Stuck between two bad boys

I took off my shirt and wore my uniform, It was an orange polo T-shirt. I wore my jacket and headed to the counter. “Hey,” the barista on duty waved, taking off his uniform. “I made it early,” I brushed him off. He laughed and wish me a good night.

As I walked over to the counter where the queue was, a blonde approached the counter and smiled at me. “Hey handsome.”

I wasn’t used to flirting on duty or let’s just say what happened earlier already messed with me and I was having a bad evening. I raised up my head to her waiting for her order. When she saw I wasn’t returning her flirtatious pleasantries she grimaced and made her order. “A cup of dark coffee.”

“Sure,” I replied and handed it over to her. She dropped $5 on the counter and pushed it to me. I gave her a faint smile and turned my head to the next customer. “Cappuccino, please.”

I nodded and got her order. She whispered a “Thank you.”

By the time my shift was over, I changed back into my clothes and picked my keys. As I walked over to the counter where the queue was, I sighted Emily sitting at a friendless table with Devin. My shift was to end in three hours and I was grateful time went faster.

Immediately I saw Devin, he saw me too. He gestured Emily to look at me and she did. Turning her head to my direction I realized she was on something different. She wore a one shoulder green gown and packed her hair in a messy bun. Her face looked brighter than usual and it irked me to know it was Devin making her smile hard.

My lips twitched as I looked at her. I took few steps till I was at the table. “What the hell are you both doing here together?”

I didn’t care if I sounded possessive or whatever, I just wanted an explanation as to why they were together and not just in a random place, in my working place!

Emily looked at me for a second and replied, “We came to see you. We’ve been waiting for a while.”

Waiting for me with Devin? What was she saying??

“Emily you-”

She trailed me off and held my hands. “Come and have some, there’s enough waffles.”

“No.” I wasn’t going to have any of that, not when it was the reason I got a runny stomach in the first place.

“Hey Man,” Devin called and brought his hand for a handshake.

Since when did I become his friend and let him take my sister on a date? I ignored his hands and turned back to Emily.

“You are supposed to be home, Emily.”

“But I’m here, not like we won’t go home together.”

I hated how she was able to turn words in her favour. Fuck, she knew what I meant. She wasn’t supposed to be here with Devin.

“Let’s get out of here, I’m leaving already.” I stormed out before Emily had the chance to say anything. I got to where I parked and got inside the car. I turned on the ignition and Emily appeared. “Why are you acting strange?”

I didn’t owe her any reply so I ignored her question too. I waited so she could get in the car but she was playing around and I was losing my patience. She pulled open the passenger door and got in. Devin took the back seat and my lips twitched. I ran my hands through my hair and drove away.

I remained silent throughout the drive and it made them both uncomfortable. I didn’t have anything to say them, I was more worried about the situation at home. I pulled into Devin’s driveway and held the brake. He sure as hell wasn’t expecting me to take him home with us, was he?

What did he take himself as? A sibling like mom called him or what?

“Xavier I told your mom I was going to return Emily.”

My jaw clenched and I just couldn’t wait to have him out of my car. He got the message and stepped down from the car.

******

Mom was so good with hiding her problems. She dished some baked rice into the plate and handed it to me. “Thanks,” I managed to say.

Emily was sitting beside me but wasn’t paying attention to any damn thing. She kept smiling at her phone and I just fisted my hands under the table. I ate a little and lost my appetite. I just played with the fork and turned it in circles on my plate.

I couldn’t hold it so I peeked at her phone’s screen. A message popped on the screen and it was Devin who sent her his pictures. I dropped my fork on the plate and stormed out of the dinning.

“Xavier?” Mom called but I was too angry to stop. “What happened?”

“Did something happen?” She asked Emily.

I didn’t wait to hear Emily’s reply, she was obviously going to say nothing happened.

Of course it was nothing to her but hanging out with Devin was something. Overhearing our Parents conversation about child service, the car, the loan and James was enough to make me lose my appetite and get moody. It was definitely enough trouble.

Emily was fast asleep on her bed. I stared at her from where I sat and turned away. She texted all evening and even slept off texting. I walked to my table and picked up the lighter there. I used the backdoor and stayed out. As I was about burning the tip of the cigarette on my lip, I noticed his shadow.

I turned to his direction and stood in front of him. “What are you doing here this late?”

“I should be asking you that,” James responded, leaning on the wall.

“No you shouldn’t. This is my house and I have the right to be here, you’re the one who shouldn’t be here.”

“Why not?”

“Well ’cause it’s bad to sneak into people’s home late at night.”

“It’s also bad to be smoking out here, two wrongs don’t make a right Xavier.”

“Who fucking cares? I’m eighteen and old enough to make my choices.”

“You are but it doesn’t make it right either.”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“I need you to get the fuck out of here,” I replied belligerently.

“Or else?”

“Or else I’ll throw a fist at you and tell them you came here to kidnap me.”

“You don’t have to lie Man.”

“You don’t have to be here.” I looked him straight in his eyes and made sure he left.