You know, you witness people falling face-flat on TV and you wonder how did they get up without been embarrassed? Or what does it feel like to be the victim of some miniature accidents? But you never really know the answer to the question, because you were an audience to such occurrences. I wished I knew how to deal with such situations before getting into one. I was a mess, lying down on the floor covered in dirt and humiliation. Well, maybe not dirt but definitely humiliation. “Are you okay?” His warm hands held my fragile arms lifting me up.I couldn’t bring myself to utter a response. I was beyond ashamed, years welled up my eyes and before I knew it I ran out of the living room and into the back yard. I was sobbing hard—non-stop as well. My wailing was muffled, I made sure not to draw attention. Not that our neighbors would mind, they were always away. Yet I preferred to be vigilant. From the corners of my eyes I could spot Allen glancing frantically probably in search of som
Allen Ian’s POV I couldn’t get her out of mind. Deep brown innocent eyes, thin heart shaped lips, blonde hair in waves, and the charisma she upheld. The way she sat gracefully even after she fell—it was also admiring how she stood up for Juliet despite how she treated her. Juliet was immature and annoying. She kept looking for my attention by suggesting meals that I could eat if I wanted. And that crown she had on, girls like her would make you want to pull your hair out in frustration. Who wears a crown to a lunch? “What’s up man?” Jed walked over to me with a bottle of whiskey in hand. I shifted giving him some space on the sofa, he kept the bottles at our feet. He yelled atop the loud jazz music playing in the background, “Man, turn it off!” Vincent did just that at his command. Jed was the oldest of us all at the age of twenty-five, and that made him the wisest. While Vincent was a hilarious guy he got serious when the need arose, I was glad having them in my life. Back in
Allen Ian’s POV No matter how many drinks I had, I just couldn’t get her out of my mind. Our conversation was glued to me, wherever I went I could hear her voice echoing. And that’s why I’m standing before ‘The Den’ an underground club that I was regular at. The security didn’t ask for my ID card like usual. “Good work John,” I shook his hand and rewarded him with a tip. He smiled at me before letting me in. At this point, I could be his favorite customer. “Levi,” the music was loud so I had to yell to be heard. Levi was a strong build man that had tattoos all over his body. It’s a great art when you think of it. “Boss,” he greeted.Levi had so much respect towards me one would mistake him for my employer. Dad hated my visit to the club that I was sure he would hate Levi if I were to open one. “Give me something strong,” I told him as I made myself comfortable on the stool. “You alone here today?” Like I said this was our spot. Vincent and I are regulars and so Levi was fami
ALLEN’s POVHooking up with a stranger had its ups and downs. But more downs I suppose. “Wait, you’re leaving already.” The stripper insisted. “Yes, I am.” I replied annoyingly. I wasn’t one to chit-chat after having a one-night stand. I was the kind of guy that made it to the door the moment I woke up. “But we had such a good time.” She pouted. I wished Cheryl did that, then I would have thought it was cool. “Listen, Brittney. What we had last night was over, so now if you would excuse me. I would like to leave. I have some important issues to deal with. “My name’s Annabel. And I guess last night didn’t mean anything to you.” She sounded so serious that I threw some cash her way and made a run for the door. If I were the same person that slept with different girls every night during my college years, I could’ve have definitely stayed for the night. Believe me I wasn’t. The same guy wouldn’t work out of a hotel room feeling shitty. “Good day,” I said to the receptionist who
Cheryl’s POVYou know that feeling that everything was perfect and all you wanted suddenly was to live the moment but life had other plans. That was me and Allen, standing in the deserted garden surrounded by nature, I was basking in his presence. It was selfish of me to ever think I could have him to myself. Just when we were about to have a moment, two young men barged in wearing marching suits. “Hey man!” one of them said. Allen was tensed, he rubbed his fingers against the bridge of his nose and I knew he was freaking out. I would be freaking out too if my friends decided to show up while I was having a conversation with my fiancé’s sister. “You must be Cheryl,” The easy going one offered a handshake. Don’t ask me how I knew he was easy-going because the other guy besides him looked like he killed for a living. “I’m Vincent, and the grumpy one over there is Jed.” At least Vincent agreed he was grumpy. “My friend here had been talking about you non-stop.” I thought Vincent
Cheryl’s POVI had never been in such a lavish engagement party, I had never been in an engagement party. The closest we had to a party was senior year prom.Juliet had insisted I wasn’t welcomed. So she had instructed me to help out in the kitchen. To be honest, I wasn’t bothered after all. It was like Allen’s kiss just set me in a good mood. The kitchen looked like our apartment. It had different divisions. They were numerous sinks and islands that were hard to catch. “Bitch, what are you doing here? It’s bad enough that we have to serve you, now you have to come and disgrace us while we prepare your food?” A petite looking lady ordered in a not-so-happy mood. She even had a spatula in hand like a mother scolding her child. “I just came here to help out,” I said slowly. The entire room was silent and all eyes were on me. They were looking so mysteriously that it made me question if I had just snuck to the garden and hid there for the rest of the party. “I’m really sorry for Ele
Allen’s POVSeeing Cheryl was such a relieve.But listening to the words coming off her beautiful kissable lips made me sad. Vincent’s eyes said it all, that he like me was so angry and terrified after she admitted to doing house chores. “It’s fine. Why don’t we just go there and have a drink? If the party’s too much for you, we can go to the back yard and sit in the Garden, you will like that right?” He may have a warning smile but Vincent was mad as hell. After knowing about the kiss, he had being adamant to look for her. “I don’t drink.” She said timidly. It was like every time I saw her, I found out facts about her that had escaped right under my nose for example the fact that she looked after their house—I could’ve known when she served us dinner the first time we came into the household. “You can get an orange juice or any non-alcoholic drink you desire.” I reassured her. I wanted her to feel safe with me, we shared a kiss so she already felt safe. “Thanks.” She murmured wh
Allen’s POVI stormed out, eyes searching frantically in the crowded environment for a certain red-haired. I never thought I would say that, but where was Juliet when you actually needed her. I spotted one of her bimbo friends by the chocolate fountain. She was snapping a picture and laughing in a half-drunk state. “Hi, Tiffany. Where is Juliet?” She scuffed at me for interrupting her. She swiped her hand underneath the tap and sucked her fingers clean, “It’s Emily but whatever. She is in the living room.” I politely shoved the dancing bodies until I could see that the coast was clear. The music was louder in this part of the house. I wondered if this was an engagement party or it was a bar I was at. “Juliet, I need to talk to you.” I yelled above the music when I was few feet away. One of her friends pouted her lips in awe and winked at us. Seemed like Juliet got her attitude from her friends. She followed me to the garden quietly, briskly walking to catch up with my speed. “
Allen’s POV It had been a week since the incident. When I’m out of the house I make sure to check up on Cheryl every few hours. Aunt Lucy stays with her on days when she is alone. Everyone’s worried one way or the other. “Thinking about your love, I see.” Vincent twirled in his chair. He kept the booklet he was going through, poured coffee from the machine and sat right back. “What are you doing here again?” I raised an eyebrow. He has been following me to work for three days straight. He would sit in the usual guest chairs and bug me all day. “I’m here to accompany you. You don’t seem to complain until now.” That would be because he was silent until few minutes ago. For someone that talks all the time, he looked like something’s bothering me. “What’s up?” I closed the MacBook and kept it aside. Vincent lowered his gaze and fondled with his fingers. I stifled a laugh. Seeing him nervous was something I never thought I would. “I’m meeting her parents this weekend.” Who would have
“Allen, wake up.” My eyes fluttered open to the sight of Vincent shaking my unconscious body. I must have fallen asleep, a blanket was draped over my form, and my head was supported by a pillow. “What’s wrong?” I asked confused. When I noticed his worried expression, I came to realize that today wasn’t an ordinary day. It was the third day of Cheryl in the hospital. I threw the blanket off me in seconds, and rushed to the door. “Wait, Cheryl has just woken up.” He said just as I was about to reach for the door-knob. I halted in my steps. I had anticipated this moment for a long time that I had completely forgotten how I was going to react. “Let’s go.” I grabbed my car keys that were abandoned on the dressing table, adjusted my collar, ruffled my hair and walked out with Vincent trailing behind me. “Where’s Aunt Lucy?” I questioned noticing the unusually eerie environment. Rosa came out of the kitchen looking distorted, “She has gone out.” She bowed and went back in. Judging from
Allen Gareth’s POVVincent’s hold on the steering wheel intensified. We were driving above the speed limit but none of us seemed to notice. Twice, he received a phone call, probably from Indiana. “She is poisoned.” He told me after awhile. That didn’t help much with the agitation. Cheryl was hurt when I took my eyes off her for a few minutes. How could I live with myself after that? My phone rang when we were at a traffic. I answered solemnly, “Hi.” Aunt Lucy answered. “Where are you? The situation is critical.” Her voice was rough and croaky which indicated that she had been crying. Aunt Lucy hardly ever showed any emotion apart from irritation and hatred. She is one to keep things to herself, that will be why she has no friends and relatives except for Dad. “We are on our way. I hope Cheryl would be okay. What are the doctors saying?” I tapped my feet trying to distract myself from thinking and imagining different scenarios. I couldn’t concentrate.We made it to the hospital at
Allen Ian’s POV I had seized my visits to the club. Being married changes a lot of things. You suddenly become mature and cautious. Of course Vincent found it amusing and wouldn’t shut up about it one bit. “Come one, one drink!” He bugged me for the umpteenth time that evening. I threw the stacks of paper across the desk, strolled towards him in anger, and grab him by the collar. “I swear to God, if you try to persuade me in going with you one more time, I will deal with you.” I pointed a middle finger at him for dramatic effect.“One drink bro. One drink!” He raised the empty abandoned glass to prove a point. We all knew we weren’t going to have only a drink. I had been in this situation before, Vincent persisting until I gave up. We always ended up drunk most times, completely spent. “I said no. I have paperwork’s to take care of.” I needed to clear up my schedule so I could spend more time with Cheryl. It’s a bad strategy considering the fact that we just got married one month ag
Cheryl Gareth His hand roamed my body as he brought me closer. The kiss intensified. My hands were everywhere, I didn’t know what to do with them. I rubbed my hands against his toned chest. We pulled away gasping for air. Allen lifted my chins with his wet hands. “I’m not going to do anything without your consent.” Allen was everything I ever wanted in a man. He is gentle, understanding and cocky. Indiana was rooting for us and I would almost imagine her overdramatic voice when I tell her. “Do you plan on hugging me all night?” way to ruin a moment. I let go of him, and rushed to the bedroom. I got under the covers in case he came back early. I hadn’t done the deed yet but I was a blushing mess. Allen came out from the closet with his hair dripping. He wore a grey shirt and a trouser. I tried hard not to stare at him too much. He was struggling with his hair. He used a towel to try and drain the water but it wasn’t working. I stifled a laugh and unconsciously went over to help
Cheryl GarethIndiana made wearing a lingerie sound so easy. She hung up on the phone, saying she would sleep. The man on her couch had probably woken up and she wanted to flee. I breathed heavenly. I held the piece of red lingerie to my boobs and like the three other times I just kept it on the counter. “You can do this.” I cheered myself on. I looked myself in the mirror and with the courage I could muster I slid my thin legs into the panties. People painted getting naked as easy and normal but it wasn’t. You go to the beach and you see almost everyone naked. I support women confidents trust me, but some people like Indiana makes it sound so simple. When I finally got the lingerie on. I draped a rope over it and left for the room. It was vacant, which meant Allen wasn’t home yet. I sat on the bed and cursed the day I met Indiana. How dare she leave me on hold while she enjoyed herself? She knew I was feeble to deal with this on myself. I had never watched porn, I don’t even kno
Cheryl’s POVMy new home was located in the outskirt city of LA. The gates were tall and dark guarding the mystery that laid ahead. They were two men dressed in black and sunglasses that were responsible for the safety of the compound. As the car pulled into the magnificent house I would refer to as home in the upcoming years I couldn’t help but stare at the vast field that was separated by iron gates at the far end of the compound. It had all different varieties of flowers and a large oak tree at the center. Allen tucked a strand of hair that escaped from my bun and whispered, “You would love the garden.” It wasn’t as gorgeous and bigger than the one back at his father’s house but it sure was beautiful. I pictured myself coming out early in the morning and sitting on the benches observing the plants and the birds that had come to visit. I would stay there till sunset as well, because there’s no better view than the one from there. Allen opened the door and escorted me in. There w
Cheryl’s POV“How dare she? If only Jed allowed me to deal with her. I can’t believe she wanted to ruin your special day.” Indiana paced in circles. The reception had taken place two hours ago. Vincent and Jed were on edge, they had been on the lookout after Juliet was escorted outside. “Thankfully no paparazzi was present.” Grace took a bite of her cake. This was her third plate. When Indiana pointed out how much she was overfeeding she answered by saying that wedding cakes’ taste better than any other cake. “I hope you’re okay, Cheryl?” Stephanie patted my shoulder in concern. Justin and she would be on their way to the hospital in an hour. I should be asking her that. “How are you doing?” she stepped out to the backyard and I followed her. She didn’t want the others to know about it yet. “I’m doing okay. I think I’m ready to tell him.” She sighed experastly. Her hands unconsciously went to her bump an act she had been doing a lot. It was obvious that she loved the baby uncondi
Allen’s POVThe boys and I decided to do something a little unique than the last hangout we did two years ago in Justin’s honor. The idea was to enjoy the moment as much as we could. And we decided that camping would do. We didn’t want to go out to the wild so we opted to do it in Vincent’s backyard. Lucinda went to bed early, we had the house to ourselves. “Keep it over here.” Vincent wanted the tents to be in the direction of the moon. “Come do it yourself.” Jed dropped the tent on the ground and jogged back to where the rest of us were sitting by the gigantic oak tree. “Come on man, you know I can’t do this.” Vincent was out of breath as he joined us. It was unbelievable when you think of it; my marriage that is. We all bet Jed was going to be the first among us to tie the knot. He was serious, and responsible. “You know, I had never thought you would get married this soon. I mean you have a different girl in your arms almost every day.” Justin said what was on my mind. Th