Monstrous

6

I wanted nothing but to be left alone. Once I got into my room, I stood there running my fingers through my hair not knowing how to calm myself down. The deep steady breaths I was taking had no effect on me. My anxiety worsened as I began to tighten the grip I had on my hair, I felt a few strands picking out of my scalp, the tiny bit of pain somewhat soothed me. Feeling no other escape I closed my eyes and clenched onto my hair pulling a few more strands out.

“Nice room-” I only had a few moments of peace before the unexpected interruption of his voice brought my eyes open reluctantly. Nile, who made himself rudely comfortable walked into my room eyeing out the place. A hint of embarrassment shocked me realizing my room wasn’t the cleanest it could be, it wasn’t bad but I don’t even let Jacob into my room. It’s my bubble away from the world.

“I told you to get out of my house” I spat a bit rudely. Nile who had his hands folded behind his back walked further into my room looking around the place before sitting down on an armrest. He scoffed at my bluntness and shook his head at me.

“No, you told me to get home safe. Which I intend to do, when I’m ready to leave of course” That infamous cocky grin spread itself across his lips, Oh god I hated that grin. A deep sigh escaped my mouth knowing I wouldn’t get him to leave until he wanted, so there was no use in trying to fight him or argue.

“Paul Sutterman huh?” He asked in a condescending tone. My eyes rolled as I made my way over to the bed. I climbed up into the bed and turned to face him, he was a few feet away from me. My head nodded, I didn’t have much to say, and the last thing I wanted to talk about was what I unexpectedly said.

“Sounds like a douche. Looks like one too” Nile’s face hardened and the smirk on his lips faded. I didn’t care for his comment so I shrugged, the last thing I needed was for him to judge me based on the choices I made in the past. It was right then and there, after a few moments of silence I pieced together his comment and I realized one thing.

“How do you know what he looks like?” I asked, looking back at Nile. My eyebrows raised at him and he let out a dry laugh and shrugged. This man was officially labeled as crazy in my book. Nile didn’t answer my question, instead he leaned forward in his chair looking at me seriously.

“Say the words and I can make him disappear. I’ve got connections..” You would think the sternness in his voice and the stone cold expression on his face would take him seriously or at least be frightened by him. I tried, I really did but everything that was once on my mind disappeared as I broke into horrendous laughter. Nile tightened his jaw and leaned back in the chair, I waved my hand in front of my face and tried to contain my laughter.

“I’m sorry, I just-” My arm wrapped around my stomach from the growing laughter pains. Nile stood up from the armrest and slowly walked around my room. Once my laughter finally died down I licked my lips and let out a deep sigh.

“I’m sorry that happened to you. I really am, that bastard deserves to pay for what he did” Nile said, picking up a picture frame that was on my desk. It was a picture of me and my sister embracing one another. This time his voice was genuine and I took him seriously, I slid off the bed and walked up to him, gently grabbing the photo out of his hands.

“I don’t really want to talk anymore about him" I turned away from Nile and placed the photo back onto the desk neatly. My eyes took a moment to appreciate the still memory of my lost sister before turning back to him.

"I didn't mean what I said in a bad way-" Nile began but I scoffed rolling my eyes. My body turned sharply away from him and I shook my head refusing to look at him. I could feel my body drowning in an ocean of negative emotions that have been held back for sometime now.

"What exactly are you apologizing for Nile? You torment me? For calling me naive and blind?" Ready to face him once again, my body turned sharply around and Nile stood here with his lips slightly parted, from what his facial expression read, he was at a loss of words. Everything about tonight went to s**t and, there was so much unspoken animosity that was flowing through my veins that I couldn't hold back anymore.

"Nile, have you ever considered that you actually hurt people? That your words can have a negative effect on those you directed it to-" I don't think I could allow myself to stop living in the past but my feelings were all over the place and I didn't know how to convey them after having to suppress them for so long.

"I messed up Autumn, I f****d up and I'm sorry. What more do you want me to say?! I'm not perfect!" Nile said with an increasing volume, he took a step towards me and His response for some unknown reason made me enraged.

"So you can admit to not being perfect but s**t on others who aren't?! Do you know how sick and disgusting that is Nile? Do you know how much of a monster you are?!" I didn't want to hold back anymore. I refuse to let these newfound feelings for Nile get in the way of how he treated me in the past. Surprisingly Nile didn't get angry, he was speechless once again, and he stood there looking at me with wide eyes but an expression so unreadable I couldn't tell what he was feeling.

"I know-" He finally responded after running his fingers through his hair anxiously. Nile took a step back away from me and I simply watched him wanting to hear what would come next from his mouth.

"You don't have to remind me how much of a shitty person I am Autumn. Everyone in my life either treats me like a f**k up or looks at me like I am one" Nile's eyes began to dart all over the place and by his low tone I could tell that there was something being hidden.

"You parents love you, everyone at school lov-" Nile snapped his neck at me and raised his eyebrows at me as rage began to sparkle in his magnificent eyes.

"You know nothing about me Autumn besides the plain facts" He spat, I swallowed the rest of my words picking up on the irritation in his voice.

"You basically know everything about me. So it's only fair that you tell me a little more about yourself" To lighten up the tense mood, a smile crept onto my face and it seemed to put Nile in a better mood. A soft scoff escaped his lips and he turned away from me already declining the thought. When I really thought about it, I didn't know a single thing about Nile, nothing personal. I knew that he had a deep love for Charlie and his sister went missing a few years ago but other than that it was plain gossip and whispers that people spread in the school.

"It's either that or we can watch more romantic movies, that may or may not be corny" Nile who was already making his way to the door stopped abruptly. He stood there for a while before a deep sigh made itself known. Nile turned back around and nodded faintly. Seeing his defeat made me chuckle. Nile walked back inside my room and eyed the he once sat in but before he could sit down I halted him with my words.

"No no no, first we need to do something about your hair. I can see your roots" Nile looked at me with offence in his eyes before combing his fingers through his hair that was dyed jet black but the light brown roots started to make itself evident.

Maribeth Ross (previously Tyler)

The days of high school started to flow through me as I sat in a booth at our timeless diner late in the night with no one else around. Laughs, cries, even fights took place here. Remembering a time I knew I could never get back almost made me tear up, but the feeling was bittersweet because the memories were just too delightful to be upset at. A faint smile came to my lips but it all disappeared when Markus dropped down in the seat in front of me. After all these years passed of not seeing him

"Maribeth Ross, in the flesh" He said with a smile that disgusted me on all levels. My folded hands clenched tightly as I kept the urge to punch him in his face buried deep down.

"Markus Cale.." I never thought about having to say his name ever again but ever since moving back home, I've had nothing but troubles with his son and it ends here.

"You remember our first date here?-" Markus asked looking around before landing his eyes on me. My mouth opened wanting to shut down any invitation to revisit the past but he spoke right over me.

"You remember our first time Beth?" Markus leaned forward with a growing smirk on his face and I started to lose the cool I intended to keep when calling him here. Maybe this was all a mistake, I wanted to run away but I needed to stand my ground not only for Autumn but for myself. This man no longer had control over me.

"No Markus, it was a quite forgettable event. I'm not here to reminisce about the past. It's plain and simple. Keep your son away from my daughter. He has been nothing but trouble, breaking her in ways I didn't even know where possible" For some reason when bringing up his son, the smirk on Markus's face disappeared and he leaned back against the booth. He raised his hand signaling for a waitress to come over. Even though I hadn't planned on eating, I was starving, I had forgotten what growing another human inside of me felt like.

"I don't claim that piece of s**t as my son" He mumbled, when a waitress approached us I turned out their conversation about the menu and fully began to see Markus. The more I looked at him, the more I saw his treacherous son. But the image was different, I couldn't ignore the bruises that littered Nile's face every time I saw him. Although rage was in his eyes, there was also pain and desperation. I knew that look all too well.

Once Markus sent the waitress away after ordering a large amount of food I wasted no time in asking him what the relationship was like with his son.

"Do you hit him?" I asked, Markus looked up at me and the casualness in his eyes told me all I needed to know. He wasn't even afraid of people knowing the truth. Was it because everyone in this God forsaken town loves him? No one knows the truth, nor do they want to.

"What do you mean?" He asked in an attempt to play coy. My hands pulled away from each other and I curled them into fists.

"The same way you used to beat me in high school Markus, is it the same way you beat your son? The question is quite simple" I spat with anger, my heart began to race hurriedly in my chest as the relationship me and Markus once shared abrupted in my mind. It was pain, abuse, and manipulation disguised as love. He did nothing but shrug, not an ounce of remorse was in his face.

"You have no idea what that fucker has put me through. He needs discipline-" Unexpectedly my fists slammed down onto the table shocking Markus in the process. I don't think I was ever able to stand up to him. Asher always did it for me, I mentally smiled thinking about the time Asher ruthlessly beat Markus in order for him to leave me alone.

"Its abuse! You think you have the right to cause the pain you do! You sit there and lie-" Markus's villainous laugh cut me off, anger lined his face along with offence. He shook his head gently and leaned forward.

"You little b***h, you think you can talk about lying? How about you tell the truth about my daughter’s k********g-" All the confidence in my face had drained at his words. My face heated up feeling the tears swell up in my eyes.

"You think after all these years that I didn’t piece things together?" Markus hissed in a low tone. It was right then and there my entire life started crashing down right before my very eyes at the hands of my ex-boyfriend. There was no possible way he could've found out. The waitress had set down multiple plates in front of us. Markus immediately dug down into the plate as soon as the waitress trotted off. My body was frozen as he chewed ridiculously, he pushed a plate filled with fries and a burger towards me.

"Eat up, you look pale" He said with a mouthful of food. How long has he known? What was he going to do? I could be thrown in jail, all of us involved could be sent to prison. He had no proof though but-

"We can talk about your involvement in my daughter's k********g later. Let's talk about us-” Not wanting to deal with this anymore I turned to my purse sitting next to me and gathered up my belongings.

"You have no idea what you are talking about. Get it through your head there will never be an us, not again.You are the most disgusting vile man on this planet and I hope you burn in hell” I hissed pushed the plate back over to him. Before I could witness his incoming rage I stood up from the booth, grabbing my purse.

I didn't think much after that, the only thing I wanted was to put distance between me and that monster. I stormed out of the diner and into the night My heels clicked across the pavement as I hurriedly jogged through the parking lot. My hand dug into my purse as I approached my car. A panic wave drowned my body as the search of my keys was unsuccessful. At last I stood beside my car but unfortunately my car keys were nowhere to be found.

A large hand wrapped itself around my forearm and whipped my body around. I was met to face the only man I dreaded in my life. Years ago he made me feel powerless, but we aren't kids anymore and I wouldn't allow him to bully me anymore.

"Has anyone taught you how to behave?” Markus inched closer to me, and I took a step back . My eyes darted around the parking lot hoping to see someone but we were alone.

”At least I didn’t live a life of disappointment like you” I wasn't thinking, my words came from pure rage, and with Markus I should've known that his temper was uncontrollable. He moved so fast I wasn't able to process his movements until he slammed me into the side of my car wrapping a tightening hand around my neck. Markus pressed his forehead against mine with a narcissistic smirk on his lips.

“You skank, you think I will not allow you of all people to look down upon me. We both know how much you love me¨ My hands reached up to the grasp he had around my throat. I took rapid breaths of air as my throat tightened, my hands clawed at his but it was no use, he was stronger than me.

¨Get it through your s-sick and demented mind. I n-never loved you, you w-were nothing to me-” Although my voice was scratchy and faint I didn't let that stop me from standing my ground. Markus’s face changed into an anger that was indescribable, his eyes grew dark and his jaw tightened. A sly smirk spread itself across his lips, silent tears streamed down my face. I kept my head held up high and my lips pressed tightly together. Markus spun his head around scanning the area before bringing his eyes back to mine.

¨I'll show you sick and demented you b***h-”

Nile Cale

The last thing I wanted to do was to open myself up to Autumn but the feeling of her small fingers combing through my hair was a feeling I wouldn't change for the world, I would change the smell though.

“What the f**k is that smell?” I asked Autumn. We were in her bathroom, I sat on the tiled floor with my back against the bathtub while she crouched in her bathtub tending to my hair avoiding making a mess.

“Its equal amounts of vinegar and water" Autumn said as she slipped what I presumed to be a shower cap onto my head. After what felt like hours of bending my neck and my ass bruising against the tile, Autumn tapped my shoulders and that signaled me that was done for the time being. I stood up stretching my body out.

“Give it fifteen minutes. Okay, it's time to get vulnerable” I turned to face Autumn and she was clapping her hands excitedly as if waiting for this moment her entire life. Autumn stepped out of her bathtub and ran to her room.

“This is exciting! I have already written down a list of questions for you” She hollered from the room over, my eyes rolled and I followed her into the next room.

“This isn't an interview, you get three questions, you wash my hair out of this disgusting s**t, then I go home” I crossed my arms and leaned on the door frame of her bathroom. Autumn waved her hand at me dismissing what I had just said completely. I pushed myself off the frame and walked up to her. Her eyes were skimming along the lines of the paper excitedly, my jaw clenched and I grabbed the paper from her hands before crumpling it up and tossing it to the side.

“Don't be a weirdo about this just ask me-” I said brushing past her and making my way over to the bed. I sat down on it and Autumn leaned against her dresser shrugging gently.

“When did you lose your virginity?” She asked me, crossing her arms over her chest, from the look on her face she thought the question would trip me up but I sat there unbothered

“My fifteenth birthday, with Patrica George. We snuck into Adam's father's liquor cabinet drank a little too much and things went too far. She moved away and I kept on living life. Next question” I answered swiftly, Autumn looked around searching for a new question. Silence invaded the room before she finally found one.

“You know Adam likes Bella-" Already, I knew where this question was going, I pulled my eyes away from hers and began to fidget with my fingers

“Why did you hook up Bella? I mean that was your best friends crush” The last thing I wanted was to revisit this. I felt nothing but shame for what I did with Bella and it was a grave mistake.

“I don't know, I really don't. It was a mistake, and I will never do that again. I would never want to do anything to hurt Adam. He is like my brother“ Adam was one of the only people I would go down fighting for. Autumn didn't need to know the depth of our brotherhood; it was too early for that.

“Are you attracted to me?” She asked without a second to waste. I won't lie, that question completely threw me off my game. I scoffed lightly and looked up at her, Autumn's eyes wide with curiosity. I didn't know if I should answer honestly or lie. I sighed gently and bit my bottom lip before nodding my head faintly. I didn't think I could open my mouth to describe how attractive I thought Autumn was without taking it too far. Previously I thought I had made myself clear that I thought Autumn was cute, but by the way her face changed into a deep scarlet I obviously didn't make myself clear in the past

“Are you attracted to me?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at her, Autumn pressed her lips together and sighed gently, shaking her head.

“Bad boys aren't really my type” She said, I didn't know if she was joking or being serious. Did she see me like everyone else did? That stupid cliche. I swallowed hard and nodded my head, it was not long before Autumn broke into a laugh.

“I can make an exception for one overly complicated asswipe” I c****d my head to the side and stared at Autumn who found herself way too humorous. I didn't realize it until now but hearing her laugh made everything else in the world just fade away, her smile would make anyone turn their heads. I hated myself even more for causing this girl so much pain when all this time I could've seen this side of her. In between her laughs Autumn let out a small yawn. There was school tomorrow and it had gotten pretty late.

“Come here, you are tired. I can wash off my own hair” Even though Autumn wanted to protest against the thought of going to sleep she didn't instead when I held out my hand she grabbed onto it firmly and climbed into bed. Her eyelids began to grow more heavy as she struggled to keep them open.

“Spend the night..” She said faintly as she laid her head onto the pillow, my body was just a few inches away from hers, the warmth of her body began to tickle the coldness I felt in my bones.

“I can't do that Autumn, I don't think I can handle being alone with you all night..” My mind began to race about countless scenarios including me and Autumn drowning in each other's pleasures. It was weird having these kinds of thoughts about her, in a way it felt wrong. Autumn didn't say anything, she just looked at me, being this close to her in bed already began to eat me away. I slid out of bed and made my way to her bathroom, wanting to take my mind off things I pulled off the pink shower cap Autumn had put on me and turned on the water, I made sure the temperature was warm enough before bending down and combing my fingers through my hair. The stench of the vintage slowly disappeared as the black water slid down the drain. I guess it was time to get back to my natural hair.

I was drying my hair with the towel when I walked back out, the shirt Autumn had given me was a bit wet around the collar but it was still wearable. Autumn sat up hearing my entrance, she should have fallen asleep by now. Although my hair wasn't dry it was damp enough for me to toss the towel onto the chair I was once sitting in.

“I like you better with brown hair..” She said with a faint smile, she then held out her hands motioning for me to join her in bed. I let out a soft chuckle before shaking my head but Autumn wasn't taking no for an answer. Not a lot of thought went into this, in no way shape or form was I ready to do anything with Autumn tonight, but she was the world's biggest temptress. Once I took her hands electric pulses ran through me, her touch was something I could never get over. I laid down next to her. Autumn pulled her duvet over our bodies, Autumn used the light switch near her bed to dim the lights. I couldn't help but feel nervous, I hated the feeling of the effect Autumn had on me. I wonder if she was nervous at all, it was like she carried all the confidence in the world. Autumn turned to face me and I faced her, the lights in the room were dimmed but I could see those marvelous eyes of hers and those lips I could never get enough of. There were a few inches separating our bodies but I knew the distance between us would lessen. I never felt this kind of fright when it came to a girl, all the experience I had with all those other girls went right through the window, it felt like the first time. Maybe in a way, it was.

“We shouldn't be like this, not with each other..” I whispered as Autumn inched closer to me, my heart was pounding so aggressively right now I was afraid she might hear it.

“You can leave if you want to..” She said with a bit of concern in her voice. Everything in my body was telling me to go, but I couldn't move anywhere but closer to her. Autumn brought her warm hand up to my damp hair and pushed it out of my face. I think we've been telling ourselves lies to keep whatever hidden away, because we both knew whatever we felt for each other wasn't normal and if we decided to pursue it, it wouldn't be easy. I brought my hand up to the side of her neck, using my thumb to gently caress her jawline

“That's the last thing I want” It's like the words flowed from my lips effortlessly, Autumn's hand rested on the back of my neck. It was so wrong how comfortable I felt being able to place my hand on her waist and gripping onto it tightly. The fabric of her dress irritated me when all I wanted was to touch her bare skin. I brought Autumn closer to me, ridding any space that was between us. Feeling her body pressed up against mine was exhilarating.

“Let's not talk about this in the morning..” She whispered as she brought her forehead to press against mine, she kept a firm grip on the back of my neck, the eagerness in her voice told me that she was ready to do things with me she wouldn't want to dare speak of in the morning. I nodded my head faintly as my mind was too blurred to put together anymore sentences.My hand poured down her waist and onto her hip. Laying in this bed with Autumn made me feel guilt but I pushed those feelings aside not wanting anything to ruin this moment. My fingertips ventured off the fabric of her dress and onto the skin of her thigh. Once again I felt the jagged rough scars, but that didn't push me away nor did it scare me or even change the way I saw her. Autumn flinched at my touch as my fingers traced her scars wanting nothing to heal her pain but bathing in the warmness of her soft skin. The last thing I wanted was to push Autumn out of her comfort zone, but the heaviness in her panting told me that she didn't want me to stop, my hand lifted up the hem of her dress right to her waist before slowly tracing my fingers to her inner thigh. The grip she had on the back on my neck tightened as she breathed heavily right against my lips, her reaction made my teeth latch onto my bottom lip. No longer wanting to hold back or tease Autumn, my hand slid in between her warm thighs that were tightly pressed together. My fingers pressed onto the fabric of her panties that were partly drenched. My heart had suddenly relaxed, or maybe it was beating so fast I could no longer feel it. My teeth had dug deeply into my bottom lip causing me to release it reluctantly.

“Fuck..” I breathed out, I wanted to live in the moment. This wasn't driven by anger or sadness. All of my morals were thrown out the window and the only thing that could hold me back was Autumn. Her thighs opened slightly and my fingers eagerly but slowly pressed against her pussylips through the fabric that stood as a thin drenched barrier. Autumn’s panting was slow but lust filled, it was like she was trying to hold some kind of composure. I wanted her to let herself go completely, I knew it was difficult but I wanted nothing but for her to trust me. My middle finger pressed firmly against the fabric onto her bulging c******s and it seemed that gave her the sudden push to let herself go with me.

“Nile-!” She panted out in a soft moan, hearing her pleasure ridden voice did unexplainable things to me but hearing my name in such a sensual way, drove me absolutely insane. I couldn't hold myself back anymore, I wanted more of her, I wanted to taste her, I wanted to be completely under her spell. My lips, eager to get more of a feel of her crashed themselves onto her warm lips that tasted sweeter than ever. She moaned into my mouth and the desires we felt for one another began to come alive.