Knight In Shinning Armour

I editted, re-worded and made it a little bit more harsh (swear words!) cuz I think it makes it more... better... yeah! Read if you haven't before. It's really not that different only... not that cencored. And yes, someone I know did make the whole 'amphibian' comment I added in.

Enjoy muchly and please review and tell me what i can do better.

Luv ya.

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Caroline Rapunzel Demeter

This is my name and my story.

Yes, I was named after a vegetable and the ditsy princess from the story.

I am a seventeen-year-old girl with inky black hair that reaches down to my waist. I streak it a multitude of colours from bright red to hypnotic purple, depending on how I’m feeling at the time I buy the dye. I have seven piercings all up; two in my right ear, three in my left, a small crystal stud in my nose and a belly ring that, usually displays a skull or a rose. I’m about 5”7’, relatively tall for my family, my eyes are green, I’m skinny but I eat like a horse and don’t have to exercise, much to the annoyance of my friends and basically I’m what the older and current generations have labelled as a ‘punk’.

I stay out late at parties, go through boys like they go through deodorant cans, or should in my opinion and, I must admit, I have a pretty filthy mouth. Despite all this, my grades are good, I’m not always on suspension warnings from school (any more!) and I don’t do drugs or smoke, contrary to popular belief. Sure I drink, but doesn’t everyone at seventeen? I know my limits and I only get smashed when I want to, not by being careless with my drinks.

I live with my grandmother, my parents dumped me with her after I was born and made their merry way to Las Vegas for an extended honeymoon. They never came back. I used to ask Gran about them all the time but I eventually stopped when I put two and two together. They hadn’t come back for me yet so I had no reason to believe they ever would, and I still don’t.

My real story begins on the last day of the summer holidays. My friends and I, all punks like myself, were at a party, celebrating someone’s birthday, I don’t know who as we tend to gatecrash parties all the time. Any way, we were doing the rounds, saying hello to those oh-so-important-people of the high school social standings when someone baked into me. Being the timid, polite little thing I am, I asked them nicely to watch where they were going,

“Hey, look out dickhead, I’m walking here!” I did warn you about my language, didn’t I?

The guy swayed as he turned around, looking up and down with a perverted smile on his face, obviously drunk. He practically drooled as his glazed-over eyes took in my tight shirt and jeans. Unlike others, my punk-look isn’t completely gothic, I wear some sort of colour to break the annoyingly common bleakness and I always, always wear my jeans. They are my trademark item and people rarely ever see me without them.

“Well hey!” the guy slurred, his ratty brown hair falling into his face as he leaned closer to me, his breath stinking like cheap alcohol, “I’m sorry… let me… ah… make it up to you.” he wheezed, trying to lock his arm around my waist. I pushed him away, giving him a break because he was so obviously off his face but he persisted, pulling me against his side with a dopey grin. Well, what can I say, violence is second nature to me, it’s how I earned my badass reputation. When I tried to push him away for the third time he leant down and actually bit my neck. That was it.

When I was younger, my Gran put me in a martial arts class, so I was able to defend myself against creeps like this, and so I did. I rammed my elbow into his chest, my knee into his groin and my fist into his face. I walked quickly away as he crumpled to the ground groaning, hoping not to get caught ‘at the scene of the crime’, or whatever.

I forgot my encounter as I stumbled upon my friends in the back corner, generally where they were found at these kinds of things. Terry, Chase and Elly, my three closest, and some would argue my only, friends. I had known them since primary school and I had quickly come to the conclusion that they were mad. I mean, absolutely, incredibly insane. Sometimes, some of the things they say and do even creep me out, especially Chase who seems to have a fetish for exotic foods (snails, cockroaches, the whole lot). Terry and Elly are complete opposites and I sometimes wonder how they get along so well.

Terry has short-cut brown hair with matching brown eyes. She’s extremely short at about 5”1’ and has, what we like to refer to as ‘short person syndrome’, she’s always arguing with someone and is the quickest of us to pick a fight but, strangely enough, she’s also the most sensitive of us all, some comments people make about her cut her real deep and, although not everyone can tell when she’s upset, I can... it’s like this sixth sense thing I have. Chase suggested one day it was my piercings playing around with my antenna as I tried to contact my ‘home planet’. She is also, when she’s not fighting, very quiet, shy almost with an amazing head on her shoulders. She does advanced maths and Physics and still complains about how boring and easy it is. Personally, I am just passing standard maths and dropped every science subject as soon as I could.

Elly, on the other hand is loud and, sadly, almost perky with golden-blonde hair and blue eyes, and sometimes she can be a little ditsy. I'll give you an example; when I actually took science, in my junior years- a millenia ago, we were looking at the digestive system of a cow and the teacher- Mr Hophman, I think, with the greasy half-head of hair and a glass eye you couldn't help but stare at- was saying how a cow had three stomachs. Elly was sitting next to me and was first to throw her hand up to answer Mr Hophman's question- Because of the cow's three stomachs, what category is it placed in? Her answer- Does that make them amphibians? Yes, sadly, that is my friend. I have to admit, I almost pissed myself laughing, it was hilarious. She’s the sort of person you’d wonder why she would hang out with us but, Chase being her boyfriend, she really had no choice when they first started going out and now, she’s our friend on her own merits, not just as ‘Chase’s girlfriend’. At the moment they looked like they were eating each other’s faces as they sat on the couch, hiding in the shadows.

“Get a room.” I said as I walked over, grabbing a cushion and throwing it at them.

“Hey Carrie.” Chase said, disengaging himself from Elly long enough to grin devilishly and wink. I haven’t really described Chase, have I? He’s 5”9’, which he loves to rub in my face every chance he gets, that bastard, with dyed black hair that is tinged blue in the right light with a single ice-blue stripe down the centre, tipping his messy moa-hawk, which is just coming back into style. His eyes are a strange grey colour that also change, though with his mood and he has almost as many peircings as me; his left eyebrow is done, his tongue, four peircings in the top of his right ear and two in the top of his left, varying in style, like mine, from skulls to dice to simple silver studs. He also wears heavy silver chains on his black jeans, which seemed to pull them stupidly low and his shirt always seemed to have some kind of jerky comment or slogan. Seeing as I’ve known him since kindergarten, he’s the biggest pain in the ass, who is more like an annoying brother than a friend. His parents went through a pretty rough divorce a few years ago so he spent most of his time at my house so, through forced close confinement, as my Gran wouldn’t let him anywhere in the house except my room (ironic, huh?), we became really close friends.

“Hiya.” Elly said chirpily, beaming her blindingly white smile my way. I couldn’t help but smile back, she has that affect on people, even when you’re in your worst, self-pitying slump, Elly always seems to bring you back up, she does to me any way. Hey, if she can cheer-up a pissed-off me, she can pretty much do anything.

“Hey guys.” I said, flopping down in a seat next to the silent, brooding Terry. “What’s up, Terry?” I asked as she glared at a couple slow dancing to an up-beat, hip-hop song.

“Are all teenagers idiots, or is it just me?” she asked cynically. I tried to hide a smile, Terry’s cynical comments always made me laugh but I knew she was being serious... most of the time.I love her, but she really can be a bitch if you let her.

“No.” I said surely, “Just you.”

“Shut up, Caroline.” She growled, though I’m sure I saw a smile creep across her face. It was gone before I could take a second look so I couldn’t be sure. She scowled and shoved a cushion into my face, making me laugh.

“Oh, how sweet,” a voice drawled and I groaned inwardly, “you’re actually giving each other gifts in stead of fighting.”

“What do you want Jesse?” I inquired coldly. Jesse Marney has to be my least favourite person in the whole world. I met him in my first year of high school and, although he seemed like a pain then, he’s gotten worse since. He’s not really ‘classified’ such as Chase or myself, but I would say he’s a mix between punk, skateboarder and rock-star wanna-be, though he could actually pull the whole rock-star thing off if he wanted to... not that I care or anything. His hair is a dark brown that is constantly messy, due to the fact he continuously runs his hand through it, convinced it attracts more girls than if he actually brushed it once in a while. He’s got clear aqua-blue eyes that can change green every now and again and he always wears the latest fashion but adds things to it to make it look even better, so he isn’t really a fashion tragic follower, at least that’s what he says... yeah right!

“Just coming to check on my girl.” He grinned evilly. It was a long running joke that Jesse considered me ‘his girl’ and I used every way I could to reject him, letting him down a little less softly than I should. All right, the joke is I send him crashing down as hard and fast as I can in a tumbling tumult of flames. Cruel, I know but it’s all in fun.

“Too bad she’s not here.” I said, making my ace stonily smooth, “You’ll just have to leave now, won’t you.” He narrowed his eyes at me and I smiled innocently.

“Very funny.” he scowled in mock anger, “Why aren’t you up in your tower, Rapunzel? Did the wicked witch let you out on good behaviour?”

Argh… he always has to find some way to bring that up. If you hadn’t noticed, my middle name is Rapunzel, like I already said and Jesse just loves to rub it in. He thinks it’s hilarious that I was named after a fairytale character. I think it’s stupid.

“Wait, silly me, she’s right here.” He laughed, motioning towards Terry who glared at him.

“Why don’t you just rack-off Jesse.” Elly said with a frosty glare from Chase’s side on the lounge.

“OH, and look, you’ve brought your twins with you.” He grinned, watching me as I clenched my fists, “Are you joined at the hip, by the way? You never did tell me.”

Leave it. He’s being a jerk.

When isn’t he?

Forget it.

No.

He just wants to wind you up.

And…?

Don’t let him.

Why?

He’s not worth it.

He’s an ass.

Don’t…

I couldn’t help it. When the bait is hanging right in front of me, swinging so close I can feel it, I bite.

I leaped out of the chair and bolted after Jesse who took off. We threaded carelessly through the crowd of people, receiving many dirty looks and exclamations on the way as I crushed peoples feet and elbowed their stomachs out of my way. As we ran through the house, I realised how big it was, more like a mansion and, then, I realised I had lost Jesse in it. I searched in a couple of room to find only a few couples but no Jesse.

I started walking back to the main party area when I turned the corner and ran into someone. I was about to abuse them, as always when I looked up to see the same guy I had run into earlier. His nose was busted and moved his legs timidly but it was still him and he leered disgustingly at me.

“Hello, again.” He smiled, though it looked more like a demented grimace to me and his breath washed over me, the stench twice as bad as before, almost enough to knock a person out. “C’mere.” He growled and shoved me into an empty room before I could react. I stumbled backwards as I hit the corner of a table but his cold hands caught my arm, wrenching me upright.

“Think you’re so high and might, don’t you? Think you can get what you want ‘cause you’re hot.” He growled, more to himself than me and I watched him carefully, wondering what he was doing as he rummaged through some draws, “I’ll fix that. Where could they be?” he muttered, still searching. I tried to pull away but his grip was like steel, only squeezing tighter and bruising me the more I pulled. He grimaced triumphantly and pulled a pair of sewing scissors from the draw and I began to panic. I kicked him in the shins, hitting anything I could reach but he either didn’t feel it in his drunken stupor or didn’t care.

“Sit down, bitch.” He ordered and threw me into a chair. I tried to stand and run but he yanked me back down by my hair, causing me to bite my tongue, another injury caused by this crazy drunk. He yanked my hair hard, so my head smacked back against the back of the chair and I had to stare at the ceiling. I closed my eyes, not knowing what he was going to do and not wanting to see either. I heard the strangest sound, like scissors and my head felt lighter. Again, the scissor noise and something brushed the back of my legs as it fell to the ground. The sicko freak, shit-face was cutting my hair. And…and humming? What the hell? He was humming the tune to the Looney Tunes as he cut my hair. How fitting! I thought sarcastically.

“That’s much better.” He growled softly in my ear, much too close for comfort. He shoved a mirror in front of me but I only got a fraction of a second to look at my poor, hacked and mutilated hair before someone lunged at the drunk, knocking him down and smashing the mirror into the ground. Before I thought of anything else, I jumped out of the chair and into the furthest corner away from the psycho. I crouched on the lounge as the two people struggled, knocking over the lamp lighting the room so it was dark then there was a hard thud of bone contacting with something solid and the noise of the struggle stopped. I tensed as I heard someone get up and moved towards me, it sounded as though they were limping. I moved my legs to where I guessed they would turn up, readying myself to use my martial arts training to drop them on their ass. I was about to let loose when a voice spoke,

“Carrie?” the voice was hoarse and soft, not that of the drunks but one I recognised all the same.

“Jesse?” I asked, lowering my poised leg, my voice cracking pitifully. I saw his outline nod and I practically fell into his arms with a sob. I let him hold me and stroke what was left of my hair as I shook and cried into his shirt. Something I swear I never would have done under normal circumstances... well...maybe...

“Shhhh. It’s all right, Carrie. It’s all right now, I’m here.” He said softly into my hair as he hugged me tight to him and I noticed for the first time that he too was shaking. My arms wrapped around his neck of their own accord and I pressed my face into the side of his neck, my tears now slowing and, finally stopping. We stood there for a while longer as our shaking subsided and we tried to centre ourselves again then, reluctantly, I let him go.

“Thanks.” I managed to sniff as I climbed off the lounge I had been standing on and he smiled crookedly in return, something I hadn’t ever seen before in his eyes.

“Carrie.” Elly called as she and Chase stumbled through the door, giggling and laughing, both a little tipsy. Both sobered quickly as they saw the sprawled figure of the drunk by the table thanks to the light of the party outside and Jesse and myself standing extremely close together. I felt myself blush and was glad of the dark we were standing in.

“What the hell, guys?” Chase asked, pulling Elly a little closer, “We leave you for, what, ten minutes and you jump some guy?” I couldn’t help but laugh at Chase’s perception of things. He looked up at me, checking subtly if I was all right. He tried to hide it but I knew he cared about me, even if he couldn’t admit it himself, “Nice hair.” He said with a twinkle in his eyes and I felt my face grow hot again. Jesse must have noticed because he wrapped his arm securely around my shoulders, pressing me gently against his side comfortingly and he eyed the couple at the door, Chase grinning and Elly still staring, though, now at us.

“Chase, go call the police.” He ordered sternly, “Tell them we need an ambulance too.”

“Aye, aye captain.” He said with a mock salute and dragged the reluctant and still stunned Elly after him. I smiled at my friends’ antics and rested my head against Jesse. I felt his eyes on me and found he was watching me closely, I tried to smile, honestly I did, but my traitorous face just wouldn’t obey. He hugged me again, this time gently, holding me almost tenderly and my stomach did sudden flip-flops and I bit my lip.

“Are you okay, Carrie?” he asked gently, pulling back to study my face again. This time I did smile as butterfly’s buzzed around in my stomach. What the hell? One minute I hate him. I'm chasing him around, trying to kill him and next... next I'm like this? What's wrong with me?

“I will be.” I said, my voice sounding stronger as I spoke, “Now, my hair? I’m not so sure.” I said, making him laugh.

“C’mon, let’s get somewhere light, I want to see what that bastard did to my leg.” He leaned on me as we made our way slowly out on to the back veranda, the only place not being bombarded with hormonal, partying teens. I helped him sit on one of the slatted, wooden chairs before having a look at the leg in question.

“Shit.” I said as I peeled away the sliced jeans caked in blood. He had landed on a part of the smashed mirror while he and the drunk were wrestling...a very large part. “What’s the bet you did this just so I would give you attention, you ass-hole.” I joked, as I looked the rest of him over, checking for any other wounds. Luckily, this was his worst and he’d only received minor cuts and bruises from the blundering drunk. I looked up to see him smiling and watching me intently.

“How did you guess?” he asked softly, “Actually, I ‘reckon, due to my minute of chivalry and for playing your knight in shinning armour, I deserve at least one date. Hmm?” I felt myself blush again and looked down, suddenly very interested in his shoes. He placed a finger under my chin, making me look up at him and I felt the smile dancing on my lips, even though I tried to hide it... honset.

“I... guess that'd be all right.” I said simply and his face broke into a handsome smile, just for me, making me blush again.

What was happening? I hadn’t blushed this much in years, he must think I’m a complete idiot, blushing at every cute boy I see.

Not ‘every boy’. Just him.

Impossible, I can’t.

Why not?

Because…

Because, maybe you like him?

No.

You just won’t admit it.

No.

Then what?

Because… he’s Jesse… I just can’t.

Why? Try something new, girl.

Shut up.

Just try it.

SHUT UP.

I didn’t notice him move until his lips were pressed gently against mine and my eyes closed automatically. My hands, traitorous hands, moved up and around the back of his neck and head, through his hair as he kissed me harder. My head spun and I swear, at that precise moment, my whole being was flying, leaping around. The only reassurance I had that I was still on the ground was the touch of his lips hungrily against mine and his hand brushing my cheek in a gentle caress. He winced against my lips and pulled back. His leg had knocked the chair leg, the piece of mirror still embedded into his leg. I bit my lip as he groaned, hiding a smile. I know, cruel, right? But he looks so cute when he’s in pain, I just want to gather him all to myself and kiss him all over.

I think you hit your head a little too hard.

Shut up. Weren’t you just telling me to try something new?

Yes.

And…?

Did you like it?

…Yes.

There you go but the whole ‘kissing him all over’ thing, too far. For now any way!

What do you know any way?

Everything.

Great, I’ve just opened the gates to insanity.

No, just your conscience!

Even worse.

Mwahaha!

Crap.

A man in an ambulance uniform, carrying a medical kit came out the back door before we could say anything and Jesse just smiled at me, kick-starting those butterfly’s again. They took Jesse to the hospital for stitched and I met him there, driving Chase’s car, as he and Elly were still a little gone. As we left, the police broke up the party and I saw the drunk being practically tossed into another ambulance before it sped off towards the hospital. I hope the damage wasn’t too bad. Not that I care about him, I just don’t want Jesse to go to jail on manslaughter charges because of me... especially now...

When I got to the hospital, the doctors checked Jesse over after his stitched and said he was free to go. I drove everyone back to Chase’s house in silence, his place was the general meeting point of our friends, no matter what the hour. I called my Gran and told her I’d be sleeping over, I couldn’t face her with my hair like this, it was her pride and joy and she’d almost had a heart attack when I’d suggested cutting it.

We all sat in Chase’s huge lounge room. Did I mention his mother, whom he lives with, is filthy rich? Well, she is. Any way, we sat in his lounge room in front of his billowing fire, discussing the nights events with interest, hearing each others sides of the story.

The large grandfather clock in the dinning room chimed three o’clock before I realised how tired I was. The adrenaline had finally slowed and I was trying to smother my contagious yawns. I was half asleep when I felt someone lift me off the lounge and walk me into my bedroom. I had stayed over so much it was pretty much mine any way.

“Night princess.” I heard Jesse murmur before kissing me lightly on the head and pulling the blankets up to my chin, smoothing down my spiky hair. I haven’t been tucked in since Gran used to when I was little. I smiled to myself as he closed the door quietly. Jesse. My knight in shinning armour. My prince charming. I could probably deal with that. I thought to myself as I fell asleep. Finally.