Falling for a Cloud

Chapter 19

So we sit on the pool steps as Lia attempts to count the amount of tattoos scattered throughout my skin. 

This is a perfect time.  

THE perfect time to ask her the question that I've wanted to ask her since the second I met her at that meet and greet.

"L-lia?" I stutter.  Shit.  Girls like a confident man..... I think.

"Ya JC?" She's still mesmerized in the permanently inked skin.

"I was thinking that maybe, maybe sometime we could go get a slice of pizza sometime?" 

"JC, we eat together every single night.  But if you're asking me on a date,  I would love to go on a date with you JC." Lia pulls her eyes off the many tattoos and stares directly into my eyes, a smile covers her face as she nods in agreement to my date!

I feel my face blushing and becoming red as a tomato, so I quickly change the subject... Or do I?

"So  where would you want to go?" Great, so I didn't change the subject.  Perfect.

"Maybe mini golfing? I suck at it, but it seems pretty fun!" She's not nervous at all and now she has the unbeatable upperhand. 

I hate not feeling like I'm the one with the most confidence in the situation, or have the most power.   It sucks.

"Ya! That sounds great! Saturday okay?"

"JC, we live in the same house, or I practically live here now. I'm free all the time, you know that JC.  Sunday works though!" Lia fires back at me.  Dang she's the sassiest person I've met.

I roll my eyes and she leaves me? No words were said. None.  Did I say something? Lord almighty.  I wander inside of the house to find a towel, trailing water behind me.  I walk into the bathroom on the main floor, I don't bother to knock.  It's my flipping house anyway why should I?

I stop dead in my trail and my eyes narrow on the bastard in front of me.  

Samuel John Pottorff.

I thought I made it clear I didn't want him anywhere near me or Lia.  He looks up at me with a smug grin.

"Guess who's back Justin? Little Sammy." Sam teases as he steps towards me, he better remember how much bigger I am then him.  

"Who the hell let him in my house?" I yell behind me, not exposing my back to the untrustworthy asshole that stands in front of me.  

I face Sam and promise myself that if he moves one step closer to me, that I'll allow myself to beat the living shit out of him.  He seemed to be able to read my thoughts because he took a step back, trying to allow us space, but he just gave me room to intimidate him.

"What the hell are you doing here? Getting Lia back? Listen here you little shit it's not going to happen, so I suggest you just leave now and climb back down to the hell-hole you came from." I growl, shoving him a little ways back so I can step further into my damn bathroom, filled with the towels I paid for and all the little toiletries of Lia's that I would gladly pay for but she insists against it.  He has no right to be under my roof, inside my walls, inside my front door.  

"Now calm Jc, we're on the same side, remember?" What the fuck was he talking about?

"What?"

"You don't actually think she'll fall for you, do you?" He chuckles so low that I think chills ran down my spine.

"She will, she already has." I stand by my heart's greatest hope confidently, if I waver now, he'll drag me down for sure.  He may be smaller than me, and I could kick his ass in a second, but he's tricky with words. 

"Are you serious?" He's full out laughing at me now and blood is rushing to my face. "That's not love Jc, you gave her a place to live, and she's thankful.  She's not in love with you.  Why would you ever think that? She probably is just using you.." He trails off and my heart sinks.

"That's not true.  Shut the fuck up Sam!" I'm losing it.  He's driving me mad.  I can't punch him, Lia would kill me, but he's throwing punches that are giving me injury after injury.  He's causing me bruises without laying a finger on me.

"Jc! Jc what's the matter? Did you say Sa-" I hear Lia's voice stop right behind me.  

I feel her soft hands rest in the middle of my shoulder blades, somehow she relaxes me even when shes frantic.  My fingers intertwine with my hair and all I can think to do is pull my damn hair as hard as I can.  Of course she doesn't allow that, and she lets me know that I need to stop by moving her hand to mine and guiding it down.  I look down and her and realize how pissed off she is.  Her other fist clenched so hard that her palms are definitely going to be indented by her fingernails later.  Her face is stone cold.  Her face is flushed and hot.  Even her hair looks like it seeks revenge.  

"Samuel," Her voice is cold and shallow.

"Lia, I'm so glad I found you!" a smile grows on his face and how I long to make an indent right in the middle of his cheek right at this very second.

"Get out." I've never heard her so cold.

"what are you-"

"Get out now.  You know damn well the only reason you aren't laying on this floor covered in your own pathetic blood is because Jc knows I hate cleaning it up.  If you aren't out of here in five minutes, your unconscious bloodied body will have reservations made on this lovely tile and I'd be glad to clean it up after you regain consciousness and drag your sad ass out of here."  With every word her anger grows, and as I feed off her energy, so does mine.  

"Damn Lia, never thought you'd be such a bitch to someone you fell in love with." He looks directly at me.  Staring into my eyes, and that was it.  That was all I needed to have the audacity to kill the little boy in front of me.