A Step to Love

Chapter 29: Compunction?

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” he said. “Don’t pretend you didn’t.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Seriously…Who the hell is being a bitch now?”

Before I even thought of leaving, Alex took my arm and backed me against the end, imprisoning me. “Answer my question. You have been ignoring me for almost seven months—I can’t take it anymore.” He sighed and let go of my arm to pace slowly in front of me. “I don’t get it…What did I do?” He asked and I almost believed that tone of innocence he added.

“You just…confuse me, Alex,” I admitted. He stared in confusion, but I didn’t exactly want to explain myself any further. I had decided not to tell anyone about my feelings besides Sasha and Jake. But Jake was the only one that knew the entire version which meant Sasha probably thought I still had feelings for Alex. “Look, I don’t know which game you're playing, but whatever it is, please, stop. Or at least, don’t play it with me.”

“I don’t understand.”

I smiled. “It’s okay. Let’s just leave at that.”

“Lilly, I don’t want to leave things like they are.”

“Now I’m the one that doesn’t understand,” I replied. “Why wouldn’t you want to leave it like it is when you’re the main cause of this situation existing on the first place?”

“The cause? How am I responsible?!”

“Alex,” I breathed, “you are constantly leading me somewhere and it just so happens that every time we’re about to get there, you simply back away.” I paused. “What am I to you? Just another girl you can take and throw?”

“I still don’t get what you’re talking about…”

“…just forget it.” I walked passed him, toward the living room of the house. Agh. It’s merely unbelievable how a person can be so oblivious. Is it too hard to understand? Is it so complicated that by telling him straight up what is it, he still doesn’t get it?

“…piece of fucking franksicles,” I muttered silently while making my way up the stairs. “He says, ‘I still don’t get what you’re talking about’…I still don’t get it, my ass.”

“Lilly...” I swore mentally that if Alex was following me, I would shove something up his ass so hard that he was bound to lose his virginity again. With jaw set and ready to launch, I turned around. “Hiiiii,” a very drunk Brody slurred just a few feet away. “You pretty today.”

Oh, God. “Brody, sweetie.” I came toward him as fast as I could and took one of his arms and wrapped it around my shoulders, so he could rest against me. “Why are you drunk?” I whispered, remembering the strict rule about no alcohol.

“You pretty today.”

“Yeah, you said that already, thanks.” I sighed. “Come here…” I took him by the waist and pulled him hard against me, so we could make our way toward the stairs. I had to take him upstairs before one of the adults saw him. I couldn’t imagine facing Pat’s disappointed face if she saw Brody like this.

“Hmmmm.”

“Brody…” I kept on whispering. “Stay with me, please.”

“I’m here!” Thankfully, we had already reached the end of the stairs, so no one could hear with the heavy waves of music downstairs. I took his shirt and pulled him to the bathroom. “Whee. Where we gone?”

I made a ‘shhh’ sound. “Please, you’re starting to give me a headache.” I let go of his shirt and as soon as I did, he stumbled all the way toward the bathtub. I took the opportunity to text somebody. I thought about texting Brittany, but she was probably making out with Joe somewhere by now. I decided to text Sasha…