Chapter seven

Xavier parked in the garage and took off his helmet, one quick look up at the window right closest to the garage, he could tell that Teresa was not in the room. She always has the habit of leaving the lamp on in her room whenever she sleeps. Turns out she was still scared of the dark like she was when they were little. He got down from the bike, wondering if she was still at the so-called party they talked about. As he thought of her boyfriend Oliver, he groaned. He doesn’t know why but he really finds the boy mysterious or that he has something up his sleeves, something he could feel would hurt Teresa later in the future.

He fetched his phone from his pocket and glanced at the time, it was already one in the morning and he saw sure that his uncle and his wife were already asleep. They would be traveling in the morning after all. He stood beside his bike, deliberating on a decision as he stared at his phone and at the end, he gave up, placed his helmet on the bike and left with his guitar strapped on his back. As he got into the house, he noticed the silhouette of someone sitting beside the piano and stopped. “Aunt?” he called.

“Oh, Xavier, you are back,” the woman said while yawning. 

“What are you doing here?”

“I must have slept off waiting for Teresa to come back. What is the time there?” she asked, getting up from the sofa.

“It’s one O’clock.”

“One?” she asked shocked.

“Yes.”

“And Teresa is not back yet? Oh my, she is staying later and later these days,” she sighed. “Well, I guess I will go up and sleep then, I have a morning flight after all.”

“Do you want me to go get here?” He asked, making the decision already.

“Can you do that, Xavier?”

“Of course, if it would make you rest well.”

“Oh, I would love that dear. Thank you.”

“Anytime aunt Marie,” he said, placing his guitar on the couch and leaving the living room as soon as she went upstairs. He got on his bike, the engine roaring to life and quickly fastened his helmet, driving off. He didn’t need to ask where the party was holding, after all, he had passed it on his way going out and coming back. 

He soon arrived at the location, the party was still going on but he could see that the students were almost passed out in alcohol or already are. He stepped into the building and had to force himself not to throw up with the smell of sweating bodies and vomits. God, he hates high school parties. He made his way outside the back yard to the pool and right there, he caught sight of the deep brown hair and knew who it was immediately. Walking up to the dancing boy, he tapped him on the shoulder and he turned. His flushed face was first shocked, then surprised on seeing him. “What the fuck are you doing here? I thought you said you are not coming,” he slurred.

Xavier watched him, his slurring and his flushed face were a good example that he had had so much to drink and yet here he was, still partying and drinking. What good example is he to Teresa now? He looked behind the boy to discover that the girl he was dancing with was not his sister and his eyes went to his gray ones. “Where is Teresa?”

“Oh,” Oliver chuckled, “she went inside.”

“Inside to do what?”

“I think to pee,” he answered.

“How long ago?”

The boy looked at him like he didn’t understand his question and he swear to God, he was trying his best to keep his calm as he let him be done with his calculation. “You know,” he frowned, “it’s been quite a long time now if I should think about it.”

“Fuck it,” Xavier cursed and he couldn’t stop himself from lashing at the boy. “What the heck is wrong with you? This is a party for crying out loud and everyone is pretty drunk and not only did you let your so called girlfriend go to the restroom alone, you are not even bothered enough to realize that she should have been back by now. No, what you did is pick the next available girl and dance your heart out. You know what, I knew you were bad news and you are just proving it to me.” And with that, he turned and stormed off.

Nathania watched him, the situation of things finally coming down at her, he was right, yes she is a girl and could probably not do anything but that’s not what everyone thinks. Everyone believes her to be a boy and also Teresa’s boyfriend and that means that should anything happen to her, she would be held responsible and not just, the guilt will never stop eating her. Thinking to that, she ran after Xavier, praying in her heart that Teresa was found unharmed.

When they got into the house, Xavier first checked the restroom in the foyer and all they found was a couple having the time of their life and so he groaned and turned to the stairs, climbing up in twos with Oliver behind him. He started opening every door they passed and kicking down the ones that were locked until he heard the soft whisper. “Help me.” His eyes turned to the door opposite and without thinking, he ran into it, breaking the door off his hinges and there Teresa was, lying on the floor with a boy —who was clearly drunk— on top of her and trying to kiss her. 

“Get the hell away from her!” He yelled and rushed the boy, picking him up and throwing him at the foot of the bed. And then rushed him and start hitting him, his punches were strong and precise like he has been fighting all his life. Nathania was so shook from what she just witnessed that she stood by the door, watching him fight and thinking that the boy would be dead before he stops.

“Don’t just stand there asshole, help her!” Xavier yelled seeing that the boy was doing nothing and it took him shouting at her for Nathania to know what to do. As she was helping Teresa up, her eyes were clouding with tears as she thought of what could have happen. What if Xavier hadn’t shown up and asked for Teresa, she would have never known that this was happening and even if she does, she doubt that she could have been able to fight off the boy. She may dress like a boy and act like one, but that doesn’t mean that she has their strength.

Teresa was sobbing in her arms and she just held her there why trying to get a hold of herself as well until she felt someone grabbing her by the collar and pulling her up. The next thing she knew, her back was slammed brutally against a wall and she closed her eyes, refusing to look in his deep brown eyes and see the anger raging in them.