Love Over Blood

Chapter Five: In Which He Kisses Her Tears (And Other Places).

I didn't have the heart to leave. I should have, but Ari has a way of sucking me back in and never wanting to leave. But I needed space, to wrap my mind around what I'm going to do.

Earlier on I headed out and hoped like hell my gas and electricity were connected. If I have to spend a sober night there and risk hearing Benjamin fucking her I'll lose my mind. Luck wasn't on my side everything was still disconnected. Gathering some clothing and toiletries on my way out Simon bumps into me. He's high as a kite and damn ten seconds around me has my head heady.

I grabbed some clothes and toiletries and am I'm locking up when Simon staggers out in the hallway.

"Hey man." His eyes are bloodshot and he has remains of chips on his top.

"Hey how are you?"

"Same, same. How about you? Wild night?" He winks.

There's no use lying, he would have seen the twins this morning, if not heard them. "Making up for lost time."

"You da man, hey hook me up sometime." He says coming closer. I balk and I have the resist the urge to tell him he needs a shower. And an upgrade on lingo.

"Sure, I'll be your wingman next time I go out." Before he could reply I wave a goodbye and bolt right out of there.

I just hope he's too far gone to remember anything when I move back in the apartment complex.

When I get back to Benjamin and Ari's house (that's going to take a while to sink it) it's late afternoon. I quickly unpack and head down the steps I hear voices coming from near the front door. I see her at the front door with Benjamin. He's all suited up in his thousand dollar Armani suit, looking every bit the corporate executive that he is.

With every step closer she gets to him, the more I want to lash out and punch him. He keeps her at a distance, pining her arms above her head with one hand, he clasps her jaw with the other, kissing her with such force she stumbles back.

I'm flicking through the cable channels and can't find anything when Ari enters in, hesitation clear on her beautiful face. She shouldn't be uncomfortable in her own home.

"Whose turn is it?"

Straight away I know what she means and I can't help but smile.

Tradition. It is not something to be messed with. Since we were fourteen, every Thursday we would order take out and alternate watching a movie, and food choice. She'd hate my choices; action and thrillers and I'd hate her soppy chick flick shit.

As the years past I made them gorier, not because I enjoyed the blood, guts, and gore more, but it was the only way I'd get her closer to me, clutching onto me, her face buried into my chest. Tradition wouldn't be abolished altogether, I don't care what Benjamin says, it'll just have to have a change of day.

"Mine," I tell her, remembering the last time she was close to me. "But since I put you through hell, you choose."

Ari lets out a heavy breath, I know every expression, she's relieved she won't have to endure a bloody, gore infested night. She bends over, her perky derrière up in the air, and pulls open the draw of the low line unit. I swear to god I'm about to lose it here and now.