[Author's Note: I'm so sorry for the delay. Again my crappy computer crapped out on me...AGAIN! I explain everything on my blog also a little contest on there as well. Please forgive me and enjoy. :-)]
*
Denise couldn't quite put a finger on Stefan and she kind of liked that about him. She stood in front of her tall mirror getting dressed to pick up Delia from the hospital, hoping to run into Stefan. She was almost positive she would. Gian was like Delia's tail and Stefan was his. She wasn't sure just how to woo Stefan. Did she go for sweet girl, flirty minx, or sexy vixen? Denise went with flirty minx, its what she did best. She slipped on a bright sundress that was a bit too short and strappy sandals. She was brushing her short straightened hair when her mother yelled out.
"Nise! Don't have your sister waiting out there like nobody love her."
Denise rolled her eyes, "I'm leaving now, mama!"
Denise walked by the kitchen where Ms.Camden was cooking when she said, "don't give him none."
"Who are you talking about?" Denise asked stopped in her tracks by the comment.
Her mom simply gave a look, "Whoever you wearing that dress for."
Denise gave her mom an exasperated look before leaving. Somehow her mama always knew, and at the same time she didn't. There were somethings about Denise that she'd take to her grave never having told her mama, she couldn't break her heart.
Denise pulled up to the hospital and when she walked into the lobby Delia was already there in a wheelchair with a nurse. Even all patched up Dee looked worse than she did when she went in. Her eyes were sunken and lifeless and her normally vivacious personality seemed non existent. She looked empty. More so, Denise noticed her lack of tail. Gian was nowhere in sight neither was Stefan. Denise's stomach sank, something was wrong, and it was huge.
***
Earlier that morning around two or three Gian had finally managed to untangle himself from Delia and leave. There were so many emotions he hadn't felt in a long time, things he tried to forget like crushing loneliness, hopelessness, and dark self-hatred. He sooner stormed out the hospital not giving Stefan a glance. He was overwhelmed, he stomped out, his steps becoming determined and suddenly he knew where he was headed.
Stefan knew where the kid was going and followed him out the building. The more they walked the faster Gian's angered pace became until Stefan caught up, grabbing his shoulder to slow him down. In a whirl of anger Gian spun and lashed out at Stefan, shoving him in the chest.
"Leave me alone! This is your fault!"
"Okay, blame me, but do not go out and ruin your life over this! You can get pass this!"
"You don't fucking get it do you?" Gian shouted back before the last words were out of Stefan's mouth. "She was my life! Before her I was nothing and now I'm nothing so fuck it!" Gian took off again his walk angry and determined.
"You want her back, Gian!? Then you've gotta man up! You cant run off like a scared little bitch every time your daddy take something away from you."
Gian turned and lashed again shoving Stefan once, then again. "Fuck you! You're the one who told me I needed to give her up. You said it was the right thing to do, but I'm the bitch? You're so full of shit!"
The desire to take out his hurt and frustration on Stefan burned in his chest but deep inside he knew that, at this moment, Stefan was the only one to give a fuck about him. Gian turned and picked up his stride more determined than before to find that something that would numb the pain even for a night.
"Gian, a man wouldn't skulk away to lick his wounds, to fuck some chick for the poison in her veins. No, a man would step up and play the game. Do you even understand why your father did this? He wanted you to straighten up so you can take over his company."
"Play the game!?" Gian asked incredulously.
The picture Stefan painted was becoming clear to him but he still held on to his anger, rather it hung onto him. He was entitled to it, he was entitled to lashing out, because no one had to witness a murder attempt on their mate that night and no one, other than him, had to voluntarily give their mate up that night. So he'd earned a right to his anger.
"Stefan, I cant-cant play this stupid game! I cant put on my good boy face and bide my time on the off chance that my father would give enough leeway to have Delia. Even if I did I'd have to take that small chance that she may want me back, and honestly, after tonight, she probably hates me."
"Kid, what else do you got? You either take that small chance or say good bye to her forever."
Gian was faced again with a dilemma. He didn't want to choose either but he knew Delia was worth that chance. He was still so angry with the turn of events, he still blamed himself and all he wanted was to hold Delia again, to smell her warm coconut skin and to kiss her soft lips.
"Is it truly appropriate to have a shouting match so publicly?" Gian heard a voice say in Italian.
He turned to see a lanky short man with his dark hair slicked back and beady eyes making his way over to them.
"Who the fuck are you!?" Gian asked with barely contained aggravation. The man opened his mouth to answer but the reply came from Stefan.
"This is the man he reported sighting you with Delia, he's the reason Delia's in the hospital now all for a measly payout of two thousand dollars. He's also the guy who took my job." There was amusement in Stefan voice as he could already foresee what would happen next.
Within the second something snapped inside Gian, maybe it was his grasp on reality or maybe it was the crumble of the last fuck he had to give but Gian, with all the anger he possessed, pounced on the guy, knocking him to the ground. Gian easily over powered him and began landing blows to the man's face. All Gian could see was red, all he could feel was hatred. It took all of Stefan's strength to pull Gian off of him.
"I dare you! I fucking dare you, bitch! Come around me again, come around Delia again, I will fuck you up so bad, motherfucker! Don't you ever let me see you! You better be a ghost around this bitch! I swear!"
Gian kept up the shouting until Stefan dragged him far enough away from the fallen man that his anguished moans could barely be heard.
***
Delia was quiet the whole ride, she barely spoke a word. The silence was thick but Denise hadn't dared to ask the problem. She felt a little tinge of guilt. She had been more excited to see Stefan than she had been worried about her sister.
Delia felt empty. She didn't know when it happened but somehow Gian had merged with everything sunny and bright about her and now that he was gone she felt nothing but pain and emptiness. Denise pulled up to the house and Delia's heart wrenched. The mangled remnants of their little jeep sat in the front lawn, a monument to the moment that took Gian away, more so, that almost took her life.
Denise parked and regarded her sister empathetically but Delia's eye were fixed on the car. She got out and walked over to it as if in a daze. Denise couldn't imagine the thoughts running through Delia's head but thought she owed her an explanation.
"Its only here until the insurance company comes to inspect it," Denise said softly.
The moments passed by quietly as Delia kept staring. On closer glance it was macabre, with its blood and coffee stained seats. There was a dark trail of dried blood on the window where she'd smashed her head and scraps of her ruined dress on the shattered glass of the passenger window. She assumed it was where Gian had pulled her out. Gian, who had saved her, Gian, who's father caused this. Her heart wretched painfully.
She didn't realize it but she'd began to cry, the tears staining her cheeks. With nothing else to do Denise slid her hand into Delia's holding it tight. Denise wasn't particularly affectionate but she knew she needed to offer some solace.
