I Hate You...I Think Read online

  "What can I do to prove to you?" Eien said looking only at Oliver.

  "Nothing," I heard Alex mutter harshly.

  "No," Oliver said standing. I gripped the chair as it rocked almost throwing me off. Jake grabbed my shoulder to steady me.

  "Perhaps, we'll give him a chance to explain himself," Oliver started. Eien's shoulders sagged in relief.

  "I wouldn't get so relaxed just yet," Oliver added stepping toward Eien, whose shoulders tensed again.

  "You have a lot of trust to be gained again. Until I can decide whether you really are with us or not, you will be under..." Oliver looked thoughtful for a moment. "Supervision," he finished with a smirk. He leered over Eien. I was thankful that I was not in Eien's position.

  “I’ll watch him,” Jake grinned popping his knuckles. Snickers erupted in the room. Grinning I elbowed him in the side.

  “Don’t get so violent just yet, jeez,” I laughed softly.

  “No, I’ll call Matt or David to watch him. I know you to well,” Oliver chuckled. Jake smiled all the same and Eien’s eyes never left the ground.

  “Consider yourself under house arrest,” Oliver snarled at Eien his anger finally showing through. Eien was rigid as a board not daring look up. He gave a brief nod and nothing more.

  “Do you believe him?” I asked later that night. Oliver and I were lying in his room the lights were out and I was just listening to his heartbeat.

  “I don’t know yet. We’ll see in the days to come if he can be trusted,” Oliver said softly his fingers curling in my hair and pulled my head up to look at him.

  “I’ve been thinking,” he started.

  “Oh no, that must have been painful,” I mused. He smirked and flicked my nose.

  “Perhaps, next weekend we could go away just you and me. It doesn’t seem like we get enough time together,” he pressed his cheek to my forehead, my heart lept into my throat.

  “We could go into the city; maybe I’ll take you to meet my sister. Show you where I grew up. That kind of thing,” he continued, “What do you think?”

  I nodded, “I’d like that.”

  “Good,” he chuckled, “Cause even if you didn’t I would have taken you anyways.”

  “Oh, how sweet of you,” I muttered sarcastically.

  He rolled over engulfing me in his arms and pressing his lips to mine. Locking my fingers in his hair, I pulled him so he was on top of me. His lips moved against mine and for a few moments the whole world dissolved. There were no gangs, no back stabbers, no threats, nothing. Only me and him and this moment right now.

  He pulled away yawning. I couldn’t stop a giggle at how exhausted he looked. There were dark circles under his eyes.

  “Lay down, sweetheart, you’re tired,” I told him pressing my hand to his cheek. He placed his hand over mine, interlocking our fingers.

  “Sweetheart, huh?” he grinned, “What happened to, jerk face?”

  “I could call you, Oli,” I snickered. He made a face.

  “Oh please no,” he grimaced, collapsing back to the bed on his belly. He raised his head resting it on his hand to look at me.

  “If you’re going to give me a nickname, make it something interesting. I’m not much of a “baby” person. I hate when girls call me that.”

  I laughed, “How about Raccoon, cause that’s what you look like right now.”

  “Raccoon?” he snorted. “Well, it’s original, I’ll give you that,” he rolled his eyes.

  “If you want to go with animals how about wolf or...panther,” he grinned wryly.

  “Cause panther’s stalk their prey,” he leered and grabbed my stomach, tickling me. I started laughing hysterically trying to get away.

  “Keep it down,” Jake’s muffled voice came from next door. I clamped my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing to loud.

  “So what do you think, panther, it is?”

  I scoffed, “That’s lame,” I told him smiling. “You’re a Raccoon.”

  He made a face in fake disgust.

  “Fine, bunny,” he smirked.

  It was my turn to make a face. “Bunny?”

  “Yep,” he told me popping the P.

  “What made you think of that?”

  “Your soft,” he poked my stomach. “And affectionate, but bunnies bite. You’re definitely a biter.”

  “Whatever, Raccoon,” I rolled my eyes pushing his head in the pillow. He wrapped his arms around me and buried his face against my neck. I was content just laying there, his gentle breath against my skin.

  “Good night, Bunny,” he muttered. I smiled and sank deeper into the blankets letting peaceful sleep carry me away.

  “Raccoon, huh?” Jake grinned. He was sitting with Jet, and Logan at the island watching me cook them breakfast. Oliver was leaning against the cabinet.

  “I guess it’s fitting. Oliver looks all cute and cuddly but he’ll eat your face off if you mess with him.”

  “Cute and cuddly? I wasn’t aware you were so interested in him, Jake,” I grinned.

  “What?! No!” Jake boomed.

  “Guess I have a little competition,” I told Jet and Logan, who were laughing.

  “That’s not what I meant!” Jake protested.

  “Oh, it’s okay if you two have a thing. I wouldn’t want to come in the middle of that.”

  “Ever,” Oliver warned.

  “You don’t have to deny it, Oliver. I understand,” I told him trying not to laugh. Logan laid his head on the island, pounding it with his fist.

  “Everlyn Fox, I’m warning you,” he purred dangerously.

  I turned to Jake trying to keep a serious look on my face.

  “So how many times have you two...you know?” I wiggled my eyebrows at him.

  A smack resounded through the room. I squealed and jumped about a foot in the air as Oliver’s hand made contact with my butt.

  Jet, Logan and Jake howled in laughter. Tyler, who had showed up in the doorway at some point was chuckling as well. I turned to smack at Oliver with the wooden spoon I had from the first time I cooked dinner here. He dodged laughing at me as I cursed and yelled at him.

  “I HAVE TO SIT DOWN YOU JERK!” I yelled beating him.

  “What is going on in here?” Kimmy laughed standing in the doorway with Alex in tow.

  “What did he do?” she mused.

  “He smacked my ass,” I hissed whacking him in the stomach with the spoon. He grunted and doubled over.

  “She was implying Oliver and I were gay. I think she deserved it,” Jake smirked, which he received a pop upside the head.

  “I thought you hid that thing,” Alex made a face at the spoon in my hand.

  “She’s violent enough without a blunt object.”

  Oliver grabbed my hands taking the spoon away from me. Kimmy had taken my place at the stove flipping the eggs and bacon.

  “We going to the warehouse today?” Jet asked going back to readying his newspaper.

  “Yeah,” Oliver told him putting the wooden spoon in a cabinet over the fridge.

  “I’ll get that back,” I told him. H gave me a mischievous smirk. Huffing, I turned away to help Kimmy finish breakfast.

  Once we all ate we headed down to the dock area. Oliver pulled up to the front of the building instead of the alleyway. Alex who was in Jet's car pulled up next to us. Jet grabbed my hand pulling me out of the back seat where I was laying cross Tyler and Logan's laps.

  Two large garage doors stood open. All sort of commotion coming from inside. The first thing I noticed when stepping into the warehouse was how big it was. I remembered it from the party but looking at it now it seemed twice as big. In front of the open doors sat several cars being worked on. Guys halfway under them yelling out orders to bring random tools. On the opposite wall was a fighting arena and punching bags.

  Pool tables and foosball littered the middle, along the wall, near the hallway leading to the offices, held a giant flat screen TV and surround sound speakers. Several leather couches sp
rawled around it seated quite a few boys playing world of war craft.

  Oliver coming to my side slung his arm over my shoulders and pulled me forward. Some of the men stopped what they were doing to greet Oliver.

  "Hey Oliver," one guy nodded, motioning for him to come over. Sticking his hand out to Oliver, I made a face. He was covered in grease a red rag in his left hand.

  "Scotty," Oliver greeted clasping the guys hand. Scotty grinned as Oliver now looked at him dirty hand.

  "Sorry about that." Scotty tossed Oliver his rag, and then nodded his head toward a blood red sports car.

  "Beauty ain't she," Scotty drawled, pulling a round can out of his pocket and placing a huge wad of snuff in his mouth. I grimaced and turned away to watch Oliver, who was running his hand over the car. His eyes glossed over as he took in every detail. It was like watching a kid in a candy store.

  "Nice," he muttered.

  "Have yet to take it for a spin. You want to?" Scotty asked spitting in a bottle.

  Oliver's head snapped up eagerly then he looked over at me.

  "Later," he replied straightening up.

  Scotty shrugged and nodded. Oliver nodded to Scotty who turned at shuffled over to another car. Taking my waist again Oliver turned me toward the offices. The other's had scattered in the meantime. Logan and Jake were at the TV jumping into the game. Alex and Kimmy were now playing foosball, and Jet was in the ring challenging people to a fight while Tyler looked on.

  We headed up to the very same office we had used during the party a few weeks ago. My cheeks burned at the thought of what almost took place that night. Ushering me in Oliver shut the door behind him.

  It took my eyes a moment to adjust to the sudden darkness. The walls were black as well as the soft, thick carpeted floor. Black couches and tables with small lamps took up the space on one side of the room. On the other side heavy curtains hung behind a large important looking desk. Oliver moved to the curtains pulling them open letting in light through a pair of sliding glass doors that looked over the warehouse and a small balcony.

  "What exactly do you do in here?" I asked perching at the end of the desk as Oliver took the cushy chair.

  "Count money mostly. The guys come up to check out the upcoming tournaments," he said pointing to the wall across from the door covered in posters and pictures.

  "If there is going to be a street fight, race or anything they post it on the wall to let everyone know."

  He pulled open a draw looking through it for something.

  "I don't really do much here but it looks nice if I have...visitors," he smirked. He gave up his search and leaned back in his chair placing his hands behind his head.

  "Rival gangs come through looking to talk about territory, brawls, that kind of stuff. I have had police come through."

  I looked shocked a moment. "Why?"

  "Well, that's obvious," he chuckled. "They want to know what we are doing here. What kind of business we are running."

  "And, what do you tell them?" I questioning raising an eyebrow.

  "We restore cars, do exotic details," he shrugged.

  "And the fighting ring? And all this." I pointed to the wall with poster's and photos.

  "Those are removed before they get up here, and as for the ring. Jet and Tyler teach self-defense. They both went to school just to get certificates for that. I paid for permits and whatever just to make it look legal," he waved his hand unimportantly. "Mostly I look badass in this chair. That's why I keep the office. I look important," he smirked looking self-important and cocky.

  I rolled my eyes, slipping of the desk and moved to the wall. There were pictures of guys bloodied but a victorious look on their faces. Hand drawn poster's advertising fights and races, some more worn than others. Some pictures were just head shots of men and a piece of paper taped under it with numbers, I assumed wins and loses.

  Oliver came up behind me wrapping his arms around me and pointed to a picture farther up on the wall. On my tiptoes I looked at it using Oliver for balance. There was a young boy with shoulder length tousled hair, standing next to a gruff worn out man. Behind them an old rusty beat up corvette. The man's eyes were sunk into his thin skeleton like face. He had a beer gut but mostly he looked sickly and skeleton like.

  He and the boy looked a lot alike and it took a moment to realize it was a younger version of Oliver staring back at me with miserable, pained eyes. A large dark bruise along his cheek marred his sweet childish face. He looked to be nine or so. Looking back at the man next to him again I knew he had to be his father. Scowling at the camera with all he was worth. Disgust stirred inside me looking at the man.

  "Yeah, that was an unhappy time for me," Oliver muttered rubbing the back of his head.

  "Why do you keep it then?" I asked shocked.

  "Because, every time I fight, I think of him," he replied softly, his eyes hard and unfocused as he stared at nothing in particular. "I think of all the times he beat me and made my life hell. I use it to push me. I refuse to be that weak ever again."

  "I guess that's why I'm so good," he muttered looking down at me. "When I fight I don't think about what will happen to me, I think of what I'll do to the other guy. All I have is anger and regret and sometimes I get carried away..."

  His perfect face was troubled and his eyes held so much pain as he watched my face gauging my expression. Placing my hands on his waist I leaned into him. He ran his hands through my hair.

  "My dad passed when I was eight," I started not looking up at him. My eyes focused on his chest.

  "My mom was an alcoholic even before that but it got worse when he...left." I finally looked up meeting his eyes. He was staring at me intensely.

  "I know how it feels," I added softly. "I know what it's like to not have anyone. To not trust anybody and feel so much anger and hurt."

  We were silent a moment then he moved his hand to the back of my head pulling me into his chest, his heart was beating rapidly.

  The door burst open.

  "Hey Lovebirds," Jake announced coming in and plopping down on a couch. I groaned into Oliver's chest. I was enjoying our alone time.

  "Don't give me that," Jake threw a pillow at me. "You two are always kissing and touching...it makes me want to throw up." he faked gagging noises.

  "What do you want?" Oliver laughed holding me back from smothering Jake with the pillow.

  "Eien is downstairs. He wants to talk to you," Jake replied, sticking his tongue at me.

  "Alone," Jake added. Oliver sighed, and looked down at me.

  "Mind going with Jake for a bit?"

  I grinned, eyeing Jake I nodded, "Sure."

  Jake gulfed.

  "Don't kill him. I kind of need him around," he smirked as Jake started inching out the door very slowly, thinking he was unnoticed.

  "Be careful," I warned Oliver glaring at Jake, who grinned innocently. Oliver gave me a questioning look.

  "I don't trust Eien as far as I can throw him."

  Oliver grinned wryly. "If he tries anything, I'll let you hurt him," he promised.

  "Good," I smiled kissing him on the cheek and bolting after Jake who had finally slipped out the door. As soon as I stepped out the office door I hit the ground. Jake stood there grinning from ear to ear; looking pleased he had tripped me.

  "Jake!" I yelled shoving off the floor. He booked it down the hall. I reached the stairs in time to see him jumping down them two at a time. He smacked into the wall opposite the staircase, which slowed him down a moment. My hand almost closed around his shirt sleeve but he jumped forward and started running again.

  At the end of the hall, he shoved Eien out of the way and entered the main part of the warehouse. My converse skidded against the concrete as I followed.

  "Get him, Ever!" Kimmy cried.

  Jake grabbed a chair knocking it over in my path. I jumped it easy. He made the mistake of turning to look back and I took him down. Landing on his back with my knees first, he hit the pavement face down.


  "Gahhh!" He gasp, the wind knocked out of him.

  "Pinch him behind the neck, Ever. That'll get him," Jet encouraged. I did clamping down hard. He cringed.

  "Say you’re sorry," I smirked.

  "Never!" Jake said wiggling to get out from under me. However, I quickly tightened my hold on his flesh and dug my knees into his back harder.

  "GAA!" he yelled.

  "Say it," I chuckled. The room was full of laughter now. Jake cursed and I twisted the flesh on his neck, it turned red.

  "OWW! OKAY! I'M SORRY!" He screeched.

  "You’re sorry what?" I asked pretending I couldn't hear him.

  "I'm sorry for tripping you and throwing a pillow! Jeez, psychopath!"

  Smiling, I released his neck and pressed my knees in his back as I got up. He grunted rolling over as I walked away. His face was bright red.

  "Jet, you ass," Jake scowled rubbing his neck.

  I made my way to Alex and Kimmy.

  "Your vicious," Alex chuckled.

  "Eh," I shrugged a smile growing on my face. Kimmy high-fives me.

  "This means war!" Jake declared.

  I turned to face him; raising an eyebrow I placed my hands on my hips. He grimaced and backed away.

  "You’re just as scary as Oliver," He grumbled.

  "I don't think that's a war you want any part of. You want her to get the wooden spoon again?" Logan called from the couch, a bag of chips in his hands. Jake winced remembering this morning and rubbed the back of his head. I turned back to Kimmy as Jake shuffled away.

  "I thought you were with lover boy?" Kimmy smiled nudging me in the side.

  "I was till Jake interrupted us," I pushed her back. "Eien, wanted to talk to him."

  I looked up at the balcony leading into Oliver's office. He was looking down at me with a smirk. My face flushed. He had been watching me. I don't know why but it made me smile.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Art history class is by far the most boring thing I ever heard. Now don't get me wrong. I love art but my teacher didn't make it interesting at all. By the time class ended I was ready to go back to bed. I followed the other students out of the classroom into the hall.

  Glancing up for a brief moment I stopped. Leaning against the wall across from my classroom door was Eien. He stared right back at me his eyes an emotionless mask. Turning away from him I started down the hall. He fell in step with me.