Chapter 14
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<▪▪Gentleman▪▪>
My eyes widened slightly at what she said. I had to look calm though or she'd lose it. I was the only rock for her to lean on apparently.
"What makes you say that?" I muttered quietly, studying her dark, brown eyes.
"Yesterday-" She choked on her words and I sat straighter more alert. "Just yesterday, two armed men asked Zig if they knew about me. Zig, he lied." She sniffed. "He told them he didn't know about me. They didn't believe him. They searched my room. And I'm sure they know that I'm the one they're looking for. Then-then, they shot Zig in his left leg and stomach. They messed him up bad. So, so bad, Romeo." Tears were now rolling down her cheeks. "When I found him, he had lost a lot of blood. He got hospitalized. He was in a lot of pain, but he told me everything."
I looked at her trying to digest what she just said. This meant one thing and one thing only. That my father found out about her. But of course, he did. It didn't strike me as surprising.
So I took in a deep breath and looked back at her terrified face.
"It's going to be oka-"
"No!" She said hysterically, shaking her head. "No. It's not going to be okay, because when I called Dad's best friends- because I couldn't talk to Dad of course." She paused, took in a deep breath, then looked in my eyes again. "They said, they didn't know what I was talking about. This means that I can't help you. So how can you help me? How is anything going to be okay? What if he never told anyone where those documents were? What if I couldn't find them?"
I felt my head turn. Sam was in clear danger. My chest tightened at the thought of Father finding her.
"I can't sleep. I can't walk on the streets without feeling that this might be my last breath. I can't live-" She said breathlessly, removing her hand from mine and looking at it hopelessly. "It's haunting. And very trying."
"Please, listen." I tried to say sternly with a sigh as she stifled another sob. "Whoever wants you, wouldn't want to kill you. So please calm down, you are not going to die." I said and she looked at me hypnotized. "They want something from you. You're valuable to them. And that makes you safe. Now, where are you staying right now?" I asked, importantly.
"At home?" She said as if it was obvious and I almost screamed at how idiotic that was of her.
"Do you have any friend who you can move in with for a while?" I asked in disbelief as she shook her head.
"I have no friends except for Zig. People don't tend- to like me." She said sniffling as I frowned in focus. She seemed like a decent person, but I guessed she was a sucker for first impressions.
Anyhow.
"Well. You'll be staying with me." I blurted not thoroughly thinking it through.
"I will?" She asked surprised.
"Yes. Your safety is very important until we get those documents that can destroy your enemy. I-I can protect you." I said.
Can you?- a daunting voice said within me. Wasn't that the same thing you told Audrey?
"Do you need anything important from your house?" I asked ignoring the twist in the pit of my gut as I averted my gaze.
She nodded. "I might need just a few things. And I'll go get them like right now." She with determination as she got to her feet.
"Where do you think you're possibly going?" I asked in disbelief as I too got up and stood above her. "You'll be staying in the car while I get all the things you need."
She looked hard at me. "Okay. Whatever."
I was dragging her toward the car when she stopped suddenly with widened eyes.
"Is there something wrong?" I asked sweetly and almost rolled my eyes.
"I don't trust you." She said sharply, detaching herself from me. She stood staring at me defiantly with her shaky hands curled into fists.
"What?" I breathed, raising my eyebrows in disbelief.
"I don't trust you. Why should I? You can be manipulating me so that you can kill me later." She stated, mustering enough strength to look straight into my eyes.
I looked at her, lips slightly parted, not knowing what to say. She had a point.
I sighed in defeat as I watched her shift. Her breathing seemed to fasten and her eyes scanned everything surrounding her in quick irregular circles. "Look," I started. "I know there isn't a reason for you to trust me. But let there be one."
"But that's my life we're betting on!" She almost whispered desperately as tears tumbled down her eyelashes, leaving her appear more terrified than livid.
I studied her and pursed my lips. I needed to gain her trust, but it was difficult. It wasn't as affordable as Caroline's trust.
"You are right. You have every reason not to trust me. I barged into your life out of nowhere and put it out of order. And for that, I am sorry." I tried to look as sincere as I could. "But what other option do you have? Run away and pray in the darkest hours of the night that you'd get to see the sun again? Because deep down you know they will follow you and get you. What's the point?"
She shook her head as tears streamed down her face. "I don't even know anymore-"
"Hey-" I said lifting up her chin with my right hand and looking into her eyes with a smirk. "I am offering you a chance. By turning your back on this, you'll be eradicating any chance of you saving yourself."
She then sighed heavily and shuddered against a cold gust of wind.
She then looked long in my eyes before she whispered 'okay' and started walking with me toward the Mustang. Her hands grasping my good arm for life.
The girl was scared.
---
I opened a pink travel bag that I found under Sam's bed and dragged anything of hers that I saw into it. I also made sure to pack her books so she could study. We discussed the fact that she'd be safe in the university because no one was allowed in unless they had an ID. And I'd be dropping her every day if I could help it.
I sighed and was about to zip the bag when my phone rang. I groaned in frustration.
I took it out of my back pocket and found it was Caroline.
I answered a part of me amused by all my actions. I was amused at how my rage against my father had caused me to act so differently. I never answered phone calls or talked sweetly to comfort crying girls. That wasn't what I did, but was what had to be done.
"Romeo?" She said tentatively.
"Hey. Caroline. How are you?" I heard her sniff at the other end and so sat on Sam's bed, waiting for an insipid, imbecilic story. I didn't know what I've signed up for by actually letting Caroline trust me.
"He's got a n-new girlfriend-" She choked out the words and I frowned. Who got a girlfriend?
"Pardon? Who? Oh-" I then added quickly, unpleasantly recalling yesterday's 'conversation'. Because, hell, what was I supposed to say? Just let my non-existent advice instincts guide me?
"Well, it's obvious that he's the player type." I blurted the words and had to squeeze shut my eyes from the tears forming. I was crying from cringing. "You should've expected it to happen?" I then asked/said slowly.
She cried more, blowing her nose. I then shook my head and rolled my eyes. I seriously had no time for this, but I had to act it all up. I needed to remind myself that all of this was temporary.
"How do you feel?" I queried dumbly, with a slight shrug. Better than the awkward, sniffling-filled silence that settled between us.
"Horrible obviously!" She almost snapped and I swallowed back a snicker. It was all ridiculously hilarious. I didn't understand what she was sad about. But I needed to hang up and had no time to listen to her plathering.
"Okay. Do you want to meet and talk?" I said suddenly with a smirk.
She hesitated for a second. "But like- won't it like, you know- be awkward?" She sniffed.
"It'll be awkward only if you want it to be," I replied with a bored sigh.
I had to be a gentleman and I detested it. I was having the most difficult time in my life, trying to appear tidy and 'warm-hearted'. And I had to be particularly careful about the words that slipped and even the expressions on my face.
So gentleman, my arse.
"Oh, okay then. I'd love you. Where though?"
"The café right next to Sam's apartment?" I suggested.
"Okay. When?"
"In like two hours? Or three? At six." I said finally.
"Okay." She said, sighing. "I'll see you then. Bye."
She hung up and I shook my head shoving my phone in my back pocket. Boring- the kind of sacrifices I make- was what I thought.
I then got up, zipped her bag and dragged it behind me. When I headed out, I placed the bag in the car's trunk and got into the driver's seat to notice Sam type furiously on her phone with shaky hands and fingers.
I didn't bother her, started the engine and headed to the motel right away.
---
She was silent the whole trip really. I carried her bag all the way to the room and she followed quietly. I unlocked the door and let her in first. She walked in slowly taking in her surroundings. A bed in the centre with a TV table in front of it. A refrigerator next to a closed door that led to the bathroom. I dropped the bag and stood next to her.
"Is that a gun? On your bed?" She then blurted, freezing in her place. I flinched, remembering Augustus playing around with it.
"Don't worry, please. It's for self-defence." I said quickly, reaching for it and hiding it under the pillow. I then looked up at her with a small, probably unconvincing smile. She looked around nervously before her eyes pivoted back to my pillow.
I was going to leave her to adjust anyway. I had to meet Caroline. It'd probably make her trust me more. Especially that I'd leave her with my gun.
"Okay. Listen. I'll leave you here for a while to buy some cigarettes and I'll be back." Her eyes widened just a bit before she clenched her fists and exhaled through her nose. Noticing her obvious anxiety, I added, "Just calm down, watch some TV or something. I just want you settled when I return."
She nodded quietly as she carefully lowered herself to the bed. I studied her more, before sighing heavily and leaving her alone.
---
I first stopped to buy me a pack of cigarettes. I had to smoke. I didn't smoke for almost more than a day. That was a record. I then headed to the cafè.
I was early but decided I needed some time to be alone. I lit a cigarette, shielding the flame before drawing in a deep breath. I obviously ignored the dirty looks I got from almost all the bypassers. I went by my rules. Not anyone else's. And certainly not the cafe's.
It only felt natural.
I held in the smoke as I closed my eyes, tilted back my head and smiled. It was a bliss. I then exhaled out.
It was two cups of coffee and three cigarettes later when Caroline walked in looking absolutely horrible in comparison to how she looked normally. But she still looked pretty under the mask of gloom she was wearing.
And no, I was obviously not 'catching feelings' for her, which was, by the way, an atrocious accusation. It was a simple observation. Something you should know about me is that I was very observant. Not a pervert.
Her hair was in a simple ponytail. She wore a simple black shirt, baggy jeans and a jacket. She clearly wore no makeup. Even her eyes were puffy and red. She was overdramatically sad.
She noticed me and sat on the chair in front of me.
"I'm sorry to have dragged you into this. I was the one who's supposed to help you. I just don't know what's wrong with me t-" She started rambling and I cut her off.
"Hey. It's okay. I'm always here to help." I said remembering those lines from some movie or book. I didn't remember.
She smiled warmly.
"Want something?" I asked.
"No. I lost my appetite." She said with a shrug and a smile.
"There's always space for a hot chocolate with marshmallows, don't you think?" I said and was honestly awed at my ability to be utterly cheesy.
Like Julius was cringing from Romeo. Does it make any sense? But I guess that was my mission at that time.
She smiled widely and nodded. "Okay, then."
I ordered it for her.
"Okay. So? Tell me what you feel. I mean talk to me. Of course, only if it'll make you feel any better." I added quickly.
Be a gentleman, I chanted in my head, a part me of me hoping that she would be generous enough and not agree to my offer.
She took a deep breath, then looked into my eyes. "I want to get over him. I want to let him go like he did to me. I want to hurt him. I want to make him feel like he's missing on a lot. But-" She paused, looked down then back up with tears in her eyes. "-every time I see his Instagram posts with her or go through our old pictures. My heart. Crumples. In his posts, he looked at her in the same way he looked at me. Like I was never special. Like I was just a phase in his life," she was saying.
I looked at her and nodded 'sadly'. I actually hated these type of guys. Those and rapists. I mean, I know I kill, but I don't break hearts.
Or, maybe I did- I probably did-
Whatever.
"You deserve better," I said and immediately felt that my reply was so insufficient. "You know? That guy-?"
"Tom."
"Tom doesn't know what he's missing on. Do you know why?" I took her silence as a 'no'. "Because what you can provide, of love, passion and intense care, isn't what he's looking for. He's looking for a body, not a soul. You should feel thankful that God rid you of superficial git." I said feeling anger make a way. I told you I hated those type of guys.
Anger issues, it was okay, you could've chilled.
She looked at me in deep thought as the waitress came with her hot chocolate. Caroline engulfed the cup in her hands and nodded. "You are right. Whenever we met or talked, it always had to divert to sex. He would change subjects and not answer questions. He never took me out for a date after our first one. He said it was a waste of time. I guess, he got bored of me."
"No, wrong," I said looking at her and raising my index finger. "-he got bored if your body."
And at that moment, I felt like getting up and probably give the two of us a standing ovation. It was overwhelmingly dramatic.
Caroline sighed and sipped on her hot chocolate. I saw her shoulders relax as she leaned back in the chair. She then noticed me watch her. "I'm going to be okay, you know that right?" she said.
I chuckled lightly. "Judging by how you look, it wouldn't be any time soon."
"I've gone through worse. Trust me."
I shook my head, smiling.
She drank more and I felt myself zone out, remembering Sam and how father knew how to get to her. I would expect him to know where I was- which meant I had to change the motel soon. I wouldn't risk having both of us as easy targets as we were both together now.
"Shoot!" Caroline's voice snapped me out of my daydream. "I have to go and see Ben in the library or he'll kill me. I'm already like ten minutes late." She said, getting up.
I raised my eyebrows and followed suit. Amazing. The torture was over. She then thanked me quickly and profusely before leaving me alone. I was still smirking at her naivety when I came out of the cafe shortly after her. It was around eight.
I hopped into the car and headed to the park for some 'alone' time before I headed back to the motel where I was going to be confined with Sam.
I didn't know why, but this park had this effect on me. The quiet was pierced by the distant laughter of kids, reminding me of childhood. For me, childhood was the epitome of innocence, purity, and freedom. It reminded me that I was once free.
I sat on an empty bench, looked around and found none other than Samantha talking to a child on the bench next to mine. Her hand reached for the child's head gingerly before she patted it twice smiling.
The child then ran away towards the playground grinning. I got up hesitantly and reached in my denim's pocket for her mp3 player- that had been crammed there ever since I last saw her.
I then sat next to her on the bench.
I felt her smile before I took her hand and placed her mp3 player there. She grinned. "I knew I'd see you again, Julius. Well, not see you literally," she chuckled. "But come across you again. You know what I mean."
***
A/N: All the love <3
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<▪▪Gentleman▪▪>
My eyes widened slightly at what she said. I had to look calm though or she'd lose it. I was the only rock for her to lean on apparently.
"What makes you say that?" I muttered quietly, studying her dark, brown eyes.
"Yesterday-" She choked on her words and I sat straighter more alert. "Just yesterday, two armed men asked Zig if they knew about me. Zig, he lied." She sniffed. "He told them he didn't know about me. They didn't believe him. They searched my room. And I'm sure they know that I'm the one they're looking for. Then-then, they shot Zig in his left leg and stomach. They messed him up bad. So, so bad, Romeo." Tears were now rolling down her cheeks. "When I found him, he had lost a lot of blood. He got hospitalized. He was in a lot of pain, but he told me everything."
I looked at her trying to digest what she just said. This meant one thing and one thing only. That my father found out about her. But of course, he did. It didn't strike me as surprising.
So I took in a deep breath and looked back at her terrified face.
"It's going to be oka-"
"No!" She said hysterically, shaking her head. "No. It's not going to be okay, because when I called Dad's best friends- because I couldn't talk to Dad of course." She paused, took in a deep breath, then looked in my eyes again. "They said, they didn't know what I was talking about. This means that I can't help you. So how can you help me? How is anything going to be okay? What if he never told anyone where those documents were? What if I couldn't find them?"
I felt my head turn. Sam was in clear danger. My chest tightened at the thought of Father finding her.
"I can't sleep. I can't walk on the streets without feeling that this might be my last breath. I can't live-" She said breathlessly, removing her hand from mine and looking at it hopelessly. "It's haunting. And very trying."
"Please, listen." I tried to say sternly with a sigh as she stifled another sob. "Whoever wants you, wouldn't want to kill you. So please calm down, you are not going to die." I said and she looked at me hypnotized. "They want something from you. You're valuable to them. And that makes you safe. Now, where are you staying right now?" I asked, importantly.
"At home?" She said as if it was obvious and I almost screamed at how idiotic that was of her.
"Do you have any friend who you can move in with for a while?" I asked in disbelief as she shook her head.
"I have no friends except for Zig. People don't tend- to like me." She said sniffling as I frowned in focus. She seemed like a decent person, but I guessed she was a sucker for first impressions.
Anyhow.
"Well. You'll be staying with me." I blurted not thoroughly thinking it through.
"I will?" She asked surprised.
"Yes. Your safety is very important until we get those documents that can destroy your enemy. I-I can protect you." I said.
Can you?- a daunting voice said within me. Wasn't that the same thing you told Audrey?
"Do you need anything important from your house?" I asked ignoring the twist in the pit of my gut as I averted my gaze.
She nodded. "I might need just a few things. And I'll go get them like right now." She with determination as she got to her feet.
"Where do you think you're possibly going?" I asked in disbelief as I too got up and stood above her. "You'll be staying in the car while I get all the things you need."
She looked hard at me. "Okay. Whatever."
I was dragging her toward the car when she stopped suddenly with widened eyes.
"Is there something wrong?" I asked sweetly and almost rolled my eyes.
"I don't trust you." She said sharply, detaching herself from me. She stood staring at me defiantly with her shaky hands curled into fists.
"What?" I breathed, raising my eyebrows in disbelief.
"I don't trust you. Why should I? You can be manipulating me so that you can kill me later." She stated, mustering enough strength to look straight into my eyes.
I looked at her, lips slightly parted, not knowing what to say. She had a point.
I sighed in defeat as I watched her shift. Her breathing seemed to fasten and her eyes scanned everything surrounding her in quick irregular circles. "Look," I started. "I know there isn't a reason for you to trust me. But let there be one."
"But that's my life we're betting on!" She almost whispered desperately as tears tumbled down her eyelashes, leaving her appear more terrified than livid.
I studied her and pursed my lips. I needed to gain her trust, but it was difficult. It wasn't as affordable as Caroline's trust.
"You are right. You have every reason not to trust me. I barged into your life out of nowhere and put it out of order. And for that, I am sorry." I tried to look as sincere as I could. "But what other option do you have? Run away and pray in the darkest hours of the night that you'd get to see the sun again? Because deep down you know they will follow you and get you. What's the point?"
She shook her head as tears streamed down her face. "I don't even know anymore-"
"Hey-" I said lifting up her chin with my right hand and looking into her eyes with a smirk. "I am offering you a chance. By turning your back on this, you'll be eradicating any chance of you saving yourself."
She then sighed heavily and shuddered against a cold gust of wind.
She then looked long in my eyes before she whispered 'okay' and started walking with me toward the Mustang. Her hands grasping my good arm for life.
The girl was scared.
---
I opened a pink travel bag that I found under Sam's bed and dragged anything of hers that I saw into it. I also made sure to pack her books so she could study. We discussed the fact that she'd be safe in the university because no one was allowed in unless they had an ID. And I'd be dropping her every day if I could help it.
I sighed and was about to zip the bag when my phone rang. I groaned in frustration.
I took it out of my back pocket and found it was Caroline.
I answered a part of me amused by all my actions. I was amused at how my rage against my father had caused me to act so differently. I never answered phone calls or talked sweetly to comfort crying girls. That wasn't what I did, but was what had to be done.
"Romeo?" She said tentatively.
"Hey. Caroline. How are you?" I heard her sniff at the other end and so sat on Sam's bed, waiting for an insipid, imbecilic story. I didn't know what I've signed up for by actually letting Caroline trust me.
"He's got a n-new girlfriend-" She choked out the words and I frowned. Who got a girlfriend?
"Pardon? Who? Oh-" I then added quickly, unpleasantly recalling yesterday's 'conversation'. Because, hell, what was I supposed to say? Just let my non-existent advice instincts guide me?
"Well, it's obvious that he's the player type." I blurted the words and had to squeeze shut my eyes from the tears forming. I was crying from cringing. "You should've expected it to happen?" I then asked/said slowly.
She cried more, blowing her nose. I then shook my head and rolled my eyes. I seriously had no time for this, but I had to act it all up. I needed to remind myself that all of this was temporary.
"How do you feel?" I queried dumbly, with a slight shrug. Better than the awkward, sniffling-filled silence that settled between us.
"Horrible obviously!" She almost snapped and I swallowed back a snicker. It was all ridiculously hilarious. I didn't understand what she was sad about. But I needed to hang up and had no time to listen to her plathering.
"Okay. Do you want to meet and talk?" I said suddenly with a smirk.
She hesitated for a second. "But like- won't it like, you know- be awkward?" She sniffed.
"It'll be awkward only if you want it to be," I replied with a bored sigh.
I had to be a gentleman and I detested it. I was having the most difficult time in my life, trying to appear tidy and 'warm-hearted'. And I had to be particularly careful about the words that slipped and even the expressions on my face.
So gentleman, my arse.
"Oh, okay then. I'd love you. Where though?"
"The café right next to Sam's apartment?" I suggested.
"Okay. When?"
"In like two hours? Or three? At six." I said finally.
"Okay." She said, sighing. "I'll see you then. Bye."
She hung up and I shook my head shoving my phone in my back pocket. Boring- the kind of sacrifices I make- was what I thought.
I then got up, zipped her bag and dragged it behind me. When I headed out, I placed the bag in the car's trunk and got into the driver's seat to notice Sam type furiously on her phone with shaky hands and fingers.
I didn't bother her, started the engine and headed to the motel right away.
---
She was silent the whole trip really. I carried her bag all the way to the room and she followed quietly. I unlocked the door and let her in first. She walked in slowly taking in her surroundings. A bed in the centre with a TV table in front of it. A refrigerator next to a closed door that led to the bathroom. I dropped the bag and stood next to her.
"Is that a gun? On your bed?" She then blurted, freezing in her place. I flinched, remembering Augustus playing around with it.
"Don't worry, please. It's for self-defence." I said quickly, reaching for it and hiding it under the pillow. I then looked up at her with a small, probably unconvincing smile. She looked around nervously before her eyes pivoted back to my pillow.
I was going to leave her to adjust anyway. I had to meet Caroline. It'd probably make her trust me more. Especially that I'd leave her with my gun.
"Okay. Listen. I'll leave you here for a while to buy some cigarettes and I'll be back." Her eyes widened just a bit before she clenched her fists and exhaled through her nose. Noticing her obvious anxiety, I added, "Just calm down, watch some TV or something. I just want you settled when I return."
She nodded quietly as she carefully lowered herself to the bed. I studied her more, before sighing heavily and leaving her alone.
---
I first stopped to buy me a pack of cigarettes. I had to smoke. I didn't smoke for almost more than a day. That was a record. I then headed to the cafè.
I was early but decided I needed some time to be alone. I lit a cigarette, shielding the flame before drawing in a deep breath. I obviously ignored the dirty looks I got from almost all the bypassers. I went by my rules. Not anyone else's. And certainly not the cafe's.
It only felt natural.
I held in the smoke as I closed my eyes, tilted back my head and smiled. It was a bliss. I then exhaled out.
It was two cups of coffee and three cigarettes later when Caroline walked in looking absolutely horrible in comparison to how she looked normally. But she still looked pretty under the mask of gloom she was wearing.
And no, I was obviously not 'catching feelings' for her, which was, by the way, an atrocious accusation. It was a simple observation. Something you should know about me is that I was very observant. Not a pervert.
Her hair was in a simple ponytail. She wore a simple black shirt, baggy jeans and a jacket. She clearly wore no makeup. Even her eyes were puffy and red. She was overdramatically sad.
She noticed me and sat on the chair in front of me.
"I'm sorry to have dragged you into this. I was the one who's supposed to help you. I just don't know what's wrong with me t-" She started rambling and I cut her off.
"Hey. It's okay. I'm always here to help." I said remembering those lines from some movie or book. I didn't remember.
She smiled warmly.
"Want something?" I asked.
"No. I lost my appetite." She said with a shrug and a smile.
"There's always space for a hot chocolate with marshmallows, don't you think?" I said and was honestly awed at my ability to be utterly cheesy.
Like Julius was cringing from Romeo. Does it make any sense? But I guess that was my mission at that time.
She smiled widely and nodded. "Okay, then."
I ordered it for her.
"Okay. So? Tell me what you feel. I mean talk to me. Of course, only if it'll make you feel any better." I added quickly.
Be a gentleman, I chanted in my head, a part me of me hoping that she would be generous enough and not agree to my offer.
She took a deep breath, then looked into my eyes. "I want to get over him. I want to let him go like he did to me. I want to hurt him. I want to make him feel like he's missing on a lot. But-" She paused, looked down then back up with tears in her eyes. "-every time I see his Instagram posts with her or go through our old pictures. My heart. Crumples. In his posts, he looked at her in the same way he looked at me. Like I was never special. Like I was just a phase in his life," she was saying.
I looked at her and nodded 'sadly'. I actually hated these type of guys. Those and rapists. I mean, I know I kill, but I don't break hearts.
Or, maybe I did- I probably did-
Whatever.
"You deserve better," I said and immediately felt that my reply was so insufficient. "You know? That guy-?"
"Tom."
"Tom doesn't know what he's missing on. Do you know why?" I took her silence as a 'no'. "Because what you can provide, of love, passion and intense care, isn't what he's looking for. He's looking for a body, not a soul. You should feel thankful that God rid you of superficial git." I said feeling anger make a way. I told you I hated those type of guys.
Anger issues, it was okay, you could've chilled.
She looked at me in deep thought as the waitress came with her hot chocolate. Caroline engulfed the cup in her hands and nodded. "You are right. Whenever we met or talked, it always had to divert to sex. He would change subjects and not answer questions. He never took me out for a date after our first one. He said it was a waste of time. I guess, he got bored of me."
"No, wrong," I said looking at her and raising my index finger. "-he got bored if your body."
And at that moment, I felt like getting up and probably give the two of us a standing ovation. It was overwhelmingly dramatic.
Caroline sighed and sipped on her hot chocolate. I saw her shoulders relax as she leaned back in the chair. She then noticed me watch her. "I'm going to be okay, you know that right?" she said.
I chuckled lightly. "Judging by how you look, it wouldn't be any time soon."
"I've gone through worse. Trust me."
I shook my head, smiling.
She drank more and I felt myself zone out, remembering Sam and how father knew how to get to her. I would expect him to know where I was- which meant I had to change the motel soon. I wouldn't risk having both of us as easy targets as we were both together now.
"Shoot!" Caroline's voice snapped me out of my daydream. "I have to go and see Ben in the library or he'll kill me. I'm already like ten minutes late." She said, getting up.
I raised my eyebrows and followed suit. Amazing. The torture was over. She then thanked me quickly and profusely before leaving me alone. I was still smirking at her naivety when I came out of the cafe shortly after her. It was around eight.
I hopped into the car and headed to the park for some 'alone' time before I headed back to the motel where I was going to be confined with Sam.
I didn't know why, but this park had this effect on me. The quiet was pierced by the distant laughter of kids, reminding me of childhood. For me, childhood was the epitome of innocence, purity, and freedom. It reminded me that I was once free.
I sat on an empty bench, looked around and found none other than Samantha talking to a child on the bench next to mine. Her hand reached for the child's head gingerly before she patted it twice smiling.
The child then ran away towards the playground grinning. I got up hesitantly and reached in my denim's pocket for her mp3 player- that had been crammed there ever since I last saw her.
I then sat next to her on the bench.
I felt her smile before I took her hand and placed her mp3 player there. She grinned. "I knew I'd see you again, Julius. Well, not see you literally," she chuckled. "But come across you again. You know what I mean."
***
A/N: All the love <3
GentlemanMy eyes widened slightly at what she said. I had to look calm though or she'd lose it. I was the only rock for her to lean on apparently."What makes you say that?" I muttered quietly, studying her dark, brown eyes."Yesterday-" She choked on her words and I sat straighter more alert. "Just yesterday, two armed men asked Zig if they knew about me. Zig, he lied." She sniffed. "He told them he didn't know about me. They didn't believe him. They searched my room. And I'm sure they know that I'm the one they're looking for. Then-then, they shot Zig in his left leg and stomach. They messed him up bad. So, so bad, Romeo." Tears were now rolling down her cheeks. "When I found him, he had lost a lot of blood. He got hospitalized. He was in a lot of pain, but he told me everything."I looked at her trying to digest what she just said. This meant one thing and one thing only. That my father found out about her. But of course, he did. It didn't strike me as surprising.So I took in a deep breath and looked back at her terrified face."It's going to be oka-""No!" She said hysterically, shaking her head. "No. It's not going to be okay, because when I called Dad's best friends- because I couldn't talk to Dad of course." She paused, took in a deep breath, then looked in my eyes again. "They said, they didn't know what I was talking about. This means that I can't help you. So how can you help me? How is anything going to be okay? What if he never told anyone where those documents were? What if I couldn't find them?"I felt my head turn. Sam was in clear danger. My chest tightened at the thought of Father finding her."I can't sleep. I can't walk on the streets without feeling that this might be my last breath. I can't live-" She said breathlessly, removing her hand from mine and looking at it hopelessly. "It's haunting. And very trying.""Please, listen." I tried to say sternly with a sigh as she stifled another sob. "Whoever wants you, wouldn't want to kill you. So please calm down, you are not going to die." I said and she looked at me hypnotized. "They want something from you. You're valuable to them. And that makes you safe. Now, where are you staying right now?" I asked, importantly."At home?" She said as if it was obvious and I almost screamed at how idiotic that was of her."Do you have any friend who you can move in with for a while?" I asked in disbelief as she shook her head."I have no friends except for Zig. People don't tend- to like me." She said sniffling as I frowned in focus. She seemed like a decent person, but I guessed she was a sucker for first impressions.Anyhow."Well. You'll be staying with me." I blurted not thoroughly thinking it through."I will?" She asked surprised."Yes. Your safety is very important until we get those documents that can destroy your enemy. I-I can protect you." I said.Can you?- a daunting voice said within me. Wasn't that the same thing you told Audrey?"Do you need anything important from your house?" I asked ignoring the twist in the pit of my gut as I averted my gaze.She nodded. "I might need just a few things. And I'll go get them like right now." She with determination as she got to her feet."Where do you think you're possibly going?" I asked in disbelief as I too got up and stood above her. "You'll be staying in the car while I get all the things you need."She looked hard at me. "Okay. Whatever."I was dragging her toward the car when she stopped suddenly with widened eyes."Is there something wrong?" I asked sweetly and almost rolled my eyes."I don't trust you." She said sharply, detaching herself from me. She stood staring at me defiantly with her shaky hands curled into fists."What?" I breathed, raising my eyebrows in disbelief."I don't trust you. Why should I? You can be manipulating me so that you can kill me later." She stated, mustering enough strength to look straight into my eyes.I looked at her, lips slightly parted, not knowing what to say. She had a point.I sighed in defeat as I watched her shift. Her breathing seemed to fasten and her eyes scanned everything surrounding her in quick irregular circles. "Look," I started. "I know there isn't a reason for you to trust me. But let there be one.""But that's my life we're betting on!" She almost whispered desperately as tears tumbled down her eyelashes, leaving her appear more terrified than livid.I studied her and pursed my lips. I needed to gain her trust, but it was difficult. It wasn't as affordable as Caroline's trust."You are right. You have every reason not to trust me. I barged into your life out of nowhere and put it out of order. And for that, I am sorry." I tried to look as sincere as I could. "But what other option do you have? Run away and pray in the darkest hours of the night that you'd get to see the sun again? Because deep down you know they will follow you and get you. What's the point?"She shook her head as tears streamed down her face. "I don't even know anymore-""Hey-" I said lifting up her chin with my right hand and looking into her eyes with a smirk. "I am offering you a chance. By turning your back on this, you'll be eradicating any chance of you saving yourself."She then sighed heavily and shuddered against a cold gust of wind.She then looked long in my eyes before she whispered 'okay' and started walking with me toward the Mustang. Her hands grasping my good arm for life.The girl was scared.---I opened a pink travel bag that I found under Sam's bed and dragged anything of hers that I saw into it. I also made sure to pack her books so she could study. We discussed the fact that she'd be safe in the university because no one was allowed in unless they had an ID. And I'd be dropping her every day if I could help it.I sighed and was about to zip the bag when my phone rang. I groaned in frustration.I took it out of my back pocket and found it was Caroline.I answered a part of me amused by all my actions. I was amused at how my rage against my father had caused me to act so differently. I never answered phone calls or talked sweetly to comfort crying girls. That wasn't what I did, but was what had to be done."Romeo?" She said tentatively."Hey. Caroline. How are you?" I heard her sniff at the other end and so sat on Sam's bed, waiting for an insipid, imbecilic story. I didn't know what I've signed up for by actually letting Caroline trust me."He's got a n-new girlfriend-" She choked out the words and I frowned. Who got a girlfriend?"Pardon? Who? Oh-" I then added quickly, unpleasantly recalling yesterday's 'conversation'. Because, hell, what was I supposed to say? Just let my non-existent advice instincts guide me?"Well, it's obvious that he's the player type." I blurted the words and had to squeeze shut my eyes from the tears forming. I was crying from cringing. "You should've expected it to happen?" I then asked/said slowly.She cried more, blowing her nose. I then shook my head and rolled my eyes. I seriously had no time for this, but I had to act it all up. I needed to remind myself that all of this was temporary."How do you feel?" I queried dumbly, with a slight shrug. Better than the awkward, sniffling-filled silence that settled between us."Horrible obviously!" She almost snapped and I swallowed back a snicker. It was all ridiculously hilarious. I didn't understand what she was sad about. But I needed to hang up and had no time to listen to her plathering."Okay. Do you want to meet and talk?" I said suddenly with a smirk.She hesitated for a second. "But like- won't it like, you know- be awkward?" She sniffed."It'll be awkward only if you want it to be," I replied with a bored sigh.I had to be a gentleman and I detested it. I was having the most difficult time in my life, trying to appear tidy and 'warm-hearted'. And I had to be particularly careful about the words that slipped and even the expressions on my face.So gentleman, my arse."Oh, okay then. I'd love you. Where though?""The caf right next to Sam's apartment?" I suggested."Okay. When?""In like two hours? Or three? At six." I said finally."Okay." She said, sighing. "I'll see you then. Bye."She hung up and I shook my head shoving my phone in my back pocket. Boring- the kind of sacrifices I make- was what I thought.I then got up, zipped her bag and dragged it behind me. When I headed out, I placed the bag in the car's trunk and got into the driver's seat to notice Sam type furiously on her phone with shaky hands and fingers.I didn't bother her, started the engine and headed to the motel right away.---She was silent the whole trip really. I carried her bag all the way to the room and she followed quietly. I unlocked the door and let her in first. She walked in slowly taking in her surroundings. A bed in the centre with a TV table in front of it. A refrigerator next to a closed door that led to the bathroom. I dropped the bag and stood next to her."Is that a gun? On your bed?" She then blurted, freezing in her place. I flinched, remembering Augustus playing around with it."Don't worry, please. It's for self-defence." I said quickly, reaching for it and hiding it under the pillow. I then looked up at her with a small, probably unconvincing smile. She looked around nervously before her eyes pivoted back to my pillow.I was going to leave her to adjust anyway. I had to meet Caroline. It'd probably make her trust me more. Especially that I'd leave her with my gun."Okay. Listen. I'll leave you here for a while to buy some cigarettes and I'll be back." Her eyes widened just a bit before she clenched her fists and exhaled through her nose. Noticing her obvious anxiety, I added, "Just calm down, watch some TV or something. I just want you settled when I return."She nodded quietly as she carefully lowered herself to the bed. I studied her more, before sighing heavily and leaving her alone.---I first stopped to buy me a pack of cigarettes. I had to smoke. I didn't smoke for almost more than a day. That was a record. I then headed to the caf.I was early but decided I needed some time to be alone. I lit a cigarette, shielding the flame before drawing in a deep breath. I obviously ignored the dirty looks I got from almost all the bypassers. I went by my rules. Not anyone else's. And certainly not the cafe's.It only felt natural.I held in the smoke as I closed my eyes, tilted back my head and smiled. It was a bliss. I then exhaled out.It was two cups of coffee and three cigarettes later when Caroline walked in looking absolutely horrible in comparison to how she looked normally. But she still looked pretty under the mask of gloom she was wearing.And no, I was obviously not 'catching feelings' for her, which was, by the way, an atrocious accusation. It was a simple observation. Something you should know about me is that I was very observant. Not a pervert.Her hair was in a simple ponytail. She wore a simple black shirt, baggy jeans and a jacket. She clearly wore no makeup. Even her eyes were puffy and red. She was overdramatically sad.She noticed me and sat on the chair in front of me."I'm sorry to have dragged you into this. I was the one who's supposed to help you. I just don't know what's wrong with me t-" She started rambling and I cut her off."Hey. It's okay. I'm always here to help." I said remembering those lines from some movie or book. I didn't remember.She smiled warmly."Want something?" I asked."No. I lost my appetite." She said with a shrug and a smile."There's always space for a hot chocolate with marshmallows, don't you think?" I said and was honestly awed at my ability to be utterly cheesy.Like Julius was cringing from Romeo. Does it make any sense? But I guess that was my mission at that time.She smiled widely and nodded. "Okay, then."I ordered it for her."Okay. So? Tell me what you feel. I mean talk to me. Of course, only if it'll make you feel any better." I added quickly.Be a gentleman, I chanted in my head, a part me of me hoping that she would be generous enough and not agree to my offer.She took a deep breath, then looked into my eyes. "I want to get over him. I want to let him go like he did to me. I want to hurt him. I want to make him feel like he's missing on a lot. But-" She paused, looked down then back up with tears in her eyes. "-every time I see his Instagram posts with her or go through our old pictures. My heart. Crumples. In his posts, he looked at her in the same way he looked at me. Like I was never special. Like I was just a phase in his life," she was saying.I looked at her and nodded 'sadly'. I actually hated these type of guys. Those and rapists. I mean, I know I kill, but I don't break hearts.Or, maybe I did- I probably did-Whatever."You deserve better," I said and immediately felt that my reply was so insufficient. "You know? That guy-?""Tom.""Tom doesn't know what he's missing on. Do you know why?" I took her silence as a 'no'. "Because what you can provide, of love, passion and intense care, isn't what he's looking for. He's looking for a body, not a soul. You should feel thankful that God rid you of superficial git." I said feeling anger make a way. I told you I hated those type of guys.Anger issues, it was okay, you could've chilled.She looked at me in deep thought as the waitress came with her hot chocolate. Caroline engulfed the cup in her hands and nodded. "You are right. Whenever we met or talked, it always had to divert to sex. He would change subjects and not answer questions. He never took me out for a date after our first one. He said it was a waste of time. I guess, he got bored of me.""No, wrong," I said looking at her and raising my index finger. "-he got bored if your body."And at that moment, I felt like getting up and probably give the two of us a standing ovation. It was overwhelmingly dramatic.Caroline sighed and sipped on her hot chocolate. I saw her shoulders relax as she leaned back in the chair. She then noticed me watch her. "I'm going to be okay, you know that right?" she said.I chuckled lightly. "Judging by how you look, it wouldn't be any time soon.""I've gone through worse. Trust me."I shook my head, smiling.She drank more and I felt myself zone out, remembering Sam and how father knew how to get to her. I would expect him to know where I was- which meant I had to change the motel soon. I wouldn't risk having both of us as easy targets as we were both together now."Shoot!" Caroline's voice snapped me out of my daydream. "I have to go and see Ben in the library or he'll kill me. I'm already like ten minutes late." She said, getting up.I raised my eyebrows and followed suit. Amazing. The torture was over. She then thanked me quickly and profusely before leaving me alone. I was still smirking at her naivety when I came out of the cafe shortly after her. It was around eight.I hopped into the car and headed to the park for some 'alone' time before I headed back to the motel where I was going to be confined with Sam.I didn't know why, but this park had this effect on me. The quiet was pierced by the distant laughter of kids, reminding me of childhood. For me, childhood was the epitome of innocence, purity, and freedom. It reminded me that I was once free.I sat on an empty bench, looked around and found none other than Samantha talking to a child on the bench next to mine. Her hand reached for the child's head gingerly before she patted it twice smiling.The child then ran away towards the playground grinning. I got up hesitantly and reached in my denim's pocket for her mp3 player- that had been crammed there ever since I last saw her.I then sat next to her on the bench.I felt her smile before I took her hand and placed her mp3 player there. She grinned. "I knew I'd see you again, Julius. Well, not see you literally," she chuckled. "But come across you again. You know what I mean."***A/N: All the love 3
