— Everleigh

I had been watching Sasha as prespration dripped from him most. I never took the time to really think about him and how much he had to go through in his life. I met him when he was a young boy, it was the time when we were supposed to be at the peak of life—where we believed in anything and had no worries, no doubts, and no insecurities. However, he was already broken before even given the chance to believe in the goodness of the world. I could see it in his eye that he was broken beyond repair, even at that age. He got a head start on pain before the rest of us. Even now, it was only when I caught the desperation in his eye as he punched the punching bag like a bird born with broken wings. He was forced to fly in the race of life, competing against those with wings that never had a single tear.

I never thought it was fair how Sasha never got to choose the path he wanted to take. He was branded as a monster before he even learned how to talk. He was seen as a killer before he even became a teenager. I got to see the boy he truly was—way before he hid it from the rest of the world with his fake american accent, deep scowl, and his fists raised up in a defensive position 24/7. I caught a glimpse of him before all the walls went up. What I always liked to remember was the boy who protected me. He was the one I trusted most of all to never hurt me.

Maybe it was stupid. I had to realize that people do change, but a part of me refused to believe that my best friend wasn't in there. I wanted it all to be some facade just so I could hug that little boy again. But with each punch that generated a ripple throughout the punching bag, it represented how time and trauma pushed us farther and farther apart.

We were too different now, but he still went out of his way to give me rides to and from work everyday. I was kicked out of my own apartment, and he offered me his bed. I know that the good in him is in there somewhere, I could feel it. I had a mission. I was going to bring back that little boy again, and I would give him what I couldn't at first... a chance to believe in something.

And when I put my mind to something, nothing in the world could possibly stop me.

Except that.

The girl I had seen draped around Sasha like a damn cardigan had strolled into the gym. She had a workout outfit on—seamless light pink leggings with a matching sports bra. Her dark hair was neatly tucked away into a low bun and in her hand was an insulated water bottle.

There was a smile on her face until the moment her eyes met my own. I watched her smile twitch just a little as if she debated in her mind to scowl or keep up with her fake persona. Sasha seemed to notice my change in attention because he followed my gaze to meet Sophia. I only learned her name after receiving a very strange viewer on my Instagram story, turns out she didn't end up being the only person lurking that night.

"Sophia?" Charlie came from absolutely nowhere, addressing her. I didn't know why, but a pang of jealousy overwhelmed my emotions for only a split second. It's not like I was anything more than a friend to Sasha—if you'd even call it that—and it's not like I wanted anything more. It's just the thought of him taking me through the same motions as another girl that bothered me. Charlie knew her at least well enough to call her by her name. That only meant Sasha had brought her there before.

I wanted to be unique to him in the same way he was unique to me. We had a history that was unlike any other, and I thought it made us more special.

"Gosh," I muttered to myself, taking a deep breath. "Stop overthinking."

It's just a damn gym.

"Hi, Charlie!" She gushed, practically running over to him and embracing him in a hug. Sasha grabbed ahold of his punching bag to prevent it from swinging. All I could do was watch as she pulled away from Charlie only to run over to Sasha and prepare to plant a kiss on his lips. I quickly turned away so I wouldn't have to see whether or not he kissed her back.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Sasha snapped, quickly grabbing my attention. The moment I glanced in their general direction, I noticed how Sophia had looked over at me. Well, it was less of a look and more of a glare.

"I wanted to work out. This is a public gym after all, isn't that right, Charlie?" she asked, her voice rising to make sure Charlie could hear her over the faint sound of music.

Charlie didn't say a word. All he did was shake his head with a sigh and begin making his way into his office. I get it. If I were Charlie, I wouldn't want to deal with Sasha's girl drama either.

"You don't work out," Sasha stated.

"Well, I'm starting now. I don't understand why this is such an issue. You love spending time with me." She sounded more like she was persuading herself rather than him. And based on the empty look he gave her, I knew it was far from the truth. It probably felt like she was losing him, so in an effort to hold on, she placed the palms of her hands on either side of his cheeks.

"You were a quick fuck—that's it," he told her, ripping her hands from his face as if they stung him. Ouch.

I could see the look on her face. It was almost as if she wanted to cry as the smile she forced on her lips from the moment she walked in began to fall. I wanted to hug the poor girl.

"Sasha," I said out loud. He looked over at me and so did Sophia. Again, she had plastered on that fake smile like it was nothing more than a sticker.

"Who's Sasha?" Sophia asked.

My brows came together before I realized that Sasha only went by Kayo now. It was his alter ego that seemed to take over. I wondered if she even knew his real name. A part of me was glad to know she didn't know him in the same way I did.

"Leave," Sasha told her, turning around and making his way over to the ring.

"You know what? Fuck you!" she yelled. "I'm not this disposable. I'm a great girl, and I was so good to you! I'm more than just a quick fuck!"

Sasha didn't respond. When she realized he probably never would, she turned to me. She wasn't pretending anymore. Every emotion that she felt was coursing through her eyes—anger, sadness, disappointment, heartbreak.

"Don't think you're so special to him because you're not. He's going to do you exactly how he did me. Kayo doesn't give a fuck about anyone other than himself, you realize that, don't you? If you're not green with some value behind you, he will use you and throw you away!" she warned me. "He knows no stability. He can't even be around his own damn family, what makes you think he will want you?"

Sasha was in her face in a heartbeat. I didn't know how he managed to get to her so fast but it even startled me, so I know it scared her.

"Shut the fuck up, and get the hell out!" he yelled in her face, his russian accent growing thicker with each word. When she didn't move, he took a step closer and barked, "Now!"

Sophia visibly flinched at his words and quickly began making her way to the gym exit like a scared puppy with its tail tucked in between its legs. Before she walked out of the gym, she cast me one last look that said, "you'll see for yourself."

I glanced over at Sasha to see he was so angry that I could practically see smoke coming out his ears. A part of me wanted to say something—maybe ask if he was okay—but I refrained. Sophia's words lingered in my mind and they stopped me from saying a word. She was right. If he could do it her, he could do it to me. The only thing she wasn't aware of was that Sasha and I were only friends. I just had to make sure it stayed that way.

"Fuck this workout," Sasha muttered more to himself than me.

"Let's go," he told me.

"Why do you treat her like that?" I asked him. "She's a person who obviously has a lot of feelings for you. Why must you treat her like nothing?"

He sighed. "Just mind your business."

"Fine, but just know karma is a bitch, Sasha. You will always be alone if you continue to treat people like that," I told him.

He laughed but there was no humor detected in it. "You think I give a fuck? I've had bad karma since I came out my ma's fucking womb. I prefer being alone."

I shook my head. "No you don't. You just prefer pushing people away."

He didn't say anything, so I continued. "What if I met a guy who treated me the way you treat her. How would feel about that?"

He began to make his way over to me. "You're smarter than that. She knew exactly what she was getting herself into. I told her that I didn't want a relationship, I didn't want any strings attached, all I wanted was her body when I needed it. Those were my exacts words. And she nodded her head and opened her legs. I should not be remorseful all because she can't read the god damn warning label."

I didn't know what came over me. My heart was thumping in my chest and I begged myself not to say it, but of course, I couldn't listen. "Where's my label?"

His eyes flicked to my lips. "I don't know."

"Let's go," I repeated his previous words and began making my way out of the gym, knowing he was following close behind me.

—
Instagram: amarieauthor
Facebook: authoramarie
Twitter: amarieauthor
Tiktok: amarieauthor
Website: amarieauthor.carrd.co

I know it's been a while. I'm going to get back to updating once a week like before. Sorry for the long wait and thank you all so much for your patience.

Thank you for reading. Please vote!