Again, it’s something that was said. It was the time in the bar when Sebastian accosted me. Friends for over three years and this is the goddamn thanks I get. It was weeks ago when he said this to me, but for some reason it weighed on me heavily in the night. Maybe because Seraphina had mentioned how they used to all be such good friends and how she missed it? Probably.
Per Logan’s request, my iPod’s music is on a much lower volume than I usually have it on and it’s not helping with my present state of mind. I need to turn it up to help turn off all these invading thoughts. I’m about ten minutes from my house when I glance around, making sure Logan doesn’t catch me, and I turn up the volume. It’s “Uprising” by Muse and the song craves maximum loudness as I push myself on my final sprint towards home. Paranoia is in bloom…they will not force us. They will stop degrading us. They will not control us. We will be victorious. So come on…
The first thought that crosses my mind is that I seriously fucked up when I turned up my music. If I wasn’t completely caught off guard, I could have easily have kicked his ass. But I’m not prepared for the body that slams into my side and I fall to the ground. My headphones fall out of my ears and land beside me.
Sebastian’s eyes are just inches from mine. They are dark and hollow. He’s nothing but skin and bones, looking like he’s lost at least fifteen pounds. His hair is greasy and disheveled. The vacant expression on his face reminds me…my mind is foggy…and then I remember…Logan on his birthday. I think I might throw up.
Immediately I scramble to get up and get him off of me, but despite his gaunt state he somehow has the strength to keep me pinned to the ground.
“Get the fuck off me before I start screaming at the top of my lungs!” I snap.
He puts his hand over my mouth. “You scream and I will make your life a living hell. Do you really think I have no qualms about completely burying Logan with everything I know about him?”
“You’re full of shit, Sebastian. Why don’t you get yourself back into rehab so you can get your life back on track? You’re seriously delusional. Now, get off me.” I say as I attempt to knee him in the groin.
He feigns injury. “Ouch…that hurt…not.” His eyes flare. “You’re worried someone might see you and tell your boyfriend you were making out with some random guy in the park?” He sneers. “We’re in the middle of broad daylight…two young lovers in the park.” He glances around. “No one gives a shit about what we’re doing.”
“You’re wrong, Sebastian. People are staring.” I try my best to sound convincing. “Besides the police patrol this area all the time, you better get the fuck off of me and out of here before you get busted again.”
I realize my mistake as soon as the words tumble out of my mouth.
“Busted again?” He looks at me confused. “I don’t really give a shit, but what the fuck are you talking about?”
I hope if I keep him talking maybe someone will notice we aren’t just having a romantic day in the park or I will figure out another way to distract him so I can get out from underneath him and run.
“You know the police are looking for you.” I assert, confidently. “They know you’re the one behind all those burglaries. If you were smart you’d get back to rehab before they put you in jail.”
“You’re bluffing. Besides, I don’t give a crap. Right now…” He starts to say and then reaches up, stroking my cheek with his scrawny index finger. “I need you to do something for me.”
I squirm beneath him and attempt to bite his finger.
He grabs my chin. “Well, if you’re not going to play nice, neither will I.” His eyes narrow and he licks my neck, very slowly up to my jaw.
I close my eyes and fight the bile rising up in my throat. “Fuck off.” I attempt to knee him in the groin again.
“C’mon Emilia. Just relax and give into this moment. Isn’t part of you turned on with me lying on top of you like this? I know it’s giving me quite the hard-on.”
I shake my head and glance around to see if anyone is within earshot.
“You know when Logan and I were friends…we used to share our girls. I could tell you all sorts of stories about your precious lover-boy. You might not think so highly of him…knock him off his undeserving fucking pedestal. You might even decide it’s me who you really want. Besides doesn’t a part of you want to get back at Logan for what he did to you? You know…no one seems remotely interested in us out here. We could do it right now and with the way you’re turning me on…it won’t take long.”
“No.” I say, shakily and for the first time since he tackled me I’m scared. “Look, you need to do something for yourself, Sebastian. Go back to rehab. You need help and then maybe we can…” I trail off for fear I will vomit before I can get the words out.
“Your offer is a bit tempting, but I’m having a hard time buying it.” He says as he pushes his weight down on me even more. “Look, I’m not a fucking idiot. I doubt at the moment you’ll choose me over him, but I’ll let you go this time if you do me a little favor. Does that sound like a deal?”
Shit. You doubt at the moment I’ll choose you over him? How about never? What kind of a deal? But do I really have a choice at this moment?
“What do you want?” I ask, trying to sound unconcerned.
“Well, there are a few things I want…” He caresses my cheek again and I turn my face away from him. “But for now, I want you to get me some money.”
I turn to look at him. “Why so you can snort it up your nose or shoot it in your veins? Why don’t you go back to rehab and get sober? Then I’d be happy to give you some money.”
“Well, I’m really fucking flattered you actually give a shit about me, but I don’t give a crap about what you think…it’s my fucking life so are you going to get me the money or do I need to fuck you right now?”
“Honestly, I don’t give a shit about you and what you do to yourself. I care about Logan and I know you were friends and…” He interrupts me before I can finish.
“Cut the crap. You’re exactly right…were friends.” He spits.
“How much do you want? A few hundred?” I think of the money he stole from Spyder.
God, he’s pathetic. But I just want him off of me and I want out of here. Where’s a limousine when you could really use one?
I continue. “I’ll get a paycheck at the end of the week.”
He laughs. “I don’t think so…try one hundred thousand dollars.” He sits up against my hips and pins my hands at my side. “That should be enough to get me out of here and tie me over for a bit while I figure out my next move.”
“Are you insane? I don’t have that kind of…” I trail off and I can tell by the way he’s looking at me where he expects me to get his drug slash runaway funds.
I shake my head. “I can’t.” I murmur.
“You can. You will.” His lips twist into a wicked smile.
“Logan isn’t going to give me that kind of money. Look, I’ll give you my paycheck…I’ll give you my next couple paychecks. Plus, I have some in my bank account that I can give you.” I plead.
“Are you fucking kidding me? I don’t want your pennies. I want his money.” He says “his” with dreadful scorn.
Holy crap. That’s what this is all about. He’s only interested in causing Logan pain. I think of a quote from Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice: If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?
“You should ask him then. Look, he’s really worried about you. He knows about you leaving rehab and the burglaries.” I say in my most convincing voice. “He cares about you, Sebastian.”
He rolls his eyes, but I know he’s interested in what I have to say by the way he’s listening and not interrupting me.
I continue. “I know things haven’t been the same between you two, but you have all that history.” I ramble, hoping I make some sense and touch a nerve. “I think if you just talk
to him, he’d want to help you out. Maybe he’d even help you get to where you want to go? He really wants you to get help.”
And, then I realize I’ve said too much.
“I don’t want help. I want money and he’ll give it to you. I’m sure he gave you this…” He grabs my hand with the diamond band and shoves it in the air.
He continues. “Seriously? You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. He’ll give you whatever you fucking ask for. Besides, this should be a no-brainer for you. Isn’t it why you hooked up with him in the first place? You’re just a fucking gold-digger. I could see it the moment I laid my eyes on you. I tried to convince him, but you had him so pussy-whipped he couldn’t see straight. But now that you’ll be begging him for his money, maybe he’ll get a clearer picture of what you’re all about.”
My face is on fire. He’s not only after revenge on Logan…he’s still got it in for me too. I know he blames me for ruining their friendship, but how does he think this will alter Logan’s view of me?
“No. I don’t think so. He’ll know the money is for you.” I try again to push my way out of his grip.
“Stop, trying to get away from me. I’ll let you go in a minute if you just cooperate a little longer.” He pauses a second. “You can’t tell him it’s for me. Do you really think I’m that fucking stupid?”
“What am I supposed to say? I can’t ask for that much money.” I plead.
“You’re smart. You’ll come up with something. You can’t say it’s for me because he’ll never in a million years give it to you. So, if I were you, I’d start brainstorming and come up with something quick.”
I stare up at him. He’s not only seriously delusional from all the drugs; he’s also clearly psychotic. I know I will figure something out and it shouldn’t be too difficult to come up with some sort of a plan when you’re dealing with someone who has clearly lost all his marbles.
I breathe. “Fine.”
“I knew you’d see the light. And, if you want you can always dump Logan’s ass and come with me. We could have quite an adventure. The two of us on the road with a hundred grand.”
Ugh. I keep my eyes on his, instead of laughing or puking right then and there on top of him, and look at him emotionless. I even muster a slight smile as he climbs up off of me, releasing me from his grip.
“You’ll consider my offer?” He asks, his dark eyes staring down at me.
I swallow. “Yes, of course. It does sound like fun.” I pick up my headphones from the ground and roll my eyes while he’s out of my sight. “So, how will I know how to get this money to you?”
“I’m sort of on the run…” He starts to say.
Yes, bailing on rehab, several burglaries…now we’ll add extortion to the list…I can see why he’s on the run.
He goes on. “So, I’ll be in touch.”
“Okay, but could you not tackle me next time?” I say in my best sorority-cheery sweet voice.
“Sure.” He smiles. “I think you and I would make quite a team. I really hope you’ll seriously consider my invitation. I’ll even give you some of his money.” He reaches with his hand and softly brushes the skin on my shoulder. “Besides, I hate to rain on your parade but Logan will tire of you soon. He’ll be back with someone like Seraphina. It’s just a matter of time.”
I bite my lip to keep my mouth shut. I can’t let him get to me. The fact that he still thinks I only care about Logan’s money is beyond my comprehension. And, adding insult to injury his snide remark about Seraphina makes me want to tell him to go fuck himself.
“I’m leaving now.” I say with a straight face.
“You shouldn’t be mad about what I said…it’s the truth.” He says.
“I’m not. But I should go…Logan is probably out looking for me now. You know?”
“Okay. I’ll be in touch.” He says one more time before I turn and sprint home.
“WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?” Bryn asks, worriedly, as soon as I walk in the house. She gives me the once-over. “Shit. What happened to you?”
I glance down at myself and notice my entire side is scraped with dirt and blood. I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror and see my hair is disheveled, my ponytail falling out of its holder.
The door behind me flies open. I hear Logan before I see him.
Bryn opens her mouth to talk but Logan speaks before she can get a word out. “Shit, Bryn. I followed her usual route and I didn’t see her. I know it hasn’t been very long, but I think we should call the police. I have a bad feeling about this.”
“She’s here.” Bryn says and points in my direction.
Logan shuts the door and pulls me into his arms. “Emilia. You have no idea how worried we were about you. You said you’d be home by eleven and it’s almost two.” He breathes in my hair.
I’m speechless. I don’t know what to say…and suddenly I’m exhausted. I think from the lack of sleep last night and then the stress of my encounter with Sebastian. I take a deep breath and exhale, slowly.
Logan leans back but still grips my arms. He glances down at me and his face abruptly drops when he sees I’m a mess.
“What happened?” His eyes are wide and filled with alarm. He looks at me and then at Bryn for an answer.
Bryn shrugs. I can see the worry in her eyes. “I don’t know. She just walked in a second before you got here.”
“Emilia, are you okay?” He asks, softly. His hands caress the sides of my face as he stares into my eyes.
I nod. “I’m just a little scraped.”
Bryn immediately is at my side with a wet towel and she kneels beside me as she softly dabs the dried blood and dirt off my leg.
“Bryn, I’m fine.” I take the towel from her. “I just need to take a shower and I’ll be as good as new.”
“You’re not taking a shower yet. You have no idea how worried we were…we are. You come in looking like you’ve been hit by a truck and you say you just need to take a shower and you’ll be good as new. Uh-uh. What the fuck happened to you?” She stares at me.
I glance at Logan, who still looks panic-stricken as he runs his hands through his hair. “Emilia, what’s going on?”
I blink at both of them. I have no choice…I have to tell the truth. Sebastian doesn’t want me saying anything to them, but I’m more reluctant to tell them because I’m worried about Logan’s reaction. I look at their concerned faces and it takes me a second to realize there’s no way I can keep this to myself.
“Can we sit down?” I swallow.
“Of course.” Logan takes my hand in his as we move into the living room. “Do you need anything? Water?”
I shake my head. “No. Thanks.” I wince in pain, slightly as I sit on the couch, leaning on my left side against Logan, since my right side slightly stings from the dirt burn.
“You’re not okay. Let me get you something…how about some ice?” Logan says and starts to make a move to get up from the couch.
I grab his arm. “No. I’m fine. It just stings a little.”
He reluctantly sits back down and wraps his arm over my shoulder. I lean in closer to him, comforted by his close contact.
“Please, Emilia. I can’t take it.” Bryn sits on the edge of a chair directly in front of us. “What happened?” She scoots the chair even closer to us.
“I ran into Sebastian.” I breathe.
“I’m going to kill that motherfucker. He did this to you?” He fumes. “We need to call the police.”
“No. No. Honestly, I’m okay. He didn’t hurt me. I was running and he knocked me over, but that’s it. That’s how I got all these scrapes.” I say, quickly.
“Emilia, Logan is right. We should call the police. He knocked you over? Did he touch you or…” She starts to say but I interrupt her.
“No. He touched my face, but that’s it. You can’t call the police. I promised I wouldn’t say anything. Please let me explain…I don’t want anyone to get hurt. Please. Just hear me out.” I plead.
“Okay.
” Bryn says, quietly.
I look at Logan, who is still seething. He rubs his face with his hands and then looks at me. “I’m listening.” He murmurs and drapes his arm around my shoulders again, pulling me tight against him.
“After I finished with Coach Walker, I was on my usual run home. I was about ten minutes from here when Sebastian flew out of nowhere and knocked me over. I didn’t see him. He’s not well. He’s lost at least fifteen pounds and looks like death.”
“He’s not getting any fucking sympathy points from me.” Bryn snaps.
I raise a brow at her.
“Sorry. I’ll try my best to keep my commentary to myself. Go on.” She nods.
“The reason I was mentioning how scrawny he looks is because I’m surprised he had the strength to pin me to the ground.”
“Okay. I’ve heard enough. He pinned you to the fucking ground? If I knew where to find that sick douche I’d go after him this minute, but I don’t. We need to call the police. They can find him and then I’ll beat the shit out of him.”
“Please. Could you both just let me finish without interrupting me?” I plead and blink from one to the other.
They nod.
“He was on top of me because he knew I’d run and he wanted to talk.” I pause while I gather my thoughts.
I glance at Logan and he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.
“Talk?” Logan fumes.
I stare at him. “Yes. Look, he has lost it. I don’t think he was going to hurt me. He wants money and I’m not supposed to say anything to you.”
“Money? That’s extortion. We should definitely call the police.” Bryn says.
“No. I said I wouldn’t say anything. He’s delusional and who knows what he’s capable of doing. Shit, he’s breaking into stores and houses. He’s stealing. Please. We can’t call the police. I don’t want anything to happen to either of you.” I can feel my eyes welling up with tears.
Logan runs his hand along my face and wipes a stray tear. “Emilia, don’t worry. We’ll figure this out. What else did he say?”
Waiting for Romeo Page 28
