by Ivy Knight
"Okay, uh- get on," he instructs crouching down into a half squat with his back facing me.
"You want me to get on your back?"
"Mm-hm. Hurry up or else the clowns will come to life."
"W-what?" I quiver. Not even waiting for him to say anything, I jump onto his back and close my eyes.
He stands up getting comfortable and starts walking.
"Jayce?"
"Mm-hm?"
"Thank you."
"How many times will you thank me, Summer? Maybe I should just drop you and make a run for it," he devilishly suggests.
"No! I will start crying. I swear Jayce if you even-"
"Haha, don't worry I won't do that. I'm not that mean."
"Then how mean are you?"
"Well, I stole a cookie from my younger sister's plate and ate it in front of her."
"You meanie! That's just cruel. I wonder how your sister let you live."
"Oh, that happened four years ago and I hear about it 'till this day. I've literally bought her packs of cookies, but she will never forgive me. I've learned my lesson."
"Good," my reply ends with a long yawn. I rest the side of my head on his shoulder. "Jayce, I'm tired."
"Well, we still have a long way to go my friend."
"Okay, I'm just going to..." I stop speaking as I feel the tiredness takeover.
...♛...
"Summer," I hear a whisper.
"Summer," this time, I feel a tickle under my knee. My eyes open and I find myself hung behind Jayce's back. "We have company."
I look up at the parking lot where I spot Kai standing outside his car. His figure leaning against the matte black exterior as he furiously types something on his phone.
Almost like he could feel my eyes on him, he looks up directly at me.
"Jayce, let me down," I pat his shoulder and he lets me down. My hands find a grip around his arms and I spin him around to make him face me. "I had a great time, Jayce. I really did and I'm thankful that you didn't push me to talk about things that I'm still foreign to. Hopefully, we'll see each other around school, but I have to go now and so do you."
"Why does this sound like a goodbye?" his voice full of suspicion.
"Because I've never had the opportunity to say goodbye to anyone who I've ever cared about before. Even though it was just for a couple of hours, I still cared Jayce. Thank you," with that, I take a deep breath and meet Kai half way before he can get to Jayce.
"Get in the car," Kai demands not even sparing me a glance.
"Kai, you're not laying a hand on him. I'll tell you what happened, but only if you leave him alone," I threaten. His gaze drops down to me. My whole body shivers at his cold eyes.
"You better have a good explanation for this," he huffs.
Throwing Jayce a last glance, Kai turns around taking my wrist in his grip. He pulls me to the car and pushes me in before taking a seat himself.
I look at Jayce who watches us drive away at full speed. He's probably so confused.
...♛...
"I want the truth, Summer," Kai says through gritted teeth. I gulp rubbing my sore wrist. I bet even Kai didn't know the strength of his own grip.
"I-" I stop and take a deep breath. "I felt suffocated at school, so I decided to go out for some frozen yogurt with Jayce. He wanted to take me back to the school, but I told him that I didn't want to. He decided to show me the trail. I guess I got carried away in the moment and lost track of time."
"It's not happening again," Kai says.
"I know- wait. What's not happening again?"
"You're not going to school, Summer."
"I am, Kai. I'm going to school."
"Not after the way you acted," he takes a step closer trying to dominate me.
"The whole day I constantly spent thinking about the first day of school and how I met you. How everything would've been so different if I had never parked in your spot. How Alice would still be alive. The only person I blame for the actions I took today is you. You're my problem Kai Black, so you have no right to take away my rights after seeing what I did to help myself."
"Do you think I don't see it? You're constant tiredness, headaches and the dark circles. The missing bottles of vodka. You've been drowning yourself in booze for the past three weeks. The task I gave wasn't so you could go to school and I could get information, but it was for you to fuck up. I wanted you to fuck up and I wanted Alec to see the shit you've been doing. You're finding every possible way to kill yourself and those stupid methods are going to ruin us."
"I've been through hell, Kai Black and I am not willing to go back. Yes, I've been off the charts lately but it's only because I don't know any other way to make it stop. The guilt of Alice is eating me alive and I watch her die every single time I close my eyes. Smoking is one way to keep me calm, but you took that away from me. Drinking is my backup plan. Don't blame me for trying to fix the problems you created. Because of you, my days have been nothing but torture. But before, I had the luxury of going up to my room and falling asleep. Eight hours of pure heaven and the little punishment of yours took it right away from me. It feels like I've lost my sanity, Kai."
"Well, you didn't seem to have a problem sleeping on Jayce's back or even three nights ago, with me on the couch."
"That's different. Being with someone helps me feel protected, I guess. I can't explain it."
"I don't want you fucking up, Summer. There's big things coming very soon and I need you to be at your best possible state."
"Then give me my cigarettes back. Give my space. Give me your trust, Kai."
"I'll give you everything once you earn it."
"Then how do I earn it?"
"Stop with the drugs. No more drinking, no more smoking."
"But-"
"You can't sleep on your own, so I'll give you your sleep back. We sleep together," he says.
Sleep together?
If I sleep with him, then I can avoid all the drinking. My smoking addiction could be fixed too. Sleeping with him means actual sleep, something I've been missing out on. This could fix so many problems.
"Okay," I reply.
"One more thing," he says. Before I can even react, he curls his arm around my back and pulls me up against him. His other hand on my throat making me look at him. "I want you to stay away from everyone at school. You don't talk to anyone you don't have to and you stay with us throughout the whole day. The school, the cafe, the house and the gym are the only places you're allowed to be. Is that clear?"
"I've been stuck with the three of you for the past two months, I think having some friends isn't going to kill anyone."
"No, Summer. You don't have a choice in this matter. You think having some normal friends will keep you grounded and maybe it will, but we have enemies everywhere. They pick out our weaknesses and they will kill the people you love right in front of you. You do not get to ruin the lives of others just because yours has been ruined."
"By you, Kai. My life has been ruined by you," tears fall from the ends of my eyes. I pull his hand off my throat to look down, helplessly trying to avoid his heartless eyes. He's right, I don't get to ruin the lives of others just because mine has been ruined. Jayce doesn't need a person like me in his life.
Kai steps back and I feel like I can finally breathe. I wipe away my tears.
"Tomorrow Kai, because today, I'm going to drink myself to sleep."
Not wasting time, I make my way up to my room. Grabbing extra clothes, I take them to the bathroom. Feeling pain in my lower back, I groan at the thought of getting my period. I check, and my thoughts become reality.
Well, this explains a lot.
I strip out of my clothes and draw myself a steaming hot shower.
The past few days have been too long to even process. Everything's been such a blur with the past and the future colliding. I need to get my head back in the game.
Chapter 29
"Come on, you can do better than that," Cole pushes me with
his arrogant choice of words.
"We both know I can, but do you really want me to do better?"
"Do it," he says. I smile and start throwing my fists his way. He dodges them easily, but he doesn't realize that he's about to back up into a wall. Taking him off guard, I lift my leg and kick him. He grunts loudly as his back slams against the concrete wall.
Before he can fall to the ground, his chest meets my knee blowing out all the air in his lungs. Cole, lying on the floor without a single threatening move detectable, I take three steps back.
I can see his chest inflating and then deflating. My body spins around to watch Alec walk up to me with a proud smile on his face and his hands meeting to applaud my success.
"You did amazing," Alec compliments.
"Thanks," I breathe out. I wipe away the sweat dripping from my forehead as I watch Alec help Cole up.
"You did great, Summer," Cole says.
"I know, I did," I dully reply. "You might wanna check your ego, I think you left it at the place you disappear off to every day."
"Alec, can we have a minute?" Cole asks. Alec respectfully nods before heading out the main doors.
"I know I haven't been the best to you ever since you've been here, but-"
"Best? It's the end of January Cole. And the last proper conversation I remember having with you, is when you slammed me into a wall. Every time I try to reach out to you, all I get is a mute person staring back at me like I just asked some sort of question that only Albert Einstein would know the answer to."
"Some questions don't have answers, Summer."
"I asked you what you've been up to. I don't even know why I'm so keen on getting you to open up to me. I've been trying so hard to forget what all of you have done to me, but when you don't respond, I have to tell myself that it's better that way by remembering what you did to me. Unfortunately, that's not true. It's getting on my nerves because I don't know what I did, to make you act this way towards me. All I can recall is you hurting me over and over and over again."
"Summer, it's not a big deal. I had a lot on my mind back then and everything's been sorted out. You can't deny that I've been trying to make it up to you for the past couple of days. After seeing the things we've accomplished, since the day you've joined, I learned that Kai made the right decision. I'm glad you're on our team, Summer, I really am. Ever since your second mission, Kai's been so much more focused and on his game. I've never seen our team work so well in under such a small period of time."
"What I want, is to be appreciated for who I am. Not for my skills or my accomplishments. The day you know my real worth, is the day we'll be okay. Since you started this, it's up to you to end it, Cole," I take my bag off the bench and pull the strap over my shoulder walking into the change room.
Three months have passed. My mind really can't process all the things that have happened. I've been going on tons of missions and Alec and I have grown to each other. Ever since Kai gave me a phone, Alec and I literally go on Pokemon hunts after every workout session. This game is so addicting there are no words to describe it. I'm only on level six and Alec's on level ten, it's so unfair. He won't even let me catch up to him.
Kai, on the other hand, has been slightly more open with me. Because of him, I got my sleep back. To say the least, it's awkward sleeping with a person who walks into your room - shirtless at two am every night and tells you that it's time for bed. We don't say a word to each other, ever. It's like we already know what the other person is feeling. I've had my fair share of feeling down and every time I am, Kai knows because he knows what makes me feel better. All he has to do is hug me from behind when sleeping, take my hand in his and rub circles using his thumb on the back of my hand. That calms my nerves and I fall into a peaceful sleep.
When we don't have missions, Kai vanishes into his room around ten pm and stays in there until two am. I've noticed that every single night he stays in his room, he then comes to mine with his hands always tainted in different colors. I'm always curious to ask him why he has colour on his hands, but I never do. It's clear he's painting a picture or more than one, who knows. Painting is the one thing that calms him and I don't want him to feel any less about his talent. I don't want to intrude and ruin something that might turn out to impress millions.
When I'm done showering, I slip on a sweater and sweats. I check my phone and open a message from Jayce.
Jayce
I just found my sister crying in her room, what should I do?
Summer
Shit, try bribing her with candy.
Jayce
I tried, but it didn't work. I think it's because of that dick my sister likes. He probably said something to her.
Summer
Shut up, Jayce. Just be patient with your sister. Even if it is the guys' fault, don't go after him. Make your sister understand that she deserves someone way better than him.
Jayce
My sister's crying over here and you want me to let him go?!
Summer
Yes, you're not a bully. I don't become friends with bullies.
Jayce
Fine.
Summer
Stop acting like a girl and tell me how your game went last night.
Jayce
Fine, can't even stay mad at that cute little pout of yours. I can literally see you doing it right now.
Summer
I think I should get some security, I've befriended a stalker. You know me too well, Jayce Bailey.
Jayce
I don't entirely agree with that, but our game was great. Guess who got the winning touchdown?
Summer
The guy with the really big muscles... Steven, right? I'm probably right. He's so built and his abs are like... damn.
I tease with a smile on my face. It's so easy to make him feel jealous.
Jayce
He doesn't have abs. Freaking all steroids. I've never even seen the dude at the gym. I'm there every day. And no, you're wrong. You're talking to the person right now.
"Haha," I quietly laugh.
Summer
Oh, Alec? He plays football? I didn't know.
Jayce
Ugh! You're so annoying.
Summer
Calm your shit, JAYCIEEEE! I was kidding (": you really think I don't know who the best player on the team is?
Jayce
You can't really say I'm the best, you've never actually seen me play.
Summer
I don't have to. You know life's complicated with Kai.
Jayce
I know. I really want you to get out of it.
Summer
Me too. Hey, I'll talk to you later. I have to go, Alec's waiting for me.
Jayce
Stay safe, little girl.
Summer
Who you calling little, small guy?
Jayce
Who you calling small, huh?
Summer
The thing in between your legs.
Jayce
Said no girl, ever.
Summer
Okay, small guy, keep dreaming. I gtg.
Jayce
It's not over, you've offended Jayce junior.
Summer
Boo hoo, poor thing(": I REALLY HAVE TO GO NOW BYEEE!
Jayce
Stay safe. x
Summer
I'll put in my best efforts. x
I close my phone and put it in my pocket. Grabbing my bag, I head out.
"You take forever," Alec complains once I take my seat at the back of the car.
"Aww, Alec had to wait in the car for an extra five minutes. Cry me a river," sarcasm lingering my fake baby voice.
"Look at that, the real Summer White ladies and gentlemen. A baby hidden under the body of a seventeen-year-old girl," Alec eyes me through the rear-view mirror.
"You wanna go that way? Hey Cole, have you ever seen Alec cry for mercy before?"
"Don't you dare," Alec threatens. I bring out my
phone and unlock the screen.
Pretending to go through my camera roll, I reply, "I haven't heard an apology so..."
"I'm sorry," Alec mumbles.
"Excuse me?"
"I'm sorry!" Alec groans loudly.
"Come on, you're not in kindergarten. How does a full apology sound like Alec?"
"I'm sorry for calling you a baby, Summer."
"Now that wasn't that hard, now was it?" Alec rolls his eyes and starts the car.
Four months haven't been as horrible as I had imagined it to be. The one thing that I've been thankful for is Jayce. When Kai warned me not to be friends with Jayce, I decided that he was right. But when we started going to school, Jayce was persistent on getting me to talk. So one day, when Kai had to leave school and I had class with Jayce, I told him that we couldn't be friends. I told him that I'm a part of Kai's gang and that things are more complicated than anyone can see. He tried convincing me that he's okay with it because I don't want to be in this life and that he'll help me get out of it. I told him that I'm not willing to risk his life for the sake of mine. Eventually, he gave up by giving me his number. He told me to call him when I change my mind.
At that time, I thought it was pretty funny considering that I didn't even have a phone, but when I got one, I had the desire to talk to Jayce. Without even realizing my actions, I texted him and we started talking. I told him that no one could know that we talk to each other and we started getting close.
...♛...
Watching a couple of servants carrying luggage to a van parked out front, I walk inside the house and find Kai on his phone.
"Do you know what's happening?" I follow Cole and Alec into the kitchen.
"Nope," Cole says pulling out an apple from the fridge and taking a bite.
"I don't either," Alec puts his hands up in surrender before starting to make himself a protein shake. I take a seat on the dining table. I drop my bag on the ground next to me and put my head in my hands.
I hate it when Kai plans something without letting us know.
"What's with the luggage, man?" I look at the direction at which Cole faced when asking the question. Kai walks in from the door and stands at the edge of the kitchen island. His eyebrows knit in confusion.