Love Me Always (I Hate You...I Think) (4 page)

"Yes, I think you are Mr. Terry. I have
heard enough I don't need any more non-sense in
this courtroom. I’m quite aware of all that has
happened to this young lady," Judge Forester stood
up picking up his gavel.

"Oliver Wolfe you are released, as for Jason
Martin there will be another private hearing with
your lawyer and I to discuss your sentencing on
this case and the matter of attempted bribery."

My mouth dropped open. Yelling erupted
then in the courtroom. All of Jason's gang jumped
up yelling profanities at the Judge. Judge Forrester
stood and stepped to the side were I sat still in
shock.

"Miss Fox?"
"Yes sir?"
"You keep Oliver out of trouble. I can't help
him next time around," he said winking at me then
turned leaving out the door he came from.

Jason, who was cursing and yelling, was
handcuffed and escorted out of the room, but not
before yelling, “This isn’t over Oliver.”

Police officers swarmed in to calm Jason's
gang and get them out of the courtroom. Oliver's
gang was excited and happy. They weren't even
paying attention to their rivals was ushered out. As
I stepped off the stand, Oliver came around the
table sweeping me off my feet and spinning me
around. Cradling me to his chest, he refused to let
go.

"Oliver?" I muttered blushing. He sat me
down then and went in to kiss me. I turned my
head still blushing. He frowned but kissed my
cheek.

"Baby steps," he smiled softly. I nodded.

"You have no idea how grateful I am to
you, Ever," he told me kissing my forehead. All I
could do is just stand there. I was happy he wasn't
going to jail, confused how everything just
happened, but most of all lost at how I was
supposed to feel. He's right, baby steps. It's going
to take a while.

~Barely Clinging On~

"Kimmy, I don't wanna wear this," I
muttered looking down at my black strapless dress.
It showed my shoulders and my legs. So of course,
my hideous scars were visible.

"You look beautiful Ever," she told me. It
was Monday night and all day Oliver had been
getting visitors. I had been hiding in Alex's room
with Kimmy. I wasn't comfortable with anything or
anyone. I sure wasn't sleeping in the same bed as
Oliver tonight.

Sighing I looked at the mirror. We had been
in the bathroom for a long time. All the guys had
been knocking on the door but Kimmy yelled at
them so they stopped. They must be using Oliver's
bathroom now.

"Kimmy, can I just be alone for a second?"
I asked her.

She looked up from fixing my hair. She
didn't say anything just nodded and headed for the
door. Once she was out the door, I pressed my back
against it sinking to the floor. Pulling my knees to
my chest, I took a deep breath. I just needed space.
I needed to breathe. I felt like I was suffocating.

I needed a break, from everything and
everyone. I needed time. I mean I was happy
Oliver wasn't going to jail. I was happy I was
getting memories back but I just needed to breathe.
I needed room. People were breathing down my
neck to remember everything.

What is I wasn't ready to remember? I mean
after today. Seeing those pictures was hard to bear.
I didn't want to see those pictures. I couldn't face it.

Even if I love Oliver, who I'm not sure I do.
I think I do but I can't remember. One thing I do
know is I don't want this life. I don't want to be
hurt, or shot. Nor did I want anyone else to get
hurt, especially not for me.

All of Oliver's gang and friends treat me
like family, like they had known me their whole
lives. Oliver was leader of them and me being with
him made me leader to. I see that in their eyes.

I've never been a leader of anything. I'm not
good at anything and being the leader’s girlfriend
or fiancé, whatever was the least thing I wanted to
be. Maybe it was but I’m not the same person I was
before.

I kicked out slamming my foot into the
bathtub angrily. Jumping to my feet, I punched the
wall in frustration and instantly regretted it.
Shaking my now aching hand, I rested my head
against the wall.

I need a drink. I felt like my mom thinking
about that. Maybe this party for Oliver coming
home was good for me. I need to get plastered off
my ass drunk.

Straightening up I ran my fingers through
my curls making sure they covered my shoulders,
and then jerked the door open roughly. A boy that
was in the hall jumped about a foot in the air. He
was fifteen or so and looked at me as if I was a
demon from hell. I cracked up at the look on his
face.

"Err...can I use the bathroom?" he asked
apprehensively.

I nodded and patted his head. He grunted
and muttered about everyone always patting him
on the head like a dog and slunk into the bathroom.

Trudging down stairs the living room was
full of people, but it seemed Oliver was trying to
kick them out.

"Alright guys listen up. Everyone head to
the warehouse. I'm sick of you all in my house,"
Oliver yelled.

Laughter followed and people slowly made
their way out the door. Oliver was talking to a few
stragglers when and arm wrapped around my
shoulders.

Jake leaned down to look at me. "You
know he don't bite right?"
"Well, he might but I don't wanna know
about that," Jake winked.

My cheeks flushed and I looked up at
Oliver. He was talking to Leon and a girl with
bright red hair. It was definitely unnatural. She was
in a cute blue halter dress and laughing slapping
Leon in the stomach.

"Is that Leon's girl friend?" I asked.
"No, I think she's his baby sister," Jake said
watching her amused.
I smiled, "Cute ain't she?" I raised my
eyebrow at him.
He snapped his eyes to me and grinned,
"Everything with boobs is cute."

"Aww Jaky I didn't know you swung both
ways. If I knew I would have found you a nice guy
with some moobies to take to the party tonight."

Jake's eyes widened. "What is with you and
your obsession with me being gay? I'm the
manliest guy here!"

I scoffed, "Yeah right."
His mouth went in a perfect O.
"Don't make me get that wooden spoon," he
narrowed his eyes.
I tilted my head confused, "Wooden
spoon?"

He laughed, "You use to beat everyone with
it when they tried to eat before the food was
ready."

I pursed my lips, "That's bad manners."

He laughed louder, "Yep, you always say
that. You beat Logan on a daily occasion for
talking with his mouth full."

I scrunched up my face.

"He deserves a good smack every now and
then," Oliver said coming over to us. His eyes
appraised me. The look in his eyes held so much
love and adoration my face got warm and I turned
away looking at anything but him. The small red
haired girl bounced to his side.

"You can't beat on my little brother, that
would be mean," she grinned.
"Logan's your brother?" I asked.
"Well kind of," she smiled, "I'm Taylor,"
she held out her hand. I took it smiling.

"You two can talk about it in the car,"
Oliver said placing his hand on my back and
guiding me out to his car. I climbed in the back
with Leon. Taylor sat in the middle. Jake was up
front and Oliver driving.

"Where's Kimmy?"
"She went with Alex, Jet and Tyler. Logan
will be out in a second."

As Oliver said that, my door jerked open
and Logan dove in head first across our laps.
Taylor wacked him in the back, he groaned.

"I thought beating him was mean," I
laughed.

"Well, this time he deserved it," she
laughed smacking him repeatedly. Logan swatted
his hands at her.

"So you three are all related?" I asked
looking at Leon, Logan and Taylor closely. Her
and Leon had the same eyes, but nothing about her
and Logan looked similar.

"Me and Leon have same mom different
dads and Logan and Leon have same dad different
moms."

I pulled my eyebrows together. "So you and
Logan are like..." What did that make them?

"We're only related through Leon," she
smiled patting Logan's stomach, as he had rolled
onto his back and was making faces at Leon. He
flinched expecting her to pop him again.

"I thought Angie was coming with you?"
Leon questioned.
"She'll be here next week."

Taylor turned to look at me. "Leon and I
lived in Seattle with our mom and my dad. But,
since he came down here I decided to come and go
to college for next semester at SU with my friend
Angie."

I frowned. I wasn't in college anymore. I
mean I missed a lot of class and the whole thing
with Oliver being my teacher. I yelled at Kimmy
earlier for not telling me about that. I don't think I
wanted to go back to that college now at all.

"Are you in college too?"
I shook my head. "Not anymore," I told her
looking out the window.
"Well that sucks."
I turned to look at her.
"Leon has told me a lot about you. I was
hoping we could hang out more often."
"Well, we still can," I offered. I liked
Taylor she was a nice girl.
"My butt's numb," Logan said randomly.

"Well get out," Oliver told him pulling up
in front of a huge warehouse. I gaped at it and
looked out the window at the other warehouses
around us. Everything was dark and silent other
than the low beating of the music vibrating from
the building before us.

"How many people are there going to be?" I
asked as I stepped out.

"A lot. Oliver is also recruiting newbies
since. Well, we lost a few boys," Jake finished
looking sad.

I nodded not saying anything.

We headed to a side door. Oliver pounded
on it. A slot slide open in three seconds flat the
door jerked open.

"Boss!" A tall boy exclaimed. He had thick
muscles and towered over Oliver but had to no
older than seventeen. Oliver nodded at him, “Hey
R.J.”

Wrapping his arm around my shoulder
Oliver pulled me into the building. Music vibrated
into my body down to my bones. I loved it. My
blood seemed to pump along with it. I wanted to
dance. It seemed like years since the last time I
had; of course, I couldn't remember the last time.

"You can go Leon. I'm grown I can take
care of myself," I heard Taylor say. Looking back
Leon looked conflicted. Logan had taken off to join
a group in the corner playing video games on a
huge TV. Leon glanced after him, clearly wanting
to go but not wanting to leave his baby sister.

"I'll watch her," Jake offered.

Leon turned giving Jake a look. "You mean
corrupt her into playing pranks on people," he
stated.

Jake gave an offended look. "Why Leon,
where ever would you get that idea?"
"What kind of pranks?" Taylor asked
looking amused.

Oliver looked over at Leon. "I'll watch her,"
he mouthed. Leon seemed satisfied with that and
took off.

"You’re not going to are you?" I asked
Oliver.

"Nah," he laughed. "Taylor is a big girl and
I trust Jake with my life. He'll take care of her but I
do worry about what trouble he'll get them into."

"So people won't get mad?" Taylor asked
raising her eyebrow at Jake. The two were
oblivious to everything that just took place.

"Nah, I shoot paint balls at everyone all the
time," Jake grinned wrapping his arm around her
shoulder. "You'll be learning from the master."

"What are you going to get into?" I
questioned Jake pursing my lips. I liked Taylor he
had better not get her into trouble.

"Ehh…
just paintballing some drunken
people from the balcony," Jake grinned throwing
his thumb over his shoulder. I looked up at the
balcony overhead.

"Don't get paint on my carpet," Oliver
warned.
"You're okay with this?" I asked looking up
at Oliver putting my hands on my hips.
Taylor laughed. "It's cool, Ever. I use to
prank people back home all the time."

Oliver leaned down to my ear. "Jake likes
her. He'll take care of her. Just let them have their
fun."

Sighing I nodded. "You better not get her in
trouble mister," I pointed at Jake.
"Yes, Mom," he cheekily said grabbing
Taylor's hand and taking off into the crowd.

Oliver wrapped his arm back around my
waist and ushered me forward. Blushing I was
highly aware of how warm his hand was on my
hip. The warehouse was packed with people.
Everyone we passed congratulated Oliver for
getting out of jail and to me getting out of the
hospital.

Many people were telling me how happy
they were and hoping I would get my memory
back. It seemed everyone knew about how
awkward things seemed to be between Oliver and
I. Even though we had barely spoken a few words
to each other I knew he wanted to talk but he
seemed to be giving me space. I liked that. He
wasn't being pushy about me remembering like
everyone else was.

I leaned into Oliver, even though I didn't
remember him and things were awkward I enjoyed
the feeling of being in his arms. We headed straight
to the bar. Tyler was there along with Jet.

"Hey there!" Jet grinned.
"Hey, where's Kimmy?" I asked. I knew the
answer before Jet spoke.
"Off with Alex somewhere. I don't even
want to know what those two are doing."
Jet scrunched up his face as did Tyler.

I had yet to really talk with Alex. I didn't
know much about him other than Kimmy was
madly in love with him. Which that was a huge
shocker in its self. Kimmy hadn't always been a
one-man kind of girl. Now she wasn't a slut. She
didn't give it to just anyone but she wasn't exactly
innocent either. So her being with one guy for a
long time was a shocker. Especially since she spent
every moment with either him or talking about
him.

"Jet, I want to get drunk. Can you help me
out?" I asked honestly.

Oliver leaned into me and laughed into my
hair. He always liked smelling me for some reason.
Even though it was weird, it was somewhat cute.
At least I smelt good to him.

Jet grabbed a bottle under the counter and
poured me five shots.
"Drink those to start out with and we'll go
from there."