Age Of Innocence (AOI) [Sequel To IR]

Chapter 72 } Troubled

I feel like no one is actually reading this book
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Part 2:
Ala's POV

I woke to the sound of rustling and movement. I opened my eyes and saw Cameron putting on his shoes.
"Hey, sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." He said.
"It's okay." I didn't know where he was going, but I didn't want him to leave.
"I uh, I have a bunch of meetings." He said answering my internal question.
"Oh." He crouched down next to the bed, I was laying on my side facing him.
"I don't want to leave." He whispered.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because when I walk out of that door." He started, motioning to the bedroom door. "I'll never be able to do this, again." He whispered pulling me closer and kissing me.
"Then don't leave." I whispered back. I connected my lips with his again. And it wasn't just one kiss. I loved having him here with me. I didn't want it to end. But I knew this was wrong. I knew this was beyond wrong. We both loved each other. But there was someone else in both of our lives that we loved more. It was just wrong. He disconnected, hesitantly.
"I have to go." He said. I nodded. He leant down, and pecked my lips once more before kissing my forehead. Before he left he just looked at me. He let out a big sigh then closed the door. It was over. The no strings attached rule sucked. I got up and took a shower soaking in all my pity. Truly it didn't help, our little scandal made me feel no better, if anything...worse. I had no idea how to fill this void. I had no idea how to make it stop.

Matthew's POV
"Matthew. Wake up." Bailey whispered I opened my eyes. She sat there with my head in her lap.
"Good morning." I said.
"Hi." She smiled. "Do you want breakfast?" She asked.
"Um, I'm good. I should get home, Carter's probably worried." I answered putting my shoes on.
"Oh yeah. Well text me if you need anything." I smiled at her and left. I couldn't go back yet. I felt too empty, I felt too upset. I had to boost my spirits somehow. And I knew how, the only way. And I knew exactly where to go to get what I needed.
I walked into the bar. It was open twenty four seven, so all the girls here had massive hangovers or they were still completely drunk. It was so perfect.
"Hey Matt. What can I get for ya?" Isn't it sad when you become a regular. Especially when you're under aged, like really under aged.
"I'll stick with the usual. Who's the easiest, I don't feel like flirting very much."
"Jessica over there, she tried everything at the bar last night, except this. Bring it to her." The bartender said sliding my drink along with Jessica's across the bar. I took them and walked over to her. She looked at me.
"Hi, Jessica. This is for you." I winked sitting next to her.
"How do you know my name?" She asked and scooted away from me.
"I asked about you. You are so gorgeous." I said scooting closer to her. I pushed a piece of her hair behind her ear, causing her to blush.
"So what's your name?" She asked placing her hand on my thigh, wow this was going quicker than expected.
"Matt." I replied.
"Well hello Matt. What brings a minor like you here, illegally."
"How did you know I was under aged?"
"No offense, but you don't look anywhere near twenty one." She laughed. "So how old are you?"
"How ever old you want me to be." I flirted.
"Smooth. I would say you're...sixteen?"
"Seventeen." She laughed a little.
"I'm sorry, but I don't let kids in my pants." She smiled.
"Oh baby, I'm no kid." I whispered. "The age, does not define the man I can be for you." I got even closer.
"Kid, get out of here. I'm not what you want."
"You're right. You're what I need."
"Are you trying to sweet talk me? Because I can assure you." She started moving closer practically sitting on me. Then took a deep breath. "It's working." She finished whispering.
"Then let's get out of here together. You and me baby."
"Alright." She chugged the rest of her drink and pulled me up, finally. We walked out of the door. Turns out her apartment is just around the corner, literally. As soon as the door shut we started making out. It got heated quickly. At the point when I was shirtless and she was about to be pant-less, the bedroom door swung open. Well shit.
"What the fuck Jessica?" The man said. I stood up, my necklaces making sound as I did so, awkward. "Who the fuck are you?" The guy said pushing me.
"My name is Matt, I was just leaving." I said trying to grab my shirt.
"Oh, no. Not without a goodbye present." He said pushing me against the wall.
"Look bro, I don't want any trouble."
"You should of thought about that before you decided to screw my girlfriend."
"I had no idea. I swear." I said.
"Yeah right. How old even are you?"
"Seventeen."
"Really Jessica, you were gonna screw a kid? I knew you were a slut but this is a new low even for you." He spat.
"Hey!" I said more forceful. "You shouldn't talk to your girlfriend like that. Show some respect." I knew what happened when you didn't treat a girl the way she deserved to be treated, that's how I lost the love of my life.
"Oh yeah, what are you going to do about it?"
"Dude. Just let me go, I promise you'll never see me again."
"I'm sorry. But I can't do that." He said stepping closer. He collided his fist into my stomach. He didn't stop there. It was one punch after the other repeatedly. Spike, it's time to come out now. Luckily I had been getting good at controlling Spike. The guy was about to punch my face, again, when I grabbed his fist in my hand and turned it. He pulled it away, shaking it out. "Oh look, the little boy can fight."
"You have no idea." I said intimidated by this guy. I still made sure I kept up my tough act.
"Kain you got your fun. Just let him go." Jessica pleaded. He clenched his fist and punched the wall next to my face.
"I better not see your face again. Or you will look like this." He said taking his fist out of the now broken and dented wall.
"Don't worry." I muttered and grabbed my shirt walking out. I walked out of the building and bumped into Carter. I still didn't have my shirt on yet, so I knew I was in trouble. He looked me up and down with his mouth hung open. "Sup." I said awkwardly.
"Sup? Your nose is bleeding, you're shirtless, and you're bruising as we speak. Don't sup me." He scolded.
"I'm sorry bro. I just got involved with some dumb slut who had a boyfriend." Did I really just say that? He shook his head disapprovingly.
"Who are you?" He asked.
"Carter, I'm Matthew. As in Espinosa? Are you drunk or something?" I laughed.
"Are you drunk or something you dumbass. I asked who you were because I don't know you anymore. I have no idea who the hell this jackass is standing in front of me. But I'm sure as hell this is not Matthew Espinosa. Matthew Espinosa would never call a girl a dumb slut. And he wouldn't sleep around with a bunch of girls either."
"Oh come on Carter, it's just some innocent fun. Don't be such a Debby downer." I laughed.
"I'm gonna be whatever I want. But as long as you refer to what you're doing as innocent fun and you think all of this is okay. As long as you are a jackass and treat girls like garbage then I'm done taking care of you. Go fuck yourself for all I care." He said turning away to leave.
"Whatever suit yourself. I don't need you anyway. I could get whoever and whatever I wanted." I said.
"You know what. Let's go." He said between his clenched jaw. He came over and dragged me to his car.
"Where the hell are you kidnapping me to."
"I'm taking you to Ala's. If anyone can talk, or maybe slap some sense into you, it's her." I tensed up and immediately sobered right there and then.
"No. I'm fine. I'm perfectly fine. I promise. Everything I did was wrong. Just take me home." I pleaded.
"No, we're going to Ala's." I knew I wouldn't win this. So I sat back in my seat. I didn't want to see her, the girl who broke me. I didn't think it was possible to hurt more than Dylan hurt me. And then Ala Dausonn broke my heart. And Dylan seemed so pathetic. The heartbreak from Dylan seemed like a dumb breakup. Compared to how I felt now and then, I was devastated then, now I'm lost. Im just lost. I don't even know how to feel. I don't know what to feel. "Get out." Carter instructed madly as we pulled into the parking lot.
"Seriously Carter, don't make me do this." I tried one more time. But he grabbed my shirt collar and dragged me up the five flights of stairs. She didn't answer after a couple knocks. But she was home. I knew she was. Carter took the key to her loft out of his wallet and opened the door.
"Ala!" He yelled.
"I'll be down there in a second." She yelled back. A couple silent minutes later of anticipating her reaction she showed up at the top of the stairs. All the times I had stood down here and watched her beautifully and elegantly grace her way down the metal staircase, she was happy to see me. This time, it was the opposite. And that broke my heart, although I wasn't sure my heart was able to be broken even more. "What's up?" She asked.
"Can I talk to you for a second?" Carter asked her.
"Yeah." She said. They went towards her little film area. I was contemplating on whether or not I would be able to escape in this time. But I didn't want to truthfully. Who knows what could happen in this time. I could get her back. But that's a long shot. She doesn't love me anymore. She doesn't love me anymore. I closed my eyes, for the first time since that night, I had finally accepted the cold hard truth. She didn't love me. I hated it so much. I loved her still, I shouldn't, I should be mad. I should hate her like I hate Dylan for breaking my heart. But I can't bring myself to be mad at her. And she didn't do anything cruel like Dylan, she just wanted to be happy.
"Matthew?" I heard her soft voice say my name, and I treasured it.
"Hi." I said knowing I was in trouble.
"Why are you doing this to yourself? Why are you doing this to other people?" She asked.
"I hurt so much. I can't live with this much pain, it's not possible."
"I'm just some girl Matthew. You could find someone so much better. But screwing random girls isn't the way. You're going to get yourself hurt." She sat next to me.
"I'd rather have that kind of hurt than the one you made me feel." She placed her hand on my back. I closed my eyes. She was killing me, this made it hurt more. She was touching me and making me feel better. But I would never have her again. Her soothing touch on my back made me feel better, because the illusion of it was: I maybe had a chance. Maybe. I had to scoot away from her. I couldn't contain how I felt. Who knew what I would do, I probably would've kissed her. I really wanted to. I wanted to just kiss her and have everything go back to normal. Go back to her loving me again. But reality told me no. The reality was no. I would never have her again. I lost her.
Forever.
And.
Always.