When the Wrong One Loves You Right
By Ticia
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prelude
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The wind hit my face harshly as the army of city kids marched up the hill and towards the stadium. Everyone was quiet. Only the sounds of boots hitting the asphalt and clothing rustling can be heard. The Technos are about to get exactly what they deserve.
To my left, Jay is confidently striding us the hill. He’s my strength in this attack. Sure, the Mallrats are the ones that need saving, but he gave me a reason to become a Mallrat again. He’s tended to my broken pride and my feeling of loneliness. He’s shown me that someone needs me. He’s shown me that I am a part of the tribe because they need me just as much as I need them. He’s shown me that I am someone that they can like. They are all becoming my friends.
To my right is Jack. He’s the only one that is a little afraid to give me a chance. He’s afraid that I will turn on them. He thinks that all of my actions are just an elaborate plan to sucker all of them in so that I can take over the Mallrats and the rest of the city. Well, he doesn’t know that I have given all that up.
I can’t exactly be the Queen of Darkness with Jay’s child on the way. Now can I? I found out last week that I’m pregnant. I think I am about three weeks along, according to my calculations. Already, I have baby names and nursery colors floating around in my head. I’m excited to have the chance to better myself. This time, I can’t chicken out of becoming a real member of the tribe. I have my child to think of.
“Ebony,” I felt someone poke me in the back. “Walk a little faster.” Lex states breaking the silence of the attack. I don’t look at him, I only continued marching catching up to my mate.
I looked to Jay to see his jaw set in a harsh line. He does that when he is thinking of something intensely. “So what is the battle plan?” I asked looking up at him with masked admiration. I don’t want the others thinking that I am going soft right before the major battle.
He looked down at me with a scowl. His eyes were almost black. Never had I seen them so dark. He rolled his eyes before coming to a stop at the Techno Headquarters. The gate opened letting out a floor of Techno soldiers.
The fight was immediately on. The Technos fought from every direction causing Jack, Lex, Jay and I to come back to back. We all looked at each other immediately determining that it was in all of our best interest to fight this way. As we all fought with our backs together, more Technos began to fall to the ground. They were starting to thin out allowing me to see Mega.
He rushed forward kicking Lex in the stomach. Once Lex, hit the ground, he kicked him in the head, causing him to go unconscious. I knocked my opponent away from me before trying to run to Lex’s aid.
I wasn’t prepared for what happened next. Jay grabbed my arm slinging me against the wall. “Now, it’s time to deal with you, you bitc.h!” he slapped me across the face with his left hand while holding me against the wall by my neck with his right. “I’ve had enough of listening to you bit.ch and moan about these people. All you wanted to do was cheat them. I thought that you would help me, but when you watched Geek Boy,” he motioned for Mega to hold Jack back from me. “get taken, you showed your soft side. I couldn’t have that quality in my queen. Now could I?” he laughed sarcastically. He got up close to me. “It’s time to take you out for good.” With that, he let go of me and then kicked me in the stomach.
I crumpled to the ground holding my stomach and thinking of my dead child. The physical pain isn’t that bad. What really hurts is knowing that Jay probably just killed our child. He started to attack again, but I yelled out for help. “JACK!” He kicked back, knocking Mega away from him. He ran to my side, but before he could reach me, Jay shot him with his zapper.
Jack fell to the ground. His body seemed lifeless as he hit his head against the asphalt. Blood pooled around his head as Jay came back to me. “now, to finish you off.”
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Chapter one
My eyes we opened by someone else’s harsh fingers prying them open. Then the bast.ard, whoever he was, shined a flashlight in my eyes. When he moves away, I am so going to attack him.
”Trudy, I don’t think she is knocked out anymore.” A male voiced asked. So
it is a man. Leave it to a man to be stupid enough to piss me off. The man moved
away from letting go of my eyes.
I opened my eyes of my own choice. Trudy set on the edge of my bed looking down at me. She smiled brightly before looking back. “Ved, go get everyone!” She exclaimed rushing the man off.
“Why was HE touching me? His brother is the one that did this to me. Where is Jay? I want to kill him!!”” I exclaimed trying to sit up. Before Trudy could stop me, the damage was done. It felt as though my stomach was ripping open.
She pushed me back down reaching over to the bedside table for a bandage. “Don’t do that Ebony! You’ll rip your stiches.” Her touch was harsh, but better her hurt me than me bleed to death.
“They’re coming!” Ved answered coming to sit behind her. He smiled at me with kind blue eyes. I couldn’t help myself. I growled at him causing him to frown a little. “Is she always like a wild animal?
Trudy just laughed. I wasn’t as amused. “Make jokes, Blondie. I’ll be out of this bed soon.”
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Chapter Two
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
“Peaches?” He nodded before disappearing in the food store. He reappeared
with a can and a plastic fork. “Thanx.” He closed the food store before
moving to the other side of the room.
Chapter three
That night, I decided to take a stroll instead of watching all the people move around in front of my door. As it seems, no one is doing anything interesting. Ved, Trudy, and Amber are in the living area watching Brady and Bray play. Salene, Lex, May and KC are watching a movie in Lex’s room. And Jack and Gel are nowhere to be found.
Well, they were nowhere to be found until I walked by Jack’s room. At first it was quiet and then as I passed, I heard a moan. I couldn’t help but look it. It is a little weird for geek boy to get any.
There they were in his desk chair. Gel sitting on Jack’s lap topless. His mouth was attached to her breast and her hands were in his hair. She moaned against grinding herself into him causing him to moan. He pulled away to look at her. She nodded. Then he picked her up pushing her against the wall. She wrapped one of her legs around his waist as he pulled the other around him. His hand disappeared under her skirt and she moaned once again. I heard his zipper come down. He pulled his body back a little and was about to thrust when Gel stopped him.
“Don’t. I don’t think I can do this.” He pulled away, but not before I got a glimpse at ‘little jack.’ It was definitely worth rethinking the whole proposition thing.
I didn’t stick around to see much more. I went back to my room and picked up a book.
Just as the narrator saw the impurity in optic white in the book “Invisible Man” I saw some one moving in my doorway. I didn’t look up. I didn’t need to. It was probably Lex wondering if I had everything that I needed. He’s been a little smothering with his nursemaid act, but for some reason he feels the need to.
“I should read this book to you sometime. I think you would like it.” I really think that Lex will understand the point of view of the Narrator.
“Well, I don’t really go for existentialism.” Jack’s voice replied from the doorway causing me to look up in shock. My book fell from my hands and to the floor.
I shook my head. “Sorry, I thought you were Lex.”
He walked over picking the book up from the ground. “That’s okay. It is a little unexpected that I visit you.” He placed the book in my hands again before sitting next to me.
I sat up against the headboard. He looked awesome. His hair was still messed up from the events before. His shirt was open a couple of buttons down revealing his tanned skin. And his eyes were dark. I know what he wants, and at the moment, I don’t think I’ll be able to refuse him.
“You look like your not feeling well. Do you want me to give you a back massage?” He moved off the bed as I scooted up allowing him to sit behind me. His hands ran over my back and over my naked shoulders. “So, how are you healing?”
“I’m going to be okay.” His fingers slipped under the straps of my nightgown. “What about you? Thank you for trying to take care of me.”
The straps fell from my shoulders. “You’re welcome. You’re a member of my tribe. It’s my duty to protect you.”
“I thought you hated me.”
“No. You just really get to me sometimes.” He paused for a moment. I could feel his breath against my ear and dread move up my spine. “Like you get to me right now.” He pulled me against him and I could feel just how much that someone was getting to him. I’m sure it’s Gel, but hey, what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. Right?
“Then, what are you going to do about it?” I asked turning my head so that are lips were close.
He answered by kissing me hard. I was gladly surprised at how skilled he was within a few seconds, he had my mouth open and my tongue moving against his. Even more shocking was the fact that I was already moaning and he hasn’t even really touched me. A few moments later, he pulled away with a satisfied smirk.
“Don’t say a word, or I might change my mind.” I stated turning over so that I laid on my side against him. He nodded before kissing me again. This time, his hands moved from my waist to my breasts. He gently squeezed causing me to moan again. I could feel him smiling against my lips as my right hand slid from the side of his face down his chest to the buttons on his shirt. Without parting our lips, I worked apart the buttons on his shirt, running my hand across the rigid lines of his stomach.
“Take off your clothes.” I ordered after pulling away from his grasp. I rolled away from him allowing him to exit the bed. He slipped the shirt over his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. Then he attempted to unbuckle his belt, but his hands were shaking so that he couldn’t hold onto the buckle. “Here, let me.” I crawled across the bed. My hands deftly unbuckled his pants undoing the button and pulling down the zipper with my mouth. He moaned as my tongue accidentally ran across him through his boxers.
He returned to the bed with a look of determination on his face. He climbed on top of me, pinning me to the bed. With his left hand, he grasped the bottom of my gown and pulled it over my head in one quick motion. He only stared for a moment before running his index finger under the waistband of my red thong. He looked at me with intense eyes that I couldn’t look away from as he lowered his lips to my stomach. He kissed at it lovingly. I almost forgot that we were only having sex and not making love. His touches were so soft; no other lover has ever done that.
It wasn’t long before I could stand no more of his games. I took his hand causing him to look up at me. I nodded my head with a lick of my lips. He moved back up my body so that his face was even with mine. His lips connected with mine at the same time as he entered me.
My eyes closed as he slowly moved inside me. It was a different sensation than with any other man. He didn’t seem to be trying to prove anything. He was just fulfilling an animal need and desire. Maybe even more than that, but my thought processes weren’t exactly working right.
He moved his hand to the side of my face willing me to look in his eyes. I opened them to be greeted with his eyes staring directly into mine. The entire time, his gaze never left mine. We communicated through our eyes knowing what the other should do to make the experience just perfect.
And it was perfect. When we finished our session, he moved beside me still looking me directly in the eyes. There was nothing to be said. I knew that he wasn’t going to be there in the morning. He would be in bed with Gel. He would be kissing her good-morning and telling her that he’ll love her forever and always. I’ll just be his guilty little secret. I’ll be his little regret.
I guess that is the story of my life. Just add Jack to the other guys in the list of those who don’t care about me. He got what he wanted. He won’t be back again and I guess that is for the best. I’m a poison.
I closed my eyes, turning over so that I didn’t have to look at his chocolate colored eyes. So that I don’t have to be haunted by watching him getting dressed and walking out of me like all the men in my life do. He’s no different than any of them. They were all just users.
But I really thought Jack was different. I thought he would prove me wrong. He was the only guy in the tribe that took responsibility for his actions. Well, until now.
My thoughts drifted away as I felt the bed move. Jack’s lips connected with my cheek. “Thanks, but I have to go now. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” I didn’t answer him. There was no use. What would I say? I just let him get out of the bed as I listened to him struggle to find his clothing in the dark.
Chapter Four
Lex placed the plate in front of me as if I couldn’t get it for myself. This was cute for the first week, but now, it is getting old. I started to tell him so, but he smiled at me with such a genuine smile. A smile I haven’t seen since he was with my sister. How can I take that smile off his face?
Instead of breaking his heart, I turned to watch everyone else. No one was doing anything too interesting. KC was trying to get May’s attention. May was trying to get Salene’s attention.
Then there was Ved and Trudy. They sat at the same table whispering over something. It was cute actually. I’ve realized in the past week since I have gotten out of bed, that they have no idea that they like each other. But it shouldn’t take too long for them to figure it out with Ved playing Daddy and Brady liking it. They make a nice little family. Ved seems to really love Trudy and Brady. He already has the child spoiled. She’s just sitting in his lap eating his food while her mother tries to tell her not to.
I wish someone would be there to help me with my baby. But when anyone finds out about the child, the Technos will burst right in and take it away from me. Then, I’ll be the nervous wreck that Jack is.
Speaking of Jack, he did speak to me the next day. So did his little girl friend. I was told to stay away from him. Gel didn’t even consider that Jack chose to sleep with me. He.ll, Jack was counting on that. That was the reason that he confessed what he did the moment he made it back to his room. I still can’t believe that I am the one getting in trouble for him seducing me. I knew I should have just left these people a long time ago. They are nothing but trouble.
“Ebs, aren’t you going to eat?” Lex asked after many minutes of me leaving my food untouched.
“No. I’m not hungry.”
He pushed the plate closer to me. “Just eat a little bit.”
“No!” I exclaimed accidently knocking the plate to the floor. “Can’t you leave me alone?”
His face turned from a smile to a frown. I couldn’t look at him anymore. I can’t be held responsible for Lex’s emotions. Can I? From the looks of the other people in the room, yes, I can. All I could do was march out of the café and back to my room. That was the only place that I belonged.
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
My eyes looked over every part of the room. There was nothing that I haven’t stared at twice. I can’t stand it in this room anymore. Everyone else has the right to move around the mall as they please. Why can’t I?
I jumped up from the chair in the corner and flew towards the door, but I ran into a solid body. I looked up to see Jack. He pushed me back into the room, pulling the curtain shut over the door.
“I have to talk to you.” He set me down on the bed before sitting in the chair.
“I don’t want to hear what you have to say.” I stated defiantly crossing my arms. “You can just leave right now. Don’t you think you have done enough to me?”
“What have I done to you?” His voice was filled with genuine question. “I just gave you what the both of us wanted and you know it. That was it. It meant nothing to you and it meant nothing to me.”
“It meant something to me.” I grumbled under my breath.
He looked at me with furrowed eyebrows, “what was that?”
“Oh nothing.”
“Okay, then, what I was going to say is that I think we should continue our relationship. Its best for all of us.”
I laughed with sarcasm. This is almost like the whole Lex and TaiSan thing. “What? For the good of the tribe?”
He cocked his head to the side with a rolling of his eyes. “no. For the good of my relationship. Gel wants to wait until marriage, and I don’t. So when she refuses me it pis.ses me off and I react in a not so good way.”
“And you say that you love this girl.” I stated re-crossing my arms. “What kind of man are you?”
“I never told anyone else that I love her.” His voice was even. “Besides, if I don’t tell her about us and you don’t tell her about us, how will she know?”
“She won’t because nothing is going to happen.”
“Ebony, please. I beg you. A man has needs and she’s not taking care of them. Why should I suffer when you know how to take care of those needs and you have the same needs to be taken care of?” I shook my head. “Come on. You know you can’t live without sex either. Just think about what I said. I’ll come back by tonight after Gel falls asleep.”
I rolled my eyes at him before looking away. “I’m not some prostitute, you know.”
“I know.” He stood up walking over to me. “I didn’t say you were. You’re human, I’m human, we have primal urges that we have to fulfill. Why not fulfill them together?” he sat down in front of me. “It was rather good. The best I’ve had. Why wouldn’t I want more. Wasn’t it good for you?” He asked leaning forward kissing me. He opened his mouth taking my bottom lip between his teeth.
I couldn’t help but smile thinking about what we were like together. “It was good.”
“Then, I’ll be back tonight.” He kissed me again. This time a little more roughly before jumping up from the bed and running out of the room.
I hope you guys are enjoying these new bits. I just wish I had some of this ispiration for trials. hopefully, it will come soon. Thank you for reading and for the complements. Tell me what you think of the couples. And there is a coupling coming up in this chapter at the end!
Chapter 5
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I wake up
Thoughts of you
Tattooed to my mind
As I wonder
What to wear
What to eat
Who to be
Will I see you again
And as my car breaks down
I shake my head and say
What a day
If you only knew
What I went through just to get to you
I'm hanging from you
And I'll hold on if you want me to
Every bus, every train,
Ever cab, every lane is JAMMED
So I looked to the sky
And I reached for the planes with my hands
If all my days go wrong
I'll think about last night
It went right
If you only knew
What I went through just to get to you
I'm hanging from you
And I'll hold on if you want me to
If you only knew
What I went through just to get to you
I'm swinging from you
And there's nothing I would rather do
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
The next day, I found myself sitting in the living area that Trudy had created in her room. We were mending some clothes for the other people in the tribe over tea and biscuits. Its nice to have a girlfriend again. Its been so long since there has been anyone for me to talk to. Trudy, she will listen to anything. Since I’ve awoken, we have been through both of our life stories. We have a lot in common. Starting with choice in men.
“Trudy,” I started putting the finished shirt to the side. “I slept with Jack.”
She didn’t even look up. “I know. Gel was raving to everyone the other day about how you corrupted her sweet baby.”
That made me feel even more guilty than before. With anyone else, I wouldn’t feel so guilty, but I guess since the whole Jack thing is so out of my character, I am actually hearing my conscience. “No, I mean…” She looked up at me. “Again.” I let out a sigh of relief at being able to tell someone.
Her eyes grew big. “When?”
“Last night.”
“I don’t understand why you slept with him the first time, he’s not your style.”
I played with one of my braids idly. “I don’t know either. I didn’t want to, but he was sitting there, all turned on. Trudy, you have to know what he looks like when he is turned on. It is the hottest thing ever. Even better than Jay.” Trudy’s eyes flashed with anger. “okay, remind me not to bring him up.”
“Please don’t. Do you know that he is trying to get Ved away from us?”
“No.” She didn’t say anything else so; I decided to finish my commentary about Jack. “Trudy, I know that Gel was the one that turned him on, but I couldn’t turn him away. He was wearing a black button down shirt that had a few buttons undone. His hear was a mess and his eyes were dark. Not to mention his tanned skin and muscles. I couldn’t resist kissing every part of him.” She looked at me oddly, but I continued. “His skin gets all flushed and he bites his lip. Last time, he bit so hard that he almost broke the skin. That’s okay. I kissed it and made it all better.”
“I thought we weren’t playing TMI.” Trudy stated with a disgusted look on her face. “That was just way too much information.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m sorry, it’s just that. I made a deal that if he won’t tell Gel, I won’t tell Gel. How am I supposed to get out of this? I can’t be held responsible for the deals I make when he naked on top of me.”
“Ohh, again with the details. Please, just don’t detail anymore of your adventures with Jack. I don’t want to think about him naked.” She whined picking up another shirt. It was the shirt that Jack was wearing the first night.
“I’ll take that one.” I took it from her hands lovingly.
She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Do not tell me that is what he was wearing last night.”
“Okay.” I started to sew the hem back in place. “It is what he was wearing the first time.”
“You have a problem. You just need to stay away from him. If you don’t see him, you won’t be tempted.”
Just at that very moment, Ved rushed into the room falling onto the couch beside Trudy. “You guys, we have a problem.”
“What?” I asked a little afraid of the look that he is giving.
He took a deep breath. “Well, as it turns out, a lot of the Techno officers got some city girls pregnant. Well, Jay has decided that all of these children should be raised to be soldiers. When he finds a kid with Techno blood, he will take them from the mother. Ebony, he’ll be coming after your child.”
“NO! He can’t have my baby. He tried to kill it and that means that he loses all rights. This child is mine.” I stated throwing the shirt to the floor.
Trudy looked back to Ved for a second before she spoke. “We have thought of a way to trick Jay if something like this ever happened.”
Ved looked at the ground. “Know how you are sleeping with Jack?” I nodded as he looked up. “Well, you could tell Jack that you are pregnant. That way, Jay will think the child is Jack’s and you get to keep the child.”
I thought about it for a moment. In two weeks, I will have had sex with Jack three weeks ago. That is long enough to notice that I am pregnant. It would be perfect.
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
It’s amazing how quiet the mall gets at night. The children are no longer running about. The couples are off being in love. As if love lasts. Soon, someone will come along and tear it all down. Nothing is permanent. When I was little, I used to dream of getting married to a man in a beautiful forest. He had dark hair and dark eyes. He looked so handsome. His long hair was pulled back and shinning in the sunlight. He wore a pair of black leather pants and a white button down shirt. There was a daisy in his pocket. I wore a long white skirt and white tank top. In my hands, a bouquet of wild flowers sprung up. It was the most beautiful thing that I can remember.
When I met Bray, I thought it was he. But, he broke my heart and forgot me. He went off to take care of Trudy and left me with Martin. Or I should say Zoot. I thought he could change. I thought he would find a way of handling his parents’ death and return to the sweet Martin that we all loved. Once again, I was wrong. Then Jay came along. I knew he was wrong from the start. But that didn’t matter to me. I just continued to let the amazing feelings take me over. Now, I’ve started some kind of weird relationship with Jack. He’s got me under some kind of spell. I can’t seem to refuse him when he asks me. I just go on and give him exactly what he wants. I guess, I’m worn down. I guess, I am just too tired to fight.
“Ebony?” Lex’s voice was soft in my ear. “Are you okay?” I didn’t answer. “I’m sorry for trying to make you eat. I just want you to be healthy.”
I turned to look at him. “Why are you so worried about me?”
“I guess, I just care for you.”
“You love me?” I asked without emotion.
“I think I do. That’s why I went to your sister. I didn’t realize it till now.”
“I love you too.” I answered without thinking. Lex will take care of me. He has since I’ve been in this tribe. Why not let him take care of me forever?
He looked at me with shock and happiness. “Really?”
“Really.” I answered with a smile on my own face. How hard could it be to love Lex? He’s handsome, sexy and a good provider. He’ll make a good father to my child. “Now, let’s go to my room. I want to get to know the real Lex. I want to know everything about you.” I stood up taking his hand leading him to my room. Along the way down the stair from the café, Lex wrapped his arms around me from behind. It’s a nice feeling to have someone touch me lovingly. Lex kissed at the back of my neck and my eyes closed at the tenderness.
When my eyes opened again. I saw Jack standing in his doorway watching us. He had a frown on his face. At the bottom of the stairs, I stopped, turned around and kissed Lex long and passionately. When I turned back around, Jack stormed back into his room. I couldn’t help but feel satisfied that I kicked my habit with one movement. “Come on, babe.” I stated pulling Lex to my room.
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Song: If you only knew By Maroon 5. This song is about Ebony’s thoughts on Jack.
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Chapter Six
Two weeks passed with nothing out of the ordinary happening. Lex and I grew closer. Now, I enjoy having him around. He’s rather entertaining. He has a million stories, jokes, and kisses. He treats me like a queen. Yesterday, he swindled Ved out of a Techno issue belt because the new pants I got don’t fit. It was a sweet gesture and hilarious when Ved realized what Lex had got from him.
Then there is Lex’s nightly ritual. He has spent every night with me since we hooked up. We haven’t had sex yet, but he still holds me all night long and he doesn’t ask me when I am ready to give myself to him. When he thinks I’m asleep, he’ll kiss my forehead and tell me that he loves me and that he promises never to let me go.
I’ve heard those words so many times before, but never as genuine as Lex’s. He’s never let me go. Since the first time I’ve seen him, he’s kept me in a special place. I actually feel honored that he chose me. I always thought he was a loser, but now I know that he was just out of his element. He is a true Casanova.
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Beauty queen of only eighteen
She had some trouble with herself
He was always there to help her
She always belonged to someone else
I drove for miles and miles
And wound up at your door
I've had you so many times but somehow
I want more
I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
She will be loved
Tap on my window knock on my door
I want to make you feel beautiful
I know I tend to get so insecure
It doesn't matter anymore
It's not always rainbows and butterflies
It's compromise that moves us along
My heart is full and my door's always open
You can come anytime you want
I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain, oh
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
She will be loved
And She will be loved
And She will be loved
I know where you hide
Alone in your car
Know all of the things that make you who you are
I know that goodbye means nothing at all
Comes back and begs me to catch her every time she falls
Tap on my window knock on my door
I want to make you feel beautiful
She will be loved (repeated)
Please don't try so hard to say good bye.
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
“I’ve got one last thing to get and I’ll be all moved in.” Lex stated before giving me a kiss. He rushed off to his room to get the last object.
“You two are meant for each other.” Ved announced opening the bag that he brought from Lex’s room.
Trudy smiled at her best friend. “I’ve been thinking that since I met Lex. Of course, I hated both of them at the time.” She added with a laugh. I looked at her with a stern look. “You know we’re like sisters now, Ebs.”
I sighed. “Yeah, I…” I felt as though I would puke. I put my hand over my mouth and ran to the nearest trashcan outside my bedroom door. After what seemed like forever, I felt Lex’s hand on my back soothing away the sick feeling. I stood up wiping my hand over my mouth. Jack was standing right in front of me. He was looking at me with fear in his eyes. He seemed as though he wanted to run over to me, but he stopped when he realized Lex was holding me. He just turned around and walked over to Gel.
“Are you okay, baby?” Lex asked pulling me against him. I took the moment to rest my head against his neck. “Are you sick?” He felt of my forehead. “You don’t feel warm.”
He led me into our room where Trudy and Ved were discussing what just happened. They stopped when they saw that Lex was with me. “are you okay, Ebs?” Trudy asked coming to my side. I nodded. “Do you want us to leave you two alone? I think you have something to tell him.” She urged me.
She’s right. I have to tell Lex the truth. He has to know what is going on. Well, I’ll tell him the truth according to what Jack will know. I love Lex, but he might let something slip to Jay.
I nodded to Trudy and Ved. Both of them gave me a hug before leaving. Trudy seemed as though she didn’t want to leave me alone, but Ved took her hand and pulled her away.
“What are they talking about, babe?” Lex asked coming to sit by me on the bed. “Are you okay? You don’t have the virus do you?” Shock was written all over his face.
“No! Nothing like that. Something that is a blessing and something that is bad at the same time.” He nodded taking my hand. “I’m pregnant.”
He let out a sigh of relief before realizing what I said. “You’re pregnant? But we haven’t done anything yet.”
I looked out our tangled fingers. “I know. This is from before we got together.”
“Who’s the father?” a look of pain came over my face and I felt guilty that he’s not the father of my first child. He should be. If I hadn’t been so stupid a long time ago, he would be. “Ebony, who’s the father? I’m not angry. I have no reason to be.”
“Jack is.” He looked at me oddly. “Remember how I slept with him a while back and Gel got really angry.” He nodded his head remembering. “I wish he wasn’t. I wish you were the father. I want you to be the father.” I added quickly before he could feel defeated.
He kissed my cheek. “It’s okay. We have plenty of time for that.” He moved his kisses to my lips. “I’ll treat this child as if it were mine. Jack can be his father. I can be his daddy.” He added with a smile as he took one of his hands away from mine. His free hand was then placed on my stomach. “We’ll raise him to be a good man.”
I laughed joyfully. “How do you know it will be a boy?”
“Well,” he thought for a moment. “Jack is far too geeky. God will have to make up for all that geek stuff with a manly child.” I couldn’t help but laugh as he pulled my tank top up enough to kiss my stomach and talk to it as closely as he could. He whispered how he loves the baby and that he will teach it how to hunt, fish and fight.
I ran my hand over Lex’s raven hair causing him to look up at me. “I love you, Lex.”
He kissed my stomach again. “I love you too, Ebony.” He turned his attention back to his unborn ‘son.’ “I love you too, kid.”
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Song: She will be loved By Maroon 5. I chose this song because I think that it really explains how Lex feels about Ebony at this point in the story.
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Chapter Seven
“Ebony?” Lex asked from his position with his head on my stomach. “What are you going to name the baby?” He ran his hand over my stomach and then over to hold my hand.
I let out a little laugh. “Lex, I’ve only known that I was pregnant for a couple of days. That’s hardly enough time to think of a name.” I let my free hand fall to his hair running the perfect strands between my fingers. “I think I have a good nine months to think about that.”
“I know, but you must have thought of what you would want to name your children when you were younger. I thought at the age of twelve every girl decided the names of their children.”
“I was thinking that Razi Keary is a cool name.” I stated thinking to myself about the meanings of the names. “Very symbolic.” I stated before thinking.
“What do they mean?” He asked propping his head up on his bent elbow so that he could look at me.
I sighed closing my eyes. Not another lie. Lex is being way to good to me. I shouldn’t be doing this, but I don’t want him to know just how true the names are. “Keary means father’s dark child and Razi means blessed.” He smiled nodding. Well, at least that was only half a lie. Keary really does mean that. But Razi on the other hand means something very different. It means secret. That will be what this child will be. A secret that Jay, Jack, Lex and the rest of the tribe must never find out the truth about.
“Are you hungry?” he asked after a few minutes of silence. I nodded. “I’ll be back in a moment, babe.” He gave me a quick kiss on the lips before leaving the bed. I watched as he left the room with a smile on his face. I’ve never seen someone be so happy while being locked up by a higher authority.
After he left my sight, I let my eyes fall over the empty corner of my room. Lex had left it open on purpose. That would be the place where he would put the baby’s basket. We would use Brady’s basket. It’s going to be the sweetest thing. A sweet family of three.
“Ebony?” the voice caused me to remember: Family of four. “Ebony, can I come in?”
I took a deep breath before answering. “Sure, come on in, Jack.”
He walked in stopping a few feet from my bed. I quickly sat up. “Are you okay?” he asked with a sympathetic smile. “You seemed sick earlier.”
“Yeah, I was sick.” I stated matter-of-factly. “Actually, I need to speak with you about that.” I motioned for him to come closer. He sat on the bed next to me. “Remember a couple of weeks ago when we slept together?”
He shook his head. “Yeah, Gel still won’t kiss me.”
I grimiced. “Well, you are gonna have bigger problems with Gel than that, after this.”
He furrowed his eyebrows. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m pregnant.” I didn’t have to say anything else. The look on his face said it all. He was shocked and pleased at the same time. It was like he didn’t know what to say.
“You…you’re…” His former stuttering problem returned. “Pregnant?” I only shook my head. His lip began to quiver and his cheeks began to tinge red. “Gel will never trust me ever again. I can’t believe this. Now she’ll give back the ring.”
“I think you have a little more to worry about than Gel. You’re going to be a father. And what ring?” I asked starting to get a little angry at him. Then again, how could I expect Jack to understand human feelings? The only thing he has created before this imaginary child is something electronic.
“I asked Gel to marry me. She said yes.” He sighed running a hand through his hair. “And to think, she was imagining having my first son.”
I can’t believe it, but seeing the fear on Jack’s face, almost made me feel guilty. But this has to be done, for the baby’s sake. If Jay gets his hands on the child, it will not be good for anyone concerned. “Jack, if she loves you, she will understand. This baby will still be yours. Any loving wife would love the child because it is a piece of you.”
Jack looked at me with confusion. “Are you okay? You’re starting to sound like you actually have emotions.”
I pushed him out of the bed letting him hit the floor. “How dare you? I’m not a monster. So what if I have tough exterior. It’s just a front. You’re the one that doesn’t have any emotions! You come in here pretending that you care and then you insult me by bringing up Gel every second and not accepting the fact that we are having a child together.” He stood up and I stood up to him. I pushed him back with my hand square in his chest. “If you remembered the day that we slept together, then you would remember how you left while I was asleep without any note, or kind words. That was cold and emotionless.” I pushed him again causing him to trip and fall into the hallway. “For all that I care, you can stay away from our baby! He or she doesn’t need someone like you in their life!”
I turned around catching a glimpse of Lex helping Jack up from the ground. Lex pulled Jack into the room throwing him into the chair. “What the he.ll did you say to her?” Jack started to answer, but Lex interrupted his stuttering. “You know what, it doesn’t matter. You pissed her off. I want to hear you apologize to her! NOW!”
Jack pushed Lex out of the way. “I’ll apologize to her, but not because you told me too.” He stood up, looking down at Lex. “You’ve pushed me around for too long. It’s not going to happen anymore. You have no power over me. So get over it.” He pushed Lex out of his way to come over to me. “Ebony,” his voice took on a softer tone. “I’m sorry. I was just shocked. I know I shouldn’t have said that. It was wrong. I know you’ve changed. I just didn’t want to admit it earlier. Give me a chance to prove to you that I will be a good example to our child. Let me show that I’ll be a good father.” He took my hand. “Please?”
“Okay.” I smiled. “I know you’ll be good to him or her. You’ll be able to teach them to be intelligent. That’s very important. I admire you for that.”
“And I admire your strength and power.” He stated pulling me into a hug.
Lex stepped forward pulling him away from me. “Lex,” I started. “It’s okay. He can hug me.”
“What if I don’t want him touching you again?” Lex asked glaring at Jack. Jack glared back with newly found defiance.
I looked up at Lex. “You don’t get the choice. I choose who touches me and who doesn’t. If you try to tell me what to do again, YOU won’t be touching me.” He looked at me with fear. I guess I still have it. “Thank you.” I turned back to Jack. “I want to be with you when you tell Gel.”
“I dunno…” Jack trailed off looking out the door of my room. “She might lash out at you. I don’t want the baby to get hurt because of her anger.”
I chortled. “I think I can handle myself. She won’t lay a hand on me.”
“I was afraid of that too. She’s not exactly up to your par. You might hurt her too. Plus, it doesn’t take much to hurt a fetus.”
“Okay. I understand, but I still want to be there with Lex.” Both men nodded.
“Okay, let’s go.” Jack started for the door. “She’s in the café cooking.” With that, we all were on our way to shock Jack’s future wife.
Chapter Nine
“He was furious! He even threw a chair through his office window!” Ved exclaimed falling to the floor next to where Brady was playing. “When he heard you were pregnant, he thought for sure the baby was his. Then Ellie told him it was Jack’s.”
Trudy turned back to me.” Ved’s exaggerated, but we’re sure you and the baby don’t have to worry about Jay anymore.” She looked back to Ved again. “Don’t give your belt to Brady!” she jumped to the floor just as the four-year-old child pinched her finder with the buckle. “See!” Brady began to cry. “Now she’s hurt herself.”
She tried to scoop the crying child up in her arms, but Brady pushed her away. “I want Ved!” She climbed into his lap pulling his arms around herself.
The look on Trudy’s face told me that she didn’t want to watch another second of this.
“Trud?” she snapped her gaze to mine. “Wanna help me find some more baby stuff?”
She looked to her daughter and then to the man holding her. “Yeah. I’ll be back soon. Ca you watch her for a bit, Ved?”
He looked up from the now amused child. A smile graced his young face. “Yeah, we’re okay, right babygurl?” he asked Brady. She answered with a big nod.
Trudy nodded before following me out of the room. She didn’t say a word as we walked side by side to the upstairs storage area. Finally, I decided we were far enough away from everyone.
“Trudy, are you okay?”
She looked to me with a face of calmness. “Of course I was just worried about Brady, but she seems to be perfectly fine.” Trudy sat on a crate.
I didn’t buy that she’s okay. I may not have liked the girl until lately, but I know that she’s usually vocal about her daughter’s well-being. “What do you mean? Do you not want Ved to spend time with her?”
She pushed her purple hair out of her eyes. “I don’t know what I want for her. It’s so hard having to keep her locked in here all the time. She needs sunlight, grass, a playground.”
I sat down next to her. “I know, but this is what we have to deal with until we can think of a way out.”
“And Ebony,” she looked over at me. “It’s been two months since Ved and I became friends trying to help you.” I nodded not knowing where she was going with this. “He and Brady get closer everyday. They’re almost inseparable.”
“Yeah?” by now, I was totally congused. “Brady has obviously taken him as a father figure.”
“Exactly! She’s become a daddy’s girl.” I guess she could tell my confusion from the look on my face. “Ebony, he’s fifteen. Do you really think that he wants to be the father of a four year old girl? He not even my boyfriend, either!” She pushed her hair back again.
I wanted to laugh. She can’t see her own feelings for him despite the fact that she just admitted them to me. She’s blinded by his age. “At fourteen, you had Brady.”
“That wasn’t exactly a choice that I was given. I love Brady, but if I could have chosen to walk into a situation where she was only Martin’s child, or Bray’s, I would have ran. Ved will do the same once he realizes that Brady sees him as her father.”
“You are putting way too much thought into your friendship with Ved. Take it day by day. Both of you are pretty much locked in here. See where it goes and then make a decision about if you want him to help you raise Brady. Brady’s not the only one that needs the love of a man.”
“Who said anything about love?” Trudy asked shocked. “I was just talking about him and Brady getting close.”
“Sure.” I stated. “Then, just give him a chance to be a father figure and see what he does.”
“Okay, I just imagined that Prince Charming would be her father figure.” I looked at her with an odd expression causing her to laugh. “I just always thought that a Prince Charming would come riding up on his white stallion and be the perfect father and husband. I didn’t quite count of a friend from an enemy faction knowing what my baby needs.”
I smiled with a bitter laugh. “Prince Charming doesn’t exist.” She looked at me oddle. “I thought Jay was a Prince.” I thought he held all that was good in the world in his hands. Like with everything else, I was wrong about him.
“Ebony!” Trudy pulled me into a hug. “You have Lex. He’s not exactly Prince Charmin, but he loves you and cares for your every need.”
I smiled pulling away. “Yeah, I never imagined he would be so great.” I looked away from her seeing a box labeled ‘Brady’s Baby Stuff.’ I jumped up and walked over to the shelf, but it was too high.
After seeing me struggle, Trudy joined in trying to get the box down. She wasn’t tall enough either. We looked at each other and busted out in laughter. We were the ones that put the box up there where we wore taller boots.
“What’s so funny?” Ved asked walking to the room with Brady on his shoulders. His hair was placed in many bunched held together by hair bands. Brady looked at us with a satisfied expression. This just added to our laughter. “What?” Trudy pointed to his hair. He slowly reached up feeling of one of the bunches. He lout a laugh and cheeky grin. “Do I look sexy?’
“Very sexy!” Trudy stated as our laughter died down.
Ved posed as Brady took down his hair. He reached up grabbing her by the waist and flipping her over his head to the floor. “Thank you for the hairdo, babygurl.” He tickled her winning a laugh.
“You’re welcome, Ved.” She giggled before running to her mother. Trudy placed her hand on her daughter’s shoulder as the child leaned against her legs.
The sight made me wonder about my own child. Would he or she crace for me to fix everything, or will they run to Jack or Lex? Will I know how to make them laugh or stop crying?
“Mommy?” I snapped out of my thoughts to see Brady trying to get Trudy’s attention. “Mommy!”
Trudy was still holding her daughter while sharing a gaze and smile with Ved.
“Mommy!” Brady exclaimed finally gaining her mother’s attention.
Trudy looked down flustered. “Huh? What Baby?”
The little girl smiled. “May we have dinner in our room tonight?” Trudy nodded. “Yay! Can Ved come too?”
Trudy looked up to Ved he was looking out the door. I could see Trudy looking him over as he leaned back to get a better look out the door. The spandex of his Techno issue suit stretched across his chest revealing the ridges of his stomach.
“Mommy!”
“Oh, yeah. Ved may eat with us if he likes.” As Trudy finished, Amber walking carrying Baby Bray. “Hey Amb.”
Hey.” She looked at Ved and then back at Trudy. “Oh, I was just wondering if Brady wanted to help me with Bray for awhile.” She looked to her neice. The little girl looked up to her mother expectantly.
“Yes, just have her back by dinner.” Brady hugged her mother round her legs before taking Amber’s hand and leaving.
“Ved,” I started after a moment of silence. “Could you get a box down for us?”
He laughed as he crossed the room brushing past Trudy. “Which box?” Trudy pointed and he easily swung the box to the floor. “Here you are.”
“Thank you.” I stated because he and Trudy were staring into each other’s eyes. I wish they would just get it together. Who care about a three year age difference when they are suited? Ved’s a man and Trudy is a woman. So, they are able to make a child, why can they be together?
I shook my head opening the box. Neutral baby clothes, bottles, and various other baby objects were inside. Ved sat on the floor taking out a rattle. He turned it over in his large hands. He ran his thumb over the writing. I could have sworn a tear came to his eye.
Trudy leaned over wrapping an arm around his shoulder. “Are you okay?”
He looked over to her now crying. “No. She died. I’ll never see her grow old.”
Trudy wiped away the tears. “I know, we all miss Cloe.”
“No, I miss Cloe too, but I was talking about our baby, Patsy.” Ved sobbed as Trudy and I looked at each other with confusion. He never told us the facts about Cloe’s death much less the fact that they had a child. “Cloe gave me the most beautiful child, but God took both of them away.” He sobbed pulling Trudy into his lap. “She died after Patsy was born and the baby dies a week later of a fever. I didn’t do enough to save either one.” He buried his face in Trudy’s neck as she look to me.
“Could you leave us for awhile?” I nodded leaving them alone to work through Ved’s past.
Chapter Ten
I fell to the couch between Lex and Jack. Both men turned to look at me. I found some baby stuff! I didn’t realize Brady had so much stuff when she was a baby.” Lex kissed the top of my head before getting up and going to the kitchen.
“What’s you find?” Jack asked shocking me. Just because I was having his child didn’t commit him to talking to me. And he proved this by barely talking to me in the last two weeks. “Ebz?”
“Yeah…wait.. what did you call me?”
“Umm…I thought…maybe…” Jack stuttered starting to look uncomfortable.
I laughed taking his hand. “It’s okay. I just didn’t expect you to call me a nickname.”
He leaned back. “Okay. I just thought we could be friends seeing as…” he trailed off with a smirk. A smirk that made me angry.
“You’re happy about this aren’t you?” He nodded still smirking. “You think you are so cool because you impregnated the big bad Ebony?” he shook his head no, vigorously. “You think you tamed the shrew? Well, you didn’t I am just as strong! This baby will not chance me!” I stood up, throwing his hand down. “Bye!” I ran away quickly taking refuge in my room.
I fell to my bed with tears streaming down my face. I can’t do anything right! I thought that everything would be over and I wouldn’t feel so worried and anxious once I tricked Jack. I was so wrong. He hates me. He only tolerated me because he believes that part of him is growing inside me.
“Ebony?” Jack’s voice asked from the door way behind me. “May I come in?” his deeper voice filled the silent room.
“No!” I exclaimed wiping at my eyes.
I heard his boots stomp across the tiled floor. “I’m sorry for whatever I did.” The bed bowed with his weight. “I didn’t mean to do whatever I did.”
I wiped away a final tear before turning over. “Go away!” I pushed at his right leg trying to get him off the bed.
“No.” he took my hands. “I’m not leaving until we’ve come to an agreement to be friends.”
I pulled my hands away. “Don’t pretend. I don’t want you to feel the need to get along with me just because we made a mistake.” I stated with a sense of power over the situation.
But that power was soon diminished. “A mistake?” Jack’s voice rose. “You thought that voice rose. “You thought that I slept with you for no reason?” I nodded. “I’ve learned that every decision has a consequence. When the Technos came and took me, I had a lot of time to think about things. Every moment of my life counts.” He pushed back a braid from my face. “You count.”
I knocked his hand away. “What are you playing at? I’m with Lex and you are going to have a new wife in a couple of weeks!”
“I care for you, but I knew we couldn’t be tighter for more than one time. I tried to push you away, but now I have to be near you. It’s too hard to ignore.”
“If you care, why have you acted like you’re hated me all these years?” I asked trying to catch him in a lie. He’s just doing this because I’m angry.
“I did hate you for awhile, but after you tried to kill me for spying on you, I saw that you were just as afraid as the rest of us. I saw you as human and not ‘big bad Ebony.’ Then when we were going to bomb the Techno satellite, you were holding on to me to protect you not to mention the look on your face when I was taken. You look devastated. That look followed me. That was how I knew I had to come back. I had to see you. Then you were gone and things just went back to normal with Ellie.”
“Stop!” I sat up. “You can’t be serious. You thought that you care for me?” he nodded. “I just don’t understand why you pushed me away if you wanted me.”
He sat silent for a moment. “Look at me and then look at you. We hardly belong together. I know that Gel is the woman that will take care of my children and me. You know that Lex will provide for and protect you. It’s the way things are meant to go.”
“If that is true, why are you here now?”
“I wanted you to know the truth. I wanted you to know that even though we are not together, this baby,” he put his hand on my stomach. “wasn’t a mistake and I don’t want you to hate me. Give me a chance and let me be your friend.”
I looked into his eyes. They seemed to be say he’s honest. “okay. I’ll let you be my friend, but don’t expect a drastic change overnight. Give me time to change years of preconceptions about you.”
He laughed. “Okay, in the meantime, take care of my son.”
“Why do you guys think it is going to be a boy?” I exclaimed placing my hand over his. “It could be a girl too.”
Jack smiled curling up his lip. “It’s going to be a boy.”
“Sure.” I laughed as he laid down next to me pulling me against him so that my head fell against his shoulder. “I shouldn’t do this. Lex might get the wrong idea.”
“What about?” Lex asked walking into the room. He came over sitting on the end of the bed. “I sent Jack to check on you.”
I looked to Jack. Did he make up all that? He smiled at me, and I somehow knew that he couldn’t have made that up. It was real. All this is strangely real. “Well, I decided that we could be friends. The child will need her momma and daddy getting along when she is born.”
I heard both Jack and Lex mumble ‘he’ under their breath.
“You guys need to shut up!” I buried my head in Jack’s shoulder and he wrapped a protective arm around my waist.