Humor died as sadness took its place in Rohan's voice. "What was his mother like?"

  "Nothing like my mother," John answered, briefly lost in his memories. "Or yours for that matter. She was kind. Selfless. Loved roses and filled their house and garden with them. She thought the world of her husband and son and that went both ways. They were a perfect family. They were so happy that I wished I was really his brother and his parents mine too."

  "But then shit happened."

  John clenched his fists. "Yeah."

  They held eyes and the remorse in Rohan's eyes were painful to see.

  And that's when he decided to tell him everything.

  He told him about Leon's father and why he left his wife and son, because he thought she cheated on him with his brother and thought that Leon wasn't really his son. He told him about Leon's mother, how she died, raped and beaten to death. He told him about Leon, how he was there to witness everything, how he eventually had PTSD and how he never got over his beloved mother's death. And he told him about Leon's uncle. The man who tore their family apart. The man who further destroyed Leon by physically abusing him.

  Somewhere along his story, Rohan's eyes had turned red and his hands had clenched tight around his sheets. And when John was done telling him everything, Rohan lifted his hands and buried his face in his palms.

  "Shit," he muttered in a thick voice. "I really messed up."

  John got up and approached the bed. He sat on the edge and patted Rohan's head. "I'll fix it up for you, kid. Just rest."

  Rohan lifted his hands and stared at him.

  Then he said, "Somehow, I know you will. You always do."

  He grinned and patted him once more. Hearing voices outside the door, he stood up and told him. "It must be your mother. I'll get going now."

  Rohan nodded and hurriedly wiped his eyes. Just as John was about to open the door, Rohan called him again. He looked back at him over his shoulder.

  And immediately wished he didn't when Rohan spoke.

  "You always fix things for us. When will you start fixing yours?"

  ~*****~

  I'd never punched a girl in my life.

  Even when I was doing karate in my grandfather's dojo.

  Even when I was being bullied when I started school here in the US for being new and Asian.

  Most of my grandfather's students were boys so I never got a chance to fight with a girl. And the bullying actually ended before the week was over when Haru knew about it. I didn't know how he did it exactly. I was just glad it was over.

  Now, my hands were clenched but for a completely different reason.

  I was restraining this urge to punch the bitch who was standing in front of me and who also had ruined pizza with Sophia and Hannah. We were hanging out in a pizza place near school and I had to make up an excuse to go out for a moment when I saw this girl lurking out the bistro.

  And this bitch's name was April Locke.

  "Hello, April," I said coolly.

  April glowered at me. She must have come directly from her school because she was wearing the North High Academy school uniform. The upper half of her strawberry blonde hair was pulled back into a barrette, the lower half going below her shoulders. Her looks gave the impression that she was sweet, charming and innocent girl when in fact, she was the complete opposite. A viper.

  A bitch.

  I'd known her since we were in grade school. So believe me when I say she was nothing but a total bitch.

  "Hello, Terry," April returned, her voice not containing its usual false syrupiness but hints of acid. "What a coincidence seeing you here."

  I glanced back to the pizza place then returned my gaze to her. "Is it?"

  Her eyes widened in mock innocence. "It is."

  I bristled.

  Coincidence, my ass. She was here for Sophia.

  It was clear she found out that Sophia was Leon's girlfriend. It was also clear Leon had stopped sleeping with her. She had the impression of a woman scorned and she was out for blood.

  Sophia's blood.

  As beautiful and alluring as she was, April was no match for Sophia's striking loveliness and casual glamor. And the moment I saw her face through the window, which had been turned to Sophia and filled with unconcealed spite, I knew that April knew that too.

  She was also no match for me, no matter how exquisite she was.

  She also knew that which was why her body tightened, instinctively going on guard, when she saw me come out.

  "Why don't we talk for a moment?" I suggested. I needed to get her away from the bistro and away from Sophia.

  She frowned. "What for?"

  "You have questions."

  "And do you think you have the answers I need?"

  "You won't know unless you ask."

  April stared at me. Her eyes were carefully blank but I could see her mind working. She looked like she was planning to use all the time in the world to think my suggestion through. I, however, did not have time to waste.

  "Let me go," April hissed as I pulled her arm and led her to the end of the building. "How dare you—?"

  "No," I interrupted her harshly. "How dare you show your face here?"

  Finally shrugging me off from her, she took a step back. "And who are you to tell me what to do?"

  "Someone who once knocked you down your pedestal back in middle school." I took a step forward and she took another step back. "Someone who will literally knock you down again if I have to."

  Sneering at me, she muttered, "You think just because your John Steele's slut you can frighten me and order me around?"

  Taken aback, I said, "What? What the hell are you talking about?"

  She didn't answer. She simply smiled.

  Then she dropped the smile to say, "Now get out of my way. I have someone that I need to talk to."

  I glared at her.

  The bitch.

  "Leon won't be happy about this, April," I told her, my emotions well in hand now. April Locke was not going to intimidate me no matter what she knew.

  "I don't give a damn," she said stiffly, her clenched hands shaking. "I want to talk to her."

  "No, you won't."

  "Let me pass, Terry. You really don't want me as your enemy."

  I lifted a brow. "Do you really think I care what you want? Go before Leon finds about this."

  "He's mine!" she shouted. "He's always been mine. We belong together, Terry. I won't let some unknown bitch take him away from me."

  I smirked. Was she for real?

  "First of all, you don't own him and he is not your property," I answered her. "Second, you sleep around as much as he did so you really don't have the right to say that you belong together when you keep spreading your legs for anybody who has a penis. And lastly, she didn't take him away from you because he was never yours."

  A few seconds of silence, then she whispered, "You'll pay for that."

  "Bring it," I countered.

  "I'll ruin you, you bitch!"

  She lifted her hand to strike but I caught it easily.

  "Careful, April," I warned as I tightened my fingers around her tiny wrist before throwing her hand away. "You do know my family owns a dojo, right? I can karate-chop you down to the last circle of hell before you can even touch me."

  Massaging her wrist, she took several steps back from me, spitting daggers through her eyes. "You're going to be begging me for mercy before I'm done with you. You just wait and see."

  I rolled my eyes. "Oh, joy. I can hardly wait."

  April's lip curled. Then she whirled and marched away from me.

  I closed my eyes and let out a sigh. Then I turned to go back to my friends, only to see Sophia hiding around the corner. I stiffened. How long was she standing here?

  How long was she listening?

  "What are you doing here?" I deadpanned.

  Sophia shifted nervously under my stare then glanced down at her hand. "Your... your cell phone was..." She lifted her gaze back up. "Who were you talking to?" she asked instead.

  I pursed my lips. "Nobody. She was just asking for directions—"

  "I heard everything, Terry," she interrupted softly. "Who was that girl? Was she Leon's ex-girlfriend?"

  Studying her, I answered, "She's not an ex. She was just a girl Leon used to sleep with. Used to, Sophia. Past tense."

  Her features turned into pain. "How would you know he's not sleeping with her anymore?" she asked.

  I rolled my eyes. "I thought you heard everything? She wouldn't come here to confront you if Leon still was. And do you think Leon would seriously do that to you? Sleep with another girl while he's with you?"

  She stared at me. I stared back at her.

  It hadn't been long ago when she'd been weirdly lethargic, always spacing out in class. The reason was, of course, Leon. Strangely enough, it made me uncomfortable, seeing her so cheerless. Maybe it's because we kept spending time with each other?

  And somehow, as the days went by, I didn't feel like I was forcing myself on her. I was beginning to feel at ease with her and doing things that I thought I wouldn't do with her. Try as I might to maintain some distance, it was getting difficult because of her easygoing personality and thoughtfulness. Unlike Hannah, she minded my personal space. And unlike Hannah, she knew when to shut her mouth and knew when to back off.

  So she wore me down.

  Just like that.

  Haru had already made arrangements with her grandmother and soon, he'd have her sign a contract with our company. It made me guilty about using her. And it made me guilty and regretful, not befriending her by my own when I had the chance.

  Sophia expelled a long sigh then muttered, "Leon... Leon's hasn't slept with me yet, you know."

  My eyebrows rose. "And what? You think he'll dump you after he did or are you whining because he hasn't?" I shook my head with disgust. She'd just made up with Leon. Was she going to mope around and ignore him again because of something as stupid as this? "Sophia, I've listened to you and Hannah gush about Leon a lot and if you think I'll listen to you complain about your non-existent sex life, then I'd rather shoot myself right now."

  "Hannah did the gushing. I merely did the informing," she pointed out.

  I scowled at her and she shut up.

  "And as far as I know, Leon never had a girlfriend before," I went on, still scowling. "He never came to school with a girl, never waited outside a classroom for a girl, never ate lunch with a girl. Imagine our surprise when out of the blue, he got himself a girlfriend. So believe me when I say Leon wouldn't bother with a girl if it wasn't someone he truly cared about. I don't know what happened that day you came back to our classroom with you looking like you've been crying. But you should have seen Leon. He was in much pain as you were. So I know you mean the world to him, Sophia. Don't mess that up by doubting his faithfulness to you."

  Her expression turned in total awe and I stopped ranting.

  Wait.

  What was I doing?

  Why the heck was I defending Gage?

  "You're right." She smiled. "You're totally right."

  "I know I am," I said with a nod.

  "Thanks, Terry. And thank you for protecting me from her."

  "Whatever," I murmured distractedly. I still couldn't believe I defended Leon Gage.

  Curious, she asked, "How do you know her?"

  "She used to go to our school," I muttered darkly. "She was the most popular girl back then, and boy, did she know that. She's the kind of person who acts all innocent and sweet to those privileged to receive her attention but then turns to a mega-bitch to those who doesn't. Especially to girls who she deems competition."

  Sophia turned a tad pale as I spoke.

  "She transferred to another school last year and we didn't see her again. Until now." I took a step closer to her and dropped my voice low. "You stay away from her, Sophia. She will eat you up and spit you out before you even noticed what happened. Do you understand me?"

  She bobbed her head up and down. I narrowed my eyes at her, trying to discern if she wasn't dumb enough to not heed my warning. Then I sighed, snatched my cell phone from her hand and together we headed back to the pizza place.

  I kept fixing her problems for her, I thought resentfully as we went.

  Will I ever fix mine?

  ~*****~

  John pushed Rohan to Leon's direction.

  Rohan, being the asshole brat that he was, pushed him right back and glared at him.

  John sighed and pushed him again. And while he was doing this, Skull stared at them, biting his lower lip to stop himself from laughing.

  Leon leaned against the hood of his car, looking at the leaves, seemingly waiting for the scuffle to end. But John could see his lips twitching and could feel his gratitude. Leon had wanted to talk to Rohan himself and apologize but John didn't let him. Let the brat approach him first, he told him. It wasn't Leon's fault.

  "Stop pushing me," Rohan snapped at John when he pushed him again.

  Thoroughly pissed, John shoved him. Hard. Rohan almost tumbled to the ground but luckily righted himself up before he could. Realizing how close he was to Leon, Rohan glowered over his shoulder at John, promising vengeance.

  Leon dropped his gaze.

  Rohan turned his head to glare at him.

  Then Leon said, "Come here, Rohan."

  "I'm not if you're going to punch me."

  "Jesus, Rohan," John groaned.

  Didn't he want to fix things with Leon? Why the hell was he fucking this up?

  "He's making a fist," Rohan retorted. "I'm being careful."

  Leon looked resigned when he said, "Do you really think I'll punch you when you look like shit already?"

  Rohan shrugged. "Never stopped other people before."

  But even though he said that, he walked over to stand next to him. Leon stared at him for a moment. He lifted a hand and Rohan winced. Then that wince turned into a dark scowl when Leon started to ruffle his hair.

  "Stop it."

  "Yeah. Only I can do that," Skull inserted.

  "Stop talking shit, Skull. Hell, I can't wait for the day I'll be taller than you jerks."

  "Keep drinking milk and soon you'll be taller than Skull," John said with a grin as he lifted himself on the bed of his truck and stretched out on the metal with his legs dangling in the air.

  "No, don't. I want to be the tallest."

  John closed his eyes and expelled a long sigh.

  Finally. Peace.

  Peace between Rohan and Leon.

  Peace between him and his friends.

  Peaceful days were coming, as long as none of them fucked things up again, and he was going to enjoy them. They also had one more week before the end of the school year. Ah, but he loved summer.

  "You guys remember how I called dibs on the summer party?" Skull suddenly asked and John opened his eyes.

  "A party you failed to mention to me?" Leon's expression turned dark.

  "A bonfire party actually, but yeah. Anyway, I've already invited the West-"

  Leon didn't let him finish. "A party John failed to mention that he had already mentioned the same to Sophia?"

  "Like how you failed to mention April went to your house?" John commented dryly as he sat up. "Like how you failed to mention that your father visited you?"

  Leon glared at him. "I handled it."

  Liar.

  "Sure, you did," John muttered.

  "Shut up, John," Rohan hissed and his brows lifted.

  Wow. Did the brat have Leon's back now?

  "Speaking of failures to mention stuff," Skull started. "Let's talk about how you failed to mention a lot of things, John."

  They were all staring at him. John narrowed his eyes suspiciously at them.

  "What do you mean, Skull?"

  They all exchanged glances. Then they shrugged.

  "What?" John demanded.

  They grinned. Even Leon. And it didn't take John a few seconds to know this was about Terry Evans.

  When John saw Terry three weeks ago at the bookstore where he and Sophia talked about Leon and practically followed her around until she got fed up and stomped out, Skull and Rohan were passing by outside. The both of them were eating ice cream and both of them had stopped when they both saw Terry and John. Both of them had the same surprised expressions.

  And after quickly getting over their surprise, both of them gave John smug looks.

  Terry didn't see them. She got into her car and drove off without a word. John scratched his head as he watched her car disappear.

  Damn. He'd already solved Leon and Sophia's problem. When will he solve his?

  And damn his friends for acting like they didn't see him running after Terry. They just walked past him, snickering under their breaths, as he continued to stand and sulk at Terry's cruel brush off.

  What the fuck did these two idiots know?

  "Hey, isn't that Terry Evans?"

  John's gaze whipped to the lone figure walking across the parking lot. His stomach clenched. She was so beautiful in the blue dress she was wearing. And her legs, damn it. He still remembered the feel of them around his waist while he was making love to her. He had always loved her legs, remembered telling her so, and remembered Terry giving him an exasperated but loving look.

  Damn, but he missed her.

  He heard someone whistling and he realized he wasn't the only person who was appreciating her legs. Giving Skull a scowl, he hopped off the truck bed.

  "Maybe I should invite her to my party," Skull suggested, not taking his eyes off his girl.

  Yes.

  His girl.

  "Someone that uptight won't come," John spoke up with a growl.

  "I can loosen her up."

  John fought the urge to punch Skull on the mouth. "Weren't we going to play at my house? Let's leave."

  "Wait, I want to try talking to her."

  Thank fuck, Terry was on the phone and hadn't spotted them as she made her way to her car. Skull made a move to approach her but John quickly threw out his leg. Rohan burst out laughing when Skull tumbled to the ground.

  "Oops," John mumbled derisively.

  Skull gave him a look of murderous intent as he rose to his feet.

  And John started to run.

  ~*****~

  What was he doing in my car?

  What the hell was John doing in my car?

 

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