Living with a Ghoul

Chapter 10: Resisting

I sit and wait for Royce to explain himself. The whole situation felt strange to me. He wasn't his usual perverted, smart mouthed, assholey self. I've gotten used to it and now it just feels weird. "I don't really like to talk about my past, I've made...a lot of mistakes that are just coming back to bite me in the ass," Royce begins.

Royce tells me about how he comes from a wealthy family. His father owns the most popular company in the city. As expected he was the troubled child, his sisters were the talented ones and he was just himself as he described it. He got into trouble with some ghouls and joined their gang.

He also hooked up with the gang leaders girl and they had a kid. I will admit that caught me off guard, Royce? And a kid? Anyway, Royce and his gang wanted to steal money from his father. Royce was already mad at his dad for not being there for him and always treating him different so he didn't care. Since he knew where the safe was he said he would get the money. His mom was there and caught him in the act.

His buddies came to see what was taking him so long and found his mom. Royce said to just leave her alone but he didn't know that they already planned to kill witnesses. Poor Royce, they held him back as he watched the others butcher his mother. His family resented him ever since.

"Royce...I'm so sorry." I say after a really long silence. This is why he lashed out on me. He was only frustrated. "It's fine. I'm the one who's sorry, I could've killed you and I'm supposed to be protecting you. On top of that no one likes me. I mean I can see why, heh I have a horrible attitude, I've done shitty things. My life is fucked Red."  Royce clenches his fist and I put a hand on his shoulder. "I like you." I smile gently at him.

"You're just saying that to make me feel better."

"No. Look you may be a jerk, and an A class perv, and a sick fuck, and annoying as hell, and-,"

"Can we move past my flaws please?" Royce begins to flush which was kinda cute. GAH!

However, I finally got him to really smile. Point me.

"Heh, what I'm saying is I actually consider you a friend. I know what you did was awful and a lot of people won't forgive you, but you need to learn to forgive yourself. I lost my parents so I know how you feel. But I couldn't do anything about it...you can't change the past so just focus on your future...getting your life together, starting fresh...trust me I have to do the same. As for your son, you need to fight for him. I don't care who this new guy in his life. He is you're son and you're his father and he's welcome here any time. Royce we have a deal and until you do what you have to do I'll be here okay?" I ask.

Royce seemed a little shaken. Yes I called him a friend, I gagged slightly but surprisingly I meant it. After hearing all that happened I would like to be there for him like how he's gonna always be there for me. It has been getting dangerous around here for the both of us. Especially since he broke ghoul laws and didn't kill me. Damn I can't help but think "how the hell are we getting out ta this?"

My thoughts are soon interrupted once Royce hugs me tightly. My heart speeds up as he buries his face in my neck. I could feel tears on my shoulder. Did my words really get to him? If they did I have two points now. 

Royce moves away but not far enough. Our faces were so close together I could hear his shallow breaths. We both stare deeply into one another's eyes. I give him a small smile and gently wipe his tears. Royce slowly lifts my chin and leans in. My heart beat speeds up again as I feel myself leaning in as well. Maybe I do have feelings for him...no I, I can't do this. I just feel sorry for him. But then again, I have been feeling strange toward him. I'm beginning to love his teasing, and he hasn't had much of an attitude toward me. Closing my eyes I continue leaning in slowly, our lips nearly touch once Royce stops. I slowly open my eyes and see him giving me a familiar grin. "Thanks for the advice Red." Royce gently bites my lip and heads to the bathroom. 

Wait...wait....WHAT?!

++++++++

The next morning as I'm making breakfast I keep eyeing Royce on the couch. He was sleeping with Hans curled up on his chest. No fair, that's my thing. I turn forward once again and flip the pancake I was making, while sighing.  I can't get over last night. I touch my bottom lip and blush some. I was so serious and he decided to tease me like that? He really is an asshole. No Gabby he's a friend you can't do that, friends don't do that.

Soon I feel cold hands around my waist. I slightly jump once I feel it. It was just Royce being a jerk...as usual. "Whatcha makin'?" He laughs and sit on the counter.

"Pancakes, eggs, and bacon...do you still have your snacks from the other day?" I ask not looking up at him.  It was hard to act like everything was normal when we nearly kissed last night, especially since he turned me on with that stupid lip biting nonsense. I was still pissed at him for nearly killing me too and tried to stab him in the heart but his skin broke my scissors :( 

"No...I'll be fine I can go another day maybe I'll ask Riley to bring me over something." Royce sits on the counter, swings his legs and I put my food on my plate. "Oh..okay." I walk over to the dining table and Royce follows me. There is a long silence between us. He just watches me eat as usual, trying to find ways to criticize human food. It got to the point where I just couldn't take the silence!

I slam my fork down and look up at Royce who was raising an eyebrow. "What did I do now?" Royce asks drumming his fingers on the table.

"What was that last night? We have ourselves a little heart to heart and you go on and mess with me like that? Royce this isn't funny  hope you know that." I glare.

"I know it isn't but you're cute when you're all confused. I appreciated the advice I really did, but I wanted to move past the subject or I would cry again and I really hated when you saw me cry so I wanted to lighten up the mood." He explains looking away from me.

I stand and begin heading for my room. Ugh he's so frustrating I don't see why I told him he was a friend! Grr and now he's messing with me to only prove a point. Royce grabs my arm. "Damn Red why do you-," before I could finish my sentence I slap him so hard it left a hand print. Royce let's go of me and I cover my mouth. I will admit I liked that but I didn't mean to hit him like that! Royce takes a few minutes to collect himself and just bursts into laughter. Okay I just slapped him with lightning speed and he's...laughing?

"I get it, you don't wanna be bothered," Royce says moving closer to me but I was still frozen in shock. He keeps laughing and whispers in my ear, "But don't try to hide it...you and I both know you've fallen for me...and maybe I've fallen myself."

My breath catches and Royce stands straight once again grinning down at me. I could feel my face was on fire. "You might wanna get ready for work it's almost eight thirty." Royce walks back to the living room leaving me a blushing mess in the middle of the hall. He knows how I work, but I can't do this...not with him. But, I can't get over that he may or may not have feelings for me. Yes he teases me a lot and we nearly kissed but what does it really mean?

Right now I don't think I know what I want. All I know is I have a date with Xavier later, I should focus on him not Royce because living with a beast is enough but dating one...is even more dangerous.