After Twilight
Page 27
We came to an outside patio that overlooked
downtown. It was less crowded, and the weather was perfect.
Latore walked away, leaving me alone with a big guy staring
at me. I raced after him as he headed to a small bar.
“Hey, why did you leave me back there?”
He grabbed a glass of wine off the bar and handed it to
me. “Isn’t that the way you like it?”
I could feel my eyes twitch. “What do you mean?”
He chuckled and smirked at me.
“Look, I don’t think this is working out. I’m going to
go.” I placed the wine glass back on the bar.
He grabbed my arm. “No, please stay.”
I yanked my arm away. “Why are your hands like ice?”
“Oh, sorry. I have bad circulation.”
“Why should I stay? You’ve been rude ever since the
elevator. What’s your deal?”
He turned away and scratched his chin. “My dog died
today.”
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At that moment, I felt like a jerk. “Latore, I’m so sorry.
Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t think you’d care.”
“I’m not like that, and yes, I do care.” I stepped forward
and hugged him. “I thought you didn’t like me anymore for
some reason.”
His smooth face rubbed against mine. “No, not at all,”
he whispered in my ear. “Let’s get drunk and go on a treasure
hunt.”
I stepped back. “What?”
He clutched my shoulders, lightly massaging them. “It’s
a joke. Calm down, Doll.” He retrieved my wine glass and
passed it to me. “Drink up. The night is still young.”
After a glass of wine, the room started to spin. I stopped
drinking and leaned on him to hold myself up.
“Can we sit somewhere?” I slurred.
“Sure.” He led me by the hand to a vacant bedroom.
“Latore, we can’t be in here. This isn’t your room.”
He picked me up and placed me on the bed. “It is now,”
he remarked playfully, and his smooth lips found mine.
Sudden images of Bain and Constin appeared in my
mind, and I was overcome with guilt. I tried to push him off,
but I was too weak.
“Stop, I can’t do this.”
“Why? You never stopped me before.” Latore’s lips
moved to my neck but with much more force.
I turned my face away from him. “What are you talking
about?”
He ignored me and kept kissing me.
“Let me go!” I yelled, but he wouldn’t budge.
I turned toward the balcony, and Bain was floating in
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the air, looking at me with red eyes. I blinked, and he was
gone. I didn’t know if I was drugged or what, but I did know
that I forgot to take my pill.
“Latore, get off of me!” I screamed.
He took my hands and placed them over my head. “Ah,
we have an audience, do we?” he sneered. “Let him watch.”
He blew something in my face.
I choked, trying to spit it out. It tasted like the stuff that
Savina blew in my face. “What was that? Get off me now!”
I didn’t know if I was dreaming or awake at that point.
Everything was spinning, and it seemed as if Latore was
trying to hurt me.
“Bain, help me!”
Latore laughed. “Bain can’t help you.” He clamped his
hand over my nose and mouth.
I couldn’t breathe, so I kicked and screamed, trying to
get away. Latore licked my neck, and a loud growl from
outside made the glass door of the balcony shatter. Latore
took his hand off my face and turned toward the broken
window.
“Give me what I want!” he bellowed.
I lay frozen in disbelief. Can he see Bain?
Latore grabbed my neck with both hands like he was
ready to snap it. Another loud growl came from the balcony.
Latore glared into my eyes. “Tell me where the Sicuro
is.”
Something flew in the balcony window, grabbed Latore,
and flew back out in a blink of an eye. I screamed, rolled off
the bed, and ran out the door.
“Someone help me!”
When most of the people laughed, I charged through
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them, ran toward the elevator, and pressed the button
frantically. It took forever to open, so I looked for the exit
and took off in that direction, running down the stairs to the
front of the building.
Outside, something was banging against the building,
followed by hisses. Not wanting to stick around, I ran as
quickly as I could toward a crowd of people. Looking over
my shoulder, I saw Latore almost a block away. I ran even
faster, trying to lose him. The buildings were spinning, and
the faces of people I barged into blurred into one as I ran
through the crowd.
Still glancing over my shoulder, I smashed into someone
who felt as though they were made of steel. I collapsed to
the ground.
“Viata?”
My eyes met his. “Constin!” I rushed to my feet and
clung to him tightly. “What are you doing here? And where
the hell have you been?”
“I got into some trouble and was locked up. I’m sorry.”
“What did you do?”
“I don’t want to get into that right now. Why are you
shaking?”
“A guy from my class tried to hurt me. I think.” I sighed.
“I’m not sure.”
He pulled me into him. “Viata, calm down. You’re safe
now.”
“Some guys were smoking weed, and I inhaled a lot of
it. Could that make me hallucinate?”
He hesitated. “Maybe.” His voice became angry, almost
like he was hiding something.
At that moment, I thought I had fallen asleep in my car
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and dreamt of being with Latore. I didn’t know. I was so
confused.
“Are you cheating on me already?”
“No, I didn’t like him like that. And even if I did, you’re
the one who disappeared.”
He chuckled. “You’re the one who broke it off with me.
Over a text nonetheless.”
“You fell off the face of the Earth. What was I supposed
to do?”
His expression told me he felt bad. I fell into his arms
and held him as though my life depended on it. I wanted to
tell him what was going on, but I was sure he wouldn’t
believe me, so I tried to act normal.
He kissed my forehead. “I’m here now. I’ll never leave
you again. Let’s go somewhere else?”
I locked my fingers between his. “Did you get my text
about Kaylee?”
“No, why? What happened?”
I stopped and sat at a table in front of a pizza place.
“It wasn’t just Kaylee. It was a kind-hearted person that
died too.” I wasn’t about to tell him I was seeing a shrink.
He sat across from me and looked down. “I’m sorry,
Viata. I didn’t know. How did they pass?”
“Some wild dog or that leopard mauled Kaylee, and the
other woman wa
s killed in front of me by some guy.” I
looked at the man inside tossing the pizza dough in the air.
“They haven’t caught the killer yet.” I couldn’t help but
stumble over my words or avoid the tears that ran down my
face. The memories were too recent, too painful. “I thought
I saw you at Kaylee’s memorial. Were you there?”
Constin leaned over the table and wiped away my tears.
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“No. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“It’s okay. I’m still in shock I guess … still grieving.”
His gorgeous smile and green eyes gazed into mine.
“I’ve missed you.”
I got up, stumbled over to him, falling into his lap, and
kissed him on his cheek. “I’ve missed you more.”
“Let’s go. You have school tomorrow.”
We walked hand in hand back to my car. I felt safe with
him. Constin drove me home in my car because I was feeling
funny, and I didn’t want it to get towed.
On the way there, I was angrier than usual. The incident
I thought I had experienced with Latore gave me the chills,
especially the part where I saw Bain. Maybe I only imagined
him there. I had no clue. I was still confused about the things
Latore said about me never stopping him before. Perhaps in
his twisted mind, he thought we dated in the past. I didn’t
know what to think and couldn’t tell the difference between
dreaming or reality anymore. I wanted to call Latore and see
if I met up with him, but I was too afraid it was real.
As I tried to come to terms with what had happened,
Constin placed his hand on my lap. “It will be okay,” he said.
“I’m here now.”
At home, Constin opened the door like a gentleman and
held out his hand for mine. “You’re safe,” he said. “I’m going
to go now.”
“No,” I pleaded. “Please stay here. Plus, you don’t have
your car. How will you get home?”
He looked at the night sky. “Okay, but just for a little
bit.”
When I opened the door, Liam was sitting on the couch
watching TV.
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“How was your date?” Liam mumbled.
“Horrible.” I cleared my throat and looked at Constin.
Liam got up from the couch and walked over to us.
“What’s he doing here?” he said with his eyes on Constin.
“Liam, what the hell is wrong with you?”
Liam turned to me. “Are you serious? This asshole
wasn’t there for you after Kaylee died.” Liam stepped up to
Constin with his nostrils flaring. “Where were you the night
I had to comfort Viata in my bed?”
“Stop it, Liam,” I ordered.
Constin balled his fist. “You better watch how you
speak to me.”
“I’m not a pussy like Clay is.” Liam’s veins bulged in his
neck. He went to punch Constin, but he grabbed Liam’s fist
before he hit him and forced him down on one knee.
“Constin, let him go!” I shouted.
Constin looked like he wanted to kill him but let him go.
Liam got up, cradling his hand. “Are you on freaking
drugs?”
Constin stepped back with a smug look. “Don’t test my
patience.”
“Will you please stop acting like children? The last thing
I need in my life is more drama.”
Liam shot me a nasty look and walked off to his room,
muttering something under his breath. I couldn’t make it out,
but he seemed intimidated by Constin.
As soon as Liam slammed the bedroom door, I turned
to Constin. “Why did you grab him like that?”
His eyes widened. “Did you not hear the way he spoke
to me?”
“Yes, I did, but you didn’t need to hurt him.”
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He turned away. “I’ll go and leave you two be.”
I stood on my tippy-toes and grabbed his face. “Liam is
only a childhood friend who happens to be my roommate.
Nothing more.”
Ignoring what I just said, he held his hand out for mine.
“You need to eat something.”
“No, I’m not hungry.”
“Viata, you need something, anything. It will help you
sleep.”
“Fine,” I groaned and pulled him into the kitchen.
I went into the refrigerator and took out some leftover
chicken and dumplings mom had made for me. “Would you
like some? It’s good.”
He grimaced. “No, you eat it.”
As I was eating, Constin walked to the back door and
looked out the window. He jumped back, falling into me. I
helped him up and put my hand to my throat. I couldn’t
breathe. I was choking. Constin placed me on the floor and
sucked the piece of chicken out.
I gasped for air and sat up. “Thank you.” I coughed a
few times. “That’s not how you do the Heimlich. You sucked
the air right out of me.”
He didn’t look well. He opened the back door and
rushed outside. I got up and ran after him. He disappeared
into the dark and came back out after a minute.
“Sorry, your food went into my mouth, and I got sick.”
“Ew, are you okay?”
“Yes, are you?”
“I feel better now. Thank you. I guess I’m going to have
to teach you how to do the Heimlich properly.”
He put his arm around my waist. “Sounds good. Come
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on. Let me get you to bed.”
“I have an extra toothbrush you can have.”
He chuckled. “Thanks.”
After he brushed his teeth, I took a shower. When I
came out of the bathroom, Constin was already in bed,
asleep. I curled up to him, took his arm and draped it over
me. When he didn’t move, I watched his long eyelashes
flutter, and I couldn’t resist kissing him on his lips.
I woke up later, disturbed by something growling
somewhere in the distance. In the pitch black, I felt around
the bed for Constin, but as usual, he had skipped out on me.
“Catch those stupid animals already.” I squinted at my
phone. It was 3:30 in the morning. I groaned, pulled the
blanket over my head and passed back out.
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y phone woke me up. I saw that it was Mom
and turned off the ringer. “Liam,” I called out.
Moments later, the door opened, and he
peeked in. “What do you want?” he said.
“My head is pounding. Will you please get me some
Tylenol?”
He moaned. “I’m still pissed about what happened with
that steroid man last night.”
I exhaled. “Come on, Liam, please don’t do this now.
While you were hiding in your room last night, I choked on
my food, and Constin saved me.”
“For real?”
I nodded.
“I had no clue. My earbuds were in.”
“It’s okay. I’m fine now.”
“I’ll be right back.” He hurried down the hall.
After a few minutes of head-throbbing pain, he came
back in and handed me a f
ew pills with a glass of water.
“Thanks.” I took the pills, downed the water, and
burped.
He reached for the glass and chuckled. “You’re
something else. Where’s Constin?”
“He left.”
Liam walked over to the doorway and leaned against it.
“What happened with Latore?”
I got up slowly, walked over to the bathroom door, and
grabbed my robe. “He tried to kill me. I think.” I shook my
head. “I don’t know what’s real anymore.”
“Say what?”
“Maybe I fell asleep again and dreamt I was with him.”
“Damn,” he said, concerned. “Are you still taking your
meds?”
“I forgot to take one yesterday. I think.” I ducked under
his arm and walked out to the kitchen.
Liam followed behind me, laughing.
I opened the refrigerator door. “What’s so funny?”
“You, staggering around like a mummy.”
“Glad you’re enjoying yourself.” I got the milk out.
“What are you doing today?”
Liam sat at the breakfast bar. “Going to school, then
later tonight, I have a date.”
“With who?” I replied with a mouth full of cereal.
“Ew,” he groaned, turning away with a disgusted look.
“Swallow your food before you speak. And don’t worry
about who.”
“Whatever,” I mumbled.
“Are you done being a jerk now?” he asked.
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“Yes, sorry. And Constin is a nice guy.”
He headed to his room. “There’s something off with
that dude. You better be careful.”
“He’s fine.”
“What are you doing later?” Liam yelled out from his
room.
“Having dinner at my parents’ house.” I walked back
into my room to get ready for school.
As I was leaving, Liam came out all dressed up.
“Do I look okay?” he asked as he spun around.
“Wow! You look handsome. Are you wearing that to
school?”
He smirked. “Do I hear jealousy in your voice?”
I smacked him lightly on his arm. “Nope, I’m in love
with Bain.” I shook my head. “I mean Constin.”
His eyes widened. “You’re still in love with your dream
lover?”
“No.” I lied, and I’m sure he knew it.