Begin Again

Chapter Twenty Eight

*TW: Homophobia*

"I done been through a whole lot. Trial, tribulations, but I know God. The devil wanna put me in a bowtie. Pray that the holy water don't go dry..."

Rachel's P.O.V.

Silence. After getting off the phone with Sal, I slowly exhaled a sigh of relief, still weary of Richard being outside my door.

He's back.

His return was inevitable, but I wasn't prepared for it, and neither was my sister. Calling Sal again wasn't an option, as it wouldn't have helped the situation at all, since what would she be able to do? Likewise with Trevon. I assumed she was with him as she didn't come home last night. As yummy as he was, I hoped she didn't jump onto him so quickly. I didn't want her hurt again.

Curled up on the carpet beside my bed, I racked my head, trying to come up with anything to make him leave. Permanently.

To be perfectly honest, I was more than willing to just burst the door open, and beat the shit out of the little creep. However, in this situation, I had to follow Sal's advice and not act so impulsively. It blew my mind that he had the nerve to come to my place.

How did he know where I lived? I hadn't seen the man in five years, and even then it was only at their wedding...

***

Fiddling with the bouquet in my hand, I hummed along to the gospel music played by the band. Today was my sister's wedding, and as much as I didn't want to attend, I knew I had to be here for her.

Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I scoffed at the full-length dress I was practically forced into wearing. The chiffon sleeves made me look ancient, and I rolled my eyes at the beige flowery design circling the turtle-neck. It was all so boring and conservative.

Reaching up to loosen a few strands of my front hair out of the death-grip my bun had on my scalp, I heard the door open and smiled as I waited for Sal to moan at me for my slightly dishevelled self.

Turning around, I felt my grin literally drop as I faced him.

"We're ready to start, Rachel." He spoke calmly, making the sorry excuse for a moustache jump across his upper lip.

Nodding my head, I moved forward towards the door. Not even caring to look at him, I brushed against his shoulder and stepped out.

"Hold on a minute!" I heard. I firmly shut my eyes, in order not to implode on my sister's big day. After composing myself, I slowly turned myself around to see him leaning against the door frame, his arms folded, with a smug look on his face.

Oh, how I wanted to personally remove it myself.

"What do you want, Richard?" I sighed, annoyed at his presence and arrogance.

"I want you to leave." He replied curtly, the smirk now off his face, replaced with a scowl.

Feeling the clockwork inside my head begin to accelerate, I glared at him and his audacity, but I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and allowed him to repeat himself.

"I. Want. You. To. Go. Away," He responded, pronouncing each word slowly in an attempt to patronise me. "Stay at the wedding to keep up appearances, and to not worry Salomé. The second the reception is over, however, get up and walk away. I don't give a shit about where you go, but don't come back."

Scoffing at him, I mirrored him and folded my arms, nonchalantly, trying to hide my disbelief. This is the same man who just came from nowhere, and now wanted me away from my sister? Bullshit.