Stuck between two bad boys

I returned home mad and irritated. I knew Xavier was an asshole but not the type that tried to rape his stepsister. It irked me to think that he touched Emily.

Goad! I want to kill someone. I want to hurt someone now!!.

I exhaled and kicked the soda can away. I was trying to take my mind off it. Emily said he didn’t rape her and he just used her thighs.

I was glad he didn’t fuck her, I would have gone insane and probably beaten the fucker till his nose broke. Just nose, I would gladly break his rips and give him lots of internal injuries.

“Damn it!” I yelled as I recalled how Emily felt when she told it to me. She looked like she was traumatized from the experience and it was fucking cruel.

I couldn’t stop thinking of it so I reached for an unlit cigarette in my pocket. I only smoked when I was heavily worried and couldn’t think straight. Smoking and drinking helped clear my head, it was the only way I could remain the same in times like this.

I walked to the fridge and opened it. I reached for the bottle of vodka there but my eyes fell on the champagne. I didn’t keep it there, I could barely recall buying such a brand. This look way expensive than I can afford, well not wanting to get a drink for 21000$.

“Bravo,” a voice said and clapped.

I turned and my gaze met with James. He was smiling and clapping like he won a lottery.

My jaw clenched as I saw him.

“You’ve done well Devin,” he said and stopped clapping.

I was waiting for a better explanation because I had no idea what he was talking about. I didn’t do anything else and it surprised me to see him.

“Your job is done,” he said and took a few steps toward me. “I’ll send 1000$ to your cash app, that’s me been generous.”

My lips twitched as he continued. I wasn’t expecting him to pay me any more money. It was shocking to hear and I knew something else was up.

“I need you to stay away from Emily.”

There it was, what I was expecting.

Was he paying me off to stay away from Emily? That was unthinkable and I didn’t know how to react. I felt a squeezing sensation in my chest. I didn’t want to leave her so soon, not now that she needed me the most.

I wondered what would happen if she found out I was paid to make her fall in love with me and paid to leave her. It was absurd to think James’ plan was a good one, It didn’t make any sense.

“You look worried,” he said in an observant tone. “Are you in love with Emily?”

My chest heaved when he asked me that. I didn’t respond to his question, there was no way I was going to admit I was in love with Emily. James was the last person who would understand what I felt and I wasn’t going to try.

He grinned and leaned on the wall. His expression was mocking and his hands were folded.

“Are you in love with Emily?” He asked again.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

Without waiting for me to reply, he continued. “It is better not to be, Devin. Emily is a minor and I’ll have you arrested if I ever see you with her.”

I swallowed hard at his threat. He knew Emily was a minor when he made me do this. He was the person who wanted me to get her to fall in love with me and now he was saying she is a minor.

“That has been the plan but Emily would see me like a wicked father so I’m only making it easier for you.”

I finally gathered the courage to speak but I paused.

“Emily will be heartbroken if she finds out. She is barely a happy child with her mother and stepfather. They work all day and do not show her the love she needs.”

I looked at him as he was explaining shit.

“I also noticed Xavier’s attitude. I think they may be fighting. They don’t look like they’re on good terms. At this point, you may be the one she runs to next.”

Yes! Yes you son of a motherfucker.

I tried hard to hide the pain I was feeling. I didn’t want James to notice how hurt I was from everything he said. Truly, Emily was hurt and was going to follow me since I made her feel better.

“James this is absurd,” I finally said. “I mean, yeah- I like Emily as a person. She’s a sweet, kind, and fun person to be around. Hurting her isn’t going to be all that easy. I can’t hurt her like that, it’s too much to process.”

James looked at me for a second and then coughed.

“Listen, I know you want me out of the picture and I understand that. I can make her stop loving me slowly but if I leave now she’ll be broken.”

I was hoping he saw my reasons with me and understood what I was saying from my perspective.

“Don’t worry about that.”

A surge of emotion flushed through me as he touched my shoulder. He was asking me not to worry about how she’d take it but that was impossible.

I stood still unaware of what else to say to convince. He looked like had already made up his mind about the issue.

“You should celebrate your 1000$ man, that’s clean money right there,” he said smiling. “You should get a good job too, fighting isn’t a means of livelihood.”

He was right but that wasn’t the main thing on my mind. I just wanted him to understand I couldn’t leave Emily yet. I kept thinking of what to say but I went blank.

“You are a strong boy and I can employ you as Emily’s guard in Los Angeles.”

Was he planning to take her to Los Angeles? A lot of questions clouded my head at that point but I could not ask him any of them.

I just gave a slight nod at his offer to employ me and twitched my lips.

“It’s your final exam. Be a good boy and stay away from whatever could mess you up. Drugs, alcohol, cheating.”

“I’ve never cheated,” I blurted.

“It would make it only pain and fun to be innocent.”

I had no idea what he meant by that but I squeezed my jaw. He placed his hand on my shoulder and patted me gently. He left my house and I couldn’t hold back the emotions any longer.

I reached for the bottle of champagne and hurled it at the wall. It shattered leaving broken bottle pieces on the floor.

Shit! That’s $20, 000 and I am still broke.

“Fuck it!!” I yelled at the top of my voice. I was mad and my chest hurt too.