Allie

 

“Why do you look like you’re going to be sick? You have a hot date and I’m alone. I should be paler than you.” I tell Maisy, who grins up at me. We are on our way to her boyfriend’s house, the King Brothers home. I didn’t want to come to prom tonight but Maisy begged me. She is having trouble at home and needed somewhere to get ready and get picked up from.

“I’m just nervous; I don’t dress up like this usually. Thank you for getting me ready.” She smiles and takes my hand in hers.

“I just can’t wait for Elliot to rip this dress off me, I know he will,” Lily says next to me and I grit my teeth and look out the window. I don’t want to see that or see them together but it will only be for one night. The limo stops outside the King Brothers massive house and I can see them all waiting outside for us. The only one that is missing is their best friend Blake and their oldest brother.

I get out the car first and my eyes instantly see Elliot King’s as he stares at me. I don’t want to admit how hot he looks in his suit or how his usually messy black hair is styled out of his breath-taking green eyes. I move away from them all as I see him look behind me at Lily getting out the car.

He would always choose Lily over me.

We all go inside after Harley comes outside and says he wants pictures. I don’t look at anyone. We all walk through the house to the lounge.

“I want a picture of you and Elliot.” Harley says to me, snapping me out of looking at the floor.

“What?” I ask a little too loudly.

“Come on Allie, I don’t bite,” Elliot says behind and I turn to face him with a glare. Lily is standing by the door to the lounge watching us.

“No chance, I might catch something by just standing next to you.” I say.

“Yes like how to dress appropriately. Not like you’re going to a club.” He looks down at my dark red, skin-tight dress. It is not that bad. Lily looks worse in her short black dress that stops at her thighs, mine hits the floor. Maisy looks the best out of all us, in a gold dress.

“Are you done looking?” I ask him sharply and he smirks at me.

“One photo, for me guys.” Harley says behind me and Elliot holds his hand out to me.

“Fine,” I agree and take his warm hand. Elliot pulls me in front of him and I smile as Harley takes photos. I flinch when Elliot pulls me closer and whispers,

“You’re so beautiful when you’re quiet.”

The slam of a door snaps me out the moment of just listening to him speak kindly to me and I turn to see that Lily has left the room.

Elliot walks away from me and leaves the room to find Lily. Like I would expect him to. I’m left standing in the room with Harley and Luke, their younger brother who is standing at the door.

“Elliot’s such a fucking idiot.” Luke says and I couldn’t agree with him more.

 

"I'm glad you’re feeling better," Emilia smiles next to me, snapping me back from my memories. I think to myself how glad I am too. Three days I was in bed, recovering and while I feel a little weak still, it's not too bad. I was still being sick for over a week but I wasn’t as hot and cold all the time.

"Me too." I exhale and not wanting to think any more about those few days. I do not like being sick or needing any help.

"Thanks for helping me, so Elliot could rest," I tell her. The last two weeks have been awful as the whole family got ill, and Elliot hasn’t left my side. Elliot, Jake and Harley were the only ones who didn’t get ill. So Blake’s mum has been looking after them all and Elliot looked after us. Harley was stuck looking after Jake, so he wasn’t around Maisy or Seb. Emilia finally kicked him out when I felt better and told him to have a shower and get some rest. Izzy and Blake got better a little quicker than I did and Gage is now ill. Gage went home to his mothers and she is looking after him.

"No problem. The poor guy looked close to passing out when I got home," she chuckles. I’m surprised Emilia didn’t get ill, she helped us all out.

"I really like him," I nervously laugh.

"You mean you love him," Emilia corrects me and I scowl at her before heading into the Ann Summers shop in front of me. 

I can hear Emilia laugh behind me as I walk ahead and I see a nice matching lacy black bra and knickers.

"I have to have these," I say finding my size.

"They are sexy," Emilia admits helping me look. She finds my size before me and hands them over.

"So, how's your dating life?" I ask trying to distract her. Emilia’s face goes pale for a second before she fakes a smile. 

"Good. Eric is my dad’s new wife's son and even if he is my stepbrother, it's not weird." She mutters and I really don’t think she believes the words.

"Sure it's not; you’re not related or grew up with him. So is he good in bed?" I ask and a woman next to me raises her perfectly fake eyebrows. We are in a sex toy shop and she is judging me for talking about sex. Can I not get a break anywhere?

"I haven't slept with him yet. Our family is weird and no sex before marriage," she mutters.

"You’re a virgin?" I ask way too loudly as I'm in shock and everyone looks over at us now. Emilia goes red before dragging me to the counter and while I pay she whispers

"No, but my family doesn't know that. Look, it's just very complicated," she tells me.

"I’ll say," I whisper back making her chuckle. I pay for our things and we walk out. 

"So, Eric is okay with waiting?" I ask.

Emilia shifts a little nervously before saying,

"To be honest with you, I don't know or really care."

"But you like him right?" As I haven't heard her really say many nice things about him yet. I’ve seen the man once when he picked her up. He is huge with no hair and all dark skin. He is slightly attractive but the three tattoos on the one side of his face kind of ruin it. I haven’t said anything but I don’t see him as being her type. He looks like he would eat her for dinner and not in the fun way.

"Yeah sure. He is fine," she says quickly before changing she subject again. I let her because I can’t push her to talk to me. She knows I’m here if she needs help.

"So, what are you getting Elliot for his birthday?" 

I groan out loud before answering,

"I'm not sure. I mean we haven't been dating long so I don't know him well enough to buy him something I know he will like," I say.

"Well, what do you know he likes?" 

I don't answer while we walk and I think. The only thing I can think of is stars and his Harley Davidson but how do I put that in a gift? 

"Stars and bikes," I mutter. I can’t remember anything else he has told me likes. I guess his favourite colour is black and he likes to wear leather. I know he spends way too much time at the gym or swimming but not much else. I’ve seen the gym they have at their home, there isn’t anything that they are missing.

"What?" she asks. I leave out the bike this time; there isn’t anything I can do with that.

"He likes stars," I say.

"How about a tattoo? I know it's permanent but Elliot has always been in your life. I know you wanted a tattoo for a while so why not?" she says with a shrug. I look her over, wondering if she is hiding a load of tattoos under her baggy clothes. That wouldn’t surprise me. It is always the quiet ones.

"That's brilliant," I grin and we make our way to the tattoo parlour. I book the tattoo for the day before his birthday, so he won't see it until it's his birthday. It’s only a few months away now. I buy him a new shirt in black which has a Harley on it. I don’t think he will like it but it’s so he has something to open. I buy Sebastian some naughty cards, they have different sex positions on them and I thought he would find them funny. I also get him a multi shop gift card so he can buy himself something.

We stop for coffee and my phone starts ringing. I frown when I see it’s my dad.

"Hey dad," I answer in a tense voice.

"Alexandria, how are you? You’re not still upset over that fighting dog, are you? I believe you’re smarter than that," He asks and my hand tightens around the hot coffee. The urge to punch my dad is high right now and I'm glad he is on the phone.

"Yes, I am upset, still." I ground out.

"Well don't be. Elliot was always quick to find girls, so I'm sure he has moved on by now. I remember the first girl he kissed. My girlfriend at the time and he couldn't keep his hands off her. Now you understand why I wouldn't want my sweet daughter with trash like that," he tells me, acting like he is a caring father.

"I'm not that sweet, dad and Elliot isn't trash," I tell him, my anger is coming throughout my words and I realise I might have just shouted that at him.

"Don't forget my warning, Alexandria. I'm not a man to go back on my word and I would like an excuse. Those King boys are asking for me to teach them who is in charge," he says in almost a bored tone.

"Sorry dad, I didn't mean it," I say quickly. I glance up as Emilia scowls at me before holding my free hand in an attempt to comfort me.

"Yes, I am aware. So how is university? And that brother of yours? He isn't answering my calls." He tells me.

"He is your son, too, and I will call him. Tris must be busy. University is great," I say in a plain tone. I can hardly stand to answer him.

"Good. Yes, do get him to call me," he replies.

"I have to go, dad," I say.

"Alright. I will be back home in two weeks. Business was great here," he says in a happy tone. Knowing what kind of business he does, I can't help but be worried what he thinks is great. Call me a coward but I don’t want to know.

"Bye dad, I guess I will see you soon," I eventually reply.

"Bye Alexandria," dad says before ending the call. 

I pull my hand away from Emilia to rub my face so I can calm down. I spend a few minutes looking out the window. Everything is going wrong, I don’t know what I’m doing and risking Elliot like this is crazy.

"What's going on, Allie?" Emilia asks trying to get my attention.

"Nothing," I mutter, knowing I can't talk to Emilia about this. I need to tell Elliot really but I don't want him to worry. This is so fucked up.

"Allie, the last few weeks you looked so happy, happier than I ever seen you. Then your dad is mentioned and then you freeze up. Allie, I can help if you…," I cut her off with my hand raised in the air. 

"No, you can't. My dad is well, fucked up and please I don't want to talk about him," I say.

"Alright but I know how to help you if you ask," she says quietly.

"Trust me, there's nothing you can do, so how about we buy you some new clothes? I love you Em but you’re so hot. Wearing jeans and hoodies all the time doesn't show that off," I tell her.

Emilia glares at me, pulling her hoodie up over her messy brown curls. 

"I like them." 

"Why?" I have to ask because I've never seen her in much else. I have no idea why she hides her body with those oversized clothes. I know it's not a money issue because she drives a Porsche. The rent on our apartment isn’t cheap and I know she has a job but it wouldn’t pay for her car.

"No reason," she says looking away.

"We both have secrets, huh?" I laugh and I see Emilia’s big grin.

"True but I love you anyway," she laughs this time with me. 

"Well if you’re not buying new stuff, I am. I saw this hot red dress I want to buy to wear at the twin’s party," I wink. Ten minutes later we leave our coffees and walk out. The dress fits perfectly and I can't wait for Elliot to see his present wrapped up in red.