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. ”

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?”RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

“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.”