bad timing

nineteen

      

          "Enough, Robbie!" I scream, balling my fists as my face turns red with anger. "You know it's true!" He yells back, his brown hair messy atop his head as his brown eyes turn dark with hatred. "It's not my fault being here sucks." I clench my jaw, trying to refrain from hitting him. "You know how many people would kill to have your life? Living in New York City, for free, might I add, with the job they've always wanted? You are so unbelievably ungrateful, Alexandra." He shakes his head, and I blink back tears. "It cost me everything to be here. To have this life. I gave up everything, and I hate it here." I exclaim, but I knew he didn't care.

"If you hate it here so much, then get the fuck out of my house. I'm so sick of you being so dramatic all the time." He screams, getting in my face. "I don't have anywhere to go." I say quietly, trying to maintain my composure. "I don't fucking care. I want you gone by the morning. I'm not dealing with all this complaining anymore." He says, and without another word, he walks into his room and slams the door like a child. The door slammed so hard, two picture frames came crashing down from the wall.

I looked at the ground, trying to see what the pictures had been, but it took me a moment to see through the shattered glass. I made out four of the faces in the picture, and couldn't help but frown. Me, Robbie, and our parents. Probably the last time we were together as a happy family, before Robbie's addiction took over and my parents started hating me. We were in the Detroit Zoo about 8 years ago, posing in front of the polar bears. For some reason, the picture made me even angrier. I rushed to my room and began packing my things.

As I finished getting the last of my things into my car, I dialed Jake's number and called him as I got into the drivers seat and started the engine. "What's up?" He asks, his voice sounding like I had clearly woken him up. "Sorry if I woke you, I just... My brother kicked me out. Is there any chance I can stay with you for a few days?"

—

On the ride there, all I could do was think. It was about an eleven hour drive, so I had a while to think things over. I knew I needed to get over Sam. He clearly didn't want me anymore, and we both knew I wasn't good enough for him. I told my phone to text Jake and tell him I was about 10 minutes out. I did feel bad about bothering him, I knew he would never say no if he knew I needed help.

He had always been there for me whenever I needed him. Always. And what had Sam done besides break my heart over and over? I wished it had been Jake I had fallen for. Things would have been so much easier. I pulled into his driveway, not even getting my things before rushing into his house.

I pushed my way into Jake's room, closing the door behind me. "I'm about to do something stupid, so if you don't want me to, tell me to get out." I say quickly. He looks up from his phone, raising an eyebrow at me. "Well, I suppose that depends on what you're going to do." He locks his phone and sets it beside him. "Great, you took too long." I mumble, walking up to him and taking his face in my hands. I leaned in and kissed him, furrowing my eyebrows as he immediately kissed me back. I climbed onto his bed, straddling his lap as he deepened the kiss.

His hands moved to my waist, pushing my shirt up a bit so his fingers rested on my skin. I sighed softly into his mouth, running one of my hands into his hair. I hated that I wanted him so bad. "This can't become a thing." I mumble against his lips before kissing him again. He only grins, "You started it." He whispers, and I groan. "This is so bad. We both know that." I say in between kisses, and he pulls away a little, "I know. But it feels so good." His voice was low as he spoke, sending a swarm of butterflies through my stomach. "If Sam ever finds out about this..." I mumble, and Jake sighs. "Lex, remember what he did to you. He deserves a little payback." He shrugs.