Not Mine

4

"Galen," I knocked on his bedroom door that was already slightly open. I pushed the door open further to see my brother and Angelo sitting on the ground in front of the tv, playing video games.

Galen's tongue was slightly sticking out of his mouth as his attention was fully on the video game. He paused it and both the boys looked at me.

I was really praying that Angelo wouldn't be here right now. But luck wasn't with me.

"Whats up?" Galen asked.

"Uh.." I walked into his room and stumbled around with my fingers. "Can I talk to you... alone?" I keep my gaze dead set on the ground.

"Is everything okay?" He asked instantly. "And do you mean without Angelo? He's probably going to hear whatever it is from me afterwards anyways." Galen chuckled lightly but stood up, noticing my uneasy state.

Angelo followed his moves and also stood up, watching me questioningly.

I licked my lips and looked at my brother, completely ignoring and avoiding Angelo's gaze. He was going to find out I lied to him this morning but even worse than that, I was embarrassed and didn't want to see his reaction. I didn't want to see what he would think after hearing that Little Venezia can't get any guy. It was quite humiliating.

"Galen," I started softly, my voice coming out quieter and weaker than I wanted it to. I took a deep breath, "Don't... lash out, okay?"

He gave me a confused look, "Venezia, what happened?"

I took a step back, away from the two boys as I was starting to think of all of the possible outcomes after I say it. Maybe this wasn't a good idea.

I awkwardly cleared my throat, "This morning... something happened." I looked at the ground and continued playing around with my fingers - a nervous habit.

"Is this the whole elbowing thing?" He chuckled. "Because Angelo already told me about that."

I looked up at Angelo to see that unlike my brother who was looking a little confused but light, he had a completely flat look on his face. He was staring straight at me. Maybe it was just me, but he also seemed worried and a little impatient and also like he knew this wasn't going to end well.

I quickly looked away and back down at the ground.

"About that... Well - that wasn't exactly what happened."

"What happened?" Galen asked slowly and cautiously.

"Uh.. well I mean - its not a big deal.. I mean it sorta is and Ellington said it is and said I should tell you guys but really, maybe I'm reading too far into this, you know? Like, I think it was just a mistake in the spur of the moment but if I don't tell you than Ellington said he will and so I think its better if you hear it from me though I don't think-"

"Venezia." Galen said, now completely serious. "Shut up, stop rambling. Tell me what happened."

I swallowed the lump that had started to form in my throat and continued to look anywhere but at Galen or Angelo. "Uh.. Well - Oscar. He ... he uh, he h-hit me..."

When neither of them said anything after a whole minute passed, I looked up.

Angelo's jaw was clenched and fists were bawled up. He stared down at the ground, clearly angry.

Galen's eyes were wide with shock and a hint of confusion but from the way his eyebrows were starting to furrow and how his fists were also curling up, he was also getting more angry as the seconds went by.

I dont know what the hell decided to come over me, but out of nowhere, I started to feel tears prickle in my eyes.

"Venezia," Galen said slowly, his voice soft and seeming like pity for me. "Are you... are you okay?"

I nodded slowly, "I-I... not really." My voice cracked and I looked back down.

"Ven.." He said slowly before coming over and wrapping his arms around me. Thats when my exterior broke and silent sobs escaped my lips as tears started to roll down my cheeks uncontrollably. I relaxed in his hold and let myself cry until finally I calmed down and was left only slightly hiccuping.

"What happened?" He asked softly.

"We got into an argument about last night," I said quietly. "Then it just happened because he got angry."

"It didn't just happened." Angelo spoke up. His voice wasn't loud but it was hard and cold. "He did it and he will regret it."

"Angelo," I shook my head quickly. "Don't. Please, just don't. I'll leave him, make sure he has no way of contacting me but trust me, I didn't tell you guys because I want you to do anything; In fact, the only reason I did just tell you two was because Ellington would if I didn't."

"He can not get away with this."

"Angelo just-"

"Angelo," Galen cut me off and shook his head at him. "Venezia, its late. You should just go to bed now, okay?"

I sighed and nodded my head, "Fine. But I'm serious about what I said."

Galen simply nodded. I looked at Angelo but his eyes were trained on the ground so I slowly left my brothers room and went to my own, collapsing on the bed with tears starting to form in my eyes once again.

It was definitely going to be a long night.

-

I woke up the next morning with a groan escaping my lips. I was tired and exhausted and didn't want to get out of my bed but I had to.

I hardly slept last night which didn't help my case.

Once I had taken a shower, I was in my room, wrapped in a towel and staring at myself in the mirror.

There was a red, blue and purple mark on my face that was now bruised from where Oscar hit me. And man was it ugly.

I trailed my fingers up to it and lightly pressed on it only to wince with pain. He was strong and a lot stronger than he seems when you just look at him.

This wasn't even the hardest he could go which scared me.

"Hey," I looked over to see Angelo peeking his head through the door. "Can I come in?"

I nodded my head and watched as he came into my room. He was dressed in casual clothes - a plain grey Ralph Lauren shirt and blue jeans, his hair styled up perfectly and a watch on his wrist.

He walked over to me and stopped behind me, looking at me through the mirror. I could tell he was looking at my cheek and when I saw his jaw clench, my thoughts were confirmed.

I looked at him through the mirror as well, waiting to see what he says mainly because I didn't know what to say to him.

"Are you okay?" He finally asked.

I swallowed and then turned around to face him. I was taken aback by how close we were standing, out faces only inches away, so I took a step back.

I bit my lip and shrugged, "I'm fine. Clearly bruised, but fine." I let out a weak chuckle in hopes to lighten the mood.

When I looked at him, he simply gave me a flat look. "That's not really funny. At all."

I sighed before walking past him and to my dresser where I pulled out clothes. "I'm sorry, alright? I don't really know what I'm suppose to do and quite honestly, I don't want to continue dwelling on this."

"So don't," he said as I turned around with clothes in my hand. "You're going to break up with him - No matter what and then you'll be fine. We'll get past this soon."

I grinned lightly, feeling a little relived by his words only because I was really worried about what he would think when I told him and Galen yesterday. I thought he'd judge me or tell me that 'he told me so' and that I have no proper taste in guys or something along those lines, but I was wrong and could tell he was worried for me and angry at Oscar.

"I know, Angelo, and thank you.. For being supportive, I guess."

He nodded his head. He didn't say anything for a minute but when he finally did speak again, I could sense a little hurt in his tone, "Venezia," he sighed. "You know, you could've told me yesterday. You didn't have to lie to me and I get that this wasn't easy for you but still, you have to know that you can trust me and feel comfortable to share things with me. I'm never going to judge you and I'll always have your back, no matter what."

I gave him a small smile and ignored the fuzzy feeling I started to feel in my stomach at his words. I cannot deal with my feelings right now because there's too many other things going on.

"I know, thank you. That does mean a lot and I'm sorry... I didn't want to lie to you but I didn't know how to tell you or Galen." I glanced away from him. "It's pretty embarrassing, what happened."

"Hey," he said softly before coming up to me and placing a hand under my chin to lift my head so I was looking at him. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about, okay? It wasn't your fault and that Oscar guy seriously doesn't know what he's loosing. Do not be embarrassed especially because of some douche like him."

My eyes stayed locked with his as I watched him move his hand so it cupped one side of my face. I felt him thumb brush against my skin as he looked at the bruise on my cheek.

I winced slightly when I felt pain under his fingertips which caused him to snap his gaze back to me. "Sorry," he whispered sheepishly.

I slowly shook my head, "It's okay."

His eyes were trailing over my cheek as if he were analyzing it but I couldn't help myself as I glanced down at his lips.

Man, they were perfect.

How much I wanted to kiss him right now made me want to slap myself but I couldn't help my feelings which sucked all the more.

I glanced back up to his perfect chocolate brown eyes that you could melt into. His eyebrows were slightly furrowed. His thumb drew circles over my cheek, lightly. It made my skin burn under his touch.

When I glanced back at his lips, I instantly snapped out of it.

Awkwardly, I cleared my throat and took a step back, clenching the towel to my chest.

"I should go change," I mumbled, looking anywhere but at him. "I have to get going soon."

And then, I quickly walked into my bathroom, shutting my eyes and leaning against the door.

I was in some deep s**t when it came to Angelo and he didn't know what he was doing to me. I didn't know what I was going to do with myself but I knew this wasn't good.