All of Me | Protector 1.4

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

*January*

       I was trying to have a fresh start for the new year, but it was kind of hard with my family constantly coming to my apartment. However, I was smarter this time and looked through the peephole to see who it was. I never answered the door to my mom, my dad, Lydia, Matilda, or stupid Ian.

       Tony stopped coming to my apartment so often and all our arguing at work happened again. He seemed even more irritated by me ever since New Year's Eve when we got into that sort of argument. I had a feeling in my gut that he may have liked me and if he did, it was going to ruin everything.

       I moved away from my family to get a fresh start. To get away from all the pain and sorrow of being betrayed by Ian and my family. But then, stupid Tony had to come along and ruin everything. I never felt this way about anyone before, not even Ian, but I couldn't risk getting hurt again.

       There was a knock on the door and I had a feeling it was, once again, someone else from my family. I sighed, getting up from my spot on the table and looking through the peephole. Well, it was a family member, that was for sure. I opened the door where my grandma gave me a concerned look. "Charlie, what's going on?" she asked. "Why haven't you been answering your family when they come to visit?"

       I sighed. "What did they tell you?"

       "They told me that after you and Ian broke up, Lydia asked for your blessing to go out with him," Grandma said. "Then you started acting like you didn't. So, what really happened?"

       "You don't believe them?" I asked.

       "Please, if your mother got one dollar for every lie that she told, she would be a billionaire," Grandma said. "So, are you going to tell me what happened?"

       I opened the door wider for her to walk in. "Would you like anything to drink?" I asked.

       "Got any beer?" Grandma asked.

       I snorted. "Yeah, right."

       "Then I guess water would suffice," she said with a dramatic sigh. I rolled my eyes and went to the kitchen to get my grandma a glass of water. After I did, I sat down beside her on the couch. "So, spill."

       "Well, when I graduated from university, nobody came," I said. "Everyone, apparently, was too busy. Well, Mom and Dad were working, Matilda was probably out partying, and Ian and Lydia were watching a movie together in her bedroom. When I came home, they didn't hear me and I listened in on their conversation. They were actually hooking up behind my back. So I packed all my stuff, left, and refused to talk to them. And ever since then, they've been acting like Lydia is the victim and they're constantly telling me to get over it."

       "See, that's more believable," she said. "And do you know about Lydia and Ian's engagement?"

       I nodded. "Lydia sent me a letter and get this. She asked if I wanted to be one of the bridesmaid."

       Grandma snorted. "I always knew she was a bitch. Her innocent act wasn't fooling anyone."

       "It fooled Mom," I said. "And Dad. And Matilda. And Ian. And everyone else who's thinking that I should get over it."

       "So, are you planning on going to the wedding?" Grandma asked.

       "Nope. Definitely not."

       "Look, I know what they did was worng," she said. "More than wrong, actually, but it's your sister's wedding. It's a once-in-a-lifetime event."

       "No, not really," I said. "She'll probably screw more guys behind Ian's back, and Ian will probably do the same."

       "Okay, but it's still her first wedding," Grandma said. "I think you should go."

       "No thanks," I said. "I don't want to watch the back-stabbers be so in love and have something that I only have with a perfect, idiotic man who I can't get out of my mind."

       "What?"

       "What? I didn't say anything. I don't know what you're talking about."

       "Ooh, who's this hot, perfcet man?" she asked.

       "I never said that he's hot," I said. "He is, but I didn't say it."

       Grandma chuckled. "So while Ian and Lydia were being bitches, you fell for someone else?"

       I sighed. "Kind of, yeah. But.....I'm not ready for another relationship, not when everyone in my family, and Ian, hurt me so much. I can't risk getting hurt again, especially by someone who is better than Ian in any imaginable way."

       There was a knock on the door, so I excused myself before getting up to see who it was. I looked in the peephole and groaned. "Speak of the devil...." I said.

       "Ooh, is this the hottie?" she asked.

       "Yes, it is," I said. "I'm not answering it."

       "Answer it," Grandma said. "Now you have to because you have to respect your elders."

       "Elder by age, or mind? Because you act like a teenager," I said.

       "Shut the hell up and answer the door," she said.

       "Okay, geez," I mutered before answering the door. "What do you want?"

       "My internet is down again," he said.

       "Wow, thanks for the life story," I said. "You want my advice? Get a better server or whatever. Okay, bye."

       I tried closing the door, but he held it open. "Can I stay here again for the weekend?" he asked. "Please, I'll do anything."

       "You can not come here," I said. "Or sit outside of my apartment to use it."

       "Why have you been a lot ruder than before?" he asked. "Ever since New Year's Eve, I swear you're out to get me."

       "I'm not out to get you," I said. "I just don't like you, so how about you leave, yeah?"

       "Okay, fine," Tony said. "I guess I'll just have to go to a cafe and use their internet."

       "Or you can go to your sister's house," I said.

       "And be near a pregnant woman? No way."

       "Then go to your parents' house," I said. "Stop being an idiot and think more clearly."

       "Okay, thanks for the not-so much help," he said. "I guess I'll see you at work."

       When he left, I closed the door with a sigh. "I can sense the sexual tension," Grandma said. "You should just screw each other already."

       "Grandma!"

       "What?" she asked. "You're really not going to get into a relationship with him?"

       "No. Never."

_________________________

Charlie's grandma: she says what we're all thinking. cx

Any guesses what chapter the, uh, frickle frackles will happen? (And no, I won't be writing the smut. cx Only leading up to it and afterwards.)