Painful Pleasures

Ronny

Nate was driving as fast as my heart was pounding. I was grateful he saw the urgency in the situation. Though I was worried about Mila, I was worried for him as well. I was worried we’d get pulled over or worse, we’d end up in an accident. My blood was boiling, my leg was shaking. I had way too much adrenaline coursing through my veins. I felt like I could run a marathon. From the first time I met Ronney, I knew he was a creep. The way he would stare at me, the way he spoke over Jamila and gave her ridiculous rules that she obviously wasn’t comfortable with gave me the ick. I had hoped I was being overly sensitive from my own past experiences and that my indifference toward him was just my lack of knowledge regarding their dynamic. Being wrong would have been better than speeding through the city thinking about how to murder this guy. I told Mila, I’d be there soon and for her to stay in the bathroom until I got there. She didn’t want me to call the police despite me insisting, so I didn’t, but I won’t hesitate if things get out of hand. When we finally pulled up to her building, I rushed out of the car. Nate grabbed my wrist to stop me.

“Nate, let go!” I demanded.

“Don’t do anything reckless. I’ll park and meet you inside.”

“You don’t have to. This isn’t your problem. I can handle myself.”

“I don’t doubt that, but you must understand, you’re no superhero. You have limitations just like anyone else. And while this date is still ongoing, whatever happens to you becomes my problem.” I was touched, but I didn’t have time to get all swoony.

“Fine, I won’t do anything. Just let me go.” He stared at me for a second longer before releasing me. I dashed inside and went straight to her door. In the hall, I could hear arguing. It sounded like Ronny. Their door was left ajar. Whoever came in was in too much of a rush to close it properly. I pushed the door open silently. I looked around for something sturdy that I could use as a weapon. Nate told me not to do anything reckless, so I won’t. This is just a precaution in case Ronny gets reckless. I noticed a box sitting in the middle of the living room. There were a bunch of tools scattered on the ground. I grabbed the hammer. I jumped when I heard a crash and Mila screamed. I could hear my pulse in my ears as I rushed to their bedroom. “You always do this, Mils! You’re always making a big deal out of nothing! I just wanted one thing and you can’t even do that for me. Do you even love me? You don’t even f*****g trust me!”

“I do love you…” Mila whispered from inside the bathroom.

“Bullshit!” he threw a small radio at the wall and it shattered. I jumped out from hiding.

“What the f**k is going on here?”

“You?” Ronny acknowledged in bewilderment. His chest, heaving from all the activity. “The f**k are you doing here?” I ignored him and called out to Jamila instead.

“Milly, are you alright? You’re not hurt are you?” her voice was soft and shaky. I could hear her sniffling.

“I’m okay.” she said. Ronny stared at the door and a new wave of anger erupted.

“This is showing trust, Mils?! You f*****g called her? Really? Oh, you’re f*****g rich, bravo! Now you’re the weak little victim and I’m the big scary wolf, is that it?!”

“Hey, you need to chill the f**k out, buddy.” I said, trying my damndest to keep my composure steady and control the situation.

“Don’t come in here and start telling me what to do? This doesn’t have s**t to do with you. Go home.”

“f**k you, Ron, you emo wannabe bastard. Last I checked, this was Mila’s place and I’ll leave if she says she doesn’t need me.” I stared daggers into him. He knocked on the bathroom door.

“Did you hear that, Milly? Tell her to leave and come on out. Let’s talk.” she didn’t answer. “Mils, tell her.”

“Ron…please just go. I can’t tonight…” he started huffing and puffing.

“Mils, get out here.”

“Ron, please-”

“Mils, get the f**k out here!! Now!” he banged on the door so hard I heard the wood crack.

“Stop it!” I yelled. “She doesn’t want you here, just leave!” I made it clear that I was holding the hammer. He didn’t seem to care.

“Didn’t I tell you to leave? Like who the f**k even are you?” Now he was stepping closer to me. I took a step back. “You don’t even know Mila that well so why are you butting in?”

“I’m butting in because she asked for my help. And I don’t need to know Mils that well. I just need to know you and you’ve shown me a lot about yourself already. You’re temperamental and violent. You’re in here screaming and breaking s**t like no one else lives in this f*****g building, like this apartment is yours to f**k up. You’re bitching and whining about god-knows-what, terrorizing your girlfriend to the point she feels the need to hide in the bathroom, all for a f*****g temper tantrum. You’re dangerous and I’m not leaving her here with you.” I swallowed my nerves and stepped closer to him. “Either you get out or I’m taking Mila home with me.” I pushed past him, he grabbed my arm.

“You’re not taking her anywhere.” he spat.

“If you wanna keep that hand, you better let me go.” I tightened my grip around the hammer, raising it, ready. We held eye contact and to my surprise he grinned.

“I always knew you were a f*****g b***h. You think you’re so scary, yet you're shaking.” s**t, I thought I was keeping myself in check, but I couldn’t stop the trembling. I wasn’t sure if it was fear or from the high of being pumped with so much adrenaline. He flung me away, I stumbled, but didn’t fall. “You want me to leave, Mils, fine!” he started picking up a bunch of the stuffed bears decorating the room. “But I’m taking back all this s**t, you don’t deserve it.” I tried to stop him, but he was already at the window, tossing the stuffed animals out the window. He pulled a bunch of clothes out the drawer and tossed them too. “I’m f*****g scary right?!” he pushed the bed so forcefully, it made a dent in the wall. I jumped. Jamila was crying. “f**k you, Mila, you needy b***h! After everything I did, after I put up with your s**t for so long, this is how you feel?!” he threw bottles of beauty products off the dresser. He pushed her tv onto the floor. This guy was crazier than I thought. How did he hide this side of himself from Jamila for so long?

“Stop! Please, Stop!” she cried. “I…I’ll come out.” This got his attention. He stopped wrecking the room and waited.

“No, Mila, don’t come out!” I warned her. That must have tipped him over the edge. He charged at me and pushed me out of the way. I fell on my butt and dropped the hammer.

“Stay the f**k out of it!” he yelled. I was livid now. I said a silent apology. I tried, Nate. I reached for the hammer, still on my knees. I swung it at his bare foot. He cried out and hopped on one foot until he fell. Before I could get up, he grabbed my arm and wrestled me for the hammer. I heard Jamila rush out of the bathroom. She tried to pull him off of me, but he swung back and hit her in the face. Someone grabbed him by the back of his shirt and pulled him up. It was Nate. I heard Ron choke and gasp as Nate had him pinned to the wall, his arm pressed against his neck. “Who the…fuck…” he choked out, trying to push Nate back.

“Leave…” was all Nate said. He was staring at him like he wanted to kill him. It amazed me how calm he was being. I thought of Eli, wondering what he’d be doing in the scenario. Probably pummeling the crap out of him.

“f**k you..” Ron spat.

Jamila crawled over to me and wrapped her arms around me. I found it funny that she was trying to comfort me in all this. I could hear sirens in the distance.

“You called the law?”

“No, but I’m not surprised someone did with all the ruckus you’ve been making. I suggest you get out of here before they show up.”

I kid you not, Ronney started crying.

“Milly!” he sobbed. “C’mon, baby, please…” Fresh tears were streaming down her eyes so I hugged her tighter, forcing her head on my shoulder so she couldn’t look at him. Finally, Nate released him. He stumbled, glanced at me and Jamila and headed out the front door. Mila was sobbing quietly on my shoulder. Nate kneeled before us, touched my face and placed a comforting hand on Jamila’s back.

“Are you both alright?” he asked softly. Milly lifted her face. There was a red bruise forming on her cheekbone. She sniffed and wiped her nose. “I’m sorry I didn’t get up here sooner. Parking is terrible here.” Mila laughed nervously. We turned to the door as we heard fast footsteps approaching. I assumed it was the police. Instead, it was Jessi that came bursting through the door. Instantly, I noticed her carrying a metal baseball bat. She looked at us and Mila’s face. She grew heated and stormed through the apartment.

“Where is he?!” she asked, passing us and going straight into the main bedroom. “Ronny, you skinny, f**k! Where are you?!” She checked the guest bedroom. Monica came in after her, looking ready to fight in her basketball shorts, her black sweatshirt, and her hair pulled back in one tight braid.

“Oh my gosh, Milly! Are you okay?” she rushed over and checked Mila’s face. “Did Ron do this? Is he here?”

“He’s not here.” I told them. “He just left.” Monica jumped up.

“C’mon, Jess, if we run we can catch him.” I stifled a laugh. This was the second time I’d met these girls and already I loved them. Jamila stopped them.

“No, please don’t go.” she insisted.

“Mils, look at your face.” Jess heaved. “I’m about to go bash his in.” she looked to Nate, just now noticing him. “And who the f**k are you? Were you in on this?” Nate raised his hands in surrender. I quickly jumped to defend him.

“No, he’s with me. He came to help.” I was relieved when she lowered the bat. “Where are the police? Are they coming up?”

“Weren’t no police outside. Why? Did you call them?” Monica asked.

“We heard sirens.” Monica gently helped Jamila rise to her feet.

“Are you okay, hun? Do you need to go to the hospital?” Monica asked, surveying for other injuries. Mila shook her head. “Well, let’s get you cleaned up.” She led her to the bathroom and closed the door. Jessi stood against the wall, tapping her bat lightly against her leg. I could tell she was still heated.

“When did you get here? Did you see what happened?” She asked me.

“I got here not too long ago. I only saw him trash the place, but Milly was held up in the bathroom.”

“Did he hurt you at all?”

I shrugged. “Pushed me around a bit, but nothing too crazy.” I glanced at Nate who was cracking his knuckles by his side while still maintaining a neutral expression. She saw the exchange and walked toward Mila’s room. I heard her picking things up and pushing glass. I walked to Nate, he cupped my face. His hand was hard and calloused, though soothing.

“Are you alright?” he asked me gently, smoothing my hair out of my face. I nodded.

“This is probably the worst second date you’ve ever been on, huh?’ I asked nervously. He smiled.

“A little unconventional, maybe, but I wouldn’t say the worst. Though I’d hoped our hearts would be pounding for different reasons at the end of the night.” My face drooped.

“I guess you’re going to leave now, huh?” I felt guilty for being sad that I wasn’t going to be having knee-weakening s*x with him tonight. Here I was feeling disappointed while Jamila was going through a tough time. I’m a terrible friend.

“Stay with your friend. She needs you. It’s late, I’ll stay in a hotel for the night in case you need me and head home in the morning.” I wanted to say that I needed him now, but that would have come off clingy and needy. I just nodded until I remembered something.

"Wait, what about my panties?" I asked, newly selfcautious. He laughed and raised my chin and gave me a deep kiss. Even at a time like this, he was still teasing me. “I'll return them the next time I see you. Until next time, Aida.” I felt my face flush as he closed the door behind him.

We spent the next 2 hours cleaning up all the broken glass and debris in Mila’s room. “You guys don’t have to stay if you don't want to.” Mila said. “I feel bad that I called you all here just to clean up after him.”

“We’re not leaving,” Jessi started. “What if that prick comes back when you’re asleep?”

“You can’t stick around just for that. He can come after you guys leave in the morning too.”

“Not if we go get a chain lock for your door. You’ll have to talk to your landlord about changing your locks.” Mila was quiet. “You aren’t allowing him back here, right?”

“No..” she said softly. It wasn’t even slightly convincing.

“C’mon, Mils, you can’t literally be thinking about going back with him after all this, are you?” Monica jabbed.

“No, it’s just…I don’t know. It’s complicated. I’m so confused right now.”

“What’s there even to be confused about?” I chimed in. “Look what he did to your place. Look at your face.”

“It was an accident-”

“Mila, I love you, but do not make me slap you.” Jessi threatened. Jamila sank down. “Ron has been a menace to you and your mental health for the longest. It’s time you drop his ass for good. Next time, it may not be a f*****g accident.”

“Jess, it’s not entirely his fault.” she whined. “He’s bipolar and possibly schizophrenic. Sometimes he forgets to take his meds. You’re a psychology major, you know how that messes with a person’s brain.”

“That sounds like a problem for him and his therapist, not you.” Monica added. “His illness is not an excuse for him to mistreat you.”

“Mils…does this happen often?” I asked, afraid of the answer.

“Almost every other week.” Jess admitted.

“Jess!” Jamila exclaimed. “Aida, it’s not like that. Sure, we fight from time to time, as any couple does, but this is the first time it’s ever reached this extreme.”

“And it likely won’t be the last, Mils.” Monica pointed out. Jamila went quiet, her eyes watering. She hugged one of the few remaining stuffed bears tightly. I felt bad for her. I too have been in this state of denial when it came to people I loved. It’s hard to drop the people who once made you feel like you were special, loved and cared for. A lot of people stay because it’s easier to deal with the abuse, especially if it’s been going on for a while, than to suffer the grief of abandonment. Freedom is change, and change can be scary. I hugged her tightly, wanting her to know how much I understood.

“Aida, I’m sorry. I disrupted your date earlier, didn’t I?” she sniffled.

“Oh, yeah, but don’t worry about it. This is much more important.

We all slept together in the living room with Jamila. After Jessi and Monica left, I stayed for another day to make sure she was okay. She spent a lot of time regressed, wanting to stay inside watching cartoons and dressing up. I didn’t mind. It was nice seeing her in a good mood. We talked to her landlord and she agreed to change her locks after scolding Mila for allowing someone who wasn’t on the lease to stay with her. I checked on her often after I went home, I hated the thought of her sitting at home crying all day. However, I had a life of my own to get back to and work to start on.