nothing less ➸ demar derozan

thirty

Isabella

Tuesday night had to be the hardest nights of all nights. I don't know why but Arion went on a psychotic run throughout house. He kept screaming and crying as he walked around the house. The final place he visited was my room and it seemed to comfort him so he resided on my couch. He just lay there sleeping with heavy breaths coming out.

I was on my laptop editing some photos that I had taken of the game that had finished just an hour ago. I knew DeMar was supposed to stop by so we could talk, but now seemed to be a bad time.

My mother still hadn't come home but she replied to all my text messages. My dad was still trying to fix his mistake. It was hard not having another woman in this house while I was trapped with boys.

My door opens slowly and I immediately shut up my laptop when I realize who walks in.

"Hey," I whisper to DeMar.

"Hey—is that Arion?" He points confused. DeMar had a black hoodie on and some royal blue joggers.

"Yeah-"

"Why is he here?"

"Can we talk in the hallway? I don't want to wake him-"

"Why is he here, Isabella?" He asks sternly. I put my hand on his chest to push him out of my doorway but he stands his ground. I knew it looked bad, but it wasn't what he thought at all.

"You don't understand. Let's talk outside, please." I manage to slip past him and I here him follow behind me. We walk down the stairs and go outside to sit on the porch that Reggie and my father had many talks on.

"Why is he here?"

I sigh and rub my arms as I get comfortable on the wooden porch. I hadn't brought a jacket and it was a little chilly. "He has no where to go. My father helped him and Reggie get out of jail."

"But why is he in your room and not somewhere else?"

"He went crazy earlier," I say and DeMar furrows his eyebrows. He twists his cap backwards and looks down at his hands.

"Ella, what the hell is going on?"

"Calm down." I knew he was getting agitated. "Nothing happened between us if you were thinking that, okay? I came home to Arion pacing around the house screaming. I don't know why he was screaming but he was. I went to my room and then fifteen minutes later he barged in there. He was breathing heavy and heated...like angry. I just stared at him because I was editing photos on my laptop. He sat down on my couch and then just fell asleep." I shrug at the end.

It surprised me that I wasn't scared when Arion walked in my room. He was so angry that if it were any other person they would have at least called the cops. He wouldn't hurt me though—at least I don't think.

DeMar nods slowly, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, it's been crazy the past days." He slings an arm around me and pulls me closer to him. He gives me a lingering kiss on my forehead and rubs his hands down my cold arms warming me up.

"How is Aja? I want to see her."

He sighs, "She's been at my grandma's house for the past few day. She's just taking some time to be alone I guess. I don't know how she is...to be honest. She's coming back Friday though. I just want to find who did this to her."

"Didn't you say Reggie was helping you?"

"Yeah, but he can't no more."

"Why not?"

He shrugs, "He said that everyone is relying on him too much. It's basically overwhelming him because he thinks he can't keep our promises. So now I'm back at ground zero."