1 Love is Worth Fighting For

"Where'd you get that wound?" I ask.

"Nowhere."

"I highly doubt that, what happened?" I push the subject further, trying to get an answer from her. "Did you get into another fight again Katie?"

"Maybe."

I sigh as we walk along the sidewalk to school. "You really shouldn't be fighting, I told you that it wouldn't be a fair one this time." I always try to get her out of something, but it never works. "Will you at least come with me to my appointment today?"

"Fine, as long as it's not surgery, I am perfectly fine," She holds her school books closer to her chest. It's always been the one thing she is scared of, watching someone get cut open. I don't know why that scares her, but it's called an abnormal fear for a reason.

"He brought a knife didn't he?" I ask quietly.

"She brought a knife. And she knew how to use it."

I pick her up by the waist and carry her, Marine style.

She tries to fight me, but she doesn't realize that I am actually stronger than her.

I hold her as tightly as I can, without killing her. We walk for a long while, and then we enter a hospital, and I tie her to the chair with my sweatshirt. "Don't move," I tell her.

"Do you really think I can?" She almost yells.

I head up to registration.

The blonde nurse recognizes me and smiles. "I'm guessing that Katie got into another fight?"

I nod, "This time she really is fighting me. So I suggest other means of bringing her in."

"Alright, I shall let the other nurses know."

I turn to walk towards Katie.

"I swear, I will punish you when we get home."

"I'm so scared," I say sarcastically. She has always been like this, but what she doesn't realize is that I have a crush on her, and I fight for her sake. I fear that if she knew how I felt, she would reject me.

In no time at all, the doctor comes into the waiting room. "Katie," She says.

"Alright, time to go," I say and pick up the chair and follow the doc.

"I'm guessing it's the usual today?" She asks as we enter an examination room.

I set Katie down and untie her, "Yep, don't you dare run from me now."

"Trust me, I remember what happened last time."

I smile, "Good."

Last time she tried to fight me and run off. It didn't go well for her, but at least she got the treatment she needed.

The doctor sighs, "You really need to stop getting into fights, one of these days you are going to get seriously injured."

"I hope that doesn't happen," I say quietly.

Apparently Katie heard what I said, "I can handle myself, you don't need to watch out for me all the time."

"I don't want to lose you," I quickly cover my mouth, look away and blush.

I glance back after a while and she is blushing a light pink.

The doc looks her over and stitches the wound on her arm closed. "You may have a scar here, next time, I suggest that you either defend yourself better or bring a weapon of your own. And you did not hear it from me."

"Our lips are sealed," I say, and I notice that Katie smiled.

Her smile is so beautiful, I wish she smiled more often. Her eyes sparkle like sapphires, and her lips turn a light pink, almost like a pink rose. The one you find in a rose bush, fully bloomed with a few dew drops on the soft petals. I look at her, and it's like she's an angel somehow. I can easily see the wings protruding from her back.

I don't know how, but my thoughts go onto a different road. I picture her in my room, sadly it's rather small.

I accidentally caught her changing into her sports outfit. "Sorry," I say, and turn to leave.

"Get your ass back here," She demands.

I come back into the room. "What if I don't listen?"

"Then I guess you won't get the chance to touch these." She unhooks her purple and black lace bra. I just stare, frozen in place, I find them to be very beautiful, round, and they look so soft.

The door closes behind me, when I go to look, she pins me against the wall roughly, and kisses me.

I shake my head as fast as I can. I can't have those thoughts right now. I feel very warm and fuzzy down in my private places.

"Are you okay?" Katie asks. She has a confused look on her face. "Your face is really red right now. You got a fever or something?"

"No," My mind seems a bit high. I know I have to try and hide my feelings, but sometimes it's really hard.

The doc finishes her exam, and escorts us out, "No more fights."

"Can't promise that." We both say at the same time.

I wave goodbye, and we both head to my house for some cake.

Once we get there, Katie hesitates, "What were you thinking about? Your face was so red at the emergency room."

I stop while I open the fridge, "It was nothing, my brain just wandered off."

"Were you thinking about a boy?"

"Sure, let's go with that," I say.

"Right. You know I will find out eventually," She points her fork, slightly covered in chocolate frosting, at me.

"I'll tell you when I want to," I grab a gallon of milk and a couple of glasses.

"Fine, but I'm still going to push the subject," She says as I pour her a glass of milk.

"You still won't get an answer from me."

She puts on her frowny face, and I laugh a little.

"That face suits you so well," I tease.

She lightly punches my arm, "Jerk."

"Don't test me Katie."

"You know, I wonder. Why is it that people want to fight me all the time?"

"Well, I know that you like to pick fights all the time," I say.

"I don't see you standing up for yourself."

"I just worry about you, that's all."

I notice that she glances at the clock, "Well, I guess I better go. It's almost noon. I'm pretty sure that the school has already called my father."

"Can I walk you home?" I ask, hesitantly.

"I'll be fine, besides, you're not my boyfriend," She walks out the door, closing it behind her.

I feel a tug on my heart strings and there are tears poking the back of my eyes. I try not to let it get to me, I put everything away and escort her out. When I get to my room, the tears just start to slowly make their way down my cheeks. She has never said anything like that to me and it hurts a lot.

When I finish crying I head downstairs to take my medicine. It's almost time for dinner, and my parents still aren't home. That's typical, my parents don't really care what I do. They are really glad that I haven't fought anyone in a couple months. I take a deep breath and try to relax. "Everything is going to be fine, she doesn't know that you have feelings for her."

My phone starts to ring, and I answer it with a sense of urgency. This number is from the hospital and, I am not sure why, but something seems off.

"Hello?"

"Hi, is this May?"

"Yes, it is. What's up?"

"It's Katie."

I hang up and grab my things, including a small panda stuffed animal, just in case. I rush to the hospital, luckily it's close by. When I get there our usual doctor greets me at the door.

"You need to follow me."

I follow her as fast as I can, and we enter the ICU (Intensive Care Unit). "What happened?"

"We're not exactly sure, a man found her on the street, she was unconscious when he found her."

We enter the room that she's in and I immediately start crying.

Her once fair skin is covered in cuts and bruises, one of her eyes is black. With a closer look, I can see that she has stitches on her chest. "Was she stabbed in the chest?"

The nurse that is there hesitates. She knows how angry I can get, I've shown it once before.

"Yes, a few of her bones have been broken too. The police will be here later, they asked to speak with you."

I go to Katie's bed side, sit and grab her limp hand. "When will she wake up?"

"We're not exactly sure. But she should wake up any day now."

"Thank you."

"We will keep you updated."

"Alright."

They all leave, and I get up, "When I find out who did this to you, I will have them murdered. I promise you that much."

A little later the police come in, and they want to know more about Katie.

"We have been told by the other nurses and doctors that she liked to get into fights with other people?"

I nod, "But this is different. Some bitch got into a fight with her and brought a knife. We were here earlier to get her cut stitched up." I point out the stitches on her shoulder. "If anything, the same person might have done this."

"Do you know who this person is?" His partner asks.

I shake my head. "We both have a lot of enemies, it's hard to tell you who all could hurt us."

He continues to write in his little notebook, which starts to annoy me.

"Is there anything else we should know?" He asks.

"Yes, but this is about me. You better find them before I do."

They just nod and leave.

I look back at Katie, and think about all the fun times we have had. She has always loved it when I baked for her, the cake we had was fresh from the oven.

We even snuck into a bar one time, and some drunk tried putting the moves on her. I beat that guy senseless, I almost couldn't control myself. The cops were called and the fight was broken up. Neither of us were charged with anything, as long we never went back. Besides, bars are boring.

I look at the clock and I realize that it's almost three in the morning, it's been a long night and the nurses were kind enough to set up a bed for me, right next to hers. Once I get comfortable, I instantly fall asleep.

I slowly open my eyes the next morning, Katie still isn't awake yet. I rub my eyes, and they start adjusting to the light in the room.

"Did you sleep well?" A nurse to my left asks.

"I guess, just really worried about her."

"I can't imagine what's going through your head, but I can somewhat relate."

"Really?"

She nods. "I lost my husband for almost a week. He finally woke up on our anniversary. It was the best day of my life."

"Well, sadly, we are not together," I say quietly.

She smiles. "I think you two would make a great couple," she leaves the room and leaves me dumbfounded.

I'm pretty sure she heard what I said, I can't be too surprised. I glance over at Katie and I notice that she is stirring a little bit. I go over to her and I hold her hand again. "It's okay, it's just a nightmare," I say to her, but I don't think she can hear me.

The doctor comes in, and notices that I am still here, "Hey, we had to call her parents and let them know that she's here."

I give her the death stare, "That was the worst mistake of your life. He can't come here, I won't allow that."

She sighs, "Legally we have to, even though I tried to get out of it as best as I could. I know how bad they are."

"He better not come here, I will kill him. I'm not too worried about her mother though. Considering that she is in jail for armed robbery."

Her jaw clenches. "We all know their history, I didn't want to, I promise."

I clench my fist really hard, and my knuckles turn white, "He abused her, and he drinks a lot. But the worst thing that he has ever done to her," I feel it on the tip of my tongue but it won't come out.

"I know, it hurts me just to think about it."

I nod, "I don't want to talk about it at all."

She nods and leaves the room.

I stay for a few more days, and the nurses try to get me to go to school, but I know that I can't leave. I refuse to leave without her by my side.

I hear the door open and I stand up. Knowing it's her father I give him the death stare with tears in my eyes. "Why are you here?"

"Hospital called, why are you here?" He asks, irritated.

"For support and to keep the likes of you away from her," I say. I look him up and down and I can tell that he has been drinking again, he always does. "What do you want?"

"You know, I've always wondered, why are you always with her?" His words are slurring, he's definitely drunk.

"That is none of your business. Get out of here, and I won't have to hurt you."

"You can't do that," He says, pulling a bottle of whisky out of his coat. "You don't have her with you, and last I knew, you didn't fight anymore," he leans against the wall beside him, and takes a long swig.

"I don't want to hurt you, don't make me. Just leave and never come back here, ever," I really don't want to hurt him. I have had enough trouble with him in the past. I don't want anymore than I need.

I quickly press the red button on the remote that is next to Katie's hand.

"What's up?" The nurse says.

"I would like you to get security up here, there is someone in here that shouldn't be."

"Alright."

He gives me that I'm-gonna-kill-you look, "Do you really think that's going to stop me? I have more muscle than that."

I glance behind him, hoping an officer comes quick.

He laughs at me and wipes the whiskey from his mouth. "I'm going to enjoy this."

I stand my ground, and hold my right back pocket. "Don't do this, I can take care of her, just leave us alone!"

He breaks the whiskey bottle on the door, making his intentions clear. "She is my daughter, and I can do whatever I want with her!" He lunges at me with the broken bottle aimed at my throat.

I easily dodge it, there's no talking anymore. Mom, Dad, please forgive me. My instinct is to go for his stomach, it will immobilize anyone. I swiftly try to land the blow.

He regains his balance and swings the sharp glass at me.

The glass manages to cut me just above the eyebrow. Blood trickles into my eye. I quickly wipe it away so I can see.

He lunges at me again, and I grab his wrist and force my knee into his elbow, breaking his arm.

He cries out from the pain. "You bitch! You'll pay for that!"

I ignore him and use a high kick to kick him in the chin. He should be disoriented from that, then again alcohol makes you resistant for some of that.

He staggered to his feet, and tosses a chair at me.

As I dodge it and push it out of Katie's way, he manages to sneak up on me and grabs me by the throat.

I struggle to breathe, and try to pry his fingers away.

He hits me over and over again.

My head is spinning, wondering where the security officers are.

"I'll teach you the same lesson I taught her." He lifts up my shirt, and runs his finger down my belly.

Suddenly three officers come in. "Let her go, and put your hands in the air!"

It's not long after that, I black out.

"Hey, wake up!" I hear her voice from far away. Did she finally wake up?

I open my eyes, and a nurse standing above me, shining a light into my eyes.

"She's responding. May, can you hear me?"

I try to speak, but no words can come out. I nod. My throat hurts like hell, and I have a killer headache. I look over and Katie is in a wheelchair beside me.

We both tear up at the same time.

"Hey you." She smiles.

The nurses lift me up and place me in the bed they set up. I'm given a full exam, and they have me take some painkillers.

When they leave us alone, I motion for Katie to come closer.

She leans in as close as she can, without hurting herself. "What's up?"

I gently brush a hair out her face, and I kiss her passionately.

She's surprised at first but kisses me back.

We both lean back.

"I never knew you were gay." She says with a smile on her face.

"Tch. You...never...asked." I speak slowly, it's still painful, but at least I still have my voice.

She strokes my hair. "You should have confessed to me sooner, then I would've spent more time with you."

"I didn't...want you...to hate..me."

"I would never hate you, besides, I've wanted to tell you something for a long time too."

She tells me that she has liked me for a while too, she just didn't know how to go about it.

We stay together in the hospital for the next few weeks, waiting for each other to heal.

On the last night before we get discharged we lay together in the same bed.

"Who hurt you?" I ask her, while stroking her hair.

"The same girl as before, but she brought a few friends."

I don't say anything, but I know what I have to do. It's time I go back into the fighting rings. Her love is worth fighting for.