Alex’s POV:

Although Mickey technically was able to drive with her broken wrist, as she had proven before despite it technically being illegal, I had driven her to the hospital right after school to get her cast taken off. Of course, the hope was that it would be taken off and that she’d be free to go out and do whatever she wanted again, but things weren’t that simple. Luckily the bone didn’t grow back wrong, so that didn’t need fixing. However, she did still need to wear a brace. So much for taking off a cast. I was just praying she wouldn’t unnecessarily take it off because she didn’t like it. That would slow down the healing process so much.

I didn’t really have much to do at the hospital. I was just waiting in the waiting room without anything to distract me. Yes, there were magazines, but I didn’t care about the gossip, nor did I want to know how to lose 10 pounds in two weeks. And, let’s be honest here, I wasn’t going to read the newspaper either. I did have a young nurse who kept eye-fucking me for some reason. Usually, I would have taken complete advantage of that. I would have gotten her number or I would have been brought into an office in no time. But it wasn’t exactly right to do that while my girlfriend was at the hospital for a reason, right? Even if we weren’t at the hospital, it would have been wrong on so many levels.

After we were done and Mickey made sure to quite clearly show that she was annoyed with having to wear a brace, I took her to the mall. That way we at least still got to do something fun. The day didn’t have to be ruined. It was the perfect way to cheer anybody up. Only, Mickey didn’t really understand that concept...

“So what are we here for?” She asked me as soon as we walked through the automatic doors. “Do you need to get something or do you feel like pissing off some people?”

I gave her a strange look. The mall was full of possibilities yet she was stuck on her two usual ones. “No, we’re here just to be here. Many people just come here for a date. Our first date was something way out of the box.”

“Just the sole fact that we went on a date is out of the box for me.”

“Well, we’re here to have fun, so…” my eyes scanned all the stores I could see to find a place to start with. It was pretty difficult, not because the stores were shit, but because I wasn’t sure what would be appropriate for a date. However, just before I was going to admit that I had no idea what to do, my eyes fell on the small place that sold smoothies at the beginning of the food court. I grabbed Mickey’s right hand and started guiding her. “Come on.”

“So, I’m guessing this is going to be running-through-the-pouring-rain-to-get-ice-cream fun rather than let’s-get-wasted-at-a-club fun,” Mickey laughed as she saw where I was heading.

“Of course. Only, I’m hoping it doesn’t end with you getting mad at me and running out into the pouring rain,” I joked along with her. “So far, the sky is clear, so either way you can’t do that anymore.”

“I’ll try not to summon the rain clouds.”

Once we got to my destination, I told Mickey to sit at an empty two-person table while I went to get the drinks. It wasn’t that I didn’t want her to come with me because I recognized the two girls working there from school, but the fact that there was an open table and we needed to claim it if we wanted to sit somewhere. Mickey didn’t question it. It probably was a good thing I told her to wait due to those girls, though.

As soon as it was my turn, their entire body language and posture changed. They were no longer fed up with standing and working. Instead, they actually seemed super interested and perky. I wasn’t an idiot. I knew it wasn’t because their shifts were ending soon; I knew it was because I was there, as cocky as that may sound.

“What can I get for you, Alex?” The one at the cashier asked me, leaning over the counter just a little bit. I wasn’t going to be fooled by her tricks that enhanced her boobs, though. Not only did I have a girlfriend, but this was a sophomore we were talking about.

“I’ll just have two of the specials,” I answered, hoping that me ignoring her actions would be enough of a sign.

“Would that be two mediums… or two large…” She winked next, lightly grazing her collarbone.

“Umm… medium should be fine, thanks,” I awkwardly coughed and scratched the back of my head. I really hoped that this would end quickly.

After I paid, I stood to the side while she made the drinks. Luckily, since she probably wanted to talk to me, the process was sped up. In no time, she had poured the blended fruits into two plastic disposable cups and put them on the counter. But not without giving me napkins as well. Luckily, I had noticed her write down something on them while she was waiting at the blender. So, when I saw the napkins, I immediately recognized a phone number.

I picked up the specific napkin with the digits and handed it back. “I only need two, so you might want to take care of the environment and give this extra one to somebody else.”

“What?” She frowned when she saw which one I had given back. “But--”

“You know, there is a reason why I bought two, it sure as hell isn’t for a friend ‘cause I’d make them pay, and it surprisingly also isn’t because I like them so much I need two.” I looked back toward where Mickey was sitting and saw her looking at something else. “I actually do have a girlfriend right now.”

“Oh…”

“But thanks for the drinks.” I smiled to stay polite and made my way back to the girl I never believed I would actually be dating.

I caught Mickey’s attention by putting the smoothies on the table and sliding into the seat across from her. She smiled at me and thanked me before grabbing the one closest to her and taking a sip. I watched as her face turned pleasantly surprised. It really was like when I took her out for ice cream after her car had broken down, minus the anger. Back then, I could also see her confusion towards the ice cream I had given her and the fact that she actually secretly liked it. Only, this time she wasn’t secretly liking it.

“You should have totally kept her number,” she eventually told me, confusing me this time.

“What?” I wondered out loud, pulling the straw out of my mouth.

She shrugged and took another quick sip. “I’m a pretty observant person. I could see her trying to flirt with you. Keyword being ‘trying’.”

“You were looking in the opposite direction,” my mouth fell open, “how did you even notice?”

“Once you have kids, you see everything.”

I choked on my own breath when I heard her words. Did I even hear it correctly? Did she say ‘kids’? What the fuck?

“Woah, I was just kidding, no need to suffocate,” she awkwardly chuckled and drank some more.

I shook my head, trying to play off the way I had reacted. “Well, I wasn’t going to keep her number or even flirt back. I have a girlfriend now, you know.”

“True, true,” she nodded and leaned back in the chair, “but she looked super upset.”

“That is not my problem.”

“I wasn’t complaining. Everybody’s been telling me to be more compassionate, so I’ve been trying it out. But, apparently, I’m now doing it wrong.”

I laughed softly and put down my cup. I wasn’t laughing at her, I actually thought it was kind of cute that she was trying. “It’s ok to be a little selfish during times like that. While I’m very happy you aren’t mad at me especially since I actually made sure nothing happened, if something ever does happen, I give you full rights to be furious.”

“I don’t know how,” she leaned back forward again and put her cup against mine, “but I’m so going to use that against you someday.”

I couldn’t help but just take her in for a second. It had only been two weeks, but I was so happy. True, things weren’t all that great when my time was divided between me trying to pursue a girl and said girl doing everything to shake me off and insult me. I just wasn’t sure yet if I was happy that I managed to do the impossible or because I was actually happy to be with Mickey. However, the feeling didn’t feel shallow, it felt warm and fuzzy.

But before I could admire her more, her own gaze shifted away from me and to something behind me. Her own smile dropped and her eyes widened a fraction. It was like she had just seen the ghost of a loved one.

“Shit…” She muttered and quickly moved her eyes even further away to the right. “Fuck, he saw me.”

It was only then that the nerves hit me too. “What? Who saw you--”

“Kingsley, you bitch!” A voice boomed from not all too far away, attracting the attention of everybody in the north wing of the mall.

I turned around to see whose face belonged to the voice that called my girlfriend a bitch, to see Devon Kline fuming as he was coming right for us.

“Don’t you dare get involved, ok?” she told me with a look that said that she wasn’t fucking around, that if I even thought about it, something would go horribly wrong and I’d be left with the consequences.

But I couldn’t just sit there and act like nothing was happening when Mickey walked up to that walking murder machine made out of pure muscles and rage. I knew that Mickey wasn’t some fragile girl and I knew that she could defend herself just fine if need be, but my instincts kicked in. She was my girl, and I was going to protect her no matter what the cost. So, while they were already throwing painful words at each other, I walked up to them, ready to throw a punch or two myself.

“Oh, look, it’s the guy you’ve been fucking with behind me back!” Devon laughed coldly and sharply.

Everything about him was just pure evil and I had known that since I saw him around Mickey the very first time in The Depot. She had never confirmed any of the abuse rumors, nor did she ever have any bruises that suggested it, but his behavior said enough now.

“Oh my god, Devon,” Mickey groaned and pulled harshly on her hair out of frustration, “we weren’t even in a proper relationship. I know for a fact you were cheating on me at least every other night, don’t act like the victim here.” She then turned to look at me briefly. “And I told you not to get involved.”

It was like everything happened in slow motion when she went to face Devon again. I wanted to yell out for her to watch out, or maybe even jump between the two, but it happened so fast and I was too far away. Before Mickey noticed, I saw Devon’s arm extend and his hand flatten. He swung his arm towards her until his palm crashed against the side of her face. As the sound echoed from the walls and shop windows, I felt the anger inside of me going from zero to one-hundred in no time.

“Really, dude?” Mickey sighed as if he had just said something stupid instead of actually hitting her.

I couldn’t help but take a step closer and scowl. “Don’t you dare lay a finger on her.”

He just snorted loudly. “Looks like you’ve got a clingy one here, sweetheart.”

“I don’t exactly like that word…” I shook my head, squinting my eyes at him and slowly stepping closer. “So, if you would leave me and my girlfriend alone, that would be great.”

“Oh, boy,” he wiped away a tear that wasn’t even there, “you do know that word doesn’t mean anything to people like us,” his eyes proceeded to glide over to Mickey. “I actually can’t believe you’ve tricked this tween into thinking he’s dating you. You will do everything just to be the little slut you are.”

“You’re just jealous she thinks I’m better than you are.” I easily shrugged, knowing that that was what Mickey had used against him when she broke up with him in the first place.

“Alex!” Mickey gasped, giving me wild eyes. I knew I had crossed more than one line with that comment, but I couldn’t give a fuck at the time.

“I will fucking--” Devon started going for me, but Mickey jumped in between us before he could get to me.

Instead of throwing the punch at her like before, he pushed her to the side, causing her to stumble to the floor. That was the last straw for me. I normally wasn’t the guy to get into fights, I would avoid them as much as I could, but I could not just simply ignore this. First he insults Mickey, then he insults me, and now he had physically hurt Mickey twice.

As soon as Mickey was out of the way and I was briefly distracted by it, the rock-hard fist cracked against my nose and underneath my left eye. The pain immediately shot through me as my overdue reaction tried to protect my face. I should have gotten ready for the next blow, or maybe even tried to get one in myself, but I was caught so off guard. But before the other side of my face was hit as well, Mickey came to the rescue.

I don’t know how she did it, but when I finally could see clearly again, she had Devon on the floor in a similar grip to when she had thrown Heather to the floor. Only, this time she was holding his wrists together and had to press down on his lower back with her knee harder.

“Really, when will people start learning they can’t just fuck with me like this?!” She growled and tightened her grip as Devon tried his best to throw her off. It didn’t seem like a difficult task, he was a shit load of muscles compared to her, but she still managed to overpower him. “Dude, seriously, stop trying to fidget away!”

The girl who I had turned down at the counter just minutes before came running up and softly pressed some ice against my face. I felt like an idiot. Not only did I go against what Mickey had told me to do, but I also managed to humiliate myself. My girlfriend was the one who had managed to defeat him, and I had had no input. She was a badass, though. Still, I just embarrassed myself and I knew countless of people had seen.

I watched as Mickey started rummaging through Devon’s back pockets. She pulled out two different knives and something else that was sharp and could easily hurt somebody. She threw her findings a few feet away so that Devon wouldn’t get the chance to reach out and try to hurt her with anything.

“Is there anything else on you right now you’re going to try to hurt me with so you can escape?” She asked him with a menacing scowl. When he didn’t answer, she repeated it louder and pressed her knee more into his back. “I asked, do you have anything else you’re going to try to hurt me with?”

He must have answered something, because she awkwardly reached into his left front pocket, and pulled out two brass knuckles. She threw them with the other weapons she had found and shook her head, “fucking hell, it’s like you’re begging to get arrested.”

Mickey continued to restrain Devon until security came. They didn’t even ask what happened, they already knew who he was and whisked him and his weapons away. Mickey and I weren’t even called in for questioning despite us being a definite part of the fight. After being relieved from her position, she came up to me. The girl was still holding the ice against me, but I barely noticed her presence.

“Are you ok?” I asked Mickey once she was just two steps away. I could still see Devon slapping her and pushing her to the floor.

“Yeah, I’m fine. He didn’t do any lasting damage,” she shrugged as she closed the space. She took over the ice from the girl, who carefully stepped away, and moved it away a little to take a look. “To you, however… shit, that’s going to leave a definite bruise.”

I didn’t even feel the actual pain until she pressed the ice back on. It was like I could actually feel my eye swelling up as time ticked past. “This is going to be hard to explain to my parents,” I groaned, looking right back at her as she continued to inspect my injury.

“Look at the bright side,” she softly said, “you’re going to look like a badass.”

“Yeah, a badass who got his ass kicked and whose girlfriend was the one to save the day,” I rolled my eyes to the best of my abilities.

“Although I will agree that you’re an idiot for not listening to me and staying out of it, you’re probably one of the only people I know that was willing to take on Devon, other than me of course.”

“I don’t know what came over me,” I groaned, really starting to regret what I had done.

“Just listen to me next time. I know what I’m doing,” she laughed.

“Yeah… I kinda figured that out.”

I was pleasantly surprised when she briefly kissed me. At least her feelings hadn’t changed despite me making a complete fool out of myself.

Notes

I was super distracted while editing, so there's a large chance I missed most of the errors. Just point them out to me.

Also, for anybody who hasn't seen it yet, I spontaneously started a new story. You should go check it out, it's very different to anything I've ever written before. (Yes, I know it was a stupid idea because I barely have enough time to write as it is, but this idea just wrote itself to naturally.)
Here's the link: http://www.alltimelowfanfiction.com/Story/90261/You-Leave-Me-with-a-Dangerous-Taste/