2. Emotions
1443 Words
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Lisa's palm smacked against his cheek. His grip on her waist loosened instantly. She pushed herself off him and dashed out of the club.
It was the closest she had been to a boy since the incident. The feel of his hand on her waist had sent a rush of heat to her cheeks, and though her mind screamed in protest, her body had remembered something else—something she hated.
Matt remained on the floor, staring after her, stunned. He’d never seen a girl act like that—so fierce, so untamed. Her hair bounced seductively down her back as she ran.
"f**k, help me up," Ethan groaned.
Matt blinked, snapping out of his daze, and helped Ethan up, then Blake.
"That girl is crazy," Ethan grumbled, dusting off his shirt.
Both guys turned to Blake, who calmly brushed himself off and strode out like nothing had happened.
"I thought he couldn’t handle pain," Matt muttered.
"Jeez, man. That was a sexy kind of pain," Ethan snickered.
They hurried after him, catching up just at the club doors.
"You spilled wine on Lisa on purpose," Ethan accused.
"I didn’t," Blake muttered without turning around.
"Damn, she’s fierce," Matt chuckled.
Blake turned his head slightly. "Don’t get any ideas about her."
"Seriously? I almost got killed, and you're more worried about her?" Ethan snapped.
Blake didn’t respond. He just walked off into the night.
Josie’s Apartment
"I can’t believe Blake spilled wine on you," Josie said for what felt like the tenth time. Lisa threw her stained clothes aside and collapsed onto her bed.
"I think he did it intentionally," Lisa scoffed, her voice edged with irritation.
"How can you be so sure?" Josie asked, a bit defensive.
"I’m just saying—"
"Don’t judge him just because you hate guys. Besides, that was a sexy mistake," Josie cut in, her eyes dreamy.
"Shut it, Jo. You’ll always find an excuse for him," Lisa muttered, turning away. Her mind kept replaying the feel of his grip on her waist.
Avery emerged from the bathroom, wearing pajamas, her face and hair damp.
"I had a little too much to drink," she groaned.
Lisa scoffed. "And?"
"I’m sorry," Avery said quietly.
"You’re sorry, broken little thing," Lisa mocked, her brow raised and lips curled in fake sympathy.
"Can’t you try getting along? It’s been three months—for f**k’s sake," Josie snapped.
"She can really pretend, can’t she?" Lisa’s voice was cold, her smile unnerving.
Avery looked down, her feet shifting nervously.
"Stop acting like some damsel in distress, sweetheart," Lisa said with venom.
"I’m sorry."
"For yourself," Lisa rolled her eyes and turned to Josie. "If she’s staying here, then I’m leaving."
"It’s fine. I’ll leave," Avery interjected quickly, only for Lisa to shoot her a glare.
"Are you serious? Don’t be like that," Josie said, grabbing Lisa’s arm as she tried to leave.
"See you at school tomorrow," Lisa muttered, yanking her arm free and walking out without looking back.
Walter Mansion
Lisa crept into the living room. As soon as the door shut behind her, the lights flicked on.
Mr. Walter.
He stood by the light switch, arms crossed.
"Where are you coming from?"
She ignored him and walked past. That only made him angrier.
"Don’t you dare walk out on me, Lisa Walter!"
Mrs. Walter appeared at the top of the stairs, dressed in nightwear.
"Please, darling, just let her be," she pleaded.
"Why do you hate me so much? I’m your father," Mr. Walter snapped.
Lisa stopped. Her eyes blazed with something deep and cold.
"Rebelling won’t change anything. It just makes moving on harder," he said, trying to sound calm.
"You think I’m rebelling? You don’t know a damn thing about how I feel."
"What do you want me to do? Kill myself to satisfy you? Redeem myself?"
"Even your death wouldn’t fix the trauma you put me through," she said coldly.
She turned to walk away.
"What else could I have done, Lisa? How was I supposed to know something bad would happen? I didn’t know!"
She froze, then turned back, eyes burning.
"Is guilt eating you up, Daddy? If you had listened—just once—nothing would’ve happened. If only you believed me when I said how creepy your brother was acting, maybe he wouldn’t have r***d me. Again and again."
Mrs. Walter gasped, rushing forward. "Lisa, baby, calm down."
But Lisa pulled away.
"I only wanted you to bond with him," Mr. Walter said, guilt written across his face.
"I begged you not to leave me with him. But you did. You left me with a monster who beat me, tied me up, r***d me. So forgive me, Father, if I hate you."
Her mother wept quietly in the corner.
"I apologized," he shouted.
"An apology? You did nothing to your brother. Don’t try to fix this. You broke me."
Lisa stormed out into the night, her mother crying out behind her. But Lisa didn’t stop. She ran until her tears blurred everything.
She collapsed to her knees in the dark, sobbing.
"Why won’t anyone understand me?"
"Lisa," Mrs. Walter found her moments later, out of breath.
"Mom..."
"Stop crying, baby," she whispered, stroking her hair.
"It hurts, Mom."
"I know. I’m so sorry. One day, you’ll heal."
Lisa clung to her.
"I hate him, Mom."
"Calm down. Everything will be fine. Let’s go home. It’s dark out here."
Lisa nodded slowly. "Fine, Mom."She whispered as she slowly wiped her tears with the back of her palms.
Carter Mansion — Same Night
The maids gathered as Blake, Ethan, and Matt returned. Ethan and Matt headed upstairs to clean up.
"Why is my sister still awake?" Blake asked. A maid beside him trembled.
"I’m sorry, sir," she said. They all knew better than to argue.
Cassie, a little girl of about six, perked up at the sound of his voice and ran over.
"Don’t blame them, big brother. I gave them a hard time." She hugged his legs.
"It’s past your bedtime, Cassie. Almost 10 p.m.," he said, lifting her into his arms.
"I was waiting for you," she beamed, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"This shouldn’t happen again, unless you all want to lose your jobs," he warned the staff. They nodded, terrified.
Cassie was his treasure. His soft spot. His time bomb.
"Yes, Master Carter," they echoed.
Blake carried her upstairs.
"Are you angry, big brother?" she asked, those wide eyes too adorable to resist.
"Of course not." He opened the door and set her down on the bed.
"I wanted to talk to you."
"It couldn’t wait until morning?" he teased.
She pouted. "You don’t like spending time with me anymore."
"That’s not true. You’re the prettiest girl in the world."
"Just pretty?" she gasped, pretending to be scandalized.
"Beautiful, smart, and cute," he added, grinning.
"We’re having an event at school in three weeks," she said, counting on her fingers.
"Want me to come?"
"Yes. Mom and Dad are on another business trip."
His heart clenched. She didn’t have much of them.
"Then I’ll be there. If they don’t show up, I will."
"We have to bring two people—a boy and a girl. Like Mom and Dad."
"Easy. I’ll bring Ethan and Matt."
"No, it has to be like a couple."
"Ohh. Then I’ll bring a girl," he said with a smile.
"You have a girlfriend?" she giggled, covering her mouth.
"Who told you that?" he teased, tickling her. She laughed and squirmed.
"I love you."
"I love you too, Cassie." He kissed her cheek.
She yawned. "Goodnight."
"Sleep tight."
When she finally drifted off, Blake slipped out of bed and grabbed his phone.
His mind flashed back to Lisa. The way she looked. The way she reacted. Wild. Fierce. Irresistible.
She wore that dress like she owned the world. And when she landed on him—he smiled at the memory.
She was something else.
Unknown Location — 11:00 p.m.
A girl in a hood slipped into a dark alley, her eyes scanning behind her.
A man stood at the far end, puffing a cigarette.
"Good evening, boss," she said, bowing.
"Did you bring me something useful this time?" His voice was cold, dangerous.
She handed him an envelope. He flipped through the contents, then flung the photos at her.
"You know your worth. If you disappoint me again, you’re dead."
Shaking, she picked the photos up and handed them back.
"Yes, boss."
"Get lost."
She hurried off, tightening the hood over her face.
The man tucked the envelope under his arm and disappeared into the shadows.
- Writer
