In For A Surprise

***************

CHAPTER 21

They tried to hold him back, though they were doing a really bad job as Ethan was almost breaking free from their grasp.

"Ethan…" Skai called out, making his tensed muscles relax a bit.

"He's not worth it… let's get out of here," she said, placing her hands on his chest in an attempt to calm him down.

Ethan wasn't still convinced, but Skai pressed on, "Don't worry, I'm fine. Let's just get out of here."

This time, Ethan listened. He nodded, raising his hands slightly to show that he was done with Craig who was spitting out blood from his mouth.

Ethan dipped his hands into his pocket, brought out his wallet and dropped more than enough cash notes on the table.

"Come on, Skai. I don't want you breathing the same air as this piece of trash."

Saying that Ethan took her hands in his and pulled her away from the scene.

Once they were in the car, Ethan fastened his seat belt, his hands tightly gripping the steering wheel as his chest rose and fell, taking deep breaths.

All the while Skai remained silent where she sat, letting him ease up his rage.

Up till they got to the car, he had gently pulled her along with him, and opened the car door for her to sit in the passenger seat before joining in. Still, Ethan did not plan this and had not shown so much rage until this moment.

After a minute, Skai turned her head in his direction, gently placing her left hand on his shoulder. "Ethan?"

There was no response. Not for a while until he tightened his grip on the steering and asked, "Why?"

Skai bit her lower lip. She may not have known exactly why but she could guess what he asked. "Why? Because…"

"Why did you let that scumbag sorry excuse of a human being trash talk you like that?"

He whipped his head in her direction, his eyes gleaming dangerously as he stared at her. "Why, Skai? Haven't you been treated worse already?"

Her eyes glistened, shaking in their sockets. Skai lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.

"Answer me… please."

The softness in his tone made her body shudder slightly. He cared. Someone actually cared. Someone not her family member cared and wished to protect her.

"I… I was going to put him in his place when you come in," Skai explained.

"Not good enough." He huffed before letting go of the steering wheel.

Placing one hand under her chin, he brought her face to the side, his warm gaze held hers, like they were searching her eyes.

"I'm sorry you had to see me like that… But then, you should also learn to speak up okay?" He said in a lower and soft voice.

He stretched out his hands to grab hers in his, they felt small in his grasp. "You don't deserve to be talked to that way, to be treated that way."

Skai nodded, short of words. Looking in his eyes, she could see the genuinity of his anger, his care, his emotions.

"I know I apologized about how I reacted but if something like this repeats itself again, I won't sit back and watch…" he said, making Skia smile a bit.

"Maybe that time, I might have someone's head on the floor." He added and Skai's eyes widened as they both chuckled at Ethan's words.

"Home?" He asked as their laughter died down.

Skai nodded at first, her head bubbling slightly up and down. "Yeah… Home." She replied, a brief pause before thanking him. "Thanks, Ethan. Thanks for standing up for me. It means a lot."

"Let's get you home." Ethan replied, turning the key to ignite the car engine before zooming off.

********

As soon as Skai woke up the next day and checked the time on her phone, she was bombarded with a series of texts and calls. But that wasn't the issue.

The issue?

All were from Craig and Zoe—her ex and his bitchy girlfriend.

Zoe: How dare you let someone else hit my man!

Zoe: Skai you are a bitch.

Zoe: I swear l'll sue you.

Zoe: Fuck you and your man. Be prepared to pay for damages and go to jail.

Skai scanned through the curses and shook her head.

"Typical drama queen."

Glancing at the messages from her fuming ex, her lips tugged up at a corner. He was stupid raging in her chat like that.

Craig: Skai! Damn you bitch and you stupid man whore!

Craig: I knew you weren't pure. What a fake ass bitch. I'll sue him for what he did.

Craig: I'll….

At the last message she stopped reading alltoghter and was about to drop her phone when a message popped into her chat.

Her eyes widened briefly, her lashes blinking in shock as she retracted her steps back for he chat and read out the name.

"Shane."

Her eyes glistened with tears. Her lips trembling a bit when she saw the care in those words.

Shane: Skai, how are you? I was told Storm sent a message. I'm pretty sure Shawn did too.

Shane: It's stupid asking how you are. You must feel bad. Be safe. Whatever decision you chose, it's fine. Be good.

A rear slid down her cheek as she quickly wiped it away, reareading his message again.

Occasionally she got this type of message from him when her brothers had each done their fair share of mental hurt.

He was her balm, yet he never failed to pick his twin over her.

That hurt in ways she could not explain.

For once, Skai wished someone would take her side. Just anyone.

Brrrrrrhhhh!

Her eyes darted to the top of her screen when she felt her phone vibrate.

The name she saw made her heart jump into her throat.

Mr. Damien Raphael.

Gulp!

She swallowed visibly, her hands shaking as it inched towards the accept icon but just before she could connect the call, it ended.

"Enh?"