Forever Love

by Jade Whitfield

  "You sure? We can make this work from wherever babe."

  "I know but after a lot of thinking and I mean a hell of a lot, I only be with you wherever that may be and I figure that Savannah's got the nearest Police Academy for you."

  "Has the College got what you want though cause you can't just pick your College based on me, I only want you to be happy and if say the College you really wanna go to is the other side of the country, nothing will stop me making this work. I meant it when I said I was never gonna let you go Liv, if I have to catch a flight every weekend to wherever that’s what I'll do."

  "Honestly?" She asks, cupping my face with her hand. "I've never really been into the whole College thing. I've only ever really seen it as a chance to get away. I don’t even know what I wanna do. All I know is that wherever you are is where I wanna be."

  Her words hit me right to very soul and I answer her by grabbing her under her arms and dragging her over to me before taking her in a red hot searing kiss.

  "You're happy then?" She asks warily.

  "Fuck yes." I hiss out, leaning my forehead against hers.

  She lets out a breath while collapsing on the bed.

  "Thank fucking god, I've been wanting to show you that stuff for days but I wasn’t sure."

  "Liv, look at me. When I have ever given you the impression that I'm on a different page? I've told you too many times to count that this is it for me whether you like it or not. Never be nervous to bring something up, we have no secrets remember so next time instead of worrying just come to me."

  "Well now that’s all sorted, I'm going back to sleep. Its way too fucking early." She stretches like a cat and letting out a sign once her head hits the fluffy pillow.

  I don’t know how every night I'm in here, maybe that why I'm turning into such a wuss, it's all the pink. Yeah that’s gotta be it, I think it's about time she starts sleeping in my room, the beds bigger anyway. She swears my mattress is too hard for her whereas hers is like a cloud. It's not the easiest thing for a guy my size to sleep in, as soon as you sit on it you start sinking and shit. That’s probably why I'm always awake before her lazy ass, hell the girl would sleep twenty three hours a day if she could whereas I'm good with a couple and then I'm raring to go. I climb out of the bed, Liv letting a little whimper as I do.

  "Where are you going?" She pouts, sexy as hell!

  "I cant get back to sleep so I'm gonna go take a run."

  "I prefer it when you're here though." The sultry voice she puts on has me hardening.

  "If I stay you ain't gonna be doing much sleeping." I raise an eyebrow. "You're tired, go back to sleep and I'll have a pot of Starbucks brand coffee ready in the pot for when you're awake."

  "I knew I kept you around for something, you're my own personal coffee maker."

  I give her a wink before grabbing my crumpled up Henley off the floor and pulling it over my head before pulling up my sweats. It'd be bad enough someone catching me sneaking out of Livs room this early in the morning, it'd be a fucking catastrophe to be caught while damn near naked. I open the door, sticking my head out and looking left and right before high tailing it to my own room. I give a thanks that there ain't no hidden cameras in that hallway cause with that girly ass run I just did, I'd be sure to end up on YouTube or some shit.

  After dressing in another pair of light gray sweatpants with a white t shirt and matching hoodie, I jog out the front door. The cool crisp November hair hitting my face and keeping me cool despite the grueling pace I'm keeping. I do this same run near enough every morning since once I sign up to the Academy I have to take a fitness test. I don’t doubt that I'll pass it, after all I am the Quarterback for the team and I train three times a week with the team. The funny thing is that I really used to love football, I watched it on TV with my Dad all the time when I was a kid. I can even remember him taking me and Chase to an Atlanta Falcons away game. I don’t love the game anymore, sure I still like to watch it but even High School football is damn competetive. The amount of bad movies I've seen people make in the games, moves that sometimes land people in the hospital has soured me against playing. Id rather try and help people and stop them getting hurt than be responsible for breaking somebody's neck.

  My feet pound the pavement in time with my heavy breathing. The suburban street is blanketed in a soft orange glow from the sunrise. I like running just as the sun's rising, everything's quiet and the birds are yapping away. It's also my time to think, work out things and make decisions. My life's on a pretty even roll at the moment though, apart from that bullshit with Brady I gotta sort out, everythings pretty damn good. Liv and I are better than ever, I'm not even close to looking forward to being out in the open in terms of her Dad knowing. For all my complaining lately about sneaking around and shit, I realize now that’s all total bullshit. I can't imagine Phil is gonna take me fucking his daughter right under his nose very well. I haven't spoken to my Mom about it yet but Liv seems to think she had pretty high hopes concerning the situation, that’s women for ya, living in a dream world. Though Phils not exactly a hardass I cant imagine him reacting to anything concerning his little girl, if I was him id gut any fucker that came near any girl of mine.

  Coming back onto the street, I slow down as I come up towards the house. Phils standing outside on the driveway talking into his phone and waving his hands around in the air. Sneaking behind the high shrubbery I peek through the bare branches trying to stay quiet. I don’t know what possesses me to do it. There's just something about the situation that smells fishy to me. For one, Phil never usually leaves the house to take a call, he never usually even leaves the room but he's been doing it more and more lately. Two, his reaction is more than weird, especially for a guy that’s usually cool as cucumber.

  "Dana I understand that but this has been planned for a while. You should have called sooner and we may have been able to sort something out." Dana? Who the hell is Dana? The name sounds familiar but I can't for the life of me figure out who it is. "You'll have to talk to her yourself about that, it's not my business. She'll be eighteen soon and frankly I don’t need World War three going off in my house. Now if you'll excuse me I've really gotta get going and I'd appreciate it if you didn’t call this early again, I like my sleep. Bye."

  As he clicks off the phone it clicks who this Dana broad is. Shit, hes damn right World War three would go off if Liv found out her incubator was calling her Dad to talk about her, not to mention if my Mom found out she was still calling. There's already been a few grumbles about it but my Moms all Southern Belle and sweet as pie so she'd never make too much of a big deal about it. Hell he's got the right idea about staying out of it though, last time he tried to pass off the phone to Liv I think her exact words were and I quote, "Tell that ratchet faced bitch to take a hike." It was like the deep freeze for the next few days with Phil giving his disappointed looks and Liv giving him the bitch brow regularly. Hey, atleast I know that shit isnt just reserved for me now, seems she does it with everyone she loses patience with. I can't blame Liv for being the way she is with that bitch, I just hope I never see her. I'd love nothing more than to wrap my hands around her neck and squeeze the life outta her for everything shes put my girl through. I try to block it out most of the time cause it sends me ready to puke when I think about the shit shes been through alone. One things for sure, she'll never be alone again.

  I don’t care if I have to carry her on my back for the rest of our lives, I'll protect her always and forever and that’s that. Though I wouldn’t mind if she made it a little easier on my ass but she is who she is and I love her more than anything regardless.

  Chapter 26

  Liv

  How did I get roped into this? I love shopping, clothes, shoes, purses, hats, it's all good. Food? Nuh uh. Of course when Pam said let's go shopping, I certainly didn’t think she was talking food, I thought it was gonna be another Louboutin extraordinaire or some shit, instead of looking at beautiful shoes I'm looking at bread that looks a
little too much like a certain part of a guys body for me to want to eat it.

  "Ok, we have most of it. Can you go to the vegetable aisle and get some carrots, peas, green beans, cranberries and a pumpkin? Ooooh and some apples and sprouts. Here you take the cart and I'll meet you over by the table decorations. Mothers spent half the year criticizing last years tablecloth, apparently it was too gauche so let's see if this years will do any better." Pam says, folding her list and tucking it in the breast pocket of her checked button down shirt.

  "You could line the table with gold, she'd still complain." I mutter under my breath.

  I don’t see how shopping carts are meant to make shit any easier, sure I'm not trying to balance stuff in my arms but with all the stuff in here it’s a damn nightmare to turn and control the damn thing. My feet skid across the floor as I attempt to pull the fucking thing to a stop, I can totally see me suing someone ass with this bullshit contraption.

  Dinner should be interesting tomorrow though I think Pams expecting to be feeding the five thousand. I hope I can survive the day with her Mother, that lady's crazy if she thinks I aspire to be Miss damn teeny bopper USA, id rather tattoo every inch of my body than do that shit.

  I browse the pumpkins, snickering to myself while remembering the exploits from Halloween. Tucker had one of his apparently famous parties, though that’s debatable in my opinion. I came downstairs, swaying my hips in my short sparkly green strapless dress, yellow glitter covering the rest of my body. Oh yes, I made a very sexy Tinkerbell. Noah's face was a picture, the hunger in his eyes despite our parents standing right next to him nearly had me backtracking up the stairs. I don’t think he kept his hands off me the entire night, mumbling under his breath about jackasses seeing whats his. That made for a very hot experience in Tuckers bathroom.

  Picking up the largest and probably the most orange pumpkin I've ever seen, I turn it in my hands checking for cracks and bruises which Pam basically drilled into my head on the drive here. Walking towards the cart, I feel a jolt in my lower back sending me forwards and the pumpkin flying through the air. It almost feels as if I'm watching in slow motion as it smashes on the floor, the yucky stuff splattering on my very new and very white new blouse. For fucks sake, what is it with this town? Since I've come here I've had to replace more clothes than ever. I turn around to see what bumped into me and clench my fists at the sight of very smug looking Brandy. Oh bitch you didn’t.

  "Oops, my bad." She says in her sickly sweet nasally twang that makes me wants to re-break her nose.

  The bruising has disappeared and the only evidence if my fist smashing into her face is the slight bump that I'm sure has her screeching at her mirror every morning. That doesn’t make me feel any better though and it certainly doesn’t undo the damage to my blouse. Looking at her, all sweet and smug, I bite down the urges that are threatening to be unleashed. Looking at her hair, I resist grabbing it and dragging her across the store floor. Looking at her face, I resist smashing it into the floor over and over again. This girl just never seems to learn her fucking lesson, why she keeps pushing and pushing me I don’t know. You'd think her nose learnt its lesson last time but no, she just has to keep sticking it into my business.

  "Oh no, looks like I've made a made a mess of your shirt." She says, eyes looking all kinds of innocent. Her gaze quickly hardens and her face is taken over by an ugly sneer. "Like you weren't enough of a mess before."

  "Are you being serious right now." I roll my eyes. "That’s the best you got, I already did your nose over, there are plenty of places left on your face for me to pummel. Though to be honest, I think I made quite an improvement. I think I should be charging you for a nose job instead of you trying to dig the money out of my Dad for one."

  "How dare you speak to me like that? He'll get tired of you and then who will you be? You'll just be the same old whore except this time you'll be known for fucking your brother."

  I faintly here Pam calling out my name, it doesn’t faze me though, I'm much too busy wrapping my hands around Brandy bitches scrawny throat, her hands scratching at my forearms.

  "Say it again bitch, I dare you." I whisper through gritted teeth, feeling arms pulling me away.

  It's almost as if all the noise in the store rushes in my ears at once, I can hear Pam speaking in my ear but I struggle to focus on her voice, staring at a still sneering Brandy instead.

  "Liv, what's going on?"

  "Oh Mrs Preston, she just totally lost it, I think she needs help." Brandy says, faking tears as her mascara runs down her face.

  "You fucking liar." I struggle out of the store attendants grip.

  "I'd be careful, you know she's sleeping with your son, it's terrible."

  There are hushed tones and whispers throughout the store as everyone takes in what Brandys just said. Pam doesn’t take her eyes off her, staring at her with a hard gaze as I look to her pleadingly, not sure what I should do. She takes the few steps towards Brandy before leaning in close. Only I can hear as she speaks quietly close to Brandy's face.

  "Yes I am aware that my son and Olivia are in love, though what business that is of yours, I don’t know. As for Liv attacking you for no reason, I'm sure we can get the security tape footage to verify your claims."

  Brandy pouts, her bottom lip sticking out like a toddlers and I snicker. She flounces out the store, huffing and puffing and Pam winks at me.

  "Go and wait in the car sweetie, I'll just pay for this and be right out." I'd think I was about to be in trouble if not for the gentle tone of her voice and the soft expression on her face.

  Nodding, I frown at the guy whose hands are still holding onto my upper arm causing him to back away as if he's been burnt. I walk out of the store head held high, ignoring the stares and whispers. I applaud myself at my restraint, I'm more than tempted to bang all the nosy fucks heads together, I figure one altercation is enough for one day.

  ***

  "Did you get everything from the store dear?" My Dad says before taking a bite out of a slice of four cheese pizza.

  "We definitely had an interesting day." She replies, nearly causing me to choke on my bite before giving me a wink.

  Noah looks between me and his Mom a couple of times before shrugging piling nearly an entire slice into his mouth.

  "Hey I bet I can get more in my mouth than you." Chase shouts before folding his slice up and pushing it into his mouth, poking it in a bid to get it all in. He quickly starts spluttering his face turn a tomato like color as Pam rushes over to him, slapping him on the back before a load of half eaten pizza shoots out of his mouth onto the pizza box sitting on the coffee table.

  "I'm done." I say, throwing half my slice down.

  "Yep." My Dad says before throwing his down too.

  There's a knock at the door as Pam rushes back into the room with a glass of water, near enough tipping it down dumbass' neck.

  "Be careful woman, no point in saving him from choking if you're just gonna drown the poor kid." My Dad says, walking to the front door, opening it.

  I can't see who's there but I can hear the hushed voices before my Dad steps back into the room, followed by a guy with very red hair and Brandy who looks very pleased with herself. I have no idea why because her face looks like she's done three rounds with Mike Tyson, purple bruises and scratches covering her face.

  "Gerald, how can we help you?" Pam looks at Brandy with a disgusted look before turning to Gerald, who I'm guessing is Brandy's father.

  "I'm sorry to interrupt your evening but enough is enough. I've come to ask your daughter Phil to stop bullying mine. We're already considering pressing charges, look at the state of Brandy's face."

  "You did that?" Noah asks, his mouth open in shock.

  What the fuck? Seriously, what. The. Fuck.

  "NO!"

  "Olivia, is what Gerald here is saying true? Are you bullying his daughter? You should know I will not abide my that under my roof."

  "No, I don’t know what he's talking abou
t."

  "Then explain how my daughter arrived home from the store back and blue?"

  "Now now Gerald, lets calm down. I was at the store with Liv, there was an altercation which I can say with certainty that your daughter absolutely encouraged. When she left, she didn’t have a mark on her."

  "They're in it together Daddy." Brandy says, almost frantic.

  Wow, the bitch has finally lost it. I let out a roar of laughter, images of little sweet hobbit like Pam beating into Brandy, causing tears to stream down my face.

  "I'm sorry." I gasp out. "You can't seriously believe her, I mean come on."

  "Mom kicked ass." Chase hollers, fistpumping the air.

  "Oh shush Chase, I did not. I'm not sure what's going on here Gerald but I can assure you Liv did not cause those arks on your daughter and neither did I for that matter. If you'd like to get the police involved then feel free too, I'm sure they'll get to the bottom of this." Picking up the home phone, Pam holds it out to Gerald, who doesn’t seem to have a clue what the hell is going on.

  "Brandy, you never mentioned Pam being involved before. Tell me the truth right now."

  The sly bitch takes a step back, looking around the room for a quick exit. I feel Noah's hand grab my own, I'm too pissed at him though. I haven't told him about what happened at the store yet, I didn’t really have a chance to but I guess I'm kinda angry that on Brandy's father calling me a bully, he didn’t pipe up. I know it would have looked suspicious and we agreed to tell my Dad after Thanksgiving but it pisses me off that his Mother is the only one to stick up for me. Even my own Father was gonna take that bitches side over mine, though there's no surprise there.

  "I-I, Daddy." The crazy bitches stuttering has my eyes glued to the spectacle that’s about to happen, my hand laying limply in Noahs as he proceeds to squeeze it. Nuh uh, he's not getting off that easily. As a matter of fact I'm gonna be giving this family of mine a piece of my mind when Brandy and her sad sap of a father leave.

  "Brandy if Olivia didn’t do this to you and I don’t believe for a second Pam did, what happened?"