FIVE | NOT NECESSARY

   She slid off her heels after rested her body on the couch. She sat up and stretched her back, causing it to crack in the process.

She crossed her legs and turned the television on with the remote that sat on the table. She flipped through every channel before stopping on an old movie probably from the nineties or eighties.

The front door swung open, a cool breeze wafting through the house. She looked over her shoulder to see that it her fiancee. He came in staggering over the large bags of gifts in his hands. Then he sat them down by the sofa.

"Aren't you going to help me?" He asked.

"I told you, I'm tired." She sighed dramatically and turned her head. She thought I felt something small land on it and reacted by rubbing her arm. "These mosquitos are getting out of hand."  She then looked down at her skin and saw that there was nothing.

   "I love you, babe." He placed a kiss on her cheek. "I've got everything." She turned her head and kissed him on the lips.

   "I love you too." 

He smiled and went to finish bringing in the things from the party.

She propped my legs up on the table and sat back. She thought of Seven and hoped that he was safe, warm and dry somewhere possibly getting some sleep, because after the scene he created that evening it seemed like he needed every ounce of sleep he could get.

Was he actually serious when he said he had feelings for me? But, why did he feel the need to tell me after all this time? He never seemed particularly nice to me in high school, she thought. 

It shouldn't have mattered to her now, because she would be married to the love of her life in a matter of days.

After Levi finished putting the presents away he plopped down on the sofa next to her and held her hand. They sat together looking blankly at the screen.

   "Remi..." Levi spoke, breaking the silence.

   "Yeah?" She turned my head to him, but her brown eyes remained on the screen. 

   "What did Seven say to you earlier?"

   "Levi ... Does that even matter right now?" She scoffed, lightheartedly.

   "Yes. It does." He replied with a monotone voice along with a straight face. It was strange how serious he was about this. He knew that she only had feelings for him and no one else.

   "He just wanted to congratulate me on my engagement."

   "Drunk?" He raised both his eyebrows. "The man was drunk, and the only thing on his mind was congratulating you? Hell, if he wanted to do that, why couldn't he congratulate the both of us?"

   "Chill." She nudged him with my elbow. "Seven is strange. Trust me, I've known him since high school. He just wanted to congratulate me, that's all."

   "You sure?"

   "Yeah. What? You don't trust me?"

   His gaze fell to her lips as he parted his own to reply slowly.

   "It's not that. It's just ... I don't trust him. Didn't you say that he just got out of jail?"

   "Yeah. But, he's my friend. He'd never hurt me."

   "Oh, really?" He raised one of his dark eyebrows. "What was he in jail for?"

She laughed a little. He couldn't be serious. Why was he making such a big deal out of this.

   "You can't be serious."

   "What was he in jail for?" He repeated, this time a little more seriously. 

   "Assault and battery." She answered with a sigh.

He scoffed and turned his head back to the television.

   "Wow." He slowly shook his head. "So he is capable of hurting someone. Isn't he also in a gang?"

   "Now, who told you that?!" She sat up, pulling her feet off of the table. 

   "... Nothing is kept secret," he mumbled.

   "Well, he's not in a gang anymore."

   "And you expect me to believe that?" He said a little loudly. Remi frowned and folded her arms a little upset that he was digging into people's personal business. 

   "Look, Levi. I'm not going to go back and forth with you about this. It's not important and Seven would never hurt me. End of story." She said with a serious tone in her voice and turned back to the television.

But, still his eyes were on her. Glued to the side of her face.

   "I don't want you to be around him anymore." He blurted. 

   "Why? Cause you think he'll steal me away from you?" She replied mockingly. 

   "It's not funny, Remi."

   "Well, you're really funny to tell me who I can and can't talk to."

   "Remi, I'm serious--"

   "Let's drop it, okay?! I'm going to bed." She stood from her space on the sofa, grabbed her heels and struggled to get past her fiancee who blocked her walkway. "Move out of my way. Levi!" 

   "I'm not letting you go to bed." 

   "Why?" She frowned and folded her arms. 

   "Because we haven't resolved this yet." 

   "Yes, we did. I said that we're dropping it and that's that." She stepped over his long legs and walked off. But, he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back. She dropped her shoes as she fell back on his lap. 

   "Remi, I love you and I don't want you to stay mad at me." 

   "Are you apologizing right now?" 

   "Yes," He slowly nodded. "I know that he's your friend. But, I just don't feel safe with him around you knowing his history and all." 

   "Levi, you don't have to be worried about me. If anything did happen just know that I can handle myself." She leaned into him. "Don't be worried." 

   "It's easier said than done honestly." He smiled a little. "I'm still not comfortable with him." 

   "Don't worry about it." She grabbed his chin and kissed him. "I don't want you to worry. We've known one another for years. You should trust him. Matter of fact, you should get to know him. So that all of your worries about him will go away. Please get to know him. For me, please?" 

   "Alright."