by G. Bailey
"Hey, Elliot it’s me, Lily. I have a box of your things you left at mine to return. Can I see you tomorrow? At the same cafe we met at?" she asks straight away. I don’t really remember leaving much stuff but I don’t want whatever it is anyway.
"I don't think that's a good idea. Lily, I have to go," I say, as Allie watches me with a dark face as she sits up on the bed. I end the call as Allie moves to stand in front of me, with her arms crossed.
"Why is Lily calling you? Why is she calling you at nine at night?" She asks looking pissed off.
"She wanted to return something. I don't know what it is or care. We talked the other day and I thought we sorted things out, she didn’t mention anything then," I say the last part more to myself and Allie looks even more pissed, which I don't understand.
"Why didn't you tell me you've been seeing her?" Allie says and doesn’t wait for my answer as she says,
“I saw her, too and I told you she had been a bitch. She told me she had every intention of going after you again and now you’ve been meeting up with her?” she says quickly.
"It was only once and I didn't think I had to tell you everywhere I go, Allie. Lily is just messed up, mainly by me but she isn't a bitch," I say defending her but I'm not sure why but it's too late, once I've said it.
"It was always her, she said that. She said you would go back to her once you got me out your system but I honestly believed you cared. Was this all to get back at my father? Fuck his daughter and break her heart?” She asks.
“I have to go," she says walking out the bedroom with me following.
"Allie, it was never like that between us. I love you," I say.
"If you loved me you would have chosen me. You didn't, and I can't believe I let you get close to me,"
"I was an idiot back then. Allie, you know how sorry I am about then but I do love you. The question is if you love me too," I say and she stops in the empty doorway.
She turns to me breaking my heart when I see the tears.
"I always did! I always loved you but you ruined what we could have had. I hate Lily because she got you for years and I had to watch. I finally thought I had you and, no, she is still around." Allie shouts before looking down at the ground.
"It's a risk seeing you. A game I can’t play with you, not if you are still talking to her. Still defending her."
"What are you saying?" I ask with my heart pounding against my chest.
"Goodbye, Elliot," she whispers before shutting the door behind her and I slam my fist through the wall behind me.
"Fuck," I shout sliding down on my ass to the floor, as my blood drips from my hand in front of me.
I have to fix this but I have no idea how. Allie’s hurt and her haunted face will destroy me if I don't.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Allie
"Oh god," I moan as my head spins as I sit up my bed. The room blurs for a second before I wipe my eyes. My hands come away a little black. I must have of gone to sleep with my make-up on, too.
"God isn't going to help you or me," A voice mutters next to me, making me jump out my skin before I see Izzy’s face in my bed.
"Izzy, what happened last night?" I ask her.
"Wait, I need the loo. I will be right back," she says hopping out of bed to use my bathroom. I sit up in bed, noticing that I'm wearing one of Elliot’s shirts he left here and just mini shorts. I know I drank a lot last night and I start to think back to yesterday. It hits me hard when I remember my fight with Elliot and then going to the shop and buying Tequila. I remember getting back and drinking in my room but not much else.
"Hey, I brought you a bottle of water from out of your mini fridge," Izzy says and I grab the drink from her as she gets back into bed with me.
"I give you the quick version of what happened. I came back with Blake after a date at around eleven and you were dancing on your bed, hammered. Then you started crying and eventually I got you to go to sleep. That was only a few hours ago, I need more sleep," she yawns.
I can't think straight about last night. What happened with Elliot was a giant fuck up, and most of it was because I’m scared of how much he means to me.
"What caused this? You told me last night that you love Elliot but you don't know why," she says. Holy cows, I haven’t even let myself think about my feelings for Elliot and yet I told Izzy last night.
"We had a fight. He saw Lily without telling me and then everything came out about when we were younger. I knew once the fight was over and I walked out that I overreacted a little. I just couldn’t turn back."
"Oh," Izzy's says taking my hand giving it a small squeeze. I look over her with her messy blonde hair.
"You look like Tinkerbell on crack," I laugh.
"I'd say you look like Cinderella after a long night out but I'm not sure who of us looks worse," she winks clearly letting me know that I look worse. I'm sure I feel worse.
"So, I get he should have told you but it all will come back to this. Can you forgive Elliot and love him? Or can you let him go," she tells me bluntly.
The words run around in my head till I know how stupid I am. I could never let him go, I have never been able to since I met him.
"I love him,"
"I know that, about time you caught up, bestie," Izzy nudges my shoulder with hers.
"I'm an idiot; I pushed him away because I was scared. I don't care about Lily or the past. It's him I want," I say to a grinning Izzy.
"You best be telling him that, he called me a few times last night to check on you," Blake says from my doorway making both me and Izzy jump.
"Holy shit, can you knock?" I say with a frown.
"Sorry, I didn't want to scare you.” He says but the smirk on his face doesn’t look sorry at all.
“Honestly, with your hair looking like that Allie, I'm feeling a little scared," Blake laughs and I hear Izzy chuckle. I can’t look that bad.
"Out, both of you," I shoo the laughing pair out my room before searching for my phone. I find it in my bed but it's flat so I charge it while I have a shower. One look at myself in the mirror shows me how terrible I look. My hair is sticking in every direction, my mascara has run and I must have eaten cheese puffs last night because I find one in my hair. Blake was right, I do look scary.
I change into some skinny jeans and a long-sleeved purple v neck top after my shower. I finishing drying my hair and leaving it down before turning on my phone. I’m surprised to see five phones calls from Tristan and none from Elliot. There's a voice message so I play that before I call Elliot and Tris back.
"Hey Allie, can you come to our old house when you get this." Is all Tris says before it does dead. What the hell was wrong with his voice on the phone? He sounded out of breath and why would he want me at that house again. Deciding it's likely because he lost something there, I call Elliot three times before giving up and sending a simple text.
Me: I'm a big idiot and I'm yours always. Call me x
Not knowing what else to do, I leave for the drive to my old home. I should start calling it my dad’s place, I guess. I pull up around twelve at the house and frowning when I don't see Tris car anywhere.
I slam my door shut, hoping he just needs a lift and let myself in. I walk into the kitchen to see my dad sitting alone at the table drinking a coffee.
"Alexandria, you decided to grace me, with your presence," he sneers, not pretending to be the loving dad I'm used to. He is wearing an expensive suit that I've never seen him in and his grey hair is styled back. The scary blue eyes he has, stare back at me, making me truly scared for the first time around my dad.
"Where's Tris?" I ask looking around.
"Busy and will be for a long time," Dad says and the way he says long makes my skin crawl with worry.
"Sit daughter," he asks but I'm not stupid enough to realise it's not a request. I slide into the seat opposite him, never taking my eyes off him the entire time.
"I don't like my orders being ignored," he states looking ple
ased with himself.
"I don't understand, where's my brother?" I ask again and holding my hands together tightly in a way of reminding myself to hold it together.
"I don't like repeating myself either. Tris is busy and I would be more concerned about explaining this to me. What this is?" He pushes a photo of me and Elliot at his birthday. It's a nice photo of Elliot holding me in his arms and I'm looking up to him. Dad slides another across the table and I'm kissing Elliot in this one.
"I love him," I say in a way of explaining.
"He's a mutt, a fighting dog and nothing more. I warned you. I will see you tomorrow, to discuss this further," Dad says getting up.
"There's nothing to discuss, I'm staying with him, and where the fuck is my brother?" I slam my hand on the table and he smiles at me.
"We will see. I don't think you will like the price of disobeying me," he says and doesn’t answer my question about Tris.
“Like Elliot’s dad didn’t? Elliot told me you killed your best friend. Are you that fucked up that you are going to destroy your daughter’s life?”
“Don’t speak to me like that, Alexandria,” my dad hits me across the face and I stumble back away from him as I hold my cheek.
“You know what, dad? I’ve been slapped better than that by the bitches at my old school,” I say to him with a glare.
“You are so much like your mother, always back chatting me. Do as you are told for once,” He says to me.
My insides feel like glue as I watch him walk out the room.
The front door slamming finally makes me move and pull my phone out.
I quickly call Tris but I know he has him but I'm not sure why I’m trying. Tris is his son, so why would he hurt him?
I try Elliot again with no answer. I know there is only one other person who might be able to help me.
"Harley, my dad has my brother and I can't get hold of Elliot. I'm driving over to his now, can you help me?" I sob the last words so much that I almost miss Harley saying,
"You’re our family now, so yes I’ll help you, I’ll meet you at Elliot's," he says and I can hear him moving around in the background.
"Okay and thank you," I say wiping my tears to collect myself as I put the phone down. I keep telling myself over and over on the way to Elliot's, that Tris is his son so he won't kill him.
I pull up and Harley is outside waiting for me.
"I tried to buzz up but he didn't answer, I have a spare key, hold on," Harley says going back to his car and coming back with another set of keys.
"I have keys to everyone’s homes, just in case," he says smiling at me but I can't smile back while Tris isn't here. I'm a crap sister not realising Tris needed me.
"We will find him, Arthur is a lot of things but I don't think he will kill his only son," Harley says with his mouth in a tight line. I doubt even he believes his comforting words for me.
I nod and start walking up the stairs, Harley follows and goes to unlock Elliot's door but it swings open. I panic going to rush in but Harley grabs my arm pulling me behind him and gestures for me to be quiet by putting a finger against his lips. I follow and gasp when I see Elliot's apartment is trashed. What's worse is there is blood on the floor in the kitchen that I can see from where I am. It looks like a lot.
“Allie, listen to me,” Harley says and grabs my shoulders so I look away from the blood. My heart is pounding so hard in my ears that I just about hear him. I can’t lose Elliot, not him.
"I’m going to check the other rooms but call Luke for me," Harley tells me.
"What about Sebastian?" I say numbly.
"No, Maisy needs him and just no," Harley says I nod in understanding. Harley walks off and I pull my phone out. All my movements are slow and I’m sure I’m in shock.
"Luke, it's Allie," I say.
"I do have your number saved. What's up?" he asks.
"You need to come to Elliot's apartment right now, it's an emergency," I say, not knowing what to tell him on the phone.
I hear female giggling in the background and Luke says,
"Be quiet,"
"I will be right there Allie, you’re not alone are you?" he asks.
"No, Harley is here," I tell him and I hear a rustle of clothing in the background.
"Where's Elliot?" he asks.
"That's the emergency. I think my dad took him and Tris to punish me, for dating Elliot." I say the words I know are the truth.
"It's not your fault,” he starts but a female voice interrupts in the background.
“Fuck, alright I'm getting dressed, Allie and I have to go," he says.
"Bye," I say putting down the phone as Harley walks in.
"Why would your dad want to punish you? I thought he knew about you and Elliot?" Harley asks, clearly overhearing some of the conversation.
"No, he told me if I dated Elliot he would kill him. I told Elliot but he wouldn't listen and if anything happens to him, I could never forgive myself," I managed to say, and drop to my knees right in front of the pool of blood on the kitchen floor. The sight of it makes me feel sick and I burst into tears not being able to control it. Harley puts his hand on my back and crouches next to me.
"We will find them, did your dad say anything else?" he asks me.
"No, just that he will call me tomorrow," I tell him and trying to calm myself down.
"Arthur loves the attention and putting on a show. He won't kill Elliot without one of us being there and if it's your punishment, he will want you there," Harley tells me honestly. I like that he doesn’t lie to me.
"I need to tell him I love him, I never did," I say and end up crying more than before.
"He knows anyway," Harley says picking me up from behind and pulling me into a hug.
"You’re a King now and we fight for each other. We will get them both back Allie," Harley whispers like a warning.
I hope to God we get them in time because I can't lose either of them.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Elliot
“Your name Ed?” I ask the stupid fucking boy in front of me. It doesn’t matter that he is five years older than me, it’s clear he is a fucking idiot. It didn’t take me long to find him, after he has been telling everyone how much of a slut Allie is. She really isn’t. His door was even open for me when I got here and he is all alone in front of the TV with a beer. I cannot see why Allie would have gone near him, he is skinny and blonde. Why would Allie let him have her first time?
“Yeah, what of it?” He asks with a laugh. I take my leather jacket off and throw it on one of the sofas in the college apartment.
“You know Allie Lewis?”
“Yeah, hot bitch I fucked a month ago? She was good man and so easy. If you want advice,” he carries on as all I can see is red. I pick him up by the stupid polo shirt he is wearing and slam him onto the ground.
“What the fuck? If you’re her boyfriend, she didn’t tell me man,” he puts his arms out as he stutters out a defensive.
I pick him up again and punch him hard in the face, not hard enough to knock him out but I hear his nose break.
“You shouldn’t treat girls like shit, I heard what you did.” I say as he tries to pull himself out of my grasp.
“Sorry, she was just an easy lay,”
“I don’t give a fuck but you say another word about Allie or see her again. I will break every bone in your body.”
“Okay,” he mumbles and I let him drop to the ground. I grab my jacket and walk out of the stupid fuck’s house.
"What the fucking hell is," I stop myself as my body reminds me what happened. I can't see with a blindfold on but the smells alone tell me I'm at The Cage. The rough bars at my back and hard floor, confirm that I know where I am.
I knew who sent five guys to take me out yesterday or was it today? My arms are tied to the bars of the Cage and my legs are tied at the ankles. A few wriggles with the rope, tells me I am not getting out of them. They are so tight that I can hardly feel my fingers anyway
.
My head is killing me from the hit one of those dickheads managed to get in after I knocked two of them out and stabbed the third in the kitchen with his own knife. I was expecting Allie and not them when the door opened and I had a few drinks. I still know I should have fought better and never fucking let this happen. Mistakes get you killed in this fucking place. One of the only lessons my father taught me that matters.
My body feels alright but I know I've been given something. I feel dizzy and sick, which isn't a good sign when you've been hit on the head.
"Elliot," a groggy voice comes from my right and I turn my head that way, even if I know it's pointless as I can't see a fucking thing. The room has no lights on because I can tell it's not just blindfold causing the darkness.
"Tris?" I ask as the man next to me, he sounds a little like him but I can't tell.
"Yeah man," he mutters then coughs. His cough sounds wet and I wonder if Tris is in the same position as I am.
"Are you tied up, too? I can't see you working with your psychotic daddy on this one," I say in a gruff voice.
"Yeah, I'm tied up but I'm no use to try and escape right now," he says.
"How bad?" I ask.
"Bad," is his reply, and then he coughs more. Allie must be going mental; I can’t let her brother die. She would lose herself.
"I'm sorry about Lily," Tris says and I grimace at him, even knowing he can't see me.
"Why are you sorry?" I ask dreading the answer I've always guessed. Lily spent a lot of time with Tris since we were kids and she always told me he was like a brother to her.
"I slept with her a few times while you were together. I always loved her but I couldn't have her, so when she kissed me I couldn't stop. I felt shit about what happened but I couldn't stop myself,"
He stops talking to cough again before continuing.
"She promised me that she loved me after you two broke up. Allie told me what she did to you at that party and then she was with me the next day. I can't love her anymore but I am fucking sorry that I touched her when she wasn't mine," he says. I can hear the apology in his words.
