Scarred Hearts (Blackrock) (18 page)

I sigh, "Yes Roger I love you now go to bed ALONE! Call me tomorrow" "Ok night babe" we hang up and I turn around to see Knox and Max standing in front of the bar with their arms folded across their chests looking at me with questioning eyes. "So you have a boyfriend already?" Knox says, I smile walking over to him "Yes I do" I say and kiss him on the lips, he doesn't move so I step back he is not impressed with me at all. Max turns to me "You should leave" he nods to the door then steps around me to unlock it. I look between both of them wondering when the punch line will come but it never does "Are you guys messing with me?" I ask, Knox doesn't move or say anything "Knox that is my friend Roger, I told you about him" I say, he just huffs a breath. This has to be a joke I look between then again, Max has the door open "Get the fuck out I said" my eyes pop out of my head.

I look between them again "Get out! " Max roars at me, I drop the sweeping brush and head for the door "Don't come back" he slams the door behind me. What the heck just happened, I am still stunned when I reach my car, I sit in the drivers seat with my legs outside and call Knox's phone. He doesn't answer; I try again, still no answer.

I get into my car and drive around back of the bar I pull up behind their motorcycles and block them in. I sit and wait until they come out about fifteen minutes later. "Move your car Bailey" Max says, "No, what the fuck is going on?" I ask him "I don't get it" I take a deep breath holding the tears at bay I am angry and pissed. Max turns to me "Look Bailey you seem like a nice enough chick but I am not going to let you fuck my brother over, he had his heart ripped out once already and it's not happening again".

I shake my head not understanding any of this, "Max I am nice, Roger is like my brother we have been friends since we were fourteen" I explain. "Why did you tell Knox you had a boyfriend then" I rub my hands over my face "Knox is my boyfriend, he asked me to be his girlfriend about four hours ago, so what he just plays games with peoples feelings" I shout.

"No he doesn't you said you had a boyfriend when he asked you after your little phone performance" Oh my god I don't believe this shit "Yes, I was referring to him, I'm not a fucking whore Max and I don't hurt people" this is bullshit I say to myself getting into my car, I reverse out of the lane way onto the street and take off.

I don't want to go home so I just drive, I don't even know where I am going I just get on the freeway and go. I can feel the tears ready to spring free but I refuse to cry, not from sadness but from being pissed off. Before I know it I am in Fairfield at the nursing home, I park in the lot. It is only five in the morning I can't go in to visit until eight. I can't believe that just happened, I put my seat down closing my eyes to nod off still confused.

I wake up to someone knocking on my window; I open my eyes with a jolt. Great this is all I need, I open my window to the security man, "Hi, you ok young lady?" I smile "Yes sorry, I was driving through the night and got here earlier than I thought" I smile. He nods "That's ok, you can go in if you like". "Thank you" I say opening the door. I reach my grandmothers room, I knock and walk inside "Hi Nan" she looks up at me from her bed, "Hi Bailey, I wasn't expecting you today" I smile then give her a kiss on the cheek "I know its a surprise" She looks me up and down "You can say that again, have you seen your face?" I go over to her bathroom and look in the mirror, my eyes are ringed with mascara, I wet some tissue and wipe it off. I come back into the room and sit on her bed "So what has you here this early?" she asks me. "Drama but it's ok nan I am sure you don't need to hear my stuff" she smiles at me "I have nothing else to do today" I smile back and climb up onto the bed beside her.

I tell her about Knox asking me to be his girlfriend and Rogers phone call, she already knows what Roger is like. I continued on with my story even the bits Max said to me about Knox. I sigh when I am done my nan gives me a hug "Don't worry, he likes you it was obvious the day you brought him here. Maybe you should explain what type of relationship you have with Roger to them and they might understand" "maybe nan, maybe I should just stay away".

We spend the next few hours in bed eating candy and watching old movies, I am having a good day with her. "Have you spoken to your mom lately?" nan asks "No I haven't". "You should" she tells me tapping my nose, I smile at her then she gives me a big hug and kiss on the forehead. "Its time you went back home, you have school tomorrow" I groan "Yeah I know, but I don't want to leave you" she takes my chin in her hand tilting my head so she can see into my eyes "Bailey, you are a smart beautiful girl and I love you, give your young man a chance" she winks at me. I nod "Ok nan only cause you say so" I give her a kiss "Ok see you next Saturday" I wave walking out of the door. I arrive home in time to have a quick shower and get dressed, I am going to tell Knox about Roger and assure him nothing is or ever has gone on between us. I drive into town, park in my spot beside the bar and get out of my car. I am nervous about this; I don't want a fight I just want to talk to him.

I step inside the bar; it's not too busy so I can see. Max is behind the bar so I walk over to him "Hi Max" he looks at me "Bailey, why are you here?" Oh man this is going to be hard "I came to talk to you guys about last night" I say, hoping they will listen. "I see" Max says "Is Knox here tonight?" "Nope it's his night off" Crap I forgot "Do you know where he is?" I say.

Max sighs "Bailey I don't know what the deal is but I can't see my brother go through some girl crushing him again" "Max please, I don't want to crush him I want to explain the one sided phone call you heard last night" "This is the only chance you're getting from me Bailey, He went over to Little Italy for dinner about twenty minutes ago. I smile at Max walking toward the door "I promise Max I won't hurt him" I say running out of the door. I race across the street and head down the strip; Little Italy is about three blocks away. When I arrive I stop outside calming my nerves, I take a deep breath then open the door. When I step inside the waiter tries to have me wait for a seat "Oh my friend is already here" I say to him "What is the name?" "Knox Porter" "This way" he says walking through the dining room we arrive at Knox's table and I stop beside it. He is having Dinner with Red, What the fuck.

I look at him "Seriously Knox" I say "Her". He looks up at me realizing that I am there "Bailey what are doing here?" I can see Red smiling like the cat that got the cream "Yeah I was just asking myself the same question, sorry to interrupt your date. I see you have moved up in the world" I turn around and walk out of the restaurant, getting back to my car I decide it's about time I forget about idiot guys and just concentrate on people who love me. I make it home about twenty minutes later. My cell phone rings, it's my mom "Hi mom, how are you?" "Hi Bailey" she says sniffling, is she crying, "Mom are you ok?" She cries harder "Mom, you are scaring me what's going on?" she takes a deep breath "Nan passed away today" she tells me crying.

I loose my legs from beneath me and crumple to the floor, I can't breath, tears come hard and fast I pick up my phone "Mom I will be home tonight ok, I'll be there by midnight" She just cries trying to speak but not making any sense, "Mom I am on the way ok, go to bed I will be there soon" I say and hang up the phone.

Racing up to my room I grab my wash bag, just throwing stuff into it, I don't need clothes I still have some at home. Running back to the kitchen I grab some water, make a coffee to go. Within ten minutes I am on the road. I call my dad with shaking hands and tell him the news; he is going to fly into Grove in the morning. I can't think I am on auto, just driving, crying, driving and crying.

How is this happening? I was only there a few hours ago, why is my life gone to shit? As I drive through the night the blackness closes around my heart again cutting me deep, giving me another scar that will forever remind me of today.

Knox

When I get home from the bar I can't sleep, I keep thinking of the way Bailey spoke on the phone to Roger, I know she told me that they were friends but it sounded like friends with benefits to me. I was pissed at her, I had just asked her to be with me, she said yes and seemed really into me but now I don't know.

I toss and turn for most of the night, why the fuck did I fall for a girl who has some weird relationship with a guy from high school. By six am I haven't slept at all, I get dressed for the gym and head out. I would usually wake Max but today I just need time to think, to be by myself. I work out hard, pushing my limits. I want to feel physical pain just to numb the emotional pain. I get home after one pm; Max has been calling me all morning. When I get home he jumps off the sofa "Hey bro, I've been calling you all morning what the fuck" I can see he is worried "Relax Max I was at the gym, I just needed to think" I sink into the sofa putting my head back to rest.

Max sits down beside me "Want to tell me what's happening?" "Its cool Max you don't have to worry" he stands up running his fingers through his hair, he reminds me of our mom "Like hell I don't, I was there last year remember? I saw what you were like Knox and there is no fucking way that is happening again" I look at my brother pacing up and down the living room I know where his coming from and I love him for it but I don't feel the way I did last year.

I stand up and grab him in a hug, "Thanks bro" I tell him letting him go "I am just looking out for you Knox, I can't see that happen to you again, you don't need that shit". "Yeah I know, I'm hitting the shower" he nods and I go up to my room. I spend the day cleaning my Harley, it allows me to think about Bailey, she is cool and fun and makes me smile. I like her a lot, so why did I act like a dick last night? I was shocked to hear her on the phone but I guess if I really think about everything she said it sounded like she was getting some chick to leave this guys house, maybe I am still screwed up. Max comes outside getting on his Harley, "I'm off to work, you gonna swing by later?" I nod "Before you go I've been thinking about last night and I think I will go see her later after dinner" "If that's what you want, I am on your side no matter what. I mean I like her she's a cool chick n' all, so its up to you". "Alright I'll see you in a few" he nods then takes off.

I spend another hour cleaning my bike and I have it shining like a new penny, I have decided to grab dinner with Max then head up the hill to see Bailey, I need to apologize for not listening to her and generally acting like an ass, man what's wrong with me. I reach the bar by seven "Hey Max" I say walking through the beads "Damn look at you Casanova, all spruced up" I laugh at him "Yeah figured if I am going to be on my knee begging I may as well look good doing it" "Good for you bro" Max says then ads "Sucker" to the end.

"Hey I was gonna grab some Little Italy, do you want me you pick up something to go?" "Sure you buying? Then I'll have a meatball sub with the works" "Of course, why did I even ask? You are a meatball" I walk out and head for the restaurant feeling pretty good, I will eat in because you can't get desert to go unless you do and they have a great white chocolate truffle cake I know Bailey would love.

I reach the door, asking for a table for one. The guy at the desk looks at me funny, I want to slap the look off his face "Name?" "Knox Porter" I say just as bored as him, "This way" he says leading me through the place to the back. What an ass this guy is. I take my seat already knowing what I want when the waiter comes over, "Hey Knox" I look up to see Red, I just ignore her and look through my menu deciding what else to get Bailey, I will bring her a few different choices.

"Are you not going to say hello?" "No I am not now go away". "Awe don't be like that" she tries to be sweet but its more like cough syrup, thick and disgusting. She sits at my table the whole time I eat "Can you leave please?" The waiter arrives so I order Max his dinner and Bailey's truffle cake and some other lemon cake with white chocolate shavings, Red smiles an evil looking smile while looking over my shoulder, man this chick is annoying I wish she would leave. I reach into my jeans to get my wallet when I hear the most beautiful voice; I turn to look at Bailey "What are you doing here?" I ask her I am hoping the waiter doesn't spoil my surprise by bringing out the desert. "I was just asking myself the same question," she says.

I don't understand why she just took off until I hear a snicker "I guess it wasn't meant to be" Red says still smiling like the evil queen of a Disney movie. Crap I think, I try to find my waiter to get his ass moving, I see him come over "Can you box these, something came up and I have to go now" He rushes back to the kitchen then returns, I sign the check as fast as I can "Why are you chasing her? She is not worth it" Red says, she has just pissed me off too much now "You know what, its girls like you who aren't worth it, she is worth a million of you" I say and run out of the place.

I get back to the bar "Hey Max did Bailey come in here?" I say handing over his dinner "Yeah I sent her your way, I sent you a text about it" I search my pockets "Damn I forgot my phone" I start to go out back when Max comes after me "Hey what's going on now, did she do something Knox?" "No Max she didn't, that red haired ugggh" I want to scream "The Red head Bailey hit wouldn't leave me alone, she sat at my table watching me eat, she's crazy"

"Then Bailey walked in" Max finishes for me.

"Is nothing going to go right with me and her" I say to no one annoyed, "See you later" I shout to Max running out the back door. I take off on the Harley like a bat out of hell heading for the hills.

I reach Bailey's place just after eight, I knock on the door, then go to the kitchen window the house is dark, Putting my hands on the window I look into the darkened kitchen, I see her coffee cup on the counter and the milk. She has to be here if the milk is out she probably heard my bike and turned off the light. I go back to the door and ring the bell, then pound on the door some more. By eight thirty I give up, if hasn't answered by now then I guess we are done. I Put the desert down by the door and shout through, "Bailey, I got you a present its edible so don't leave it out here, we need to talk" I put my ear to the door hoping to hear some movement but the house is quiet. It's time to leave before I get arrested for beating down her door. Why the fuck is this starting out with such problems? Maybe is a sign.