I walked upstairs to go to the bathroom. After six cups of punch, my bladder felt like it was going to burst. Just as I was about to open the door, I heard someone giggle from inside my room. Oh, heck no! Did I want to go in there? No, but I didn’t want whoever was in there to do whatever they were going to do in there either.
Maybe I should go get Cole to do it. No, I relied on him way too much already. Pushing the door open quickly, with the thought that ripping the plaster off was always the better option, my stomach turned.
Lizzie and Julian were lying on my bed, all over each other, and now I was going to have to burn the sheets. Lizzie gasped and looked up at me shocked as if it wasn’t my room! What on earth was wrong with her? Glaring at her furiously, I pointed to the door. Lizzie immediately ran out, sneering at me as she shot past me. Sorry I stopped you making a huge mistake with a complete jerk…
“Well, well, well. Looks like we’re alone now, huh,” Julian sang. I stood my ground as he slowly moved off my bed and took one step towards me. Don’t let him intimidate you. Straightening my back to try to make myself appear taller, I stared him in the eye.
He stopped a couple inches in front of me and my stomach tightened. What was he going to do? Everything inside me was screaming to run away, but I refused to do that.
“Sorry you had to see that. She wasn’t taking no for an answer.”
I stared at him blankly. I couldn’t really care less what he did with Lizzie. I just didn’t want it in my room, or my house for that matter.
He cocked his head to the side. The way he was looking at me was as if he was trying to solve an A level maths problem or something.
“Stop playing hard to get, Oakley” he finally said and took another step closer. Playing hard to get? What did that even mean? I wasn’t playing anything.
“You think I don’t see how you look at me?”
My jaw dropped open in shock. He’s drunk. That’s the only explanation.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he growled. “I’ve had two years of you ignoring me and pretending you don’t give a shit! I have to fucking insult you just to get you to acknowledge me,” he shouted, stepping forward one more time. He was so close now. Far too close.
Adrenaline was pulsing through my veins as his arms reached out to touch me. All I could think about was stopping him. his arms stretched nearer, I balled my hand into a fist and punched him as hard as I could. We both stumbled back in shock. Oh God. The sound – like a thud – rang through my ears. Julian’s hand shot to his mouth, and he groaned in pain. My hand immediately started throbbing. I shook my hand and winced. Punching someone didn’t look like it hurt in the movies.
Julian stood up straight and looked at me. His eyes were tight with anger. Blood started to seep through a small slit on his lip. I did that!
“Stop being such a bitch,” he spat. I took a step backwards, and very slowly turned and walked out of my room. I half expected him to follow me, but he didn’t. Taking the stairs two at a time, I flew to the bottom.
“Whoa,” Cole cried as I slammed into him. “You okay?”
Yes, actually. Cole glared, and I spun around to see at what. Julian was standing at the top of the stairs. He turned and walked off when he saw Cole.
“What happened? Was he bleeding?”
I smiled and held my slightly swollen hand up. Cole’s jaw dropped, and eyes widened.
“Did you punch him?” I nodded, and watched his face slowly turn from shock to pride. “You’re amazing,” he said and stroked my sore hand gently. “But you need to get that seen to.” Shaking his head he guided me to the downstairs bathroom.
After Cole made me keep my hand under cold water for a few minutes it was starting to feel better, but that could just because it was turning numb! He kissed my temple and then wrapped my hand in a towel to dry it. “Let’s go get you a couple pills for the pain.” I threw the towel in the washing basket and reached for the door handle.
Cole grabbed my good hand and spun me around. “Have I told you how beautiful you look in that dress?” he whispered. Blushing, I reached up and kissed his lips.
He made me sit back down with Kerry and Ben while he went to get me some pills. Julian still hadn’t left like I thought he would. Why would he stay? He leant against the living room door as Lizzie pressed her body against his seductively.
“Here you go.” Cole handed me two paracetamol and a glass of water, which I downed gratefully, and hoped the throbbing pain would go away soon..