ÈGOÏSTE |18+ [English Version]

Chapter 18. "Feelings."

You can close your eyes to things you don't want to see, but you can't close your heart to things you don't want to feel.

Chester Bennington

On behalf of Edmund:

I went down to the bar and poured myself a whiskey, went out on the veranda and stared at the beautiful moon, it was as mysterious as Joanna. The only thing I could think of was Joanna and her words of love for me. The thing was, after our meeting with Jo on the stairs, I went up to Stacy's bedroom where we continued what we started, we were making out with her as the girl got up and went to get a drink of water and heard a noise from Joanna's room. She reported it to me and I came in and saw the girl who was in a cold sweat and she was delirious, I asked Stacy to go get some cold water and I sat down next to her and ran my hand down her cheek, all she was doing was saying my name. I didn't want Stacy to hear this so as soon as she got to her room I took a glass of ice water from her and asked her to get a towel, she left again, I went to Joanna and poured the water on her, she opened her eyes abruptly and I not to mess up, and not to say how pleased I was to hear her say that about me, I just teased her again...

I knew it hurt her, I knew it displeased her, but I couldn't give in to it, because if I did, Joanna doesn't know what awaits her in my arms and to avoid giving in to those feelings of seduction and temptation, I had to play along...

- She wants to go home... - Stacy came up to me and put her arms around my back and hugged me.

- To her father who kicked her out? - I didn't understand Joanna's behavior.

- Ed, it's her right, she wants to and I can't refuse her. I'll take her.

- Don't," I looked at the girl, "be at home, I'll do it for you.

- Are you sure?

- I think I should apologize to her for today's conflict. - I smiled quickly and headed to the exit, -Gather her, I'll wait in the car...

I got out and took a deep breath and got in the car and waited, about fifteen minutes passed and just as I was about to get out and find out what was going on there Joanna came out. She walked like she was in a fog, I knew how uncomfortable she would be around me, but I needed to talk to her... she got in the car and I gave the gas and drove out of Stacy's house.

Fifteen minutes earlier...

On Joanna's behalf:

I just realized what had happened. It was like I was a kid who didn't get candy and everyone was laughing at me... Edmund heard everything... I wanted to cry and scream at the same time, to bang my head against the wall or just disappear, but reality brought me back when Stacy walked into the room.

- Ed, he'll take you. - She sat down next to me.

- No!" I looked at her, "Please, you take me.

- Joe," she tucked my strand behind my ear, "Edmund's a good man and he won't hurt you...

- I understand, but I don't want him to take me home, Stacy, please. - I almost cried.

- He wants to apologize... - she said.

- For what?

- For your conflict in the office, please, Joe. I'm always here for you, but you have to talk, I don't want there to be a gap between you... - She hugged me.

- Thank you for everything. - I said and we headed for the exit. I don't know how this trip will end, but I believe everything will be alright...  I stepped out of the house and saw a black car standing in front of me, Mr. Wright "blinked" the lights a few times to let me know where I was going... he switched cars...

I got in the car and we drove off... there was silence at first, but then I spoke up,

- Did you change cars? - I looked in his direction, his profile was beautiful, he was so confident...

- Yes, I decided to change my taste and leave the Mercedes and get a more reliable car, the Camry 3.5.

- You have good taste... - I said and turned away.

- I wanted to apologize, Joanna. - He kept staring straight ahead.

- For what? It's not your fault I'm so stupid...

- Stop talking about yourself like that. - He stopped abruptly at the curb and took my hand, our eyes met," I'm sorry I yelled at you, I wasn't myself, I'm sorry...

- It's you who forgive me, I behaved unkindly...

- It's okay, I like girls with character," he winked, "and I'm sorry about what you saw, hmm, hmm. - He said and there was a big smile on his face.

- I'm so ashamed," I covered my face with my hands, "I don't know why I was standing there looking, please forgive me. - I looked at him through my fingers, to which he pulled my hands away and kissed me gently on the cheek.

- If you keep this up, I'm going to have to "eat" you. - He smiled and we drove off again. I turned away and just smiled like a fool...

- Can you pull over to the curb? - I asked him when I saw my neighborhood, "I'll go further on my own. - I added.

- I did not ask you ... - I said calmly, how does he manage to change his mood so quickly?

- Why? I don't want my parents to see us... - I hesitated on the last word.

- They won't... - He answered shortly

- You are speaking in riddles and I don't like it...

- I'll take you to my friend's hotel, - he started to turn off to the other side of the road.

- What for?

- I don't want you in this condition to go to your house, where you have an insane father with only money on his mind.

- But, my phone is dead, how am I going to let my mother know?

- Here," he took his cell phone out of his pocket and handed it to me, "text her that you're spending the night at your friend's house.

- Thank you," I replied, and started thinking about what to text my mom, since she wouldn't believe that I was staying at my friend's house, because I didn't have one. I typed in a quick text like, "I'm staying at Henry's," then we stopped abruptly as Mr. Wright got cut off.

- What people! - A man I didn't know opened the front window," I see you're not wasting any time, Edie... - he smiled a broad smile, like a Cheshire cat.

- Tony, what the hell are you doing here? - Edmund smiled back at him.

- I came to see you, aren't you glad I'm here?

- How could I not be happy to see my brother? - They went on talking through the window, and I just realized that Mr. Wright had called the man a brother...

From the author:

Hi all, what do you think of the chapter? What do you think of everything that's going on? And what do you think of the ending?

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