Chapter 27
1812words
The moody Adam from earlier was long gone; only brotherly concern now laced his features. You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah....” I shrug, feeling disappointment flood my heart. I had really wanted to like Asher as more than friends. Storm had told me to kiss him would give me all the answers I needed. Well, it wasn't the answer I had wanted, apparently. That would have been far too simple. Adam nodded, understanding filling his blue eyes.
“I know your old enough now to make your own decisions, to understand what you want, and nothing your big brother has to say is going to change your mind. But if you would hummer me, I got something I would like to say,” Adam hesitated, leaning ageist the bannister.
“Go ahead” I nodded, meeting his gaze.
“You know if I had it my way, you wouldn't date until your at least twenty-five. But I know that's not going to happen,” Adam sighed, pausing to looking me over before continuing. “After everything you have been through, Asher would be one of the only guys I trust to treat you right.”
“But you were so pissed when he came to pick me up,” I counter, raising a brow at him.
“I'm your brother; it’s my job to intimidate your boyfriend,” He grinned, moving off the bannister to pulled me into a brotherly hug.
“He's not my boyfriend,” I declare, hugging him back.
“No, but I wish you would give him a chance. He'd be good for you,” Adam insisted.
“I know”, I reply, rolling my eyes. We pulled away, and Adam nodded to me before returning to the living room. While I dragged my arse up to my room. As soon as my lights flicked on, Loki jumped up from his bed from the window across from mine, peering over into my room. He gave a weak smile, a question in his eyes. 'You okay?' he seemed to ask. But I blank him, instead strode into my bathroom and starting the bath. I sigh, watching the water fill the tub.
Adam was right; I should give Asher a chance. I enjoyed his company. He was a great friend, and maybe my feeling for him could develop. But there had been no spark when he had touched me, no butterflies or fire when he had kissed me. It had been pleasant, but it didn't make me feel the way Loki did. With Loki, there was passion, desire, lust. I couldn't control myself. I wanted to rip his clothes off and touch every part of him, and I wanted him to touch every part of me. I needed him to pleasure me.
I had the feeling Asher was more the kind of guy that would make slow sweet love to a girl. I cringed at the thought. I didn't want to be loved. I wanted to be desired, to be lusted over and fucked. Hard. I wanted someone that challenged me, made me so fucking angry that I wanted to rip his eyes out.
I would walk all over someone like Asher and make him my bitch. I didn't want that. I couldn't respect someone like that. I wanted an excel, someone I could be a total bitch to, and they would meet me blow for blow. Who would pin me ageist the kitchen counter and show me who was fucking boss. Possessive, dominating, mine.
I knew I was stupid to want those things. Something like that would never last. The passion would burn out, he would get bored of me, one of us would cheat, and I'd be left heartbroken. Asher was the right choice, the safe choice. He was what I needed, a nice boy. I should pick him.
(Loki)
Monday started off as good as could be expected. Storm had fort us tooth and nail about going to school; I had never seen her look so desperate in my life. It felt wrong to force her, but our parents had insisted on it. It had taken both Adam and me to pick her up, kicking and screaming and dropping her in the back seat of Scarlett's car. Then piling in on either side of her to keep her from running.
From the look on Scarlett's face, she had enjoyed it as much as I had. It had been an awkward silent drive, the radio doing nothing to defuse the tension. I had tried to catch Scarlett's eye multiple times on the ride over, but she ignored me.
Storm had thankfully calmed down when we arrived, allowing Scarlett to guide her single handily to class, whispering words of encouragement as they when. While Adam and I took up the rear like a couple of fucking bodyguards. I was thankful for Adam's support, even if he looked like he wanted to punch something. After dropping Storm at class, we all when our septate ways.
I didn't see either my sister or Scarlett again until lunch, although they didn't sit with us. Taking their unseal table in the back corner, Storm at least looked a little less like she was going vomit.
I sat with my usual group, lounging back on a table opposite Asher. We hadn't spoken to each other, just brushing our differences under the rug. Shawn and Perry took up the other sides of the table while everyone else had taken up seats on the coach or stood nearby. I wasn't even paying attention to what they were saying when I heard Shawn bring up Scarlett's name. I sat up, tuning into their conversation.
“How was it?” Shawn inquired a grin wide on his face. Asher returned the smile, looking equally pleased with himself.
“It was good, great even,” Asher replied. I raised a brow; I had never seen a guy look so pleased with himself when he hadn't even got some. I had witnessed their little exchange at the door. It had been awkward, to say the least. But Asher had been respectful. So I couldn't hate on him for that.
“Yeah?” Shawn hyped up “not going to give us any details?” he pressed.
“She was great, really great. What more do you want to know? We laughed, flirted, made a little bet on a bowling game,” Asher confessed, grinning from ear to ear.
“Oh really? What was the bet?” Shawn questioned, nudging him with his elbow.
“Oh, you know...I could kiss her if I won,” He beamed. I clench my fists, rage boiling my blood.
“No fucking way! And did you?” Shawn asked, leaning forward. I waited, holding my breath. His next words better be fucking no.
“No,” He laughed, Shawn frowning. My fists relaxing. “Of course I fucking kissed her, you dick!” As soon as the words left his mouth, I lunged across the table—my fist connecting with bone. Asher fell backwards, his chair crashing to the ground. Everyone around us jumping to their feet in surprise.
“What the fuck, man!” Shawn demanded, glaring at me. I didn't care. I'd fight fucking every last one of these shit eaters if I had to. I strode around the table towards Asher. Who was staggering to his feet, a fat bruise already forming on his cheek. Someone tried to grab me, pull me back, but I easily shrugged them off. My eyes locked on Asher; I was out for blood.
Asher looked back at me, surprise, anger, and fear spiralling around him. “What the hell was that for?” Asher questioned, more than a little confused.
“You know what you did,” I bark back. Now only a few feet away from him. A crowd had gathered around us, watching, looking as confused as Asher.
“Seriously, bro?” Asher laughed bitterly. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” Then I went for him again. This time Asher was prepared; he dodged left. Only to get hit in the mouth by my left hook. A crunch as my fist connected with his face, blood spraying on the floor. Adam and Perry jumped between us, holding us back. Adam getting in my face, his eyes hard, his hand pushing against my chest.
“Chill the fuck down, Morgan,” Adam orders me. I glance at him before my eyes snap back to Asher.
“Tell him what you did!”
“Go fuck yourself!” Asher snapped back. I grinned; oh, I was going to enjoy this. I pretended to walk away, only to swerve around Adam. Before I could reach Asher to give him a black eye, I'm stopped dead in my tracks. None other than the green-eyed temptress herself stood between me and sweet revenge. But her attention wasn't on him. It was on me. She pressed her delicate hand flat against my chest, our eyes locking. She was pissed off, but there was also fear dancing in her eyes. I hesitate.
“Scarlett”, Adam warned her, his voice laced with concern. Like I was going to hit her, a woman. I was many things, but a women beater wasn't one of them. Adam didn't attempt to get between us, and Scarlett didn't move either. She Didn't even look at Adam; her eyes fixed on me.
“Do you think this changes anything? Makes you some kind of fucked up hero or something?” She challenges me. Anger and disgust were written all over her face. “It doesn't. You’re a fucking cowered Loki,” People gasped around us, but she didn't seem to notice or care. “I'm not some fucking damsel in distress, and I don't need your protection and I sure as hell don't want it. So Shut up and sit the fuck down,” She commands. I hesitated only for a second before reluctantly I obeyed. Walking backwards to my table and sitting my sorry arse down. My eyes still focused on hers.
Whispers spread across the room as the crowd looked on in both confusion and shock. I had a reputation for being a sadistic fighter. I wasn't done until my opponent was a blooded mess. Nobody could get between me and a fight. It didn't happen. And yet Scarlett had. She was the one person who could talk down to me and not end up on the other side of my fist.
She broke the eye contact between us, turning back to Asher. I glanced between them, clenching my Jaw. But remained seated. She stood up on her tiptoes and touched his face making him wince at the contact. Adam appeared in front of my blocking my view. His eyes were cold, dark and dangerous.
“After school, you and I are going to have a little chat 'brother',” He cautioned. I nodded. Then just like that, the bell rang. Adam left, and when I looked back to where Scarlett had been a moment ago, I saw her holding Asher's arm, guiding him out. I grind my teeth. Not trusting myself to move just yet.
