Troubles (Kissing The Devil)

“And he yelled at you? Just like that?” Kendra asked
She was sat in my bed. It was eight o’clock of a Saturday night. A day after that jerk almost ran over Jesse. My gorgeous best friend was sat elegantly in my bed. Her blond hairs were falling over one of her shoulders, her green eyes sparkling even if I only had a lamp on in the room. She had a natural pink color in her cheeks and her tan made her look like she was born and raised in Miami. She was completely different of me. Everyone is friends with her and she’s sweet to everybody, I just repulse people, even if they don’t talk to me. They just get that idea of me, and I have no idea of how to turn it off.
My pale skin made me look like snow white next to her. If snow white had greenish brown eyes of course. But still, I can’t be compared to Kendra, she’s naturally gorgeous and I can’t even fix myself with foundation and eyeliner, I need more things than those to ‘be pretty’ wich in my case means ‘acceptable’. I sighed
“Yes! Just like that!” I shrugged, turning around in my black chair.
This belonged to my dad’s previous office. I remember I used to spend my time there, turning around in this chair. He wanted to get rid of it, but I told him I would keep it with me. I like this chair, it bring my childhood memories back. I remember I used to turn around so much and so fast that I used to fall over the desk when I tried to get up.
My dad, who normally was sat in the couch reviewing contracts or talking to clients, simply laughed at me and helped me get up, checking if I was okay next. I normally giggled at him. This chairs has personal value, it has memories. Good memories! Kendra normally sais I switch places with my brother when it comes to this chair. I don’t care, this is my chair and I won’t get rid of it. No, it belongs to me! It’s mine, no one else’s’!
“He surely seems like a dick!” She said “I mean, he was the one who was driving overspeed!”
“And he told me to keep Jesse on a leash!” I angrily said
“Oh God, we need to kick that assholes groin!” I laughed out loud “What?”
“I think he would kill you if you did! If by any occasion you could even hit him. I don’t think he’s someone you can mess with and just simple walk away freely!” I frowned
“Who cares? He mistreated my sister and my little brother!”
Kendra and I have this close relationship. Everything that’s her is mine, everything that’s mine is hers’. Yes, I’m talking like we’re married, but I love her to pieces and I have a closer relationship with her than I have with my parents. Kendra is always there to protect me and I’m glad she is. Besides talking back, I have no defense mechanism, none. Just, I don’t know, a slap maybe? But how long can that keep a huge guy from attacking me?
Yes, it can’t! Kendra is taller than me and had a model figure. But don’t think she’s the defenseless little damsel in distress. No, that description is left to me. Kendra is strong, she can throw a man twice her size to the other side of a crowded room if she feels like it. Don’t question me, I saw it once! I know she’ll protect me if I need protection.
She usually sais I have no one to protect me. I disagree. My parents protect me in certain things, but most of the things I protect myself from. I mean, if you see a suspicious group of people in a dark alley, you won’t walk pass them like there’s nothing wrong right? Exactly, you stay away! I protect myself in that way, but I can’t protect myself physically.
“Just forget it Ken!” I said and she sighed, nodding
I missed having her with me. Even if it was only two days ago since the last time I saw her, I missed the impact we caused together in people. Let’s admit, a blondie with green sparkly eyes and a tan causes more impact than a brunette with greenish brown eyes and skin as pale as snow. I still have people telling me I’m cute, and cute isn’t gorgeous, but they only tell me that when I’m not around Kendra. I’m no comparison to her, I get it. I don’t actually mind, there are people who are just… gorgeous without trying.
“We can both forget!” She sighed
“What do you have to forget?” I asked her
“Well, you can forget about careless-driver-boy and I can forget about Markus!” She sighed
While looking at her, I pulled my knees up so my chin was supporting on them and looked at her. I saw how Kendra looked at him when they were younger. The sparkle in her eyes… she was in love. Really in love, and I liked Markus in the beginning. I stopped doing so two months later.
He hit on me! He actually hit on me. Sure, he was drunk, but still, he had a girlfriend and God knows what he could have done if Kendra and I didn’t took him home. Markus could be rough if he wanted, not that I ever felt it, but I saw Kendra’s hip once, and how they were bruised. According to her it was ‘an amazing night of sex’ but I still think the bruises were unnecessary. I mean, why would you want to have a mark like that in your hip, ad why did he caused it? He didn’t knew his own strength that’s for sure.
“What happened with Markus?” I said, resting my temple in one of my knees while looking at her.
“We broke up!”
The way she said that made me frown. There was no hurt behind her voice. She seemed… fine? I thought she loved him! They were the couple everyone envied and they were pretty fine about that. I had no clue of any betrayals he might had committed, even if Katherine, the schools queen B, was always hitting on him. Kendra is much more gorgeous than her, I guess I know why he chose not to cheat on her.
“Are you okay?” I asked with an eyebrow raised, she nodded
“Yes. I thought it was going to hurt!”
“But it doesn’t?” I asked, one eyebrow still raised while the other one rested
“It just feels… I don’t know… Empty?” She said, unsure
“Why did you broke up?” I asked, moving my position to one where I was now supporting my arms in my knees. I have a hard time being still guys
“He said he didn’t want to date anymore! With the distance and shit you know!” She shrugged
“So, you’re fine?” I asked
“Yup!” She popped the ‘p’ “I just want to forget the memories we have together! That’s why you and me are going out!”
I frowned, raising my head immediately. I took a better look at her. Oh shit. She was wearing a small sparkly black dress that perfectly matched her tan and her hair. I sighed. She always knew how to make me go to places. She knew that if she came here dressed to go out already I wouldn’t tell her no.
“You knew I wouldn’t tell you no if you came her like that!” I mumbled and she smirked
“Get ready! We’re going to get drunk!” She sang the last phrase
“No we’re not!” I jumped out of the chair when she grabbed the door knob “We have school tomorrow!” She rolled her eyes
“C’mon Thea, live a little!” I sighed “Plus, tomorrow we just have a few lectures, not true classes!” She said “I’ll go warn your parents!” I nodded, already convinced to go out “Dress something nice!” She said
“Don’t I always?” I said as she closed the door. I heard her laugh
I smiled to myself and opened my wardrobe. I decided to go with a dark outfit for the night, so I grabbed my navy blue bustier and a pair of denim shorts and put them on. I also pulled my blue Nikes from a compartment in my wardrobe, and a black leather jacket. Once everything was displayed on the bed, I took my clothes off and got inside the new ones.
Once I was fully dressed and my hair was combed, I walked out of my room and directed myself to my brothers’ room. I opened the door after knocking. He was sat in bed, looking at the TV. The Simpsons were on, and they’re his favorite cartoons. He doesn’t get half of what happens, but he likes Bart and Maggie. Don’t ask me why, but he does
“Little monkey?” I called and he turned to face me, he frowned for a moment
“Where are you going?” He asked me
“I’m going out with Kendra! Do you want me to sleep with you tonight?” I asked him
“Nwo!” He said and I smiled, shaking his hairs once I was sat by his side.
You’re getting older aren’t you?” He nodded “And stronger?” he nodded again “Ahhh, you’re still my baby!” I told him and he pouted “My big baby!” I said, hugging him by the waist.
I started to ticklish Jesse and he squealed of happiness and amusement. My brother is only ticklish under his arms and in his feet, unlike me who am ticklish EVERYWHERE! We laughed for a minute or two till he begged me to stop. I did and kissed hi forehead.
“It’s late Jesse, let’s put you to sleep!” He pouted playfully “You have school tomorrow!” He smiled and nodded.
Jesse isn’t a spoiled child, I made sure he wouldn’t grow up to be one. He knows we have money, but he also knows we can’t have everything we want! You think I want my baby brother to be like those teenagers with problems just because they know they have money? No! I know a guy who was rich, like ultra rich and got himself in drugs. His dad disinherited him and his family abandoned him. Jesse has to know life is not always the way we want it to.
I put him under the covers and turned the TV off. He put his small hands under his head and rested them in the pillow. When his eyes were closed, I kissed his forehead again.
“Goodnight little monkey!” I said and walked out of his room, turning the light off before I closed the door.
As an older sister, I always knew I would have responsibilities, like grab him from day care once and a while, babysit him for an hour or two when our parents weren’t around, but like this? I never imagined I would have to be his ‘adoptive mother’, still, I regret nothing. Jesse’s my life, my only run from the purgatory I live in.
When I reached downstairs, I saw Kendra waiting for me, spinning a key set in her finger. I frowned and she smiled at me.
“Looking hot I see!” She smiled and I shrugged, not believing “Your parents loaned us the car. They say it’s your when you get your license!”
I thought about my moms’ car, a black convertible and I smiled. I liked that car, I helped choosing it. I loved that car too.
“Let’s go then!” I said, pulling her wrist out of the door and closing it behind us.
I looked at the driveway and saw the convertible parked in the curb. Smiling, I ran and jumped over the door, sitting in the passenger’s seat. I was happy my parents were going to give me the car, I had memories here too.
Kendra laughed and ran to the driver’s seat, starting the car immediately when she closed he door. I supported my arm in the car’s door and patted it as the music’s in the radio were on. Only when the second music finished I realized that Kendra and I didn’t knew any clubs here where was she taking me? I saw the opportunity of asking her when she stopped in a red light, next to a Range Rover with dark windows.
“Where are we going?” I asked “We don’t know any clubs around here Kendra!”
“You’re right, I don’t know any club, but I know about a party in Steve O’Hurley’s house!2 She wiggled her eyebrows and I frowned
“Who’s that?” I asked
“Who cares? Everybody can get in!” I laughed
“How did you found out about the party?”
“When I was shopping for supplies for the house this morning I heard a group of girls talking about the party! I approached them and told them I was a close friend to Steve’s and he had forgot to send me the message. They fell for it!” She smiled, winking and biting her tong, turned to me.
“You’re a lie master!” I chuckled
“What can I say? Acting is in my veins!”
I laughed, agreeing and Kendra started the car again when the light turned green. I turned around again to see the window of the car next to outs slightly opened. I frowned, who the hell was listening to our conversation?!
I told Kendra how she had to get a boyfriend in the way to Steve O’Hurley’s house! She didn’t say boyfriend, she said ‘get laid’. I don’t like that, probably because I never got laid. But Kendra can if she wants to. I’m just more… um… reserved? Yes, I think that’s the word!
The wind was shaking my hairs as Kendra drove as fast as she could so we wouldn’t miss a lot of the party. The night was dark, and there were no stars in the sky, probably thanks to the thick layer of cloud the English people are warded almost every day.
One the car stopped, I jumped out, this time actually opening the door, and closed it behind me as I looked at the house in front of me, completely speechless. It was huge. It had a huge garden and huge doors, and huge windows, and huge everything. It was just huge, and pretty, very pretty. I could hear the noise coming from inside, and the lawn was completely deserted. I guess the fun is inside.
Kendra sprinted towards the door, using her high heel. How can she not fall? Those things are awful, and painful! I made a sour face to myself and ran behind her. She waited for me in the door.
“Thea, today, we party!” She said and I laughed
“Okay, let’s go!” I said, pushing the door open.
The place was huge, like hue huge. Neon lights were hanged on the ceiling, people were dancing in the middle of the living room, the house smelled like alcohol, and according to Kendra, sex too. I couldn’t tell if I wanted to.
Kendra grabbed my arm and pulled me to the improvised bar and ordered two shots for us as we both sat in chairs. I frowned. She knows I don’t drink! When I go out with Kendra I can’t drink. She normally gets ultra drunk and I have to take her home and go back in the next to pick up my car.
“Oh, c’mon Thea, don’t put that sour face on!” She told me “I won’t drink that much today, I promise!”
“Okay!” I nodded and grabbed one of the shots that were now on the table. Great starter!
“1…2...3…GO!” She yelled and drank the shot along with me.
As the alcohol burnt all the way down my throat, I thought to myself that this was going to be a long nigh
**
“Ahhh!” Kendra yelled over the music “That’s the third!” she said, slamming the shot glass on the counter
“Don’t you think it’s enough?” I asked her
“No!” She said and I frowned “Oh, c’mon! We’ll be fine!” I laughed at the way she dragged ‘fine’
“Okay, okay!” I said, rolling my eyes
“Join me in another one?” She asked and pointed at two shots that were resting over the counter.
An hour and a half has gone by and neither me or Kendra left the bar. We just talked and laughed while she drank shots. I only drank the first and in my mind, I wasn’t going to be capable of handling it in my stomach for long.
I shrugged and grabbed another shot. Kendra chuckled lightly and I raised and eyebrow. She shrugged and smiled. I love how we are capable of having a conversation without even talking. That’s our relationship!
“1…2…3…Now!” She yelled and I drank the shot.
I closed my eyes and raised my shoulders so my head was pressuring them and then let them down while I shook my head. That’s awful and burns my throat. I heard Kendra laughing about me and I smirked at her, rolling my eyes playfully. Her laugh suddenly stopped and I frowned, noticing her gaze was focused in something behind me. I turned in my chair and found a curious jerk looking at me. Hello, hello careless-driver-boy! I thought to myself
He was wearing a black shirt and a pair of large denim jeans. White sneakers in his feet, a leather jacket over his shoulders. His hair was pulled in a quaff and a cocky smirk played in a corner of his lips. Soft, pink, chubby lips! I rolled my eyes to myself inside my eyes.
His tattoos were seeable in the base of his neck and in his wrists. His outfit matched him, and only now I noticed he had a piercing in his eyebrow and in his lip. Probably he has piercing elsewhere. That has to hurt, why would he want to make holes in his body? That’s crazy.
“So, Mrs. Goody-Two-Shoes drinks hu?” He asked and I rolled my eyes, this time for him to see.
“That’s nothing of your concern!” I said and turned my back at him
“Drink one for me hey?” I rolled my eyes at Kendra who had visibly lost her tan around her face
“Get lost!” I said and he laughed
“What ever, you’re no fun!” I pulled all the air inside. WHAT?!
When I turned to face him, I saw him walking away from me. I was fun! I could have fun! He didn’t knew me or any part of my life for that matter. I snorted to my bangs and turned to face Kendra again.
“What’s the matter with you?” I asked, frowning
“That’s… That’s…?”
“That’s the jerk who almost ran Jesse over!” She held me by my shoulders and I widened my eyes at her
“Stay. Away. From him!” She said and I frowned
“Calm down Kendra, I wasn’t intending to run after him!” I laughed nervously. Why is she acting like this?
“Promise?” I nodded and ordered two more shots, after that clash, I needed to drink.
After we drank two more shorts each, Kendra decided we needed to go to the dance floor. I agreed with her, I needed to dance. I wasn’t drunk, I was just a bit tipsy and I needed to prove to myself that I was fun. I don’t know why careless-driver-boy words’ are affecting me so deeply. I shouldn’t let them.
They don’t! I told myself You’re doing this because you want to! You drank four shots because you wanted to, you are dancing, knowing you have two left feet, because you want to… sure Thea, whatever!
I rolled my eyes to myself. It was true, the thing where my conscience tells me I don’t know how to dance. That’s true, I don’t know how to dance, I look like I have something inside my pants that’s making me ticklish.
Suddenly, a hand wrapped around my shoulder and I froze. I wasn’t drunk, I still knew what I was doing… But I didn’t knew if Kendra knew!
“I’m sorry!” I heard Kendra say “But who are you?”
I looked to the side, getting rid of the boys hand around my shoulder. He was tall, tanned and had black hairs. He was also drunk, I could see it in his face. I looked at Kendra and she gave me a slight nod, telling me to chill! That’s how you know if Kendra Jackson is drunk or not! She’s not right now!
“I’m Steve O’Hurley! The man of the hour!” I rolled my eyes. Okay, I have an attitude problem, I admit, but that jerk provoked it, and I’m not talking about Steve “An you two are fineee!” I frowned and took a step away from him
“Yes Steve, now scram!” Kendra growled and Steve smirked at her. He was handsome, but a complete jerk and was drunk, big time
“I was thinking, I don’ know you guys!” He wrapped his arms around me again, pulling me close to him again.
I froze, I could feel the scent of alcohol in his shirt and his breath was hitting my cheek. I made a sour face and pulled away from him. He tried to fight it off, but I slapped his hand. Slaps serve for something after all.
“Well, a part isn’t a party until someone crashes in!” I said and pushed my hair behind my shoulders.
“Little birdy here knows how to talk, hu?” He smirked and I made another sour face and took a step back. I don’t like him, that’s for sure.
“Take your hands off my best friend, you twat!” Kendra growled and with a head movement told me to disappear from there.
I obeyed. I always abbey when it comes to her! I can’t actually tell her no since she’s only out to protect me. I tried to take a deep breath, only to notice I couldn’t. I hate being in crowded places, I feel like I can’t breathe. Thankfully for Kendra, the alcohol helped me keep cool tonight.
I walked to the door we used to enter and opened it, getting out to the cold night. It was even darker now and a small breeze blew in the trees, making a frightening sound echo through the night. I shivered when the breeze hit me the first time and pulled my jacket more to me.
I didn’t want to go back inside so I decided to take a walk. I didn’t want to walk in the lawn and get my sneakers dirty, that would give more troubles to the drycleaners, and Mr. Rosewood deserves my respect for taking a hot chocolate stain out of my favorite pair of shorts. She takes care of my sneakers too, and Jesse’s. I like her, and I’m glad she has a place here in London.
I opted for seeing the houses’ back. I started to make the outline of the house, silently, hugging myself thanks to the cold. I stopped when I heard voices. And one of them stood out from all of them. Okay, I was a bit tipsy, but I could still attribute voices to their owners, and the heavy Irish accent belonged to only one person.
“Here’s what you asked for!” He said and, thanks to how tipsy as I am, I took a step towards the place where he voices came from.
They were hiding behind the corner of the house, I could see their shadows. Three people. Careless-Driver-Boy was the smallest of the three, and the recognizable. I saw his shadow handing another one a package. I froze.
What have I got myself into?
“About that other think we talked about…”
“Trouble…” Who the hell is ‘Trouble’? And who was the man who said that? All I knew is he had a thick voice, with a British accent
“Yes, I know it’s risky!” Careless-Driver-Boy said, cutting off the other man
“And you’re willing to risk it? Your family, your friends and the people they care about?” I swathe smallest figure quickly walking towards the largest one, pulling something that made him lean so they were at the same height. Collar maybe? I took another step towards them.
“Don’t EVER question how much I care about my people!” He growled and let go of the man, almost pushing him behind “But yes, I’m willing to risk it!”
“Look Trouble…” Another voice said, a much softer one, with an American accent this time “…we know you have problems with Jordan, and we don’t want to get between you two!” I heard a loud laugh, a derision one. Even by their shadows, I could see that the two other men stiffened… Afraid?
“So, you’re Pussy’s now? God, why are you even in the business?” He laughed “It’s not about that! Jordan had a huge shipment of cocaine coming next Monday I don’t intend to put your name in the line, me and my gang are capable of handling the consequence, but I need help to do the job! Maybe, disturbing things for a while?” There was only two steps remaining after I took two more to listen better
“Are you talking about a gang war?” The thicker voice said
“In the middle of London?” The softer voice asked
“What’s your problem? It’s going to be four in the morning when the shipment arrives here, no one will be around to be hurt, besides you!” Careless-Driver-Boy said mockingly
“Exactly, my men and I don’t want to get hurt because of Devil’s Angels’ shit!” The thicker voice said
“You’ll get a commission, plus, I’m not even thinking about stealing everything, just a little bit, well, the largest amount I can!” He said “Five per cent each of you!”
“Ten!” the softer voice said
“Seven and don’t push your luck! With seven per cent you’ll be capable of providing your little addicted fucks for seven months no problem!” I took the last step and supported in the corner of the house, peeking slightly.
Careless-Driver-Boy was there, and the two other man were both facing him while he had his arms crossed over his chest and his hands palming the place under his armpits. He had a tough look in his face… and as much as I hate to admit, it fitted him perfectly.
“Okay!” One of the man, the one with the thick voice, said and smiled at him “I’ll even give you Jordan as a reward!”
The three of them started to laugh, amused. But I was freaking scared. They were talking drugs and murder like it was a children’s game. I was scared, I have to admit that. It fitted perfectly, Careless-Driver-Boy is ‘Trouble’, he’s the leader of a gang and he’s about to kill another gang’s lieder? Oh God, I don’t want this right now!
I took a step back, but my ankle gave in and I fell with a loud noise. I tried to bit my lip to keep myself from yelling, and I did it so tightly, it almost bled. This always happens with me. My ankle gives in when I’m about to run, sometimes when I’m about to walk. The doctor sais I have to be careful because it can easily dislocate and then I would have to go to surgery.
I noticed a figure walking in my direction while I rubbed my ankle. I was terrified. I wanted t leave it there as fast as I could. But my ankle wasn’t helping me that much. A huge hand held my arm and pulled me up from the ground without any effort at all and held my arm to keep me up. I squealed out of pain, but he ignored
“You better not tell anyone about this, or I swear I’m going to kill you!” He sternly said “Or better yet, I’ll kill that little brother of yours!” I froze
No! He wouldn’t be capable of hurting Jesse would he? Jesse? Would he have the guts to hurt a five year old? I couldn’t let that happen! No! I only wanted to start fresh and now I find troubles here too! I swear, my life would become a movie for the things that happened to me already.
I felt all the blood being drained of me, and started to feel dizzy. I felt the panic crawling up my throat and closing it tightly, keeping me from breathing, and my eyes got heavier. I lost balance, but he was still holding to my arm.
“Hey! Don’t black out on me!”
It was too late!

Notes