Nouveau

Chapter 24: The Intermission

Laive

"Sit down."

It was 2 AM as L walked through the door, and Tremaine had been home waiting for her.

"I'm tire-"

"Me too. Sit your ass down."

Laive knew that look. It was the one he gave her upstairs before she left. Tremaine was furious. Slowly, she pulled the chair out to the dining table and sat down.

"You want honesty?"

Laive's heart was aching in fear, her mind was hazing over. Tremaine had obviously been brooding all night. She was scared.

"Huh?" he asked her again.

Tremaine was seated on the opposite side of the glass table, in no shirt and some grey sweat pants. His elbows were on the table top, and his hands were clasp together in front of his mouth.

L slowly nodded yes.

Tremaine blew out a breath, with a snarl on his face.

"Ok. I fuck other women from time to time because the girl I want so fucked up, I can't even touch her."

Laive's eyes went to her lap.

"Can't even get close to her, and we live in the same fucking house."

Laive tensed her hands as she tried to receive what Tremaine was saying. She almost thought she saw regret in his eyes as she looked at him. But that left quickly when he got up from his chair and came to stand next to her.

"I mean this girl," Tremaine let out a exasperated laugh as he grabbed her chin, "she's frustrating as shit. A nigga try to show her that he cares about her ass, and It's just like fuck me. I give her all this shit, not even trying to make her happy. Because I know all this shit I got don't matter to her. I  was just trying to show her she deserves shit like this, that she's worthy. But she can't even show me reciprocity....Isn't that fucked up?"

Laive didn't say anything.

Tremaine shook her chin from side to side. "Huh?"

"Stop it." Laive whispered.

"What you want baby girl? I'll give it to you." Tremaine was being sarcastic. "What you need? Don't I give that shit to you"

"Stop."

"I never wanted to save you. I just wanted to show you that you were enough. That you deserve all this. But you so fucked up baby..I can't fix you."

"Tremain-" Laive was struggling to breathe as she tried to stand up and slap his grip off her face.

"What?...You gone cry now? Scream? Fucking fight me?"

"Stop it."

"I mean I'm sorry baby" He infuriatingly kissed her. "I'm sorry I'm not a glass house or a fucking steel cage like you"

Laive was choking on air as she tried to get away from him. She struggled to her feet and Tremaine snatched her back towards the chair.

"How could I forget that about you? You love to run away from shit."

Laive was falling apart internally. She was limp in his grasp...she couldn't fight him anymore.

"You don't think I feel when you're pretending with me?...Do you know how I feel on the days I know you want me? You get this look on your face that makes me want to tear your ass up. You lick and bite your bottom lip...But you won't say shit."

"You're mad Tremaine. Ok. Stop it" She pleaded.

"You so fucked up baby. The only way I can get through to you is if I hem your ass up"