I am officially impressed. 

"What the hell Baxlyn where did you learn to rap like that?" Nick shouts over the music.

She glances at him and smiles. "I don't know just kind of taught myself."

About 20 minutes after we arrived, Troy forced her onto the dining room table and start rapping to Look At Me Now by Chris Brown. She was smashing it like it was nothing. Table crowded and Lexia and Ashley stood  off to the side, glaring. 

"Hmm. Can you dance as well as you can rap?" asked a boy named Jacob Banner. He was like the schools best dancer.

"Ugh, I don't..." she tried to finish but Jacob was already pulling her into the foyer. Jacob yelled over the music to the DJ and the song Hit The Quan by iHeart Memphis. I could see the anxious look in her eyes. The music started and Baxlyn stood to the side until Jacob finished his sick moves and Baxlyn jumped in. At first she looked around then  just like zoned out into dance mode.

People were shouting, "Whoo! Go Baxlyn!" and "That's hot!" even I was yelling until Lexia nudged me. The song was over and they walked back over to us.

"Well, that answers my question," Jacob laughed.

"Who said white girls can't dance?" I said.

We were all dancing and having a great time. I checked my phone and it was about 10:30 and I watched Troy and Baxlyn go grab a drink then he pulled he into a bear hug and whispered into her ear. I was watching Lexia look at Troy. She had been glancing at him all night. I "accidentally" bumped into her and she broke her stare and went to go get a drink. Baxlyn and Troy nudged passed us at the bar and walked out the front door.

Lexia set her drink down and looked at me. "Hey babe, I wanna head home," she said. "I ugh, don't feel well."

"Oh okay. Sure I'll take you home." I grabbed her hand and said farewell to Nick and Ashley.

The whole way home she didn't look at me. I got out and walked her to her door and kissed her forehead. She had her head down and her hands around her waist. She had a wary look in her eyes as she kept looking around.

"Are you okay?" I questioned her, laying my hands around her waist.

"Yeah. Just tired and headache,"

"Okay. Well I hope you feel better. I love you."

"Thanks. I love you too," she said opening her front door and shutting it behind her.

I walked back to my car and headed home with only the sound of wind going through my window and the radio. I pulled into my drive way and my parents still weren't  home. I killed the engine and hopped out. I started walking to my front door when I heard yelling. It was coming from Baxlyn's driveway. 

I rushed over to her yard and walked up to her Jeep. The window was down ad I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Troy was all over Baxlyn and was trying to take  her shirt off. She was smacking and and saying no but he wasn't listening.

"Jesus Baxlyn! What is your problem?" Troy yelled.

She glared at him. "My problem? What's your problem? I said I wasn't ready!"

He opened the door and seen me and stopped.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Troy spat at me.

I was pissed. I wanted to pound his face in. "I heard yelling. Just wanted to make sure things were okay but I guess not."

"Go home and mind your own business. I am leaving." He kicked the tire. I wasn't gonna beat him in front of Baxlyn. I watched him stomp over to his car and he sped off.

Baxlyn rolled out of her Jeep, shaking. She sat on the pavement. I moved over to her and sat by her. I tied shushing her until my phone beeped. I pulled it out and it was a text from Lexia.

Lexia: Be here in 10  minutes. Tanner left a while ago.

Me: Huh?

Lexia: Oh that was meant for Ashley. Sorry :P

Something was suspicious. I was gonna head over to her place but I wasn't gonna leave Baxlyn. 

"Hey, I have to head to Lexia's..." I started.

"I wanna come with. Don't leave me," she whimpered.

"I would never leave you."

***

I pulled next to Lexia's house and turned off the car and sat for a second. I looked at her house then I looked at Baxlyn. She was looking out the window, staring off into space.

"I am gonna run inside really quick.Stay right here," I opened the door slightly but she still didn't look at me.

I walked up to Lexia's door and used the spare key to get in. I slowly crept through the foyer to the stairs. I heard giggling and humming. I got to the top of the steps and walked towards Lexia's room. The door was cracked open. I peered inside to see and image I would never get out of my head.

Lexia was in nothing but her bra and underwear on top of Troy. I was stunned. My head was spinning and I accidentally leaned on her door. It creaked and she stopped laughing and looked straight at me.

"Tanner?"

I turned and glided down the steps. I made my way across the foyer, listening to Lexia call my name. I kept walking. Opening the door and slamming it behind me. I stormed towards my car and Baxlyn was on the hood. She seen me and immediately jumped up.

"Hey what's-" she tried.

"Get in the car, now," I said a little more sternly than I meant.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Trust me, you don't wanna..." Baxlyn's jaw dropped and was looking at the front door.

I turned and seen Troy sneaking out of Lexia's door in his boxers and Lexia, still not dressed, standing at the door looking at me. I was so filled with anger and marched over to Troy. He turned to look at me and I socked him square in the nose. Troy dropped to the ground, holding his nose. Lexia came running out and I took Baxlyn's arm and but her in the car. She wouldn't speak. Still stunned.

I went around to the other side and sped off as fast as possible. I glanced at Baxlyn who was silently balling her eyes out. We were to my house in no time. Baxlyn flew out of the car and fell to the ground. I heard her yelp and sniffle. I ran to the other side and lifted her up. Her knees were bleeding and she had snot running out out her nose and her tears came down like waterfalls. My heart dropped to my stomach seeing her like this.

I lifted her up, bridal style, and opened my front door. I kicked off my shoes and moved up the stairs to my bathroom. Turning on the hot bath water, I set Baxlyn on the side of the tub. She was still crying. I went to my cabinet and pulled out Peroxide and band-aids. I grabbed a rag and wet it down.

"Can I?" I looked at Baxlyn and she shook her head so I rubbed the rag across her knees very gently and she she flinched. 

Taking the peroxide, I poured it over both knees and she moaned in pain, clutching the side of the tub. I reached for a towel behind me and shut off the water. Baxlyn slowly moved her legs out of the tub, while I dried them off and placed on some band-aids. 

I looked at her face and it was worse than that other night. Now she  had rad patches on her face, make up smeared, puffy eyes, runny nose. I wanted to comfort her but didn't know what she wanted me to do. I picked her up again and set her on my bed and pulled sweatpants and a T-shirt out of my drawers. 

When I turned around, she was snoozing. Awkwardly, slipping off her pants and exchanging them for my sweatpants and same for the shirt. I changed myself and went into the bathroom, cleaning the mess and brushing my teeth. I started for the door to sleep on the couch until I heard Baxlyn's faint voice.

"Will you stay in here with me?" she said stretching her arms.

At first I hesitated until I looked into her eyes. "Yeah. Sure."

I shuffled over to my bed and slipped under the covers next to Baxlyn. After a few seconds I heard her crying again. It was like a muffled cry. I was so tired but I didn't mind it. I felt like crying to but I couldn't. She rolled her head over and looked at me. 

"Hold me," she said as I laid my hands around her, feeling the warmth from her body.