Because I had you//Sweet Pea

6

I kept my head down, slowly and sneakily making my way out of ghoulie territory. I saw many more cop cars pull up, but since there is not many, if any, girl ghoulies, they saw me as just another south sider.

I walked the night once again, now actually having nowhere to stay. This was just my luck. I bit back my dignity and trudged my way to serpent territory. I couldn't go to jail and there was only one serpent I could trust right now.

I knocked on his trailer door, my heart rapidly beating. His strong build appeared at the door and his eyes gave a questioning look. "Alison?"

   "Fangs, I know it's bad timing, but I need to stay with you." It all rushed out of my mouth. I didn't wanna have any small talk til I know he said yes. "Yea, sure. Why though?"

   "The ghoulies are being arrested. All of them."

   "But you're not a ghoulie." He raises an eyebrow, as if it's more of a question than a statement.

   "No, but I do live with and date the gang leader." My breaths we're becoming more and more calm, but he seemed to notice l was a little shakey, because he brought me right in. I sat down on his couch and he ran over to the the fridge, pulling out a beer.

   "Make yourself comfortable." He tossed me a can and I almost dropped it. "Are you okay?" He sits down next to me. I nod, biting off the cap, and taking a huge swig.

"I'm sorry about Malachai." He sips his and puts it down next to him. "No your not. And you don't have to be. He was a ghoulie, your enemy."

He sighs, "I'm not sorry that he's arrested. I'm sorry that you're hurt by it."

I look at him, biting my lip to hold back tears. "Thankyou." I lean on his chest and he puts his arm around me.

"Yo, Fogarty! We're meeting at the Wyrm to discuss-" Toni busts in and I flinch off of him. Her eyes widen, and she scoffs, walking out the door. "Toni wait-" Fangs calls, chasing after her. I couldn't help but feel guilty. I was ignoring her and now I'm all buddy buddy with Fangs.

I peered out the window to see Toni screaming at Fangs, whiles he's defending himself. He snaps and says something that I couldn't hear, but obviously made Toni upset because her face changes from mad to hurt. She shakes her head and hops back on her bike, leaving.

"What did you say?" I ask, as Fangs walks in. He says nothing. "I don't wanna start fights between you and them."

"I can handle them, but sooner or later, you gotta forgive them." He snaps, walking to his room. I lean back on the chair, taking another sip of beer.

"I'm not hear for fun." I roll my eyes as Malachai smirks. "Oh, come on babe, I was promised a fun time."

His hands glide up my thighs, but I push them off. "No one promised you anything. They sent me to negotiate with you. Not have sex."

"If you really believe that, you're just as dumb as they thought you were." He scoffs, leaning back on his couch. What is that supposed to mean? Did they send me to have sex with him?

"My boyfriend would never send me to you just to have sex. They sent me because I'm persuasive. Now can we start talking territory?" I grab out my binder with the offers. He slowly leans in and lightly kisses my neck.

"What are you doing?" I try to ignore him, opening the binder. "Are you even a serpent yet?" He asks. "No, but-"

"Then why would they send someone's who's not a serpent over here to negotiate territory?" His grin widens as my face drops. "Wh-what are you trying to say?"

"You were a bargain. I keep the peace if you sleep with me."

I froze. He wouldn't do that. Sweetpea wouldn't trade me like that. "And what if I don't sleep with you?"

"That's fine. Because now you know what kind of people the serpents are and sooner or later, you'll be mine anyway."

A tear formed in my eye thinking about it. How they could sell me like that. How was I supposed to forgive them? Granted, it had been 6 months. I did end up with Malachai, he did win and the peace obviously wasn't kept that long. How was I supposed to forgive them when they just got Malachai arrested though? I mean it was that northsiders fault, but they asked for the race.

Granted, I missed Toni and FP and drinking at the Wyrm and...Sweet Pea. I don't think I am ready to forgive Sweet Pea or FP, maybe Toni, maybe some of the other serpents.

I slowly walked to Fangs room to tell him my not thought out decision. He was playing music when I slowly opened the door. "I'm ready to start forgiving. Not everyone, but I'm willing to make an effort."

His frown turned to a grin and he darted across his room to pick me up and hug me. I giggled, as he set me down. "Wyrm, tonight." He poked my cheek, slowly shutting his door on me. I sighed, walking back to the couch to gulp down the rest of my beer.

This is not gonna be pretty.
...

Fangs and I entered the Wyrm, side by side and eyes on us. Somehow this entrance was bigger than our last. It's hard to believe it was just yesterday. A lot has changed since then.

We make our way over to the bar and once I'm sat with Fangs and Toni. "Fangs," I turn to him. "You wanna go play pool with sweetpea?"

He tilts his head, "just me?" I nod. It takes him a moment, but he nods, "Ohhh. Yea, I'll go play pool with sweetpea." He winks and leaves and I stare after him in awe of his dumbness.

Toni bites her lip, suppressing a giggle, "that was real subtle."

"What can I say? He's...special. Are you guys okay now?" I ask, referring to earlier. She shrugs, "I'm over it."

"There's nothing going on with us, by the way. We're just friends." I assure her. She wipes the counter with a rag. "Not my business. Why are you talking to me like you don't hate me?"

I sigh, "can we talk outside?"

She nodded and we excused ourselves.

Once we got outside, I started, "You guys did a shitty thing. I never thought you'd stoop that low, and I was planning on spending the rest of my life mad about it, but I miss you. I miss all of you. You guys were my family when I didn't have any and now that Malachai is in jail, I don't have any again and for who knows how long."

She didn't say anything for a moment, her eyes swelled and I could tell she was holding back tears, "I'm so sorry for the position we put you in. We were desperate and cruel and just wanted to be safe. Some said no, that you were family and we couldn't do that, but ultimately everyone decided it would be worth it." Her voice was cracking and a few tears fell.

"I was a virgin, Toni. It's not like I was some experienced hooker that would instantly cheat on my boyfriend just to sleep with him."

"I guess everyone thought you'd be naive enough."

I nodded, "I guess everyone drove me right to him anyway. As soon as Sweetpea and I broke up, and I swore you all off, I ran to him, and convinced myself he was better."

"At the time, he probably was." She agreed. We both let out a sob and I grabbed her, pulling her in for a hug. It seemed like forever and when we finally pulled a part, her shoulder was tear stained. "Umm lets get back inside so you don't get fired." I chuckled through the tears. I finally had my best friend back.