Page 140 of Fight or Flight
It’s harder to make out exactly who’s in this video, but there’s no question that the guy on his knees in the overgrown grass is me, and the guy beating the hell out of three other guys who are attempting to fight him is Jace.
I can’t see his face or any discerning features through the grainy video, but I recognize the way he moves, and the casually cool way he flicks his hair back from his face as he beats them into submission is a move I’ve seen him do countless times over the years.
I have no idea who he’s fighting, or why, and zero clue why I’m out there with him. I wait for a memory fragment to hit to help me figure out what the fuck happened last night, but there’s nothing.
The video stops, and I play it again, my focus zeroing in on Jace and how easily he takes on the three assailants.
The way he moves is strangely beautiful and almost hypnotic. There’s no hesitation on his part, and every hit, block, and sweep of his foot is just as sure and confident as he is.
But why is he fighting them? And who the hell are they? Did he piss them off, and I just happened to be there, or is he fighting them on my behalf?
Blowing out a frustrated breath at the gaping holes in my memories, I play the last video.
This one was taken through the same back window and is just as dark and shaky as the others, but it’s not as zoomed in, so it’s less grainy.
It starts with Jace kneeling in front of me. I can’t tell if we’re talking because of the quality of the video, but I can clearly seewhen he puts me over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry and stands in a fluid motion.
I watch, dumbfounded, as he carries me toward the trees and disappears into the woods like he doesn’t even notice my extra weight.
The video ends, and I scan the texts under it.
Paxton: what the fuck????
Paxton: are you okay?
Shane: I’m fine
Shane: just woke up
Shane: and I have no idea what the fuck happened. I don’t remember any of that
Thankfully Paxton doesn’t seem to be near his phone, and instead of scrolling through the other texts I got last night, I toss my phone on the bed beside me and slowly swing my legs over the side.
I need to get some water and take a piss.
I’m halfway to my bathroom when there’s a sharp knock on my door.
“Yeah?” I call, then clear my throat when my voice cracks like I’m going through puberty all over again.
“It’s me.”
Jace?
I stare at the door for a few beats, then stumble over to it.
“’Sup,” he greets when I swing it open.
“You forgot the fuck nugget,” I say reflexively, and my cheeks and neck flush hot for some stupid reason. “Or whatever other fun nickname you usually tack onto greetings.”
He grins. “Didn’t forget, but I figured I’d be nice since you probably feel like shit right now.”
“And when has that ever stopped you?” I lean against the doorframe as the world around me spins.
“Never. But there’s a first time for everything.” He holds out a bottle filled with a cloudy liquid. There’s no label on it or any brand names to indicate what it is.
I eye the bottle warily.
“It’ll help with the hangover.” He shakes it at me. “I promise it’s not poison. It’s just an electrolyte mix.”
