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I returned home stinking of alcohol but I couldn't help but wonder what James was up to. What was he telling Emily? That shouldn't be my business, should it. After all, they are family, her biological father even if I don't understand their relationship. My phone buzzed and it was James calling. I looked at the screen and contemplated taking the call. Why was he calling me? Did he see me watching him? Such a stalker. I made sure he didn't see me and when I noticed he was approaching where I hid, I left immediately. I swiped up and placed the phone on my ear. "You better stay away," his husky voice warned. Stay away from what? Stay away from who? What was James saying? "Hello." "You heard me, Devin, stay away from my lane. I'm warning you." "You—" He ended the call abruptly before I could say anything so I tossed the phone away and went to bed. * * * I had an exam so I needed to get to school earlier. I spent my entire nigh
I know it's wrong to sneak around Emily's house but it felt relaxing and I needed that comfort. Emily made me feel human and I enjoyed every bit of her company. It was soothing to be here so I remained outside, looking around hoping she'd sense I was around and maybe open her window. I didn't want to go inside because her parents may be in and it would cause a lot of problems. I didn't want to be the cause of her family problems, I just wanted her happy. The door pushed open and Xavier came out. He looked confused as usual and wore a hoodie over his black shorts. I wondered if I could get inside when he was gone but I brushed the thought off. I was trying to avoid any problems with her family, including Xavier. I watched Xavier leave through the front door and he paused. He looked around like he was observing the environment then he turned to the back. He had a cigarette in his hand and he was going to smoke. I introduced Xavier to smoking pot and it made me feel guilty
I sat down quietly but everyone kept talking about prom and I was tired of listening to them. They were all making plans but I wasn't moved. The guys at my left kept making plans of how they'd snuggle some meth to the party and get high as fuck. They laughed at random topics and kept discussing how the prom would go. I don't want ro talk about some few that talked about wanting to get wasted when having sex. Do they they even think it's all about having orgy and getting random persons infected or pregnant normal? For me, its not and at the same time, I don't care. I didn't really care about prom except Emily was going to be there, of course. She had a way of bringing light to everything she got involved in and just maybe my Prom would be great if she came along. A smile tugged on my lips as I thought of her and imagined her in a dinner gown or something. She would look effortlessly pretty and it made my tummy grumble in excitement and anticipation. I checked
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 t
I took the remnant of pizza and grabbed a juice. It was my breakfast and I needed to eat it hurriedly. I barely had any sleep, I sat up all night thinking of what James said. He made me worry and it didn't feel good to be disturbed. I stretched to the glass and poured some apple juice into the glass. I took a sip first and then gulped it till it finished. I checked my wrist watch and I had fifteen minutes to get to school. I took my baseball cap from where it hung on the wall and wore it. I grabbed my bag and my phone. I didn't want to run late so I took the short route as usual and walked to school. A notification pinged and I checked the screen of my phone. It was an Instagram notification and my brows raised when I saw the post. It was Gabby's post. Wish I could go on a date with the prom king #prom A furrow appeared on my forehead. I had no idea who the prom king was going to be and I didn't care. I imagined being the prom king for a minute but I
XAVIER'S POV The moment she said that my blood boiled. I became mad and could no longer keep shouting. I dropped my hands from her chin and clenched it. "You cannot do that!" "Watch me, Xavier!" She yelled back. Her eyes were teary and her whimpers were loud. "You cannot go with James, Emily. Fuck it! You're insane." She just kept whimpering and did not respond to me. "Let me go, Xavier." I wasn't going to let her leave till I made her know what I wanted her to know. "Emily," I started and reached for her shoulders. I held her arms and shook her. "I don't give a damn what our parents think, I want you, and I'll have you." "Get your filthy hands off me!" She yelled and tried to wriggle out of my hold. She heaved and her breathing pattern changed. She couldn't stop crying and I hated to see she was making up her mind to follow James. "Xavier you have no idea how much I hate you. I hate you so much and when I leave, I don't want to ever see you."
I got home and continued thinking of everything that happened. I wondered if Emily was really thinking of going to stay with James. It didn't make sense to me, she couldn't leave me, leave her mom, Dad, us. We had something going on and she just woke and decided to make such a decision. A surge of regret flushed through me, I wished I didn't have to say all that to Emily. I was regretting my choice of words and how my words hurt her. I was shitty to say those things to her. I was mad and thought it was the best thing to do. Yes, I wanted to hurt her but now I regret it. She didn't deserve to be called a mistake or whatever said, I could only wish to clear them from her head. It killed me to know she sought comfort in Devin's arms and that made me mad. It hurt me that I wasn't the one who gave her solace. I'm fucking toxic but that isn't the point. I just want Emily to myself and would do anything to have her. I reached for the unlit cigarette in my jacket. I
The fact that Emily left without telling me her destination sent chills down my spine. I turned back to the sitting room and kicked the couch. I held my hand in a fist and wondered what I could do to get my mind off it. I didn't want to smoke nor did I want to drink. I had no idea when Dad was coming back, it would get me in a lot of trouble if they get back and Emily wasn't back. I stretched and picked my phone from the glass table and dialed Mom's number. It wasn't connecting so I tried Dad's own and it connected.Dad picked up the call and I heard his burly voice. I swallowed hard and exhaled before responding."Dad." "Xavier, how are you son?""Uh, I'm good." "How's Emily? I miss my little girl too," he said and a giggle followed. "Emily. She's uh, she's sleeping and uh—" I was stammering because I didn't think of anything else to say. I didn't want Dad to find out Emily left the house so I tried to cover her up. "Sleeping?" I could hear
I turned to Mom who was wiping her eyes. She had tears welled in them and Dad just hugged her. "It's over," he told her. "You don't have to worry anymore.""It just feels so unreal. I can't believe everything is fine now.""Me too."I honestly couldn't believe it. It was just too good to be true and I didn't know how to feel about it.She gave me a nod and pulled me into a hug. I remained there for a while before Dad asked us to get ready to leave. We strode happily to where the car was parked.We got home and I walked to my room it felt good having a separate room, I liked how it felt. I heard a scream and rushed out to see what was happening."Mom?""Emily! Xavier just got admission into a college in the Los Angeles!"My jaw dropped in excitement and I turned to Xavier. It was good news but Xavier didn't look happy. I turned my gaze to him and my eyes met his. He was staring blankly at me."What's wrong?" I asked him. "This is good news, Xavier.""I guess."His reply was cold and his
ONE MONTH LATER.The cold wind and fresh aura made me smile. I stood beside James watching his jet. Apparently, he was getting ready to leave and I didn't know how to feel about it.It was just the two of us standing there and there was silence. I wish I could hear everything he was thinking of. I felt the sensation and I knew more than ever that I was going to miss James.His lips formed a small smile like he heard what I was thinking and I just twitched my lips. I needed to enjoy the moment because it may be the last time I'd see him. I also knew his ailment had given him a short period of time to live and I really felt bad.I had no idea why I was feeling all those emotions at that point. There was this strong urge to hug him and just remain in his hugs. I remembered how welcoming and warm his arms were but I stopped myself. I didn't have to be overly emotional.I was trying hard not to think about James dying but I couldn't help it and before I knew it, a sob escaped my mouth. Tea
I opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was Xavier. He was staring at me with a small smile tugged on his lips. I got scared at first but the feeling faded and I felt okay."Why are you staring at me?" I asked with a frown."Why didn't you report James to the cops?"I knew he was going to ask that, I just didn't think it was going to be by 3 fucking a.m."I can't.""Why?""I can't even though I want to kill him myself. I know everything, I know the shitty things you did, I know you sold drugs."He twitched his like and continued looking at me. "Do you still sell drugs or do you deliver them in your sleep?"I grabbed the blanket and placed it on my body, turning to the other side to sleep."I need to sleep, leave me alone."He scoffed and I rolled my eyes. "I hate you."I heard him giggle, "I love you too," he responded.* * * *The door slamming open made me open my eyes. It was morning but I was hoping I could sleep a little longer."Emily, get up."Mom grabbed my hands before I c
The moment Mom asked if I saw James, my chest heaved. "No," I replied and twitched my lips. I didn't want to keep talking about him because of the emotions I felt whenever I thought of him."Emily."We turned and it was Xavier. I ran to him immediately and threw my hands around him. He hugged me back, even tighter. I couldn't believe I missed Xavier this much, it was hurting."I'm so sorry," he said as he hugged me. No one else was going to understand, not even Mom. "It's not your fault," she told him."The police found someone involved."My heart raced faster, I felt bad for James. He was going to die and I didn't want him to die in jail."Hi, excuse me." The doctor walked into us and turned to Mom. "There's been no form of abuse, she's fine.""She's fine?""Yes, she is," The doctor confirmed and gave a friendly smile.Mom gave a nod and appreciated him. She stood up from the chair and looked at me. "I need to go and feed Devin, no one is coming for him."I gave a nod, I understood h
I tried to open my eyes and the sunlight hurts them. I tried to figure out what was happening and I realized I was in someone's arm.I freed my eyes again and realized it was James and he was taking me out of the enclosed room. At that point I felt an adrenaline rush in me.He dropped me down and I felt hot tears roll down my eyes, I couldn't believe it. I hugged him right without thinking and cried into his arms.He returned the hug and just remained calm, watching me. I had no idea why I was crying and hugging him but I needed the hug.When I pulled away from his hug, he looked at me and smiled faintly. "You can do what you want now. Call the cops and tell them I rescued you from the teenagers who kidnapped you."Was he asking me to go?"Just go down the road, you'll figure your way. I'll have someone follow you from a distance just so you arrive home safely.""There's no camera Emily, I have my men dismount them so, the choice is yours. I love you."With that, he turned and entered
EMILY'S POVEvery minute I stayed locked in here makes me want to throw up. It feels like I’ve been kidnapped for years, I already lost count of days but I knew it was already weeks. My head split in pain as I tried to recall the incident. I was arguing with Xavier when I got pushed into a moving van. The details of the kidnap were blurry and I couldn’t remember much.I still have no idea how I survived the first day ‘cause panic attacks made me nauseated and disorganized. Their faces all scared life in me, I thought they were going to kill me because of how fierce they looked. The highest punishment I got for kicking one of the guy’s balls was a hard slap.It was hard enough to redden my face but not kill me, I wondered why they were being so careful with me till I overheard their discussion saying they sold me to a rich man and he didn’t want me bruised.I threw up hearing it and the rest turned out to be blurry vision and a bad headache. When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a di
I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat the moment she looked at me. I looked at Devin and he was growling like he was going to pass out.She lowered her stance to him and cleaned him up without saying anything. You would never believe they knew themselves before now. I didn't care though, I just wanted to get away and that was my concern.When she was done cleaning his wounds, she turned the first aid box to where I was and used a wipe to clean off the surface of the bruises I sustained.I flinched when her hands touched my face and the iodine dropped on my injury."Fuck."She didn't apologize or say a thing. She just turned her box away when she was done. Devin and I remained silent for a while before we heard footsteps and turned our heads in the direction if the door. She had returned with two plates of food. She dropped it in front of us with bottles of water and latched the door.Devin hungrily grabbed the plate and spooned rice into his mouth. I looked at him wondering if
My eyes glinted open and I felt a sharp pain. I could feel the chill from the breeze cutting straight through my damp body.I felt a metallic taste in my mouth, I turned and realized where I was. I was in a room with no ventilation. My face was bruised and I could feel the dried blood clot on my body. I tied to move but realized my hands were still tied to the pole and I couldn't move.My eyes turned to the growling sound and I saw the hefty man who injected Devin beating him up. He was growling as the punches landed on his body.On the other side of the room, a bloodied man was laying on the floor. Devin was getting beaten for doing that to the man. Couldn't he just wait till we realized where the fuck we were?I scoffed and struggled to break free but the ropes holding my hands together had a grip hold. I paused after several trials and just looked at Devin who looked like he was about to die. He needed to get treated because his wounds were susceptible and they looked like it was g
I walked out of the sitting room glad the police didn't want to interrogate me yet. They probably felt he was saying all that because he was accused and it made me feel a rush of relief.I opened the door to my bedroom and looked around. The mess I made on Emily's bed was still there and I didn't have the energy to clean up yet. I knew she wasn't going to yell at me for messing up her bed because she wasn't there and it hurt me to think of her absence.I turned my face away and walked to my bed. I sat on my bed and fell on my back. I looked at the ceiling, thinking of nothing but how to sneak out of the house.Devin had a plan he says we need to see and talk about. I wondered if he had other motives in mind when he sent his invitation but I was blank. I could ask him to tell me the plan over the phone but he would refuse and say it had to be a physical meeting."Fucking hell," I scoffed in an undertone and turned to the other side of the bed. It was only 8 pm and I could get some slee