HERBIE HELD HIS PALMS OUT IN FRONT OF HIMSELF, STEPPING BACK FROM AN ENRAGED COREY. "Look bro, like I said, I'm not gonna fight you." Corey clicked his neck, boxing stance remaining unaltered. "Don't be a fucking pussy." the blonde seethed as he spat out those very words, stepping closer to the NRL player. Herbie hated being called something he wasn't, especially in these circumstances. He wasn't one to care what others thought about him but he wasn't going to be seen as some sort of coward before Ange. However, it was better to be safe than sorry and he continued to place distance between the two. "Stop stepping back and be a fucking man, Herbie." Corey continued to bite, cocky smirk tickling the edges of his lips. "This is the last time I'm gonna tell you. I'm not fighting." 

As those very words left Herbie's mouth, Corey steps forward and attempts to punch Herbie's face which the brunette successfully dodges. Thinking fast, the English man decides to push him which makes the blonde Australian topple over and fall on his face, humiliating him before his girlfriend who had just walked back from the car. "ARGH!" Corey yelps out, pushing himself up after a eating a mouth load of grass, trying his best to hold himself in front of Angelica. Herbie has to try and hold back a laugh as he watches the oppressor struggle to stand. "You fucking-" Corey's cussing stops when Herbie's fist comes in contact with his jaw, knocking him out clean. The NRL player shakes his fist. It had been a while since he'd had to pull out his rusty boxing skills from the back of his brain but he's glad that that was all over and done with. 

Ange rushes over to check that her boyfriend is still breathing, tapping his face lightly to at least try and bring back his conscious. Herbie squats down beside her, tilting his head at Corey's sleeping face. "Didn't know it was gonna be that easy." he said with a little snort, poking at the blonde haired male's forehead. "I should call his brother to come and pick him up." Ange sighs, disappointed that her so called 'valiant' and ever so protective boyfriend failed to even last 7 minutes in a fight. 

Hours pass by and Corey's finally returned back to the Gold Coast with his older brother, Caleb, who was more than understanding of the situation. Going that far to even apologise for his younger brother's immature actions and even begged for her to find forgiveness, to which she said she'd think about it. Everything had happened so fast she couldn't find the time to process what had just happened. Herbie stayed with there with her the whole time, helping her with whatever she needed help with. Whether that meant washing the dishes, making the two some delicious lunch right down to helping her pack her bags. Music played in the background to fill the space between the two brunettes, both situated in different corners of the room. 

Every now and then Herbie would glance over his shoulder to see how the girl was doing, heart breaking a little when she'd linger on a photo of her and that blonde bastard (one of the many nicknames him and the boys on the team had come up with for the dickhead of a boyfriend Ange had). He was in charge of folding her shirts, going through one Broncos merch at a time. "You don't have to help me, Herbs. My mate will be here soon." Angelica murmured whilst facing the other way, the guilt of using him for her own personal matters chewing her out. "Don't be like that. I chose to help you, it's not like you're keeping me here with a ball and chain." Herbie joked as he placed one of her shirts neatly into one of the duffle bags she'd be taking. 

Angelica decided she'd be needing time away from Corey, and with that, she'd also be living with her best friend Brianna for however long it took. She no longer felt safe in the embrace of her own home. The fear of the events that occurred today repeating only brought the feel of anxiety. Herbie understood her decision, besides, it didn't mean she'd be moving jobs—which he was more than happy to find out. Finishing up on her singlets, a buzzing vibration is felt against his thigh and he pulls out his phone to see that it's a notification from Kobe. 

KOBETHERINGTON
you still at ange's?

HERBSF4RNZ_
ya
how come?

KOBETHERINGTON
me and the fellas are going out
for drinks at the caxton
you keen?

Herbie turns to Ange who continues to fold her track pants and change the tracks on her playlist, throwing her phone aside once she's finished. 

HERBSF4RNZ_
nah you guys go on
i think she needs someone
with her atm

KOBETHERINGTON
the chicks got a bf you
simp 💀

HERBSF4RNZ_
i'm comforting her as a
friend cunt

Lies.

KOBETHERINGTON
whatever you say loverboy
you're gonna get mocked
by all the boys at training when
you come back 🤣

HERBSF4RNZ_
yeah yeah

Flicking that message off to his mate, he turns his phone off and returns his phone to its rightful place in his left pocket. Herbie zips up Ange's duffel bag before taking it downstairs and placing it by her couch. Just as he was half way up the stairs, someone knocks on the front door. Seeing that he's already downstairs, he makes his way towards the handle before twisting it and opening the window panned slab of wood, revealing a beautiful blonde woman. She looks taken aback that he's opening the door and peers inside behind him. "May I help you?" Herbie asks, stepping forward to block the view of anything personal behind him. He folds his arms across his chest, standing almost as if he were more of a bodyguard than a professional athlete (not that there's much of a difference). "Umm, hi." the girl says, so obviously blushing. 

"I'm Bri... Ange's best friend?" the Englishman frowns before a light bulb brightens above his head, brows raising in realisation. "Oh my...I'm so sorry. Come in. Ange is upstairs." he yaps, stepping aside to give the girl some space. Brianna does nothing but giggle at how clumsy the tall male turned out to be, compared to his stoic appearance when opening the door. Making her way upstairs and bursting open the door, she tackles her best friend  in between a fit of giggles. "Hi!!" Bri squeals, tickling the brunette beneath her who pleads for her to stop. "Stop! Fuck! Bri I'm gonna pee myself!" Ange exposes herself, pushing her best friend off as she tries to catch her breath. Checking to see if Herbie is still down stairs, Bri leans in closer. "Who's the hottie helping you out?" the blonde asks with wriggled brows, poking at her friends sides. 

Angelica squints before realising who her friend is referring to, shrugging it off. "That's Herbie." Brianna's jaw drops. "That's Herbie?! You didn't say he was a tall, sexy and fit!" The brunette friend hushes the blonde, furrowing her brows. "He's literally downstairs, Bri! Could you shut up?!" Brianna does nothing but shrug innocently, a mischievous grin playing at her lips. "So he's the guy, huh?" Ange plays stupid, turning back to packing her jewelry. "I don't know what you're talking about." is all the physiotherapist says, carefully placing her necklace back into his box. Bri shuffles closer, nudging her friend. "You know exactly what I mean. He's your work crush aye?" Ange pushes her index finger onto her best friend's lips, eyebrows scrunching. "Oh my gosh! Why don't you just grab a mic and say it?!"  

The two girls continue to bicker inside the room, not knowing that Herbie was standing right outside the door.

⊹ 𓈒 ۫ 𝗿𝙚𝗻 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝙚𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝙚𝘀 ─ 📝
i actually physically hate this
and school is kicking my ass
bro can't wait to fucking leave
that shit hole. anywaysssss
herbie update apologies if it's
boring. also, don't be shy to
comment ! or vote <3 i literally
love both so yah 

۪ 𝅄 ꒰ 𝐢𝟎𝟖𝐫𝐞𝐧 ── ☆