Just great.
“So she told you”
“Yeah. Why didn’t you?”
“Because she’s your sister Donovan.”
“God I hate that guy.”
I laugh a little. I don’t blame him.
“So what do we do?” I ask him.
He looks back at me confused.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean Donovan maybe we should slow down a little.”
“Do you want to slow down?”
No.
“I don’t know”
Liar.
“Listen, I know that we should probably stop staring at each other in public,” He laughs. This isn’t funny, but his laugh is so cute and sexy. “But we can’t stop.”
“I know, but Ella has always been out to make my life a living hell”
“Listen I know she can be mean, but Ella went through a lot. The thing she did with Eric is not like her, besides Eric is the type of guy who uses a girl. I mean he could have every girl apparently.”
“Yeah I know, but your sister did it to spite me.”
Okay I’m getting an attitude. I can feel it. I know that’s his sister and all, but he’s been gone for a year, people change.
“I know but..”
“But what?” I interrupt him.
“Okay maybe we should stop talking about it because I can sense you’re getting a little mad”
“No I’m not. I’m just saying they both are to blame and frankly I do blame your sister more.”
“How?”
“Because Donovan, she knew Eric was my boyfriend. She did it anyway which shows her character if you ask me.”
“So you hate my sister?”
“Maybe”
He gives me a disapproving look. Wait he got a lot of nerve.
“Wait you have a lot of nerve. Don’t you hate my father? Doesn’t your whole family hate my father?” I snap at him.
“Well doesn’t your father hate my whole family?”
“Well, yeah, which means you shouldn’t judge the fact that I might despise your sister.”
“Well maybe I hate the fact that you do. Maybe I hate the fact that she despises you and she would sink so low.”
“Well take that up with her then.”
“I have”
“Okay, then enough about it, its pissing me off all over again.”
“So you’re not over it? Are you over Eric?”
“Of course I’m over Eric.” I walk closer towards him. “I’m not over the fact that your sister did and that he made a fool of me.”
“Well I feel like you should, I mean we’re together aren’t we?”
“Yeah, but…”
I pause. I want to say this right because I see the fear and anger in his eyes.
“But what? Is Ella right? Are you with me to get back at her?”
What? Did he really just say that?
“Are you serious? When it comes to you, she is far from my mind. I can’t believe you said that to me.”
“Look I’m sorry, I’m not thinking right.” He says trying to grab my hand. I snatch it away from him.
“Yeah obviously you’re out of your fucking mind. If you want to accuse me of foul play, I can easily accuse you of using me to get back at my father.”
“Oh come on Claud you know that’s not true.”
“How? How do I know any of it’s not truth? Maybe you did know I was a Stonem, maybe you planed it all along.”
I stop myself when I see the hurt in his eyes. Why am I doing this? I know it’s not true. God I’m a psycho.
“Fuck you and your family” Without hesitation I slap him across his face. I slapped him so hard my hand is still stinging. I can’t believe I just did that.
“No, fuck you because you are a complete son of a bitch for even thinking that of me. I hate your sister and right now I hate you.”
I quickly leave our isolated paradise and drive off.
The messed up thing about all of it is that all I want to do is turn back around and kiss him.
I think it is official I am a complete psycho.
Donovan
It’s been one week since we spoke and I’m going out of my freaking mind. I am an idiot. I can’t believe I said that bull shit to her. I can’t believe she slapped me. It hurt like shit and it took everything in me not to strangle her but I was always raised to never hit a woman.
I’ve left her messages every day. She won’t return any of them. She is all I think about and it’s driving me crazy. I got lucky with the answers to that calculus test today because I didn’t know shit.
I just want her to talk to me. I miss her so much. I can’t lose her not over this. I know she didn’t know who I was; I just let Ella get in my head because everything was too perfect for me and usually something ruins it so I mess up. Even though I’m pissed at what she said to me I get why she was upset at what I said. Also, I can’t hate her for not liking Ella.
After our fight, I talked to Emile. He told me all about the drama between Claudia and Ella and that my sister was usually the one who initiated all of it. I would talk to her, but I probably don’t have a right. Besides she isn’t speaking to me. Mom noticed and asked us about it. Ella lied and said nothing. I’m grateful to her for that. She’s a good sister and I’m a horrible brother.
Is it crazy that I don’t care anymore who knows? I just care about Claudia and her happiness and I know it would hurt her if people knew. It would damage her relationship with her father. I hate the guy, but I love her. I love her and I’m scared to tell her. I don’t want to lose her.
“Donovan!” I hear Emile yelling my name from outside my room. He opens my door in a panic.
“What?” I rise up from my bed as Emile tries to catch his breathe.
“You need to come outside.”
We get outside and walk towards his car where I see Jason sitting in the passenger seat. I get closer and I see his nose bleeding and lip busted.
“What happened?” I say as I squat down to Jason looking at his face.
“It’s nothing”
“Emile what the hell happened?” I say still looking at Jason.
“Eric Anderson and his guys beat him up outside of Warren Gregory’s party. I was on my way there when I saw him walking on the side of the freaking road. I called Ella, but she isn’t answering. I think they’re at a movie or something.”
“Jason, look at me.”
Jason looks up at me. I see in his eyes this has brought out his past.
Jason’s father was an abusive prick who was married to my cousin Karen and worked for my father until he found out how abusive he was. A week later he disappeared, but we all knew what happened. Jason did too, but he didn’t care. He was happy he was gone.
“They made fun of my limp.” He says.
When we were ten, Jason’s father repeatedly stomped on his leg so hard that he shattered it and ever since then Jason has walked with a limp. I can’t stand a bully. Especially spoiled ass preppy boys who think they can push over whoever they want. Jason is my cousin, my family, and we protect our family.
“Emile lets go.”
Claudia
Eric is a complete prick and I can’t believe I ever dated him.
I didn’t witness the fight because I was upstairs in the bathroom crying. It’s the fourth time I cried since me and Donovan’s argument. Also I’m a little drunk so my emotions are all over the place. It’s been a week since our fight, I mean since I was a psycho bitch and slapped him. He called me so many times and it took everything in me not to respond. I even had to give my phone to Jade during school hours. I just couldn’t talk to him. I needed time to clear my head. I miss him. I miss him more than ever. Eric and his friends are over there laughing at what they did to Jason Evans. He’s Donovan’s cousin. They said they made fun of his limp. I mean big freaking deal the guy has had a limp since forever. Who makes fun of someone’s disability?! Grow up! I hate this party I need to leave.
“Jade, I’m ready to go.”
“Thank God, Me too.” Jade jumps up out of her seat.
Wow, I can’t believe she is.
“What? Why?” Dawn asked us.
“Because it sucks, and I also feel bad for that kid.” Jade says.
“Oh who cares it was hilarious” Naomi says smiling.
Naomi is such a bitch.
“Well it’s not funny” I say.
“Oh well I’m sorry things got a little too rowdy for little miss perfect.”
“What does that even mean? Come on Jade.”
We walk past Naomi and Dawn and head through the living room of Warren Gregory’s mansion.
“Where you going” Eric stops me in my tracks.
“I’m going home Eric”
“Why? Maybe we can talk.”
“No, your drunk.” He reeks of alcohol.
Jade grabs my arm to go through the other way.
“Eric!” I turn instantly at the sound of Donovan.
He is standing in the entry way of the living room with his denim jacket and a white tank underneath. I can see the shape of his body through it and I can see how angry he is. It’s like he is about to explode.
Jade pulls me to the side as Eric’s friends Dean and Anthony stand next to him.
I see Emile next to him angry and ready for what is about to happen.
Donovan walks towards him until they are inches from each other.
“You have an apology to give to my cousin.” He says calmly.
“Really” Eric laughs.
“Yeah.”
“Well, I really don’t have to do shit, Pierce. If your little gimp wants an apology he can come get it himself, but he’ll probably cry again once we whoop his ass.”
Dean and Anthony laugh.
“You know, I know guys like you. Spoiled guys who get what they want, they think they don’t have to answer to anyone, but I got news for you, you’re a bitch because only a pussy like you would need two other guys to fight one person … who has a limp by the way.”
Well Put Donovan. I find myself very attracted and proud at the same time.
“Well on the contrary I had more than two people help. Donovan and Emile looks behind him, to see three tall guys standing over them, grinning and pounding their fists. He glances at Emile giving him a nod. Emile smiles and gives him a nod right back. Yeah there not backing down at all.
“Well, more fun for us” Without hesitation Donovan head butts Eric right smack in the face.
Emile turns around and punches one of the three guys in the stomach, bringing him down to his knees. This gives Emile reach and access to punch him dead in the nose. The other two tackle him down. Anthony punches Donovan in the face, but it’s like it doesn’t faze him. He instantly punches him back harder. Dean grabs him from behind bare hugging him against his chest. Anthony gets up and is about to strike when Donovan hits Dean in the face with the back of his head and kicks Anthony right in the nuts. Ouch. That had to hurt. Anthony falls down crying. No like really he is literally crying on the floor. Donovan turns around and kicks Dean into a group of people near me and Jade. Suddenly Eric tackles him from behind. He gets on top of him and starts punching Donovan, repeatedly.
I start moving, but Jade grabs my arm. It’s like it was my natural instinct to help him. I finally calm down once Donovan pushes Eric off of him. He gets up and kicks Eric right in the face. He turns around to see Emile getting pummeled on by the two other guys. With two quick punches Donovan stops them.
Donovan goes back to Eric, who is lying on the floor. He kneels down and lifts him up by his shirt. He starts punching him over and over again in the face. It’s like he’s a different person. This Donovan has nothing but fury inside him as he continues beating Eric like he’s nothing. He needs to stop or he’ll kill him.
“Donovan! Come on!” Emile finally drags Donovan off him. He jerks away from Emile and looks around the room.
‘Anyone else?!” He yells at everyone daring them to come at him.
He finally stops his circling around once he sees me. His face is filled with so much rage, but also pain.
“Come on man. We gotta get out of here.” Emile says pulling him by his arm. Donovan looks down at Eric whose face is bloodied and bruised. His face goes blank at the sight of the damage he has done. He finally snaps out of it and follows Emile out.
We all continue looking down at Eric and his friends, who are in physical pain over their defeat.
Donovan
Everyone at school is staring at me like I murdered someone. Well I did almost murder Eric. I feel like shit. I don’t want people to see me this way, like I’m some kind of a monster. I know that’s probably what Claudia thinks of me. I saw it in her eyes. She thinks I’m a monster.
“Excuse me Mrs. Hairston, “We all look up to see the principal enter the classroom.
Seconds later the police come in with Henry Stonem.
Great.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your class Mrs. Hairston, but we have a situation here.” Stonem says with that same smug smile he had the first time I saw him.
I don’t even wait for the cops to come towards my seat. I stand up and place my hands behind my back. I am very familiar with this routine.
“Is that really necessary?” Mrs. Hairston asks. I guess the teacher isn’t so bad after all.
“Donovan Pierce you are under arrest for the assault and battery of Eric Anderson, Anthony Wade, and Dean Garrity…” I instantly zone out with what the rest of the cop says as I look at the class. My sister who is looking at me hurt and like she wants to shoot Henry Stonem. Then there is Claudia who looks angry and upset. Probably at me. I’m embarrassed that she has to see me like this. I’m embarrassed that she possibly sees me as a criminal.
Claudia
I can’t believe my father is just standing there with a grin on his face like he’s so proud of himself for arresting a high school kid who did nothing, but protect his friend. If he is going to arrest Donovan, he might as well arrest Eric and the rest of his idiot squad. This is a waste by the way because no one is going to come forward as a witness. They’re all scared.
I’m just scared for Donovan. I don’t want him to be arrested like this, in front of everyone where they can all talk about him. This isn’t cool at all.
Donovan
“We know what happened, Donovan, so you might as well tell us.” Cop one says.
“It will make things a lot easier.” Cop two chimes in.
I say nothing. This is always a waste. In about ten seconds my lawyer is going to be here.
Love and Hate (The Pierce Family Trilogy) Page 15