Tetris in Red

39: Tetris in Trepidation

39: Tetris in Trepidation

Rhys

"All right?"

I'm completely aware than I'm gaping at him. I have no idea if I should sigh in relief or in horror that Cyprus found me when I most needed someone to. I cautiously stand up to my full height, scanning the scene before me in slight trepidation.

The men behind Cyprus are as huge as the guys I was running from. All tattoos, piercing and leather jackets that there's no mistaking they are part of one of the fraternities around LA. But why is Cyprus with them? Is he one of them too? I internally roll my eyes. Of course. Not like there's another explanation.

I whirl back to Cyprus. A gasp escapes me as it registers the state he is in. Even in the low light, it's evident that his face is black and blue. He has a stitch on his right eyebrow and a fresh cut on his lips. He's also wearing a cast on his right arm, and band-aids plastered everywhere on his skin. "What happened to you?"

He rolls his eyes. "Your fucking boyfriend and I had a fight."

"Alec? Earlier?"

"Do you need a ride?" he says, avoiding my questions. "My car is parked on the next street. We'll have to walk."

I hesitate. I look between them as they wait for an answer. They are all but glaring at me with their bad-boy stance that I can't help but gulp. "Why?" I ask, hating myself for considering it. "Why are you helping me?"

Cyprus scowls. "If you don't want my help, just say so. Come on, guys."

They start to walk away. I will my aching feet to follow them, albeit slowly, but they don't stop to acknowledge me. "Wait!"

The events of the day have already caught up with me after that moment. I just want a ride back to my apartment and crawl under the covers of my single-sized bed. I'd rather hold on to this little faith that Alec is right, Cyprus is all bark and no bite, than risk another run-in with dangerous nighttime street thugs.

I catch up with Cyprus, noting that he's sporting a limp. My eyes sweep across the other men with him who only keep ignoring me. I breathe out slowly before speaking, my pride has my voice diminishing into a small whisper. "I'll take that ride."

He grunts in acknowledgment.

"Why did you guys fight?" A part of me has an inkling what it was all about, but I hold my tongue, not wanting to set him off.

The streetlight illuminates his face, making him more menacing than I'd care to admit. Cyprus' features have always look sculpted and magazine-ready. He's truly a sight for sore eyes. His eyes,  a deep, mossy green, feel as though they hold so many secrets when they're laser-focused on you. But right now, I have noticed that they can barely look at me.

"You know it's about you. What else do you think?" he spits.

I frown, backing away a little. "Why would you fight about me?"

He grimaces as if he tasted something unpleasant. "I don't know Rhys, maybe because he's accused me that I sold you to the press. We don't fucking really know."

My heart skips a beat. "Did you?"

The question is not far-off. The interest he has in me took roots from his hatred toward me. The reasons are endless as to why he'll do that. I'm just not expecting it since it's clear that they're tight as a band. If they drag my name to dirt, they'll be dragging theirs too. Turns out I have never been more wrong.

Cyprus abruptly stops, causing me to do the same. I crane my neck to look back at his narrowed eyes. He's a head taller than me which he takes to his advantage. "Yes." He smiles. So cold. "What are you gonna do about it?"

I straighten my shoulders. The other men are walking past us. "You son of a bitch," I hiss. "Are you happy with what you've done, huh?"

"As a matter of fact, yes." He doesn't hold back, his words stabbing me straight to the gut. He scans my bags and Tripper, a glint of something I can only describe as pleasure shines in his eyes. "Especially if it brought us here."

My hand raises to slap him but I stop midway, taking pity of the bruises on his face. I shake my head, looking away. "What did I ever do to you?"

He takes a step toward me, his anger more pronounced. My pulse accelerates as he grabs my arm tight enough to form a bruise. "Did you know what it took us to get here? Every fucking thing, Tetris. We sacrificed everything we owned, every familiar thing we ever had to build this life. And then one day you pranced around us and held an old incident above our heads."

I grit my teeth, my own anger consuming me. He's not going to make me feel guilty about it. I came this far without doing so, his anger toward me and the bruises on his face will do no shit. "Let me go, asshole."

"I warned you." He takes another step forward, invading my personal space, getting in my face as if he's making sure that I will digest every word. "I told you to crawl back to where you came from before it's too late. But what did you do? You fucking lured Alec to side with you. It should've never happened. You're only going to take him down."

"Why are you so concerned about Alec? He can make decisions of his own. I didn't fucking lure him."

Cyprus' face softens a bit, but his words are still as sharp. "He didn't tell you about all those headlines, did he?" He chuckles darkly. "Of course, he wouldn't. Unlike you, he doesn't guilt people to get what he wants."

I rear back, greatly offended. "Oh, that is so low, Cyprus. Even for you."

"Is it now?" He grins sardonically. "See? You don't know shit about this life. Stop trying too hard." He takes another step closer. "Go back to your shitty little apartment before they leave you with nothing at the end of all this."

He walks away from me, leaving me appalled under the glow of the streetlamp. "If you still want that ride, you have to move your feet."

I do so, albeit numbly. My mind reels from what he told me. Deep down, I know I shouldn't let it affect me. But as I try to look back on Alec and I's time together, I know he has a point.

I'm not cut out for his life.

I'm too scared like a fucking little girl.