Living With The Player

DYLAN EMERTON

FRIDAY.

Two hours of slumber before Camilla shook, lurching her head and then peeking her eyes at me.

“Hey..”

“How long have I been relaxing?”

“Two hours, give or take. You can rest some more if you’d like.”

“No. My phone. I need to-”

“Miranda had called half a dozen times. I answered on the seventh ring.”

She shuffled her feet to a sitting position and then smoothed her eyes even more.

“What did she say? What did you tell her?”

She stammers, striving to get the sleep away from her eyes.

“I told her you were resting. You’ve had a long day. I knew what happened and you would talk to her when you were ready.”

Camilla exhales in relief, fluttering her eyes shut for a few seconds.

“And everything else? Harper? Ji-”

“Don’t utter his name. He called twice, and I blocked his number. I didn’t want to say some very incriminating facts in case he ends up in the hospital. It’s your phone and I’ll unblock him. I didn’t want to wake you up.”

“No it’s fine, I’m not ready to converse with him anyway.”

“What did you tell him? After he explained.”

I ask.

“That we were done.”

She answers back. I’m a selfish cunt. Don’t grin at it, Dylan. Do not grin. This isn’t the time to get excited.

Her eyes are still closed, so I tug a little smile. She’s not with him.

“You broke up with him? For good? No more.”

“You’d think I would want him after everything?”

“I don’t know Camilla. He’s still con free Jimmy.”

“No. He isn’t con free. He’s been lying to me this entire time ”

“Everyone lies Camilla.”

That makes her eyes snap open.

“Are you defending him?”

Mine swells in shock.

“No. I just want to understand your reason for leaving him. I want to hit him in places that take time to heal. I will never defend him. I’m just making sure you’re doing what’s best for you. I mean, didn’t you love him?”

“Did I Dylan? Do you think I was in love with Jimmy?”

I lay back as she does, resting my head at the edge of the bed just so I could stare at her from the rim of my eyes.

“You were with him for stability. At some point, he gave you everything you wanted-”

“No. He did not.”

She counters.

“I did terrible things. I accept it. I took Jimmy because I wanted a guy who wouldn’t make me feel I was second best. That much is true. He was funny. Caring. A good kisser even.”

I flinch.

“But he wasn’t you. I was so angry at you. After that night, I was so furious. I shut myself out and everyone else, so when Jimmy came along, I just let myself believe he could be better.”

“During the sessions, you said you’re sorry for making me believe I need to be with Jimmy. I wanted to correct you, I didn’t think it through. Now I see it. Regardless of the lies, he fed me, Jimmy and I wouldn’t have ended well because a relationship built on lies wouldn’t last and Jimmy wasn’t the only liar. I lied when I told him I was over you. I lied to myself by saying your presence wouldn’t affect me. I made so many poor choices, all to avoid the inevitable-you.”

“Camilla.” I don’t turn nor find her eyes. The next part will be tough for me, and I’d rather gawk at my bedroom door.

“After that night, I did so much. I blamed myself. Then I sought acceptance of my own. Elements that could make the pain ease because I felt I couldn’t get rid of it and somewhere along the line, I met Harper Kennedy. And I made a mistake. Now you’re caught up in it.”

Camilla freezes, her breath getting caught up as she stirred beside me.

I can’t think of a better time than now. If Camilla and I are ever going to have a future together, I need her to know everything I’ve done, including the ones I’d regret forever.

**

MONTHS EARLIER.

“You have a pretty face, but those eyes seem. Why are you here?”

I take my hands off the helmet of my bike, turning just my head at the right angle to see the person who’s speaking to me when I don’t want to be spoken to.

He’s tall. I’m taller. He’s a blonde. The dirty kind. Has an open tooth at the front which should make him seem attractive, but he just smiles creepy, and his eyes are more dangerous than mine. I recoil and blink fast.

Maybe coming to this neighbourhood is a bad idea, but the farther I was away from home, the lesser the ache in my heart was.

Everything was a recollection of her. Every damn thing. I needed it to stop, so I got on my bike and drove. I stopped at the “thug street” that’s what they called it. The shops had broken windows, yet a few were still open and operating. The streets had the weirdest stench of spilt oil.

Everyone I crossed either smirked or glared. I’ve counted fifteen people in total. Only three girls. I don’t think a lot of them come out. It’s almost six pm, it’s justified.

“You’re a quiet one. Those are always the best. I think I like you. It doesn’t appear you belong here, but you’d fit in. And I like you.”

I snort.

“I dislike you. I’m not here to make friends, so fuck off.”

Instead of faltering, his eyes widened and held his knee pads and began laughing. Cackling. Everyone would hear, but this crazy asshole just kept laughing.

“What the fuck is funny? Know what? I’m not doing this.”

“Oh, I like you. I don’t trust in soul mates but you. I like you a lot,”

He reiterated, bobbing his head with consent

“Bye.”

“I am Harper. Harper Kennedy. I don’t know your name yet, but if you consider screwing the entire world over and not giving a damn, I can help you. We have the same look and I believe you and I will get along nicely. Just a few hours, you look like a guy with nothing left to lose.”

I eye him and his clothes. Leather jackets. Thick pants. He has knee pads for some weird reason.

“So pretty boy? You in?”

He is right. I have nothing to lose. I’ve lost everything already.

“What do I have to lose?”

He chuckles and shrugs his hands across my shoulder, pulling me to his body.

I glance at my cycle considering moving it somewhere safer, but I shrug against it and trail Harper instead.

“Dylan. Dylan Emerton.”

I introduce myself with a smirk.

**

PRESENT.

“That’s how you two met? At the other side of town?”

I nod with a sad sigh. The prologue isn’t scary, I’m about to get into the plot.

“Whatever I say next, I want you to know that I’m not that person anymore. I did bad things, but I’m not a bad person and I hope you’d forgive me.”

“What are you-”

“Just listen. Let me finish the rest part.”

“O-Okay.”

She answers hesitantly. I will do this.

If Camilla walks away after knowing, I’d respect her decision.

**

MONTHS EARLIER.

“I had my guys bring your bike here.”

Harper announces bringing me a black gate. Guys?

“Are you kidnapping me?”

He laughs.

“We are soulmates truly.”

He bangs the door twice, waits four seconds then knocks five times and steps back.

Someone rolls the gates open allowing us entrance.

It’s just a house inside. A bungalow.

“This place yours?”

“No D.”

Smirking, he leads the way towards the door, and I trail behind.

“The party started already. It’s almost eight. Come on.”

Just then, Harper shrugs his shirt off and continues walking till we reach the house

It’s larger up close. It’s painted bleak with red and blue.

Again, Harper repeats the knock combination and waits for someone on the inside to open.

When the figure does, my jaw ticks at what I see.

They filled the entire room with people; they make a tiny circle and in the middle I can pick out two grown men, launching fist attacks at each other. One of them is stronger and takes the other guy down.

The weaker falls and knocks his cheek against the floorboard. To my surprise, the entire house fills with cheers and squeals of joy.

“Pussy.”

Harper comments and he’s taping his hand. Where did that come from?ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Wait, you’re fighting?”

“Yes.”

He grins.

“And you will too.”

“W-What? People could get seriously hurt or worse – die? Is this even legal?”

I ask, looking around frantically.

“Calm down. You’re worried about others getting hurt, but maybe they should. You’re hurt too. Why shouldn’t they be as well?”

I shake my head and step back.

“D….”

“Dylan. My name is Dylan.”

“It’s not legal, but it isn’t exactly illegal.”

I narrow my gaze.

“Watch the fight. Watch mine at least. If you don’t enjoy the feeling of watching someone go down, blood oozing, screams of pain and suffering, it could even be yours. If you don’t get any validation from those, then you may leave. Just watch one. Remember, you have nothing left to lose”

Harper holds my sight, knowing he got me there. I clutch an elaborate sigh and gaze from him to the spectators inside. They all look weirdly satisfied.

Would I be as well? Will the burn in my chest go away?

“Fine.”

I grunted and Harper’s grin spreads thoroughly.

**

PRESENT.

“You stopped back to watch Harper fight?”

I smile sadly.

“If only that were all I did Darlin, but I did other things too. Worse things.”

****

I pledge to do my best to update daily until I completed this book. Truth is; I’m already working on my new book simultaneously so I can drop it when this ends. Much Love!