your body is a weapon → brad simpson | ✓

fifty three

It felt like everything was going in slow motion as those words came out of my mouth. The only thing that was in real time was my heart beat.

"What?" Brad asks, his voice barely a whisper. I couldn't open my eyes up and look up at him, I could hear how broken he is. "You're getting married to... to Aiden?"

I can't answer, I don't have the strength. His silence answers his question though and I hear Brad exhale deeply.

"This has got to be a joke," he says. "Tell me this a joke. Please."

I feel a tear slip out of my eye. I didn't want to tell him like this. This isn't how it was meant to plan out.

I feel hand on my bare kneecaps and I open my welling eyes, looking at Brad bent down in front of me. He looks up to me with tears in his eyes. I want to reach up and wipe them away before they can even fall.

"Jamie, tell me you're joking," he begs, his voice cracking. "Tell me that this is some twisted, stupid prank that Aiden set you up with. Tell me you're coming home with me."

I shake my head, lifting my hand up to wipe away my tears. He glances at my left hand and sees the ring. His face drops and he stands up.

I'm not sure what he's going to do for a second, what he's going to say. He just looks between Aiden and I, bewildered and surprised and most of all, hurt.

I want to tell him everything but I'm just so scared of what could happen. What would he do or say? Would he still hate me? Would he hate me more? Would he even trust me?

"You," Brad finally speaks, looking at Aiden. Aiden displayed no emotion on his face as Brad approaches him. "You piece of shit! You knew full-well that Jamie and I were happy together—why would you do this?!"

Brad steps closer to Aiden, but the latter doesn't even flinch. Even I stand up off of my bed as Brad grabs hold of Aiden's button-up, slamming him against the wall. It didn't matter that Aiden was taller, broader, Brad was so enraged that he could take on anyone.

"I should make your life a living hell," Brad spits out. "You steal my girl, you ask her to marry you, you ruin my life."

"Brad—,"

"No, Jamie, it's fine," Aiden says firmly, watching me step closer to them. I don't want either of them to get hurt.

"You're a scum," Brad says, his voice so calm all of a sudden. "You don't deserve Jamie, you don't deserve this empire you have, the money or the power. You deserve to rot in hell."

Brad pushes Aiden further against the wall as he lets go of his shirt. Is that it? He's not going to beat him to a bloody pulp? I'm both relieved and surprised.

He looks over to me. "I really hope you realise you much you've fucked me over, Jamie. I really love you, you know? I was ready to do anything for you, run to another country if you wanted. I would drop everything for you. I thought you were different. I thought you cared and that you were the one. But you decide to run back to a guy that doesn't care for you like me, to a guy that doesn't love you like me."

My heart breaks at every word. "Brad, it's not like that—!"

"Yes it is!" He shouts back. "It's exactly like that, Jamie. You screwed me over. I hope you have a lovely fucking wedding. You know what?! You two do fucking deserve each other."

"Brad, let me explain," I step forward to him, reaching my hand out to comfort him. He steps back. My heart clenches.

"No, Jamie, I don't want to hear it," Brad shakes his head before looking over to Aiden. "I don't wanna hear from either of you. And I don't wanna hear from you when she's upset and you don't know what to do, or when she's hungry and you don't know what food to get her or how to help her if she's stressed or can't sleep. I don't wanna hear from you when she's crying because her dad isn't home for the seventh day in a damn row and she feels lonely. I'm not playing whatever game I've been stuck in the middle of for the past five months."

My heart warms yet breaks at the same time as he speaks. He pays attention to the smallest details.

"I don't want to hear from you ever again."

Brad spins on his heels, walking out of the door and slamming it shut. I try and catch my breath as I sit back down on the bed. Aiden tears his gaze from the door and looks over to me with concern.

"Jamie—,"

"Just go, Aiden. I want to be alone."

+

I manage to get an hour of sleep that night. It was so difficult trying to sleep knowing that Brad is out there, upset and stressed and angry since all I want to do is comfort him but he hates me. This is everything I didn't want to happen.

I sigh heavily when I stand up out of the bed, I've gotten myself into a mess that I can't get out of.

I pull down the dress I was still wearing from last night. I just wanted to get it off and stay in my own bed in my own pyjamas for the rest of my life.

Managing to make my way downstairs, I notice how clean everything is, as though there wasn't a dinner party last night. I find my way into the kitchen, instantly seeing the black shirt clinging to Aiden's broad back.

He turns when he hears me walk in, giving me a smile. "Good morning."

"Hi," I reply bluntly. "Where're the glasses?"

Aiden reaches into the cabinet above his head and opens it, handing me a large glass. I take it with a forced smile and fill it up with tap water before gulping it down. My mouth felt so dry from all of the crying last night.

"I'm out today," Aiden says, leaning against the side of the kitchen counter as he looks over to me. "Do you want me to take you home to change and shower?"

"Please. I need to get out of this," I say, scrunching my nose up. I've been in it for way too long.

"I'm leaving soon, if that's okay?" He says and I nod. He puts down the mug he was holding in his hand and beckons me over for a hug. His arms were open, and I wrap mine around his torso.

It was a comforting hug, but it wasn't like Brad's. I breathe in shakily, trying not to think of him right now. It's so difficult with last night's events still fresh in my mind.

"I'm so sorry," he says honestly. "I'm sorry that it had to happen like that, I really am. I'll let him cool down for a few days before I try reaching out to him, I'll contact his friends too. As soon as I know anything about him, I'll let you know, alright?"

"Thank you," I whisper out, closing my eyes. I just need a minute to stop and breathe. Everything's happened so fast, all of my emotions crashing down at once that I haven't just stopped for breath.

"Come on, lets go," Aiden says and I nod, holding my heels in one hand as I walk down to the car, my clutch bag in my other hand.

The drive was silent, neither us knew what to say to each other. I fiddle with the ring on my finger, pursing my lips. I wonder how my dad will react. He'll probably be surprised that it's with Aiden, and so soon, too.

I let out a light sigh, looking out of the window. I don't think my life could get any worse than this.

edited.

pls don't stop reading omg this isn't the end of bramie (scouts honour)