Stuck between two bad boys

Mom wasn’t home by the time Xavier and I arrived. My face was still full of frowns and I was heaving in anger.

“Hi Dad,” I said without waiting for a response. I walked in straight to the room and slammed the door behind me. I heard Xavier’s voice shortly after, Dad was asking him if I was fine and if school went okay. Guess what he said?

“School went fine and yeah, she’s fine. Should be her period mood swing or something. ”Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

This boy was getting on my nerves and I could explode just thinking of everything he had done. I undressed and changed into a big polo. I found it in my bag and decided to put it on. Mom wasn’t back from wherever she went and I wanted to borrow her gloss. Not for today but tomorrow, I may need a gloss just in case I bumped into a guy again.

The day went fast right from school and before I knew it, it was nightfall.

“Mom, hi.”

She walked in when I was turning some fried eggs into a plate. I was starving and the pizza I had when I got back didn’t do anything. “Emily, how was school?”

“Fine,” I replied, leaving out details of how I got ridiculed in a class by Gabby and her girls. I also left out the details of Xavier trying to get us killed by driving like he was insane.

“Good to know.”

She looked a little worried or was it stress? I can’t say exactly cause I had no idea what was having her all worked up. After dinner, I returned to my room and just sat on my bed to hasten digestion. Two hours had gone and I was still unable to fall asleep. I also forgot to ask mom for the lip gloss because I got caught up with wondering what got her worried.

I hurled my phone to the side and just stared at my notebook. I had some assignments to do but I didn’t have so much energy.

My phone buzzed and I ignored the call. Whoever it was could wait till the next morning since it was 10 pm already. I continued writing on the note, flipping through pages and biting my pencil. I was sure If I counted properly, the phone had buzzed four times already. I turned to the other side of the bed and stretched my hands to pick up the phone. It was James calling.

“Why’s he calling me this late?” I asked referring to no one.

I contemplated picking up the call and shouting at him to leave me the fuck alone but I decided against it. Maybe I should hear what he had to say, just this once.

I picked up the call, “Yeah?”

“Emily?” he called. “Sorry, I’m ringing your phone at this time of the night.”

“Sure. What can I do for you?” it took all the politeness in the world for me to sound like that.

“I just wanted to see you, to have a little chat. Can we see?”

“Huh?” I replied, yet to understand why he’d call me this late to ask me to meet up with him. “Right now?”

“Yes, right now. I’m outside your house.”

“That’s impossible, I can’t come out.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s late and I can’t get out without being caught. Why don’t you ask my parents to let you in if you must talk to me right now?”

“No no, that’s not a good idea. Your mom believes you hate me and asked me to give you some space but I know you don’t hate me, Emilia. Hate is such a strong word and you’re just mad at me.”

He has absolutely no idea. I hated him actually, it was a strong word to him but not to me. I used to think my mom was the bad partner and the one who made James go away. I hated her for making my Dad leave and blamed her for being unable to keep a man. I was wrong, so so wrong after meeting my stepdad.

I realized my mom wasn’t the problem, she couldn’t keep a man who didn’t want to stay. She was there and James just did whatever he did. I was 9 when he left and would cry myself to sleep asking when he’d come back. I hated having to come back to his empty room and even threatened to run away if he didn’t come back. I was so young and it was the last time I saw him, well up until he showed his face recently.

“I can’t come outside, the doors are all locked,” I replied.

“I can help you sneak out through the back door Emily, just give me one chance to have a moment with you. It won’t take long I promise.”

I stayed silent for a while and thought of giving him that chance. Not a good chance thought, I just want to break it down to him how useless he had been in my life, and doing it alone might not get me grounded.

“Okay,” I replied.

“Thank you so much, Emily, this means a lot.”

With that, the call disconnected and I stood for a second wondering if I should trust him. I was going to get in a lot of trouble if mom caught me because James said she asked him to give me some space.

I turned to my wardrobe and picked out a black hoodie from the hanger. I wore it and packed my hair. I shoved my phone in my pockets and picked up a torch light from Xavier’s table. I could borrow his torch for some minutes, I needed to have a torch.

Xavier was in the sitting room seeing a movie, I was going to take the back door so he doesn’t see me and ask questions. The moment I got out of the room all dressed, I was met with a shadow. It was Xavier’s.

“What the hell is he doing here?” I scoffed.

He took steps forward and looked at me. Anyone who saw me would know I was up to something with the way I was dressed.

“Where are you going to?”

I paused, I had to tell him the truth in case I didn’t come back early as expected.

“James.”

“James?” he asked. He needed an explanation and not just a name.”

“James asked me to come outside, he wants to have a chat with me?”

“By this time?” I gave a nod.

“Why didn’t he come in?”

“He says mom asked him to give me some space.”

“That’s crazy. Do you want to see him?

“Maybe.”

“I’ll follow you.”

That was so chill but I have to admit I loved that he wanted to.

I picked up my phone and called James to inform him I was coming with Xavier.

“Hey,” I said.

“Emily, are you there?”

“I’m coming with Xavier.”

He took a second and then replied, “Don’t bother if you’re coming with anyone.”