Liam Hemsworth as Demetrios Kanzaki

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Stuck On You: Kapitel Zwei

"Stop being mean to him!" I pulled the bully off of the crying boy. "Mommy says that's not nice! You should be friends with everyone!" I fumed as I stood in front of the boy, protecting him. "You should say sorry to him!" I yelled at the bully, who stood to cower. "S-sorry." He whispered before he ran off. I hated the mean people.

"T-Thank you."

I turned around in shock that he spoke, taking in the boy's brown skin and pretty eyes. He seemed like he needed a friend. "My name is Anthony!" I beamed as I reached a hand out to help the boy up. "My name is Santiago." He replied, shivering as he looked at me. "Cool! We're gonna the best of friends!"

Indeed we were.

"You guys are always together!" One of our other friends, Luzia Cardenas, came marching up to us. "I think you guys would make such an adorable couple." I took one good look at my right, smiling as I took in Santiago's shocked face, his cheeks stained as red as one could tell. It was good that I wasn't the only one.

Because we were.

However, it seemed to be completely obvious that I was the only one who was caught up in that fantasy.

"Huh?" I sputtered in disbelief, not wanting to believe what I was seeing. "Santi?" I gritted my teeth as my eyes watered without control. Don't call him that. He doesn't deserve it. I tried so hard not to let heart fall but I lost all rationale. I couldn't speak nor could I think. I just stood there, staring with tears at the person who broke me. God damn it. God fucking damn it! I always told myself that if this day, in some evil way, ever came, I'd be calm and triumphant. He was the one who had left such a magnificent person.

But all that I could do at this moment is, wonder what I did wrong.

Why did he leave me?

What did I ever do wrong?

"No," I shook my head fervently, rage sending a chill up my veins. Why now? Why now when I didn't need you anymore? "You don't get to do that!" I yelled, watching the civilians run outside of the venue, probably to get help. I hated the way that he made me feel when he looked at me with those cold hazel eyes. Each flick of his gaze made me hotter than no other and I hated it because he was the one who left.

"Do what, love?" The forsaken man who had my heart a long time ago, Santiago Luzardi, stood there with that same dumbass smirk on his face as if nothing fazed him. "Is this all a game to you?! You don't get to decide when and where you want to show up! You don't get to decide to come back into my life any god damn way you please!" By now, I was sputtering. I was so hurt. All this time, I was thinking that it was my fault, that I'll never be happy without him.

But fuck him to think that my feelings are so insignificant.

"But I missed you," There was that familiar drawl of his oh-so-deep voice as he stared through my soul, knowing exactly what I was thinking. I hated how he knew me better than I knew myself. "Didn't you miss me?" He tilted his head as he grinned, taking in my quivering mouth and cowering stature. "I bet you did." He clicked his tongue as he chuckled, looking effortlessly so attractive, more than he did before. "How long has it been? Huh?" He took a step forward and I took one back, glaring at him, wanting to hate him. "8 years? Man, that's too long." I wanted to snarl and yell, maybe hit him, but I couldn't do anything. 

"Why are you here?" I whispered as my gaze flicked to the floor. My body remembered his touch and I wanted to die. "Why? You said you loved me. You're a liar because you never really did!" I don't need you anymore. Santiago let out a hearty laugh, a sign that he didn't agree with my words as he raised a hand in a dismissing motion, the three men immediately standing to a halt as the sound of sirens filled the air. "Because you're mine." His stare infiltrated my soul, worming its way and rooting itself inside as his voice, filled with dominion and promise, waved over my ears like a dark chant. It was as if he was telling me he was never going to give up.

Why?

"BRAD!" I heard my voice being yelled out as footsteps crowded my hearing and I looked over with tear-stained eyes to see Demetrios running towards me, panic etched on his face. "Who's this?" The dark-skinned man in front of me asked with total death in his voice. "Are you okay?" I have never been so happy to see my best friend in my life. He grabbed at my face, checking me for injuries. I had small ones but the main one was on the inside, ripping and tearing apart, the imaginary stitches snapping apart at the wound I tried so hard to keep from spilling.

Just one look at this man and the bleeding returned.

"Demetrios..." I looked at him, knowing exactly why it hurt so much that this man was back. Not only did he break my heart and leave me to rot, but he destroyed all trust I could have in anyone else. I could never tell anyone my secret nor could I erase the lies I've already told.

Especially not to Demetrios Kanzaki.

Not when he gave me the gift of brotherhood.

"We need to get you checked out." He stated as his eyes traveled from me to Santiago, widening in part realization and in confusion. "If you don't mind sir, I need to take Brad away." Demetrios narrowed his eyes at the man of the year, daring him to challenge him. I was empty-minded, wondering why was this happening? He dragged me off and I managed to catch eye contact with the man I loathed, his eyes burning daggers into my eyes as he told me: you can run, but you can't hide. I'll find you soon.

Why?

"By the way," Demetrios looked over his shoulder to face Santiago as he held an arm around my shoulders, his hand on his gun. "Don't know who you are or how you know Brad, but you made him cry." The look in his icy blue eyes was feral. "Just know that I, Demetrios Kanzaki, will come for you." He growled lowly as he led me out of the venue, the empty blue sky, filled with nothing but darkness, resembling myself.

Thought it would be always and forever with us two.

"I'm fine, Demetrios..." I trailed off, the wings on the butterflies in my stomach crumbling to pieces. "This wound, the doctors can't treat." I whispered sadly as I looked at my hand, pulling out a piece of glass. It stung, but it was nothing compared to the hole that was opening once again inside of me. I could tell he was staring at me, wondering what was wrong with me, but that would mean I would have to expose everything and I wasn't ready. I stared straight, the blue and red lights flickering in front of my eyes as police walked past me, smart enough to know that I wasn't the mood. 

Thought it would be forever.

"Brad," I could tell Demi didn't know what to say. I didn't either. "Just how in the world do you know Santiago Luzardi, the man who's supposedly the head of the German mafia?" My eyes widened in shock once I registered what he said to me, though I didn't make it as obvious. I couldn't make it as obvious. That's what he's doing with his life now? I see. I chuckled to myself, biting down on my lips to keep myself from crying out in agony. That's why he left huh?

"I don't." I lied straight through my teeth and even he knew that it was all a big fact motherfucking lie. "He's just someone I thought I knew." That was the absolute truth.

Someone you thought you knew.

I clenched my eyes in lieu with my hands, willing myself to not dredge up the past and think what could have been. He was the one who left, not me. He was the one who left me behind, not me. He was the one who made me feel like I did every single possible wrong, not me. He was the one who made it clear that his love was a lie, not me.

Never was me.

Why did you leave me, Santiago? Did I not mean anything to you? Was it so easy for you to dismiss everything we had?

Right.

You never really did love me, did you?

I kept my eyes shut as the keys to my truck somehow made their way into my hands. "Call me when you get home, Brad." I heard Demetrios's voice, but I couldn't say anything. I was numb. It hurt. Everything hurt. "Don't worry about Ivory for tonight. John and I got her." He whispered as he grasped my shoulder, but all I could think about was the burning hole in my heart. Everything about him was the same. His smirk, his eyes, his voice-- he never did change, did he? 

Life was so damn unkind for no reason.

I didn't look back 8 years ago, so why did I feel the urge to do so now? I knew he'd be standing there with that same damn smug ass smirk on his face like nothing in the world mattered, so why did I want to look? Why did I want to hurt myself more? He claimed to love me more than anything in the world, but his words were a lie. The words that had no meaning kept me up at night, made me think that there was some truth to them, but there wasn't. I was certain there never would be. He was the same person who abandoned that night, made me feel so unloved. Maybe I never mattered to him. 

I just wanted to know why.

Just why.

"I will, don't worry." I muttered numbly as I blinked back and forth, wondering when my eyes became too blurry, when it became too hard to breathe. I felt like I was twenty all over again, sitting in my bedroom, wondering why he left me all alone.

I hit the unlock button on my keypad, the sight of my truck not lifting my spirits. Shit. This wasn't what I was expecting to happen tonight. "Just go on home, Alex," I could hear Demetrios speaking as several pairs of eyes pierced into my back. I knew them two were staring but their stares were being outweighed by the one that haunted my dreams.  "I'll make sure he calls you."  I trudged slowly to my car, gritting my teeth as the hot salt of tears slipped down my cheeks, hitting the pale pavement. 

Why did he come back?

Why now when I didn't need him?

Why now, when I just got myself together?

"So fucked up honestly." I ground my teeth as silent sobs wracked my body. Memories of the promises that we made, the moments we shared and the love we gave soared through my mind but I wanted to erase it all. He was the one who fucked it all up and up and left out of my life with no explanation. He doesn't deserve my time. 

It was sad because I wanted to give it to him.

"First love never dies, huh?" I muttered grimly as I opened the door to my truck, sliding in. I knew he was standing there, watching my every move, but I paid him no attention. I just hoped that this was the last time we'd ever see each other. 

Mr. Santiago Luzardi, the kingpin of the Zonglovia.

"Tch," I sniffled, wiping my tears as my truck came to life. "I don't need this. I don't, god damn it!" I hit my steering wheel, wanting to cry. Why was my heart beating so erratically? HE WAS THE ONE WHO FUCKING ABANDONED ME! HE DOESN'T GET TO WORM HIS WAY BACK INTO MY LIFE BECAUSE HE FEELS LIKE IT!

Does he have any idea the pain, the trepidation he caused me!?

"I am Brad Thorpe," I put the car in drive, ignoring him in the doorway of the building. "I am the baddest bitch there is." I whispered hollowly as I left the establishment, head held up high. That man can fuck off. 

He's not getting a piece of me. He can return to whatever hole he crawled out of because I didn't need him now.

I may have 8 years ago, but he's too late now.

Bottoms Up

milkshake: are you good brad
cereal killer: huh
cereal killer: whose ass do I need to kick
property_of_rays: I will ask ray if I can borrow his grenades
General!dickhead: we must first make sure that Bradley is okay. He hasn't said anything which is totally unusual
General!dickhead: then we murder whoever hurt him
milkshake: preparing as we text
cereal killer: meet you on the corner
hey hey asshats: thanks, guys really. I'm okay.
property_of_rays: THE MOFO USED PUNCTUATION WHO TF HURT OUR BOI
cereal killer: Im kicking serious ass tonight ramone can't hold me back
hey hey asshats: lol i appreciate y'all coming to my defense but um
hey hey asshats: this is just something I need to deal with
milkshake: ?????
General!dickhead: we understand
Property_of_rays: we got yo back dawg
cereal killer: .....
cereal killer: still gonna fuck somebody up
hey hey asshats: wouldn't think anything else of u micah