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 night drinking and sneaking around Emily's house, I barely had time to read. I won't have blame myself when I fail the exam, not when I don't have any choice of going I to college.
Seriously, I would want to go to college and study Criminology but where the heck would I get tgat money from?
I picked up the zip-up jacket from the wardrobe and pushed my hands inside. I fastened my belt and looked at myself in the mirror. When I was okay with how I looked, I left the house. I always look good, they have never been a time I looked bad.
I walked out of the first class and was heading to the next class when I saw Emily. Immediately after I saw her, I felt a flush of guilt course through me. I tried taking faster steps to catch up with her but she looked like she was in a haste and she was avoiding me.
She paused and stood in front of her locker. I tried calling her and when she saw me, she turned her face away. Her eyes were teary and I had no idea what happened. I wanted to ask her but Xavier was standing across with his body leaning on a locker. Xavier looked at me and we stared at each other.
He walked closer to Emily and tried to put his arms around her but she flared and warned him to stay away.
"Don't you dare come closer," she yelled pointing her finger to his face.
What now?
I kept looking at them, I felt the sudden urge to walk toward them but I didn't know if Emily wanted to see me.
She looked pissed and continued yelling but I could hardly understand what she was saying. Xavier tried to talk but she shut him up and walked out.
My line of vision followed her steps and I figured she was heading to the restroom. I followed her unsure of what I was going to say to her. I just wanted to make sure she was okay, that was my greatest concern.
I kept following her till I got inside and slammed the door behind me. She looked back and saw me.
"I can't, just leave me," she said without looking at my face. "I'm sorry for texting you okay? I don't know what came over me, just forget it."
"Emily," I called.
"Just forget it, I shouldn't have sent that text. I feel stupid already, don't make it worse."
She tried to walk away but I blocked her way and locked the door.
"Listen to me." I said even when I had nothing to say at that moment.
She paused and swallowed the clot in her damn throat. Shit! Why does everything about her entice me? Why does it unlock this features I bary knew about?
"Devin let me be. I won't force you to do anything." Emily interrupted.
Oh. What should I say? What the heck should I say?
"Wait. No Emily, wait."
She tried pushing me away but I held her firmly and she started hitting my chest. "Leave me alone, you keep hurting me," she cried.
I knew I was hurting her but I was only trying to protect her. I let her hit me countless times and when she got tired she bit me. Her bite didn't hurt, instead, it turned me on.
Love bites were a thing for me and she had no idea the effect they had on me. I wasn't going to do anything nasty though. I respect Emily too much to force myself on her or make her do things against her wishes.
"Emily you need to calm down."
She stopped hitting me and heaved. Her breathing pattern was fast and she looked exhausted.
"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry for not texting you back or calling. Emily, I love you but you don't need a boy like me."
"You keep acting like you do but you're confusing me."
"Emily I'm only trying to protect you—"
"From what?" She fired.
I exhaled and looked into her eyes. "From me."
Her eyes got teary again and I stretched my hands to wipe her tears away. "Don't cry Emily, I'm just a young boy who makes money from beating other people. It doesn't make sense that I make you fall in love with me."
I swallowed hard and continued. "Emily, I have a dirty past. My present isn't any better and my future may be worst. I have no one, Emily, I try to foot my bills myself. I do all manner of illegal things, immoral things too. Emily, I sleep with old women just so I can have money. You don't deserve someone like me, You don't."
She was crying and I tried hard to hold back my tears.
"I love you but your parents won't accept me."
She leaned closer and kissed me. I wasn't expecting her to kiss me after saying all these but she did. When she broke the kiss she held my hands and looked into my eyes.
"I want you, Devin. I can cope with everything you've said. I can cope, trust me."
I looked at her in disbelief. Was she hearing herself? Was she going to cope with a boyfriend who fought for money or who slept with older women?
"I can help you be a good boy if you want. Devin, I've been a good girl all my life and I can help you if you want."
* * *
I submitted my paper and stood up. Emily's kiss and assurance were still fresh in my head. I headed to the canteen, we agreed to meet there and have lunch together.
It felt good knowing Emily still wanted me. We were kind of dating now but it wasn't official yet.
I met her in the canteen and we ordered our lunch. We kept getting weird stares from students but she didn't mind. She was still smiling till Xavier showed up.
"Emily, stand up!" He ordered.
Emily looked at him and stood to her feet.
"Don't you dare make a scene. I don't care if you hate Devin or not. You can either choose to sit your ass down and have lunch with us, Cover up for me or you snitch and I tell mom what you did to me. It's your choice, Xavier."
Now what the heck is going on?