The Barber Shop

Chapter 3

co written by Bloddy Marsh

"I told you over the phone, Liam we're over" I said, my voice sounding tired. I already knew he was going here, but I both hoped and wished that he wouldn’t. But sadly the world doesn’t seem to want to agree with me today.

"You had me waiting here to take you and that little brat to tell me that we're over?!' He shouted at me, his voice dangerously rising with every second. I think I felt the earth shake for a second there when he was talking. God, I always hated it when he got this angry.

"Dude, ya need to calm down." Martin said, putting himself in between Liam and me. Though his voice was calm, I thought I saw him flash a wicked smile at Liam.

"Who the hell is this bloke?!" Liam asked. His tone angrier as Martin took a step toward him.

“I’m the one who made your girlfriend moan my name all night long" Martin said tauntingly, and while I stared at him wide- eyed, Liam was going nuts. “Oh, Martin, Oh Martin.” Martin continued in a mock version of me.

And that was it. Liam snapped and walked towards me and raised his hand and in a swift movement was going to slap me but Martin caught on to what he was going to do and grabbed his hand when it neared my face. And I had to admit, it was kind of cool. Like an action movie.

"Leave before I call the cops." He said calmly and Liam left, fists shaking and not looking back.

I was too shocked to say anything. All I did was gape at Martin’s victorious smirk and Liam’s retreating back. 

"You aw'right?" He asked me. 

I nodded, somehow feeling relief spread throughout my entire body and went to sit down on the steps to the porch. A few moments later he came to join me.

"How'd you meet Liam?" He asked me a moment after.

I sighed, not feeling like telling him, but he looked so adorable with his inquisitive and child-like eyes that I felt like I owed him an explanation.

"Long story" I said.

Martin smirked and made himself comfortable next to me and said, "I got time, don't worry." 

I nodded "Liam and I were high school sweethearts. It was the clichéd love story of a typical shy nerd and a handsome knight-in-shining-armor jock. But somehow, after the death of his mother that meant everything to him, the help-you-off-your-feet knight-in-shining-armor lost his shine when he was left with his abusive father.”

“I think it was the loss and the painful thoughts about suddenly losing his everything suddenly jolted him and he started acting way out. Suddenly the knight became the Beast. Although not so charming.” I smiled ruefully.

We chatted a bit more after that. We also got to know each other better and somewhere, along the way, I found Martin very charming. We never really noticed the time, just sat together, then we ate some late night ice cream I found in at the bottom of the freezer but after a while Martin cleared his throat and said "it’s late, midnight."

Checking my watch, I nodded "Yeah, you should go." I said.

"So,” Martin teased as I walked him to his car. “I'll pick you up tomorrow for our second date, don’t freak out by wearing something totally girly." He said and drove away.

When he was gone I sat down in the porch a little while longer. Man, this Liam thing had drained. It hurts to know that a relationship I had going on for 7 years just went down the drain. All those fights, the make-up kisses, the anniversaries, the romantic dates, and the promises, gone in a snap. Even though I’ll hardly regret it now, I’ll probably regret it if it happened 7 years ago.

As I went back to my room I was ready for a peaceful sleep. But then I suddenly remembered something and thought, Second DATE?! When had I agreed to that?!

----

That night I thought I could finally get some sleep after thinking about that ‘subject’ but I didn’t.

----

I closed my eyes that night only to be woken up by someone yelling, I felt like I only slept for five minutes. It took me only a few minutes to comprehend that it was Jonah screaming. Screaming NO! NO! NO!

I groaned. I totally forgot! My mother was supposed to work early today and I was supposed to take Jonah to school. 

I looked at the clock and felt relieved to know that it was only 6 in the morning, but why was Jonah screaming?

I rushed downstairs to find, the one, the only Liam standing there talking to Jonah like they were the best of friends. But the only thing written on Jonah’s face was fear.

"Liam! Get the hell away from me, my house, and from Jonah!" I yelled angrily, startling both Jonah and Liam himself. I pulled Jonah away and rushed back inside the house.

"Come on babe, I know you wouldn't sleep with that poor barber, just forgive me for whatever I did and lets get back to normal." He said, giving me a smile that totally creeped me out.

"GET OUT!" I yelled and shut the door flat on his face. My back against the door, I could feel the hard slamming pounds he was doing to the door.

"What a nice way to throw 7 years of a relationship away!" He shouted sarcastically through the closed door and went off. Muttering loudly along the way.

"Alexandria," my brother said after a moment’s silence.

I tried to keep my voice calm. "Yea buddy, what’s up?" I asked.  I haven’t really had the time to have a nice chat with my little brother since it was my first week back from university. It was nice to have just this moment to be his big sister again.

"Martin usually takes me on Mondays to school." He said innocently. 

This surprised me. "Martin?" I asked, making sure I heard correctly 

"Ye-ah," he said slowly. "He's just a bit late today but mom gave him the key and he comes early in the morning to make me breakfast." Jonah said.

Is this fate?

How come mom didn't mention anything?

I went downstairs and opened the door to reveal a handsome looking Martin there with an apron in hand. The minute he saw me his eyebrows went up in surprise and he smiled.

"Oh, umm, hi, Lexi! Sarah didn't mention anything about me not coming, didn’t she? I didn't know you’re taking Jonah to school." He said nervously. He stepped inside, looking suddenly out of place.

I almost laughed at his weird anxiousness but I didn't. Cause that would be rude.

"Don't worry.” I said, pushing him towards the door. “Then you can head on home, I got it covered." I said smiling.

"Are you sure? Jonah's school is on the way to the barber shop." He said, uncertain, like I didn’t know where Jonah’s school was. 

Naturally, I was offended.  "Well, I was going to head to the local breakfast to get something to eat, so I guess we'll both take him." I pushed him outside, pulling Jonah along and locked the door.

And Martin, Jonah, and I headed off.