Page 18 of Past

"Izzy, open up and get off Blake, I need to talk to you," I shout through the door of Blake's bedroom, knowing Izzy is in there. I do realise it’s Friday, our only day off university every week, and ten in the morning, but I can't leave this.We have the weekends off, too, but today is meant to be a study day, though no one studies. Or at least, I don’t. I can imagine Emilia does.

"One sec," is shouted through the door by a sleepy-sounding Izzy.

I go and sit on my bed and wait for her, picking at my new nails. They have little red hearts on them and are painted grey. I can't believe I let Elliot do that to me this morning; his kisses are on my mind and the way he made me come. Holy cow, what is worse was how it made me feel. I like him. I actually like Elliot King, and that's not good.I’ve always known he could hurt me; he is the most perfect-looking male I’ve ever seen. His brothers are hot, but Elliot is something else. The image of him just in his boxers, leaning over me, is something I will never forget. The thought is making me need an ice-cold shower and a strong drink.

"What the hell, Allie? Is everything okay?" Izzy asks, walking into my room and sitting next to me on the bed.Izzy has on one of Blake’s hoodies, which falls to her knees, and some leggings on underneath.

"No," I say, not trusting my voice. I look at my best friend, who looks so innocent with her green eyes searching mine. I still remember how she looked so small and helpless in the hospital after the car crash. The crash caused by my father.I can’t understand how he could do that to her. Izzy is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.

"Elliot and Tristan told me about what my dad did to you. I'm so sorry, Izzy. My dad has never even shown any signs of being, well, anything but normal, but–" my voice cracks, and I know I'm crying again. Izzy pulls me to her and hugs me. I don’t cry, it’s not me, but everything is crumbling around me, and I don’t know how to stop it.

"Shhh, Allie, it's not your fault, and you didn't know," Izzy says in a whisper.

"It is my fault. I could have stopped him. I won't let him hurt anyone again, Elliot said my dad has killed people and nearly killed you." My voice is now high-pitched, and I angrily wipe my tears away.

"Your dad isn't a good man, but, Allie, you are his opposite," Izzy mutters to me.

"He's my dad still. What he made Elliot and his brothers do? Oh god." I can't help but cry more in Izzy's arms as I feel sick. I know Elliot didn’t tell me how much my dad has done; I could see it in his eyes. I’m not stupid, but I can’t even be thinking about the kind of things my dad could have done. My dad, who taught me to drive and who calls every week to listen to me, isn’t a monster in my mind.

"Allie, look at me," Izzy demands, gently wiping my tears away with Blake’s hoodie.

"You’re a sister to me and my family, so please don't think we will love you any less because we won't, ever. Our father was the one who started my brothers’ fighting. He may have been working with your dad, but he still made his sons do it,"she says.

"I know, Elliot told me,"I say.

"What was Elliot doing with you and Tristan anyway?" Izzy raises an eyebrow.

"Well, I asked him to come over, and then he ended up in my bed, giving me the best orgasm I've ever had," I admit, and Izzy’s face goes red. For someone who has a lot of sex, she really can’t talk about it.

"He's my brother, so no sex talk with me please, Allie. I'm happy you both finally saw the light." She giggles, and then her eyes widen as she thinks of something.

"Did you guys have sex? Did Sebastian win the bet?" Her face lights up so much that I can't help but laugh.

"I want the answer to that, too," Blake says, leaning against my door.

"Nope, the bet hasn't been won." I sigh, and Izzy laughs. I made a pretty stupid bet against Elliot’s brother, Sebastian. I bet that I wouldn’t sleep with Elliot in the next two years. I could have won his custom made sports car, but now it’s looking more likely I will be baking cakes for him for a month.

"Sebastian is going to be annoyed, he is running out of time." Blake laughs.

"You all right, Allie?" Blake asks, going all protective brother mode on me. I recognise the tone from my own brother.

"I will be, I have a meal with my dad planned tonight," I say to him and look toward Izzy when I see her shaking her head.

"Don't make things bad between you and your dad for my brothers. Elliot would lose his shit if your dad hurts you. I won’t let you go if there’s a chance you will get hurt. You’re like a sister to me, Allie." Izzy tells me, taking my hand into hers.

"He won't hurt me, I am his daughter and he has never done anything other than protect me," I say, knowing for certain my dad loves me. Izzy frowns at me but doesn't say anything and just squeezes my hand.

"What have I missed?" Blake asks us, and Izzy walks over to him.

"I will explain in a bit, but I'm spending the day with my bestie, watching movies and helping her get ready. So I need a rain check on our plans," she says, putting her arms around Blake's waist. He leans down and kisses her deeply, making me look away.

"Guys, P.G. rated only in my bedroom. It's bad enough I have to hear it through the walls, I don’t need images to go along with the sounds," I say with my hands over my eyes.

"God, Allie." Izzy laughs, and I move my hands so I can see her going very red. Blake laughs before whispering something to her and walking out.

Izzy shuts the door and jumps onto my bed as I get comfy on the other side. My new bedroom isn’t that different from my old one; my bedding is a pale pink with a sequined, silver rug over the bottom of it. I have a large double bed and two large, white wardrobes. There’s a chest of drawers opposite the end of the bed, which my TV is resting on. I have a small bookcase near the door, filled with my smutty books. I don’t know why, but I like to own the real copies of the books I read. It may or may not have something to do with the half-naked sexy men on the covers. Who knows?

"Still love him like crazy, then?" I ask, glancing at my friend’s loved up face.

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