Bringing my hands to my lips, I stared at the paper in front of me and couldn't help but feel my lips tremble. My eyebrows rose in sadness as my body refuses to move. I swallowed as I kept my eyes on the white sheet on the dining table.
It was already pass midnight, but I managed to find a slip of paper that was peaking out of my father's work file. I bit my upper lip, attempting to not think of all the possible odds that would affect my relationship at school.
Charles Carthy: (916) 555-8923
I stared at the last name in fright, my fist tightened as all that occurred into my mind was the familiar last name.
It can't be.
- - -
I sighed as I walked myself towards my locker, mind still wondering about the situation that happened last night. Furrowing my eyebrows, I couldn't see anything but the focus point of my destination: the old metal box.
"Aubrey," a voice called for me, more than once.
Finally, I turned around slowly towards the voice. All that approached me was the person who seemed to possibly hurt me the most. I sent a small smile at Colton, as he keeps the wide grin plastered on his face. He was oblivious of everything that was happening with my family. During this moment the last person that I want to have a serious conversation with his Colton Adams.
"Hey," he greeted, with his book in one arm, "how are you?"
"Great," I lied. Ruthlessly, I spun around on my heels and dialed in the combination for my locker, before yanking the handle with much force for it to pop open.
"I saw you with Landon yesterday," Colton sends me a cheesy smile, as he squeezes his way between the locker and I. I couldn't help but release an irritated sigh before furrowing my eyebrows at him.
"Move, Colton," I spat.
Colton obeyed quietly. Right after he moved out of the way, I tossed my books into the locker and closed it with a loud bang. It was loud enough for a few students to turn my way when they walk by.
"What's wrong?" Colton asks innocently, as if he didn't know anything that has happened between us, "What did Landon do?"
My lips twitched, "Landon?" I asked him, raising my voice.
He nodded.
"He's been a great friend, for your information," I growled, "A lot better than you."
Colton was suddenly taken aback by my attitude, and straightened up from his relaxed position. I sense him feeling uneasy with the fact that I was obviously unhappy with him. He pressed his lips together in a thin line and swallowed, looking at me with guilty eyes.
"I'm sorry," he trails off.
I shook my head and started walking down the hallway. He tags behind me, caught up with my speed and swiftly slid in front of me. I was able to stop my tracks before I ran into his chest; I turned around.
"Aubrey," he calls my name again, "I'm in love with her."
My jaws dropped. How was he able to say that phrase to me so easily, but has such a deep meaning when it comes to the other girl of his?
"She was my girlfriend," he muttered down at me, attempting to look me in the eye as I was avoiding his, "I can't let her go. I'm sorry."
I scoffed and crossed my arms, "I never felt that way towards you anyways," I concluded; obviously lying and hurt by his apology.
Colton sighs with guilt, wrapping his arms around me without my consent. He gave me a tight squeeze before whispering "I'm sorry" again in my ear. I could hear his heart beat, much calmer than mine. It was almost like a tragedy romance story; but only one gets sent to happiness.
He finally lets me go as I stood there, looking at him in the eyes before turning around and making my way towards the art room.
- - -
For some reason, even when painting usually keeps my mind off of problems, all that rushed through my head were replays from yesterday and today. Despite the fact that I had a little bit of fun hanging out with Landon, the name Charles Carthy immediately makes me think that everything Landon put his effort into, was fake.
What if the apology was only a way for him to get closer to my family and I?
I gritted my teeth as I stroked the brush against the canvas board rather hard. All that was on my canvas were colors and random splashes of paint. There were even a few brush bristles was shredded off of the paint brush due to how hard I scrapped it against the canvas. My patience started to shorten, as my throat started to get tighter. I gripped the paintbrush and couldn't help it but to throw it at the canvas, slightly growling underneath my breath.
It has come down to the point where I didn't know who to trust. My dad lied to our family, and did something against our own virtues; Colton convinced me that our relationship was something strong, powerful and turned me down without a notice; and Landon is just a complete mess, an utterly complete mess.
Speaking of Landon, the door from my side suddenly opened, revealing Landon in his black rain jacket and khaki pants. He was wearing the latest edition of Gucci shoes, while his hair was swept back into a slick comb over. His light blue eyes were as bright as normal, lips were flushing pink, as his face stayed almost as attractive as always.
"What is this?" He asked, not even bothering to look at the canvas in front of me. Instead, his eyes were locked in mine.
I swallowed my saliva, chills running down my spine. I felt my palms getting sweaty as my legs nervously started bouncing up and down. Without giving me time to answer, he took a step closer to me, eyes still locked in mine. Each time he inched closer, I used my right foot to slowly push myself and the stool back. It seemed to be the only option to get away from him; until he forced his hands below the sides of my thighs, holding the stool in place. He released a soft chuckle as he eyed me from my eyes, down to my lips.
"You're beautiful," he said. From his voice, I couldn't tell if he was being serious, or messing around. It sounded sincere, however there was a smirk on his face. The smirk that he always has on his face when he's found an amusing target.
Then he averted his attentions back to my eyes. His expressions softened up the moment his eyes landed back on mine. His smirk disappeared.
I cleared my throat and broke the eye contact. I looked down at my palms as I rubbed the sweat against my jeans, "What do you want, Landon?" I asked, almost whispering.
I felt his hand brushing against my right cheek, as he tilts my chin up to look back at him. His messy brown hair, his light blue eyes and his pink soft lips were just centimeters from mine. I felt his breath lingering on the upper tip of my lip. In a panic, I pressed my palms against his chest and push him off.
He stumbled back with a surprised look on his face.
"Aubrey."
The moment I heard my name escape from his lips, I couldn't help but feel the heat rising up in my body. As much as I hate to admit that I've spent great moments with him, I knew I could never trust his privileged actions.
"Don't fucking touch me," I hissed under my breath as I grabbed my bag, avoiding his eye contact.
Before I was able to grab my bag and leave the room, I felt a little tug on my sleeve from the man who perhaps played me. Pressing my lips together in a line, I pulled my arm away from him; only to be introduced to a tight wrap around my wrist. Almost immediately, my body was shoved against the wall; both hands locked in his grip. Landon attempts to look me in my eyes, leaning side to side as he calls my name out gently from his disgusting lips.
I tried my best to avoid his gaze; looking behind his shoulders, under his arms, even at the floor.
"Aubrey," he growls, a little louder. Feeling defeated, he grabs my face with his hands holding it tightly yet carefully, in order to force my eyes to lock in his.
I can see Landon's eyebrows furrowing even from the close distance between our faces. His eyes were filled with worry and fear; although his mind probably differs.
"What's happening? What did I do?" he asks me, almost whispering at me. I could smell the fresh scent of his gum, lingering upon my nose and lips. I dared to look into his eyes, his light blue eyes that seem to sweep every girl off of their feet. He could tell I was furious, my actions already spoke high enough; the look in my eyes would've confirmed how much I hate this guy with a passion.
I shook my head in disappointment. He knows what's happening with my family, he knows what's happening with his; he knows that his family is doing to mine. He knows everything.
"How dare you," I couldn't help but whisper.
Even though he probably knows about what's happening, a look on confusion was plastered on his face. He shook his head and slightly closed his eyes before opening them, leaning closer towards my face.
"What are you talking about?" he asks me in annoyance, with his hand still gripping over mine.
"Charles Carthy, Landon. Charles Carthy," I repeated the name, yanking my wrist away. His grip suddenly loosened the moment I mentioned Charles's name. His face froze, he looked at me almost in disbelief. After staring at his reaction for a little less then a minute, I pulled a paper from my bag that was crumbled up into a small ball.
Peeling open the paper, it had a bill signed by Charles Carthy on it. Stapled to the paper was a business card, and a loan check. My throat tightened at the look of his last name and my dad's full name.
"You people are full of shit!" I exclaimed almost at the top of my lungs, to the point where my voice was cracking. I shoved the document into his chest as he slightly stumbled back, catching the paper before it falls off his chest. He scans the paper as his hair soon slumps in front of his face; eyes never leaving the paper.
"You're literally full of shit," I mumbled.
- - -
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