Against All Odds

Chapter 22

Lucas

It's getting dark when Alfie James turns up at my house, flustered and clearly unhappy. To start with I assume he's knocked on the wrong door but strangely he insists on talking to me. We go to my room and he paces up and down, curtain shut might I add. It takes a while but eventually Eve's best mate opens up to me.

"I don't know what to do man." He stresses, wringing his hands together, eyes desperate. "I think I love her...no scratch that. I am in love with her."

I frown, unsure what he's talking about. Why can't he talk to his best friend about his girl issues?

"Who?" I ask, while lying down on my bed, stifling a yawn.

"Eve." He breaths and I suddenly open my eyes wide, my heart slams against my chest in surprise.

"Oh." Is all I manage to say. That explains why he can't speak to her about this.

"Exactly!" Alfie looks really upset and I'm unsure how to deal with the situation. I don't know the guy too well. "I don't know what to do. For years she's been my best mate. My sister from another mister. But recently I've developed these...feelings."

I open my mouth to reply but cut myself short, thinking this over in my mind.

Alfie and Eve. That makes sense. They've been close for so long they probably know each other better than they know themselves. A relationship between those two just makes sense. So why does his revelation make me so angry?

"Say something, please. I'm going mad here." Alfie complains, sitting himself down on the edge of my bed. Glaring at my peeling ceiling I try to disperse my irrational anger.

"Are you sure you're actually in love with her?" I question, eyes flickering towards the closed curtains, knowing Eve is probably behind her own curtains, raving around her room without a care in the world. Or maybe reading a book with that adorable concentrating face of hers.

"Yeah, otherwise I wouldn't have told you." Alfie runs a hand through his hair, groaning slightly. "My heart flutters whenever she's around. She makes me smile even when I'm in the shittest of moods. Oh god, I sound like a love struck teenager."

"That's because you are." I point out, lips curled in amusement.

"Dude, Harvey said you'd help!" He raises his voice and I flinch ever so slightly.

"Ok calm down. Just tell her." I suggest, unsurprised when he shakes his head. "Why not?"

"I-I just can't." He sighs in frustration. "What if it ruins our friendship?"

Rolling my eyes I sit up, cross legged and glare at him with a deadpanned stare.

"Eve loves you." I state and his eyes widen in hope. "Whether it's as a brother or a boyfriend I don't know. But I know she loves you and she never wants to lose you."

"What if she loves me as a brother?" He bits his nails in worry.

"Then you know where you stand which will make it easier to move on and you'll still have her friendship." I explain as though stating the obvious.

Alfie nods slowly, a smile growing on his face.

"Thanks man, you did help." He smiles a genuine smile which I return, if a little forced. For some reason my already messed up ribs are being given a severe beating by my angrily thumping heart. "I'll see you round."

Alfie stands, thanks me and then leaves me alone in my room, trying to understand why I am not happy for them. He's a good guy and clearly loved her.

After trying to calm my anger for a few minutes, I open my curtains and peep into Eve's room. What I see is unexpected and makes my fists clench in utter loathing.

Mike stands near my neighbour, his hands on her cheek. I watch, shaking angrily as they lean closer and I swear they are about to kiss, but then Eve pushes him away sharply. At that moment I notice the fear evident in her eyes. I'm stuck on the spot as I see Eve's ex grab her wrist harshly.

And then, I lose it.

My shaking hands yank my window open and I snake my way over the plank of wood I put there when she'd been locked in her own room by her darn boyfriend (now ex). Thankfully her window is open and I slip in, still unnoticed by Mike, who personally I prefer to call Fucktard.

The sight of Fucktard trying to dominate Eve pisses me off and my hand yanks his shoulder backwards suddenly. He yelps out, turning quickly and lashing his fist out. I stumble back, holding my nose which Mike had just punched extremely hard.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Fucktard yells, getting all in my face.

"Mike stop..." Eve steps forward but her ex boyfriend cuts her off by yanking her towards him and planting his lips on hers. She squirms in complete discomfort and I'm about to floor Fucktard when Eve slams her knee upwards, hitting her ex hard where the sun don't shine. "Never lay a fucking finger on me ever again!"

Eve is angry. Very angry. I see it in her eyes, I recognise her feelings. She wants to hurt Fucktard more than she already has. Mike's groaning in pain, stumbling away from her. Eve advances, a murderous look in her eyes.

"I hate you Michael Beech! Why the fuck did I ever fall for such a dick? I should have known you'd treat me like shit!" I step forward and place a hand on her shoulder which seems to calm her slightly. "You pushed me into having sex, you pushed me into going to parties I never wanted to go to. You were a twat to my friends behind my back. You even cheated on me with Lola of all people!" I tense at the mention of my half sister. "I hate you! Get out of my house and never come back."

By the time she's finished, her breaths are coming in short, sharp pants. Her chest is rising and falling rapidly and I can see she's not only angry, but hurting as well. Now I take charge, lifting Fucktards shocked figure off the ground and practically carrying him downstairs, throwing him out of the house for good.

Quickly as I can I return to Eve's room, half expecting her to be breaking down on her floor. To my surprise she's flicking through her numerous albums, biting her lip as she does so. When she sees me her face softens and a smile replaces the seriously pissed face I'd just witnessed.

"Sorry you had to see that." She mutters, picking out an album and putting it in her CD player. The music begins to play and I smile, recognising Alt-j's unique sound.

"This band is so chill." I lay my tired body down on her bed, patting the space beside me. She joins me and I enjoy the gentle touch of her skin against mine. "Can I ask you something?"

Eve looks at me through her eye lashes and I try to remember how to breath correctly. How come this girl has such an affect on me? She nods.

"Did he force himself on you?" I ask attentively, not wanting to upset her. She sighs and diverts her gaze to the ceiling.

"Yes and no." She says and I find my eyes unable to leave her face. "I didn't want to lose my virginity when we did it and I felt pressured into it, but I never actually admitted to him that I didn't want to."

"I really hate that guy." I can't help but say and she chuckles gently.

"So do I. In fact I hated him before we got together." Eve admits and I raise an eyebrow in curiosity. "He never treated people nicely at school. One day he tripped AJ up in the canteen and I got so pissed I ended up punching him. We both got chucked into detention. Somehow I developed feelings for him. God knows how."

"That's quite amusing." I smirk at the story. "Finding love in detention, how cliché."

Eve cringes at my comment making me laugh.

"It was never love." She shakes her head, eyes flicking from the ceiling to my own. "I know now I never loved him. There was physical attraction but at the end of the day his personality was shit."

"I hate to say it but I told you so, Princess." I wink at her and she rolls her eyes, a slight smile tugging on her lips.

"Seriously, what's with that nickname?" She questions and I smirk in response, not answering her. "I kind of hoped it would wear off once we became friends."

"Now what fun would that be?"