Toxic: A Sociopath Novel

Chapter 14

I must have dozed off while waitingfor a response from William. I was waken,scared to death, by a rattling at the door. Isat up on the couch, my heart racing andeyes wide. I grabbed my chest in reliefwhen I saw that it was just Christopher. Iforgot he had an apartment key.He walked over to me, handing me abottle of sprite and a Styrofoam take outbox full of lemon peppered wings. I lookedup at him, confused."I figured you were hungry." Heshrugged. I patted the couch cushion besideme, inviting him to sit. To my delight, he did.I dipped one of my wings in ranch, took abite, then threw it back in the box, sighing."I'm sorry." We said together.Christopher looked at me shocked."What is it?" I asked, nervous,thinking I said the wrong thing again."You've never said sorry to me before,ever." "I treat people how they deserve tobe treated. I don't believe in apologizing forthe ignorance of others." I explained. Weboth looked down at my phone when itvibrated."Hey Beautiful," fromWilliam we read. I gave Christopher an Ican-explain look. He stood up and buriedhis face in his hands."You're still communicating withhim?""He messaged me first." I lied."I do not want you talking to himanymore.""Chris-""No, LeighAnn. I can't believe you'redoing this to me. I do everything for you. Ilove you, when are you going to realizethat?" He loves me."Christopher, I love you too. Williamis just a fantasy of mine." "It's not a fantasy if you've actuallymet the guy. Any day he can just comesweep you away.""I love you, but, I like him, too.""You can't do that LeighAnn!""But, he's nice to look at, and he's sosweet.""He's so sweet until he gets in yourpants then runs.""Are you implying that he's afuckboy?""Kind of, yeah.""He's nothing like the guys your sisterthrows herself at!""First of all, leave my sister out of this.Does William even know about me? Doeshe even know you have a boyfriend?""Actually, that's never came up.""Great, so know you're ashamed ofme.""When you act like a child, yes.""Act like a child? I'm supposed toprotect you, care about you but you just expect me to be okay with you wanting tohook up with another guy. How do youexpect me to act?""Supportive." I whispered."Supportive, LeighAnn? I'm not ahuge fan of him, or you right now for thatmatter.""I supported you when Lyn washospitalized." I snapped."That's not even close to the sametype of support. My sister almost died, butyou just want me to support you in lovinganother guy.""I don't love him.""You might as well. Please list all ofthe things he's done for you compared tome. You've got one fucked mind. You don'tknow anything about life or relationships.You need to figure it out and let me knowwhat you really want." Our argument wasinterrupted by a knock on the door."Great, the cops." I thought.Christopher opened the door and an exhausted looking young woman stoodbefore us. We looked at her until she spoke."I'm downstairs, directly underneathyou two," She started. "I have a newbornbaby and your arguing is disturbing him.Either break up or shut the hell up." Howrude."Figure it out." Christopher mouthedto me before brushing past the youngwoman, almost causing her to fall. I lookedat the woman in disgust because of hercrude comment; then I closed the door inher face. I walked over to the couch again,grabbing my phone, trying my luck withWilliam."Hey, sorry about thelate response.""Everything okay?""Yeah, Christopher and Ihad a falling out.""Who?""Oh," I typed, momentarilyforgetting I hadn't told him. "He's myboyfriend...or well, he was." "Care to talk about it?""He just didn't like metalking to you.""Yeah, I don't blame him.I'm a jealous guy too.""Well, he was mad becauseI liked the attention I getfrom you.""Right, jealousy.""Oh yeah.""I'm hungry.""Go eat.""I can't, my house has nofood.""I'm sure there'ssomething you could eat." Thenext few messages I received were picturesof his refrigerator and pantry, they're bothcompletely empty."Your mom doesn't buy youfood?""We usually eat wheneverwe're out.""So, you don't eatwhenever you're home?" "Pretty much, yeah.""Why don't you get a job?You're a man, it's yourresponsibility to work.""I have a job, but I makejack there. My mom charges merent, and the rest I have tospend on pot for healthreasons." I sighed reading his message.I hate when Christopher smokes pot forleisure, but William has to do it for healthproblems? I don't know which one is worse.All I feel now, is like a fool. I pushedChristopher away, William will never beable to take care of me, and I can't do thison my own. My grandma won't even pickme up so I can stay at her house.I heard a car door slam, and decidedto peek through the blinds, a little spark ofme hoping it would be Christopher. I didn'tsee any sign of him, but I saw his dirty whitepathfinder in the same space he always parks. I slipped on some slides and went toinvestigate.Christopher was passed out asleep inthe driver's side. I tapped on the window.Without opening his eyes, he unlocked thedoor, and I climbed in."Hi," I said, my voice gentle."LeighAnn." He acknowledged in thatsexy, sleepy voice."Were you out here all night?" Iasked, noticing the pool of sweat he wassoaked in. he nodded his head."Why don't you come upstairs, take ashower, and get in the air conditioning?"Christopher agreed then rubbed his eyes.We made our way back into the apartment.Christopher hopped in the shower withoutfussing and I snuck in afterwards, placingsome clean clothes on the sink.Once he finished showering, hejoined me on the couch. He didn't sayanything to me until I tried to makeconversation first. "Why did you sleep in your car?" Mytone was shy and collected."I didn't want to go to my mom'sbecause I wanted to avoid explaining oursituation, so I just stayed in my car until youcame to your senses and realized that I'mthe man for you." I swallowed at hiscomment."You have friends though, you couldhave stayed with one of them.""Again, LeighAnn, I didn't want toexplain our situation. The whole worlddoesn't have to know when we argue." Fairenough, I thought."So what happened?" He asked. Isighed."He's..P-p.." I couldn't get the wordsout."Poor?" Christopher finished thesentence for me."Yes, he could never provide for me.""Tough luck." Christopher joked. Igave him a sarcastic smirk. "Will you forgive me?" I asked."Of course, LeighAnn." I threw myarms around his neck in sweet relief. Ipromise Christopher, I will never hurt youagain.