Joseph

Friday, December 18, 2002

Evening

He sat on the counter with his black ripped jeans and boots. Staring at me with that familiar smile. "Alex?" I stammered.

He got off the counter, looking at my lips. "Hey, Sexy..."

"W- What are you doing here?"

He got closer, grabbing my hand. "I was worried about you, then I saw that picture online and-" he choked, rubbing my palm. "I got pissed... But I kept it in cause I've been working on that..."

How did he know I lived here... "Alex, you have to leave."

His face dropped to a frown and his hand found its way to my jawline. "You've been crying..." Moving his hand away, I grabbed his arm. "Can you just talk to me!" he begged, as I dragged him out the front door.

"Alex, I'm engaged! What don't you understand about that?"

"It doesn't fucking matter. You are my mine!"

I held his shoulder, looking around. "Where's your car, Alex?"

"I walked here for you..."

He really walked that far for me? Dragging him to my car, I opened the door. "Get in."

"Sexy..."

"GET IN THE CAR ALEX!" A sigh left his mouth and he got in the car. I slammed the door shut, walking around to the drivers side. Getting into the front seat, I put my key in the ignition, backing out of the driveway quickly. "I'm engaged! And I'm tired of saying this!" I shouted in frustration as I waited on the gate to open.

"To a cheater, a fucking dickhead!" He shouted, only to control his breathing. "I'm sorry..."

"Alex, you did the same thing, so what does that say about you?"

He glanced at me, trying to wrap his hand in mine, but I shrugged him off. "You remember the day I left to take care of something?"

"What about it?" I retorted, driving onto the street.

"I was gonna kill him for us. For our relationship!"

Hearing him say stuff like that only made the emotions in me bubble up further. I saw the good side of him, the side that cried in my arms... He isn't a killer and isn't a villain like everyone made him out to be. My eyes watered as every thought came up. "You aren't like that Alex..."

He wiped my tears, kissing my hand. "You're right, you changed me. You taught me what real care feels like..." "You were engaged to that dickhead and still cared for me. I hurt you and you still cared. That's why I'm fighting so hard for you, because you are the light in my life..."

His words hit me, but it wasn't a good feeling. If he felt this way, why did he cheat? If Lance felt that way, why would he cheat? Sebastian too... They all betrayed me in the same way. But what Lance said came to mind.

"Alex, I can't be the thing that fixes you. I shouldn't have even sat with you that night at the club..." "I should have just helped you..."

Parking in front of his apartments, he stared at me in awe. "So you regret meeting me. Is that what you're saying, Joseph?"

"No. I just was weak at that moment. My relationship with Sebastian was crumbling, and I let you take advantage of that..."

"Our relationship was real. The sex we had was real. Our love is real! I want you back, Joseph, and I'm willing to do anything for it..."

"If you felt this way, why would you do what you did?"

He looked down, taking a breath. "When I drink, he comes out..."

"Your Father?"

"Yes... that night I said all those fucked up things. It was the alcohol! He comes out when I'm drunk and makes me say and do things I don't mean..." "I would never want a threesome with your fucking brother and I wasn't playing an act, Joseph. When I told you that was the happiest day I'd ever had, I meant it! I meant every single fucking word!"

His eyes were glassy, and my hand found its way to his cheek. Caressing it like I always did. The vulnerable side of him was so special to me. When he let his guard down for a moment, he felt like a different person. His eyes went down to my lips, inching closer. I froze for a moment, but everything that happened popped up and I lightly pushed him back. "I can't-"

"I'll give you time, Sexy, but when you figure out what you're gonna do with that blonde prick," "You know where to find me..." he murmured, kissing my hand.

He got out of the car, and my phone rang. Of course, it was Lance. I put it to my ear, starting the car.

"Hey..."

"Where are you? I'm here..."

I wiped my eyes, looking in the mirror. "I'm coming now..." I hung up and put my keys in the ignition, starting the car.

...

He stood by the fountain with a rose as I pulled into our driveway. He was anxious, and I could tell he'd been crying. As I took the key out of the ignition, the engine shut off. I stared in the mirror, trying to see the strong man my father saw, but it was difficult. So many bad memories flooded my mind. I can do this...

As soon as I stepped out of the car, he dashed over to me. Handing me the rose. I could tell by his body language that he was having one of his moments. I put the rose on my car, pulling him into my arms. Even with how hurt and angry I was. I couldn't see him like this...

"Breathe..." I stressed, rubbing his back.

He just broke down crying, nuzzling his head into my neck. "I didn't cheat, I swear!" He sobbed. A part of me wanted to believe him, but the fact that he left for her while I was asleep just nailed its way into my head. I let go of him, wiping his tears.

"What happened that night, Lance?"

He sniffled, running his hand through his hair. "She said she wanted it to be a last goodbye, then she started talking about the miscarriage we had..."

"So you leave me in the middle of the night? While I was asleep?" There was only one way I'd get the truth. "Call her Lance."

"What?"

"Call her, I wanna ask her."

His eyes burned with stress, and it only made me more upset. "I blocked her on everything... Joseph, please just believe me!"

"You said that's what she said. I wanna hear it from her..."

"Joseph-"

"FUCKING CALL HER LANCE!"

He went to his phone, unblocking her. I took the phone out of his hand, dialing the number. It rang for a few seconds before her voice came through. "Lance?"

I put it on speaker. "It's his Fiancée"

"Oh," she responded with some disappointment that only made me more upset.

"Yeah, what did he go there for?"

There was a long silence. It felt like years in the moment. Her answer would determine everything...

"He said he missed me..."

"She's lying Joseph!" "That's what she's always been! A liar!"

"Just break it off with him, Lance. I'm pregnant and I want my baby's father in his life..."

I quickly hung up, staring at him. "You got her pregnant?"

"Joseph, she's lying! I love you! Just believe me, please! You're the love of my life!"

His voice only became an echo as I covered my face, holding back every painful tear in my eyes. It was like being shot in my chest. Breathing was difficult and with all my strength, I punched him in his face, knocking him to the ground. "FUCK YOU LANCE!"

I slipped off every ring he gave me, throwing it at him and got in my car, slamming the door shut. Turning the car on. "Joseph, wait!" He shouted, but I quickly backed out of the driveway, speeding off. I sped through traffic, trying to control my breathing. Every bone in my body was angry and hurt. It felt like the first time Sebastian cheated. So much piled-up aggression that I never got to get out, but this time I didn't give a fuck. He kept ringing my phone, but I ignored it, scrolling to my father's number.

I called it and he answered immediately. "Son?"

"He cheated on me, dad, got her pregnant, his fucking ex-wife! HE FUCKING—" I choked as tears ran down my eyes. "I hate him..."

"Just come home and we'll figure it out, okay?"

"No! I fucking hate him!" I shouted, increasing my speed.

"Son, just come home, take a break from everything..."

"He was my best friend... Dad." I sniffled, wiping my face. "I wanna kill him..."

"Son—"

A sound stole my attention. I turned my head, and a truck smashed into me. The sound of metal scraping the concrete-filled my ears as my car flipped over. I felt something pierce my stomach, and the car stopped. Everything was quiet as I sat there upside down. Blood was dripping from my head, and my eyes were struggling to stay open. I could hear my father's voice faintly, but my eyes slowly closed and black was the only thing I could see.

━ ★ ━

To be continued...

Hope you enjoyed the Chapter!

Sincerely, R.J