Love Me Always (I Hate You...I Think) Page 8

  "Wipe that look off your face," Weasley growled. I jerked away from him. "I'm so sick of your shit," I snarled, instantly regretting it as he punched me in the stomach. Doubling over he put his foot to my back slamming me to the ground and holding me there.

  "You ungrateful little bastard. I have given you everything your entire life. Nice cars, nice houses, I provide you means to pick up whores and all I ask of you is to do simple tasks for me. However, you somehow always seem to fuck everything up. You are a disgrace. I can’t believe you're even my son. Now get your ass up."

  Obeying him, I got to my feet. The last thing I needed was to get another beating like last time. I cringed remembering how I couldn't move without screaming. Father of the year here.

  "You get her back. She's all I have to getting Oliver back. She's the key into bringing him back to us," Weasley said turning around.

  Oliver. Of course. That's all he thinks about. Like Oliver is some god. I knew he'd rather have Oliver as his son than me. Even after what Oliver did to him. He would always love him more. Always be prouder.

  Weasley turned around remembering I was there, "Go!" Turning on my heels, I exited the room quickly. Frankie and Paul were standing guard outside the door with a smirk.

  "What are you smiling about?" I growled staring Paul down. Paul wiped the smirk off his face quickly I turned my look on Frankie he wasn't smiling either. They knew better. Sure, my father beat the hell outta me every chance he got but they knew he also trained me brutally and I was deadly if I needed to be.

  Storming through the house, I went to my room bolting the door shut and threw myself down on the bed glaring at the ceiling.

  I'd give anything for a different life. I mean sure the cars, the money, the women were nice but I hated this life. It was a life my father chose, a life I had no choice in whatsoever.

  From a young age, he started training me. I was his pride and joy then Oliver came along, and I wasn't good enough anymore. Oliver, the saint, always perfect in fighting. Perfect in everything he did, or at least my father believed. Oliver practically lived with us and I looked up to him. He was good to me, he always looked out for me always took me under his wing.

  Then he abandoned me. Once I would have called him my brother but then he left, leaving me in the wake of whatever it was he had done. My father wouldn't tell me, of course. A year later, Oliver asked me to join him. To join his gang, but it was too late by then, the damage was done.

  A tear streaked down my cheek. Jerking up I rubbed them away violently. Shoving off the bed I went to my closet and changed into my workout gear then headed for the gym in the basement. There were a few men working out however when I stepped inside the room they exited quickly.

  Ignoring there stares I headed for the punching bags. I took out my build up rage and anger on the punching bags wishing it were my father I was hitting all the while thinking about Ever.

  Oliver didn't deserve a girl like that. She's so naive. Even more so, that she lost her memory, but in general, she was so innocent. At first, I didn't believe her but now I do. I hope I can talk her into another date. I feel like such a fool for how I acted tonight or toward her in general.

  The night I first saw her with Oliver I didn't get a good look at her, but that red hair. I'd know that hair anywhere. At club Envy, I was sure she knew who I was when she wouldn't look away from me.

  I was waiting for her to take off running but she didn't. She looked so confused, so gorgeous, and then this stupid attitude I have. My father drilled it into me and when I'm with her, I can't help how I act. I want to be different around her, but I don't know how.

  Then I basically attacked her tonight. The look on her face when she realized what she was doing. Clearly, it wasn't me she had been thinking about while we were kissing. Gritting my teeth I hitting the punching bag repeatedly, sweat was pour down my face.

  "He doesn't deserve a girl like that," I growled hitting the bag one more time. The chain snapped and it crashed to the ground.

  What if somehow Ever does bring Oliver back to my father? What if she finds out about who I really am? What would Ever think of me if she knew, I used her?

  ~Ever~ Oliver was sleeping curled up against my side. His head was on my stomach, his warm breath tickled my skin. Running my fingers through his hair, I sighed. I'm getting my memories back slowly.

  There is no possible way I can say I don't know Oliver now. I might not know much about the life we had together but I know the way I felt in those memories, fire and passion. Oliver shifted his head lifting up to look at me. He gave the sweetest smile and snuggled back into my stomach kissing it.

  I couldn't help the giggle that came out. He sighed contently. "I missed your laugh." I curled my fingers in his soft hair again. He sat up and I dropped my hand to my stomach. Leaning against the headboard, he just sat there staring at me.

  "What?" I questioned blushing. He shook his head smiling. "I'm going to go brush my teeth. You're not leaving are you?" his face dropped for a moment sadly.

  "No, I'll be here. I might go down stairs. I promised Logan breakfast."

  He chuckled, "I'll be quick then or it'll all be gone."

  I nodded, "Do you feel better?" "I'm great since you're here," he muttered leaning in to kiss me. I placed my hand over my mouth.

  "Uhhh...no. Go brush your teeth," I laughed pushing him toward the bathroom. "Yes, ma'am," he smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. Somehow, he knew I wasn't ready to kiss him. Not yet. Not like this. I want my memories back first. I want the moment to be special, to matter.

  I headed down stairs. I found Alex and Kimmy in the living room. He was talking to her stomach in baby talk.

  Laughing I came into the living room. Alex jumped up blushing.

  "Tell no one," he threatened half-heartedly.

  Kimmy smacked him. "Oh, please. Everyone in this house knows you're whipped."

  "Babe," Alex frowned pushing out his bottom lip.

  I made a whipping sound.

  "Good lord, you've been around Jake and Leon entirely too much," he grumbled.

  "So are you guys eating breakfast too?"

  "Not me, Hun," Kimmy shook her head making a face. Smiling I nodded and headed into the kitchen where Logan was sitting with Leon, Tyler and Jet was by the window.

  Jet held out a spoon to me with a grin. I raised my eyebrow at him and took the spoon looking at it. It was wooden and simple, I stared at it concentrating, I'm supposed to remember something about this but I don't know what.

  Frowning I glanced at the guys they were looking at me anxiously. Looking away, I headed for the stove. From the corner of my eye, I saw them exchange sad looks. Anger boiled inside me. Why can't I remember!

  "Ok, out," I told them as they watched me gathering things I needed. "Wha-" Logan whined. Leon elbowed him and shooed him out. Tyler walked by giving me a hug from behind. It made me smile. That boy was such a sweetheart; I don't know how he doesn't have a girlfriend.

  "Oh, by the way we're putting up the Christmas tree today and having a mini party with just all of us. Are you staying?" Jet asked.

  "Yeah," I nodded.

  “I had better make cookies,” I thought to myself. I laughed at my own thought and continued cooking. Arms wrapped around my waist after a while. Oliver buried his face in my hair. I didn't try to wiggle out of his grasp I just let him hold me as I finished cooking.

  "Do I smell cookies?" he muttered.

  "Yeah."

  He leaned down to my ear, his breath made my hair stand on end.

  "I love you, bunny," he told me softly kissing my cheek. He exited the kitchen leaving me blushing with butterflies in my stomach. I adore him. Even if I don't know it yet.

  ~Just Not Enough~

  I was finishing the eggs when I heard Taylor and Angie come down the stairs.

  "Good Morning!" Angie exclaimed. Glancing around the doorway, I saw her hop into Jet's lap. He chuckled and caught her before she slid off into the floor. Taylor came aro
und the corner with a grin. It quickly slid off her face and was replaced with a frown.

  "Have you slept?" "Good morning to you to," I smiled ignoring her question. Looking away I hoped she'd let it go.

  "Hey missy," Taylor came to my side with her hands on her hips and an eyebrows raised.

  "You look like you've been to hell and back."

  "I was watching over Oliver last night," I shrugged.

  She knew better. "You look like you haven't slept in days," she frowned.

  "I'm fine," I muttered. A yawn escaped me.

  "Traitor freakin body," I thought to myself.

  "Taylor." I looked up to find Oliver at the doorway he was motioning for her to give us a moment. Taylor squeezed me in a hug then left.

  "She's right, you know," he told me softly leaning against the counter. He had dark bags under his eyes much like I knew I did. However, mine wasn't from a drug binge. Mine was from refusing to shut my eyes. I had tried last night but the nightmares. The images of that boy haunted me.

  "I didn't want to say anything but you look exhausted." Gentle he brushed a stray hair from my face. Blushing I resisted the urge to lean into his hand.

  "I'm fine," I repeated not looking at him.

  "You’re having nightmares aren't you?" I froze and looked up at him. I didn't even tell Leon about the nightmares. Did I? Had I told him?

  "It's obvious, Ever. I might have been screwed up yesterday. I might still be kind of fucked up right now but I know you, baby girl."

  My heart did a flip. He called me baby girl. He held my gaze with a look of adoration that made me want to just melt into his arms.

  "Is breakfast ready?" Logan whined from the doorway completely shattering the moment. Oliver grumbled and cursed under his breath about never getting any privacy.

  "Yeah," I told Logan and stepped out of the way as he grabbed a plate and began filling it up with everything in sight. The others filtered in and Leon knocked Logan upside the head for not sharing.

  Stepping back one more step I bumped into Oliver. His arms coiled around me.

  "You need sleep, Baby."

  I shook my head. "Jet said we were putting up the Christmas tree." "We can do that after breakfast," Alex chimed in offering Kimmy a plate. She waved it off.

  After everyone had ate, the plastic Christmas tree was dug out of storage. It was amusing watching the boys try to figure out how to put it together. The girls and I just sat there making fun and poking jokes at them.

  Alex was sitting with ornaments in his lap handing them up to the others. Oliver was glaring at a bundle of lights that were so twisted up I doubt he was getting them untangled anytime soon. Leon was throwing objects Tyler handed him at Logan who eating the popcorn string Jet kept handing him and Jake was bent over fixing the bottom of the tree with his butt sticking straight up in the air.

  "Nice view," Taylor chuckled shooting a nerf dart at his butt. It hit him and he jumped up almost taking the tree over. The tree tipped and landed on Tyler's head. Tyler more or less caught it before Oliver righted it glaring at Jake.

  "Don't look at me. She shot me!" Jake cried pointing accusingly at Taylor. Taylor who had hid the nerf gun looked wide-eyed and innocently at Oliver shaking her head. I bit my lip and looked away trying not to laugh.

  "She's always like this. It's nice that she found someone to play with and they don't get angry," Angie told me quietly, "She use to get in a lot of trouble back home. Ask her about senior prank. She almost didn't get to walk across the stage."

  I raised my eyebrow at that and looked at Taylor. She looked so sweet she didn't look capable of getting into any kind of trouble.

  Jake gave Taylor a look, "It's on now, Tater Tot," he smirked. Oliver wacked him over the head with a large plastic candy cane.

  "HEY!"

  "Back to work." Jake flared out his nostrils and flipped Oliver off. The look Oliver gave him caused Jake's eyes to go wide and he turned back to the tree.

  "That's what I thought," Oliver muttered with a smirk and winked at me.

  Chuckling I turned to Taylor, "So Tater Tot?"

  Taylor got a look quite similar to one a cat makes when you rub there fur the wrong way.

  "I'm watchin you, missy," she told me pointing her finger in my face.

  "Why did he suddenly start calling you Tater Tot?"

  Her cheeks went red and she refused to look at me.

  "I was telling Ever about senior prank," Angie laughed changing the subject.

  Taylor gave a small smile that didn't reach her eyes.

  "Yeah, it was pretty funny." "Angie just told me you caused a lot of trouble not anything about it. What did you do? You don't seem capable of causing havoc."

  Taylor laughed out right at that. With a grin, I saw a mischievous look in her eye.

  "Well, it was great I had planned it out for a long time."

  ~~~

  ~Taylor – Senior prank~

  “Hurry up,” I whispered to Angie. Angie was emptying the rest of her syrup on the floor.

  “Kyle should be coming soon. Hopefully he had found the central air duct to the school.” As I thought about that Kyle came sliding around the corner his converse sliding on the sticky mess.

  “Shit,” he chuckled and tiptoed to the doorway Angie and I were hiding in.

  “Ready?” I questioned.

  “People should start running soon,” he nodded.

  “Tell me why we are doing this again? We’re like so getting expelled for this.”

  “Shh...look,” I pointed up at the vents overhead. Gallons and gallons of glitter mixed with tiny feathers began spraying out. Seconds later screams echoed through the school and classroom doors flew open and mostly girls came flying out only to lose their footing and go slamming into walls.

  Slipping and sliding students were covered head to toe in glitter, feathers, and sticky syrup. The three of us were laughing so hard at the sight. Doubling over I held my stomach.

  “This is awesome babe,” Kyle laughed hugging me from behind.

  “You three!” Mrs. Melton yelled. Her usually perfect hair was a matted mess.

  “Oh shit! Run!”

  We took off attempting to run through the mass of angry students trying to get off the floor. Tripping I slid across the floor. Looking up at Kyle, he had stopped and glanced back at me then at Mrs. Melton. Turning on his heels, he took off. I sat in shock looking after my boyfriend as he disappeared down the hall. He ditched me! My boyfriend ditched me!

  “ Miss Sullivan,” Mrs. Melton spoke from behind me. She had her arms crossed and a sour look on her face.

  “Why am I not surprised.”

  ~~~ "Really! He just ditched you?" I exclaimed. The boys glanced up. I clamped my hand over my mouth. "Sorry, kind of yelled that."

  Taylor looked as if she was far off. Her eyes glazed over as she lost in thought. "I think it's time for some music. Ever didn't you make Christmas cookies?" Kimmy asking standing up and heading for the radio.

  Logan jumped up knocking the Christmas tree over again. This time it landed on Oliver.

  "COOKIES!" Logan exclaimed running for the kitchen.

  Oliver pushed the tree off his shoulders sitting it upright again. "We're never going to get this thing done," he grumbled dropping the bundle of lights he had into the box Alex had in his lap. Alex made a face at the lights.

  Oliver slumped into his chair dropping his arm over his eyes. A song blared into the room. It was "Glad you came".

  "Aww you and Oliver should dance!" Angie yelled shoving me off the couch.

  "What?" Oliver asked moving his arm.

  "Go on," Taylor encouraged shoving me to him. I tripped landing in his lap.

  "Geez thanks guys!" Oliver's chest rumbled under my hands with laughter. Straightening up I grabbed his hand and tugged him off the chair.

  He went with me. "Aww," Kimmy cooed cuddling with Alex. Oliver took my hand as if we were going to waltz. I gave him a questioning look and he began spinning us
in circle and pretending to skip around.

  The room filled with laughter, I found myself giggling too. I jumped around with him. He spun me out then back in and I collided with his chest where he picked me up and began spinning us around.

  I was laughing so hard by then. I hadn't felt so happy in a long time. As the song ended Oliver slowed his spin to a sway. We had forgotten completely about the others in the room. All that existed was just us.

  "The sun goes down, the stars come out, and all that counts is here and now. My universe will never be the same, I'm glad you came," Oliver whispered.

  He looked at my lips longingly as I stared at his the same. I wanted to kiss him. There was this undying need to kiss him, to be close to him in every way possible. We leaned closer our lips inches from each other.

  Then suddenly Oliver pulled back at the last second. He looked so sad at what he had done. My heart cracked not only at that look but also at the fact he didn't kiss me. Perhaps he was respecting my unspoken words earlier, that I wanted to kiss him after I remembered him. However, I wanted him now more than I have ever wanted someone in my life.

  Oliver sat me on my feet. I felt the moisture pressing at my eyes. Looking away from Oliver I quickly hurried upstairs so no one would see me crying. It was too embarrassing. This is want I wanted right? I wanted to wait. So why was I so heartbroken?

  ~Let Me Love You~

  I sat in Oliver's bathroom not really having anywhere else to go. I knew he would be up here soon but I wasn't ready to face him just yet. My cell phone vibrated in my pocket, Kimmy most likely.

  Pulling it out I found it wasn’t Kimmy at all. There were three unread texts.

  Hey Ever. I know you probably don't want to talk to me but please call me. -Harper It's me again. I really want to talk to you and apologize for the way I behaved the other night. Call me. -Harper

  Ever, I truly am sorry. I wasn't thinking clearly. - Harper Sighing I rubbed my eyes annoyed. I was too tired to deal with him or anyone else right now. I just want to sleep. I'm so tired. I quickly text him back telling him everything was fine and I'd talk to him tomorrow.