Page 24 of Ride or Die
Anger takes over me as I march back to the garage. Axel looks happy to see me, but his expression quickly changes to concern when he sees how angry I am.
I go to the speaker and shut off the music, getting everyone’s attention. Then, in a fit of rage, I let out a roar and swipe all the bottles and cans off the workbench onto the floor, startling everyone. Breathing heavily, I look around the crowded garage, hate coursing through my veins for these people. Fake fucking friends.
“First off, fuck all of you, especially you skanks!” I scream, pointing at the girls in the corner who look between each other, puzzled. “How fucking dare you come into my house, use me for all the perks, to then turn around and talk shit about her? That’smy girl,and she left over some jealous bullshit lies! If any of you want to continue coming around here, you better fucking learn to start respecting her!” I boom.
Axel puts his hand on my shoulder. “Colt...it’s just a girl. A loser good girl, nonetheless,” he says, but I slap his hand away. I don’t care if I look like I’m acting out of character. Knowing they made her feel that way makes me see red, and I couldn’t give a shit how it makes me look.
“Fuck you! Don’t any of you ever call her that again! And she’s not just a girl, she’smine. Just a girl? Go fuck yourself.” I glare at Axel, then direct my anger at everyone else. “Get off my fucking property! All of you!” I scream. They all look around, confused. Unsure if I’m serious. But the way these fucks treated Layla?
Nah, I won’t have it.
“NOW!” I slam my fists on the workbench. The girls jump, and the guys put down their drinks and start filing out onto the street. Axel stands there staring at me, shaking his head in disbelief before he follows suit. Good, because I'd have no trouble smashing his face in at the moment.
I’m so mad. I finally got the balls to talk to her, got her to open up to me, to see me for the person I truly am, and it all got fucked up because of these pathetic people I don’t even care about and their gossiping, bullshit lies. Because of some skanks, jealous I didn’t pick them to be my girl.
I understand why coming here is hard for someone like Layla. She’s introverted and shy. She’s not exposed to this shit for a reason. It’s toxic. All of it. Everyone here wants money and popularity. I know I can’t say shit because when it comes to thiscrowd, I run things. But trying to introduce Layla to this world will be a challenge.
As much as I want to leave this lifestyle, there is a way I have to go about it with Williams, so if she is going to be with me, she will have to accept me and this scene for a while longer, and I don’t know if she will. Especially after tonight. That’s just another big X in the negative column for me. Fuck sakes.
I pull out my phone and send her a message.
Colt: Layla, talk to me. It’s just you and me again.
I put it back in my pocket, knowing she likely won’t respond to me. She’s probably convinced herself this is never going to happen. That itshouldn’thappen.
Frustration with myself and the situation builds as I desperately try to figure out how to fix what I let happen. My fingers grip the edge of the workbench until my knuckles turn white, my breathing heavy as my mind spirals. Just when I feel like I might crack under the weight of losing her, my phone buzzes unexpectedly in my pocket.
I sigh, knowing it’s probably Williams looking to send me out for a lift, which I am not in the fucking mood for. I contemplate ignoring the message, but think better of it, pulling my phone from my back pocket again. When the screen lights up, my heart stutters, pleasantly surprised to see it is from Layla.
Layla: I’m sorry I ran Colt. I really like you too. You are good enough. I just don’t know how to be around the people you hang out with. They made me question everything you’ve told me. I’m scared. I don’t know how to do this. Come over if you want to talk.
Her response isn’t exactly promising, but it's better than nothing. At least she still wants to talk to me. After a lifetime of dealing with assholes, she probably feels vulnerable and scared. And it kills me that I didn’t stop that shit when it was happening to her. As much as ignoring her growing up was me protecting her, it was also because of the dumbass image I tried to maintain.
So now it’s my job to make her feel safe and build her back up. Show her how strong and beautiful she really is.
She didn’t run tonight because of me; she ran because of them.
I'm about to respond when a better idea comes to mind, so I grab my jacket and start walking to the corner store. Once I get there, it doesn’t take long to grab what I need and head back.
Halfway there, spatters of rain begin falling. I groan, annoyed. The one time I don’t drive and of course it starts to pour. Like a cliche, I find myself standing outside Layla’s bedroom window, sending her a text in a downpour.
Colt: I'm outside.
A few seconds later, her curtains pull back and her beautiful face looks out the window. I watch her struggle to find me in the darkness, so I send her another message.
Colt: I brought dessert for our date, as promised.
She opens the window, and her eyes finally find me, two small tubs of Häagen Dazs ice cream held up for her to see. Her smile is so wide I can see it from the sidewalk.
“Go to the door. I’ll let you in!” she yells down, and my heart skips a beat. I had a moment tonight, thinking this had all been fucked up, but maybe my little attempt at redemption will go over better than anticipated.
I run over to the door and wait for her to unlock it.
“Jesus, Colt, get in here. It’s pouring out! What are you doing?” She steps aside to let me in the house.
My eyes are immediately drawn to her cute little pink pyjama bottoms and white tank top. She’s completely unaware she’s not wearing a bra, her hard nipples poking through the fabric. What I would give to put those in my mouth and…
Down boy.
