Chapter Four

"Can I drop you?" Alexander asked and Serenity nodded shyly. 

"I'm just going to the next block. My best friend, Skylar lives there," she informed him. He looked at her with avid interest. 

"Do you both go to school together?" He asked, handing her a spare helmet that he always carried. 

"Yes, we're at Yorkhill High. It’s near dad's office," she informed him and his brain absorbed the extra information instantly. He would be joining uncle Eric's office from Monday, so hopefully, he would see her more frequently. She wore the helmet and climbed onto his motorcycle, straddling behind him. She was acutely aware of him and held on to her seat to avoid falling off. 

"You need to hold onto me," he said and waited for her soft hands to hold onto him. But she didn't. Frustrated, he twisted around and grasped her left hand. He placed it around his torso, making her gasp. Her touch felt so good that he caught her other hand as well and wrapped it around his torso. 

"Hold me," he ordered. She tightened her hold and Alexander felt like he was in heaven. With her warmth seeping in through the thin tee shirt, he rode slowly towards the block she indicated. 

"You have a deep cut mark on your forehead. Did you fall down?" She asked him, her body close to his. He moved backward to feel her against his back. 

"How did you manage to  notice?" He asked, surprised that she could see it hidden underneath the hair on his forehead. 

"It’s pretty visible," she said, shyly.

"It's from one of my matches," he informed her reluctantly. 

"What matches?" She asked him, curiously. 

"Boxing, " he answered. He didn't inform her that he played the underground ones to earn money when he was completely broke. He had his uncle's huge debt to clear off. His uncle didn’t earn a penny all his entire life and left a huge burden of debt upon his shoulders after his death. The men were dangerous and harassed him for money. He had no other means to clear the debt off. Last time they had come and threatened to murder him if he didn't pay. 

She tightened her hold upon him, "Don't fight anymore. I don't want you getting hurt," she said as a shudder went down her spine at the thought.

"Why?" He asked, holding his breath unconsciously. She didn't answer but just lay her head on his back and he was lost in the feeling. No one gave a damn whether he lived or died but her words made him feel as if she actually cared for him. It made him fall for her completely. Hook, line, and sinker. Was it a crush? He didn't know but he felt excited and happy that she cared for him. 

"Drop me here, Lex," she said, raising her head. Alexander was disappointed that they arrived so fast. He wanted to talk to her more, he wanted to get to know more about her. "Are you coming home tomorrow?" She asked expectantly. 

"Yeah, but I will be busy fixing your dad's car," he informed her. She sighed and dismounted from the motorcycle. She took off her helmet and handed it over to him. "Will you cook for me again?" He asked her hopefully.

She smiled and nodded her head. "Bye, see you tomorrow, then," she said, looking at him. 

"Bye, " he sighed, watching her go inside her friend's house. He rode off towards the garage to face the music. He would have to inform them that he wanted to discontinue and then fight for his dues. It was a hard life and he was glad that it was finally over. He would start afresh, far away from this place, and do something worthwhile with his life.

Skylar opened her door and saw Serenity standing there while a handsome guy on a motorcycle started his machine and rode away. She squealed with delight, "Sera, don't tell me you've got a boyfriend? He's so hot," she said, excitedly.

"Shut up, Sky. He's Lucas's friend," informed Serenity, glaring at her.

"Is he available? Can you introduce me to him? Pretty please," Skylar begged. 

"No way, don't even think about it. He's mine, " hissed Serenity. 

"I knew it, you're in love with him. Aren't you? Don't even think of denying it," said Skylar as the two friends went inside to her bedroom. 

"Yes, but I can't confess to him with Lucas always around," complained Serenity. "You know how possessive he is about me. If he gets a whiff about this, he'll blow up like a volcano and destroy everything," said Serenity.

"I know. I'm really terrified of what he might be up to. Lucas is crazy about protecting you. He might punish his friend for no fault of his," said Skylar and Serenity sighed. 

"His name's Alexander. He already has too many difficulties to deal with, I don't want to add to his worries," said Serenity, telling her everything she knew about Alexander. 

Skylar sighed, "Be careful, Sera. Lucas shouldn't know at all costs. How serious are you about Alexander?" Asked Skylar. 

"Very serious, Sky. He's the one for me," said Serenity, confidently. 

"It's too early to conclude that, Sera. Give it time. Get to know him. You're underage anyway," she suggested.

"You're right. I should get to know him first," sighed Serenity. 

"Yeah, what's the hurry? Slow and steady wins the race, remember?" Advised Skylar. 

"Thanks. I'll do just that. Know him better and then confess when the time is right for us," Serenity agreed. 

They started doing their homework together for the next day's class. They discussed the project work that needed to be submitted and sat down to do a little research about the topic. 

It was 11 o'clock in the night when Alexander returned home. The garage owner paid him meagerly, deducting a lot. He even called his goons upon Alexander and there was a vicious fight. Alexander beat all the men into a pulp, especially the garage owner before leaving. The garage owner was taken away to the nearest hospital for first aid. It served him right. No one could escape Alexander's wrath. How dare he deny his hard-earned money? He worked hard the whole month without taking a single day off. 

Before leaving, Alexander picked up some car parts to sell in return for the dues the garage owner didn't pay him. He sold them at a nearby rival garage and collected his dues before returning home. At least he had some money with him now. He felt very grateful to uncle Eric for giving him a chance to lead a respectable life. He would pack up whatever he had and sell off this shack to whoever wanted it before shifting out forever. 

The sound of his mobile phone vibrating had him alert. Only one person always called so late in the night. The manager of the underground club circuit where he fought, Mike Tyndall. His uncle owed a lot of money to him and he forced Alexander to fight for him. 

Reluctantly he picked up the call."Yes, Mike, " he said, dreading what he would say next. 

"You have a match tomorrow at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Be there or face the consequences," he said, disconnecting without even hearing him out. Alexander knew that the consequences he mentioned meant his death. There wasn't any other option than go and fight. He would have to ask how much more was due.

Serenity's words went on in his head, 

'Don't fight anymore. I don't want you getting hurt,' 

She had said these words to him just today. She would think that he was desperate and didn't care about her. He wanted to be able to listen to her. He didn't like fighting. He wanted a normal life like other boys of his age. He wanted to let her know how much he cared about her, but he knew it was too early for that. He had to make himself worthy of her. He had to prove to the world his own worth. 

Sighing, he remembered that there was nothing at home to eat. He went to the shack at the crossing which sold a watery beef stew and bread till late in the night. Buying himself dinner, he went home. He took a shower, cleaned his wounds, and applied some medications. Then he ate his food and lay down on his rickety bed. 

After his fight, he didn't know whether he would be alive or dead. He might end up paralyzed or injured for life. These illegal fights were too dangerous and he hated them. When his uncle died, Mike Tyndall forced Alexander to train under him to fight and make money for Tyndall which paid off his uncle's debts. 

He sighed and thought about Serenity, the way her soft body was pressed to his and he didn't want to die so soon. He wanted to be with Serenity, he wanted to see her forever, to hold her in his arms, to kiss her, to belong to her, and spend the rest of his life with her. Was he in love? Yes, he realized that he had already, hopelessly fallen in love with her. 

He wondered if she felt anything for him? She did care about him that he was sure of. He felt scared of his future for the first time in his life. What would be Serenity's reaction when she saw his wounds on Monday morning? How would he join a civilized office with his brutal wounds? If he were alive, that is. 

He dozed off to sleep, thinking about Serenity.