Stuck between two bad boys

I needed to see Emily. I stood in front of the door and rang the doorbell. I took a deep breath, waiting for an answer. Shortly after, a lady opened the door. She was the replica of Emily and so I knew she was Emily’s mom.

“Hi, can I help you?” She asked the moment she saw me.

Now I know I shouldn’t have worn something other than this 49ers shirt, now she won’t stop staring at my muscled arm with scars.

“Yeah, uh… I was wondering if I could see Xavier, we’re friends from school,” I managed to finish.

She stood by the door frame giving me a blank stare as if analyzing me.

“Oh,” she muttered. My son isn’t feeling too well, I don’t think he wants to entertain visitors.”

“Yeah, he texted me.”

I wasn’t sure what else to say, she looked like she was keen on not letting me in.

“Can I come in?” I asked raising an eyebrow and looking inside, I mean that’s supposed to be how you welcome a guest.

“Sure,” she replied and gestured me in. “I was taking a minute because I don’t recall Xavier saying he has a friend here.”

Oh please. I looked on as I stepped into the well-furnished apartment. It wasn’t like mine, it was spacious.

“Have a seat, what’s your name? I’d tell him you’re here.”

“Devin.”

“Okay. So how long have you known my son?”

As I was about to figure out what to tell her, a man walked in.

“Hey, Hunny.” He turned, throwing a glance at me. “We have a guest?”

Now I can see where Xavier got his charming look from. Even at this age, he look so… good and I respect him for that. Just that the smiles a lot.

“Yeah, he says he’s Xavier’s friend from school.”

“I see. Hey man, what’s your name?”

“Devin,” I repeated giving a quick smile.

“You mind having a drink?” He asked sitting on the sofa opposite me.

I gave a nod, “Sure.”

He handed a glass to me and poured some into the glass. “It’s surprising to know you are Xavier’s friend.”

I furrowed my brows, it came as expected, critiques.

“You don’t look like the kind of boy Xavier would keep as a friend, correct me if I’m wrong but you look like a gangster, like uhh, a bad boy.”

That’s it! I look I get all the time.

I wasn’t sure how much more I could take but the best thing was to play along till I saw Emily, she was the main reason I came here.

“So how long have you known Xavier?” His wife asked, cleaning her hands on her blue apron. I must have interrupted her cooking process.

“Since the beginning of high school,” I smiled, I couldn’t say I had known him longer than that because it would sound fake knowing we’ve never contacted each other outside school.

“Hmm, I see.”

“Well since you’re here I bet you can tell us what happened that night,” he opinionated.

This can’t be happening! Why did u even get myself into such mess.

“Yes. What happened to Emily?”

Fucking hell. How do I go about explaining that Nigel almost raped her and her stepbrother being obsessed with her beat the living hell out of Nigel and I joined hands to beat him because he deserved it. No, there was no way I was telling them that complicated story.

No one would want to know I held their daughter’s pants for a while and felt like keeping it.

I thought of saying I had no idea but it wouldn’t favor me either. I was trying to buy their parent’s trust and like. I had to tell them something.

“Uh,” I started. “Emily and I were at a table and she had some drinks. I failed to check the percentage of alcohol before letting her have it. She was a little tipsy at first and while talking, I wrapped my hands around her waist to wedge her from falling. Xavier walked into us and thought something else was happening.”This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

Did I do well?

I perked up to discern the look on her mother’s face and it was blank like she wasn’t buying my story.

“He read a different meaning to my arms on her and punched me hard. We got into a fight and yeah,” I managed to lie perfectly. “I only came here to apologize to Xavier. I understand that he’s trying to be the best big brother and uh, look after his baby sister. He’s my buddy and the last thing I’d do is to be shitty around his sister.”

Pffffff!

Wasn’t so hard.

He gave a nod, he believed me and that was what I was hoping for. I needed to heave a sigh but it would look like saying all that was tasking and make it feel like a lie.

“I feel you. I’ll just get him for you man. He’s a good guy and I’m proud of how much he loves and takes care of Emily.”

Indeed.

I gave a nod, he was everything but a son to be proud of, fucking asshole.

The moment he left the sitting room, his wife walked to where I sat and gave me a displeased look. I wasn’t sure I could win her mind even, she looked rigid.

“I don’t believe you,” she blurted. “I don’t believe your story. Why do I feel like you’re lying?”

I just looked at her without saying anything. I didn’t know what to say at that point.

“You’re a bad boy and I can feel it. Don’t mess around with my daughter and don’t influence Xavier. He’s a good boy and I can’t deal with having him around someone like-”

She was interrupted by footsteps. We turned in the direction of the footsteps and it was Xavier. His eyes furrowed as he saw me but he knew he had to play his card well.

His father coughed, “There he is. He says he’s your friend and wants to apologize.”

“You never mentioned you have a friend here,” His mother chirped.

“Uh yeah. Devin is my good friend, I just haven’t had the time to bring him home.”

“Also heard you both got into a fight, that must have felt tough as friends.” His mother chipped in. Why on earth does she want me out?

He turned to look at me and I stood up.

“We’ll fix that, right buddy?” I gave a quick smile at Xavier and he nodded.

He gave me one last look and I understood it. He wanted us to have a private conversation. The moment we got outside and were sure his parents were no longer listening he scorned.

“And what the fuck do you think you’re doing?” He yelled.

I took a step back and asked him to relax. If he needed us to play the game well, he had to do away with his anger issues.

“Relax man, just checking up.”

“Checking up? Bro, I don’t fucking need you in my house.”

“I know. You missed school and Emily too-”

“She’s obviously the reason you’re here but I need you to get the fuck out of here right now.”