A War of Guns and Roses

Chapter 41

"Your best friend is a really difficult person, you know that?" I fumed, hating the silence that had stretched ever since I drove off.

Blake smiled slightly. "Of course I know! I have been his best friend since like, we were in diapers!"

"Was he always like that?" I asked him softly.

Blake paused a little. "No, not really. Believe it or not, he was actually a really cheerful child."

"You're pulling my leg," I immediately answered.

"No, no. Honestly. Well, not exactly cheery, but he used to speak a lot."

"What happened?" I frowned.

"The gang," he shrugged. "He was the only heir of Mr Wentworth so he had to learn and adapt to things very, very early. No child should have seen and done everything that he had been made to see and do."

"And his late girlfriend?" I asked.

"Well, he...was much better when he met her than he is now. Sure, he still looked like a haunted zombie but at least back then, he showed emotions. There was this darkness around him, and still is, if I'm being honest. And he was very afraid that the darkness would one day consume him. When Alicia was murdered in front of him that way, he lost it. What he was most afraid of happened. He let the darkness and anger consume him and he...quite literally ripped her murderers' limbs apart and...well, let's just say it was bad."

I was silent, listening sadly to all the horrors Xavier had faced.

"I think that's the reason he's really pushing you away so much, you know," Blake said, looking over at me. "He's scared. He's not only scared that something will happen to you, but also scared of himself. He doesn't think himself worthy of you. He doesn't want to corrupt you with his darkness."

"Do you think it can work? Us?" I asked quietly.

"What? No! I would never do that to Rebecca!" Blake teased.

I punched his arm. "I was talking about Xavier and me, you doofus."

"Ouch! You pack a mean punch."

My smile grew. "Thanks."

Blake's face turned serious again. "To be honest, yes. I think it can work. I can see how much you like him and how much he cares for you. I know this probably sounds cliche as fuk but it has been a really long time since I have seen Xavier as happy as he was in Redwood."

"That really was cliche." I joked with a goofy grin on my face.

"Aw! Is little Elaine blushing?" Blake cooed pinching my cheeks.

"Shut up," I muttered, slapping his hands away, my grin not fading.

"Owie!" Blake whined. "Watch the road and stop hitting the passenger!" he exclaimed dramatically.

"You stop distracting the driver!" I retorted, shaking my head at the idiot.

Suddenly, Blake's phone started ringing and I almost jumped. He started laughing at my reaction as he answered the phone.

"Hello?" He asked, trying to contain his laughter. I stuck my tongue out at him and he laughed even harder.

He paused a little to listen on the other end and rolled his eyes. "Talk to her yourself if you're so worried," he said.

"I have Rebecca dude," he rolled his eyes again. "We were just laughing around for gods sake! Gosh!" He exclaimed, fanning himself making me burst into laughter, knowing exactly who was on the other end of the line.