�In your women? Like, in your shoes, your car, and your property? First off J.J., I�m not your woman, and yes, I may have considered it before, but now that I�ve thought it over, I never will be your woman. Now if you�ll excuse me, I have a few friends I need to find��
J.J. moved out from behind Morgan and quickly blocked her intended pathway. He looked down at the floor and grinned, then back up at Morgan�s furrowed brow.
�Apolo told me you would be difficult. What I don�t understand though, Morgan, is why you just can�t admit how much you want me right now? You felt the same thing I did out there, we had sparks, we had chemistry, and I�m giving you the chance to seize it before it gets away.�
�J.J., I don�t think you understand a lot of things, so I�ll make this as simple as I can for you. I came to this party to have some fun. And I did have fun with you. But that�s all it is, fun. Nothing less, and especially nothing more. Now please, let me be.�
Morgan tried to walk around J.J., but wherever she moved, he managed to get there first. This didn�t seem so funny anymore. Morgan�s dauntless demeanor began to melt away as pure fear started to set in.
�Get out of my way,� she finally demanded, pushing him away from her.
�I don�t think so,� J.J. whispered as he caught her by the wrists. Morgan struggled against his firm grip. She had always been strong for a girl, but her strength was no match for J.J.�s. The glimmer in Morgan�s eyes faded with the waning color in her arms.
�You know you want to, and to be honest, I�m tired of this hard-to-get game. Let�s go upstairs, shall we?�
�No, I don�t want to, J.J.� Morgan dug her toes into the carpet as J.J. pulled her toward the staircase. With the guests starting to appear further and further away, so did the hope that he would cease his powerful hold on her. And with each protest, J.J. clasped his rough hands tighter around her wrists.
�C�mon Morgan. You�re the very one who said that you don�t leave without a goodbye. And I assure you, you won�t. Just one final adieu, and I promise you, you�ll enjoy it.�
�What part of �no� did you not get? Let go! You�re hurting me!�
�J.J., leave her alone.�
Startled from the resounding voice, J.J. quickly released Morgan from his heavy grasp. She sighed and lifted her head; she had never felt so relieved to see Apolo. Morgan smiled faintly and rubbed her wrists, examining the red welts his fingers left behind.
�Hi �Polo. We were just going upstairs�� J.J. began, wrapping both arms around Morgan�s waist.
�That�s not what it looks like,� he replied, glancing from Morgan�s wince to that of J.J.�s opposing smile. Apolo moved closer to the two of them so that he was only within feet of Morgan. His usually tender brown eyes burned into J.J.�s., standing his ground, refusing to be intimidated.
�Looks can be deceiving. Why don�t you just leave us alone and go mind your own business, huh?�
�This is my business. The second you laid your hand on her it became my business. The moment you shot fear into her eyes, it became my business.�
J.J. chuckled as he pulled Morgan closer to him. �Apolo, I love you man, but you gotta stop with this whole hero nonsense. Sure, you won a gold, but that doesn�t make you fucking Tobey Maguire, alright?�
�I never claimed to be him. And I�m not looking to save the day, but if I have to kick your ass to save my friend, I�ll do it,� threatened Apolo, unbuttoning the cuffs on his shirt. �Let�s just take the easy way out, J.J. I know you�re not an asshole, so let her go. The woman apparently doesn�t want to be with you.�
�And who does she want to be with then? You? Seattle�s most prized possession?� J.J. asked in disbelief, still fighting off Morgan�s squirming. A large grin spread across his face as Apolo rolled up his sleeves, never breaking eye contact with his former friend.
�What�s the deal Apolo? Why do you care so much? Is she your side order? Is she your twinkie?� Apolo�s eyes moved from J.J. down to his hands as they lead a trail across Morgan�s stomach and now under her shirt.
�Don�t you dare touch her that way�� he growled, clenching his teeth.
�And why the fuck not? Let�s hear the answer so that all the guests can bare witness!�
�I�m warning you, J.J., take your hands off her.� Apolo could feel the heads turn and the wandering eyes land on him, but nothing could thwart the anger that was rushing through his pulsating veins.
�Stop being a chicken shit and answer the question!� Murky black tears rolled down Morgan�s flushed cheeks at the sensation of J.J.�s hands suddenly grabbing hold of her breasts. �Is she your FUCK?!�
The solid crack of fist against face echoed through the crowded room as J.J.�s limp body crashed to the floor. Apolo stood over him, breathing heavily, as he watched J.J. slowly sit up and touch the blood streaking from his nose.
�She�s not my fuck.� Apolo looked at Morgan, smiling as she quickly brushed away her tears, then straight back at J.J. �She�s my friend.�