SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN HISβž–TWENTY FOUR

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

Should I change the cover of the book to this one???








XAVIER ADONIS

The night would have been perfect, and my mind wouldn't have been going amiss as my eyes ran over her small form perched against the passenger seat inside my now repaired car, thanks to Chance. With a small sigh, I unstrap the seat belt secured around her, carefully placing her in my arms, she stirs a little but thankfully doesn't wake up. The so called body guard mother had hired last four years ago, helpful as he shuts the door close and follows behind me opening the door that led into my house.

Mari's mother had informed me about Sarah's demise, shortly after informing Mari, and had asked if she could stay with me, because being at home or at the hospital could add more sting to her wounds, and that was the last thing I or her parents wanted.

I knew the bond she shared with Sarah and how impossible it would be for her to get over her death, it could take months, years even and i wanted to be beside her through it all.

The minute I enter into the house, I come face to face with naturally unbordered Xander. We shared a look and I take notice how for a second he tilt his lips about to smile-or at least try, but then held it in as he saw the state Mari was in, positioned in my arms, the tears on her face and how probably low-spirited I looked, with two of the buttons on my dress shirt undone, the tie around my neck slacking on the verge of falling and my hair disheveled yet on a messy bun.

His shoulders tense, worry visible in his eyes, "What happened?" He whispers, loud enough for me to hear and low to not wake her up.

I let out a shaky breath, reflexively gripping my hold on Mari, I knew how much Sarah meant to her, she was basically her only friend, "Sarah is dead."

"How is that possible?" He questions taken aback by my sudden confession.

"I still don't know yet." I admit and he gives me a small nod, glancing at Mari before opening the door to my room for me.

"If you need anything, I'll be in my room." He informs forthrightly and I nod stepping into my room.

I walk toward my bed gently setting Mari on it and she tenses, slightly opening her eyes and letting it run down my features. I take my hands off her body, but then her hands reach for my shirt, gripping onto it.

"X-xavy, d-don't go." She whispers, her voice shaky and barely audible. My brows quirk at the hidden meaning behind her plea, I stable my voice trying to hide how affected her situation made me.

"I'm here Mari and I'm never leaving you." I instantly reply, brushing strands of her hair away from her face. "I'll take your gown off so you can sleep comfortably, how does that sound?." She nods and i pull her up carefully unzipping her gown and letting it pass through her legs, I cover her bare chest with my sheets before tossing the gown into the chair beside my bed.

I'm about to walk to my closet but then small hands holds me tight again, I turn towards her, running my hands down her bare back hoping it soothes her, "I'm just going to bring a shirt for you, I'm right here Mari, I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

I tell her and she nods rolling into a ball the minute I leave her, I could feel a pang of pain jab at my chest and I knew it was because of Mari, it hurts more when she was sad or in trouble but I could never admit this to her or to anybody. I pull my clothes off wearing just a sweat pants taking a T shirt in my hand.

As soon as I reach her, I gently pull her sleepy form up, wearing her my shirt before tucking her into bed, satisfied with how comfortable she looked, I joined her, laying down next to her and bringing her close to me as humanly possible.

I could feel the way she quivered at every second before she finally fell asleep with her arms secured around my chest, and mine around her, slowly I closed my eyes letting my fingers run down the lengths of her hair.

Mari had informed me about the letters sent to Mrs Sarah and how it all connected to Manuel, but I'm not exactly sure if he has an hand in Sarah's death, why would the fucker want to hurt her, why involve Sarah in the first place by sending her love letters, I knew something had to be done about Manuel and if by chance he is involved in this, there was no prediction of what he would do next but one thing was certain, Manuel needed to suffer, and I don't care if I ended up in jail, as long as he dies by my hand, I would gladly rot in jail with contentment, for my Mari's sake.

"I'm going to make him pay, Mari. I promise." I assure, leaning down towards her and letting my lips brush against her hair, "Soon all of this will be over."

❦


Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  The morning sun peeked through my antique curtains and I watched Mari as she slept peacefully on my chest, traces of dried tears merched against her cheeks. Carefully I let my thumb caress over them, brushing the dried tears away.

She stirs up, squinting her eyes till my appearance were visible enough, "Good morning My love." I greet lowly, hoping to lighten the mood, leaning down and pecking her nose.

"G-good morning." She whispers, sitting up till she was on my thigh, her hair causing an hollow over her face as she stares at me as though I had all the answers to her festering questions, her brown eyes water with unshed tears and somehow I could feel the burning sensation on my eyes, the same one I couldn't control, "I -i had a terrible dream yesterday Xavy that, that s-sarah died." She gave out a small chortle, one that brought tears down her cheeks.

"She can't die right, it's not as if she was sick, I saw her yesterday, she helped me with my make up, she even picked the dress, Xav. She c-can't die, she can't-"

She shakes her head in denial and i wiped her tears off, pulling her closer to me. She doesn't hesitate resting her head on my shoulders as she cried.

"It's going to be fine Mari." I promise gliding my palms on her back, trying to pacify her tears. "Let's get you ready."

I get on my feet carrying her with me into my bathroom.

"Can you stand by your self?" I ask the moment we reach and she nodded over my shoulder. With ease I place her down, wiping off the tears that found their way to her eyes again.

"You can use my spare brush, Mari." I assure pointing towards it and I watch as she tried picking up the brush but then it falls from her grasp, her hands were trembling and I could easily hear the small sobs that kept slipping off her lips. As if in realisation she averts her gaze till they were on mine, her eyes were drowned in tears, and lips quivering.

In haste she moves till her back were rested on the wall, letting her arms wrap over her body as she sobbed without restraint, turning her face aside as she tried to hide her suffering from me.

If I felt pain before, I felt like I was going to die now, just the sight of her brought tears to my eyes.

"M-mari." My voice came out as a bare whisper, I knew she was struggling, and it was killing me, that i couldn't do anything to relieve the pain.

I made my way towards her, wrapping my arms around her waist as I drew our body close, letting my head fall till they were resting on the bridge of her neck.

"I-I don't like seeing you like this, I c-can't take it." I felt a drop of liquid slip off my eyes to her skin and I pulled her hips closer, hating the fact that she'd see me like this, weak and helpless.

"Xavy." I felt her palms brush my hair up, before cupping my face and bringing it to hers.

"I'm sorry, I won't cry, I won't, please don't cry." She whisper wiping the trail of tear on my cheek off before pulling me into a hug.

I never cried because I hated it, it showed weakness and that was one thing I didn't portray. but with Mari, I could never seem to control myself, I hated to see her like this, I hated to see her in pain, and I hated the fact that I couldn't do anything to help.

We finally pull apart, and I take notice of how she stared at me with big brown eyes filled with unshed tears, she faked a smile, and with just a single blink, the tears leaked out.Β  With a small frown riddle on my face, I cup her cheek, kissing the tears off her eyes.Β  "why don't I do it this way, I'll brush your teeth and get you ready." I inform and she slowly nods, forcing out another smile that faded as soon as it appeared.

I lifted her up placing her on the counter in my bathroom, picking up the brush and filling it with paste going forward to brushing her teeths.

"So tell me my Mari, would you prefer we use the shower or the bath tub."

"Shower." She replies as she sniffles, running her fingers through my bare chest, around the small scars.

I lean down grazing my lips over her neck before mumbling a small okay.






MARIA SHAKESPEARE.

I couldn't exactly understand what I was feeling at the moment, I felt numb, weaker than I have ever been, fragile; that every single thought of Sarah brought tears to my eyes, an occurrence I couldn't even control.

I couldn't understand how, how she could have died at such short notice, she seemed perfect when she did my make up just yesterday, she might have had problems with her heart but the pacemaker implanted on her chest years ago was working fine, never did she complain.

How could she just die all of a sudden, it wasn't making sense, nothing at the moment was making sense.

Nothing seemed appealing not even the spoon filled with food Xavier hovered over my face as he forced out an assuring smile.

We both sat astride each other on the stools inside his kitchen, his hair is tousled into his usual man bun with strands of hair playing over his green eyes and if the situation had been different, I knew my fingers would have found their way to his chiseled jaw or his hair, or maybe his skin on his face. His eyes looked dead as though he hadn't sleep last night, and I knew how much he had put his heart into the meal when he was preparing it but at the moment I had no appetite.

"I'm n-not hungry Xavy." I sniffle, lifting my hands and wiping the tears before he could see it.

"Mari, just take a few spoons, please." He persist, using his free hand and wiping the tears off my face. I couldn't understand why the tears wouldn't seize, I wanted it to, but my body had a mind on its own. Because deep down no matter how much I assured my self that everything is fine, I knew I wasn't going to see Mrs Sarah ever again. How could life be so cruel, she didn't even have much, she lost her husband years ago and her children aren't even always available, she was nice, too nice with a personality of a young confident school girl, she didn't deserve to die just like that.

Yet deep down a feeling of guilt course throughout my system, what if Mrs Sarah was killed by Manuel, he sent those letters but somehow I knew it couldn't be him, why would he want to hurt her, she didn't do anything to him, he barely even knew her, or was this some sort of revenge to get back at me because of what happened at the dinner.

I blinked back my tears meeting Xavier's worried gaze again, "I'll eat later y-ou you should eat and take your medication."

"I'm not hungry either." He concludes, dropping the spoon back in the bowl filled with food as he looked ahead.

"Xavy."

"I'll eat later." He insist, iterating my lines from earlier, I let out a small sigh, before going ahead to pick the spoon.

With shaky hands, I picked up the spoon, inwardly praying that it doesn't drop from my hand, once I managed to bring the spoon to my mouth, I took shaky bites, as I chewed carefully. "Y-your turn." I mumble, trying to take another spoon and feed it to him but his hands rest upon mine, with his thumb caressing the back of my palm.

"I'll do it Mari." He concludes with a small smile, going ahead to feed the both of us, after which he took his medication.

Mom had informed Xavier that I could come home, but deep down I loathed the idea, I was already distance from home yet the feeling was sickening. I didn't know how I would react when I get home, when I see her house, the memories we shared and the ones we could have if she were still alive.

"I'll get my car keys, Mari. I'll be right back." Xavier had said few minutes ago leaving me with an awkward Xander, I could feel his gaze on me but I couldn't summon up courage to look at him.

And just then I slowly turn my teary eyes to his to see him staring at me with concern evident in his pokerface features, I tried as much as I could, holding back the tears but as soon as I heard him speak, I gave in.

"Shakespeare." He breathes, worry evident in his voice, and I couldn't hold it any longer as I moved towards him till I could feel his warmth encircle me.

He tenses, but soon enough, wrapped his arms around me, gliding his palms down my back. He didn't say a thing as we stood there, all he did was let me cry in his arms and I appreciated it.

"Maria." I hear from behind me and I instantly pull away from Xander, my attention falling to half asleep Chance.

"I heard what happened, I'm so sorry homo sapien." Chance informs pulling me into a tight hug.

"T-thanks Chance." I croak out, running my hands over my face when we pull apart, hoping that there wasn't any trace of tears but who was I kidding.

I feel a figure in front of me and i see Zach staring at me worriedly, looking more awkward than Xander around me and that says a lot. Zach always knew what to say. "Er- sorry about Mrs Sarah, i didn't know anything about her but i heard she was close to you." He admit brushing his fingers through his hair before looking down at his feet, I moved forward and hugged him and thankfully he doesn't make any perverse remarks.

"Thanks Zachary."

"Still Zach baby doll." I roll my eyes, but don't reply, because somehow I was use to Zach being Zach.

Xavier comes into view and I watch as he made his way down the stairs towards my direction but then a voice stops him on his track.

"Surprise!" I hear an high pitched voice yell and immediately watch how the boys quivered, Chance is first to jump from his stool, the sleep etched on his face instantly washed off.

"Mommy!" He squeals running towards the door and my shoulders tensed, Mommy?. What the actual fuck.

"I missed you too my baby." The voice replies, a soft laughter following afterwards.

Xavier walks up to me and i cautiously look up to meet his gaze, "your mom?"

He nodded in assurance, standing in front of me before turning around to welcome his mother who stood few feets in front of us but her features were thankfully hidden because of Xavier's huge frame.

I cock my head to the side watching how Zach walks up to the figure hugging her tightly and then she tickles him making an inhuman laugh reverberate around the house, I tilt my head to the side more, a sparkling black heel greets me first followed by long slender legs that could be mistaken for one of the legs owned by Victoria secret models, as soon as Zach pulls away I move my head back hiding behind Xavier's figure, a part of me didn't want to see his mother, not now and definitely not like this.

She clears her throat, "Xavier? Xander won't you hug mommy?"

Xavier is the first to move followed by a stiff Xander, and I suddenly feel tensed knowing that she could easily see me now.

"Thought you said you weren't coming home anytime soon, did you finally yield to my advise and dump that douchebag before he robs you of your innocent little heart." Xavier speaks up hugging his mother getting a small smack on the back and then her face comes to view, she was the same woman i saw on the portrait, but yet she looked younger and smaller, she doesn't look anything past twenty, she looked extremely young and pretty, and her makeup free face was evident to that, her hair is left flowing over her shoulders and the red gown she had on hugged her skin elegantly, reaching just above her knees.

"Don't tell me that idiot broke your heart." Xander grumbles moving to hug his mother as soon as Xavier pulls off but gets a slap on his chest."because I swear I'll fucking kill him."

"Language Xander! And We're still very much together. I only came home early because i missed my babies." She pinches Xander's cheek before looking up to Xavier, even with her heels she didn't even pass their shoulder.

"How have you been baby? Mrs Williams said you've been improving." She asks Xavier, her eyes shone with worry and he smiles assuringly.

"She's right mother, I'm fine, you don't have to worry." She nods a smile forming on her crimson coloured lips before her eyes fell on mine. My breath halted. My heart thudded.

"Mari?" She calls smiling from ear to ear as she walked up to me, I nod carefully, trying to find a voice, taken aback by the sudden revelation that she knew me.

"I'm glad to finally meet you Mrs-" I don't finish my statement when delicate arms pulls me into a warm embrace.

"Did Xavier finally kidnap you?" She questions worriedly, before pulling me at arms length to smile at me, "Because if he didn't, I sure as hell will." She giggled, making a genuine smile form on my lips.

"You're so beautiful, a lot more prettier than the pictures on his wall," she admits and i am lost for words-she knew? -but then she frowns taking in my appearance, "your eyes are swollen what's wrong child, did Xander upset you?." I hear Xander groan but I shook my head saying a no, "did Zach tell you to show him your blossom?" I'm completely weirded out but don't show it as Zach's laughter reverberate around the room again, "Leaving me with the Buttercup, did Chance use you as a test subject for his project because if heβ€”."

"Mom, none of that happened, Mari- Mari lost someone close to her yesterday." Xavier quickly adds and her smile faded. Just for a second, lost in their world I had forgotten about Sarah's death but now the remembrance ate me up like an ulcer inside my stomach.

"I am so sorry." She sympathizes giving my shoulder a light squeeze.

"Thank you, you look tired Mrs Adonis-"

"Vi, please call me Vi, sugar. Adonis is a borrowed name, I just gave my kids because I knew they would turn out to be Beautiful little Angels." She gave out her now familiar giggle again and Xander scowls loudly but is instantly interrupted by Chance.

"Like me Vi." He whispers in her ears pecking her by the cheek and running off before she could raise her arms to smack him.

I smile, well aware of the lone tear that slid off my eyes, her brows knit in worry as she gave me a small nod, "but you're right, Maria. I should get some rest, I'm sure Xavier will help you get out of this. I know you're strong enough to pull through." She gives me one last hug before turning around towards the stairs.

Chance follows behind her, like a lost five year old who hasn't seen his mother for ages, "Mommy did you bring it?"

"Yes Baby, I bought you a solidified copper stone all the way from London."

"You're the best Vi." Chance yells after his mother, making her chuckle.

"Just don't blow up the house again." She replies back with a hint of worry.

"I promise, so do you want to see my results Mommy?, I aced it!"

"Of course you did, that's why I bought special chocolates for you." She informs and Chance coos, yelling an I love you. The conversation went on and on even with their features lost as they reached the top stairs.

"I should take you

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net