Devil on the Rooftop [Book 1]

Chapter 90 - Loyal -

My friend looked distraught. I could tell I hurt his feelings, I could see how deep I had cut him, but I also knew I couldn't take my words back. Everything I said was the truth. It was the whole reason I got upset with Khaleel in the first place. Everything afterwards snowballed into chaos. He was right. I didn't ask him what he was feeling. I didn't take the time to understand his perspective because I was busy raging about what happened to Arisa.

Hino said it would be better if I tried to talk to Khaleel instead of Zander, but things weren't going as planned. I didn't think he would blow me his top so easily. I didn't think he would continue to challenge me, but he was.

"Look," I said, blocking his way to the stairs. "I'm just sensitive about the stuff that happened with my sister. When Arisa told me you forced her to kiss you, all I could picture was Tommy getting attacked by that living scum."

Khaleel's shoulders broaden. "Well, you won't have to worry about that anymore," he said. "Zander and I are taking care of him tonight. As for Arisa, she said she doesn't want to date someone who scares her, so I'm down for the count."

"You're going to get Dobberman tonight?" I asked. "When? Where? I can come and help."

Khaleel scoffed. "Forget it," he said, walking away.

I caught up to him and put my hand on his shoulder, hoping to continue the conversation. Khaleel was quick to shove me off. "If this is your last year at Jackheights then do yourself a favour and tie up all your loose ends," he said. "I'm not providing services to your customers after you're gone."

I was starting to get angry. "So, what?" I asked. "You're going to throw our friendship away?"

Khalee turned to glare daggers at me. "You're the one who threw it away," he said. "You think you're the only one who worries about perverts harassing Tommy? You think you're the only one who keeps an eye on her? Zander and I did all the dirty work after you stopped talking to her. We sat and listened to her have at least two panic attacks last month while you were busy taking care of yourself."

"You guys never said anything to me about it," I said, caught off guard. "How could I possibly think that you cared about her when you act like you hate her?"

"I don't hate her!" Khaleel argued. "She just annoys me because she acts all high and mighty when she's just as broken as the rest of us."

"How was I supposed to know that?"

"Why the hell should you?" Khalee retorted. "Just because you're the human lie detector, doesn't mean our truths belong to you. After taking care of your sister for so long, how do you think it feels hearing you say that I'm anything like Dobberman?"

I didn't know how to reply.

"You think I would have kissed Arisa if I wasn't confident about her attraction towards me?" Khaleel asked. "That girl has turned me down in more ways than one but temptation is in her eyes. I can see the curiosity and it's so fucking similar to mine. Do you choose not to acknowledge the part where she kissed me back, or are you so far up your own ass that you don't want to believe it?"

Doubt consumed me.

"If you think I'm a monster knowing all that," Khaleel scoffed. "Then you're the one with the problem. If you think you won her just because she decided to settle for the safest bet, then you're going to get a rude awakening."

This time, I couldn't stop him from walking away. I felt like I had no right to. Just because I was the human lie detector didn't mean people owed me their truths. Khaleel's words were sinking into me, and making me regret what I said. I was wrong for making assumptions. I was wrong for putting him into a category because of a mistake he made. I was wrong for telling him that he was no better than Neal Dobberman.

I pulled out my phone and contacted Hino straight away. I had to tell him what our friends were up to.

"How did it go?" Hino asked. "Had to be better than mine because Zander won't pick up my calls."

"It was bad," I replied. "And I think I know why Zander's not answering."