Loving the Innocent Criminal

Chapter 6 Like

I needed time to refresh my mind and to rethink my decisions in life. Zachary is driving me nuts. He has the guts to ignore me the whole damned week! It was his fault, alright! He should do something about his mistake! But guess what? He made me feel I was the one who was at fault!

One time, when we were having an activity pair, I saw him grabbing Natasha’s waist and praising something to her. Natasha pushed him at me, of course. She gave me a glare and mouthed, “Get.Your. Damned. Boyfriend.”

In return, I rolled my eyes heavenwards and shrugged. I got Lucio, a Spanish classmate of mine, to be my partner in a lab experiment. While I saw Zachary teaming up with Monica Fidger, the new girl in school whom everyone adored and oh, so, loved.

My phone beeped, and I didn’t need to pull out my phone to know who it was from. Owen. Sighing, I decided to go to the nearest comfort room and do my thing, while pulling out the phone from my skirt.

Gwen:

Did Zachary know you'd been asking me for info?

Another beeped. What the hell is he doing in class? I thought he was a good kid and studied well. I smirked, knowing that was fake news.

Gwen:

Jake told me his boyfriend threw tantrums in one of our places. I bet he knows.

I typed a reply to tell him that Zachary didn’t know because if he knew, then I was the first person he would talk to about it. I know my boyfriend a lot. The scene of Owen and the new e-girl named Monica replayed inside of my head.

Great!

There’s this foreign feeling again, and I don’t want to think about it. I needed air to get hold of myself. Why am I thinking about Owen every night? About his girlfriend? He has a taste, huh? I found Monica is a model, an international superstar. She has a great body and I heard she came from a well-off family, too. One thing that I heard negatively about her is that most of her friends were from Thornhill High. Sooner or later, she will know about the stereotyping.

That night, I couldn’t sleep. I was waiting for Zachary to offer a truce or peace offering but I was tired of waiting! My mother noticed one time when we were having a family dinner.

“If there’s a problem, you should communicate. Don’t wait for the person to apologize and ask him to.”

“But mom! It was his mistake! It wasn’t mine!”

She shrugged and smiled, “Or do you want me to call off the marriage between you two?”

A small hollow formed in my stomach. The thought of breaking the promise our parents made to Zachary and I is making me sick. My mother knows how to checkmate me, and I saw how my father c****d an eyebrow, waiting for my reaction.

“You’re a more mature thinker than Zachary, Angelic. Fix the problem before he does.”

I heaved a deep sigh and continued my dinner without moving my food. We were talking about Zachary, yet my mind wanders about Owen. It will be nearly a month since our last talk, and he keeps on sending me information about the Vaulter that I had asked him for. I owe him a big one. A dinner, alright.

Gwen:

Your boyfriend doesn’t learn. He wanted to participate in the Vaulter. The match will be next week, and I heard he’s been keeping up with the other contestants during the practice session.

Gwen:

Hey, did you change your number?

Gwen:

Please tell me if you do.

Gwen:

You are worrying me. Did I do something wrong, Angelic?

Gwen:

Your boyfriend kept on looking at me when we went to The Barbs. Tame him.

Gwen:

If you don’t reply, I will go to your house.

That was the last message he sent to me. I prepared to go to Herren’s mansion. Elias opened the Jeep Wrangler and I said thanks after that. Herren doesn’t go to our mansion anymore, and I think he’s still angry at me.

I should be the one who’s angry, alright! But God, let’s end this war between us! It doesn’t do any good to us.

“Zach,” I called him when he was playing basketball outside their mansion. He stopped and grabbed the towel on the bench. I sigh when he’s giving me a cold shoulder again.

“We have to talk.”

“We’re talking,” he replied blandly.

“Zach, please…”

“Someone send me a photo. Guess what? It’s the motherfucker. Lacoste.” My breathing hitched, and I froze in my place. With widening eyes, Zachary confirmed his suspicion when he saw my reaction. I needed to think. Fast!

I tried to chuckle to ease the tension, but Zachary already grabbed my jawline and tilted my head upwards. Sweat cooled at the back of my neck when I saw his bloodshot eyes. He seemed so lost and angry and irritated. He wanted to hit me. And this is the first time I felt scared and unsafe.

“Z-Zachary…” I said, my voice gentle to somehow snap him back to reality. He looks murderous when he spoke. “Why are you on his motorbike, Angelic? Are you cheating on me?”

“N-No! It’s not what you think!”

“ That is what it is! There is clearly evidence and you’re lying to me!”

“I’m not lying to you!” I cried.

“Shut up! It was you on his motorbike, and someone confirmed it to me!”

“Who?” I asked, and his jaw clenched. “It doesn’t f*****g matter! Why are you on his motorbike? And since when did you two start going out behind my f*****g back?”

It was a disaster. The maids around their mansion stop cleaning to watch us. Someone was attentive to get in between when the situation worsened, but they were waiting for the cue.

“Z-Zach, please… listen to me. It wasn’t what you’re thinking, okay! I was trying to get information!”

“Shut up! Shut the f**k up!” He tightened the grip on my jawline that it hurts so badly. Then, he throws me away, making me stumble on my toes and my ass landing on the Bermuda grass. I hate crying in front of people, and I just did!

Great!

“Zach, I was trying to ask him about the Vaulter thing! The p-picture you’ve seen is nothing! He only offered his help to take me home!”

“If he offered his d**k at you, would you hop on, too?”

He was lucky I was sitting on the grass because if I hadn’t, I would’ve slapped him hard on both cheeks. Glaring at him, I stood up properly and heaved a deep sigh. Don’t cry, Angelic. Be calm. My mother’s voice hushed me up to regain my confidence.

“It seems like you’re not in the proper state for now. I’ll be coming back once you cool off – “

“Get out!” he shouted at me, and he never, ever, raised his voice at me, not until today. Guilt washed his face, and before I could see it, he looked away and marched inside their mansion, leaving me alone.

When I said I needed fresh air, I didn’t know I would be there inside a club. I didn’t text Elias, my chaperone, because I had this feeling Zachary was feeding off his pocket. I conclude he was the one who told Zach about my meet-ups with Owen. And I felt betrayed, knowing that I should be his master, not Herren’s.

I sneaked out of our mansion, for the very first time. I was scared at first, but in the end, it makes me feel alive and it excites me. My blood pumped thrice more than normal when I got out successfully. Yes!

I got into a cab, gave the driver a thousand bucks, and went to the farthest club in our mansion. I know someone will notice me when I am there, so I have to change plans. Wearing a tight and shortest skirt and a crap top, the bouncer doesn’t even dare to ask for my identification card.

I’m still not at the legal age, and it wasn’t my first time doing clubbing, so it doesn’t worry me.

As soon as I entered into the swarm of people dancing and having their blast in the night, a smile crept up on my lips. I felt free. No one will notice me here. No one would even dare to threaten me to tell my parents I was here. Why?

Because no one knows me here.

It’s not Patterson nor Herren’s property.

I grabbed the drink from the waiter’s, and saw him grinning ear to ear. He c****d an eyebrow when I winked at him, and I dropped the cash out of his breast pocket, touching his chest in a flirty way. So what!

I’m here to clear my mind with my boyfriend!

My knees wobbled after a couple of minutes, so I tried to look for a sofa. My eyes lit up when I saw a free one, and I sat there, putting my legs on the table in front while sipping my whiskey.

Damn it. When we go clubbing with Natasha, they only offer me a juice, while Natasha gets the whiskey! I groaned because of what I thought. When I feel that my knees aren’t aching anymore, I get up hyperactively and dance on the dance floor.

I felt a pair of eyes looking at me as I swayed my ass and grinned at strangers on the floor, and when I recognized that they were being touchy, I stepped back and found another area to dance again. It is so fun!

Banging my head in the air, I grinned at someone again and flirted with the guy. He was being conservative and I didn’t feel his hands on my body. What the hell?

So, with my eyes shut, I turned around and draped my arms to the guy’s neck and savored the scent of him. Musk. Strong perfume of a man. I felt embarrassed because I heard his chuckle. He must’ve seen me sniffing at him.

“Like what you smell?” a baritone whisper made my hair stand to its point.

I chuckled to ease the tension in my body, but it didn’t go away! My heart triples its beat. I’m turned-on just by his voice. My lungs are sucking the air out of me, and the hard-pebbled pebs on my peaks tighten when his arms finally rest at the small back of my waist.

“Why are you here, Angelic?” he whispered again, and that was the cue for my eyes to open to fly! Eyes widening, I push Owen but his hand remains possessively on my waist, looking at me with the same ember green hooded eyes. His eyebags were natural, I know! And I shouldn’t be amazed by it!

He looks dead ugly, but hot at the same time. How could it be possible?

His lips parted when he saw my reaction. I didn’t say anything. We stood firm and tense. In the middle of the party, people stood dancing and having fun. We held a staring contest at the center, and I was the one who broke it.

“Let me go,” I said, because I didn’t want him to know how I felt. It’s not fun anymore. I thought this was just a simple crush – an admiration of his body and face. No, I’m smart enough to feel that this isn’t just infatuation.

This man doesn’t do anything at me, yet I am there, drooling over him when I am clearly taken and soon to be bound by my childhood crush!

This is just a phase. A phase… phase… phase. I tried to keep on repeating that in my head so I wouldn’t lose my s**t.

“You’re not replying to me anymore…” was all he said and his voice frustrated. His eyes darted into my lips and back to my eyes to lock my gaze. The small gesture made my heart skip a beat. I need to go. Right now!

“Owen, it’s common sense. I’m done with you.” That doesn’t sound professional and it says something… more.

“Too bad,” he whispered and inched his face more. He was whispering on my lips now, “…I’m not yet done with you,” he continued. I thought he would kiss me, but he moved his face on my ears. “You f****d my head for almost a month, Angelic.”

I stiffened. My face heated, and I thanked all the saints because we were in a dark place. He wouldn’t see my face. God, what is happening?

“And now that you’re here…” he whispered again. Why is he whispering? “… I won’t let you go this time.”

D-Did I hear that right?

I tried not to laugh, but I just couldn't hold myself. Maybe I look like crazy in his eyes. The hell do I care about how I look when this is just Owen Lacoste.

Those eyes skimmed my face and he didn't like my reaction. Expecting more than that, Lacoste?

When his hand tightened on my grip, my body started shaking with intensity when his lips started trailing down kisses to my neck, collarbones, cheeks, and back to my throat again.

My neck involuntarily arched for him to kiss me more, and he let out a frustrated groan when he heard "f**k. You're drunk."

"Yes, I am," I nodded, smiling and laughing at him. He pushed himself away from me, and my stomach tightened into knots, my mind in protest.

"I'm not talking to you in this state. Let's sober up."

"No, let's talk here! Owen!" I smiled when my lips pronounced his name with utter familiarity.

"Angelic, stop it," he hissed when he tried to remove my hands from his neck, but I pinched my chest more and pressed my hand on his hard chest. He uttered curses and shook my shoulders to sober me up.

"I think I like you, Owen..."

He stopped, cursed a lot, and his eyes drooped down to my body and back to my face. "W-What did you say?" he asked, his voice in utter shock.

"Huh? Did I say something?" I looked around to stare at the crowd. They were looking at me. No, I think they're glaring at the guy in front of me.

Owen breathed a sigh and smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in it. "Nothing."

"Owen, why are they looking at me?" I whispered at him and sniffed his neck. My head was buried in his neck, and I saw the veins bulging out, making it look more like a necklace as it connected his collarbones.

"They're... not... "

All the hair of my body stands to its tip when he tutters that. His voice becomes husky, and I couldn't help but admire more of him.

"Let's dance, Angelic."

After he said that, he pushed my body more towards him, as if it wasn't close enough earlier. He twirled me like a Disney princess and smiled when he saw me having fun.

I keep on laughing until the corners of my eyes moisten. God, this is so fun! When we started dancing, the music changed from pop to tango and I followed Owen's foot tricks. I grinned ear to ear when I copied the way his feet moved.

We moved from different tables around the small space of the club. In the corner of my eyes, people are now looking at the two of us.

Amusement and smiles plastered on their faces as they clap their hands to the beat of the music. Sweat covered my crap top, and I felt the back of my neck dampen with sweats, too.

The music stops, and Owen and I make a striking pose. The crowd fell silence and seconds passed by, they were now clapping at us, cheering about what we had done.

My chest rose up and down while looking at Owen's expressionless face. He looked at the crowd and when I tried to catch his eyes, he looked away.

Maybe it was because of the dance we did I became sober. Owen gripped my waist to let me down. It took me long enough to know we were standing on the table.

"Thanks," I whispered and smiled at Owen. His face sparkled with sweat. And God, he is still freaking hot with his tousled hair.

"Are you sober now?" he asked, and I nodded in response. We catch our breath as we lock our gaze on each other.

Embarrassment flooded my face, so I needed to get out of here. "I-I g-gotta go."

He snatched my wrist, "Wait," he breathed. Looking down at our hands, he looked taken aback, but he intertwined our fingers.

I know.

I should f*****g slap him, shove him, scream in his face that I have a boyfriend, but God how did he...

I stop thinking. Aside from that I don't have energy, his eyes were telling me no. So I left his hand and left mine as we left the club.

Someone roared behind us, making me jump. "You're f*****g the Patterson girl, Owen? You will betray us?" The way he said 'us' made me flinch.

That's when I realized he was talking about the Alpha Kappa Rho fraternity. As I turned my head and gazed at the people inside the club, I found out these were Owen's friends.

It's their den, that's why they have been looking at us since earlier. How did I not notice this?

I tried to loosen my hand from his tight grip, but he only tightened and curled our fingers more.

"Not tonight, Coach," Owen whispered in a harsh voice. Looking at the fat belly of the middle-aged man in front of us, I saw his eyes flicker with disgust and hatred at me.

"Don't make him loose his s**t again. He did it once, and we don't want to see it twice."

I stared back at Owen, "What did he mean by that? "

Owen dragged me out before a fight exploded. His breathing was shallow when we broke our hands. I saw him threading his brown hair, looking frustrated.

"What you said earlier... "

"Huh?"

He swallowed and looked at me with hopeful eyes. "You told me you liked me, Angelic."

I froze. I did?

I laughed, shook my head, and smiled at him. My heart beats like crazy when I spoke. "Maybe I meant to say I like my boyfriend, Owen," I said casually, when inside of my head, I was trying to form a lot of arguments so that he wouldn't catch me lying.

"I have a boyfriend," I said before he could speak. I want him to know that. I want him not to lose his s**t again, like what that man told me minutes ago.

I want him to understand that. Not only him, but to remind me that I am in a relationship. If Zachary knew I was here with the guy he hated and the root of our problem, he would kill him. I'm sure of that.