In the arms of evil

Here we go again

Seeing Colton at the club last night certainly lit a spark within me. Not one I'm willing to ignite just yet. "Woah, is that you Brook?" I hear Garret whistle as I enter the bookstore. I look completely different from the first time I walked into this town. Instead of ripped jeans and a baggy tee tied at the end with white trainers, I'm dressed in an army green tank top with spaghetti straps, grey jeans and black heels. My hair is up in a tight ponytail and my lips are slapped with nude lipstick. Yeah. This is more like it.

"Morning Garret. Where's Lucy?" I look around the store for her. "She's not feeling too good today. I had to hire a babysitter for her. She didn't feel like coming in today" he looks defeated. I rub his shoulder, trying to comfort him. "I'm sorry Garret. If it's okay, I'd like to drop by after work and give her a little visit?" He smiles after my request. "That would be great. Thanks Brooklyn."
"Anytime." I begin my four hour shift, but I can't help but think of the events of last night. Colton didn't have to come to my rescue. Maybe he just didn't want me around a place like that. I take it not many people here know about the club. It's in the middle of a forest in an abandoned barn. Hell, you need to know a password just to get in. But I like the ambience. It's different. Littered with danger and sexual tension. It's somewhere to escape too. To forget about who we are for a night.

Once my shift ends, Garret begins to lock up the store. "Here, we'll take my car. She's going to be so glad to see you" he says with glee. I turn to walk towards his car and bump straight into Colton. "Easy there doll. You still hungover from last night?" He teases. I glare at him, and shove him aside with my shoulder.

"I've never seen you move like you did last night at the club before. I look forward to seeing it again soon" he blows a kiss. "What? Because you think I'm an easy lay and will just give into you? Don't kid yourself Colton. You're nothing special" I spit, turning back around to head to the car. "Garret can't keep you satisfied baby. If you ever want a real man, you know where I am." I stop in my walk. "How dare you!" I spin around and begin stomping towards him. "He's twice the man you'll ever be" i point my finger straight at his face, blood boiling. "Sure he is. But does he make your knees shake like I do?" My eyes widen. "I felt your reaction when I kissed you last night. You wanted more. You just don't know it yet" he gives a cocky smirk. My hand swings in the air. Before it can collide with his cheek, he catches it in the air, holding it there. That's when I see the bruises on his knuckles. "What happened?" He releases my hand as I question his bruises. "It's nothing." He mutters. "Let me guess? It's none of my concern?" I say sarcastically, sighing. "Please Brook. Don't" he begs, hoping I won't slash him for what happened last time he told me it was none of my business. My heart tremors for him.

"What happened to us Colton? I don't get it" Garett's car beeps as he unlocks it. Coltons eyes drift from mine, to Garrett behind us. "Looks like you have somewhere to be." His eyes are full of hurt. He's keeping it all inside, but I just want his raw honesty. Even if it hurts, at least I know what he's thinking. I look down in defeat, then turn to leave. He grabs my arm and whispers "I didn't mean any of it Brook. I just needed to push you away so you could be safe. You're not an easy lay. And you're not soft. I'm an ass. But I want you to be happy" he looks back at Garrett. "So be happy baby. I'll be okay"  he whispers, cupping my face, thumb stroking my cheek. He let's go, leaving his hot breath lingering on my neck. " I loved you. God, I think I still do. You have no idea how much I need you or what you mean to me. But I can't keep doing this with you. This pain? It's too much and it's killing me. I don't want you to leave me Colton. I want you to stay. I'm happy when I'm with you but I-" It came out before I knew what I was even saying. It was like my heart was doing the talking for me. He brushes away the stray tear trickling down my cheek. " I know baby. I love you too. But it's better this way. He can give you something better than I ever could." He leans into me and whispers in my ear, "I will be with you always. You always have me... should you need me. But princesses like you don't need a knight when they've got a sword. And you baby? You've got the power of an army raging in you. That's what I love about you." He kisses my ear and backs away into the fog that surrounds us, and fades away. Garret holds the door open for me, waiting patiently.

It's silent on the way to see Lucy at his place. I decide to break the ice "me and Colton are complicated. I don't even know where we stand. One moment we want to kiss each other, and the next, we're at each others throats" I sigh, fumbling with my hands. "I don't get it. We were so good at the start. But then I told him my secrets and he told me his and now...now we're worse off than when we started" I huff. "Maybe, you two need to stop seeing your pasts as a reason not to be together, and rather, a blessing that it led it you to each other instead. It's like me and Lucy. I lost my sister and she lost her mom. But if it wasn't for her asshole of a father never being around, I would never have gotten to experience raising her. I'm grateful for everyday with her" Garret keeps his eyes on the road, but mine are stuck on him. He's right. Colton and I don't come from ideal situations. But we were ideal when we were together. Maybe we both need to stop thinking being apart is a good thing. Because honestly, I miss him like mad. And this love hate thing we have going on is making things complicated. I don't want complicated. But I don't want boring. And I guess you can't have one without the other.