Her brown eyes flash to E’s behind me and I stand in her line of sight, releasing her arm. Her gaze meets mine, and she straightens her back. “I’ve just turned eighteen,” she says with confidence, almost proudly.
“You know he is in his thirties, right? Do your parents know you’re here?” I ask her calmly.
“Noir, what the fuck…” E shouts behind me.
I whirl around to face him. “Shut the fuck up, you,” I yell.
He scowls at me, and I keep intense eye contact with him while hearing her sneak away, but I am so angry, I let her.
I point my finger at Eli. “You’re leaving here. Today,” I assert strongly.
He crosses his arms over his chest. “I still have a week left here according to Madame, but after that, I’ll be glad to leave this dump.”
I seethe with rage, his attitude almost making me want to kill him. His green eyes drag up and down my frame with judgement. “You’re pissed because I’m getting pussy when you’ve clearly been with that fucking clown all night.”
Blush scoffs behind me. “Oh boy, I would be very careful who you're talking about, because my loyalty is all for The Hollow’s. You won’t last a fucking hour if I tell that ‘Clown’ you’re talking about what you just said, let alone a week.”
“I don’t give a fuck where your pathetic dick has been, E,” I say bitterly through tight teeth, drawing his attention back to me and his eyes narrow.
“There is not one ounce of jealousy inside of me, trust me, it's not even about that,” I declare, stepping forward slowly. “But I warned you about her age.”
He snickers, looking aside. “She’s a woman.”
“BARELY!”I shout, and his eyes flash to mine. “You’re what? Thirty-four?” I shake my head in disgust.
“Fuck off, Noir, you’re not far off her age,” he tries to justify.
“I am sure as hell, not eighteen!”
Feeling fed up with his bullshit, I step ahead and push past him, entering the trailer and proceeding to the bedroom to gather some things.
“Noir…” Eli’s warning tone follows me as I enter the room, with Blush slowly trailing behind.
I go straight to the wardrobe, grabbing a bag. As soon as I have it, he yanks it from my grasp. I turn around quickly to see Blush standing in front of him, glaring fiercely. “Keep your hands off her, motherfucker, or I swear to god.”
She tries to take the bag, but he pulls it back, shoving her aside before stepping toward me, anger blazing in his eyes. On instinct, I lift my hand and deliver a hard blow across his face, fuelled by rage.
With his face turned to the side, I close the gap between us, breathing heavily. “One week, and I don’t want to see you ever again, E.”
His eyes meet mine, softening. “Noir, please.”
I shake my head firmly. “No. I can accept a lot of things—drugs, habits, weird-ass behavior—but what I will not accept is underage fucking. It makes me sick.”
“She’s not underage,” he insists, straightening his back defiantly, the red mark on his cheek becoming apparent.
My eyes flash to Blush, who steps into my view behind him, her pink gaze loaded with fury. Suddenly, she raises an empty glass bottle.
“Blush! No!” I yell, but it’s too late. She whacks it over his head, the glass shattering everywhere, and he drops to the floor, knocked out.
My mouth gapes open, eyes meeting Blush’s and she simply shrugs her shoulders, “He had it coming.”
I let out a shuddering breath, watching as she leans down to take the bag from his hand. She tosses it to me, and I catch it. “Get what you need. You deserve better than that piece of shit.”
My eyes water as I gaze down at Eli, feeling confused. Four months of my life, and it has come to this. Am I the problem for allowing my past to influence me like this? Or has he truly gone too far? All I know is, I am wise enough not to put him or me in this shit situation. Without my meds, I cannot be around someone who is triggering my past this way. It’s a painful awakening that we’re not compatible for a relationship and even a friendship, but it’s the sad truth. A tear rolls down my cheek, and Blush steps forward, her hand finding my shoulder with a reassuring squeeze.
“Noir,” she says softly, and my watery eyes dart to hers. “Don’t be upset. Your stance on this is valid. I don’t know you well, but this subject clearly bothers you. Your feelings matter.”
I sniffle and give a small nod before turning to the wardrobe to pack some things, including my mini dolly. When I’m ready, I step over Eli, noticing he is still breathing, but a sob builds in my throat, guilt creeping in as I pass him. Blush slides her arm around my shoulders and guides me out of the trailer.
