Love and Hate (The Pierce Family Trilogy)

by Chelsea Ballinger

  “How did it start?” He says calmly.

  “At school…we just clicked.”

  He lets out a dry laugh. “You just clicked. You just clicked!”

  I jump at the sound of my father’s tone. I have never been more frightened in my life.

  He walks toward me with his glass in one hand. Without warning I am back handed by my father so hard I don’t even know how I still kept my balance.

  “Henry!” Julia yells.

  “Be quiet!” My dad yells back at her. “This has nothing to do with you!”

  I rub my throbbing cheek as my father faces me again.

  “Never in my life have I’ve been so disappointed, disgusted, and embarrassed. You will have no phone, no computer, no nothing. You will come home after school until graduation, than you will stay here in this house until you leave for college.”

  He walks towards the fire place.

  “Dad.” I say tearfully.

  “Do you know what you have done?!” He says stomping his feet to the ground. “You have humiliated this family!”

  All I can do is continue standing there. What can I say? I love him?

  It doesn’t matter now. Our deepest fear has come true.

  “Get out. I can’t stand the sight of you.”

  I dismiss myself on my father’s demand. I run up the stairs and into my bed room. I curl up like a little baby in my bed and cry like my life depends on it.

  Donovan

  Two weeks passed and my parents were not joking with me. The only time I saw Claudia was at school. She never looked at me. I didn’t want to cause any more trouble for her so I did nothing. It hurts like hell. It feels like a knife turning in my chest. Every time I see Eric I want to rip his fucking throat out. That night they jumped me and locked me in my trunk. I spent the whole night ramming the trunk door. My parents were in a panic when they couldn’t find me the next morning. Emile knowing where I went came to look for me when my mom asked him where I was. By the time he got to me it was time for school and I had to get to Claudia. I would have called her, but my phone was broken from those assholes stepping on it. By the time I got to school it was too late. She saw the fucking flyer those jackasses put on her locker. They put them all over the cafeteria too, but the Dean took them all taken down before lunch. I’m so sorry for her. I know she didn’t want her dad to find out about us this way. I’m upset for my parents too. If only they understood, I just need them to understand that I love her. My love for her consumes me. It pierced itself inside of me and the only way to handle it is through her. To have that kind of love… well you just can’t let it go. It hurts too much to let go.

  We are at the charity masquerade ball right now. I’m only here because I need to see her.

  “Hey. How you doin D?” I turn around to see Emile with his black mask covering his eyes and in his black tux with a bow tie.

  “I’m fine. You don’t have to babysit me, Emile.” I down my forth glass of wine. I’ve been grabbing them off the tray, not caring who sees me. “Well, you know your dad and my folks are kind of pissed at me and I want to make sure that you’re okay and that you don’t do anything out of line tonight.”

  “I’m not going to do anything. What is it with you people?” I snap.

  “So you’re going to be able to keep your cool when you see her?”

  Emile is seriously about to piss me off.

  “Yes! Why the hell wouldn’t I?” I’m lying.

  Emile looks past me in a daze and takes off his mask.

  “Well maybe because she looks like that.”

  I turn around instantly to see the love of my life coming down the steps of the hall in a red gown that looks radiant on her.

  Holy shit.

  She has on a black mask with diamonds on it. The sparkle from the diamonds accelerates her gray eyes through the mask. Her skin is golden and flawless. She is flawless.

  Emile is right. How can I just keep calm? Especially when I see who is waiting for her down the steps.

  Fucking Eric.

  Claudia

  Fucking Eric.

  “You look amazing.” He says with a smile, that I really want to smack right now.

  “Don’t talk to me.” I start walking past him when he grabs my arm and leans into my ear.

  “Remember what your dad said. You’re my date and you will enjoy it.” He says as he tightens his grip. I jerk away my arm and start heading towards Jade who is beautiful in a beige gown. I’m so happy to see somebody I like right now.

  “Hey.” I say to her. “You look great”

  “So do you.” She greets me with a hug. “How are you doing?”

  “I’m hanging in there.”

  She looks past me.

  “He’s over there.”

  I turn around slightly to see Donovan in a black mask and a black suit. His tie is red, ironically, like my dress. I can’t stare at him for too long because it hurts me. It hurts seeing him and not being able to acknowledge him. My father made me come to this ball and he made me isolate myself from the world. He made Eric my date even after I told him he was the one who put the picture up. My dad is disappointed in me, but I am definitely disappointed in him too.

  “You okay?” I wonder if Jade notices my eyes watering up.

  “Yeah.” I lift up my mask and gently wipe my eyes. I am really tired of all this emotional bullshit. “I’m just really emotional, but I’ll be okay.”

  I’m lying. I probably won’t be okay. I haven’t been okay since the day everyone found out. I miss Donovan so much. I swear I don’t get how people can love like this? Then on the other hand, I don’t think there are many eighteen year olds that go through this type of crap.

  Donovan

  I’m not okay. I’m not okay at all. My mind is circling all over the place.

  We’re sitting at the same table of course. Her father made sure she sat far away from me… with Eric. The Mayor is stuffing his face as usual. My mother and Ella are glancing at me making sure I don’t explode. My father is having a conversation with some CEO of a company probably a future business partner. Stonem is watching my father with more determination than usual. Probably the fact that his enemy’s son has been sleeping with his daughter is the reason for the unusual hatred stare.

  “Donovan!” The mayor yells from the end of the table. Everyone faces me except Claudia who continues playing with her food. “You are a young man of mystery. I feel as if I know what every kid here is going to school for except you.”

  “Mayor, Donovan doesn’t really know what he is going to go to school for yet.” My father says.

  “Actually I do.” Everyone glances back at me. My parents stare at me with disbelief because I hadn’t told them yet, but given our situation, that wasn’t my first priority.

  “Mayor I plan to attend NYU.” I glance at Claudia but she still doesn’t look at me. “I decided to study business. I hope to one day own my own restaurant in New York.”

  I glance again and she looks at me. I can see her gray eyes through her mask as she is shocked by my answer.

  “That’s wonderful. I will definitely be there for the opening!” I bet he will.

  “Donovan when did you decide this?” My mother asks me from across the table, smiling at my admission.

  “You didn’t know?” The Mayor’s wife asks her.

  “Well Mrs. Hawthorne my son is very secretive as I have recently found out.” I look at my dad who was sitting next to my mother.

  “I bet.” I hear Claudia’s dad say.

  Alright they want to play. Let’s play.

  “Well mayor.” I say as I grab a glass of champagne from a tray as everyone looks at me shocked. I take a sip, before continuing. “A girl actually inspired me.”

  Jade nearly chokes on her food next to Claudia whose eyes widen at me while Eric clenches his jaw at me.

  “Really?” The mayor sets down his fork and wipes his mouth with his napkin.

  “Yes. See she showed me that I
had a purpose and taught me how to not take my family and the good things around me for granted.” I have everyone’s attention now including my family. “She believed in me and once she said she was going to NYU to be a writer, I said what the hell. If she can do it, so can I. Besides wherever she is I want to be.”

  I take a finale glance at Claudia as she tears up. I’m sorry I caused a scene but I had to let her know. I had to let them all know.

  “Claudia, aren’t you going to NYU?” The mayor’s wife asks curiously.

  “Actually, Claudia has decided to attend Princeton. Isn’t that right Claudia?” Stonem gives her a stern look.

  “Yes. I have.” No you’re not. Why doesn’t she stand up for herself?

  **********

  Once dinner was over, everyone started dancing, drinking, and having a good time. I wasn’t of course. I’m watching Claudia dance with Eric like some stalker. I have the right to do that, don’t I? After all, she is my girlfriend and I don’t care what anybody says differently. Also, I really want to bash Eric’s skull in. The only comfort I have is the pissed off look she has when Eric comes near her.

  “Dude what the hell?” I was so focused on the idea of killing Eric that I didn’t even see Emile walk up to me.

  “Not now, Emile.”

  “Then when? I mean what are you doing? What are you trying to prove here?” That’s a good question.

  What am I trying to prove? Better yet how do I show everyone here that this thing we have, it’s not some schoolboy crush or high school drama? It’s more than that. I can’t breathe without this damn girl.

  I get my sign once I see Eric leaving her on the dance floor to go talk to her father. Another slow song comes on. I think I know this song. She looks down and fidgets with her bracelet. She always plays with her bracelet when she is uncomfortable. If she doesn’t have bracelets on, she just rubs her wrist. She looks around at all the people dancing. She gives a tight smile and starts exiting the dance floor.

  Well I guess it’s now or never.

  Chapter

  12

  “In This Together”

  Claudia

  What is he doing?

  It’s bad enough he let my father know about NYU, but this is not good. This is not good at all. I was on my way off the dance floor until I saw him walking towards me. There’s something about his walk. It’s filled with determination.

  “Dance with me?” He asks once he reaches me.

  This is the first time we spoke to each other in two weeks, ten hours, and I don’t know how many minutes.

  “What are you doing?” He has to stop this.

  He sighs and continues staring at me with his baby blue eyes, with so much need and anxiety. I guess he is trying to answer my question to himself.

  “Showing everyone.”

  “What?” I barely get it out.

  “That I could never hate you.” Well, how does a girl respond to that?

  He takes my hand and leads me back to the middle of the dance floor. I can’t even put up a fight. I’m so tired of trying to be in control. I quickly look for my dad. He is busy talking to Eric and the mayor. I glance to the other side to see the Pierces caught up in what looks like a serious conversation. It’s like everyone is oblivious to what is going on right now. I continue looking around as he locks his fingers into mine placing his other hand gently on my lower back. The touch of his hand on my bare back causes me to flinch a little. I guess it was a good night to where a backless dress.

  “Hey.” I look back up at his piercing blue eyes peeking out of his mask.

  “We’re in this together.” His comforting assurance brings a small smile from me. He starts leading as I follow.

  As I continue gazing at him, everything else is easily blurred out. All I see is him. All I hear is the song. It’s Paramore’s Only Exception, the perfect theme song for my feelings for him right now. I start laughing at my realization of the song as he smiles at me. Soon I completely zone out into him and the song. It’s just me and him.

  So that’s it. He loves me. I knew this already, but it’s something when you really see it. I see it in the way he looks at me. It’s adoration. A profound love for me. That’s what I see when he looks at me. I look deeper into his eyes, hoping for some sort of reflection of me. I hope he knows that I have nothing but pure love and adoration for him.

  He twirls me around and dips me down slowly bringing me back up closer to him. He rubs the back of his hand along my face causing my heart to completely jump. That’s what he does to me. He makes me feel things I’ve never felt before. Things I never thought were possible.

  He did this. He’s being brave for both of us, showing everyone that he loves me and that he doesn’t care what anyone thinks. So why can’t I do that?

  Well let’s see if I can.

  I reach for the bottom of his mask and slowly take it off. I don’t even care that I dropped it on the ground. I take off my mask and drop it too. This is it. If were going down in flames, we might as well go down epic because our love is epic and amazing and I don’t regret one minute of it.

  I lean into him and press my lips onto his. I deepen the kiss instantly not caring who sees it. I hold on tight to his jacket as he wraps his arms around my waist pressing him against me. I continue kissing him until the song starts to ends. He presses his forehead against mine still with his eyes close.

  I close my eyes and wrap my arms around him hugging him tight as he kisses my shoulder. I slowly open my eyes to see his family. I see his mother trying to stop his father and another man from coming toward us. I think it’s his uncle Benny Donovan talks about.

  As they get closer to us I tighten my grip never wanting to let go.

  Donovan

  Her father walks towards us with fury along with Eric. She hugs me tighter and I do the same. I never expected her to kiss me in front of everyone. She definitely is brave. Now I hope she is ready for the fall out of what we just did.

  Her father yanks me from her grabbing on to the collar of my suit. I grip his wrists as he holds on to me.

  “If you ever touch my daughter again!” He spits on my face as he yells.

  I’m doing everything in my power to stay calm so I won’t kick his ass.

  “Get the hell off my son!” My dad comes out of nowhere pushing him off me standing in between us.

  “Donovan, lets go.” My mother says to me grabbing a hold of my wrist.

  “You keep your son on a leash Pierce!” Stonem yelled. “I swear I will find a way to throw all of you in jail!”

  As our fathers argue we continue staring at each other. She is being held by Eric. She jerks him off her. All I know is that I want to take her and get the hell out of here.

  “Roman!” I hear my mother yell as she lets go of me, but I see nothing but Claudia.

  I look for Emile who is close by. I nod my head, hoping he knows what I’m about to do. He shakes his head. I nod harder at him. He looks around and nods running towards the side exit. I look back at Claudia who followed my gaze looking at Emile. I nod to her for permission with pleading eyes. She looks back at Jade who is close by who sees what we’re planning also. She looks back at me and nods twice.