Ex Best Friends with the Bad Boy

3 - The Ex

Willow's POV

I pull up to the book shop with 5 minutes to spare, I take a breath and smile to myself. At least something was going good for me today. Seeing Oliver's family just reminded me how much I had lost. I sigh and get out of the car, putting my name badge on and walking in. I put a fake smile on my face that was reserved for customers, I couldn't wait for my fight tonight. I had so much anger and tension built up inside me, begging for release. I just had to make it through the next hour and a half. I sigh and start putting books of the shelves, it was usually quite so I would go around and put all the books back where they're supposed to be. It became my routine and I rather enjoyed it. I may only be playing the nerd but I really did love books and English. Reading and writing stories had become my only escape from the new life I live. My quite thoughts are rudely stopped by the sound of the door opening. I held back a groan and put a smile on my face. 

"Hello, how may I -" I stop myself once I've turned around and looked at the new person in the shop. My breath catches in my throat and bile rises. I push it down and take a few small steps away from him. "How may I help you James?" I ask, his name made me want to puke but I pushed away that feeling. He was yet another person I wanted to escape from but couldn't.

"I was just driving past and saw you here. I thought you could use some company." James smiled his seemingly innocent smile that really held a sinister meaning behind it. 

"No James I'm fine." I say, stumbling over a few words, both my eyes twitching and I scratch at my hands. I force myself to stop and continue stacking the books. 

"Well then I'd like a book." James smirks, this would seem innocent to anyone else but it sent chills down my spine. 

"What book?" I ask, my eyes were twitching faster and my hands begged to itch my itchy skin. I take a deep breath and stop myself. While James pretends to think I message my boss, no not the boss of the book shop the boss of my all of my fighting matches. Carl tended not to go to many of the fights unless he had to, he tended to go to most of mine but since it wasn't happening for another hour and a half he should be at his apartment which was only 20 minutes away. Carl had always told me to text him if I was ever in trouble, he knew that being in my line of work could be dangerous and he also knew about my past. He had sort of become like my uncle, he was the only real parental figure I still had in my life. Since my dad died and my mother became an alcoholic and Oliver cut me out of his life therefore his parents weren't an option Carl was always there for me. It was sweet of him. I feel a buzz in my pocket, and assume it's him but I now have James' attention again so decide against checking it. 

"What do you suggest?" James asks taking two large steps towards me. I take two steps back, I was used to fighting people bigger then me so I would usually be able to fight back and win. But with James he brought back so many berried emotions, fears and insecurities that I knew I wouldn't be able to. 

"Well - I - Maybe..." I'm cut off by the sound of the door opening. Immediately my tense shoulders relaxed when Carl's tattooed body, long hair and pierced face comes into view. To anyone that passed him he looked rather scary but to me he was a huge teddy bear. 

"Hello Willow, who's your friend?" Carl asked, taking long strides to stand slightly in front of me acting as a shield between me and James. 

"I'm her boyfriend." James sneered. I bit my lip swallowing a whimper that threatened to escape my lips. 

"My ex boyfriend." I correct. James shakes his head. 

"For now." James smirks, again this would seem innocent and almost sweet to anyone else. 

"No James, you cheated on me. Multiple times. We are done." I sigh, this wasn't the first time this happened and I could be certain it wouldn't be the last. He would show up to remind me of that night, the night everything I had left was lost.