by G. Bailey
"I think he likes you," Maisy says, getting my attention.
"I don't think so," I say looking over at her as she eats her lunch.
"Well, I know you like him." she winks and I laugh.
"You might know me too well."
"You’re my best friend." is all she says. I look over at Elliot one more time wishing I had the courage to just go and speak to him.
I didn't know then but that would be the last day Elliot ever smiles at me, because tomorrow he would hate me.
I shake my head pulling myself out of my memories to answer Blake.
"He hates me. I hate him, so no you’re very wrong. There isn’t a future for us."
"There's a fine line between love and hate, Allie. Haven’t you ever heard that?" Blake says before answering his ringing phone. I ignore his answer because it might be nearer the truth than I will ever admit to.
Chapter Two
Elliot
"Your ribs look worse today, man," I hear my brother Luke says as he comes into my room. I pull my shirt on, groaning at the movement.
"Yeah," I mutter thinking about the fight last night. The fucker kept going for my ribs in a failed attempt to get me down. Luckily, I learnt years ago how to block out pain.
"A few drinks tonight will help you forget the pain," Luke says, leaning against the door. Luke is wearing a green shirt and black jeans. Luke’s hair is shaved on the sides and he is the only one of my brothers that likes to keep a beard. Luke has tattoos covering both his arms and is a slight bit taller than me. It’s weird looking at him now, less the little brother and more a man now. I guess our lifestyles make you grow up a bit quicker.
"I need more than a few," I smile at Luke before running my hands through my messy hair. Looking in the mirror at my face, deciding I only have a cut lip and a few bruises, so it isn’t too bad. My green eyes glare back at me as I try to shake the image of how much I look like my damn father. The thing is, he always looked too much like me. Seb looks a little like me but I got all of my father’s looks.
"Let's go," I say grabbing my keys as I walk out of the house to my car with Luke following. Tonight is Blake's birthday party at his apartment and I've been nervous all day about seeing her. Allie Lewis, the girl I’ve been thinking about for way too fucking long.
I want her. It's taken me too damn long to admit that to myself but I will have her, if not tonight then eventually. I have a feeling she isn’t going to make this easy on me, I’m not giving up no matter what she decides to do.
"So I have this date next Friday and she has a hot friend. Want to double date?" Luke smirks at me.
"No thanks," I say driving out of our drive. I would prefer to drive my bike but I can’t tonight with Luke with me.
"What? Come on, I can't ask Blake or Seb now. You’re all I have left," he frowns at me which makes me laugh. I guess he could ask Harley but I know his answer would be, hell no.
"Like you can't handle them both on your own, Luke." I grin at him.
"That's true," Luke sits back with a chuckle. I’m sure he is clearly thinking about the next weekend and how to work the date with two girls. I shake my head smiling. I know there is only one very annoying girl I want a date with and I'm going to get one with her. I’ve never been told no before, so she will say yes. I think she will anyway, Allie has always been a little unpredictable. Everything that comes out her mouth is unfiltered, because she says whatever she is thinking at the time. I may have tried my hardest to look like I was avoiding her but I wasn’t. Whenever Allie is close, I was nearby, even if she didn’t know it. I never admitted to myself why that was but I’ve always known. Allie is my little secret.
When we pull up at the party, I know it's already very busy from the number of cars I see outside. (amount is uncountable number is countable) Blake is dating my sister Izzy and we have been friends for years. I know my twin brother is around, so I go looking for him straight away.
I spot Seb with Maisy on his lap. They are both in the open plan kitchen and sitting on a stool laughing with each other. Seb may be my twin but are not like each other. His hair is perfectly styled and kept short, a dark brown instead of my black colour. Seb wears expensive polo shirts and designer jeans, whereas I buy whatever I see first in a store as long as its black. Seb did try shopping for me a few times over the years but once he realised I had been putting the clothes in a box in his room, he stopped. I did keep a few of the shirts, the black ones.
"Hey, how's my nephew?" I ask them straight away. I can’t help but smile as I think of little Jake. He has just started giggling at everything which is fucking adorable. Not that I would say it out loud, that little boy already knows he has got everyone tied around his little finger.
"He is good and still cute. I'm going to call my dad to check on him," Maisy says with her eyes lighting up. Maisy looks great in a long green dress; you wouldn’t ever guess she had a baby four months ago. Seb barely takes his hands off her, unless one of us drags him away or his son needs him.
"Not again baby, you only called ten minutes ago." Sebastian groans, pulling her back into his lap when she tries to leave.
"Fine," she scowls at Seb, while I hold back a chuckle. Sebastian laughs, kissing her cheek.
"I'm getting a drink," I say feeling a little jealous at how close they are. What the hell is up with me recently? Getting jealous over a relationship? I know why and her name is Allie, but getting her to see a nice side to me is going to be difficult. I’ve been nothing but a fuck up in her life, and there’s no way I deserve her. Fuck, her brother doesn’t want me anywhere near her and I don’t blame him. For some insane reason, I can’t walk away.
I pull a beer from the fridge and go looking around for Allie. As I walk in the living area, I see Allie straight away. Holy fuck, she looks amazing in a tight red dress that shows everything off. I'm half tempted to lift her over my shoulder and take her home so no one else can see her in that dress. She laughs at something my sister Izzy says before messing with her light blonde hair. It's up in one of those buns with bits hanging out showing the dark brown she had dyed in underneath. She looks unbelievably sexy and I have the urge to pull her hair out of her bun and run my fingers through it, knowing how soft it will be. I eventually get the balls to walk over using the excuse I want to see Izzy.
"Hey," I say to them both.
"Hey, bro," Izzy grins giving me a side hug. She doesn't usually hug me so she must have had a few to drink.
"Hello, Elliot" Allie politely says with a frown on her pretty face. I lock my eyes with her bright blue ones before grinning. I can be nice to her. I slowly look at her from her red high heels to her soft looking lips. I’ve just noticed she has bright red lipstick on and I seriously want to mess it up by kissing the fuck out of her. She has a little makeup on, highlighting her long eyelashes and framing her blue eyes.
"You look beautiful tonight, Allie," I say slowly, she looks shocked at my statement for a second before she laughs.
"How much have you had to drink tonight?" She asks.
I lean closer so only she can hear.
"I've only had one and you’re still the hottest girl in the room." I lean back when she looks at me in confusion. I notice that Izzy has left us.
"What's up with you?" She asks with her hands on her hips. The sight is making me hard as a rock and I move closer. She keeps up her normal glare for me on her pretty face, as she moves back until her back hits the wall. I follow until I'm standing right in front of her and I can't help but smell how amazing she smells, like vanilla.
"Angel, I think I'm just waking up. Go out on a date with me," I whisper, I lean close enough to kiss her cheek and push a strand of hair behind her ear. She blushes and pauses for a second as our eyes meet. Something changes in her mind because she pushes me away looking angry.
"Are you crazy? You've made my life hell and now that you’ve decided I'm hot, I’m meant to what? Just jump into your arms? Fuck off, Elliot," she says loudly and walking away fro
m me, while my eyes follow her amazing ass. I groan to myself thinking how fucking badly that went but I have no idea how to fix it. I drink the rest of my beer as I watch the room.
"That didn't go well, man," Blake laughs as he stops next to me and I gather he must have overheard our conversation.
"I knew she wouldn't be that easy," I laugh a little but I’m still looking in the direction Allie went.
"The good things in life never are but I know Allie and she wants you. You’ve just got work on your game man," he smirks.
"Yeah but I've cocked up a lot in the past with her. No amount of sweet words is going to make her forget that." I mutter. I take another full beer off the side and open with a bottle opener on my keys.
“Oh, happy birthday, man. I got you cash. I don’t do presents,” I say and he laughs.
“I’m not surprised. I'll tell you what I get man, and thanks.” He smirks.
“I think I need a new plan for winning Allie. Any ideas?” I ask Blake.
“You shouldn’t give up but I don’t how to help you with her man. Allie is stubborn as fuck.” Blake says.
"As long you don’t give up, you will get her. Trust me." Izzy says from next to me. My sister moves like a cat, I didn’t hear her move next to me. She smiles up at me and then goes over to Blake and starts kissing him. I leave them to it and decide to take a walk on their balcony for some fresh air, to think things over. It overlooks a park and the night air makes me think about a time my father took me and some of my brothers to the park.
“Catch,” my younger brother Luke laughs as he throws me the football. We are in the middle of an empty park on Saturday night. No one is around and I’m scared why that is.
“You’re meant to kick it not throw It,” my twin Sebastian laughs next to me as I catch the ball.
“So?” Luke replies rolling his eyes. I look over in fear at my father who is leaning against a tree. Father didn’t give us a reason why he was bringing us to the park today and I’m worried. Luke doesn’t realise what father is like yet because he is five and he never hurt us until we were six. Luke is six in a couple of weeks. Father started beating us if we didn’t do as we were told or he would tell one of his friends to, it’s always better to just do as you’re told. I’m nearly seven now and getting bigger like Harley and I want to fight back. I wish Sebastian would help me but he is too scared.
“Boys, I have a lesson for today. Come here,” my father shouts making me tense. I grab Luke’s hand as we walk over with the ball in my other arm.
“Right, I want you to teach Luke how to throw a punch. You can use Sebastian to punch,” he smirks at me before leaning back against the tree looking bored. The ball I was holding drops the floor.
“I don’t want to be taught that,” Luke whines.
“Do as your told, Elliot, or Luke can have matching marks on his back. I’m sure you don’t want matching,” my dad glares at me reminding me about the three cuts he made on my back a few months ago. They look bad and I cried when he did them. Harley tried to help me but dad knocked him out and cut him, too. Sebastian didn’t get cut but I didn’t want him to.
“Fine,” I mutter standing before Sebastian who holds his hands up.
I throw a punch as gentle as I can at Sebastian’s hand and I still hear the crack as it hits.
“Harder,” my dad growls and I look at Sebastian who just nods in understanding before I throw the next punch knowing it might break his fingers. I hear the loud crack and Sebastian cries out in pain grabbing his hand back.
“Good. Luke punch Sebastian’s hand like your brother did,” dad says almost gently.
“No, he is hurt,” Luke says in tears as he stands next to me.
“Do it,” Dad says getting out his pocket knife flipping it between his fingers.
“It’s fine Luke. Do it,” Sebastian says eyeing the knife and I push Luke in front of Sebastian and whisper to him,
“It will be worse if you don’t. I'm sorry,” I say before I step away.
“I’m sorry,” Luke stutters before throwing the punch and Sebastian cries out again, before dropping to the ground holding his hand.
“Take your shirt off Luke,” my dad says.
“Why? I did what you wanted,” Luke shouts in tears while my hands turn into fists.
“I want you to remember why you shouldn’t question me. Your brother did and has a pretty reminder on his back and you will too.”
I cry to myself as dad pulls Luke shirt over his head and makes a small cut across his shoulder-blade deep enough to scar like mine. Luke screams and screams before dad lets him go and I pull him into my arms.
“You can play football now,” dad smirks, returning to lean on the tree.
"Elliot, hey," another voice says next to me and completely snapping me out of my fucking nightmare memory. That is shit I don’t want to remember and I force myself to remember that he is dead now. I turn to see my ex-girlfriend Lily smiling at me. Lily is a pretty girl that any sane guy would look twice at, with long red hair and hour-glass figure. Lily broke up with me a few months ago because she was seeing someone else. That really pissed me off. She has been messaging me a lot recently, as we agreed to stay friends. Honestly, looking at her now, I know I only started dating her because she was friends with Allie and it pissed her off. I did care about her, maybe even loved her towards the end but I realised I loved her in more of a friend way than in love with her. We dated for three years so it was difficult not to care. I only slept with her because she told me that Allie had slept with her new boyfriend from college. Looking back at my life now, I realise I strung her along when it was really all about Allie. Fuck I'm an idiot.
"Hey," I say with a friendly smile, leaning my back against the railing. I run my fingers through my hair a few times. A nervous thing I do.
"You look really good, El," she sighs running her hands up my chest and moving to stand really close to me. I take her hands pushing them away.
"Thanks, but don't you have a boyfriend now, Lily?" I ask as I look at her. She flicks her long red hair over her shoulder. Fuck, I don't even like red-heads, only blondes usually, so why did I date her for so long? Oh right, to piss Allie off. They’re not even friends anymore and it’s likely my fault. I can be a real fucker when I want to be.
"No. I was thinking that maybe we could try again. I really do love you," she says moving so close that I feel all her body pressed against mine. I remember our times together and the fact I haven’t had sex in months while I’ve been thinking of Allie. No, Allie, will be worth the entire wait. I’m taken back when she goes to kiss me, I don't expect it, and so her mouth brushes mine before I can jump out of the way.
I put my hands in front of me to make her stop.
"Sorry but this is a really shit idea. Lily, I don't I feel that way about you anymore." I say roughly.
Her eyes narrow as she walks up to me and takes one of my hands in hers. I try to pull away without hurting her but she moves closer and stops me.
"Baby, why don't we go back to mine, and I can prove how sorry I am," she purrs and moves her other hand up my leather jacket.
"No," I say more forcibly this time.
"If you have to ask more than once it makes you look desperate, Lil," Allie says coming to stand next to me. I look over to see how angry she looks. She glares up at me as I realise she might be jealous?
"Why do you care? This is between me and Elliot," Lily snaps, placing her hands on her hips.
"Well, it seems like Elliot does not to want to go home with you. Didn't you cheat on him?” Allie asks with a smirk.
“Also Lil, why did you ditch all your friends recently? Why haven't you been hanging out with Tristan? He needs you." Allie says getting very angry now; I can always tell she is angry by how her cheeks flash red. I can't help myself by taking her hand; I’m surprised that she doesn't pull away. I’m taking that this is a good sign. Her hand feels small and soft in mine.
"Tristan is ignoring me!" Lily shouts
as she glares at Allie. When she sees our joined hands, she stares at them before lifting her eyes to mine.
"It was always her right? You finally got what you wanted, lucky you, Elliot," she says in a sarcastic tone. She laughs and starts shaking her head before walking away.
"What was always me, Elliot?" Allie asks looking down at our hands joined together as I rub my thumb over hers. I’ve got to tell her that I've always wanted her, it’s always been her. That her dad makes us fight in the cage but her brother lied to me. That I thought you were a horrible person for years like her father but the words don’t come out as I look down at her.
"Hey you two, Blake is asking for his cake, Alliecat," Maisy says with a small smile at aimed at me, while she walking over to stand near us.
"Right, it's in the fridge in my room. I can go and get it." Allie stutters out. I glance down at her as we unlink our hands.
"I will come and help," I say way too quickly. Come on I'm better with girls than this.
"Luke was looking for you," Maisy says to me. I don't think she realises that I wanted to go with Allie, so I'm guessing she thinks she is helping me. I doubt Luke really needs me.
"Right see you around, cookie; watch out for crazy exes, yeah. There seems to be a few around you Kings." Allie winks at me. I can’t hide how much she turns me on while I watch her walking away with Maisy, shaking that amazing ass from side to side. I have to take a few minutes thinking of anything not fucking sexual before moving. I shake my head, heading inside to find my brothers but before I step through the doors, I hear Luke's raised voice.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
I look over to see him glaring at Allie’s roommate, Emilia. She is dressed in a black hoodie and jeans; her hair is up in a ponytail. They are standing close together, both of them staring each other down.
"I live here, what about you?" she replies curtly.
"I'm Izzy's brother." He says with every word dripping in anger. Emilia looks down for a second before looking at Luke. She looks close to crying, I hope he hasn’t upset her. Allie can be scary when someone upsets her friends and Izzy can be worse. I know they are both close with Emilia.