Imperfectly Yours: His Slave Series

Nine

I was so tired, I hadn’t slept he entire but kept tossing and turning. The events of the night before playing in my head as if they were still happening.

The previous night dad came back at around 10pm and then mum had called him along with Julian so they could talk in dad’s office. There had been a lot of shouting and yelling from both Julian and mum and then the slamming of Julian’s door.

Guess Julian actually went along with what he has said.

I had no idea what was being said but whatever it was, it hadn’t been good and I only hoped Reece hadn’t heard any of it. I didn’t want him to be scarred for life the way I was. He still had so much ahead of him.

I crawled out of bed when my alarm went off, got ready for school and went down to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Reece and I and lunch. I always carried a packed lunch and so did Reece and Julian when he was still around.

I so lost in my own head that I didn’t hear when Julian came in and took a seat at one of the island stools until he cleared his throat. I nearly jumped out of my skin. “You scared me,” I said with a hand on my chest. “What are you doing up so early?”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” Julian replied but he didn’t answer my question.

Something was wrong, my eyes darted to his feet and there was a duffle bag. My heart started pounding. He can’t leave, he just got here and yesterday was the first time we had such a heart to heart conversation that I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to him for another year.

“You can’t leave, you just got here,” I said with a panic laced in my voice.

Julian got up and walked over to where I was stood with fork in hand. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his chest while he smoothed down my hair. “I’m sorry Mace but I can’t stay anymore,” he said quietly. “Not after what happened yesterday and dad is okay with it.”

A tear rolled down my face. This couldn’t be happening, it just couldn’t. Why did this always happen every single time?

I wrapped my arms around him and held on tight. “What about Reece? He will be so crushed to see you leave again,” my voice came out croaky.

“I’m going to wait for him and see both of you head to school before I leave but I can’t be here when mum comes back from her call at the hospital,” he said as he pulled back but kept his hands on my shoulders. “I really am sorry about this.”

He wiped the tears that had rolled down my face with his thumb. “It’s okay. But where will you go?”

“Back to Oxford of course, I told dad everything and he said he would still pay my tuition and everything else because mum has clearly refused to support me with my choice.” He moved back to his stool and leaned onto the island. “Don’t let mum take advantage of you and ruin your chances of happiness, you deserve to be happy with it not having to do with what she wants for you.”

I wiped the tears and held myself together as Reece came padding down the stairs. He looked so happy as he walked into the kitchen and his smile only grew larger when he saw Julian sitting there.

“Jules,” he said and walked into Julian’s outstretched arm. “You are awake.”

“Of course, I am buddy,” Julian replied and I heard his voice c***k just a fraction as he held onto Reece.

I tried my best not to cry again and focussed on making breakfast and lunch while Julian and Reece sat by the island as Reece told him about his library visit and everything he had found out. Julian sat there listening and smiling sadly and I hated it, I hated the fact that mum had forced him to go back to the other side of world just because she couldn’t accept what he wanted for a change.

 After I was, we eat our breakfast while Julian told us about university and how much he loved it there before long. Reece’s school bus was honking outside and he had to leave. He grabbed his backpack and turned to give Julian a hug.

“Listen here buddy,” Julian started and I knew where this was going. “I have to go back to school again so you won’t find me when you return from school.”

Reece’s smile fell and was replaced with confusion. “But you just got here and we have so much to catch up on.”

Julian pulled at his hair in frustration, he was struggling with himself, deciding if it was good to tell Reece the actual truth.

“Is this because of that argument you had with mum yesterday? Is that why you are leaving so soon?”

The boy was smart for his own good. “No, I just have some school stuff I have to do then I will be back before you even know it.”

“Okay,” Reece replied. “Promise to Skype me when you get there okay?”

“Of course, anything for you.” They hugged and Reece ran out the door as Julian and I watched him.

“You lied to him, didn’t you?”

Julian sat down and picked at his food, he wouldn’t look at me and that was his tell. He wasn’t coming back home anytime soon and he knew how much it was going to break Reece’s heart when he found out.

“You could have told him the truth,” I said pushing my plate away and standing up. “He would have understood and so would I have but you didn’t tell me either. Did you think about how your presence was going to affect him or me?”

Julian didn’t say anything. “Thought as much.” I grabbed my knapsack and slung it over my head just as the familiar rumble of Keith’s motorcycle pulled up into our driveway.

What the hell did he want? Did he love torturing me so much that he couldn’t get the hint that I did not want to be around him?

“Who is that?” Julian asked while sitting straight on the stool.

“It’s no one. I will get rid of them.”

I walked out of door and stood in front of Keith. He had his leaning against his motorcycle with his helmet on and a cigarette in hand.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked through clenched teeth. “Can’t you get the hint that I don’t like you or your company?”

Keith looked up and me and placed the cigarette at his mouth, he pulled the smoke in and blew it out. “Hop on princess, we don’t have all day,” he said instead.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you and for f**k’s sake, would you stop calling me princess,” I threw my hands up in frustration.

“I will call you whatever I want and I’m not going anywhere without you, you better get that into your little stupid brain princess.”

His comment stung because everything that Julian had told me was still fresh in my head and heart. I felt tears pricking my eyes and clenched my hands into fists to stop them from falling. There was no way I was falling apart in front of this arsehole.

Just as I was about to tell him off, the door opened behind me and I knew who it was without even turning to see him.

“What’s going on?” Julian asked. “And who are you?”

“Nothing, just forget it Jules,” I turned back and shot him a warning look to drop whatever it was he wanted to say. I was still mad at him for leaving and he did not want me to snap at him in front of this arsehole. “He is no one.”

“No one princess? Really?” Keith had the audacity to speak. “And who is he?”

I spun around and glared at him. “He is none of your f*****g business arsehole and stop calling me princess. For the last time, please leave before I call the police on you for trespassing.” I was fuming and I had no idea who I was madder at; Keith, Julian or mum.

Keith narrowed his eyes a me through his helmet and I could feel the anger radiating off of him in waves. “Whatever, I have better things to do than stand here and listen to this bullshite.” He stomped he cigarette, got on his motorcycle and sped out of our driveway.

I turned around and glared at Julian before he could say anything. “I don’t want to hear it, I’m going to school.” And then I walked all the way to school.

                                                                                          **********

“Where the hell have you been?”

Kate was the first to ask when I entered the school hallway. I shrugged and walked to my locker as Aliyah and Kate followed close behind asking me question upon question about where I was, what I was doing and what I was thinking for missing the first three classes. But I ignored them, I just wasn’t in the mood.

I shut my locker and started heading for the last morning class before lunch when Kate blocked my way. She had her hands crossed on her chest and her eyes were narrowed at me.

“Where the f**k do you think you are going?”

“Class, where else?” I tried to walk past her but she just kept blocking my way. “Can I pass?”

I walked past her but she grabbed my hand and spun me around. For such a tiny looking person, she had a really strong grip. “You are not going anywhere until you answer my question, are we clear?”

“Just answer her Mace,” Aliyah said with a sigh. “We were worried about you when you didn’t show up and so was Jay. We tried calling you and Keith but both your lines weren’t going through.”

Keith wasn’t here, I thought he would have showed up considering he had a head start and I decided to make a detour to the local diner where I grabbed a milkshake and just sat, thinking about everything.

“Jules came back,” was all I said before I yanked my arm from Kate’s grip and walked to class.

The entire time I was in class, I was just thinking about everything while doodling in my notebook. A paper hit my head and I snapped out of my thoughts then looked at where the paper had come from. It was from Kate and she was frowning as she nodded her head towards the paper. I sighed and picked it up then opened it.

Meet us at lunch and you will tell us everything, even if it means me beating it out of you. Xox

I scrunched the paper up and threw it in my bag then went back to my doodling as Mr. Martins continued talking about who knows what.

“Macy,” I looked up and Mr. Martins was looking at me expectantly with his hands crossed over his chest.

“Hmm, yes?”

“Could you tell us something about what happens in first chapters of The Great Gatsby? Anything at all that you can remember from the chapters that were supposed to have been read this week and what your conclusions are,” he asked.

I had no idea what he was talking about. Were we supposed to be reading something and I had no idea? This was why I liked having classes with Aliyah because she always reminded me of the work that we were given but she was taking a lot of AP classes.

“Ahh, umm,” I was stuttering which made the rest of the class start laughing. What the hell was going on with me?”

“We are waiting Ms. Miller, we don’t have all day you know,” Mr. Martins said and shook his head just as the bell for lunch rung. “Please, make sure you read through the book Macy. That’s the end of the class, be sure to read chapters 5 through 10 for the next class.”

I stuffed my books into my bag haphazardly and ran out of the class. That was so embarrassing and to have Mr. Martins call me out like that and shake his head just made me feel even worse.

Kate caught up to me and hooked her arm with mine. “You aren’t getting away from me that easily,” she winked at me.

I sighed, “I still need to leave my books in my locker.” There was no avoiding her, when she got like this all you could do was give me.

When we got to my locker, Jay and Aliyah were standing there talking. Strange and I could see some of the cheering leading girls shooting daggers in her way. Now that was something to be expected.

“Ladies,” Jay said and then winked a Kate which made her smile and look away.

I looked between the two trying to find out what was happening. “Hey Jay,” I said sceptically.

“Mace, have you seen Keith? I’ve been trying to call him but his phone and I thought you two were together?”

“No, I haven’t seen him.” Lies, lies, I had seen him earlier in the morning and basically told him to f**k off but there was no way I was going to say that.

Jay’s face fell and he racked his fingers through his hair. “f**k, I really thought he was with you and now I’m worried about him. He always does this everything single freaking time.”

I felt bad, maybe I was the reason why Keith wasn’t here and why Jay was so worried. Maybe I should tell Jay the truth or try to call Keith or something.

“We’re heading for lunch, see ya later,” Kate hooked her arms with me and Aliyah and started for the cafeteria.

“Can I join you?” Jay asked a little louder and the few people who were in the hallway turned to look at him. “It’s just I usually sit with Keith and since he’s not here it’s kind of strange having to join the other basketball guys.”

“Sure.” And that was how we ended up having Jay at our table while everyone stared at us with batted breaths.

                                                                                             ********

“Wait, Julian came back?” Kate asked. “As in your really hot and smart older brother, him?”

I cringed and so did Aliyah. “Hell no, please don’t. He has a girlfriend,” I said through a mouthful of some chips. “It’s just gross, he’s my brother for crying out loud and three years older than you.”

Kate rolled her eyes and I could see Jay was getting uncomfortable and a tad bit jealous. “I’m just saying, that’s all. Who is the girlfriend?”

“She’s apparently like you and will never be accepted by mum.”

“Yikes,” Aliyah replied. “I feel so bad for Jules.”

“Well, he’s gone back to Oxford because of her,” I had suddenly lost my appetite and pushed the plate away.

Aliyah wrapped her arm around me. She knew exactly what I was feeling without me having to say it. “Awe, I was looking forward to hanging out with him the way we used to,” she said.

“So was I,” I said quietly. So was I.

We spent the rest of lunch period talking about everything and nothing while we laughed but I couldn’t get that tiny voice out of my head that kept telling me that I had been a lo harder on Keith and I had to apologise to me. But I had no idea where to start looking for him.