The Roads To Paris

24

London gets in her face and as calmly as she possibly can says
“ Racism is so 19th century plantation owner.”
“ And seducing a rich heir so you can escape your miserable life and enter into the life of luxury is so harlequin cliche. Don't you think?” Maeve's mom retorts

“ The fact that you can't prove anything of what you're saying just goes to show how much of a busy body gossip you are.” Damien says

“And how would you know that I can't prove any of what I'm saying junkie?”

“ Uhn Uhn. Nope.” Damien says rubbing the bridge of his nose

“ I'm not playing any of your immature games with you. That technique just isn't going to work with me.” he adds

“ And I thought I told you not to speak again? You've been saying utter garbage since.” Jesse says

“ Well I just don't expect to be shown off by a bastard black girl and a drug addict in my own home so excuse me.”

“ I'm an ex-drug abuser; Correction. As in I no longer take any substances.” Damien corrects
“ Same thing.”

“ Well, technically, it's not really the same thing.” he corrects again

“ Once a substance abuser always a substance abuser. Your kind has the tendency to take back to old habits once the going gets tough.”

“ Look.........Miss.........I'd hate to get on your own level here but I guess that's the only way you're going to understand me....... I'd rather be an ex junkie than.......whatever it is you're trying to be.”

“ It's so rude to use people's past mistakes or their history against them in an argument. And it's  also very immature. Whatever your issue with Maeve is that's not enough to go off on Damien and London like that.” I scold

“ Wait. You're new. And who might you be?” Maeve's mom says in response

I see Jesse visibly tense.
I guess I'm not the only one who notices it because Maeve's mom smiles at Jesse

“ I see the son of Mark Holden has gotten himself a new arm candy.”
All the veins in Damien's neck pop as he says
“ If you say one offensive thing about Paris!”

“ Don't worry dude, I got this.” Jesse says

“ She's my friend too. I don't want her to be a victim of some bitter old lady's transfer of aggression.”
They have a mini stare down before Jesse concedes and turns to face Maeve's mom.

Well that was awkward.

“ Are you done with your attacks or do you have something else to say?” he asks

“ I wouldn't want to waste my time with a bunch of high schoolers. My one concern is that I can't be able to tolerate living in the same house as that bitch any longer.”

“ That's fine. You don't have to live in the same house with Maeve anymore. Heaven, can you take Maeve and that duffel bag over to your place please?” Jesse says
Heaven who is still holding on to a sobbing Maeve nods her head and holds Maeve's hand, leading her out the door.
Benny picks up the duffel bag and turns to her
“ I'll go with. See if I can get her to stop crying.”
Benny who is so full of life and humor looks defeated.

It must be shit to see someone you love so much suffering and not being able to do anything about it.
I love Maeve, and she's my friend and everything but their friendship has history and he knows her a lot more than I do. On top of that, this is the second person he loves that he isn't able to do anything to help them when they need it the most.

The three of them leave and I can hear the sound of tires screeching outside.
Everywhere is deadly silent inside and I can literally hear the sound of the window as it passes by me.

“ That bitch! She ruined everything! And now she has the audacity to leave! After ruining my life! Ungrateful bitch!” Maeve's mom yells dragging at her hair violently

She pushes a vase down and I flinch.

“ I think you girls should go upstairs and be with Ivy.” Damien whispers to I and London

“ I and Paris are going to step outside for a second. London could you help Ivy and get the rest of Maeve's stuff. She'll be staying with Heaven and Paris for now until we can figure out her living arrangement.” Jesse says

Maeve's mom is still breaking stuff and yelling about how much of an ungrateful bitch Maeve is when she suddenly thrusts her arms in my direction.
Jesse moves me out of the way in time for her to grab the door knob instead of me.

“ Come back here you bitch!”she yells

I'm not sure whether she's referring to I or Maeve because, while it sounds like she's referring to me, it looks like, she's making to run after Maeve.
She's holding onto the door knob tightly and yelling wildly like a mad woman
Damien grabs her and rips her from the door, holding her down, to avoid her coming after me again.
Jesse opens the door for me and I step out of the toxic environment of the house. He follows behind and we sit down on the steps.
“ Poor Benny. I really feel bad for him.” Jesse says when we're settled down

“ I know right. He looked really shook.”
Benny honestly looked like the hardest hit among all Maeve's friends

“ Do you think it's possible that maybe Benny likes Maeve?” I ask after thinking it through

“ Oh he does.” Jesse replies

“ Seriously?” I asked shocked
I suspected it, but I didn't think I would be right.

“ Yeah. She probably likes him back, although I'm not so sure.”

“ So are they..........y'know?” I ask, hoping he does know.
If they are then I must really be oblivious

“ A couple?” he asks laughing
“ No. No way. We don't really date within our circle.”

“ But why?” I didn't know they had rules

“ Too much complications.” he replies simply

“ Wait. Is that why they didn't have a problem with us.......y'know, because I'm not part of the group?” I ask shocked
I thought by now I'd be part of the group seeing as they told me all their histories and shit but I guess not, since their rules don't apply to me.

“ No! Christ! Paris! You don't have to read meanings to everything. It's not like it's some golden rule, we just have an unspoken agreement not to do anything that will complicate things between us. And that includes getting into relationships. Relationships can be very messy.”

I stay silent and let it sink in. I'm about to break into a smile, because I'm happy that I'm probably part of the group but then Jesse adds

“ Besides, its not like we were dating, it was just a kiss but we cool now.”

Ouch.
Well that was painful. Was there not a nicer way to say that?

“ Oh.”

“ It's not like that! I just mean like......I don't mean it's not nice to date you, it's just that we're better as friends, the kiss was nice I'm not trying to.........gahhhh, what am I saying? I just........” he says when he catches the tone of my voice

“ Relax. I understand what you meant.” I say giggling
He joins in laughing nervously
Just then we hear the sound of gravel crunching in the driveway and we turn our attention in the direction of the sound.

Heaven pulls up next to Jesse's ford and comes down looking beat.
“ She's at home. Benny's trying to put her to sleep.” she announces when she gets to where we are standing

“ Oh.” I say for the millionth time today, after which we all pick at our nails nervously and stare at anywhere but each other.

“ Should we go in and get the rest of her stuff?” Heaven asks after a while

“Yeah. ” I and Jesse say simultaneously