MJ’s POV

“Dice, I’m not going in there ever again,” I stated firmly as I returned behind the bar, slamming down a tray of empty tankers and shot glasses. Oh, it was bad and I was left feeling mortified.

It couldn’t be that bad, right? Oh, but it was. Let me tell you exactly how humiliated I was! First of all, the room looked like a total war zone with exploding glasses of Coke and what I assumed to be vomit all over the place. Secondly, the short one with the mohawk spanked my ass multiple times, as I picked up the empty glasses while the rest of them laughed. Then to make matters worse, just as I went to ask brown eyes if he needed another drink, some brunette bimbo came up and stuck her tongue down his throat. To think that I thought I could finally talk to him? How could I ever think that he could like me or even be interested in me? I was an idiot and I would never put myself in that situation again.

“What’s wrong?” Dice asked, moving around the bar to register as I ran the glasses through the washer. I scoffed and shook my head. Heck, it was all her fault that I went back there! Dice had told me to be myself and he would talk to me and that sure as sugar wasn’t happening. “Well?”

I scoffed again and rolled my eyes as I crossed my arms over my chest. I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of know that this was getting a rise out of me. Sure, getting a guy to talk to her was always easy but I wasn’t Lucy Reed, I was loser Mia Johnson from a little no name town in California. How could I ever think that things would go my way for once?

“You’re not talking to me? Fine. I’m going for a smoke.” I gaped at her as she grabbed her jacket and headed towards the door. No, she couldn’t leave me here to manage this all by myself! What if one of those guys came up? And to my horror, the tall gangly looking one came up to the bar. I chewed on my bottom lip as my eyes darted around, looking for an escape. Oh, and did I forget to mention that right before I left the back room a few minutes ago, the tall one had glued himself to my leg and was singing some nonsense to me about blue balls. The others just roared with laughter, which only added to my embarrassment.

“Dicey!” he called, and I felt a small sigh of relief come over me. Okay, maybe he was just too drunk to remember basically humping my leg. It was then that my darting eyes spotted Dark Eyes leaving the bar with two of his buddies. I let out a small frustrated sigh as I turned to pour a shot for one of the other patrons waiting in line. I was never going to get to talk to him!

“Dicey McDice Dice!” The gangly one sang just as Dice sighed and handed me her cigarette. A frown pulled at my face as my blue eyes met hers. Did she not remember that I quit smoking six months ago because I couldn’t afford my smokes?

“Go for a smoke,” Dice said with a wink. What was she playing at? I always felt like she knew some big secret that she wasn’t letting on to, but maybe that was all part of her charm.

“I don’t smoke, Dice,” I said as I took the cigarette. Was he outside smoking? Well, duh, stupid MJ, he only had Marlboro tattooed on his fingers. I guess I could be considered what most people called a dumb blonde sometimes…

“You do now,” she grinned, “Now go.” Suddenly I felt the little redhead give me a firm shove towards the door and I knew that there was no turning back now.

I sighed as I pushed the door open and felt the cool night breeze hit my skin. Okay, so maybe it was a little too cold out here for just a t-shirt but I knew Dice would kill me if I went back in so soon. I would just have to suck it up and hope that this cigarette would offer some relief to my rising state of panic.

Lighting up, I leaned back against the building with my cigarette between my lips. Damn, I forgot how good these things tasted and how the rush of nicotine always soothed me. I would have to kick Dice later for reintroducing me to this nasty little habit because I knew there was no quitting this time.

“Did you see his face? It was fucking hilarious!”

I looked up to see Brown Eyes, Dimples, and Green Eyes standing behind a Tahoe in the parking lot, smoking their lives away. They looked happy and I could see the joy and drunkenness in their every movement. It only made me realize that it had been way too long since I got wasted.

“Please, Vengeance, you know that Short Shit can’t hold his liquor. He was bound to piss and puke all over himself before you launched that soda bomb at his ass,” Brown eyes chuckled, blowing out a cloud of smoke in the most attractive way I’ve ever seen.

“Should we put him in the car and crack the window so he doesn’t suffocate?” Dimples asked, flicking his ashes.

“Nah, let Dice wake his ass up at the end of the night and throw him out. It will make her night,” the one they called Vengeance laughed. Who were these guys and what was with these crazy nicknames? I was intrigued and couldn’t take my eyes off the amazingly attractive trio.

Dimples threw his head back and laughed as the other two puffed away. “Oh, don’t piss off Dice,” he warned and I could vouch for that statement. You never wanted to piss off Dice because then you would forever be blacklisted in her book. She would do everything in her power to make your life a living hell if you even so much as looked at her. It was probably the reason why we have been friends all these years; I knew not to piss her off.“She’s already got to deal with that mess in there…”

“Or she could send blondie in. I wouldn’t mind watching her bend over in front of me,” Vengeance chuckled again. “Oh, the things I’d like to do to that girl,” he practically growled and I could feel a blush fall over my face.

“Someone’s got to show the new girl the ropes,” Dimples said, nudging his two friends. “What do you say Gates? You and Vengeance going to fight over her?”

I gasp escaped my lips after hearing his name, the action causing me to lose my balance and topple sideways into the garbage can. Damn it! Why was I such a klutz? Obviously, I had disturbed the peace because suddenly all three sets of eyes were staring at me. I quickly moved to lean my arm against the garbage can, playing it off as if I had placed myself there on purpose. But it didn’t seem like they bought it because all three of them were bent over in drunken laughter.

“Well this is just great.” I muttered to myself. I swallowed thickly and blew out my last drag before flicking the butt into the tray by the door. That was my cue to exit stage right and then bury myself alive so I wouldn’t have to relive this moment ever again.

“I guess the new girl likes the idea,” I heard Brown Eyes laugh as I turned towards the door. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him look me up and down before I closed the door. Why am I such an idiot? No wonder why I can get a boyfriend that isn’t ape shit crazy, because I myself was a lunatic!

As I make my way towards the bar, I run my finger through my long blond hair, begging for my shift to be almost over. I wanted to get out of this place and save myself any further embarrassment, though I knew I couldn't leave without Dice.

“Come on, where are you hiding her?” The hauntingly familiar deep voice caused me to freeze in my tracks. No. No. No. Malcolm cant be stalking me here at work again. I had been avoiding him and his text messages but I guess he got tired of waiting. My heart started to pound in my chest as I thought about his fiery temper aimed at me. No, I wasn’t not going to fall victim to his controlling ways anymore. I was done with Malcolm Knoxville and all his bullshit.

“She’s not working tonight,” Dice said, giving me the code hair flip. Oh, crap. I’ve got to get out of here before shit hits the fan! Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Why does this kind of thing always happen to me?

I quickly hightail it back outside, only to come face-to-face with the brilliantly green-eyed Mr. Vengeance. “Where are you off to in such a hurry, sweetheart,” he slurred, helping me regain my balance as the door shut behind me. He held me close to his chest and breathed down my neck but I didn’t have time to react. I knew I only had a few seconds to get out of sight before Frank escorted Malcolm out the door.

“I-I…sorry…” I stammered as I pushed out his muscular arms, panic taking over. I had to get out of here, but just at that moment, the door flew open and Malcolm was shoved into the parking lot.

“You’ll be sorry, Dice!” Malcolm yelled back into the bar as I froze in place. I knew there was no escaping the large brute force in front of me. My heart palpitated as I took in a shaky breath, his dark eyes turning on me. “Well, well, well look who it is?” A sadistic smile pulled on his lips and I took a step backwards only to back into the wall. “You thought you could hide from me?” he sneered. “MJ, MJ, MJ…you’re mine sweetheart. How many times do I have to tell you?” His fingers ran down my cheek before I pulled out of his grip. This only pissed him off more.

“Mal I-I—“ Malcolm’s large hand gripped around my throat as he pushed me back into the wall. The action knocked the air out of me.

“You know I don’t like to fucking play games, MJ!” he snarled, looking me up and down. “Why the hell have you been ignoring me? You know that pisses me off!” I recoiled and closed my eyes, trying to pull out of his grip but it was no use. I was no match for his strength.

“P-Please… Mal, I’m sorry!” I gasped for air as he tightened his grip on my throat. “PLEASE!” I gasped again, my eyes pleading for someone to help me. “I’m-I’m…sorry…..Please. Don’t… do this!”

“You’re going to be sorry when I’m done with you!” His voice was low and husky and I was terrified. I had no idea what he was going to do next but I didn’t want to find out. “I’ll teach you to fucking hide from me. You’re mine, MJ! MINE!” he growled in my ear and all I could do was whimper and pray that he would back off soon. God, what did I do to deserve this?

“What is going on here?” My eyes flashed to the left to see Gates standing next to Malcolm. Oh, thank god! Please help me! “I think you need to back off,” he warned, seeing the pleading looking in my eyes.

Malcolm chuckled darkly and dropped his hand from my throat. “Why don’t you just mind your own business, pretty boy. We’re fine here.”

I furiously shook my head as tears formed in my eyes. Please, don’t fall for his bullshit. Don’t leave me here with him, my eyes pleaded. Malcolm turned back towards me and gripped my face, pulling me towards him in an aggressive kiss. However, just before his lips touched mine, I felt Mal get pulled away.

“I said back off,” Gates said in a dark tone that sent shivers up and down my spine.

Malcolm stepped up and grabbed Brown Eyes by the shirt with a wicked smirk on his face. “She’s my fucking girlfriend so mind your own business. We are just having a little discussion that doesn’t involve your pussy ass. Now get out of here!” Malcolm gave Gates a shove backwards but he just chuckled.

“You’re messing with the wrong guy, dude,” Gates scoffed shaking his head. “I’ll give you one more chance. Walk away or you’ll be fucking sorry.”

Suddenly fists were flying and I let out a shriek as they smashed into the wall next to me. I saw blood spray through the air with each punch as I stood frozen with fear. I pinched my eyes shut as I sunk down to the ground in a state of panic, tears welling in my eyes. I couldn’t breathe and my chest was getting tight. How did this happen? This was all my fault!

Notes

Thank you all for your reviews! Hope you like the new chapter! So who is going to win the fight? Malcolm or Gates? Is MJ going to make it out of her panic attack?