Chapter 2

No, it wasn’t him he wasn’t here he couldn’t be. I wanted to get up and run I didn’t want to turn to see him I couldn’t. I couldn’t scream that would make too much sense. I didn’t know what to do so I slowly turned around. As I saw his pale almost green-looking skin and dark brown bloodshot eyes he was drunk. I memorized the face of every time he stumbled into my apartment or when he would make me go out with him. When I saw him my stomach knotted and my throat tensed. When I had fully turned to him he looked me up and down judging me. “You are fatter than I remember.” that blow hit me harder than it should I’m a very insecure person. He knew that but he had never mentioned my weight I was the exact healthy weight for my age and height ugh his words didn’t matter. I have to remember that. “I assume that bitch friend of yours is around here somewhere.” Jess was around her somewhere she would make seen if she saw him; that was the last thing I wanted. “No” was the only word that came out of my mouth why was I so pathetic around him I could hardly speak or bite back like I would anyone else he was just a piece of shit but he still has this annoying as fuck hold over me. When I saw his eyes I knew that was the wrong thing to say. Flame and fire that’s what I could see in his eyes he grabbed my arm hard enough that I knew there would be a bruise there in the morning. I tried my best not to flinch as he held my arm. “Who the fuck are you here with then.” when I had broken up with him I changed the locks on my door and barricaded it he stood there for an hour trying to get in the left dents and marks all over the door and yelled I would regret it as he finally walked away. Standing here with his fist around my arm I was scared. I wanted to run but he had a hold of me there was nowhere to go nowhere to run no one would help me. He raised his other hand beer bottle in it I knew what was about to happen he had done it countless times smashed a bottle into my head then told me it was wasted beer and I needed to clean it up before I could clean the blood coming from my head. As the arm came down to hit my head I closed my eyes bracing for the impact. But it didn’t happen I waited for about 30 seconds before I dared to open my eyes there was my ex Jett his arm was being held by that green-blue-eyed stranger. They were staring right at each other I couldn’t take my eyes off the fact that he held jet's arm. Jett was strong and he saw about to swing to stop him would take a lot of strength. The stranger snarled at Jett and then looked to the three men who stood a few feet away watching everything. Guards, I realized I hadn’t thought about it when he walked into the club but who the hell was he if he had 3 armed bodyguards? “Matthew remove him before I kill him Now” he snarled the last word. The biggest bodyguard ripped Jett’s arm from the stranger's hand and dragged jett out but not before he had the chance to spit at my feet and curse at me. The stranger then turned to me his voice thick and sensual “are you okay” I nodded too embarrassed to say anything I just wanted to find jess and leave. But this stranger sat down at the bar so I sat back down “I’m Kol” he said trying to look at me but I was staring at the floor. Trying to think about what just happened. No one in my whole life had ever stopped someone like that. I know jess would if she had the chance but no one had ever done that for me. So I decided I was going to look up. As soon as I did those green-blue eyes met mine. He smiled at me when I raised my head both dimples appearing on both sides. “Do you have a name princess?” he said with a joking tone to that thick voice. I was stunned he was even more beautiful close up the words came out before I could think “I’m Elina” I basically whispered. then he seemed to say the name in his head “Elina what a beautiful name form and equal as a beautiful girl.” I lightly smiled at him. “Thank you,” I said my voice a bit horse. “ well when I see an irresistibly gorgeous woman I have to say something.” I didn’t want or need the compliment but it made me feel a little better and by my reaction, he knew it. “ oh that it was nothing. pieces of shit like him need to be put in their place now and then.” what had Matthew done. Did he just drag him out or more he was a total piece of shit but I don’t know them hurting him when I first thought about it I felt terrible. But with every passing second, I didn’t think it was so wrong after what he did to me. Apparently, I was thinking for longer than I thought because of Kol. his name was Kol. “he just threw him out of the bar nothing to concern yourself with.” he said leaning into the bar I realized he no longer wore that black blazer just the button-up shirt. With only a couple of buttons still done up and his sleeves. Elegantly rolled as if he took his time. To be very precious. I looked up at him again. Wondering why someone like him would even spare a second for me. I was pale and freckled. Had long blonde dull hair. My face was round and unremarkable. My build was slim but with a bit of a curve at my hips. I had long skinny legs. But perhaps the only 2 things I was never insecure about were my breast they were round and quite large but still natural-looking. And my eyes. My hooded eyes were a grey-blue. It looked like a storm was swirling through them. How someone would ever noticed me was beyond my knowledge. “Thank you for getting me and my friend in.” as said my voice begins a lot softer than I had wished it. “It’s nothing,” he said that left dimple appearing. “So Elina what type of person comes to a club to forget assholes and is drinking a diet coke.” I glance down at my drink on the counter. I wouldn’t take another sip I hadn’t been watching this whole time. But I answered honestly “I have to work in the morning and I’m pretty sure my boss doesn’t like hungover employees.” he chuffed a breath laugh “ and where does her royal highness work.” he was joking with my trying to get me probably to forget about what just happened which worked the second I saw that dimple. “A bookstore” he seemed slightly surprised it was true though I did indeed work at a book store. The only bookstore in our city wasn’t very popular but I love my job. “ you know books heal the soul” he cracked a grin “ do they” I said questioning him “has books healed your soul Elina” goddammit no they didn’t but I just smirked at him. “Would you like a new drink because you won’t touch this one?” he points to the half drank glass of diet coke. “thank you but I got it” I waved the bartender down but before I had the chance he chimed in add it to my tab Summer” I gave him a glare I could very well pay for my drink and he knew it too. Before I could respond I heard jess saying my name. “Elina what is…” she didn’t finish her sentences s she looked toward the man who was sitting next to me. “My apologies I was holding Elina up I hope you have a great rest of your night.” and he got up and walked away before I could say a word as my diet coke was handed to me I blew out a breath I didn’t know I was holding in. “and who the hell was that fine piece of man.” jess asked nudge my arm it hurt I think you could see the bruise already forming but jess didn’t notice. “ that was Kol” she lifted her eyebrows in inquiry that’s all I knew about him that he was gorgeous and his name was Kol “please tell me you got his number. I shook my head. I didn’t even think to ask his number. I was so invested in what she said his face his hair and eyes. I have to pull myself together. Yes, he was hot but he was just some nice guy who I would never see again. I mean I hoped I would see him again but that was so unlikely. I finished my drink then I dragged jess out onto the dance floor. I danced until I physically couldn’t anymore.

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I stayed out way too late last night because by the time my alarm went off it felt like I had just fallen asleep. But nevertheless I dragged myself up I put on some black leggings a black shirt and a large tan knit cardigan I brushed through my hair and put it in a half up half down style something simple but nice. As I went to go put on my make-up I checked my arm and there was indeed a large purple and blue bruise. luckily my cardigan it covers it. Today I put on my normal amount of makeup just some mascara and filled my eyebrows. I made myself a tea then headed down to catch the bus. It was too early I yawned about 20 times on the bus and when I finally got to work I opened up and grabbed one of my favorite books off the shelf and started reading it. It was a new adult fantasy my favorite type of book. Customers would come and go about 2 hours into my shift my co-workers started today I was working with Mare and Aelin. Mare had dark brown hair brown eyes a golden kissed skin Aelin was the opposite she had long golden brown hair turquoise eyes and pale skin not as pale as mine but still so. They were my friends we chatted during the day after Mare was done with a customer she came up to me and Aein and whispered look who just walked in hottie at 9 o’clock. I giggled then turned. The second I was him I shot the book over my face. Hopefully, he didn’t see that and it covered the redness in my face there he was at my work. “Kol was standing there.