For some reason, that argument I had with Jordan a couple of weeks ago, had set me mostly straight.

Sure I still started bar fights. But where as I used to get blackout drunk every other night, it's down to about one or two times a week. And I quit putting myself in situations where my life is in danger.

I still stand up for the girls who don't stand up for themselves though.

Take right now for example.

"Leave me alone." The girl looked like she got stood up, and had been sitting there at one of the tables for awhile. Plenty of men had their eyes on her, and after an hour of no one showing up, one of them finally made a move.

He was tall, built, and swayed when he walked over to her. The girl was oblivious to the dude and she nearly screamed when he slung his arm over her shoulder.

"Awe, so you're a screamer huh? I like screamers."

I rolled my eyes and tossed back the last of the water and headed over to the dude. "Hey, buddy," when the dude turned around to face me, I swung and nailed him one in the jaw.  "Leave the girl alone, okay? She's not interested." I turned to the girl who was still shaking in her seat. "Get out of here. And do yourself a favor, who ever stood you up, ditch them. You can do so much better than that."

"Thank you so much." She whispered, standing up and dashing out the door.

About the time she disappeared from my sight, the dude regained his senses and faced me again. "You bitch." He spat out.

"Yeah yeah. I've heard it all before. Are you going to swing at me or what?"

The dude threw a sloppy punch which I caught with ease. I twisted his arm around and shoved him face first into the table. "Don't ever harass another girl again, or you will be lucky to get off with just a broken arm. Got me pal?" I shoved him once more for emphasis and headed back to the bar.

The bartender, Tony, who I happened to become close too just laughed and shook his head. "I swear. What did you do in the past? That dude had at least half a foot on you and you took him down like it was nothing." He dried off the glass in his hand and stacked it with the rest behind the counter.

"That's for me to know, and you to never find out." I winked at him. "Oh and here. I can't keep receiving drinks on the house. You're drowning me in guilt." I slid Tony a $20.

Did I only have a water? Sure, but there had been plenty of times in the past where I got several drinks and my wallet never even saw a dent.

"No can do Daytona. Managers orders."

"How come this is the first time I'm hearing about these so called 'managers orders?' And what even are they?"

Tony just smiled. "Since you take care of all the filth that wanders through those doors, boss figured it would only be right if your drinks were on the house."

With a sigh I hung my head.

"Well can you take it as a tip? I really do feel bad about never having to pay." I slid the twenty towards Tony again.

He eyed the bill, then me, then the bill again.

"Fine. But only because I can never refuse you. That and I'm always down for some extra money." He pocketed the bill and saluted me.

"'Til next time, Daytona."

I waved goodbye to him as well, "'Til next time, Tony."

I left through one of the back doors that led up to our apartments and climbed the stairs with a big yawn. Unlocking our door, I made my way into the kitchen and threw some waffles into the toaster, because that is a perfectly healthy dinner.

Zoning out, the waffles nearly put me in my grave when the popped out of the toaster. Nonetheless, I threw them on a plate and slathered them with syrup and plopped down in front of the T.V.

Flipping through the channels, I was satisfied when I finally landed on Cupcake Wars. It was a re-run, but who cares.

After about two episodes, I found myself drifting off into sleep. I was only awoken when I heard the door open then close.

Immediately, I opened my eyes and tried to push myself further into the couch. Did Colton finally find me?

Is this the end?

Is Jordan okay?

My eyes weren't adjusted to the dark yet and when the figure started to approach me, I jumped behind the couch. "Stay away from me!"

The person held up their hands, that confused me a bit. If it was Colton, why would he so quickly give up?

"Daytona, it's me, Jordan. I'm not going to hurt you." He kept his hands up where I could see them.

I slowly peaked my head up, looking at him. "Jay? Is that you?"

"It's me Day. You don't need to worry." He flipped on the switch and I could see his dyed brown hair and his piercing blue eyes starring at me.

I rose up from behind the couch and approached him, throwing my arms around his neck and squeezing the life out of him. A breath I didn't even realize I was holding escaped me and a single tear rolled down my face. "I thought you were Colton." I whispered. "I thought he finally came back to get me, and I was completely defenseless."

Jordan's arms wrapped around me tightly as he protectively held me to him. "Colton can't find you here okay? And even if he did, I would sooner put a bullet between his eyes then let him hurt you ever again. That I promise you."

I nodded, sniffing back my tears.

A bullet between his eyes you say...

~~~~🌻~~~~

Two weeks after my last scare with Jordan, I found myself taking an Uber to a local gun range.

Jordan said he'd put a bullet between Colton's eyes, but given the chance, I would want to do the honors.

He tore my life apart and it was the least I could do to repay him.

So if I wanted to end Colton' s tyranny and cut out the fear that constantly lingered in the back of my mind, I should probably become better at shooting a gun.

"Right this way ma'am." A kind, young woman led me to the indoor range where at my station, a gun, ear muffs, and extra magazines were laid out in front of me.

I gave her a tight lip smile and faced my station. Picking up the gun, I checked the chamber to make sure it was empty, then loaded it and cocked it.

Aiming at the center of the silhouettes head, I pulled the trigger back.

An hour later, I had blown, quite literally, through four different silhouettes and three different targets. My shot wasn't perfect, but my grouping was good.

"Do I just leave everything here or is there a place that you want me to put things." The same lady who walked me here, made her way around checking in on everyone.

"Yup, just leave everything right here and I'll take care of it."

Smiling, I left the way I came in and made my way back home.

~~~~🌻~~~~

"I'm home Jordan!" I slammed the door behind me and threw my keys on the table.

I looked at time and figured he was probably still asleep.

"My bad." I said a little quieter.

I grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge and sat on the couch, scrolling through my phone looking at Instagram.

Once I left California, I blocked or unfollowed pretty much everyone who was linked back to the state. The only person I couldn't delete, was my mother.

Judging by her profile, she finally left my dad (praise jesus) and actually opened her own Bubble Tea shop.

She was happy.

I was happy for her too, of course, but it hurt at the same time knowing that the only way I keep in touch with my mom is by lurking on her page.

"Day? You home?"

Turning around I found a still sleepy Jordan walking out of his room. His hair was sticking up in twenty different directions and his pajamas were all crooked. He looked cute.

In the way a little kid is cute of course.

Never in a million years would I think Jordan is cute.

"Earth to Daytona!" He waved his arms up and down and I snapped back to reality.

"I'm sorry, what were you saying?" Oh god, I hope he didn't think I was checking him out.

He took the milk out of the fridge and poured himself a glass. "I said I took the day off, do you want to go to a party? Danni is throwing one and I figured it would be nice for you to get out of the apartment a little more. You could even invite Tony if you wanted too."

"Oh, um, sure! I don't really have any party clothes though. I kind of left those all back in San Francisco." I picked at the label around the water bottle.

Danni was one of Jordan's co-workers. The girl was incredibly gorgeous and could do just about everything, but try as I might, I couldn't get her to like me. She hated my guts. Even worse, I didn't know why.

Anytime I tried to talk to her, she would ignore me and talk to Jordan.

To be fair though, she was always having to come in and close for Jordan when he had to take care of me because I was getting myself in trouble. Maybe that's why she hated me. If that's the case, I would too.

"Well we can go to the store and pick you out something. We need to go grocery shopping too and I can't keep wearing the same three shirts. Let's make today a shopping day."

I stared at Jordan in stunned silence.

For the first few weeks of living here, he wouldn't even let me leave the apartment because he was afraid someone would notice me, and now he's actually letting me go grocery shopping with him?

He scratched the back of his neck and leaned against the counter. "I realize I've been unfair on you lately. What you went through-are going through- is tough and I've only been making it worse. I'm sorry."

"All is forgiven."

"Really?!" His eyes lit up like Christmas lights and he ran over to me and scooped me into a big hug. "Thank you so much."

"Can't. Breathe."

"Oh." He let me go and scratched the back of his neck again, the bottom of his ears turning red.

"You're such a dork," I snorted.

I walked past him and into my room and slipped into a pair of blue jeans and a plain t-shirt. I hadn't worn either since we moved here. Actually, I don't think I've worn anything other than black jeans and baggy sweatshirts since we've been here.

Stepping out of my room, I ran right into Jordan's chest, crushing my nose.

"Ow."

Jordan chuckled at me, not making any move to offer an apology for hitting me. Instead, all I got was, "You aren't wearing black."

I stared up at him confused. "No I'm not. Why?"

"You look nice." Then he was gone into the living room.

"Does that mean I don't look nice in my black jeans? Because I think I look pretty hot in my jeans."

Jordan continued to laugh at me, "You look good all the time Daytona, I just mean it's been the first time in months that I've seen you out of your everyday black jeans and it's a nice change."

I made a mental note: Wear things other than black jeans.

"So, where are we going?" Slinging my arm around Jordan's shoulder, I grabbed the keys to my Vette and headed to the door. 

Jordan took the keys from my hand and grabbed a black ball cap. "Wherever you want to go."

I thought long and hard on where I wanted to go.

Well, that was kind of a lie. I didn't know the area very well, so I want sure where we could go.

"Is there a mall or something near us?"

"'Is there a mall or something near us,'" Jordan mocked me. "We are in the capital of Texas, of course there are malls near us." We left our apartment and made a quick pit stop at the bar where Tony was just opening.

"Hey! Tony!"

His head shot up and he smiled at me. "What's up Daytona? You're here a little earlier than usual." He leaned up against the bar and crossed his arms.

"Later on tonight I'm going to a party that Jordan's co-worker Danni is throwing. Want to tag along? You are the only friend I've made since moving here, and I bet twenty bucks Jordan will leave me the moment I get there so-"

Tony looked at me, then Jordan, then me again. Leaning in close he whispered, "Are you sure he won't mind?"

"Why would he mind?" I whispered back.

"Are you really telling me you don't know?" Tony raises his eyebrows and stared at me, dumbfounded.

"What is it I'm supposed to know?" I truly had no idea what he was talking about.

Why would Jordan care if I invited Tony? Was there something I was missing?

"Doesn't matter," Tony had a huge smile on his face, "I'll see you at the party."

I left the bar really confused. My head was swarming with thoughts and I could seem to concentrate on just one.

"So, is he coming?" Jordan swung a lazy arm over my shoulder and shot death glares at anyone who looked at me for a second too long.

"Yeah he'll be there." I picked at the end of my shirt and slid into the car once we got to it.

We drove to a random mall that Jordan mentioned had good stores and a nice food court.

The drive was nice in a way.

It was nice because it had been awhile since I had been this far from the apartment. Even when I went to the range, it wasn't this far away.

But at the same time, I hated it.

We were in downtown Austin, and everywhere I looked, I saw San Francisco.

Not that the two were anything alike, but the vibes were the same.

When we reached the mall, I climbed out of the car reluctantly. I suddenly wasn't in the mood to shop.

"You okay?" I looked up and saw Jordan's blue eyes watching me closely. "You've been quieter than usual." He grabbed my hand and rubbed soft circles into the back of it with his thumb.

I offered as much of a smile as I could at the moment, it wasn't much but it was something. "Everywhere I look I'm reminded of home."

"Is that a good thing? Or a bad thing?"

I sighed and looked at the pavement under my feet. "I don't know actually."

"Its okay to not know. Let's go inside and hopefully it'll take your mind off it."

I nodded my head and followed behind Jordan as he crossed the street to get to the mall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Can it be?! Chapter 1?!

I'm going to keep this A/N short as I'm really tired:

This chapter is dedicated to all of you amazing readers! You guys give me the strength to keep going 💕

This chapter isn't edited so please point out any errors and mistakes you see 😊

I'm hoping Chapter 2 will be out within the next two weeks and I can get on some kind of update schedule.

What do you think of Tony's character so far?

As always,
Love you all!
~May 🖤😘