Bad Kind of Love

by Remi Rose

  Even if they had lost their sparkle.

  Perched in a booth, I watched from afar as Becca carried over a plastic cup in her hands and sipped from the straw. She carried herself strongly, but her eyes were casted downward almost like she knew I was staring.

  “Take a picture, it’ll last longer.” She smiled jokingly as she took the seat across from me. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail while her blonde bangs hung perfectly over her forehead. Her face was free of makeup, and of course she had her chunky headphones snaked around her neck.

  “Maybe I will.” I teased, leaning back and resting my arm on top of the backrest. “You gonna tell me what's wrong?”

  I was a patient person... it was a good quality to have. But when it came to Becca, I lost any sense of being patient.

  “I’ve told you before, I’m fine.” She kept her eyes down as she cradled her cup. “My mom, school, and my dad getting out of prison soon... I’m just stressed out.”

  I believed she was stressed, because hell, I was stressed too. But there was something else she was hiding, and I couldn’t help but feel at fault.

  Maybe it was our kiss?

  That night I was eager to feel her lips on mine and when I finally couldn’t hold it in any longer, I gave in. We moved perfectly, matching one another’s tempo like we were made for each other.

  Everything she was giving, I was greedily taking.

  Her taste was heavenly, like fresh picked strawberries and vanilla, something I couldn’t get enough of. But soon, the moment was ruined, leaving a damper on the night and the memory of our first kiss.

  Thanks to my dad's interruption.

  She pretended she didn’t care, but I knew she did. And eventually, I was going to make it up to her.

  “I just hate seeing you sad.” I admit leaning over the table. “I wanna be the guy that makes you smile.”

  Her eyes soften as she pushes her drink aside.

  “You do make me smile Wes, more than I thought possible.” She half grins, making her beautiful face light up with half a smile.

  I stare for a bit longer than I should, lingering over the lips I’ve tasted and struggling not to climb over this table and take them again. She seems to notice my staring and her face instantly heats.

  “I.. I thought maybe this weekend we could hang out? Go see a movie or something?” She fidgets in her seat as her eyes can't seem to make direct contact with me.

  Groaning, I inwardly curse wishing I could cancel my plans for this weekend. “I, uh, am actually visiting SC this weekend. Flying out there and checking out the campus.”

  “Oh.” Her face drops, but she immediately fixes it. “That, that’s great. Is your dad going with you?”

  “No. Hunter Tellman from the team is though. So we're going there together.”

  Every time we brought up college, it just reminded us that eventually we’d be going our separate ways. That’s why we never brought it up, but graduation was closing in on us, and soon we’d have to talk about it.

  A conversation I wasn’t looking forward to at all.

  “That’ll be awesome.” She smiles, but her sad tone told a different story.

  “Yeah.” I nod. “When I get back, I’ll take you on a proper date.”

  A proper date.

  With a proper kiss.

  And finally then, I’d make her my fucking girlfriend.

  ******

  “You tap that ass yet, Fitzgerald?” Nate tilts his chin as a puff of smoke escapes from his mouth.

  After lunch with Becca, I went over to Hunter’s house to chill for a while. I didn’t know Nate would be here.

  “Nah.” I mumble, cracking the muscles in my hands, as I peer down at my shoes.

  Nate Hawthorne was a shit talker and a nosy motherfucker. I wasn’t all that surprised when Becca’s name was brought up, but I still felt hot with anger, ready to lunge at him.

  “Heard she’s a fucking prude…. but for some reason, she seems to be all over your dick.” He laughs as he places the lit joint between his lips.

  Leaning back on the couch, I glare under my hooded eyes in his direction. Hunter seems to notice my uneasiness and quickly interjects.

  “Nate, shut the hell up. Don’t make me text Josie and tell her to come get your dumbass.” Hunter warns as he holds his xbox controller in his hands.

  “Invite crazy over here? Yah fucking right.” He mumbles, shaking his head. “I’m lucky I even got away from her tonight… bitch is clingy as fuck.”

  “Then why are you with her?” I ask, knowing that Josie was once Becca’s best friend.

  Grinning, he props his arms up behind the couch. “She’s a good fuck, and her mouth…fucking divine.”

  Hunter laughs, but I remain silent, shaking my head in disgust.

  “But come college, I’ll be drowning in new pussy.” He raises a hand for Hunter to slap with a sly grin across his face.

  “Hell yeah, Wes and I will see just how fine the ladies at SC are this weekend.” Hunter boasts, trying to hype me up, but instead all I feel like doing is being with Becca.

  All this talk about pussy was making me fucking sick.

  “Shit, your boy’s too hung up on Becca.” Nate adds, and I find myself leaning forward with fire in my eyes. “Don’t get me wrong, she’s hot and all, but ain’t no pussy worth all that.”

  “Then what the hell are you doing with Josie?” Hunter interrupts.

  “To pass the time.” He takes another long hit. “Like I said, she’s fun, easy. But when the time comes, I’ll kick her ass to the curb.”

  Hearing enough, I rise up from the couch ready to leave. Nate catches my eyes and notices the anger that fills them.

  “Leaving so soon?” He mocks, treading on thin ice as I clench my fists.

  “Yah, hanging out with assholes isn’t really my thing.” I harden my gaze on his, but he only seems to smile by my response.

  “You hear that Hunter? We’re the assholes now.” He nods toward Hunter as smoke clouds around him, filling the dark basement.

  “Actually,” I cut in. “I was only talking about you.”

  His hazy eyes cut to mine, but the laughs of amusement cause my feet to take a quick step towards him.

  “I’m the asshole?” He chuckles in disbelief. “And here I was about to warn you about your girl and be a good friend.” He tsks, shaking his head.

  My body immediately tenses up. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “You aren’t the only guy she has a thing for.”

  Taken aback by his absurd accusation, I shake my head in refusal.

  “She must have a thing for Fitzgerald’s.”

  What the fuck?

  Was he talking about who I think he was talking about?

  The room went quiet as I tried processing his words in my head.

  “I don’t believe you.” I growl, knowing damn well Becca didn’t see my dad like that.

  If anything, she hated him like I did.

  “I see the way she looks at him. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she has a thing for your dad.”

  Before I could even process what I was doing in my head, I felt my body leap towards Nate. Rage took over, and my fists reared back.

  “Get the fuck off me!” Nate pushed and shoved, but I barely budged. Before I was able to land a blow to his face, I was being pulled off by Hunter.

  “The hell dude? What’s your problem?” Hunter dropped his grip from my shirt, but my eyes were too focused on Nate to pay him any mind.

  Pointing a finger at Nate, my chest heaves with anger. “Don’t come at me with those bullshit lies, Hawthorne.” I growl. “Next time, Hunter won't be here to pull me off you.”

  Looking pissed, Nate drags a hand through his wild hair and focuses on me. “Don’t say I didn’t fucking warn you.”

  Shaking my head, I stomp up the stairs still shaking with anger.

  How could he lie about something like that?

  There was no way my Becca
had any romantic feelings toward my dad.

  As I storm outside, I have the sudden urge to call Becca and talk to her. I didn’t want to bring up what Nate said, because I knew it would hurt her.

  I just wanted to hear her voice.

  She knew exactly how to calm me, and right now, I felt like slamming my fist into a wall.

  Instead, I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone. Scrolling through my photos, I find one of Becca that I secretly took. We were at work, while she was busy mopping the floors, I was standing behind the counters admiring her from afar. Her focus was on something in front of her, her hair was hanging in a low ponytail but on one side there was a splash of chocolate that was stuck in her locks. Holding the mop in both hands, she stared off into space, looking almost lost as she gazed outside the window. At that moment I decided to snap a picture.

  I knew she’d be pissed if she found out I took one, but right here, she looked so fucking beautiful. Raw and oblivious to the fact that she was the most perfect and gorgeous woman that I’ve ever laid eyes on.

  Staring at the photo, I feel myself immediately calm down. My anger subsides and is replaced with a warmth that spreads throughout me.

  Fuck Nate and his stupid ass lies.

  Becca was mine and it was about time I made sure she and everyone else knew.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Becca

  Wes was now officially gone.

  He left about an hour ago for South Carolina and I was left alone and bored at home. The lights in my bedroom were off and I found myself staring blankly at the TV’s screen saver. It was a landscape of a mountain covered in snow, it appeared almost too real to be a picture. It was the perfect distraction, anything to help me forget about Mr. Fitz.

  Since our night in the pool, my plan to figure him out came to an abrupt end. I tried avoiding him in school, ignoring him in class, but it was nearly impossible. Besides having him as a teacher, I swear every corner I turned, he was there. Was he doing it on purpose? I doubt it. He made it perfectly clear that he wanted nothing to do with me, and for the first time, I agreed with him.

  Even if his touch was intoxicating, and the pull he had on me was strong, I was swearing off Mr. Fitz for good.

  Reaching for my phone, I open the screen and realize I have a notification from the school app I downloaded. It was able to show us our grades and let us know whenever something was added or changed to it. For the past few weeks, I’ve been working on an essay for Mr. Fitz’s class.

  Love or tragedy was the topic for the Abelard and Heloise story we read in class. I spent hours upon hours working on the essay, putting my heart and soul into every word I wrote. And I knew once he read it, he’d realize I wasn’t just some dumb girl who knew nothing about love.

  I’ve been anxious to see what grade he gave me, and I had high hopes that it was going to be good.

  Tapping onto the screen, it opens up the app, and I scroll down till I find the updated grade.

  C-

  My heart sank.

  A fucking C-.

  Grasping the phone in a death grip, I chuck it across the room and immediately stand up.

  How could he give me a C-? I followed the directions down to a T, and wrote exactly what I fucking thought. And apparently my thoughts were only worth a C-.

  Pacing the room, I felt hot with anger. There was no way my paper could be that low of a grade. There had to be only one reason why he did that, and it was personal.

  He dislikes me so much that he’d give me a shitty grade.

  Dressed in a pair of cotton shorts and a tank top, I reach for a sweatshirt and quickly throw it on over my head. My hair was in a messy bun and I looked like a train wreck, but at this point I didn’t care.

  If Mr. Fitz wanted to give me a shitty grade, then he better be ready to explain to me why.

  With keys in hand, I charge down the steps until I hear Aunt Claire’s voice from the living room. “Going somewhere?” She peers over her shoulder.

  “Uhhh, yah. Wes invited me over.” I lie, stopping at the front door.

  “Oh.” She smiles. “Okay, well, have fun. Text me if you’re gonna stay out late.”

  “Will do.” I respond before rushing out the door and to my car. Once I start the ignition, I’m flying out of the driveway and speeding towards the Fitzgerald home.

  As I gripped the steering wheel, I wasn’t experiencing any nervousness or anxiety. If anything, it was adrenaline. It would be the first time in weeks that I would acknowledge him, and I was more than ready to confront him whether he liked it or not.

  Turning into the driveway, I quickly turn off the car. Before I could change my mind about this whole plan, I marched up to the door with one goal in mind. I wasn’t leaving unless it happened. Pounding on the door, I’m surprised when it opens quickly and Mr. Fitz stands there with a look of shock across his hard face.

  “Becca?” He lowers his brows in confusion. “What are you doing here?” He peers around me before scaling his eyes down my body.

  “A C.” I shout. “A fucking C-.”

  My tone must have set him off because in seconds, he was grabbing my wrist and pulling me inside the house.

  “Lower your damn voice.” He hisses through his teeth, as he slams the door shut behind us.

  Standing beside the wall, I feel the pitter patter of my heart expand and a rush of excitement course through me. His eyes blazed with anger, and at any given minute he was going to pounce.

  “No, not until you tell me why you decided to give me a shitty grade.” I cross my arms while lifting my chin high in defiance.

  “Shitty work deserves a shitty grade.” He argues back, but I didn’t believe him. Uncrossing my arms, I take a confident step forward and he doesn’t seem to back down. His hair was hanging down low, making him appear more sinister than he actually was. He glowered down at me attempting to scare me off, but he should know by now that I wasn’t scared of anything.

  Especially him.

  “Then you obviously don’t have a fucking heart.” I jab at his chest. “I poured everything into that essay and giving me that low of a grade is an insult.” My breathing is heavy, as my finger still rests on his hard chest.

  “Alright then, O’Connor.” He pushes into my finger, causing me to immediately pull it back. “Since you believe in love, what does it mean to you?”

  Stepping back, I gaze up into his eyes confused. “What? What will that prove?” I scoff by his ridiculous question.

  “That you really are naive.”

  “Just because I believe in the idea of love, doesn’t make me naive.” I snap back, fed up with his blatant hatred towards me.

  “So what was your plan?” He takes a small step forward. “Come here and demand that I change my mind about your grade?” He scoffs, staring down at me like I’m a child but he knew I was anything but.

  “Maybe.” I stood my ground as my heart beat like a jack rabbit. I could have easily confronted him Monday morning, but this plan seemed better. I had him alone, vulnerable and I wasn’t backing down anytime soon.

  Taking another step forward, he stops just as the tips of our shoes are almost touching. His focus remains on me, but I can tell he’s ready to walk away. “Go home, Becca.”

  His words sound forced, almost like he wanted to say “stay.”

  “No. I’m not leaving until you change it.”

  He laughs.

  He fucking laughs in my face, but it soon turns menacing as he closes the small gap between us.

  “Then you’ll be waiting a long fucking time.” His breathing was labored and I found myself staring into the same hungry eyes as the night in the pool. They dip down my face and back up and I feel my back bump against the wall.

  I chose my words carefully this time, because whatever came out of my mouth next, was either going to set him off or cause him to walk away.

  “I don’t mind.”

  In that moment, something flickered within his eyes. Something tha
t sparked the burning fire inside of him, causing his head to drop and mouth to descend on mine. He wasn’t gentle- After all this pent up energy between us, he finally gave into the inevitable.

  I quickly tangled my arms around his neck, and fought hard against his lips, matching every bite of his teeth and flick of his tongue. He tasted sinful, almost too good to be true as I tugged on his loose strands of hair.

  I needed more.

  I needed his cruel words and vicious tongue, anything that would ease the pain I was experiencing.

  Ripping my mouth away from his, I quickly smack him across the cheek in hopes of setting him off.

  As his head went flying to one side revealing a red hand print, I knew I was screwed.

  “You’re gonna pay for that, O’Connor.” He growls as desire glazes over his eyes.

  I wasn’t the only fucked up one who needed pain.

  He lived, breathed, and fucked in the darkness.

  His hands found the crease between my ass and thighs and he roughly lifted me off the ground till my legs wrapped tightly around him.

  “Yah?” I half moan half whimper. “You finally gonna fuck your student?” I rotate my hips, rubbing myself all over his protruding cock.

  Instead of acknowledging me, he starts walking us down the hall and into his bedroom. “Worse.” He hisses as he drops me down onto the bed. I watch in confusion as he slams the door closed, leaving us in complete darkness.

  What the hell is he doing?

  My hands immediately grip the comforter of the bed as I try to widen my eyes enough to catch a glimpse of him.

  “Turn the lights on.” I demand, but my words go unheard. The silence was eerie as I felt his eyes on me, taking me in as I lay in the center of his bed like an offering.

  Frustrated, I begin to push myself off until I feel a hand snake around my arm. Tugging me down onto the ground, I feel my knees crash onto the floor as pain radiates in my joint.

  “You want this?” He wound his hand through my hair, pulling hard till my head was now facing upwards and my eyes filled with tears.

  The sting sent my heart into a frenzy, and the only thing I could do was nod. “Yes.”