The Trouble-Makers

"Come on, you need to get up," I said, grabbing into Alex's arm and helping him stand up.

Alex winced, stumbling upwards. I grabbed a nearby shirt - probably Kellin's or something, I didn't really care - and pressed it to his bloody nose.

"Are you okay to walk?" I asked, wiping the rest of the blood from Alex's nose. I could hear yelling behind us and I prayed the boys were doing okay.

Alex took a step forward and nodded his head. He was walking slowly but we could manage. "Where's your car keys?" He dug into his pants pockets, taking them out. I snatched them from him before he could argue and walked out of the room. "Come on, walk that way towards the backdoor, I'm going to check the guys. If I take a while meet me at your car."

Alex must have been too tired to argue because he just nodded his head.

Making sure he was okay with walking, I walked back down the hallway towards where the boys were at. I don't know what I was expecting to see, but it definitely wasn't this. Jack was continuing to beat up Kellin, despite it looked like he was about to pass out and he was drooling blood. The rest of the boys were being preoccupied with the rest of the clique, probably pushing them away so they couldn't stop Jack; but I knew I couldn't just sit there and walk away like a good Trouble-Maker would do.

I ran up to Jack, Kellin's face only looking worse the closer I got to them. "Jack, it's over. I have Alex, we have to go." If Jack heard me he was acting like he hadn't. "Jack, stop!" I grabbed a hold of his arm but he shoved me off, turning to face me now. The force of his push knocked me off of my feet and I looked up shocked at him.

"Listen, Stella. Alex may let you do that, but I won't." His voice came out rough and I scrambled to my feet, my heart pounding in my chest. I must have looked frightened, because it looked like he was about to reach out to me but I just shook my head at him.

"I.." I started, losing my voice again. After being pushed like that, it reminded me who the Trouble-Makers really were. How could I be so naive and think they'd get better?

Jack lost his tense look and he sighed, looking down. "Stella, I didn't mean to-"

Again I shook my head at him, silencing him. "It's okay," I choked out, "I get it. And it was silly of me to think I could get along with you all."

Since Jack had stopped kicking Kellin, the clique fell back and the boys appeared by Jack's side.

"What do you mean, Stella?" Mike asked, clearly not catching the beginning of this conversation.

But I just turned my back to them, pushing my way back towards the back entrance so I could meet Alex by his car.

***

The ride to my house was quiet and tense. Alex could tell by my body language that I didn't want to talk, despite him not knowing why I was upset. I was the one who drove since Alex wasn't in the shape to do so, and I wasn't about to take him back to his own house.

I pulled into my driveway, turning the car off. I sat quietly in the driver's seat, facing forward. I could feel Alex watching me.

"Stella?" he asked. I didn't answer him, I was still thinking things through. Maybe Zack was right all along with them. "Stella," Alex said again, snapping me out of my thoughts. "What's wrong?"

I bit down on my lip. "Come on, let's get you inside." I hopped out of the car and walking towards the house. Alex limped after me, attempting to keep up with my pace.

"I'm serious, Stella, what's up?" he huffed, his bruises clearly aching.

Before I could respond Jack's car pulled in behind Alex's, and the rest of the gang poured out of the car. I froze, my body frigid. I wasn't prepared to face them right now.

Alex must have read my tense body and he reacted protectively, reaching for me and turning to see who was coming. I could see the confusion spread through his face as he saw Jack walking towards us. "What happened?" Alex asked, but his question was pushed aside as I backed away.

"You guys need to leave," I said harshly, standing my ground once Jack came closer.

Mike and Rian looked hurt by my words and Jaime looked confused. On the other hand, Jack appeared apologetic. "Come on, Stella, I didn't mean it."

Alex tensed at that. "What did you do to her?" His voice came out sharp.

Jack ran a hand through his hair. "She tried to pull me off of Kellin."

"Jack, I swear to God if you hit her-"

"No, no, I didn't do that."

"Then what?" Alex took a step toward Jack, and he looked threatening despite him holding his aching side.

"I pushed her off of me and...I yelled at her." Jack looked at the ground and I felt a pang of empathy for him. He looked genuinely sorry and that was something I've never seen him as before.

Alex stood tensely in front of me and I held onto his arm gently, calming him down. I stepped in front of Jack, biting my lip. "It's okay, I probably shouldn't have interfered anyways," I said quietly.

"Isn't this a touching scene," Jaime said, a bright smile on his face. "Now hug it out."

Jack and I both groaned but wrapped our arms around each other awkwardly, but the boys aw'd at us.

"What a nice little sister you are," Alex teased and I stuck my tongue out at him. I grabbed onto his hand, pulling him up the front porch stairs.

"We need to take care of you now."

Notes