Chapter 46: Chapter 46

“So tonight’s the night, huh?”

I turned to face Adam at the sound of his voice.

He was leaning on the door frame, hands in his pockets as he watched me.

I was sitting on my bedroom floor, packing up some last few things into my duffel bag.

“Yeah,” I sighed as I looked at the contents of my bag.

My limbs weren’t as sore as it was the first few days after my fight with Cole and I was beyond grateful.

I was counting on the adrenaline to numb the residual pain during the fight tonight.

“Please be careful out there, Case,” He said in such a low voice that I barely heard him. I flashed him a weak smile.

I wanted to be able to show some confidence and assure him that I was going to be okay after tonight but I honestly wasn’t that sure of myself.

“I’m sure you’ll do great, Case.” Adam said after a second as he pushed himself off the doorframe and took two strides to kneel by my side.

“I sure hope so,” I muttered under my breath as I looked at my semi-zipped bag again.

Tonight was putting a lot of pressure on me. I needed to win and end what I started.

“Hey,” I felt Adam’s finger under my chin and I let him turn my head to meet his green orbs. Their dark shade had always provided a calming effect on me.

“You’re strong. You’ll kick ass and you’ll win.” Adam said firmly. After searching his eyes and failing to find any trace of doubt, I realized how close our faces were. Our nose were almost touching.

My eyes unconsciously dropped to his lips before I quickly looked back into his eyes.

“You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met,” He whispered, his warm breath hitting the lower half of my face. My breath hitched as he started leaning in.

I made no move to stop him as I stayed frozen on my spot.

The second his lips brushed mine, someone cleared their throat loudly and Preston barged into the room. I jumped, effectively knocking my head into Adam’s.

I scrunched my face up at the pain and brought my hand up to nurse my forehead.

Adam was cursing under his breath. I could see him glaring at Preston as I stole a glance at him to make sure he was alright.

“Oh, was I interrupting something?” Preston asked, looking between us with a gleam in his eyes. I narrowed my eyes at him and he smiled as if he had never sinned.

“Time to hit the road, we’re going to run late at this rate.” Preston announced as he proceeded to skip away out of the room.

I sighed as I zipped up my bag. I accepted the hand Adam was offering me and let him pull me onto my feet.

I gripped onto the strap of my duffel bag to stop my hands from shaking. I didn’t want anything to give off how nervous I was. Tonight was the big night and it wasn’t only nerves that was plaguing my mind, it was also fear.

People were willing to kill to win this prize. God knows how determined my opponent would be.

My lack of ruthlessness might be the death of me tonight. I could already imagine my hesitance being my downfall.

“Case?” Adam called out, resting his hand on my shoulder to bring me out of my thoughts.

“I’m scared,” I whispered hoarsely as I looked into his eyes and admitted my fear. The eyes that was becoming familiar to me once more.

Since Kiara got kicked out of our lives, I was starting to see the Adam I know again and words couldn't describe how happy I was.

The hand that was on my shoulder tightened as Adam squeezed it gently in an attempt to reassure me.

“Don’t forget who you are. You’re both Cassandra Johnson and Pixie. Both sides of you are incredible figures. I might not remember everything, but I remember you standing up for that frightened girl in school when Maddison held her against the lockers. I think that was when I fell for you. When you stood up for her despite hating the spotlight.” Adam held eye contact with me the whole time and I could hear the sincerity in his words as I looked into his eyes.

“You’re compassionate and selfless; hell, you’re fighting for the guy who threatened the safety of the people you love tonight. But above all of that, you’re also fierce. You’re the fiercest person I’ve ever met when you’re fighting for someone other than yourself.” I wasn’t aware that I was crying until Adam’s hand came up to wipe the lone tear that escaped my left eye.

Adam cupped my cheek, still holding my gaze.

“If anything, I’m scared for the poor guy who’s going to be facing you tonight.” Adam’s tone was laced with a small amount of humor but his eyes were still dead serious as they pierced right through me.

I cracked a smile and sniffled a little.

Was it possible to fall in love with the same guy twice?

I smiled at him and stood on my tiptoes to press a brief kiss on his cheek.

My lips lingered for a second too long and the sound of a car horn blaring finally pulled me away.

I rolled my eyes at Preston’s impatience but Adam’s eyes were a fraction wider as he looked at me.

“What was that for?” He asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“A gesture of gratitude,” I smiled at him before leading the way out of the house.

I felt my duffel bag being tugged at and turned to look at Adam pulling at the strap of the bag. A year ago, I would’ve held onto the bag. I would've feared that letting someone else carry it may induce dependency in me.

Dependency was something that I denied myself since Bryant died.

I didn’t want to depend on anyone else; I didn’t want to make anyone my pillar; in fear that they’d be snatched away from me and leave me crumbling into a helpless heap on the ground.

But as I looked at Adam’s face, I found myself letting go of the duffel bag and I watched him sling it over his broad shoulder.

I shook myself out of the trance and continued my way down the stairs, onto the porch.

I put on a pair of shoes and hopped into Preston’s car with Adam following closely behind.

The brothers sat on the front seats of the car while I lounged on the back seat, enjoying the space I had to myself.

“What took you so long?” Preston grumbled, putting the car on reverse and pulling out of my driveway.

I didn’t bother answering and it seemed like Adam had the same idea as silence filled the car. Preston and Adam insisted that they picked me up and drive me to the fight tonight since it was the

fight. I would be lying if I claimed that I didn't appreciate their support.

As Adam tried to put on a good song in the car, Preston glanced at me through the rearview mirror.

“How’re you feeling, Case?”

I averted my eyes from the blurred scenery outside the car window to the mirror and gave Preston a small smile.

“Thanks for coming with, guys.” I told them, knowing fully well that I wasn’t subtle in avoiding Preston’s question.

Fortunately, Preston dropped the subject.

“It’s not too late to back out, Case.” Preston uttered so lowly that I barely caught it and I shook my head as Adam whacked his brother on the chest lightly.

“Dude! Have you not heard of not hitting the driver?!” Preston exclaimed in mock outrage as he gave Adam a brief glare before looking back at the road.

“I’m doing this, Pres.” I told Preston, making sure my voice didn’t waver.

Adam turned to his brother and glared at him pointedly, “And she’s going to kick ass too.”

The edges of my lips pulled up into a smile at Adam’s input.

“Well I’m glad you guys made up,” Preston teased. I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks as I looked out the window once more to avoid any confrontation regarding what Preston almost witnessed earlier.

“Shut up,” Adam mumbled.

“I know you don’t remember this, little brother, so I’m going to repeat what I told you when you first brought Case home. Don’t forget the con-” Luckily, Adam cut him off before he could finish that word with a threat that shut Preston up for good.

“Finish that sentence and I will tell Maddison that you pissed your bed two nights ago.”

That was all it took to shut Preston up and I pursed my lips together to hold in the laugh that was trying to escape.

Oh, that’s such a priceless blackmail material.

Preston was already turning into a bright red. I was scared he’d crash the car into a tree or something if I started guffawing, so I tried my best to stay quiet and cover up my amusement with coughs that made me sound like I was losing my soul.

The rest of the car ride was silent and it gave me time to sort out my thoughts.

I needed to be Pixie tonight. I needed to be extra Pixie. I scoffed mentally at myself.

What was I making myself out to be? A metahuman?

When we finally reached the big tent where the competition's basecamp, I got out of the car and made my way to the back entrance where a burly guy stood guard. The boys followed closely behind me.

I flashed the guard my ID and he opened the door for us, letting all three of us walk through as the door shut close behind us.

We walked straight to the dressing room where I took off my jacket and slipped out of my shoes.

I stuffed everything into my duffel bag, took a gulp of water and let Adam take the bag from me once again.

Preston stepped towards me, his arms wide open and I immediately hugged him without a second thought. This guy had been there for me through the toughest times and he had become a big brother figure to me.

He was so different from Bryant and yet I knew that he would’ve been Bryant’s best friend if Bryant was here.

“Break a leg, Case.” Preston whispered in my ear. He held onto me tightly and I gripped onto the back of his shirt just as tightly. I was beyond grateful for his existence.

“Preferably the opponent’s, aye?” Preston added and I gave out a small laugh at that, nodding along.

He finally let me go after planting a soft kiss on the crown of my head and told me he’ll see me by the ring.

I turned to Adam, giving him a sheepish smile.

“I’m sorry for breaking down on you earlier,” I apologized.

Adam simply shook his head and pulled me into a hug.

I closed my eyes, pressing my face into his chest and letting myself indulge in the safety that his arms provided.

I’ve always felt small beside Adam. The times that I was in his arms were the only times I felt vulnerable and yet secure at the same time.

I breathed in his scent, trying to remember the slightly musky smell that stuck to him wherever he goes. He smelled like vanilla.

I allowed myself to bask in the familiarity before pulling away, conscious of the pressing time.

Adam cupped my face with both of his hands as he searched my face.

“It’s okay to be scared, Case. But you’ve got nothing to fear because you’re going to kick ass. Got it?”

I nodded silently, listening intently and willing myself to believe in every word uttered by the man before me.

I was so busy looking into his eyes, trying to figure out what he was thinking, that I didn’t realize he was leaning in until his eyelids fluttered close.

Yet, I didn’t push him away. Soon enough I felt his soft lips brush mine before he started pressing his lips firmer against mine. His hands circled my waist and brought me closer while my hands rested on his hard chest.

I could feel him smile when I moved my lips against his before I finally pulled away.

“What was that for?” I asked him, a bit breathless.

“A good luck kiss.” He stated with a smile before kissing my temple and leaving the room.

I tried steadying my breathing as I stood in the room alone.

‘You got this,’ I told myself.

I’m Pixie. I got this.

I started nodding to myself at my thoughts and shook my hands as if I was shaking all the nerves away.

I could feel the fear that had a tight grip on my heart ever since I left the house loosen slightly as I breathed in and out steadily.

When I finally felt like I was in the right mindset, I walked out of the room with my head held high and my shoulders squared.

I could hear the crowd cheering and immediately steeled my features as I neared the base of the small set of stairs leading to the ring.

One last fight.

‘Better make it count,’ I thought to myself as I cracked my knuckles and stretched at the base of the stairs.

When my nickname was called out, I felt the adrenaline rush enter my system and started jogging up the steps.

Let’s get this over with.