at me.

I try to smile, but I don't think it's very convincing. "Hey...what's wrong?"

"Nothing, just a bit tired is all," I try to give another small smile.

"Everything okay with the boyfriend?" I can see the concern in her eyes.

Apparently I wasn't very good at hiding my emotions.

"Of course," I walk over and give her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Ring me if you need me," this time I give her a real smile.

"Okay, you just look after yourself; don't work too hard."

I know Tyson will still be in class so I decide to text Charlotte, asking her where she is at the moment. She replies straight away and I start driving to Tate's.

She opens the door before I knock. "Is everything okay?" She asks.

"Yeah...I was just wondering when you are going to the gym next?"

"I mean we can go right now if you like?"

"That would be great!"

"Okay, just let me change," she turns on her heels quickly.

Tate is sitting on the couch watching a movie. "Hi Bella," he gives me a quick smile before turning back to the movie.

"Hey," I say kind of awkwardly, it is a little strange us just being on our own; I feel like not enough time had passed for that.

Charlotte comes back, giving Tate a quick kiss on the lips. "Are you driving?" She asks me.

"Yeah that's fine," I wasn't really sure what I was doing, but I know that Charlotte knows how to fight; after last night I feel like some self defence would be helpful.

"What's with the sudden gym urge?" She asks. It was a fair question; we don't really ever hang out like this.

"Actually, I was hoping you could teach me to fight, or at least defend myself a little."

I can feel her gaze on me as we drive. "Is everything okay?" She asks concerned.

"Yeah, I just had this guy follow me at a club the other weekend, and it got me thinking," I lie. I feel like she wouldn't have believed me saying I just wanted to know all of the sudden.

"Okay, I can teach you, but it might take a bit."

After two hours getting thrown around by Charlotte, I call it quits. I drop her back to Tate's and make my way to Tyson's, going through the different motions she taught me today. She is really good actually; I'd never want to fight her for real.

She taught me to go for the weak areas; eyes, noise, throat. If I could get a knee into their groin, it would most likely give me enough time to escape.

Tyson is cooking in the kitchen; the door has been fixed and some of the drywall has been plastered. "Hey," I say as I wrap my arms around his waist from behind.

He turns around to kiss me. "Hey," he smiles back. His right eye has started to darken and his lip has a scab forming from where it was split.

"Did people ask questions?"

He turns back to keep cooking, but I keep hugging him from behind; resting my head on his shoulder. "Yeah, I just said I got drunk and mouthed off to some strangers," he says nonchalantly.

"Are you in pain?"

"It's not bad, nothing I'm not use to," he says and my heart hurts with his words.

"What do you mean?" I whisper.

"There were lots of fights at the orphanage, Jace taught me how to defend myself; and Tate taught me how to fight harder and quicker. In the end it was usually me causing someone to look the way I do now, but those guys are just so massive," he sounds a little defeated.

"I felt so helpless," I admit.

"I hate that I put you in danger," he turns the stove off and faces me again, softly brushing my hair from my face.

"How about we don't talk about it anymore for tonight?" I say playfully to lighten the mood.

"Okay then, how about we talk about how ridiculously hot you look in these workout clothes?" I forgot I was wearing a sports bra and some tight leggings. "Why don't you wear this all the time?" He asks cheekily. He kisses me hard, picking me up and walking to his bed; as I wrap my legs around him.

"What about the dinner?" I ask breaking from his kiss.

"Dessert first," he smiles sexily.