My Darkest Love

Chapter 42

We left the house around 5:45, just the two of us in his vehicle. I was still hesitant about being in a car after my wreck. My arm had a couple more weeks left in a cast but it still felt like yesterday. Malachi rested his hand on my thigh and butterflies filled my stomach. I smiled and looked at the window at my surroundings. The rain poured on the windshield as it fell from the sky. It was perfect weather in my opinion. I loved rain and the aroma after. It was like a breath of fresh air. My eyes darted left to right as we passed old town buildings in the square. Soon we reached our destination and the place was slammed. I fell back in my seat practically trying to go inside it at this point. My face going pale and my mouth dry. I hated crowded places and more immediately people who hung around places like this. Most of them were old drunk bastards that made snarky comments about your clothes or how you speak. I couldn't imagine what they would say if I walked next to Malachi holding his hand.

"Hey you alright?" Malachi parked the car and turned it off, putting the keys in his hoodie. "Oh uh..yeah. Just nervous."

"Nothing to worry about Luca. Just stick with me and you'll be fine." He kissed my cheek and opened the door, opening the umbrella before coming to my side of the car. I took a deep breath and opened my side, hovering under the umbrella as it was just slightly too tall. The rain misted in my face and it felt like heaven. "Malachi, Are you sure you want me to stick around you." I asked.

He tilted his head unsure of what to say at first but pulled me closer to him. "I care about you Luca."

"Me too." We walked inside and the musky feet and cigarette smell lingered in the air, almost punching your nose. I could see children playing in the arcade, showing off their prizes to their friends or parents. The bar was closed off to us. The pool tables were packed full of adults who had nothing better to do in their free time than to huddle about knocking balls into holes. Frankly I wouldn't mind playing. I know, I am weird like that. Michelle screamed from across the building, making everyone's head turn and grimace. I lowered my head and kept close to Malachi until the whole entire football team shouted out to us. "I thought she said it was a small gathering?"

Malachi ignored me and yelled back with excitement. I chewed my bottom lip, panicking a little inside. I took a seat at a half empty booth and watched as they all chatted. Michelle slid in next to me and giggled. "So you and Malachi huh?"

"Um...yeah." I muttered quietly. She shoulder bumped me and gave me a thumbs up. "My cousin always picked the cutest. You two are perfect together."

My heart fluttered in delight. "Thank you. I just wish others were open to the idea of boys being gay."

"Oh babe, not everyone is accepting and you just gotta respect that. It sucks, I know but in the long run, surround yourself with good minded people. I'm here for you though." She spoke.

I smiled at her as Malachi was chatting up a storm. I kinda zoned out but quickly snapped back to reality when a beach blonde perfectly hot girl came running up, jumping into Malachi's arms. I gripped the booth seat in frustration and hoped Malachi would back her off. Nope.

Malachi smiled and hugged her back before setting her down. "Oh Hun, I wondered where you have gone? I heard you came back to town."

"Yeah, staying with Aunt Julia for the school term. I graduate this year, looking for colleges soon." Malachi said.

"Oh you'll get into Harvard or Yale at this rate. I missed you. We need to have a date."  She said.

I perked up and wanted to step between them but with everyone watching, I stayed out and suffered. Malachi glanced at me and I gave him the saddest puppy eyes. He winked at me and accepted her offer. I immediately froze and let go of the booth. My hands are red and hot. I slid out of the booth and stormed off the bathroom in a fury. Once I escaped, my breathing picked up and I punched the stall door. "Fuck!"

My eyes stung with tears as I fell back and sat in the corner like a total loser.

Minutes pass and Malachi walks in with a concerned look to him. He knelt beside me and placed an arm around my shoulder. "I've been looking for you."

"Sorry.."

"Luca, what's wrong?"

"You...told that girl you'd go on a date with her."

Malachi chuckled and kissed the top of my head. "You are silly, she meant just a date to catch up. She is an old friend and nothing more."

"Why did she jump in your arms like that then?" I told him,  a bit infuriated. He sighed and flicked my forehead playfully. "Luca I love you and that will never change."

"Don't say promises unless you plan to keep them." I shoved him out of the way and left the bathroom. I walked back to the booth where the girls and some guys noticed me and called out. "Hey look who it is! That gay kid from school!"

I stopped in my tracks and clenched my fists. "Shut up." I said.

A few football players chuckled loudly and started to throw food at me. "Nobody wants you here!"

Michelle strides back to the table and her face immediately sinks. She saw the mess I was in and shouted. "Leave him the hell alone!"

"Why should we?" Someone said.

"He is my friend and who cares if he likes boys. He is human and allowed to be who he wants."
Michelle knew the right words to make anyone happy. She was truly an ally to the community. But disappointment filled the air when Malachi walked up behind me with a distaste in his eyes. He picked me up and carried me out the door. I punched him in the arm to let me go but he refused to lighten up. Once we were outside, he set me down and that's when his anger was let loose. Malachi paced back and forth before speaking.

"Why don't you trust me?!"

I flinched at his voice and felt like shriveling up. "I...I...I do."

"Obviously you don't. How can I be with someone who thinks I'm just gonna cheat every five seconds. I told you, she meant nothing to me."

"I just...it's hard for me to trust after our past."

"Why come crawling back to me then?"

"Excuse me?" A punch of his words hit my heart.

"You heard me." He said. Standing firm and overpowering me.

"Fuck you Malachi." I tried to leave but he pinned me against the wall after shoving me into it. "You don't just get to storm off like a baby."

"Why?! Because I owe you an explanation?"

"I let you stay with me and have tried to prove myself to you when you came running to my house that day." Malachi lifted my chin with his finger and got dangerously close.

"Malachi...I..I want to trust you. But it's hard."

Malachi dropped my chin and backed up. You could see the pain behind his eyes as he walked away and back inside. He left me there to recollect my thoughts.

I slid down the wall and brought my knees to my chest. My sobs echo through the air.