Flawed Choices: A Bully Romance

by J. L. Ostle

  “Lucille,” Lucas says louder.

  “I bet you know how to please women. Would you be able to please me?” I glide my hands down my body. “The way you three look at me at times, the way you touch me, it’s like you burn me, but in a good way.”

  Elijah takes a step forward but Axel extends his arm out, stopping him. “I want to hear what else she has to say.” Axel smiles, crossing his arms. “I kinda like this side of her. Look at her smiling, she looks even more beautiful.”

  “I’m not beautiful,” I tell him. “I’m not ugly but I’m not like those girls you probably fuck.”

  “Lucille, don’t say fuck.” Elijah groans, rubbing his eyes. “Why don’t you sleep this off before you regret anything in the morning?”

  I bite my lip. “Don’t you like me saying fuck?” My voice softer. “Do you want to fuck me? Do you want to taste me? Feel our naked bodies close together? Imagine you entering me, filling me, stretching me…” I don’t know why I’m saying all this. I’m just enjoying the tortured look on their faces. I’m enjoying teasing them.

  “Stop!” Lucas roars.

  His eyes have gone dark. My hands reach the hem of my dress. I lift it, taking it over my body and showing my matching red lace underwear. “Do you still think I’m beautiful?”

  “Fuck,” Elijah and Axel say in unison. Lucas doesn’t say a word, but his hands are fisted to hid sides.

  “I feel so hot.” My fingers stroke the top of my breasts.

  “That’s it.” Lucas stomps over, lifting me off the ground, putting me over his shoulder and walking me to my room. He pulls back the covers and places me down. “You sleep it off.”

  I pout. “I’m not tired though. Want to keep me company until I fall asleep?” I go onto my knees, looking up at him, my hands on his chest. “God, I bet your body looks amazing. Lickable.” I glide my hands further up, kneeling up higher. “You feel so good.”

  He takes hold of my hands. “Lucille, you need to sleep.”

  I lay back down. “You’re no fun,” I whine a little.

  I watch him place the covers over me, tucking me in. He looks down at me before shaking his head, walking out my bedroom door. I hear them talking but it’s faint. I start to yawn and then my eyes start to feel heavy. Really heavy.

  I’m not ready to fall asleep but my body has other ideas and then I am passed out.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  I wake up, my head banging, my body achy. I sit up and groan from the massive headache I have. It’s like someone is banging my head against a wall. I groan into my hands. I don’t have time to think about anything when this nauseating feeling washes over me. I run to my bathroom, throwing up last night’s contents.

  I stay there for five minutes until my stomach is completely empty. I press my head against the cold toilet seat, not caring about the germs. On shaky legs, I brush my teeth and wash my face. I look up at my reflection to see my hair still pinned to the side, but it looks a mess.

  I fall back down onto my bed. When I look to my bedside table I see a glass of water with some painkillers. Did I place them there last night? I crawl over, grabbing them. Once I swallow, everything from last night flashes before my eyes.

  No, no, no.

  What did I do?

  I am in no state to stand up long enough to have a shower, so I get into some fresh underwear, but I decide against wearing a bra. I put on my pj shorts with a very long t-shirt that reaches my knees.

  My feet scuffle across the floor, walking into the living area, when I freeze. Lucas is asleep on my couch while Elijah and Axel are on the floor with my spare pillows and blankets.

  They stayed over?

  I can’t remember them saying they were going to stay but a few things do seem a little blurry. I continue my walk over and grumble when I see they are awake. I fall down onto Lucas’s feet, him groaning by the impact. If I have to be in agony so do they. . He sits up, looking at me. I see he’s trying not to smile.

  I groan into my hands again.

  “Morning, little one. Sleep well?” he teases me.

  “Urgh, don’t be so loud and wipe that smile away. It’s worse than this hangover.”

  “I doubt that.” He sits straighter. I yelp when I feel him pulling me towards him. He places his blanket over us both and lets me rest my head on his shoulder. “How are you feeling?”

  “Like I’m dying. I can’t believe I drank so much. I told you parties didn’t agree with me.”

  “I think it’s all that alcohol that didn’t agree with you.” Elijah laughs, sitting up. I poke my tongue out at him. “Easy, little one. You did ask last night if we wanted to taste you.”

  I groan again. Hole open up and suck me in now. “Can we forget all about what I said last night? I don’t even know why I said it. It’s like I was a different person. I had an out-of-body experience.”

  I hear chuckling on the floor to where Axel is lying. “Well, I like that person. I wouldn’t mind seeing that side of you more often. You were funny, playful, and fucking hot. I was ready to explode right there and then. The talk about foursomes. Someone is a little greedy. Do think you could take all three of us on?”

  “Axel, you hate me.” I hide my face.

  “On the contrary. I think I like you even more.” I look at him and he is sitting up, smirking at me, waggling his eyebrow.

  I pull Lucas’ arm, hugging it like a teddy bear. “Well, last night wasn’t me. You are still assholes.”

  Even though they stayed to make sure you were okay.

  “Assholes you enjoy kissing. So, you’ve kissed all of us?” Elijah asks. “Now that I’m surprised about as none of us said a word.”

  My eyes widen. They never told each other about our little moments? I wish I woke up alone. All this is hurting my brain. “Why didn’t you tell each other? I thought you would be bragging that I let my guard down and let you in for those tiny moments.”

  Everyone turns silent.

  “I guess we didn’t want to say that we let you in. That we caved and got closer to you,” Elijah answers.

  I stand up; my tummy is empty and I need breakfast. My whole body feels so weak.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Lucas asks.

  “I’m going to make food because I’m starving and I want to get away from the awkwardness.” I am close to the fridge when I’m lifted. “I have got feet, you know?”

  I’m being placed back on the couch.

  Lucas pulls me back into his side. “We ordered breakfast when we heard you throwing up everything you drank. We knew you needed a bit of TLC.”

  I grunt. “You heard me? That is so embarrassing.” If I knew they were here, I would have closed the bathroom door. “I swear this is a new form of punishment.”

  They all laugh. “We’ve been there,” Elijah tries to reassure me. “One time I threw up in this girl’s bathtub. I was still drunk. I brushed my teeth using her toothbrush, fucked her and left. With my spew still in her tub.”

  I scrunch up my face. “That is just gross, and you are a dick. You make me forget what dicks you are and then boom, you go all dickish.”

  They all burst out laughing. “I told you she made up words.” Elijah lies back down. “Lucas, do you think Nathan and Stuart have left?”

  Lucas grabs his phone. He presses a few buttons. “Yeah, Nathan left with some girl from the party and Stuart seems to have left with a guy.”

  “Interesting,” Axel says.

  There is a knock on the door. Elijah jumps up, and I notice he is just in his boxers. He answers, paying for our food, and brings it over to us before sitting back down, placing the blanket over him. Lucas is in just a t-shirt but it hugs him nicely, his pants still on. Axel is also shirtless. I wonder if he’s just in his boxers too. I shake my head, not wanting to know. I shouldn’t be thinking about that either.

  “I think you have a little bit of drool right there.” Lucas nudges me, pointing to the corner of his mouth.

  I nudge him
back. “I don’t know what you mean.” I feel myself blushing.

  “What’s going on?” Elijah asks, as he and Axel pass out the food containers.

  “Our girl was checking you out,” Lucas says over a cup of hot coffee.

  “You’re lucky you’re feeding me or I would knock that coffee all over you.” I give him a look and he just winks at me.

  Elijah glides his hand down his hard-toned chest to his abs. “I’m feeling a little hot.” He smiles. “Remind you of anyone from last night?” All the guys laugh. I throw a bit of toast at each of them. I try and keep my eyes away as his body does look really good.

  We stay like that for the rest of the day. Well, I make all three of them go get dressed. They tell me they will be back. In that time, I use the little energy I have to take a quick shower.

  I still feel warm so I decide on my leggings and tank. When I return, they are in lounge pants and t-shirts. I notice they have had showers also, from their wet hair. We decide to watch Netflix.

  They hardly talk, just sit and watch TV. Lucas and I stay on the couch while the other two lean back on the couch, sitting on the pillows to stay comfy. Elijah takes a look through my DVD collection a few hours later after we decide on ordering a pizza. He chooses Nightmare on Elm Street.

  We are twenty minutes into the film and Elijah hits my leg. I look down and find him looking at me weirdly. His head coked to the side, his eyes squinted a little “You keep grinning. It’s freaking me out. Girls are meant to hide behind a pillow, not smile when a dream guy mutilates people.”

  I’m saved with coming up with a reply when there is a knock on the door. I jump up first, pushing Axel so he lands on top of Elijah and I hear groaning and moaning. I’m still smiling until I open the door and a guy is standing there, holding a bucket. He is wearing a black mask. My eyes widen when he throws whatever is inside onto me. I look down to see red.

  Red paint.

  I don’t have time to fully react. I can feel the liquid dripping down me. The guys stand up. I hear footsteps running after who did this. I can’t believe I have been paint bombed again.

  But this feels thicker. I try and wipe my eyes when Axel hands me a towel. I wipe my face, looking down at myself. Some went into my mouth; I know it’s not paint. I run to the bathroom, throwing up once again.

  I feel my back being rubbed. Tears are flowing down my cheeks. I try and suck them up. I don’t want them to see me cry. I don’t even know why I’m crying. When there is nothing left, I’m lifted and cradled into someone’s arms.

  “Shhh, it’s okay. We’re going to find out who did this,” Lucas tells me.

  “It’s pigs’ blood isn’t it?” Elijah says with an angry voice.

  “They ran into a car I don’t recognize.” Axel comes in huffing and puffing. “Lucille, are you okay?”

  I shake my head. “Why do this?” I remember feeling like Carrie when they put paint on me, but actual pigs’ blood? “What if it wasn’t me who answered?” But he waited until he saw who answered first before throwing it on me.

  “They must have thought it would be just you here. Lucille, we will find out who did this and we will sort it out.” Elijah crouches down, taking my hand.

  I stand up, pushing them all away. I step back so I’m facing them, trying to harden myself. Today, I have let my guard down. What did I think would happen tomorrow? Things would be the same. They will be their normal selves, treating people like dirt, expecting me to stay at their side. Yeah, I am learning to tolerate them, but they can’t change who they are.

  Like I can’t change who I am.

  “I know it must be Kimberly who did this. She wanted to me to pay. She said so herself. I know you won’t punish her. She is one of you and I’m not. I’m just there to save face. I think you should leave. I just want to wash this off me and go to bed.” I cross my arms.

  “Lucille…” Lucas begins.

  I raise my hand, stopping him. “Please just go.” I turn away. I can’t look at them. I feel vulnerable and weak. I can’t let them see that.

  I hear them leave, and when the front door shuts, I kneel down, my hands palming the floor. It looks like a massacre happened in here. I have a very long shower, never feeling clean.

  It takes me an hour before I’ve cleaned up everything. I climb into bed, exhausted. My stomach starts to grumble, but I will deal with it tomorrow. I am not in the mood for food.

  I still feel ill. This hangover has dragged out all day.

  I hug one of my pillows to me then I close my eyes, hoping it doesn’t take long for me to sleep.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  When my alarm goes off, I wake up with heavy eyes. I really don’t want to go to school today but it is just my second week. I have a message from Aisha telling me she is feeling much better and that she will be in today and to meet her in the parking lot.

  I’m happy I have her at my side again.

  I just feel defeated.

  Maybe I’m catching what she had.

  I have no energy to fight anyone today. I’m just going to go through the motions. When I’m ready and I’ve had a filling breakfast which I had to force down me, I walk down the stairs, not caring if I bump into them. They can walk with me or not.

  Right now, I don’t care.

  When I reach campus, I start to feel a little lightheaded. Maybe I should have forced some food in me last night but I ate quite a bit this morning to make up for it.

  I see Aisha standing near her car, waving at me, and I walk towards her when things start to blur. I shake my head, blinking a few times to put things into focus. I hear her call out my name. My body starts to feel light. I hear her call out the guys’ names before darkness takes over and I’m gone.

  My head is banging, my mouth dry. I open my eyes, feeling like I just dreamt before but I hear beeping next to me. I have to blink a few times to adjust to the light. I feel my hand being taken, and I turn to see Aisha standing there with sad eyes but she gives me a warm smile. “You almost gave me a heart attack. Not really the welcome back I was expecting.”

  I look around to see I’m in a hospital bed. “What happened?”

  “You passed out. We couldn’t wake you. You’re in the hospital.”

  I groan. “Is there something wrong?”

  She looks behind her then back to me. “They won’t say as we aren’t family.”

  “We.”

  “Yeah, me and the guys. They didn’t want to wait for an ambulance. Lucas lifted you and we all drove here. I have never seen them like that before. They were yelling at doctors and nurses for information. You really have gotten under their skin.”

  I turn my face away. “Well, it doesn’t change things. They probably only took me here to show they care for their own.” I air quote their own. “Can you get me a doctor? I want to know what happened.”

  She presses the call button, and five minutes later, a doctor walks in with a clipboard. He is an oldish man. He reminds me of my grandfather, with thick white hair and kind blue eyes. He smiles when he sees me. “Welcome back. It seems you gave your friends a good scare.” He walks over, checking the machines and noting things down.

  “I passed out?”

  He nods. “Do you or ever have you taken drugs?”

  Whoa, where did that come from? I shake my head quickly. “Never. I don’t touch that stuff. Why?”

  “It seems you had some ecstasy in your blood, as well as some toxins that are found in animals. With that combination, as well as being dehydrated, it made your body weak.”

  “I had ecstasy in me?”

  I look to Aisha who is looking as shocked as I am. “Have you been anywhere different, any place that could have had them?”

  The party. “I was at a college party on Saturday night. I was drinking and I guess someone could have put it in my drink then.”

  “And were there animals at this party? Please don’t tell me it was one of those parties?” I know he is trying to lighten things up, but I fee
l sick to my stomach.

  I clear my throat. “Someone threw pigs’ blood on me as some sort of prank last night.”

  “Well, that explains it. We have given you some antibiotics to wash out any toxins that may still be in your system and a drip to hydrate you.”

  “When can I go home?”

  He chuckles. “In about an hour, I would say. I will be back then with the discharge papers.”

  I thank him, and once he’s gone, I punch the sides of my bed. I was drugged at the party. I knew I felt hot for a reason. Someone put something in my drink.

  How could I be so stupid?

  Aisha takes hold of my hand. “It's not your fault. I can’t believe someone threw blood on you. That’s just messed up.”

  “Yeah. I think it was Kimberly who did it. The blood thing, not the drug thing. Maybe she did do both but I don’t remember seeing her at the party. We had a big bust-up on Friday night and she said she would make me pay. I guess she showed me.”

  “Well, if she didn’t drug you, who else could have?”

  “Drugged?” Lucas walks in. He is holding some flowers, Axel has a small teddy bear saying get well soon on the jumper, and Elijah has a couple of balloons. “You were drugged?” Lucas takes the seat opposite Aisha.

  “Yeah. I had ecstasy in my blood,” I tell them.

  “Motherfucker.” Axel crosses his arms. “It was that Nathan guy, wasn’t it? He was with her most of the night. It had to be him.”

  I shrug. “I am not putting the blame onto people.” Because my gut is telling me it was Kimberly. “I’m the stupid one. Because I didn’t want to be there I got myself into a state where I wasn’t being careful. A girl with a tray passed me a drink saying it was for me and I took it and downed it. I didn’t ask who it was from. I didn’t say no. I took it. It was my fucking fault.” My voice gets higher. I can't even remember what the girl looked like so I could find and ask her.

  “You weren’t to know,” Aisha tries to comfort me.