— Everleigh

Every day, Sasha would come by to not only pick me up for work but take me home as well. I stopped questioning him after being met with silence only about the third or fourth time. Every car ride was filled with such loud silence.

Not to mention, Xyah completely stopped talking to me. One day, I noticed a bruise on her shoulder, and when I went to ask her about it, she brushed past me and slammed and locked her door. I wanted to cry because it felt as though I was completely losing my friendship and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. Just like that, I could feel my depression creeping up on me. If I wasn't working or doing schoolwork, I was in my room with my doors locked, under my blanket, ignoring anyone and anything.

It was late. I had just finished my shift, the club was dying down, and my VIP section had vanished. I stepped out into the cool air. Fall was coming, and it made its appearance known with the dramatic temperature drop. I had my jacket wrapped around me as I made sure to secure every part of my body with it by keeping it shut with my fist. Just like I anticipated, Sasha pulled up in front of me.

I quickly opened the passenger door and got in. The heat from the car fought the coolness of my skin. I found myself very grateful for the heater. I didn't think I could stand another moment in the cold.

"Thanks," I muttered, knowing he wasn't going to respond to me. He never did anymore.

He drove off down the road. I focused my attention outside the window. I couldn't wait to save up enough money to fix my car. It was something my father had gifted me when I went to college. He got me a car—it wasn't too flashy, but I was thankful. Sadly, it broke down, leaving me without a vehicle.

I had to get a new engine to be able to drive it. I just was debating on getting a whole new car since the cost would be about the same.

Suddenly, I remembered something. My father retired from his job and wasn't making as much money anymore. So, he couldn't afford to live in the very house I grew up in. This past weekend, I had gone to my father's and was helping him pack since he was moving into a one-bedroom apartment, and I found something. I dug into my purse and pulled it out, holding it up for Sasha to see.

He glanced at me once and had to look again.

"You remember this?" I smiled. It was a teddy bear that was missing one eye. It was actually very small and made out of almost yarn material.

Sasha had given it to me when it was my birthday. He didn't know it was my birthday until I came into school with cupcakes. As a last minute gift, he gave me his favorite toy. I cherished it ever since.

"Yeah." He chuckled. It was the first reaction I got out of him that wasn't so serious.

He turned back to the road just as he pulled into my apartments. I watched as he parked his car in his usual spot, directly in front of the walkway.

"My mom gave me that," he told me. I remembered him trying to explain that to me, but he couldn't come up with the words. At the time, his English wasn't as good and my Russian wasn't either. The only thing we depended on to communicate was our actions. I missed those days. No one had ever expressed the importance of actions over words until I met him.

"Do you want it back?" I asked him.

He thought about it for a moment. "No, you keep it," he stated.

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing would come out. Instead of saying another word, I sighed and opened the passenger door. Sasha sat there in the car as I shut the door and made my way into the apartment. At first, I went to twist the doorknob, but it wouldn't open. My brows came together as I dragged my key out of my purse and attempted to slide it into the keyhole.

"What the fuck?" I whispered to myself. I began to bang on the door as loud as I could. Sasha was still there, watching me. I turned to him with a frown just as the front door swung open.

"Leave!" Xyah exclaimed the moment she saw me. There was an unrecognizable look in her eyes as she glared at me. Beside her was no one other than the son of a bitch that I despised most.

"Wha—"

"I know the truth about your slutty ass now! Fuck you, Everleigh! And to think I actually considered you like family then you go and do this shit to me!" Xyah exclaimed. Her voice began to crack as she turned around and walked deeper into the apartment, leaving me there with Andre.

"I never did shit to you! What the fuck are you talking about?" I yelled after Xyah. It was too late. She had already disappeared.

Andre chuckled as he looked at me. "Looks like you're shit out of luck."

"Fuck you! Don't think I don't know about you putting your hands on her you sorry, piece of sh—"

Before I could finish my sentence, Andre grabbed me by my forearm in a very harsh grasp. His hand only tightened around me as he glared.

"Get... off me!" I cried. When I attempted to break away from his hold, he only held on tighter.

"She said get the fuck off her!" Sasha yelled, grabbing Andre's hand and shoving it off of me. He tugged me back so I was more behind him.

Andre looked up at Sasha in pure shock.

"S-sorry," he muttered like the little bitch he was.

"Any man that puts his hand on my woman, isn't a man. Touch her again, and I will kill you," Sasha threatened. Andre could do nothing but nod his head in obedience.

"Tell Xyah to come back. We need to talk," I said, rubbing my forearm to ease some of the pain I was feeling.

"She doesn't want to speak to you. She kicked you out. Now, leave before I call the police. Both of you," he said. With that, he slammed the door in our face.

I had to hold back tears as the confusion and desperation doomed on me. I needed to get my things, I had school the next day, so I really needed my computer. Not only that, but I needed my friend.

I walked with Sasha back to his car in silence.

"You're not on the lease?" Sasha asked me. "She can't kick you out."

He opened the passenger side door for me before getting in his side of the car.

I shook my head. Xyah's parents were the one who got us the apartment. It was only because we didn't have the financial proof or apartment rental history to get the place we wanted. They never put me on the lease, only Xyah.

"You don't have anywhere else to go?" Sasha asked me.

It was late. I was tired. I was sure he was tired as well.

I shook my head. "My dad... he just moved into a one-bedroom apartment with his dog. He's so proud of me going to school and everything. He doesn't even know about my job. I can't... I can't do this to him."

Sasha stared at me. Once again, silence filled the air between us. One by one, a tear fell from my eyes until I was crying. Luckily, no sounds would escape, just tears as I looked out the window and forced myself to not turn back toward Sasha. I suffered enough embarrassment for the night.

Without another word, he started up the car. I watched as he backed up and turned around and pulled out of the apartment complex.

"Where are we going?" I asked him.

"My place," he answered gruffly.

"No, you..." I sighed, wiping away my tears. "You don't have to do that."

"It's late. We'll figure it out tomorrow," he told me. For a moment, I caught a glimpse of the caring boy I used to know. The boy that would give me the clothes off his back.

I turned back to the window and watched the passing cars. At moments when I thought I was over the whole Xyah situation, I'd find myself crying all over again.

"Thank you," I told him.

I could feel his eyes on me, but I didn't dare turn around. I just wanted, even for a moment, to feel what it would be like to have someone there without being forced or bribed. The true definition of friendship that he created was all I ever craved. I really wanted that. I needed that.

—
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