by Lisa De Jong
“But I thought we were having fun, Marky.” She pouted.
Arrrgh! Throwing my hands in the air, I yelled, “Oh, by all means, don’t let me spoil your fun!” I stormed between the two of them and headed down the hall.
“Mia! Mia! Come here.” I looked over my shoulder as I continued to quickly walk down the hallway. He was stumbling side-to-side trying to run after me. Ugh, he was pathetic.
“There you are, are you okay?” Megan gripped my arm and studied my angry appearance. Looking behind me, her eyes grew. “Oooh. Who is that fine piece of ass?”
Rolling my eyes, I snapped. “Let’s go!”
She narrowed her eyes. “Do you know him?”
Glancing over my shoulder, I looked in the direction of her goggling eyes. Great, all three were behind me: Jimmie, Marcus, and the plastic chick. “No, he’s just someone I used to know.” I growled.
“Oh come on, Mia!” Marcus wiggled his brows. “You know, you know me a little better than that.” Biting his lip, he flexed his hips, swinging his arms in and out. He was air humping! After a few pumps, he stopped, laughed, and pathetically tried to straighten his posture.
“You’re a dick!” I can’t stand him!
Laughing, he moved in closer to me, reaching for my arm. “Come on, baby. Let me show what you’ve been missing.”
Yeah, that did it. I think I was beyond my boiling point. In my best impersonation, I mimicked his beach-blonde’s Boston’s accent. “Oh why would you want me, Marky, when you can have Boston Barbie!”
Plastic chick didn’t dig my comment. Cocking her head to the side, she put her hands angrily on her hips. “Are you, like, offending me or something?”
Laughing once at her stupidity, I thought about whether I should even answer her. “No, not at all, it’s like a compliment to be called Boston Barbie or something.” I spit sarcastically.
Straightening her position, she smiled. “Oh, okay.” Then she giggled.
With my eyes and mouth wide open, I faced Marcus. “REALLY?” You could’ve done just a tad better Marcus, seriously!”
“Come on guys. Let’s take this out of the hallway.” Jimmie chimed in. Marcus snapped his head in his direction.
He sneered. “Butt out, Jimmie. I think you’ve done enough. Matter of fact, what were the two of you doing in a locked room alone?” His face turned serious, and his eyes were beginning to grow sober.
Jimmie grew angry with the accusation. “Are you fucking kidding me, Bro? You need to get that shit out your fucking head. We were talking about you!”
“Huh? Funny, she won’t even talk to me about me, how did you manage that?” Marcus’ mocking expression faced me again.
“You won’t talk about yourself to me! That’s why you left me, remember?” I burst.
His eyes grew with anger. His stare was frightening, but I stood my ground and made sure to not show one moment of intimidation. Megan, though, was scared, and she inched over to my side. Grabbing my arm, she began to pull me back. I stood in place, so she stopped pulling but kept her fingers firmly locked around my arm. Jimmie moved toward Marcus and placed his hand against his chest.
Marcus hovered out of his brother’s reach. Lifting his finger, he pointed in my direction. “You left me! You left me, Mia!” Breathing heavily, he glared at me. “I cared for you. I still care for you!”
Crossing my arms, I laughed once. “Oh yeah, well if I didn’t run into you just now, what were you going to do with her? Huh?” I asked, nudging my head in Barbie’s direction.
He slightly turned to look at her. Then rolling his eyes, his gaze met mine again. Smacking his lips to one side, he grew cocky. “I was gonna fuck her!” Sprawling his hands in the air, he nodded at my stunned expression. “Yeah that’s right, hard too! But the entire time I was going to think of you!”
Gawking at him, my heartbeat raised. “How fucking romantic!” I couldn’t believe he just admitted to that!
“Well what about you? Huh? What were you doing here? Trying to find someone to take home tonight?” He raised his eyebrows, arms still spread apart.
“You know, Marcus, I wasn’t thinking about it, but that’s actually a great idea! I’m sure I could find a man here willing to hook up with me tonight. As a matter of fact, I’m going to randomly choose a tall, tan, sexy, fuckable man as we speak. Have a great fucking night!” I turned on my heels and stormed down the hall.
He snapped. “The hell you’re fucking … Over my dead fucking body, Mia. Mia!”
Turning my head, I looked over my shoulder; Jimmie was manhandling him. “Watch me!” I yelled and disappeared down the hall with Megan.
Chapter Twenty-Six
We exited the club. Breathing in the cool air, we walked down Boston’s midtown strip in silence. Taking in what just happened, I couldn’t believe him! My anger was tripling. I wanted to go back in the club and smack him across his head. That was why I couldn’t be with him. That was why we weren’t meant to be together. All we did was argue and fight. It wasn’t worth it. My night began perfectly and ended in a nightmare. Ugh! I wanted to scream.
Megan hailed a cab, and we slid into the backseat.
“Wow, so I take it that was your ex, huh?” She spoke for the first time since we left the club.
“Yeah, can you see why we’re not together anymore?” I mumbled.
“Well, you can see he still loves you, and you clearly still love him.”
When I turned my head, she lightly shrugged at my pointed glare. “Didn’t you just witness what happened? How could that possibly be love?”
Shrugging again, she stared out the window. “What do I know? I’ve never been in love before.”
****
The next day I called Jimmie. I wanted to let him know that I didn’t blame him for last night’s episode. I knew Jimmie would blame himself. He apologized on behalf of Marcus and assured me that he didn’t leave with the girl. He said Marcus left her at the club alone, and he stormed off home. I wasn’t sure if Jimmie was telling the truth or not, but I didn’t care. Marcus DeLuca had put me through enough pain, tears, and heartache.
I was done crying over him. Well, okay, I cried last night and this morning, but I was trying to stop. It was so hard. Even with everything we’d been through in the last three months, I still loved him. Any outsider looking in on our relationship would call me stupid and naïve.
At one point I believed in our relationship. Now it was ruined. I would never love a man again, nor would I ever trust again. Though I knew I was strong and one day I’d be able to get over this, for now I’d just have to deal with it. Before hanging up with Jimmie, I promised him that I would take Elle this weekend for my promised girls’ day out. He said it wasn’t necessary, but I insisted. It was the least I could do for her and for Jimmie.
After hanging up the phone, I exited my room. Megan was sprawled across the couch knocked out. Jeremy was by the kitchen island making coffee. He saw the look on my face and slid the coffee he made for himself over to me. “Rough night?” he asked.
Laughing once, I just sipped on the cup. I closed my eyes when I inhaled the freshly brewed coffee: my second most favorite scent in the world. My first? I sighed when I thought of him again. The headache from this emotional roller coaster known as Marcus DeLuca seemed to get worse. Seriously, it was so bad I could actually hear a knocking sound at this moment. I looked up at Jeremy; his eyes trailed to the front door. The knocking happened again. Oh, it wasn’t me; it was the actual door.
“I got it.” Megan said while yawning. She stretched as she stood and happily skipped over to the front door in nothing but a t-shirt and lace panties. How could she possibly be so damn happy this early in the morning and after a night of drinking? I envied her for that.
She opened the door, and her smile broadened as she tilted her head. “Oh, you’re even more beautiful sober.”
Jeremy and I glanced at each other with furrowed brows and then back at the door. “Is Mia home?” Marcus’ straightfo
rward tone sounded in my ears.
This could not be happening! He could not possibly be here, especially after last night. He has a lot of fucking balls, showing himself around here.
“Um, yeah, she’s here, but I truly doubt she wants to see you at this moment.” Megan giggled.
I didn’t see the humor.
Angry as I mentally relived last night’s scene, I jumped from my stool and stomped over beside Megan. Pushing her aside, I grabbed the door. “What do you want, Marcus?” I made it a point to sound stern.
His scent hit me like a ton of bricks. My most favorite smell in the world lingered between us. The scent of his bath soap from his freshly taken shower mixed with his cologne. He smelled so good it was sickening. “I wanted to apologize for last night. I didn’t want it to end like that.”
Slapping my hand on my hip, I tilted my head. “Marcus, we ended a month ago, so last night was not an end to anything.”
Looking down, he shoved his hands into his front pockets. “I don’t want to argue, Mia.” Glancing back at me, his face was unreadable.
“Neither do I. So that’s why you should go.”
“Come on, Mia, can we please talk?” he begged.
“No, I’m done, Marcus. I’m so done.” I closed the door, pressing my back against it so that I slid down to the floor exhaling. My eyes closed as I buried my hands into my face.
There was one soft knock against the door, a sliding sound, and then his voice pierced through at a lower level as if he was on the floor as well. “I’m not giving up, Mia. I’m not going anywhere. I won’t go. I refuse to not fight for us this time.”
Shifting my body so that my mouth neared the crack of the door, I whispered. “Marcus please just go. I’m trying so hard. It’s difficult already. It’s bad enough that I think I can’t let you go.”
“Then don’t, Mia, don’t. Please just give me another chance.”
Tears stung my eyes. “I can’t.”
“I’m not leaving. I don’t care if it takes you a lifetime. I’m not giving up.”
Sighing, I stood and walked away and headed to my room. I threw myself in bed. He’d eventually go. He couldn’t stay there forever. Why was he making it so hard for me? I hated him for that.
****
Taking the longest nap ever, I woke to the smell of cheesy pizza. I was starving since I skipped breakfast and lunch. I washed up in the bathroom before going to the kitchen. When I entered, Jeremy and Megan were whispering to one another. They seemed to be having a serious discussion. They both looked up at me as I entered. The fresh box of pizza was still closed. I opened it. Ah, it smelled so good. Grabbing a few plates out the cupboard, I placed them on the kitchen counter.
When I glanced back up they were both staring at me. “What?” Their eyes fixed on each other and back on me. “What?” I asked again, irritated.
Megan pressed her lips together before speaking. “Marcus is still out there. He paid for the pizza. He refuses to go.” She bit her lip.
“So?” I tried to act as if I didn’t care. Deep down, I did care--though I wouldn’t show them that.
“So, he’s been sitting out there all day and hasn’t eaten a thing. I’m not sure if he’s even used the bathroom, Mia,” Jeremy chimed in. I glared at him, annoyed by his sympathy for Marcus. Whose side was he on, anyway?
“There’s a gas station down the block. He can use the bathroom there.” Both of them widened their eyes, surprised by my lack of compassion. “What!”
Tearing their eyes away from me, they dug into the pizza. I grabbed my slice, and slumped onto a kitchen stool and began to munch into the warm cheesy bread. They sat in silence eyeing each other. I watched them as they gave slight shrugs and sympathetic expressions to one another. Oh, come on! Since when was Marcus DeLuca a saint! Did he magically win them over during my eight-hour nap? So what if he’d been sitting outside this entire time without food, water, and a restroom. He deserves it. I hope he starves!
Alright, that was mean even for me. Ugh. I jumped off the stool and grabbed another plate from the cabinet. Placing two slices onto the plate, I looked at their pathetic faces as they stared at me with hopeful eyes. Rolling my eyes, I stormed toward the front door. When I swung it open, Marcus was sitting across from me. His head leaned against the wall. Arching my eyebrow, I walked over and shoved the plate onto his lap. He smiled. I said nothing but turned on my heels and stormed back into my apartment. Slamming the door behind me, I went back to eating my pizza. Jeremy and Megan both with crooked grins continued to munch on their slices as well. We ate in silence.
****
After dinner we stayed up for a while, watching re-runs of a comedy series. I laughed at certain scenes, but it was the fakest laugh I’d ever heard. Jeremy even raised his eyebrows at me a few times. I was caught. I wanted to enjoy the show. I really did. My mind drifted to Marcus sitting out on the hallway on the uncomfortable hardwood floors. An ounce of me began to feel sorry for him, but then my mind would drift off to last night’s scene, and the sorrow I felt would be overcome with anger.
It was beginning to get late, so Megan left for home. Jeremy stayed in the living room watching TV, and I went to my room to prepare my things for my first day of school. As I laid out my clothes, laptop and textbooks, I started to wonder if Jeremy took out the trash. Maybe I should take out the trash. No, it wasn’t an excuse to see if he was still out there—maybe a small one.
Deciding to check anyway, I walked over to the kitchen. The trash wasn’t full. Hmm. Pulling the bag out of the can, I began to walk through the apartment trying to find trash anywhere in sight, emptying both bathroom trashcans into the bag, also the bin in my bedroom. There, that was full enough to take out. After I donned my slippers, Jeremy walked out of his bedroom as I was getting ready to exit the door.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
Startled, I lifted the trash bag I held in my hands. “Oh, uh, the trash was full,” I said.
He stared at me questioningly. “Yeah, I emptied it this morning.”
Shrugging, I smiled. “Really? Huh, oh well, I’ll go dump this one.”
Smirking, he said. “I’ll do it.”
Quickly turning around, I brought my arms up to stop him. “No, no, you got it last time. I don’t mind.”
Chuckling, he shook his head and entered the kitchen. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door. Sure enough DeLuca was sitting in the same spot. His eyes were worn, but grew hopeful at the sight of me. With my best stern expression, I swiftly passed him and made my way down the stairs. Once I exited the door, I breathed in the fresh cool air. This was getting ridiculous; he couldn’t possibly keep this up every night. Dumping the trash into the dumpster, I made my way back in.
When I entered my floor, he was still sitting on the hardwood surface. Rolling my eyes, I hovered over him with my hand on my hip, looking down. His eyes looked up. “What are you doing, Marcus?”
A simple smile crossed his face. “I told you, Mia. I’m not going anywhere until you talk to me.”
“There’s nothing to say, Marcus. Go home. You’re wasting your time.”
Lowering his head, he shook it. “Nope, I’m not going.”
Rolling my eyes again, I stormed back into my apartment. He can’t stay in that hallway all night. Who the hell does he think he is? Besides it gets chilly. Ugh, rummaging through my linen closet, I pulled out a quilt and pillow. Walking back out front, I opened the door and threw them on his lap. “This is only because I don’t want a frozen dead man in front of my door when I wake up. And I’ll leave the door open, so you can use the bathroom, but that’s it! Only to use the bathroom! I refuse to have my hallways smell like piss. And wipe the grin off your face, DeLuca! I’m not doing this to be kind. I’m looking out for my tenants.”
He pressed his lips together to hold in his laughter. Ugh! Why did I even bother to give him the stuff? Walking back in, I closed the door behind me without locking it. This was going to be interesting. I wond
ered how long it would last—I was sure not long at all. I locked my bedroom door though in case he tried to sneak in.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Day One
I woke up the next morning refreshed and peaceful. It was the first full night’s sleep I’d had in a long while. Even though Marcus was not in my room, something about having him a few feet away was comforting. That scared me a little.
Today marked a new day, and I decided the moment I awoke that I would not allow anything to ruin my day, not even Marcus. I was actually excited to start school as I began my morning ritual. Something about the familiar surroundings of Harvard made me secretly squeal.
After showering and humming, yes I was actually humming, I threw on my sweats, school logo t-shirt, and a red cap. Ah, this feels more like home.
Jeremy was asleep. He would begin his first class on Wednesday, so I made coffee for one and quietly sat on the stool, eating my breakfast. Once I was done, I placed the dishes in the sink. Grabbing my backpack, I headed out the door.
Marcus was standing before me, freshly showered and newly dressed. He had the biggest grin on his face as he held up the folded quilt and pillow I gave him last night. I studied him; he was in jeans and a blue t-shirt. He must’ve left early this morning to shower, change, and come back. Narrowing my eyes, I snatched the things out of his hand and placed them on top of the couch. Did he even sleep here last night? Walking out the door, I briskly passed him and hurried down the stairs. I could hear his footsteps behind me.
After exiting the building, I picked up speed. It was a nice morning, and I wanted to walk to school. His pocket change rattled as he hurried behind me to keep up. Feeling his presence beside me, I closed my eyes for a second and inhaled. He will not ruin my morning; he will not ruin my morning. I lowered my cap when I felt his stare. From my peripheral vision, I could see the huge smile stretched across his face. Why was he so damn happy? Ignoring him, I continued at the same pace; he managed to keep up.