8 CHAPTER 8

C A S S I D Y

"Jake!" I screamed as his fist connected with Aiden's face. I stood frozen watching as Jake repeatedly pumbled his fist into his face, sparing him no mercy. Everyone around us in the mall started gathering around, trying to see what was going on. Embarrassment flooded my body and i wanted to ground to open up and swallow me. I could hear muffled screams surrounding me, making my head go fuzzy. It wasn't until it stopped that i realised it was me.

"Jake please stop!" i screamed out again.

"Better listen to your bitch Jake" Aiden smirked. Never before had i seen someone look so angry in my life. The fury was rolling off of Jake, his jaw clenched so hard that i was surprised that he hadn't broken it. I had never see Jake look this angry, it scared me honestly. My head snapped to the side finding Elliot, sending him a look of terror and hoping he would so something to stop them fighting.

"Jake man, come on. You're scaring Cass" Elliot shouted at him and i could see Jake tense up, slightly turning his head to the side to look at Elliot. But Elliot's words did nothing to stop Jake, as he immediately went back to destroying Aiden's face.

"Jake!" He shouted, running over to Jake and trying to pull him back. I started walking towards Jake, hoping that i would be able to do something to break up the fight. After all, it started because of me.

"Cassidy stay where you are. I don't want you getting hurt" Elliot growled, grabbing my arm and moving me away. Jake stopped as Elliot spoke, turning his body fully towards us, watching us both.

"Cassidy, listen to Elliot" Jake spoke to me. I couldn't do anything but nod my head. My eyes flitted over to the boy behind him, and i instantly regretted it. Aiden stood there with a sickening smile on his face, making my knees give out from fear. Jake noticed this straight away, turning back to his old friend and swinging his fist at him once again.

"If you so much as look in her direction again i will kill you" Jake spat out at Aiden between punches. Aiden's face was covered in blood and it looked as though he was about to give up, but this was Aiden we were talking about.

"So Jake has feeling's for little Cassidy. Never saw that coming" Aiden laughed, mustering the strength to push Jake off of him. My breathing stopped as Aiden managed to get the upper hand and smashed his fist into Jake's face.

"Aiden stop" i screamed trying to pull away from Elliot. "Elliot let me go. I need to stop this" i cried, but Elliot held on tighter.

"I won't let you get hurt Cassidy. Jake would kill me" he whispered in my ear. But i didn't care. I fought to get out of Elliot's hold as Aiden continued to gain the upper hand. After thirty seconds of squirming i suddenly stopped. Make Elliot think you have given up and then when he loosens his hold make a break for it.

"I'm not going anywhere Elliot" i whispered in hopes he would believe me. And he did. His hold on my gradually loosened to the point that i could break free. With no planning at all, i slammed my right foot back into his knee and swung my arms out of his hold, running straight for Jake.

"Jake look out" Elliot shouted. I knew he was trying to warn him but it was too late. I was already jumping on Aiden's back to distract him from hitting Jake. Aiden froze, confused as to what was happening, looking over his shoulder to look at me. His face grew into a sick smirk before ripping my arms away from his neck and slamming me onto the floor. Pain erupted from my left ankle as i hit the floor, screams flying from my mouth. My ankle was definitely broken. Everyone around me grew quiet, Jake and Aiden turning their attention to me instead of fighting.

"God sake Cassidy, what did i tell you" Elliot growled as he ran over to my side. Jake's face held anger and concern, an emotion i had yet to see aimed at me.

"Why would you do that" Jake shouted at me, as he joined Elliot at my side.

"I was trying to help" i cried out.

"By getting yourself hurt!" he shouted back.

"I'm sorry Jake" i muttered, shutting him up and turning away from him. I didn't want to see that look of anger on his face. "I didn't know what to so to get you to stop fighting. You wouldn't listen to my screams".

"We need to get you to the hospital Cass" Elliot informed me. "Your ankle sure looks broken".

"How could you be so stupid" Jake asked me.

"Well i didn't think i would end up hurt, or else i wouldn't of done it" i spat back at him. "I was trying to get you two to stop fighting" i added. Jake grabbed me by the shoulders and wrapped his arms around me.

"You stupid, stupid girl. Don't ever do anything like that again" he muttered into my hair. "I should probably call our parents" he said as he pulled away, pulling his phone out of his pocket and started dialling someone's phone number. Everyone's attention got pulled away from me for a few seconds as they all figured out what to do. A hand on my shoulder got my attention and i turned to see who it was. Aiden was knelt beside me, straight faced and serious.

"Next time you won't be as lucky" he whispered before getting up and walking off into the crowd. My breath got caught in my throat as i took in what he said. 'Next time you won't be as lucky'. He was threatening us.

"Cass, you look white as a ghost" Elliot frowned at me.

"Yeah, my ankle just really hurts" i spoke through gritted teeth.

"The ambulance and your Dad are on their way Cass. Just hold on" Elliot said pulling me into his chest. As comforting as Elliot's chest was, i couldn't help but think about what Aiden had threatened. My head started spinning and the sounds around me were muffled once again.

"Cass?" i heard Elliot question as I fought to stay conscious, to wait for the ambulance and the paramedics to arrive but the pounding in my head was too much. My eyes fluttered closed, and i was enveloped into darkness.