Woody and Yale Falling Under

Chapter Seventeen

Woody's Point of View

I'm so f****d.

I glanced in the rearview mirror as I felt my car glide through the air. I'm late, I'm confused and I'm f****d.

I f*****g kissed her. Why the f**k did I kiss her!?

I mean I know why...she's pretty and kind, she drives me insane but I like her.

I f*****g like her and now I f*****g hate myself.

I'm Clint. I've turned into Clint. 

Why did I allow myself to be in this position. I never wanted to be the man who came between two people who are in love.

But are they though?

Why the f**k am I trying to convince myself that what I did could be justified.

But on the real...am I Clint though? I mean...I don't think so, but it was still wrong. I should have waited until she was single...

But I couldn't because I didn't want to lose her. If I waited we would constantly fight about this s**t, we would fight because we have tension...

Something...we have something we don't understand.

I swallowed as I clutched the steering wheel and then cleaned my teeth with my tongue.

The sound of my phone vibrating from the passenger seat had pulled me from my thoughts as I glanced over to see Denver's name in bold white letters waiting for me to answer.

I sighed. f**k, you would think I'm married to this man the way he be f*****g calling me.

Yale's Point of View

I felt the music dance around my body as I swayed my hips like liquid to the beat. His t-shirt draped over me like the flow of his playful energy.

I felt pure bliss, like I was some coked up ball of vibrancy.

I played Role Model's "Better the first time" as I grabbed a bottle of water from his kitchen counter while my bare feet carried me across the floor as if I was some graceful ballerina floating on air, my ears only heard the music playing to its maximum volume.

We kissed.

I smiled thinking that and then bit my lip trying to contain my excitement.

I did a little spin thing as if I was in some Disney movie and pushed my hair back "We! Myself and Mr. Quinton Wood! We kissed!" I said aloud talking to myself.

I'm crazy.

I smiled and then laughed lightly, taking the form of this renewed person.

It was definitely the shower I had taken and the Big Mac I had ordered that made me feel brand new but mostly the fact that...

I knew he cared in that way. I knew and I wasn't guessing anymore.

But...

I plopped down onto his couch catching my breath from my dancing frenzy as I felt my chest move up and down.

Chad...

I swallowed.

I...I don't feel guilty.

I stared up at his ceiling.

but, I feel scared. I felt this unsettling discomfort wash over my heart. This was getting real now. If Chad ever found out he would kill me.

He would literally kill me.

I twisted my body over to lay on my side while my hair fell back as the music still pulsated in the air but my thoughts were almost drowning it out.

I stared straight ahead into nothingness.

I wanted this all along, whether I subconsciously knew it or not.

And now that it's happening...

I..

I breathed.

No, I love Chad...

I sat up straight and then shook my head.

I love Woody too. I love him, I'm going to keep seeing him and I don't f*****g care.

I stood up exhaling deeply, not sure if I should take on this brave version of myself...

That's the version of me that I knew before Chad. She was still here and ready to emerge.

I should...

I saw my phone light up as it sat on Woodys kitchen counter. I pressed my brows together and then my heart sank.

I hope something isn't wrong. He wouldn't call me, he was literally just with me.

It continued to ring as I clutched my heart and then walked over to the table, lifted it in my hand to notice that it was a number I didn't recognize. 

A FaceTime!

It wasn't Woody.

It wasn't Chad...

But what if he found something out, found this number and he knows.

No, I'm paranoid. It's not.

I calmed my rushing heart and turned off the music before answering.

I slid my finger across the screen to see stern eyes staring into my soul. His face looked anything but cheerful, in fact he looked pissed but he always looked pissed.

Also, how the hell did he get this number.

"Yale." He spoke from the inside of a dimly lit car and then I sighed a sigh of relief. It wasn't Chad.

"Hey Denver, how did you get this number!?" I asked and then I quickly began to panic "Wait? Is everything okay? Is Woody okay?"

I was so worried about him. It took me by surprise sometimes.

"Woody's fine, everything's fine." He said and then narrowed his eyes "I took your number off Woodys phone in the club. I'm calling to find out if you got home safely." He raised a brow.

"But by the look of it. You're not even home. Why the f**k are you still at Woodys!?"

"Can you chill. I'm staying over." I shrugged nonchalantly as I walked into Woody's bedroom to sit on his bed.

"The f**k you are!" He scoffed "This is a bad idea Yale! Go home! You and I both know this is a bad idea! You and Woody can't do this s**t! I f*****g swear it feels like y'all don't f*****g listen! This isn't going to end well! What the f**k don't you understand! You know this!"

"Hey! Stop! We're fine!" I yelled at him "We've been handling this well and we still are! We're friends! We both wouldn't even dare to take it further we know what we're doing!" I lied. I had to lie so I could calm him down.

I felt bad but I couldn't tell him the truth. He would do whatever he could to protect Woody and that meant taking s**t further and really try to keep Woody and I apart.

And I want Woody as close to me as he could possibly get.

"Yale..."

"Denver," I cut him off "We're okay, I'm sleeping in his bed. He's sleeping on the couch. He'll get home and I'll probably be asleep and he'll crash and we'll wake up, and he'll take me home." I said assuring him.

"I know you're trying to be a good friend and you have Woodys best interest at heart and you don't want him to get hurt and..."

He cut me off "Both of you, I don't want neither of you to get hurt."

My heart felt warm at the touch of his words. Was Vickrim right. I smiled small.

"Thanks Denver. I appreciate that you care about me too."

"I don't care about you." He was stern and in denial "This better be the last f*****g sleepover or ima be the one to drive you home from now on, cause this s**t gotta stop. With me you're for sure going straight home!"

"Fine!" I rolled my eyes "First and last sleepover. By the way...Where's Woody?"

"Inside sorting s**t out. He'll be out soon. Don't tell him I called you to check up." He was serious.

"Why not?"

"He'll think I've developed a soft spot for you and that's not the f*****g case." He said and then I laughed lightly while he was still serious.

"Thanks for checking up on me." I said kindly and then he nodded before looking away.

"You're a good friend, thanks for being my friend too Denver." I smiled and then he narrowed his eyes at me and said in the most serious way "We're not friends." before he hung up.

I then laughed as I rolled my eye at nothing. He's so stubborn. We're definitely friends, he's just in denial.

I tossed my phone aside and then stared at it again for a second as I laid myself down onto Woodys comfortable bed.

God, this bed was heaven. I reached over for my phone again and then opened the camera.

I looked at myself and noticed how calm I looked. I look, happy.

I look different. I don't like looking at myself for too long, not because I was insecure but because it made me realize how much I was wasting away,

But this time looking at myself seemed different. It felt like I was being filled up with life and not like I was dying anymore.

I wasn't dying for the first time in a while. I didn't feel alone, or hurt, or sad....or,

Broken...I didn't feel broken.

I swallowed staring at my eyes and decided to take my picture. I wanted to remember this. I hated pictures but this one was one I felt proud of.

I took another and then noticed the small bruise in my neck.

I sighed. 

I can run but the truth will always linger in my mind or on my body.

I licked my lips and then used Woody's washed out black Tupac t-shirt to cover it. I then took another picture and tried to smile this time.

God, I look so ridiculous when I smile. I looked at my dark messy hair and goofy little smile.

Maybe, I should send Woody a picture.

I almost laughed thinking that. 

I mean it's kinda cute and fun. I mean, is it? 

I haven't done things like this. Chad and I moved pretty quickly, we skipped a lot of cute couple stuff. We were so in love we rushed everything.

You know what, 

Whatever...I'm taking a cute picture and I'm sending it to Woody. I hope he doesn't cringe because I'm cringing even thinking this.

I swallowed and then neatened my hair as I propped myself up on his bed.

I made sure the bruise was covered and then awkwardly took a few pictures tryna look cute but I don't think I was pulling it off and then...

I jolted backwards almost throwing my phone when I heard the sound for footsteps walking up his staircase taking me by surprise.

I listened closely. 

Woody?

No those were...

Heels.

They clicked on the the marble staircase as she carried herself up.

Shit, who is...

I don't know why but I almost jumped up off his bed and quickly ran towards his closet. I got inside as I breathed deeply.

"The door was open and...so I just...Woody!?" I heard her voice as her steps became louder and louder.

I know her voice.

I swallowed standing in the darkness feeling myself about to cry. Why did I want to cry.

Have they been talking again? Why was she here!?

I held back my tears. 

Yale! No! Don't cry. Don't assume, he'll explain.

"Woody!?" I heard Maggie yell again. It sounds as if she was in his kitchen. My heart drummed in my chest as I could hear it knocking against my ribs. I place my hand over it to calm it down.

It was silent for a moment as she stood still in one spot.

"Hey." She spoke.

Woody's Point of View

I stared at the three of them as I watched them place the pile of money into the money counter as if I couldn't be trusted.

I rolled my eyes as we were all seated inside of an abandoned warehouse they had turned into an office. It was gloomy in here, a total villain like status as if were in some f*****g Batman comic.

Den waited outside in his car while he sent me in to do the f*****g dirty work. Cunt.

I rocked back in my seat as the one guy I had never met before cut the coke up into sections as he created individual bags for clients I'm assuming.

"Yo the f*****g money's all there you don't need to count that s**t, come on I worked for Boss man for years. He know I'm good!" I shrugged at the one guy who then placed the next batch of notes into the machine.

"With your recent theft, I'm not quite sure Boss man even trusts you anymore." He said smugly.

And then I smirked before licking my lips in frustration.

"I'm not a thief." I said honestly. "But I am a murderer. Watch your mouth, it's just a suggestion." I winked.

He was right though, after settling our debt with Boss man, he seemed different like he didn't trust Denver and I anymore. He's been giving us s**t jobs ever since but I guess we just gotta play the game to get back in his good books again.

So if we gotta be doing b***h boy work for a little while so be it.

"Tough guy." The money counter laughed and then the third guy sitting on the computer glared at him.

I knew him, we've worked together before he was a hacker, smart kid. I think he's eighteen, he's been working for boss man since he was sixteen. He knew me, he saw me kill. He knows what I'm capable of.

"He's not playing. He'll kill you in less than 10 seconds. I've seen it." The kid said to the money counter and then pressed his glasses back as he stared back at his screen and then I smirked as the money counter refused to make further eye contact with me.

"What's your name kid?" I asked him because I never knew his name, we've work together but we were never friendly. I've always just called him kid.

"Lars." He said.

"Cool name. You ever need a side job my boy Vickrim's doing some s**t in Chicago he could use you." I said remembering that Vick had told me something about tryna find a hacker.

"Thank you Woody. I appreciate that. I'm down, tell him to call me." He said without looking at me.

"For sure kid." I nodded and then the money counter said something but I was pulled by the vibration of my phone. I pulled it from my pocket.

I stared at the screen.

You've got to be f*****g kidding me. I haven't spoken to this woman in forever. I sighed.

Maggie.

I did owe her a conversation for getting John off my back in the past even though she was the one who put him on me in the first place.

Lemme just f*****g answer because knowing her meant that she wouldn't stop calling until I answered.

I slide to accept. "Yo. I'm busy. Whatever you wanna say make it quick."

"Hey." I heard her say in her gently sweet loving voice that once made me melt but doesn't anymore.

"Don't be mad but..."

Oh f**k,

"But what!?" I sat upright. "What the f**k did you do? If you're calling cause you need my help and you're in some sort of trouble f**k off, that's Clint's problem."

"No...no." She spoke calmly "Just listen," she sighed. "I'm at your house." She spoke.

Yale.

"What!? Get the f**k out my house. How the f**k did you even get in and where is she, put her on the phone. If she left because of you I'ma be pissed Maggie and you and I both know that you don't want me to be pissed the f**k off."

"Wait what!? I knocked but the door was unlocked so I just came inside to see if you were here!" She spoke in a hurry "and who is she? There's no one here, are you seeing someone?" She said the last sentence as if she was hurt I could hear the heartbreak in her voice. She was hurt.

I hated that tone. I hated knowing that I hurt her.

Apart of me deep down still hated it. 

And I f*****g hated that.

Where's Yale!? Did she leave before Maggie came...

I should phone her after this call to find out.

I sighed "I'm seeing someone Maggie. Please leave my house."

"I want to talk to you Woody. You owe me a conversation."

"Aren't we having one now?"

"I love you." She said as I felt those words poke at my heart trying to get in.

"You don't cheat on people you love." I said in a filthy way.

"I left him, I'm done with Clint. I love you and I made a mistake please just let me see you. Please give me a chance to fix this." She sounded sincere "I miss you, I miss our late night talks and the way you would kiss me awake in the morning. I miss waiting for you to get home from work and falling onto the couch with me. I miss watching Christmas movies with you!" She began to cry as I heard the shift in her voice which f*****g broke my heart as those memories flooded back to drown me.

"I miss holding your hand and kissing you and feeling you smile when you kiss me. I miss you touching me and f*****g me and...I'm sorry Quin! I'm sorry!" She cried "I'm honestly so sorry, if I could take it back I would. It wasn't worth it and I'm sorry that I hurt you. I hurt you and I'll never forgive myself for hurting you." She sobbed and honestly I've never heard her cry like this. I could feel her regret and pain.

"I will keep trying Quin," She sniffed "I won't give up on you." She sighed. "Please can I see you."

"Maggie..." I inhaled shaking my head.

"Okay, just tell me you'll think about it please."

I swallowed.

"I'll think about it Maggie. I need to get back to work."

"I love you Quinton."

"Goodbye Maggie." I hung up and then felt confusion take ahold of me. Apart of me love Maggie but she's not Yale.

I need to call Yale.

Yale's Point of View

I clutch my heart as tears came steaming down my face as she told him that she loved him before hanging up. I heard it all, everything.

I hate this! 

I can't do this.

If he agreed to see her again I can't do this. Denver was right. I need to talk to someone maybe I should call Denver and tell him the truth. I trust Denver. I should tell him Woody and I kissed and I love him.

I love him but so does she, 

And she wants him back, I can't compete with her. I shifted in the closet as I wiped my soaking wet face with his t-shirt while hearing her heels carry her out of his house. The sound drowning out as she exited and then I emerged from the closet feeling myself burst out into tears.

Ima call Denver, he'll know what to do. He'll yell at me, but he'll help me.

I can't do this. I can't stay here tonight.

My tears kept streaming down as I wiped them away and unlocked my phone to call Denver.

And just as I was about to hit the call button Woody had called me.

I closed my eyes for a moment and then answered.

"Where are you?" He asked instantly and then I sniffed "Here at your house." I sat down on his bed and then he was silent for a moment.

"You hid?" He asked and then I nodded even though he couldn't see me and then said "yeah, I got nervous and and I hid in your closet." I sniffed again.

"Are you...crying?" I heard his thick concerned voice.

"Yeah." I brought my hand to my face as I rested my head in it "Woody are you going to see her?" I burst out in tears "I heard everything and she loves you and you love her and..." I couldn't contain myself.

"Yale baby, stop. Okay? Listen to me I'm not seeing her. I'm not going to meet up with her." He cut me off.

"I'm coming home to you. I'm sorry that you had to hear those things but I'm coming home soon okay. Please don't cry, I don't like that. s**t, I don't like when my girl cry." He said and then I sighed a sigh of relief.

"Are you sure we should be doing this?"

"Haven't been more sure of anything in my life." He said.

Woody's Point of View

I walked out of the warehouse feeling completely emotionally drained. I felt my Jordan's travel across the gravel as I heard the stones crunch beneath my feet.

What the f**k is going on tonight.

So much f*****g drama. s**t, Yale and I fight, Yale and I kiss. Maggie calls and confesses her love and regret and then she starts crying. I call Yale and then she starts crying.

What next!? What the f**k is going on. 

Yo ya boy ain't use to this s**t. The only drama I'm use to having was drug related and now ya boy out here going through the f*****g most.

I glance to see Denver sitting in his car and then I prowled towards him clutching the yellow envelope in my hand. I exhaled deeply and then watched him buzz down the window before I approached him.

"The f***s gotten into you, my boy look stressed as f**k. Everything go good in there?" He asked with curious eyes.

"Nah things are sorted." I said referring to the warehouse s**t and then tossed him the yellow envelope through the window.

"Ima head home, man can you do me solid and drop that s**t on your own? I gotta take care of something." I asked and then he stared at me for a moment.

"What you gotta take care of?" He seemed intrigued but like he knew something.

"Yo, I love you but get off my back. I just have s**t to take care of." I nodded as I stood in the cold, feeling the wind blow against me.

"You only get defensive when it's about Yale." He said and then I looked away "Yeah. She needs me." I said and then he swallowed.

"Sure man, I'll drop the shit." He nodded and then I inhaled deeply.

"Tell Kelly I miss her. I'll visit soon."