Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Chapter 22: Speak of the Devil

“Akira? Akira, honey.”

“Ugh! Five more minutes, mom!”

“Honey, we need to discuss something important.”

It took me a while to realize that my mom was really here and I wasn't imaging it. And it wasn’t seven in the morning and that I was in my bed, sleeping at twelve in the afternoon.

“I’m up.” I sat up leaning against my headboard, rubbing the sleep from my eyes with both palms, my hair probably… scratch that, I knew my hair looked exactly like Medusa’s.

“Good. How are you feeling now?” Mom asked, running her hands through my hair to untangle them as best as she could. Mom’s taken today off and stayed at home so she could take care of me.

“Much better,” I said. I yawned and stretched my limbs. Nick had come in late at night and stayed for dinner. I wonder what Ethan would do if he knew.

“Good to hear. Nick was worried your dad would throw a fit. Stayed over till midnight.” Mom said with a smile as she folded a few clothes and placed them inside my wardrobe.

“He’s my best friend. Of course he’d be worried.”

“Really? And here I thought you'd be going out on dates by now.” I groaned. My mom had always thought that Nick and I had a thing for each other. I knew we were best friends and have a lot in common but I never thought of Nick as anything other than a best friend. And even though there were never any feelings of love on my side, mom was convinced that Nick loves me. Damn! And now even Ethan thinks the same thing.

“Mom, can we please not talk about this. I'm only 18 and I have plenty of time to choose men. Plus, there might be someone waiting for me at college next year,” I told her suggestively, trying to get her off topic.

“Hmm, or maybe… a certain fresh-out-of-college guy might have some interest in you?” She smirked at me. Any other time I would have blushed at having been caught, but today, all the color drained off of my face. Mom noticed. Crap! So much for dealing with one problem at a time. “Are you alright honey?”

“Yeah.” I rubbed my face with my hands. “Just a bit hungry. Breakfast didn’t fill me up.” I was getting better at lying every second. Was that a bad thing?

“Oh, dear! I’ll go make something for you then!” She got up to leave but stopped midway. “I almost forgot! We’re having a Thanksgiving dinner this Thursday, so I want you to invite your teacher. I feel sorry for not being able to invite him in last night. He was such a dear to have brought you home himself. I keep forgetting his name… Erick?”

“Ethan.” I paled further. God, please let it be someone else! But who else could she be talking about? There was only one person who had risked his career to take care of me.

“Yes, him. Would you please invite him for us, hun? He’s been helping you get good grades and he even went out of his way to bring you home! It’s the least we can do to thank him.” She ruffled my hair. “I’ll make some French toast for you.” She left after that.

Speak of the devil.

I nearly fainted. Why God, why? Couldn't I have a few moments of peace? I couldn't even refuse her. Firstly, dad was already suspicious of him and he probably already started polishing that hunting gun he kept in his office for display, the one that belonged to my great grandfather. Secondly, people were going to start asking questions and while explaining why Ethan was present in a family Thanksgiving, my identity might come out along with my relationship status! Dad, although he hadn’t said anything about my writing skills, wasn’t comfortable with me writing erotica. And on top of everything, if people found out about Ethan and me? Yeah, everything would be fine and dandy. Not.

I sighed and flopped back down on the bed and closed my eyes. The next few days were going to be absolute hell.

Mom came back with my toast and I had to force down those damn things as my mom kept watch. Don’t get me wrong, I love French toast. But considering that I just had breakfast not two hours ago… it was a difficult task. So it was no surprise that I had to rush to the bathroom as soon as mom left me alone.

Later on, when I came out of my room to head downstairs, Eva was pacing around the hallway like a caged lion. She nearly collided with me as she turned without warning.

“Whoa! Slow down tiger, what’s gotten you so wound up?” I asked.

“Oh, what’s gotten me so wound up, you ask? Everything! That’s what!” Eva snapped at me.

“What did I do?” I complained. Was she blaming me for getting caught for staying out overnight with Luke when she was supposed to stay home and watch over me? I wasn’t complaining, I did get to spend some alone time with Ethan after all, but she was older and should’ve known not to stay out too late.

Ethan…

Where was he? He visited me since he dropped me off. The only news I had from his was his text asking how I was, early this morning. I sighed. Why was I worrying again? He had a school to teach. A school filled with hot bombshells and three single female teachers!

“Earth to Akira! Seriously! Now you won’t even listen to me!” Eva puffed up her cheeks in annoyance and glared at me.

“Sorry. Won’t happen again, I promise. Now tell me, what’s gotten you so upset?” I pulled her by the hand and led her inside my room and sat on my bed so we were face to face.

“Well...”

“Well?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Luke… invitedmetoThanksgivingdinnerwithhisparents!” She gushed out.

“What?” I could hardly understand a word other than the fact that she started the sentence with “Luke”.

She sighed, took a deep breath and then spoke again, this time slower. “Luke… he… kind of invited me to Thanksgiving dinner with his parents!”

“Oh.” I blinked. “So you guys are on that stage already? Great!”

“Are you seriously not seeing my dilemma here?" She asked incredulously.

“No, not really.”

“His parents, Akira! Meeting the parents? Hello?” She flailed her hands around as if that would help me understand better.

“Yeah, I get it Eva. That’s what I just said. Meeting the—oh!” Now I got it. “You’re not sure about your relationship with Luke yet.”

“Yeah… I mean no… he’s nice and cool and funny and charming and great in bed and seems to know me pretty well and—”

“And those are not reason enough for meeting his parents?” I raised my eyebrows at her. Damn my sister was picky!

“I don’t know, okay! I mean, I like him, I really do, but don’t you think meeting the parents, for a guy at least, means that he’s pretty serious? It kind of feels… like a huge leap,” she said, her dilemma clear in her voice.

“Look, I know you have commitment issues and that’s normal, but you never told me why. So, if you do, then I may be able to help you.” I took both her hands in mine. “Only if it’s okay with you.” Eva and I are pretty close since she had been taking care of me ever since mom and dad started their business. More than sisters, we were like best friends and as far as I knew, she has never had a traumatic relationship in her life that would have her scared of commitments. Until now I had no reason to as her why and she had no reasons to open up to me. Because sister or not, she was still eight years older. But one thing I was sure of, was that my sister was a fiercely independent person.

“I just…” She sighed. “I just like being free, you know. Going further into a relationship means that another person starts to have a say in my life and it just bothers me. I don’t want my life to come to a point where I might have to do everything my partner says just because I’m too emotionally attached to hurt them or let them go.”

"And has that happened with Luke so far? Does he suffocate you?"

“No. Like I said, he seems to know me pretty well but I don’t know if in the future—”

“Eva, no one knows what the future holds,” I spoke for both of us. “But we can’t keep avoiding someone or running from someone just because we don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow! You said that you’re scared that your partner will have a say in your life but you forgot that same is applicable for you, too. Being in a relationship means being equals and from what you’ve told me so far, Luke does just that.”

I looked into her eyes to try and make her understand. I knew she did. She knew all this even before I told her anything. She just needed some reassurance.

“Look, no one’s going to force you to do anything but give it a go. Who knows, something good might come out of it.” I told her.

She nodded her head, smiling slightly. “You know what, for an under aged erotica writer, you’re kind of smart. Tell me how you kept this big a secret for so long? Even I had no clue!” She asked with genuine curiosity.

“A, you hate reading and B, my laptop and phone are password protected.”

“Ha-ha!” She laughed humorlessly. “Try studying MBA and you’d hate looking at books.”

“That’s impossible! I’m going to be a world famous writer one day and you’ll have to read every single one of my books.” I told her confidently. Earned a hug and a kiss to my forehead.

“But you’re cooking right? Thanksgiving dinner is incomplete without your cooking,” I said, after I pulled away from her hug.

“Of course I will. I love cooking so no problem there. I’ll go pick out a dress now, got to impress the parents. Later kiddo!” With that, she was out of my room, as excited as a girl on her first date… leaving me to ponder on my own advice.

I guess it was time to stop running and face Ethan. I already knew how he felt, but he didn’t know about mine yet. Guess we’d have to change that… as soon as I find him.

*

*

*

“This is the address?” Sean asked Victor, shifting his position as the chilly fall air raged past the four of them.

“Yeah. He said he’ll be here by 10.30.” Keith McKenna looked at his watch. “And speak of the devil and he shall appear.”

The four of them came out of their car when a figure emerged from the alleyway behind the closed factory. Rage was a thunder in their veins as they watched the figure nearing.

“Why did you call?” the fifth man asked.

“Fuck you, man!” Sean spat at him. “It’s because of you that we’re in this shit! We get rusticated from school while you get to play hero! And now the entire town is against us! The fucking sheriff now has a record of us!”

“Don’t you dare put this on me!” The fifth man roared out making the others wince and take a step back. They all knew how strong he was. “I told you to scare her, not try to rape her, you idiots! If anyone is to blame for what happened, it’s you.”

“But…what do we do now? Our parents are going to kill us once they find out where we're hiding.” It was the fourth person in the group, Adrian, who spoke for the first time.

“Should’ve thought of that before you made such a mistake.” The fifth man spoke. “I already paid you for your job, so don’t try anything funny. If you think your parents will kill you for a near rape attempt, then think about what they’ll do if they found out about the drugs. I have pictures, remember.”

How could they forget? It was how they had gotten into this mess in the first place, pictures of them buying drugs from a dealer and selling it to their high school friends. The four men lowered their heads. The drugs would not only ruin their lives, but their families as well. And their parents were respected people.

“Forget about my involvement in this case or those pictures will hit the social media before you take your next breath.” With that, the fifth man walked back into the darkness from where he’d appeared, leaving the four boys standing in the dark, cold night in despair.

“Shit!” Sean cussed. “We really are in knee deep now.”

The others agreed and no one spoke as they got into their car and drove off, unknown to the pair of eyes that had watched the whole ordeal.