Now Or Never

Fam

CHAPTER 28:

Literally. I cried. I had somehow managed to let the frustration get to me and I had burst into tears for the billionth time today.

Ralph rubbed my back with the same brotherly affection he's always reserved for me. "It's okay. I know you're happy to see me, but you don't need to cry." he joked. 

I let out a tearful laugh. He knew I wasn't crying out of sadness, of course, but it was more because of how comforting it was that he smelt like family.

I felt a hand tug on my elbow and I lifted my head to face Kevin. I knew it was him before I even saw his face.  Who else could make my heart beat like that?

"Ron? Are you okay? Who is this guy?" Kevin questioned, staring at Ralph with a territorial look in his eyes.

"Who are you?" Ralph shot back, brushing Kevin's hand off my elbow and taking a step forward.

As grateful as I was for my baby's presence, I really didn't need him interfering. I was doing fine on my own...wow I am such a liar.

"Chill, Kevin." I said, looking at him blankly. His face made me want to cry and my throat was aching and it was getting impossibly hard to keep blinking back my tears. "He's my cousin." I tried to come up with something else to say but all my energy was focused on not crying. Why am I so weak? Stop being a lil bitch, Cortez!

I turned away from him. 

"You owe me 200 dollars\." I blurted. 

"What?! No I don't!" Ralph exclaimed, looking panicked. I inwardly snickered, ignoring my sinking heart and the infuriatingly handsome boy behind me. I felt a little bad, as it was obvious my cousin was a broke college kid, and he clearly didn't have that kind of cash flow. 

"Uhh...yeah you do, fam. Six years ago. I won that game of cards and you were supposed to give me your birthday money. Remember?"

"Oh shit." Ralph cursed, apparently remembering our bet from when I was ten years old.

"It's alright, though. I'll settle for some good Chinese food if we leave now." I bargained. I needed to clear my head and decide who the fuck I am and what I'm going to do. Nonetheless, a small part of me knew my actions would hurt Kevin and that horrible piece was glad. I am such a bad person.

"Deal. Let's go?" Ralph asked, meaningfully glancing behind me at Kevin. I nodded at him, turning around to face my unrequited lover.

"Kevin, tell your mom I'm with my cousin. We both have a lot of catching up to do, so I'll probably be back late."

"You're just going to leave with him? Are you serious? H-he could be dangerous!" Kevin spluttered.

Ralph snorted, "Wow this guy is dramatic," he rudely chuckled. I smacked him.

"He's my cousin! I trust him more than my parents!" I laughed. Kevin enticingly licked his lips and swallowed, looking embarrassed and defeated.

"Yeah. Okay. Whatever, Ron." he emotionlessly responded, spinning on his heel to sit back on a table. I felt a wave of frustration wash over me, but I ignored it and instead looked back at my dear cousin.

"Don't you wanna stick with your friends?" I whispered, looking over at the table of exhausted almost adults.

"Meh, I'll see them some other time. Whereas I haven't seen YOU in like three years, and after this, probably won't for another five, since you're some kind of detached freak." he replied, patting my shoulder distractedly. 

Author's Note:

OMG! I can't apologize enough. This is the shittiest chapter ever and it's been a whole year, but hopefully I can get things back on track? I'm real sorry guys. It's actually really weird writing this because it's been sooooo long and I'm such a different person now. I don't even remember most of what I wrote, but I do remember what I had planned out for the rest of the story, so that's maybe a redeeming factor?

I just wanna thank every single person that has every read, voted, or commented on a chapter of any of my books. You're amazing and I love you. 

I also want to mention that I'm going to be editing a lot of aspects of this book, because a lot of my worldviews have changed  and I'm also a bit more experienced as a write (hopefully). So I will be making some minor changes, like adding some ethnic diversity and removing my sexist remarks, little things like that. Anyways, I'm real sorry, hope you guys forgive me, and I'll do my best to continue updating! xx

- Mia