Hidden Feelings

Jay

Long Beach, California 10:56PM

    "Ny?" I utter, holding the door open as I look at the short woman standing at my door step, dripping wet with rain. Her clothes are entirely sticking to her body, and her braids are wet to the core. She has about three boxes in her hands while the others are right by her feet beneath the small roof above the entrance. Nyla's got a look on her face that I hate to see. She's upset. guilty,  and uncertain all in one.

    "I'm sorry to come here unannounced." Nyla starts, her voice lowered from the noise of the pattering rain overcoming her. "But I.. I need a place to stay for a while..." 

    My expression turns to one of confusion. Last time I checked, she was in perfect condition in her own little apartment. Everything was going good, or at least that's the last I heard from her. We haven't been talking for the past 3 days because I've been caught up in preparing a car that's been totally wrecked. What the hell could've happened in 3 days alone?

    Without a thought of hesitation, I step aside and let her through. She's dripping all over the floor, her white shirt and black shorts highlighting all her fabulous curves. I can't help but wonder where else she must be dripping, but right now isn't the time.

    That's when my twin comes down the stairs, her hair fuzzled and her hoodie scrunched up. She must've been in the middle of sleeping. "What is all that damn noi-" Amber immediately stops due to her eyes falling on the appearance of Nyla.

    "Oh my God! Nyla, what the fuck?" Amber shouts in concern while rushing to Nyla's aid, her sleepiness evaporating. 

    Nyla sighs, a solemn one. "I got evicted.." She gets straight to the point, her voice laced with annoyance and aggravation.

    What the actual shit? Nyla doesn't get evicted, she couldn't even nail a hookup with someone as irresistible as me. How did she manage something like that? 

    "It's not like it's my fault. You guys know that.." She instantly defends herself, which I totally get. A good girl like her couldn't hurt a fly. Probably because she's too scared of bugs, but that's besides the point right now. 

    While Nyla explains to us what happened, and about the fucking bastard Ethan that's probably behind all of this, all three of us work to move the boxes around. Most of them are all light, probably clothes and shoes stacked in one. There aren't many, an obvious pang of knowledge that she doesn't like to keep unnecessary things. It's one of the things I admire about Nyla, she's always organized. Which is why I can't believe Ethan paid her landlord to evict her. How could he have known who Nyla was or where she lived?

    That's when it hits me. I'm the reason she got evicted. I'm the reason she lost her home. I'm the one who pissed Ethan off. Word got around that me and Nyla were together after Ethan bolted out like the bitch he is. The people in that party snitched on her. This is his way of getting back at me. He's attacking the things I love. Again. God damn, I hate myself.

    A guilt knaws in my chest. How could I have let this happen? How could I have let Nyla out into the cruelty of this world like that? I shouldn't have brought her out to that damn party. I shouldn't have let her become to familiar around these parts. I should've kept her away from this, from the rich bastards who do what they want and get what they want. Nyla is too innocent for that, and it's my fault I let it slip. It's always my fault. Everything that happens to people I love. It's all my fault.

    After we've set the boxes down in the house, Amber gives Nyla a towel to dry her deliciously wet body off. "I don't mean to bust in..." Nyla says genuinely, like she's upset she did such a thing.