Page 52 of Keeping Score

“Nah, you’ve fucked enough Williams, I think,” he snaps. I punch him right in the jaw. He stumbles back a step before he roars and charges at me, tackling me into the lockers. I grunt then drop an elbow to his back. It doesn’t have the desired effect because he’s still wearing his pads. He lands a solid punch to my side before I manage to shove him back. I land another hit to his face. His head snaps to the side and he spits blood on the floor. When he slowly turns back to face me, his eyes are filled with hatred as he looks at me. “You and me, we’re done.” He spits blood at my feet. My anger begins to dissipate, then I curse and stab a hand through my hair.

“Corvin–”

“No, Darius. You’ve done enough!”

“I didn’t do shit!” He charges at me again, this time I don’t defend myself when he hooks me in the cheek. I stumble and quickly right myself as I wait for him to come at me again.

“She was doing good… you fucking ruined it!”

“How the fuck did I ruin it?” I shout. He reaches up and tugs on the strands of his hair in frustration.

“You should have left her alone.” All the anger flees my body, I decide I need to be open with him.

“I couldn’t, Corvin.” His gaze bores into me. I push on knowing that I need to tell him so he knows she wasn’t just some random girl I was fucking. “I tried to stay away from her, I swear I did. But then after time, I couldn’t bear the thought of being away from her.”

“Were you fucking my sister the whole time?” I shake my head.

“No. I swear, the first time was on her sixteenth birthday.” He scrubs a hand down his face.

“What the fuck happened, Darius?” I blow out a loud exhale as I dive into the story.

“I told her that we could never be more than friends because she is your little sister and was fourteen at the time, she didn’t take that well.” He snorts knowing how stubborn his sister is. “Then a year went by and we hung out a lot more, she started becoming… more. Then about three months before her sixteenth birthday shit changed and I couldn’t deny how I felt for her. Look, shit got real and I had planned to tell you until I got to that party and saw her in bed with Gary. We fought earlier that night and in my head, I thought she assumed I had chickened out and decided to fuck me over by sleeping with him. I had no fucking idea that he had drugged her. If I had, I would have killed the bastard for hurting my girl.” He quirks a brow at me.

“Yourgirl?” I don’t cower, I hold his gaze as I nod my head stiffly. “How exactly did—do you feel about my sister and don’t fucking lie to me?” I mull over his words for a second and decide I need to stop lying to myself.

“I’ve been in love with Leah since I was seventeen.” His face slackens in shock at my honesty. “I thought us going away to college would help me get over her, but it didn’t. I could only fuck another chick doggy because I couldn’t stand the sight of their face. Shit, Corvin, the only girl I have ever kissed is Leah.I’ve never kissed another girl.” He throws his head back and groans.

“What the fuck happened that night after you and Beck brought them back from the club.” I scrunch my face. “Fucking hell, skip the dirty details.” I nod.

“I… let her go,” I say quietly.

“What the fuck does that mean?”

I throw my hands in the air and scowl at him. “You didn’t give me a choice. You told me to stay the fuck away from her,” I shout.

“Seems like you didn’t listen though, huh?”

“I can’t, Corvin. I fucking hate drugs and you know that, but she is a fucking addiction that I can’t get rid of. She’s under my skin, she’s inside me,” I say as I pound my fist against my chest.

“Do you still… love her?”

A whoosh of air escapes me. “Yeah, Corv, I still love her and I’m sorry I lied to you. But I have to be honest with myself, if you ask me to choose between you or her…” I hold his gaze so he can see how serious I am. “I choose her, I fucking love her and I know you will hate me for that but it’s the truth. I’m done lying to myself and everyone else.” He stands there silently staring at me for a long time. I begin to prepare myself for him to tell me to get out and stay away from him. It’s gonna suck losing my best friend but she is worth the sacrifice.

“Help me find my sister?” My brows rise to my hairline.

“Seriously?”

He narrows his eyes. “Don’t fucking push me. Help me find her and then… we’ll deal with this shit but, Darius?”

I swallow audibly. “Yeah?”

“You need to let go of the drug shit. You and I both fucked up. She needed us after that shit with Gary and neither of us were there for her.” I hang my head in shame.

“You both might not have been, but I was.” I spin around to see Beck leaning against the wall with a smug look on his face.

“How long have you been there?” Corvin demands.

Beck shrugs. “Long enough to know you two have kissed and made up.” Both Corv and I snicker while Beck shrugs. Saint and Crue appear, drawing a groan from me. Clearly the three of them have been standing there listening the entire fucking time!

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