This Is Where I Want To Be

15. Two Stupid Guys

Juliet

I was thinking attacker! Flashes of Mr. Tailored hovering over me came to mind, and I cried out for help. Louis pulled me into his chest, wrapped his arms around me, and held me close, muffling my shrieks, “Shhh, your parents are here. They’re waiting for you.”

I didn’t care and tried to get out of his grip, fighting his hold on me. Louis’s grip only tightened around me. After I was tuckered out and knew he wouldn’t give in, I slumped against him, softened, and leaned in. He loosened his grasp and pushed me an arm’s length away from him, still holding onto my shoulders. My face was cast down. The tears I desperately held back broke through the dam wall and kept falling. Louis must have seen them because he went crazy, “Did I hurt you? Juliet! What’s going on? I’m sorry….” He lifted my face, wiping the tears away. “Did I scare you?”

I shook my head, “I hate you.”

He laughed lightly, “Well… I knew that.” His statement made the tears turn into small sobs. Louis pulled me into an embrace, stroking my hair, “Why doesn’t anyone see me?” I asked through subsiding breaths.

“Oh, Juliet! That’s just not true... You’re so special… It’s hard to come up to your standards. Even at this age… you’re intimidating... So sure of who you are… And for me, I’m so afraid of losing you that I might not act the way I should.”

“Does no one understand what I need…?” Louis said nothing. He was one of the reasons I felt no one would ever love me the way I needed to be loved. Louis kissed the top of my head, “Why are you here tonight? Were you with my parents?”

“I was at Charlene’s house when I saw you not getting out of the car…I wanted to make sure you got home safe.”

“Why didn’t you hook up with the waitress? You two seemed to be having fun,” he flicked my forehead.

“Ouch… she was stunning… Why didn’t you like her?”

He sighed, holding me close to his chest, “What happened tonight?” he murmured.

I opened my eyes and saw Chris staring at us.

“Juliet? What’s going on?” Louis asked.

Louis’s eyes followed my gaze when I didn’t answer, realizing someone was there, “Who’s that? Is that Mr. Tailored?”

I hit him on the chest, “Does it look like Mr. Tailored?”

We both peered aimlessly at Chris while I was still in Louis’s arms. He held me so close I couldn’t move. His hand slid down to the small of my back and pressed me into him. It felt like he was claiming me in front of another guy. For a moment, Louis’s acceptance outweighed Chris’s indecision. He did not betray one emotion, “I wanted to make sure you’re okay,” Chris said. His eyes were fixed on Louis.

I made a scoffing sound and pulled out of Louis’s arms. A useless cockfight that neither of them had the right to undertake was not something I had the strength for, “Don’t do that again!” I pointed my finger at Louis’s face. “You know how to get in my pants. That’s not the way.”

“Wait… that’s not what’s going on!” Louis tried desperately to explain, “Juliet, wait!”

My key was already in the lock. I didn’t hesitate to walk into the house, closing the door behind me. I was barely over the threshold when I was accosted again by my mom and dad, “What the heck, Juliet! We were worried sick. Charlene said someone was dropping you off. That was an hour ago.”

I glanced at my watch. Were we really gone an hour? What did I expect was going to happen in one car ride? Was I too harsh on Chris? He did come back. I opened the door, but the two stupid guys were gone.

***

Louis

We listened as Juliet’s parents laid into her. I felt terrible but had to turn away so that they could talk. I pushed past Chris, “This is all your fault.”

“What!? Who are you? You’re old enough to be her father,” Chris retorted.

I sneered at his stupidity. A wry smile formed on my mouth, thinking about Juliet. She didn’t see me like her father at all, “Don’t make your issues mine… I’m in love with her... Humans! So many hang-ups,” I whispered the last bit, just in case. Samuel had told me that Chris was the hybrid, but he was clueless, married to a shapeshifting dog, and he didn’t even notice. I was moving into my house the following day—and I couldn’t wait. As I walked, I sent Juliet a message.

Me { Your parents told me you would help me move tomorrow. As punishment. Pick you up at 5 }

My phone dinged a few moments later.

Juliet { That’s in three hours }

Relieved, I smiled. Me { Okay, make it seven but no later }

Juliet { Punching gif }

I chuckled. Chris had followed me to get to his car, “Did she really just say you were trying to get into her pants?” I was fed up with him. He had the most amazing woman yearning for him, and he couldn’t even decide if he wanted her. She could barely control herself in his presence. I wanted to turn to him and growl in his face! Showing him my teeth so he had something else to focus on. I also wanted to say something really mean but thought the better of it. “Who were you texting?” he asked.

I glanced at my phone, confused, “What has that got to do with you?”

“Was it Juliet you were speaking to?”

“Yes! Who else!?”

“You guys are texting?”

I mouthed a cuss word, “Look here… Chris,” that time, I put my hand on his shoulder, trying to get through to him, “You have to stop seeing her as a little girl. For one, she doesn’t like it. Two… she’s not as innocent as you think. Maybe you should ask her how many boyfriends she has had since coming to the school for the last few years that you didn’t even know she existed. She is already a woman if you haven’t noticed…. But you have… She’s not the problem here; you are,” I lifted my hand, flicking him on the forehead. I shook my head when all he could do was stare blankly at me.

“Are you saying she’s easy?”

Before I knew it, my fist landed on his face. He was such an idiot, “Don’t talk about her like that! Ever!”

“I wasn’t… You dumb-ass. I was talking about you!” Chris yelled. “What do you want from her?” Chris asked, feeling his lip, trying to see if there would be blood. I had restrained myself and knew he wouldn’t find any.

“I want everything from her… and I will get her.”

Chris frowned, and he smiled briefly, “Don’t I have her already?”

His statement punched me in the gut, “Where’s your wife, Chris?” His mouth opened to say something, but he shut it again, “That’s what I thought… I should ask you what you’re doing here? Why are you not at home with Sita?”

“You know she didn’t want to ask you for help in the club. Why is that? I’m the one that picked her up by chance. Didn’t she say she hated you? Maybe you should leave her alone.”

Every word he spoke was true. I had followed her the whole night. After they left… I even followed them as they were walking down the road. Her not coming to me in the club was an old-time low for me. She couldn’t even turn to me for help. Juliet was right—we didn’t know each other... or rather I knew her, but she didn’t know me at all—we met only two weeks ago. The only time we had a good moment was Monday when I told her how I felt… And then earlier, I had her in my arms. She had leaned into me and was confiding... it felt so right. I would do everything I could to change her mind about me.

“You just stood there in the club and did nothing when she was surrounded by a bunch of drunk guys.”

At least on that, I knew he would have to learn the hard way. Juliet was willfully unyielding, more than anyone I’ve ever met. Which meant she wouldn’t listen to me. I had learned that most painfully. I didn’t think she would listen to him either. He didn’t know what would happen if he pushed her… and I wasn’t going to help him—at all. Chris would have to suffer like the rest of us. I wouldn’t have interfered in her night for all the money in the world. She already hated me. I sighed, sick of justifying myself to the hybrid.

I pointed my key to my silver SUV. The Range Rover and the BMW contrasted each other, just like Chris and I. I opened my door and drove off. If I had stayed, I might have killed him. Juliet would hate me forever.

***

Chris

I wanted to make sure she was okay. Juliet had waited for me to say something or do something. All I could say was… ‘She should sleep well.’ It was dumb and shallow. Juliet wasn’t like that… I couldn’t give her what she wanted.

When I heard screaming, I ran to the small path she had taken earlier. I slowed down when I heard someone asking her if they had hurt her. I kept ambling and heard Juliet crying. My breath was shallow, not knowing what to expect. There was going to be a guy with her, and it wasn’t her father. I took the last few steps until they came into view. The last thing I wanted to see was her in the arms of the new French teacher—Ever! Not in a million years did I want to see her in someone else’s arms. Staring at them talking and him comforting her was unbearable. And then… she asked the most bizarre question, ‘Why does no one see me?’

Walking to my car after Louis had left, I tried to figure out what she had meant. Everyone saw her. I think every guy on the planet saw her. I kept playing out our whole trip home in my mind. A whole hour… We were together for so long, but it felt like minutes.

Louis was right. I had hang-ups about Juliet’s age. But I did ask her to call me Chris. She was the one who stressed the fact that I was a teacher at her school and kept calling me Mr. Rheed. She wasn’t making it easy on me. Also… The fact that I‘m married…

While driving home, I rubbed my lip where his fist planted. I deserved that punch; it knocked some sense into me, and getting jealous wasn’t going to help. Juliet wasn’t normal… NO! She wasn’t even human… Didn’t the French guy say something about that? Were her parents also not human. I stopped the car and rested my head on the steering wheel. What the hell was going on? Did no one understand where I was coming from? I’m married… My wife is ignoring my divorce papers. A student at school seemed to have a crush on me. What did Louis want me to do?

I sounded like a broken record player. The same arguments plagued me over and over.

***

Juliet

“What happened, Julie?” My mom took my hand in hers, turning me to her, “You were crying?” I wasn’t paying attention and closed the front door a second time. My mind was on Chris.

“Jerry pitched up at Mandy’s house and made a scene. Mom knows Jerry and Mandy’s boyfriend are friends. I wanted to come home. Asked someone else to bring me. It was too much for me to handle.”

“Who brought you home? Why did it take so long?”

“We talked… I didn’t check the time. He’s… a… friend.”

When I said the words out loud, it sunk in. Chris thought of me as a friend. The idea alone sent my emotions spiraling. I hated Louis, and the man I wanted didn’t even think of me in that way. “I’m sorry I made you worry,” I was getting good at lying, “Why were there police outside Charlene’s house?”

My mom relaxed a little, “Someone drank too much and made a scene. It was really the police who called the ambulance. It wasn’t that bad… Don’t change the subject. You had alcohol again. Were you guys getting drunk?”

I nodded. No point in lying about that one. She shook her head in disapproval, “Come, it’s late… Go to sleep, and you can tell me everything tomorrow.” We had moved to the kitchen by then. She handed me a tissue. I blew my nose and walked to the fridge to get some water. My phone dinged.

“Louis texted me… Let me see what he says,” My mom came to stand next to me, reading over my shoulder... I looked up at her, “Did you really tell him I would help him move?”

“Yes… I think it would be good for you to spend some time with him,” Her one arm came around my shoulder.

“Mom! Can you please tell me what’s going on?”

“Haven’t you guys talked?”

I shook my head, “Can you not just tell me about Louis?”

“I’m not doing this to frustrate you… You asked me about the werewolves, and you asked me about him… I thought if I told you everything that is going on… What would be the point? Live your own life. All I want from you is… that you should focus on enjoying every moment.” I made some noise to show my dissatisfaction. “Isn’t that why we left the compound?” she said dramatically, “So we could lead a different life than all the other vampires?” I sighed and nodded. “If I start bombarding you with things that are going on… Things that would soon be expected of you. Wouldn’t you feel more overwhelmed?”

“If I’m not busy growing up. What must I keep myself busy with?”

My mom smirked and tapped on my screen, “Louis seems like a good option. Don’t you like him just a little?”

I lifted my chin up a bit, “Are you telling me that I should fill my head with boys? Again? Bad parenting.”

She shrugged, “Back then… was different. Now, you can do what you want to do. That’s the point of this time of your life. To make mistakes. Do things you won’t be able to do… even in ten years.”

I sighed, “Okay! I’ll help him move. But have you guys already decided that he’s your new son-in-law? We don’t even know him!”

My mom wrapped her arms around me, “Like I said, this time you decide. We won’t interfere again,” she kissed my cheek and headed for bed.

The following day, Louis was at the door at seven. I was ready because I couldn’t sleep. Usually, my bed was like heaven to me; when I laid my head down, I was gone. Not the previous night. I saw Chris’s face over and over in my mind, ‘Sleep well, Juliet.’ I moved my head from side to side, mocking him. I never felt like wearing black again, so I opted for light blue ankle-length jeans, white sneakers, and a white button-down shirt hanging loosely around my waist. I put my hair up and put simple silver hoops in my ears.

Opening the front door gave me a full view of Louis waiting on the other side of the gate. Whistling, he licked his lips, “Noice! A little sus seeing that until yesterday you only wore black… What’s going to be next, pink?” I laugh inside myself. There was a dress in my closet. It was the brightest pink with tassels. He was impatient, and his long, unstyled hair was unruly that day. He wore casual clothes for a change. He gripped the gate, rattling it so I would hurry up, “Open up! Come on, we got to go!”

“Why are you in such a rush?” I turned the key in the gate.

He yanked it open and pulled me out by my wrist, half running down the road with me in tow, “Come on, come on.”

“Where are we going?”

“Not far… The very next house, in fact.” Louis opened a little brown wooden gate and led me through a small garden into the front door, which was standing wide open. He shut it and locked it. He didn’t stop and dragged me down the hall. There was another closed door at the end of the corridor.

“Wait! Where are we going?” I tried stalling, putting out my feet, “I was only joking last night.” He was too strong, and I slid over the tiled floor, “About you ever getting in my pants!” Louis smirked and let me go. His lips turned into a beautiful big smile with his gorgeous big mouth. It always reached his eyes. He seemed like a really happy person. I was lying anyway; he could totally get in my pants. Just being with him made me forget about anything else. He opened the door, and what I saw was not what I expected. There was a person tied and bound on the floor.

“He’s a deaf-mute. A homeless guy from two towns over… Last night, when I left… I went to go get you takeout.” I thought it was funny… I wanted to laugh, but my manifestation was so instant that I jumped the guy—I had no control, not realizing how hungry I was. “Yesterday when you broke down crying. I knew this was one of the main reasons… Deciding to stretch your feeds might not be a good idea.” I wanted to roll my eyes. At least he didn’t tell me how stupid I was. Maybe he did listen to what I said. Louis was trying. He sat down on some stacked boxes in the corner, picked up a hammer, and played with it while I finished. I could feel his eyes on me.

At that time, I was too hungry to care or be self-conscious. I went to wipe my mouth. Louis stretched out his hand, “No, don’t use your sleeve again! Here!” He held out a wet face cloth to me. I had a moment to decide if I would be angry at his tone. I chose to also try but couldn’t get the thank you to pass my lips. He smiled as I wiped my mouth. He took it from me and disappeared briefly. I relaxed a lot since I could eat, reached for the black tarp, and folded it over the guy. I took the tape lying on the floor and wrapped the body. Louis came back into the room, bending down to help me. After we were done, he threw the guy over his shoulder, disappearing again. With his strength, it was easy.

“I should’ve put him on the dining room table with some candles lit,” he said, coming back. I gave him an uncomfortable, shy smile. Manifesting in front of strangers still felt weird to me. I was more human than vampire. “Do you have no respect for human life?” I asked, turning away from him.

“I do… But I can’t help who and what I am. This is how things are… And unfortunately, this guy’s time and death was”— he looked at his watch— “seven o’ five.”

***

Louis

Juliet was awkward when manifested, fidgeting and avoiding me… like at that moment. She wouldn’t be able to transform back for a few minutes, making it my responsibility to help her through it. I walked over to her. I was so used to our faces like that. To me, she was beautiful, whether manifested or not. Didn’t think Chris would readily accept this… Meaning her, and when he didn’t, I would be there. “You’ve been around humans for too long, and you feel you are the odd one out.” I carefully took her face in my hands, lifting her head with my thumbs to meet my eyes, “Can I kiss you?”

She laughed again and pushed me away, “No! What is it with you and my mouth? Is that all you think about?”

I slowly took her face back into my hands. All I did was stare at her lips for the longest time, ensuring her mouth wasn’t all I was after. Sweeping the hair out of her face and tracing her features with my fingers, I let her go to see what she would do, giving her the freedom and control she wanted—allowing her to choose for herself. It seemed like she wanted to kiss me, but she was hesitating. “I can wait for however long it takes for you to trust me,” I whispered. Slowly, she slid her arms around my waist… very carefully, pulling me into her for a hug. I froze and stood there, not wanting to move. It was more than I had hoped for. She was thinking about it— about us.

“I don’t know why I just did that,” she stepped back.

I was completely caught off guard and spaced out, taking in the feeling. I liked her coming to me. It brought on more emotions I’ve never had to deal with. Her manifestation disappeared. It drew my attention back to her. She had relaxed enough, and it made me smile. Happy that she didn’t hate me anymore. “Okay, let’s get busy with work. If I keep staring at you. I don’t know if I can keep my hands off you.”

“What do you want me to do?” Juliet asked, glancing around the room.

“You can start with those boxes, unpacking and placing the things in the right rooms.”

“How would I know where you want things?”

“I don’t care, do whatever.” I left her standing there and went out to the truck. I could hear her ripping tape as I moved more things into the house.