by Remi Rose
“Wes, get up.” I beg this time but he continues to be silent, staring at me like I was a fucking nobody.
“Back off!” The blonde pushes her heel into my thigh and I immediately grimace in pain as I fall down on my ass with a thud.
Embarrassment floods me as I hear laughter ring out around me. Once again, I feel tears begin to form but Wes surprises me as he stands to his feet, dropping the blonde on the floor next to me in a loud thump.
“What the hell, Wes?” She screeches as his hand reaches out for me to grab and I’m quickly pulled up onto my feet. With my hand still in his, I search his eyes for something. His blue eyes were clouded, appearing darker than they normally are.
We stare at each other for what feels like an eternity, and I get nothing from him. No answers or anything as I peer up into his emotionless face. He slowly brings up the beer bottle to his lips, wrapping his mouth around the top and tossing back the rest of the liquid that was in there. While the whole time, his eyes never waver from mine.
Dropping the bottle from his mouth, he brushes past me, leaving me standing there like an idiot.
“Wes!” I shout chasing after him, when suddenly I feel his hand grasp my wrist and pull me into a vacant hallway. “You’re hurting my wrist.” I cry out as his fingers dig deep but he quickly releases his grip.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” He asks annoyed while raking a hand through his hair.
“I needed to see if you were okay.” I frown. “You weren’t responding to my calls or texts.”
Shaking his head, he scoffs.
“Go home.” He growled. “I don’t want to see you.”
I didn’t believe him. I couldn’t.
Instead of turning around and respecting his wishes, I crossed my arms over my chest and stayed put.
“I don’t care.” I lift my chin. “You’re my best friend, Wes..”
The mention of “best friend” caused his eyes to roll and his body to stand closer to mine.
“You’re really that fucking clueless?” His dark eyes intend on making me squirm. “You honestly think I just wanted to be your friend? I wanted you the day I met you.” He admits, while his large body hovers over mine.
“Wes…” I frown as my heart pounds from his confession.
“I’ve been here the whole fucking time, Becca… have you not felt this pull that’s between us?” He backs me into the wall as his chest scrapes against mine.
“I have.” I admit, swallowing the lump in my throat as Wes’s hot breath trails down my neck.
“Then what happened?” He begs, pressing himself harder into me. “Why the fuck did you pick him?”
My heart felt as though it was being ripped in half. Hearing the desperation in his voice was like taking a bullet, I wanted to die a million deaths before hurting Wes.
“I fucking love you.” He traps my head with hands on each side of me, forcing my eyes on him. “Me. The person who’d do anything for you and that’s always been there.”
My eyes close shut as I can’t bear to hear anymore. His heart wasn’t the one breaking tonight, because mine belonged to two men.
“I know you feel the same, so don’t fucking lie to my face and tell me you don’t.”
My eyes snap open, staring up into his handsome face that looked seconds away from falling apart.
“Wes, I don’t...” I begin to say until Wes smacks his fist against the wall beside me.
“Just say it, Becca.” He snarls causing me to flinch. “Quit denying it and say it.”
My lips remain locked but Wes wasn’t having it. A snarl escaped from his lips and I felt his hand grasp the back of my neck.
“Say it.” He demands as our eyes lock, shattering the tiny little box that hid my true feelings for Wes. “Please.”
“I love you!” I shout as tears stream down my face. I felt exposed as his prying eyes searched mine for the truth.
Like a wave crashing onto shore, his lips landed on mine, dragging me deeper into a pit of confusion. His mouth moved frantically, desperate for me to give in to him as his hold on me tightened. Clawing at his exposed arms, I tried to push him off me, because this wasn’t what I wanted.
This wasn’t the Wes I knew.
“Wes, get off!” I beg and this time, he listens. His mouth drops from mine and his eyes swirl with regret.
“One last time.” He whispers as his eyes close in pain.
“What?” I ask confused as he still hovers over me.
“Kiss me one last time.”
My heart thumped wildly, sinking in my chest because I knew he was saying goodbye. His sullen face tore at my insides as I stared upon his lips, and for once, I needed his kiss more than I did our friendship.
I needed to remember him as the sweet and charming man, the one who changed my life without even knowing it. So as I stood up on my tiptoes, I kissed him for the last time.
His eyes closed, savoring my lips as they brushed softly across his. We matched each other's pace, never overpowering what our kiss truly meant. We both knew this was it, our last moment together and what love we did have for each other was ending with this kiss.
I couldn’t stop the tears from falling, but I needed his lips for a little longer.
I didn’t want to let go.
As my crying became too much, Wes pulled his mouth away from mine and wrapped me in his arms. Our silence was the only communication we needed at this moment. It was too painful and too emotional for the both of us.
“You need to go.” He half whispered in my ear, as pain still radiated in his voice.
This time, I didn’t fight it.
He’s suffered enough from me and now, it was time to let go.
“Goodbye, Wes.” The words stung, but I couldn’t hold on any longer.
With one last glance into his aqua eyes, I walk past him and out of his life for good.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Becca
“Becca?” The soft voice whispers over me, causing my body to flinch in fear. “I have a few errands to run, so I’ll be home a little later.”
I relaxed when I realized it was just Aunt Claire standing over me.
“Okay.” I groan, flipping over. I’m still dressed in the same outfit as last night. After coming home, I threw myself into bed, not bothering with my clothes or makeup.
It was pointless.
Reaching for my phone beside me, I check for any messages but my phone was completely dry. No calls or texts from both Wes and Jack.
Fuck.
My head falls into my pillow, grabbing each side I scream like a psychopath into the soft material. I yell till my lungs burn, and my voice cracks from the high pitch.
I’ve managed to ruin two lives as well as my own.
Lying in bed, I felt as though I was sinking into the mattress like it was quicksand. With all the betrayal and guilt that laid heavy on my conscience, I was afraid it might swallow me whole.
With the small amount of energy I still had, I dragged myself out of bed and hopped into the shower. Washing away the memories of last night, I lean my head back, letting the water run down my face. The water was hot, borderline boiling, but I glued my feet to the shower.
More pain was the only cure for pain.
It was a kind of drug I’ve used my whole life to deal with suffering.
Once I was finished with my shower, I towel dried my hair, leaving it down wet. Normally I’d take the time to at least blow dry it but I wasn’t in the mood. Instead I threw on an oversized shirt and jeans and marched downstairs.
The house was empty and quiet as I padded through the living room.
If only my head were this quiet.
Entering the kitchen, I reach into the fridge and pull out a yogurt cup. My stomach has been in knots for the past day or two and nothing seems appetizing besides this cup of strawberry yogurt. As I’m about to take a bite, I hear heavy pounding on the front door.
Wes?
Jack?
My heart rate picks up and I gently set the cup down onto the counter before striding into the living room.
The pounding continues and soon a voice follows.
“Becca, I know you’re in there. Open up.” Jack's urgent voice caused me to fling the door open.
Was he crazy or something?
“What are you doing here?” I gasp as my eyes land on his tired eyes and wild hair. With his arms outstretched above him leaning against the door frame, he weasels past me inside the house.
“I needed to see you.” He sounds desperate as I slam the door shut behind me.
“You didn’t seem all that worried about me last night.” I cross my arms over my chest insinuating the zero texts and calls I received from him. “You shouldn’t even be here, Jack. My aunt could come back any second and find you here.”
“I was worried.” He growled defensively. “I was fucking worried about the both of you all night.”
His chest rises and falls as he grows angry, but the mention of his worry for Wes does something to my heart.
“How is he?” I ask hoping he at least went home last night.
Raking a large hand through his hair, he shakes his head.
“I don’t know.” He grunts. “He came home and packed his shit then left.”
Taken back, I feel like shrinking into a box and closing the lid.
“Did he at least talk to you?” I scoff in disbelief, but the odds of that weren’t so high.
“He wouldn’t even fucking look at me, let alone talk.” He drops down onto the couch pressing a palm over his face.
To see Jack in this much pain physically hurt me. He appeared so small and lifeless as he crouched over hiding his face.
Walking over to him, I drop to my knees and force his eyes on me.
“I’m so sorry.” I cry out. “I never meant for things to get like this… fucked up.”
Noticing the agony across my face, Jack reaches for my waist, dragging me on top of him so I’m now cradled in his lap.
“Don’t.” He begs in my ear. “I don’t blame you for anything. Wes and I’s relationship was already shit to begin with.” He rests his chin on the curve of my neck. “I knew what I was risking. I knew that once he found out, he’d hate me more than he already did.”
Closing my eyes, I relish in his warmth. Just the feeling of his arms wrapped around me, I finally feel like I can breathe.
Maybe pain wasn’t my cure anymore, maybe it was him.
“I need to ask you something.” He removed his head from my shoulder as I twisted around in his lap to face him.
“Anything.” I search his eyes.
“Why didn’t you choose him?” His gaze dropped for a second, then suddenly lifted, shocking me with its intensity.
Sucking in a breath, his question was one that circled around in my thoughts on a daily basis.
Why didn’t I choose Wes?
He was everything I should want and more.
But that wasn’t enough.
Placing both hands on each side of his face, I lower my head till I’m inches away from his face.
“You consume me, Jack. My thoughts, dreams… all I see is you.” I ghost my lips across his, but I’m soon pulled down onto his lips, sealing my fate.
I was lost in his kiss, lost in all things Jack and I was never going to recover.
As our lips remained tangled together, the sound of the door knob shaking caused my mouth to drop from his. Peering towards the door, a familiar face stood with a displeased face.
“Dad?” I quickly rise from Jack’s lap, staring at him in utter confusion. “What are you doing here?”
How could he have gotten out already? He wasn’t supposed to be released for another two weeks.
Instead of acknowledging me, his narrowed eyes land on Jack and something sinister flickers beneath them.
“Get away from that man, Becca.” My dad calmly demands but his face looks anything but.
“Dad it’s fine.” I look between them both noticing worry flash across Jack’s features. He stands to his feet beside me, and my dad tenses, watching him closely.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Fitz?” He seethes as my aunt Claire cuts in, placing a hand over her brother's chest.
“Cool it, Shane. You just left prison ten minutes ago. We don’t need you going back.” She tried to calm him down, but my focus was elsewhere.
How did my dad know Jack's name?
My eyes found him immediately, and like a tornado, they were swirling with emotions. His face was stoic like a statue, unmoving but still aware of what was happening. My eyes begged him for answers, but instead he remained silent.
“Cool it?!” My dad shouts. “Do you even see what's going on in front of us?” He extends his arm out, motioning towards us.
“Yes, of course I see it!” She continues to keep her hand placed over his chest while gazing over her shoulder at Jack and me. “Becca, who is that?” She frantically asks.
Fuck.
My breathing became erratic, forcing my chest to rise up and down rapidly. We were caught. Our secret relationship was not only discovered by Wes but also by my fucking family.
As my dad appeared ready to attack at any moment, I slowly placed my hand in Jack’s causing both my dad and aunt Claire's faces to grimace.
“Tell me it isn’t true.” My dad snaps, turning a bright shade of red as he glowers at Jack. “Tell me you’re not with him…”
My hand tightens around Jack’s, and I lift my chin.
“I love him.” I respond in a half whisper but everything in the room seems to shift. The tension rises, causing a wave of discomfort that chills me to the bone.
“Becca, I…” Jack begins to say beside me but my dad quickly interrupts, raising his voice to an intimidating volume.
“You bastard!” He pushes past aunt Claire like it’s nothing, charging toward Jack. “I thought we had a fucking deal!”
What the hell?
Before I could stop my dad, Jack releases my hand and pushes me off to the side and out of the way. In seconds, I watch in horror as my dad rears his fist back, and tries aiming for Jack’s face.
“Dad, No!” I screech loudly, but his fists never connected with his target. Jack swiftly grabbed my dad’s forearm, twisting it until his arm was pressed up against his back.
“Get your fucking hands off me!” My dad spits, as his face contorts in pain.
Soon, I feel my head begin to spin after just witnessing my dad lunge at Jack. My dad knew him, or thought he was someone he knew as he continued to shout at Jack to release him.
I feel sick, my stomach turns into knots but mostly I feel lost as I stare at them both in anger.
“What’s going on?” I feel my body shake, as I look between the both of them. “How do you two know each other?”
Jack’s face turns white with worry but he keeps his hold on my dad.
“Just tell me!” I shout impatiently as I begin to think the worst.
My dad grunts from the discomfort, and soon, Jack releases him. Standing tall, he rubs at his arm and tries to come towards me.
“Shall I tell her or will you?” Peering over at Jack, my dad shakes his head in disgust.
“That night six years ago, I stole from the wrong family.” He begins to tell me and my eyes immediately fly to Jack, whose head is dropped in defeat. “He was there. He swore to leave us alone as long as I disappeared.”
No.
I didn’t believe him.
Jack couldn’t have been there. He couldn’t have been one of those monsters who came into our house.
“You’re lying.” I spit. “Jack wasn’t one of those men!” I defend him, but the minute my eyes slice to him, I notice the change in him.
Panic.
“I think I’d remember the man who made me bleed all over the fucking floor.” He snarled while turning towards Jack. “Tell her.” He demands.
Raking a hand through his hair, he appeared torn.
; No.
It couldn’t have been him.
I repeat the same words in my head like a mantra, but suddenly a memory from that night pops up in my head. The black mask, the dark eyes, and the familiarity I felt towards Jack when I first met him.
“Becca, I wanted…” Jack begins to say and I feel my heart drop, sinking into a dark place that I desperately tried to avoid. It was created that traumatizing night, from the blood, the eerie masks and him.
It was him.
“You were there.” I stammered, as my footing lost control and I stumbled into the wall. “You were the one in the black mask, the one who was in charge of the whole thing.”
Jesus, I feel like I’m about to pass out.
“You knew who I was the whole time, didn’t you?” The realization hit me hard, sending a hammer crashing down onto my heart, shattering it into pieces. “Didn’t you?” I yell as tears form under my eyes.
“Yes.” He admits.
His voice was calm and collected, just how I remembered from that night. He attempts to take a step towards me, but I instantly recoil in the opposite direction.
“How could you!” I shout through tears. “After everything we’ve been through! I trusted you!”
Jack flinches, and finally, I can see the agony that is written across his face.
“And you can still trust me.” He begs. “I’ve wanted to tell you everything, but I knew what would happen after I did.”
“So you lie to me and make me fall in love with you?” I cry out. “Even for a monster like you, that’s low.”
As Jack is about to respond, my dad blows a gasket.
“You mother fucker!” He snarls, wanting badly to lunge at Jack, but holds back. “She’s still in high school, you sick fuck!”
“Dad, stop.” I shake my head, knowing it was as much my fault as it was his.
“No, I’m not just gonna stand here and let him get away with fucking my daughter!” He growls.
Oh my god.
My dad marches past Jack and flies out the door, letting it slam behind him.
What the hell is he doing?
Rushing after him, Jack reaches for me in the process, but I draw back.
“Don’t touch me.” I growl. “I have to chase my dad down and make sure he doesn’t go to the fucking police.”
