Page 8 of Fight
We hung around a while longer, catching up with each other before Devon and I called it a night.We thanked our hosts for the meal, and having us, and headed home.
Devon pulled his truck into the parking lot of our apartment complex and killed the engine.I twisted in the seat until I was facing him.
"How about you come up to my place and spend the night with me?"I asked.
"Are you sure?"
"I wouldn't ask if I wasn't."
"Okay.Why don't you go on up.I'll stop by my place and grab a couple things, and I’ll be right there."
"All right."I opened the door and slid out of the seat.I closed the truck door, leaving Devon to go to his apartment, while I headed up to mine.When I got to the bottom of the stairs leading to my apartment, I picked up Brandon's scent.I looked up and found him sitting on the steps, right below the landing in front of my door.
He'd already seen me, so I couldn't very well turn and walk away, at least not yet.He stood and started down the stairs.Not wanting to get trapped on the narrow walkway, I waited at the bottom.
"Why are you here Brandon?"I asked, my tone wasn't friendly.
"I wanted to talk to you.I waited for you to come home."
"You've been ordered to leave me alone."I wasn't going let him draw me into small talk.
"That's part of what I wanted to talk to you about.Where were you?"
"I went to dinner at Alexis and Hank's house."
"But you didn't go alone did you?"
"That's none of your business, Brandon."I said tiredly.
"Your car was here, but you weren't.You were out with him again, weren't you?"It was an accusation.
"Again, not your business."
"It is.I'll make you see that you're mine, just wait."
"I'm not going to stand here and debate this with you.I've told you no.I've told you I'm not interested in you.Yet you continue to harass me.Bill's told you to leave me alone, and yet here you stand, for the second time in as many weeks.I don't know how to make you understand."I saw Devon headed across the courtyard toward us.The way he moved told me he'd seen Brandon, and wasn't happy about it.
Hang back a sec, let me see if I can get rid of him before he sees you.I thought at Devon,I think if he sees you headed up to my place with an overnight bag it will make this a lot harder.Devon nodded slightly and stepped around a staircase, out of sight.
"I have to make you understand."Brandon said."You're my mate."
"No Brandon, I'm not, and I've told you that.Just like I've told you to leave me alone.It's time for you to go.The next time I see you, I won't be calling Bill, I'll be calling the police."
"You can't do that."
"I can and will."I said with conviction."What you're doing is harassment, and borderline stalking, and I won't put up with it any more than I'll put up with someone who hits me."
"The Anikitos won't let you involve the police."
I felt a smile spread across my face, and I knew it wasn't a friendly smile."You've known me for years, haven't you figured out that no one lets me do anything?"My voice had dropped to that calm, quite tone that means I'm really angry.
"You'd risk defying the Anikitos, just to get me in trouble?"
"I'm not going to ask first, so it won't be defiance.I'm not doing anything to get you into trouble.Anything I do, will be to put an end to you harassing me, to get you to leave me alone."
"You hate me that much?"
"I want you to leave me alone that much."I looked him in the eye, waiting for him to realize how angry he'd made me.I saw it on his face the instant he realized he couldn't push me any further tonight.The stubborn determination faded, it was replaced by a caution that I'd rarely seen in him.
