The Love of My Bully

“They’re right,” Pru said.

“What’s that?” his father asked.

“You’re both right.”

Even as he fought to keep hold of her hand, Pru broke away from him. “I mean, come on. Why would I really want to date him?”

Drake frowned. “Pru, what the fuck are you doing?”

“I’m being real, for once. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t easy being fake. I’m not a fake person, but you were so easy to fool. It’s almost too funny how quickly you fell for it. I’m kind of shocked, really. You were always this big deal at school. All the girls practically falling over themselves to be with you. I figured I wanted a piece of the pie and what better way than making you fall for me. I have to admit though, you’re not worth this effort. Sorry, you’re not.” She pulled away from him and looked at him. She shrugged. “I’m sure you’ll get over it.”

He stared at her, knowing she was faking this. She had to be.

“You were just so easy. Always looking for love rather than just accepting the fact it’s not going to be coming to you. No one will ever love you, Drake.”

“Now, I think you’ve made your point,” his father said.

Pru pulled away from him and turned on her heel to leave.

Drake watched her go, knowing deep in his heart this was a performance for his parents. He had to believe that, even as a part of him had to wonder if what she said was true.

Don’t be a dick.

She’s trying to help.

Don’t fuck this up.

He turned back to look at his parents who had smug grins on their faces that he wanted to wipe off. They were happy to see him suffer and it pissed him off. They were going to find out one day that taking him on would be their biggest mistake.

All of his life, he’d hated his parents, but those feelings, they didn’t even begin to come close to how much he despised them at this very moment. He wanted to hurt them, to make them pay for what they had done. To watch them suffer, to hear them scream and beg him for forgiveness.

“You see, son, love is just a fucked-up mess. You’ve got to learn to keep women for one thing and one thing only, fucking.” His father snorted, shook his head, and left the room.

“Drake, as soon as she’s gone, get your ass home,” his mother said. “I don’t want to have to deal with taking the trash out anymore.”

Pru’s parents were still waiting.

He stared at them, and for some reason, he was so incredibly disappointed in them.

“You didn’t fight for her,” he said.

“You shouldn’t have brought her out here,” her father said.

“Neither of you gave a fuck about what my parents said.” He couldn’t believe he was looking at her parents. “Get the fuck out.” He turned on his heel and went toward where Pru was.

“We would advise you against talking to our daughter.”

“She’s not your daughter. No parent would let another speak about their child like that.” With that, he slammed into the bathroom.

Pru was nearly dressed. She pulled up her jeans and he saw the tears in her eyes. He pushed the door closed, he didn’t have to wait long before she threw herself into his arms.

“I’m so sorry.” She whispered the words against his ear.

“It’s okay.”

“It’s not, though. It’s really not. I saw they were being serious and I panicked. I shouldn’t have said the stuff I did, but hearing them, seeing what they were doing to you, knowing they wouldn’t back down, I had to.”

“It’s okay.” He ran his hands down her back just basking in holding her. His parents were wrong about her, about him.

“It’s really not okay. I shouldn’t have had to say or do any of those things.” She pulled away, cupping his face. “What are we going to do?”

“We’re going to keep on doing what we do best. Seeing each other without them knowing.”

“Someone knew we were here, Drake. Someone told them. I don’t know who. We’ve been so careful.”

“It could have been someone in town. My father’s not exactly a faithful man.”

“What if it’s not? What if someone back home knows and this is their way of getting payback?”

“Then they’re in for a world of pain when I find them. No one messes with what I’ve got. Your parents are still waiting outside.” He scowled, hating the fact he’d done nothing. His parents came, ruined everything, and left, and he’d let them.

“What are we going to do?” she asked.

He didn’t like how helpless she looked. “I’m going to deal with this.”

“How?” She pressed her hands to her face and groaned. “We should have known this wasn’t possible.”

“Don’t say that.”

“It’s the truth. Look what’s happening here. My parents are outside waiting to take me home, and yours, they didn’t even stick around to see you leave. I don’t know what’s happening right now and it’s kind of freaking me out. What do we do? I have no answers.”