Summer, 2017.
Clare squealed merrily as Felix put his arms around her waist and lifted her up, heading to the sea with a quick step. Feeling the cold drops of water that brushed her body with each wave, she shouted joyfully, guessing what her beloved was preparing towards her.
With her legs, she entwined her hips with his, thus trying to stay on top of him so that he would not throw her into the water. Seeing the roguish smile on his face, she had no doubt about his intentions. He was planning to punish her.
- Will you be good? - He asked with jealousy evident on his face. He didn't like it when Clare smiled at other boys because he claimed that her smile was too beautiful and thus attracted too many men to her. Clare knew very well that her smile was her greatest asset, and this way she could see if Felix cared about her.
- And when you talk to other girls, is it good? More than once I saw their hungry eyes! They would even devour you and most willingly jump on you, but you didn't mind! - she replied with indignation in her voice, looking into his eyes. Felix held her dangerously above the water, but she clung tightly to him, not intending to let him go.
- I can, but you can't because you belong to me and I won't give you away to anyone," he stated with a sassy smile on his face.
- Oh yeah? So what? I'm your property and I can't smile at other guys when you can be allowed to do anything?
- You can do whatever you want, as long as you don't flirt with other guys. It drives me crazy, and I don't think you want me to hurt anyone - he said, leaning over her. - After all, you know that I can be impulsive. Especially when it comes to you.
Clare squinted, but his expression confirmed to her how much he cared, so she smiled involuntarily.
- I think I picked the wrong type of boyfriend. With you, I'm afraid to go out anywhere," she announced half-jokingly.
- Remember. Bullies love the most.
*
Summer, 2018.
She stared in disbelief at the six-foot-nine boy with brown hair and blue eyes, unable to get a word out. His sudden appearance shocked Clare, especially since he acted as if she were a stranger to him. He pretended that he didn't know her at all.
- Talk to me - she said quietly when she noticed that he was about to leave the tent. The nurse attended to Clare's wound, to which the blonde paid no attention at all. Currently, the object of her attention was Felix. She didn't care about anything else.
- I'm working. I don't have time to chat," he revealed in a hushed tone, standing with his back to her. - Your friend is running here. - After these words, he went outside, and Clare closed her eyelids as she was pained by her ex-boyfriend's dismissive behavior. She believed that their first meeting after the breakup would be different, but how could she have thought so? Judging by his attitude, she was sure that she meant nothing to him. Just why couldn't she forget him?
She forced a smile as a panicked Paul ran into the tent. She felt that at least he was concerned about her health.
- I heard what happened... - His frightened gaze fixed on the injured hand that the nurse was dressing.
He turned pale at the sight of blood.
- Paul, are you all right? - She asked with a little amusement in her voice when she saw his face. - I get the impression that in a while it will be you who will need care. Go outside and take a deep breath. I'm fine," she said. - He politely obeyed his friend and immediately left the tent. The nurse smiled at the corner of her mouth as she finished wrapping his hand with a bandage.
- Today's men are softer than women," she said, referring to Clare's friend.
- Most are, but not all," the girl replied, offended by Felix's behavior. He hadn't changed. He was still an asshole, and even worse than before.
She went outside and smiled slightly when she saw Paul sitting on the sand. The sight of the blood weakened him, but it only took a brief moment for him to recover. At the sight of the blonde, he rose from the ground and shrugged his shorts off the sand.
- Are you all right?
- That's a question you should ask yourself. And I'm no longer talking about my hand, but about Felix. I saw him come out of the tent. - She sensed indignation in his voice.
- He was simply there and helped me. He led me to the tent. He didn't even want to talk to me," she replied reproachfully.
- And that's why you have such a face? - Paul was unhappy with the presence of Clare's ex-boyfriend. - It wears you down to find him. I can see how much you want to talk to him.
- Is it something wrong! - Not controlling her anger, she raised her voice, which she regretted a moment later. - I'm sorry. I just want to know why he left me....
- Do you want to impose on him? Show how weak you are? To appear to be an idiot? - She looked into her friend's eyes and saw regret in them. - Don't humiliate yourself, Clare. He was just playing with you. That's precisely what it looks like.
The girl squirmed as Paul's words hit her too hard. If that was indeed the case... if he was playing with her because she was a rich maiden....
Felix hated wealthy people, claiming that they were too much of a reigning champion and treated the poor with contempt, but he thought Clare was different. That's why he expressed interest in her. She was different. She fit in more with the common people than with the rich. She did not show from herself that she came from a wealthy family. She did not exalt herself. She treated everyone equally.
- I may demean myself, but I have to find him. I want to know the truth! - she shouted unexpectedly, and tears glazed in her eyes. - I want to know if he really played with me, and if not, what was the reason that he treated me so cruelly. Otherwise, I'll never get over him - she said.
Paul shook his head, but didn't say a word. Clare was stubborn, so he knew that stopping her by force made no sense. If she wanted to suffer again, it was only at her request. He wanted to avoid that. Since she was fierce, he wasn't going to get in her way.
The blonde ran toward the main beach, where most people were playing. The sand prevented her from moving efficiently, so every now, and then she tripped over her feet.
- Clare. - She heard Nina's voice. She stopped. - Is everything okay with your hand? I'm sorry, it's my fault. If you hadn't stood up for me, then you wouldn't have been hurt.
- I couldn't stand idly by while that scab tried to humiliate you. I hate it," she said, tightening her lips in anger. - Why didn't you tell me that Felix was a waiter?
- I wanted to, but I didn't have time because you left. I'm sorry.
- I need to talk to him. Do you know where he is at the moment? - She asked, looking carefully at her friend. She noticed that her eyes opened wider when something caught her attention. The blonde followed her gaze and froze.
- It seems to me that currently it will be impossible.
Clare put her hand to her mouth as Felix punched Ian. The brunet slightly staggered backward and was about to return the blow, but the boy nimbly dodged. Clare knew that Felix was good at this because he practiced underground fighting. These were illegal brawls that spectators bet on before the fight, and with continued victories Felix earned big money. Clare was at first enthralled by his technique and often went to watch his exploits, but when it became more and more brutal, then she did everything to stop him.
Currently, she wasn't worried about her ex-boyfriend, but more about her colleague, who was in a lost position. He deserved it, but she didn't want Felix to get carried away. That could bring him serious trouble. After all, Ian came from a wealthy family.
- I can't let that happen. Ian's parents won't forgive Felix," the blonde stated, intending to intervene. Nina grabbed her hand, stopping her at her side.
- Don't interfere, Clare. Can't you see that he's doing it in your defense? He didn't stand up for me, but for you because that man over there hurt you.
Surprised by these words, she shifted her confused gaze to the waitress.
- That's impossible because for him, I no longer exist. I am a nobody. I could see it in his eyes.
- You don't know many things, Clare. Felix is a bastard, but for the person he cares about, he would do anything - announced Nina, patting the blonde on the back. - But you know what, you'd better help this idiot. Let's forget about his male ego. Ending up in jail and causing trouble for his mother is the last thing he needs right now.
Clare immediately reacted and stepped between them as Felix dodged another blow with a smile on his face.
- Ian, you'd better go away from here. You hurt me, so my parents won't forgive you. - she declared to the boy's face, hoping that he would not be stupid enough to plunge Felix. She hoped he understood her warning.
- You should rock with the poor. You don't fit into our environment," he spoke in a hostile voice, piercing both of them with an envious look. However, he listened to her and walked away, pushing his way through the crowd of curious spectators.
She turned to face Felix. The boy furrowed his brow. He did not look happy.
- Did someone ask you to interfere? Do you think I wouldn't have managed without you? - he sneered, looking into her eyes. - If I had known that you would stick to me like a fly, I wouldn't have helped you at all. You are annoying," he said.
She wanted to say something, but seeing his unpleasant expression, she let it go. His answer broke the last hope that was in Clare - she thought that maybe Nina was actually right, but now she found out that his friend was also wrong.
Clare was a finished chapter for him. He didn't want to know her.
- I feel pathetic - she whispered under her breath as the boy walked away. Nina approached her friend and put her hand on her shoulder.
- Felix is unbearable because he had to return home after a long absence. His mother is sick, and he has to take care of her," she informed the blonde, who compassionately followed with her eyes the distant silhouette of the gray-haired man. - Don't take his words to heart. Because of this situation, he is suppressing everything in himself and because of this, he is terrible towards others.
- Do you know what his mother suffers from? - Clare's anger at her ex-boyfriend passed, and the feeling that replaced it was regret. A family member getting sick unexpectedly was something awful, and even though Clare had never been through it, she was able to imagine what the person felt.
- She has leukemia.
Those words froze her. Leukemia. Cancer. A cruel disease that took the lives of people who didn't deserve it. A hard fight for survival and even death.
What must Felix have felt at that moment? His mother was his only family, and even though they didn't get along very well, she was still the most important person to him. She gave him life. She raised him.
- Felix undertakes many jobs to provide her with medical treatment. Even the dangerous ones.
- Dangerous ones? What do you mean? - She looked at Nina with panicked eyes, waiting for an answer.
- He's doing it again. He got into illegal fights.
Clare opened her mouth, but was unable to get a word out. She thought Felix had finally gotten over it, but a tough situation at home had forced him to be dangerous again because that was what he got the most money out of.
*
She did not seek him out. She would rather not impose on Felix, all the more when she learned that he had been fired from his job because of the fight. From Nina, she extracted information about the next fight in which he was to take part. Although the waitress insisted and resisted for a long time before revealing this to Clare, the girl was so stubborn that she finally revealed the details to her, thereby incurring Felix's wrath. She was sure she would get a sermon from him, but she saw that Clare still cared about the boy. She wanted her to be the person who Felix would let go again, who would help him through a difficult time and make sure he wasn't lonely.
It was late evening when the blonde left the house. Her parents were already staying in the bedroom, so she cleverly took advantage of this and slipped out unnoticed by the servants.
It was already dusk outside. Clare got into her car and drove out of the yard, heading for the dangerous streets of Miami. She had been there many times, cheering her beloved. Despite the danger from people, she felt safe because Felix watched over her like the apple of his eye. Everyone knew not to go near Clare because she was his girlfriend.
Now she was pushing into the lion's mouth, realizing that she would have to watch out for herself.
She parked in a dark tunnel where several motorcycles were already standing. Despite the darkness, she was able to see them well, because the light from the streetlamps cast a dim light on the vehicles. Among them, she recognized Felix's motorcycle. He still had it. He had bought it with the money he had earned in the fights. He bought it together with Clare, who helped him choose the prettiest one.
She passed two men and a young woman who looked at the blonde with interest. The girl did not look away because Felix had always told her how she should behave. If she looked away it would mean she was scared, and they could take advantage of that. That's why she bravely looked at their faces, and then they ignored her and headed toward the street.
She descended the steep stairs to the basement. She opened the metal door and stepped inside croaking slightly as she smelled the unpleasant odor of sweat and stimulants. She felt the curious stares of the people she passed. She looked around the large hall and noticed that most of the men were drinking alcohol and partying with the women.
Good girls didn't go to such places, and although Clare didn't belong to that species either, she felt like a sinless teenager in that place. She was disgusted by the sight of pushy men putting their hands in girls' panties. However, they didn't mind, as she could judge at a glance.
She went lower because the entire stands were occupied, and she wasn't going to squeeze between the horny guys. She preferred to stand near the ring.
She looked over when she felt someone tug on her arm. She saw a heavily made-up girl with maroon hair who looked vulgar. Not only in appearance, because her character looked sharp as well.
- Are you lost, doll? - A cynical smile appeared on Clare's face. Calling her a doll was her greatest insult.
- A weak text for a pick-up. I'm not interested," she replied, pulling her hand from her grasp. Apparently, she liked the stranger because she stood by her side and brushed her red hair over her shoulder.
- I've never seen you here before. Is your boyfriend fighting? - She looked at Clare with interest. The blonde snorted under her breath.
- I used to be able to call him that. Now it's exes.
- No normal person comes to see an ex-boyfriend fight. You are whacked. I knew whom to talk to. - She seemingly announced it in jest, but Clare sensed that she was serious. - Or you're horny for him again. Did you miss his equipment?
The blonde could not stand it and laughed after these words. The girl did not beat around the bush and said directly what came to her tongue.
- Just to make me miss now.... A whole year. Since the breakup I missed his equipment all year. Imagine what kind of torment I experienced for so many months.
- I have no doubt. How can you not have sex for a year.... something terrible! - exclaimed the last words, however, no one paid any special attention to the girl because everyone was busy with themselves.
- I am tough. I insisted on it and that's it - Clare stated, shrugging her shoulders.
- You know what, I feel sorry for you. I think I'll help you get laid with your ex, and if he doesn't want to, we'll make him do it.
Clare burst into laughter again because this girl was a nutcase. It was the first time she had met someone so direct.
- It's a deal - she replied in a laughing voice.
The fighters entered the ring, followed by the referee. Clare's attention was caught by Felix. Although she knew he was good at it, she felt apprehension. She was worried about him. She didn't like the fact that there would again be a brutal fight over money. It fascinated her at first, and the more she loved Felix the more she wanted him to end it.
- Let this fight end quickly - she whispered under her breath, but this did not escape the attention of the girl standing next to her.
- No way... Your guy is Felix? - Clare looked at her carefully because she did not understand her surprise. - Now I know why he was so unavailable. No girl could get close to him.
- Really?
- He played with them, but nothing more.
- Did he have fun? - Clare repeated the word, anxious to find out what she meant.
Specifically.
- As guys do. Get laid and goodbye - she replied. The blonde tightened her lips in anger. But what did she expect? Felix was not one of the good boys and liked to have fun. Did she think that after they broke up, he didn't have another girlfriend? She was naive.
- Ah, yes.
She pierced Felix with a sharp glance the moment he looked at the audience and noticed her. It wasn't difficult to spot her, since she was standing at ringside. She first noticed the surprise on his face, followed immediately by anger. He was not happy with her presence.
The fight didn't last long. It was drastic, but Felix managed to defeat his opponent rapidly. The crowd went wild, and Clare looked away at the worst moments, unable to look at the blows her ex-boyfriend was taking.
- Your guy is talented. He's a real hunk - the redhead said after a long silence between them because of the fight.
- Ex-boyfriend," Clare corrected her.
They declared Felix the winner, and people cheered in the stands. They shouted his name, and the blonde didn't even notice when he stepped down from the ring because she was puzzled the whole time. Only a firm tug on her forearm freed her from the stranger's torrent of words. Confused, she looked at Felix, who was measuring her with furious eyes.
- You're coming with me - he announced, then pulled her with him. Clare only managed to glance at the new-found girl, who blinked her eyes, letting her know it was a chance.
They went outside. He let her go too violently as she slumped backwards. She saw the rage in his eyes. He was not happy with her presence. She guessed why. He would rather not see her again. She was teasing him.
- Can you tell me what you are doing here? Who told you I was fighting again? Nina?
- I guessed where I would find you," she replied, messaging her forearm. She would rather not implicate Nina. She knew that Felix would have preached to her and said nothing more about it. - It wasn't difficult to guess.
- Why did you come here?
- To talk. Don't ignore me - she explained, looking into his eyes, however, the boy fled with his eyes, looking elsewhere.
- We have nothing to talk about.
- You should at least explain to me why you left me a year ago without a word of explanation. You simply vanished into thin air....
- Because that was my whim, satisfied? - he replied brazenly, and she clenched her teeth.
He was lying. She saw that.
- I will harass you until you tell me the truth. I won't forgive you, Felix. I may come off as an intrusive idiot, but eventually, I will squeeze it out of you.
The boy grabbed her hand and tugged painfully, causing her pain. Anger was boiling up from him. He was furious.
- Don't ever come here again - he howled through his teeth. He led her toward the tunnel where she had left the car. Only there did he let her go. - Go home - he replied more calmly, helping her open the driver's side door.
- Felix... - she began, but said nothing more as the boy tore into her:
- Get away from me, Clare!
He walked away with a quick step, and her eyes welled up with tears. She bit her lip and sat behind the wheel, nervously pushing the button. The car started, and she cringed. She didn't think it would be so painful for her to meet her first love again. It reinforced her belief that she still had feelings for him. She still cared about the bastard, and couldn't get away from him.