Chapter 11
1549words
"I can't believe that we really had to work overtime." Cher said looking ghastly pale.
With my eyes half closed from tiredness and from watching at a bright lit up screen for far too long I looked at Cher. "Why did you had to talk to me for so long? I could have already been sleeping on my couch while watching Netflix." I accused her.
"Well sorry for caring for my best friend; I won't do it again. I won't even bother searching for you if you would ever suddenly disappear." She said a little bit pissed.
Oops I forgot that a tired Cherry is a super cranky Cherry. And the only one who can put her in a slightly better mood is-
"Took you guys long enough."
Both startled by the voice we whipped our heads to see a tall 5ft8 man leaning against the wall crossed armed. The same man had caramel colored hair and eyes; long stubble beard and he was wearing sweatpants and t-shirt with a jacket over it.
Cher run up to the man and gave him a tight hug which he gladly welcomed.
"Babe!" Cher exclaimed happy.
"Glad to see you Brandon. If you called out to us even a second later, I would have been killed by your girl." I said jokingly.
He chuckled revealing his baritone voice. "Glad to be of help April."
With his other arm still laying on Cher's waist he opened his other arm. "Am I not getting a hug from you? I haven't seen your dork face in a while." He said.
Why does everyone want a hug today? It's starting to give me anxiety, however Jack already knows of my relationship with Brandon so it shouldn't be a problem, right? Augh whatever!
Without a care in the world I gave Brandon a big hug. "How have you been, big bro." I asked.
"Worried." He let me go as he said that and looked at Cher and I with stern eyes. "Didn't I ask you to go home early? Did you really think that I would stay at home after receiving your message telling me that you guys would be working overtime?" He said scolding Cher. Cher whimpered. "I'm sorry…we really didn't know that we would work until late babe." She said talking softly. Brandon's eyes softened, not being able to act angry as he stared at her face.
"It's okay. I was just worried. That murderer still hasn't been caught and I can't stay calm when it comes to your safety." He softly planted a kiss on Cher's temple. "I know." Cher's said smiling softly giving him a hug.
When I thought that he had calmed down he suddenly directed his attention to me making me flinch in fear for his anticipated lecture and I am not his girlfriend so he's going to be way harsher on me.
"And you, why did you refuse our offer to stay at our place for a while? And don't give the 'I don't want to be the third wheeler' excuse because you know that you can handle our romance time."
I sighed. 'It's because I'm trying to protect your lives you ass-wipes' not that I can say that, can I?
"It's because I don't want to be a bother to you guys." I said a little bit sullen.
He huffed. "How would that be possible? We basically grew up with each other. You would be anything but a bother."
Okay so what is the best way to go around this, because I really am tired from everything that has been happening today and I am not sure if I'm able to spew another well thought out lie at this point.
As I was racking my brains searching for solutions Cherry stepped out of Brandon's embrace to stand in front of me. "Is it because of your mother?" It came out like a whisper, but it stung me badly.
"What?" Why in the world would she bring up that woman? "Why the fuck would you think that?" I said trying to restrain the anger that has been starting to boil within me.
Her eyes started to quiver. Brandon stood behind her and stroked her arms trying to ease her.
"I-I thought that it may have been the reason why you would see yourself as a bother knowing how your life was ther-"
"Why the fuck would you compare that to this!" I yelled.
"Calm down April." Brandon said calmly.
"You expect me to calm down after your girlfriend brought that woman up?" I growled lowly in anger.
"She is still your mom April." Cher said softly.
I glowered at her as inched closer to her. "Now why the fuck would my best friend who also defended me in the past say that, hmm? I remember you saying bad things about her; the both of you!" I said while pointing at them accusingly. "So why are guys defending her. No why did you even bring her up?"
"S-She.." Cherry stammered struggling to get the words out of her mouth.
"She has been calling us." Brandon said quickly.
My eyes became bloodshot. My whole body was at this point trembling in anger. "What…?" I asked trough gritted teeth.
He sighed lowly. "We have been in contact with her for a while now; to be more precise a year after you had broken off any communication with her. She calls or message us frequently asking how you have been and where you're living so that she could talk to you. Of course we refused to answer the last part. She had been searching for you April..."
I could feel my tear duct trying to break open to let the tears stain my face, but I refused to let them show them my vulnerable side.
"You guys betrayed me?" I could hear my voice break, making it clear that I was hurt.
Cher shook her head. "No, we would never." She said trying to hug me, but I pushed her away and scoffed. "Bullshit so talking to her is not considered a betrayal?"
"April…" Brandon said but I cut him off quickly.
"Don't you dare to say my name." I said my voice strained. "I trusted you guys. You knew how that women treated me after dad died. You knew how my life was ruined from that point on! You knew what my stepdad did to me…" Not being able to stop it anymore big tear drops started to fall from my eyes. "I had to endure it day and night scared that my own life was at risk until I decided to run away from that shit with only a bag that night." I choked.
"We're sorry April, but we truly do think that you should talk it out with her; the memories have been haunting you, April." Cher said sobbing in Brandon's arms at this point.
I whipped away my tears. "No…" I said just above a whisper. "I'm sorry that I ever trusted you guys." And with that I stormed off down the street ignoring the calls from my so-called best friends.
…
Standing in front of my apartment in search for my keys I grumbled underneath my breath about how awful day today it was. "Maybe I should stop telling lies seeing how it gets me in some type of an annoying situation."
"Maybe you should."
I gasped in startlement and was slammed into the wall causing me to drop my keys.
I stood eye to eye with my stalker who was silently staring at me. Both of my hands were restrained above my head by his hand, cutting away my escape route.
I was about to scream hoping that somebody would hear me, but Jack was already a step ahead by covering my hand with his gloved hand.
I started to whimper and trash around, scared that he was here to kidnap me, but nothing in my head could think of any reason to why he would do that. I have been following his rules. I mean yes, I did break some of them a few times, but I was still able to negotiate with him so that he would let it slide.
"Keep doing that and I'll ravish you here and now." He said whispering into my ear in a low disguised voice."
I stilled my movement not wanting that to happen.
"Are we calm now?" He asked.
I nodded with my head.
"I'm going to remove my hand slowly; I'm sure that I don't need to tell you what would happen if you would scream for help." He said.
I nodded my head in understanding. He would properly kidnap me here and now or maybe kill someone from the streets; point is that we don't need to know what he would do.
"That's a good girl." He slowly removed his hands from my mouth.
"Why are you here?" I asked timidly.
He was silent for a minute before leaning more into me. "I'm here to compliment you."
I looked into his dark sunglasses confused.
"What?"
