Days later, my ankle's healed up pretty well. Me and Xavier have gotten closer, not too much, as he's not very open about his feelings, but it's progress. Walking through the university, me and Charlotte finally sit and eat lunch together.
"So tell me, how's it going with Brady?" Charlotte asks.
"God, nothing, Charlotte! We're just friends-"
"Blah blah blah. Don't give me that shit, 'just friends' my ass." she says playfully.
"It's not shit! I told you, I'm seeing someone." I say, eating the grapes I packed this morning.
"Yeah? So where is this guy? Does he go here? Does he live around here, is he close?" she questions.
"I'm not telling you anything Charlotte!" I say, nudging her arm.
"I'm not gonna believe you until I see him for myself."
"You're insistent." I say, palming my forehead. "You could've saw him the other day. He was here. He's the one who broke Josh's nose." I say.
"He's the one who did that? Everyone said he knocked him out off one punch. If he can do that, imagine how muscular he is." says Charlotte, eyes wide.
"He didn't knock him out. He was pretty damn close though." I say, finishing up my grapes.
"Oh shit." Charlotte says.
"What?" I say.
"Basketball team, behind you." "What? No way." I say.
"Mhm." she hums with emphasis.
I stand up and I turn around, facing Josh. His nose is purple and blue from the damage Xavier put on him. He walks up to me, snarling.
"Your little friend broke my fucking nose." he says, making me back up cautiously.
"Yeah, I can see that." I say with an annoyed tone.
"You think you're funny huh?" he says.
He pushes me and I stumble back. I walk up to him, raising my head to step up to him. "Keep your fucking hands off me, J." I say, menacingly.
"Yeah? And what'll you do about it?" "Back off, Josh!" Charlotte yells.
"Shut up, you nerdy bitch!" he spits, quite literally.
I rear back and I slap him in the face. "Watch your mouth." I say, threateningly.
To my father, I'd never be this bold, but against someone like Josh and anyone else, my confidence and fierceness comes out.
"You know you're just a little cunt." he says.
"Picking a fight with a woman,I'dsay you're the pussy here." I say.
He laughs and slaps me, then my eyes fill with fire and anger. I look back up and I punch him in the face, making his friends back away. He looks back at me and swings and I dodge his punch, wind rushing against my face from his speed and use of force.
Anthony's words come to my mind as I fight with him. Wear him out, you've gotta be quick if you don't want to take a hit though. Be confident. Let your body flow.
I move around quick, making him miss every hit. Then I see an opening. I run up to him and I bring my knee to his groin three times, making him drop to his knees, then I bring my foot up to kick him square in his face, and he falls back, spitting out blood.
"Foster!" I hear someone who can be none other than a principal yell out to me. "Office, now!".
"I'll come with you." Charlotte says.
I smile and I nod at her, grabbing my lunch and going to the office. I call Xavier and gets there in 5 minutes. He runs to the office, meeting my eyes as soon as he sees me. "Dionne, what happened?" he asks, looking at me from head to toe.
I look over at Charlotte and her mouth is wide open, gawking at Xavier. "Charlotte, you can close your mouth now." I whisper.
"Dionne... why didn't you tell me your boyfriend was this hot?!" she whispers aggressively.
"Husband." Xavier says.
Charlotte looks like she's about to die. "Husband?!" she nearly yells.
"Charlotte!" I say, smacking her arm.
"You're married?!" she continues to aggressively whisper.
"We'll talk tomorrow, Charlotte." I sigh. "Let's go, Xavier." I say, walking out of the office. Then I forgot I have to check out. "Right after I sign this paper." I say, walking back into the office.
"I've got it." Xavier says. "Go to the car." he orders.
I don't dare to disobey him, I turn around, waving goodbye to Charlotte, and I go to the car. Minutes later, Xavier comes to the car and opens the door. He sits down and puts the car in drive and starts the drive home.
"They expelled you. 4 days." Xavier says, sounding a little pissed.
"You mad at me?" I ask, looking over at him.
"Hell yeah, I am. But at the same time, no." he says, keeping his eyes on the road.
"Why not?" I ask.
"Because you stood up for yourself. And your friend. And you beat his ass." he says with a smile on his face. He looks at the road and back at me with a smile and it fades as he notices the print on my face from Josh's slap. "What the hell? Dionne, he hit you? Why didn't you tell me?" he says, scolding me.
"Because I'd be expelled and you'd be getting arrested. You can't afford that."
"I can afford a lot of things."
"You know that's not what I meant." I say, rolling my eyes.
"You just ... roll you eyes at me?" he says with a smirk.
"Yeah, and?" I spit back.
"You'll find that that bratty attitude won't get you far with me." he says, warning me. I try to ignore the way he's making me feel right now, my body hot and bothered. "I have question though." he says, changing the subject.
"Okay, what's that?" I ask.
"I was thinking we could go on a date tonight."
My head shoots up and I look at him, surprised.
"A-A date?" I ask to clarify.
"Yes. A date. We should get to know a little more about each other, I think." he responds. I smile at the thought of this. I won't lie, we don't really know too much about each other. I think this would be good for us. "Your silence is killing me." he says.
I smile as I give him my answer.
"Yes. I'll go on a date with you, Xavier." I say at last.
So this is it. I’m going on a date with Xavier. I can’t say I expected this, but I guess it was bound to happen. I’ve already picked out a dress and shoes to wear but I’m nervous about tonight, for what reason? … I don’t really know. I think I’m just overreacting. I shake the worry from my mind and I start to get dressed. I decide to put on a tight red dress and red heels with a ribbon that I have to tie at the back. When I’m ready, I fix my hair and I go downstairs where I find Xavier waiting by the door for me. “Look at you.” He says. “You don’t look too bad yourself.” I comment. He walks up to me and grabs my hands. His hands are big yet soft against mine. He rubs my hand with his thumb and then slips them from mine. “Could you tie these?” I ask, turning around, leaning on the wall for support. He gets down to tie the ribbons around my ankles. When he rises, he looks me up and down and turns toward the door to get on his phone. Minutes later, he guides me to the car and helps
Xavier’s POV: The next morning, I wake up and the first thing I do is put on my suit. I need to attend a few meetings today. Money’s on the line. I walk downstairs and my father stops me from going any further than the living room. “Father.” I say. “Xavier.” He responds. He’s never called me his son. Ever. I still try to respect him though. That’s how my mother raised me. ‘Where’s that girl?” “Are you serious?” I say, squinting in annoyed confusion. “I’ve done nothing wrong.” He says, looking confused. “You may be the type of man to disrespect women and do whatever it is that you do with them, but my wife won’t be one of them. As long as I’m with her, you’re gonna learn to respect her, or I’ll make you, and that’s a promise. I don’t care how I have to do it, and you know I don’t. I’ve never disrespected you a day in my life, but when you disrespect her, you disrespect me, which means I disrespect you, I just want to make that clear.” I say, finally walking off and walking out t
Dionne’s POV: I finish getting dressed and I step out of my room only to hear something in Xavier’s room. As I walk toward the staircase, he opens his door and walks out. He obviously doesn’t see me when he walks by, so I walk by his room door and I see one of the maids getting dressed and she can barely stay on her feet. I scoff and I go downstairs and meet him. “Let’s go.” He says as I walk by him. He shuts the door behind us and we walk to the car. When I get in the car, the guard holding the door open closes it. The other guard on Xavier’s side closes his door and the driver pulls off. I cross my arms and I start a conversation. “I thought you said you didn’t have a chauffeur.” I say, trying to hide my anger. “I do. I just don’t use him all the time.” He says, scrolling through his phone. I stay quiet but the constant anger picking at my brain gets the best of me. “Did you fuck her? You smell like cheap perfume and sex.” I say, already knowing the answer. He closes the slid
I sit against the house, blood pouring from my leg as Anthony writhes in pain in mom’s arm. Xavier hangs up the phone and runs over to me and takes his tuxedo off and rips his blouse underneath off, then rips the sleeve off to tie it around my thigh where the blood is seeping out. He ties a knot tightly around my thigh, making me grunt in pain. He stands up and puts his hands out to me. I look up at him and I take his hands as he lifts me up. “Are you okay? Well no shit, but … “ he cuts himself off looking at me with worried eyes. “I’m fine.” I say back, limping over to Anthony. “I just got off the phone with some people who’re gonna get your father. We can discuss funeral arrangements later if that’s okay with you.” He says, helping me over to Anthony. “That’s fine.” I reply, paying more attention to Anthony. “I don’t have everything I need here.” Mom says. “Could they come home with us? Please?” I ask Xavier. “That’s a risk. You should know that better than anyone. My family
It’s been about 2 weeks since me and Xavier finally admitted to ourselves that we’re ready for one another and it’s honestly been good. I’ve been going to school everyday, he’s been picking me up and finally, he’s let his guard down for me. But he can switch it up, quick. One moment he’s in the car, telling me how much he loves me, then the next, he’s arguing and cursing with someone for something they said to me, then he’s cold. But that’s only out in public. When he’s alone with me, he’s vulnerable and open, and he keeps his walls down. In front of his parents, he shows them that he loves me, he’s just not as vulnerable. Still has to put on a strong, hard face for his father. Speaking of fathers, mine’s funeral is this week. I’m honestly glad he’s gone, then again, he’s my father, so there’s a sliver of me that still wants someone to call a father. That’s another time though. As me and Xavier pull up to the entrance of the university, my hand in his, he lifts my hand to his lips an
That night at dinner, Xavier sits in his spot next to me, and as we eat. Suddenly, Daxine speaks. “So you two, when’s the wedding?” she says excitedly. “About a year or two from now.” Xavier says. We agreed that we wanted a big wedding. Xavier says he wants it to be black and red themed but I want something light. We’re nothing the same which makes it all a bit more interesting. “Or two?” she says, surprised. “Yeah. We want it to be big.” Xavier says. “You always were extravagant.” Daxine says. “Dad in his office?” he asks. “Yeah. Hasn’t come out all day.” Xavier’s father has shown himself less and less every day. I think it’s because he wants to avoid Xavier in case he says something he doesn’t like. I don’t really know why, so I’m not gonna assume. It’s not really like him to hide. That’s where Xavier gets it from. After dinner, Xavier goes upstairs and gets in the shower, and I help Daxine with the dishes. When I go upstairs to Xavier’s room, I can’t find him. ‘Baby, wher
Xavier’s POV: I stand in the mirror fixing my tie while Dionne fixes her dress and checks her makeup and hair. “You ready?” I ask, watching as she takes a final look at herself in the mirror. “Yeah.” She says, turning around to walk up to me, wrapping her arms around my neck. “How you feeling?” I ask. “Don’t know. This feels weird. Going to my dad’s funeral is something I never thought would happen. I knew he’d leave one day, I mean he had it coming .. but not this soon. I mean I know it sounds heartless, but in a way I’m glad he’s gone. That fear of running into him is gone and I’m happy to have that kind of relief.” “That’s not heartless. Him abusing you and your brothers, that’s heartless. He deserved what he got. I’m sorry if that makes me a monster but other people seem to already think that’s what I am.” She looks down in thought, pausing. “We don’t have to go if you don’t want to.” I say. “No. I have to be there for my mom. She hated him for the fact that he abused her ki
Xavier’s POV: “Xavier, what’s going on?” Dionne asks as I hurry to the car, her hand in mine. “You remember that old enemy I told you about? His name is Malcom and I think one of his goons just called with a threat. We need to get to the house before anything happens.” I say, helping her into the car. I run over to the driver’s seat and I start the car and I speed off, racing to the house. But when we get there, it’s too late. The windows are shot out and it looks like a tornado went through the house. I quickly get out, Dionne opening her door to rush to the house with me. In the darkness, only lit by the lights on inside and outside the house, I see mom and dad standing outside, looking at the damage. “What the fuck happened in five fucking minutes?!’’ I yell, looking at the house. “As soon as you hung up the phone, guns went off, shot up everything. Some things inside are broken from the bullets that entered the house, but this came out of nowhere.” Mom says, shaking her head i