Enemies

by Tijan

She noticed, her eyes crinkling. “Not one for parties?” “Not one for people who don’t want me here.”

I’m good for the rent and I already paid Char for the first month’s rent.” Her mouth clamped shut and her cheeks got red. Oh no. “Tell me she forwarded that to you guys?” “She didn’t. No.”

He loathed me more than I hated him, and that said a lot.

“Stone is such a sweet boy.” He was an arrogant prick.

Call tonight. Let us know how Stone is when you see him.” I wouldn’t do any of that,

Shes funny

My roommate was a liar.

Lmfao

Stepping outside, on the third ring I answered as I shut the door behind me. “Hello?” “Your stepmom has been harassing my mom.” A low, gravelly voice greeted me.

He’d been blacklisted by Stone’s dad. Why? We had no idea.

oooh grocery store drama

I didn’t like that I’d done that. I showed a side of myself I didn’t like to expose.

She kinda a baddie

Who cared about rejection? That stuff was never remembered. But not living, that was remembered till someone’s death bed.

“Your parents were in an accident.”

There’s a pocket in your mind where you go when you feel unsafe, where you can’t handle whatever is happening in real life, and you lock yourself in there because you feel protected. Self-preservation. I was there, but I wasn’t completely there.

I couldn’t handle what was happening and I was going numb.

“I know you’re probably in a lot of pain, but we’ll get you handled and taken care of real quick.”

Wtf is happening?

“She doesn’t usually drink or do drugs. She hates not feeling clearheaded.”

“You backed up and a moving truck hit you. Your car was totaled. The truck just had scrapes. I’ve taken care of that, though.”

“She’ll stay with me. I’ll drive her there.” I opened my mouth to argue, but no sound came out as Stone sent me a withering look. “All your shit’s already been moved.” Well. That shut me up.

“I don’t give a fuck. You want to know about the costs? There are none. Wanna know why?” His chest was rising up and down, his eyes almost going wild. “Because I fucking paid for everything. Hospital, too. No. Not my parents. No, not your aunt. And goddammit, no way in hell, not you. Because after you lit all that shit up for me about what happened, I did my own digging and found out what my father did to yours. And I’m sorry, okay?!” He was almost shouting.

That was my attitude. Whatever to them. Fuck ’em.

Mia snapped in a huff, “I’m calling 911 again. This bitch’s death is not going to be on our hands.”

“How many fingers do you see?” He was holding up three. I said, “Four.” I was lying. Instant concern filled his gaze. A deep, aggravated sigh left Stone again. “She’s fucking with you. She used to do the same thing when she skinned her knee as a kid. Her mom played along and it drove her dad nuts.”

“I need you to hate me.” “I will.” He sank down on a chair in the corner, toeing the curtains out of the way so he could see outside his window, and there he held me. “Tomorrow we can go back to hating each other.” I hiccupped on a sob. “Deal.”

“Sorry. I’m a bit bitchy.” He hid a grin. “That a new development or…?” “Fuck off.”

I started for the guest area, but he caught the back of my jeans. “You’re good. You look hot anyway.” He nodded for the back door. “Let’s go. I told my coach I’d be there by now. I know he’s waiting.” Stone thought I was hot. What. The. Hell.

“You weren’t this thin when I left. What happened?”

“I care. Fucking hell. I care, okay? I wouldn’t be doing any of this shit if I didn’t still care about you. Those people didn’t give a fuck about you, except the one girl. Not a goddamn one of them, and you’re asking me to look away from that? I can’t. Me being a guy and caring about a girl, I can’t do that. It’s not how I was raised.”

“I would give you up in a heartbeat to get them back.” Still, he remained silent. A beat. Then, “So would I.” Oh. Damn. Damn!

This was the kind of boredom that was verging on panic because I needed something to do or I was going to lose it.

Did everyone I love have to be taken from me?

I didn’t need anything. I didn’t need anyone.

“Dusty?” My lungs were rattling. He cursed. “Where are you?” They were seizing again. I pushed out, it sounded as a wheeze, “Library.” “I’m at a team thing, but I can be there in thirty. Hold on, okay?”

30 min? Too slow

He was apologizing. He was saving me, and he was the one apologizing. I was such an asshole.

After hearing what my family did to yours, that made me see red.

“Handled shit?” “Handled. And yeah, there’s bruises on my dad’s face and I don’t give a fuck how long they’re there for. I’d do it all over again.

That night, I was happy. I was actually happy. Then the smile wiped from my face.

“This between us.” He motioned from my vagina to his dick. “It ain’t normal. You know that, right?” He moved farther back, leaning against a counter opposite me. “I had a girlfriend in college. A full year. I never felt this shit for her that I feel for you.”

I was okay now. Now. Maybe not tomorrow, the day after, but now. Right now, I could stand. I was here.

“Dusty’s our housemate. We’ve gotten a little protective of her. Nice to meet you.”

Awww stop this is so sweet

“I’d give you a hug, but I think Reeves would rip my arm off.”

Barbara Reeves stepped through the door.

It was the type of smile she reserved for us, for the ‘less thans.’ I was the help and I was beneath her, but I’d always been beneath her.

The guys especially brought over extra ingredients for me, and if they saw me heading to the basement empty-handed, they’d signal. A full plate would be put in my hands.

The second I looked up, recognition flared over his face and he took a step backwards. “Holy fuck! Dusty?” He was looking me up and down, taking in my blue hair. Shock was soon replaced with concern. His eyebrows pulled together, and his face softened. “You’ve lost weight.”

“You know I can’t keep quiet about this.” He frowned, taking me in again, and regret flaring a second. “I’m sorry, but I’d want to know if it was my girl.”

He was here because he cared, just not enough.

I had to hate him. Maybe it’s why I hated him all those years before, because I had to, because if I didn’t there was just the vast hole of his rejection.

If he wasn’t all in, then he was all out, and I was going to fucking shove him all the way out. I was going to make him hate me.

I was lying. I didn’t care.

I read the article and his name was given. The details of everything was there. The history. The attack. The stalking. That he wasn’t in prison anymore. What?! He wasn’t?

“I left you before. I gave you space. I’m done with that. Fuck whatever you think. Just fuck it. Fuck this enemies shit between us. That’s done. Got it? I’m not walking, not again. I can’t—”