Unwelcome Home

They sat in comfortable silence on the drive back home. They listened to their playlist and held hands. He would look at her and the beautiful smile on her face. He didn't want this to end. He just wanted to drive forever. He squeezed her hand as a tear ran down his cheek.

"Bodhi? What's wrong?"

"My feelings for you are so intense, Periwinkle. It hurts sometimes."

"It's okay. I understand. There were nights I would lie in bed and think of you. Think about us, and my heart would ache. Some nights, I wondered if I was having another heart attack. It hurt so bad."

They pulled into the drive. It was an unseasonably warm day. The James' were happy that they could have the party outside. The sun was strong, and the temperature was up to 68 degrees.

"I think we're late. There are a lot of cars here. Are you sure you're okay with this? Being put on display? People asking you questions."

"No, I want to be the center of attention. I worked hard, and I am a success story. I persevered. I am strong. I am fucking Persephone Athena James." She kissed him on the cheek and bounded out of the car. "Are you coming?"

He looked at her. He liked this new Periwinkle. She was brave and confident. She knew what she wanted, and she went for it.

She took him by the hand and dragged him to the backyard. He knew the yard was filled with dozens of people who knew what had happened—over a dozen or more people who hated him or were disappointed in him.

She went through the gate. "HELLO EVERYBODY! I'M HERE! THE PARTY CAN START NOW!"

All heads turned, and everyone clapped. She took a bow and started walking through the yard. Some people were unsure whether to smile at her or scowl at Bodhi.

He watched her make her way through the crowd. She was smiling and giving hugs, looking like a bride greeting her guests. He sat alone in the corner of the yard, where people wouldn't notice him.

She was looking around and found him in the corner. She sat down on the ground in front of him.

"What are you doing over here all alone? Why aren't you with the other Musketeers? You haven't seen them in four months."

"It's complicated."

"Is it because you have been gone, and things feel a little awkward? Life in England has to be so different."

"Yeah. I wouldn't say I like it there. It's so lonely. The people are not very friendly. I spend a lot of my time in my apartment watching movies."

"Do you watch any of our favorites?" she asked.

"I do. All the time."

"We should totally FaceTime and watch movies together! Now that I am allowed to use my phone at my leisure."

"I think that is a fantastic idea, Periwinkle." He leaned forward. She got to her knees, and they kissed.

"So, what did you want to talk about that is not a bad thing?" Bodhi asked.

Excitement crossed her face. "Okay. First, I am not going to go to school to be a psychiatrist. I decided to do something that makes me happy. Bodhi, I am going to culinary school. I know it sounds weird, given the circumstances. I just loved learning about food and how it fuels the body. How if it is used properly, we shouldn't fear it. I want to open a restaurant. When I turn twenty-three, I get access to my trust fund Nana and Poppy set up. There's more than enough in there. And I was hoping my husband, who will be a baller in the NBA, would think about investing."

"Wow, of course, I--- wait. Husband?"

"Of course, silly. All you have to do is ask. I'm going to say yes, Bodhizafa. It's a total no-brainer! So, I have been looking into it and want to be with you in England. The Culinary Institute is there, and I can go to school. And you can play ball."

"What if I don't get resigned there?"

"Oh, please. Like they are going to let their number one player get away."

"What if the NBA does come calling?"

"I can transfer my credits to any reputable culinary school! Isn't that great? We can be together."

"I would love that, Periwinkle," he said, caressing her face. He kissed her again, this time so full of love and emotion. He wanted her to feel his love through it.

She put her fingers to her lips. "Bodhi, I don't think you've ever kissed me like that before. That was..."

"God, I love you."

"I love you too," she said.

"Soooo, that was the first thing. What is the second thing?"

"Umm." She took a deep breath. "Bodhizafa---"

"IS THAT MY SISTER!" Annie was walking towards them.

"She's always had the most imperfect timing," Perri said, rolling her eyes.

"Hey, Sis! You're looking a little less skeletal. Finally, eat that sandwich?

Perri stood up. "Actually, I prefer Pop-Tarts as my go-to. I also rock a killer cedar plank salmon. I should make it sometime. You can choke on it."

"Oh, snap. Want me to drive you to the drug store to get some ointment because you just got fucking burned!" Bodhi said with a smile.

She furrowed her brow and squinted her eyes in anger. "How's your new girlfriend doing Bodhi?" she spat at him.

He lost all the color in his face. Dear God, please don't let her find out about this from Annie. She is going to make it so much worse. He swallowed hard and gave her a death stare.

"What's her name?" She put her finger to her lips and started tapping her foot. "Let me think. Vanessa? Janna? Oh, I remember! Janessa! Isn't that right?"

"Andromeda, please don't," he said through gritted teeth. "Don't."

"Don't what? I'm just being polite. I mean, you have a new girl over the pond. It's so good to know you're not lonely!"

He ran his hands down his face.

"Tell me about her. Rumor has it you met at work. She really is a knockout. All the right curves in all the right places. I guess you like 'em curvy. No more popsicle sticks for Bodhizafa."

"Annie. That's way out of line," Bodhi said, standing up.

Perri stayed seated. Suddenly, she felt ridiculously small. "Bodhi, what is she talking about? Who's Janessa?

"It's his personal assistant."

"She is my Public Relations manager!" The words flew out of his mouth.

Perri eyes were as wide as saucers. "Bodhi?" She stood up.

"It's not what you think."

"For the love of Christ. Do you guys come preprogrammed with that line?" Andromeda said.

"I don't even know what to think! Bodhi, what is going on?"

"You didn't tell her you found yourself; what did the press say? My girl? Direct quote from him, by the way."

The words were caught in Bodhi's throat.

"Cat got your tongue? You know what?" Annie pulled out her phone.

Bodhi had to sit back down. He was about to pass out. This is it. I'm done for. It's over. The greatest thing in my life is over.

"I saved the links to the articles. I'll text them to you."

"Maybe things were taken out of context," Perri said quietly.

"I can see how a picture could be taken out of context," Annie said. "But a video, on the other hand. Hard to misinterpret that. Now, where is that link?"

"Andromeda, please. Not here. Not now," Bodhi begged.

"What do they say? No time like the present. Oh, here it is!"

She handed Perri the phone. "Just press play."

She read the title of the video. "Sorry, ladies, but Bodhi O'Neill is off the market." She looked at him. She was starting to think she was going to be sick.

"Oh, come on, Persephone!" Annie hit the play button.

She heard the music playing. Sorry, by Justin Beiber blared and out of the phone.

"There are other videos from different angles. I think this one is the best because see here." She pointed to the screen. "See his knee? Do you think she left a wet spot? Did she leave a wet spot, Bodhizafa? I bet she's the kind of girl who doesn't wear panties."

Bodhi's heart squeezed. He thought he was having a heart attack.

She covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh my God."

"Oh wait, it gets better!" Annie said, fast-forwarding the video. "This is my favorite part."

Get Off was now playing. Perri watched as Janessa grinded aggressively against Bodhi's thigh. And then it happened. She watched as they kissed. Passionate, lust-filled kisses. He saw him squeeze her ass and press up against her. When the kissing finally stopped, she watched as Janessa pulled him off the floor. The video stopped.

"There's one that shows them going behind the bar. What did you do back there, Bodhi? Did you get lucky?"

Perri read the look on his face; she saw his pupils dilate, he started to blink rapidly, he started breathing hard, and his Adam's apple moved as he swallowed hard. She knew from his reaction that he did.

"You fucked her?" Perri asked in a whisper.

"No. I didn't---" Bodhi had stood back up. She tried pushing him, but he didn't move.

"DON'T FUCKING LIE TO ME!"

Everyone's head turned to see what the commotion was.

"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME! HOW COULD YOU SAY ALL THOSE THINGS TO ME WHEN YOU'RE FUCKING SOMEONE ELSE!

Holden snapped his head around when he heard Perri's voice. He put his beer on the table. "The shit has officially hit the fan. I'll be back after I'm done whipping his ass."

All of the noise had caught the attention of the other musketeers. "Holden, maybe you should just let them do this. It's their issue, not yours," Jake said.

"You know what? I hate to say it, but you're right. She has to get it all out. Then I'll beat his ass."

Perri was now pounding her fists on his chest. Annie had turned around and walked away with a smile on her face. "My work here is done," she muttered, her little group of friends following her, giggling.

"I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! YOU ARE A USELESS PIECE OF SHIT BODHI O'NEILL! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME! HOW IS IT YOU WENT ALL DAY KNOWING THIS AND ACTING LIKE EVERYTHING WAS FINE!"

"Periwinkle, please calm down. You're going to push yourself too far!" He put his hands on her shoulders.

"DON'T YOU DARE CALL ME THAT AND DON'T YOU FUCKING TOUCH ME! DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO. DIDN'T YOU GET ENOUGH OF ME THIS AFTERNOON WHEN YOU FUCKED! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT? HOW COULD YOU FUCK ME AFTER YOU FUCKED SOMEONE ELSE FIVE DAYS AGO!"

"I didn't fuck you. I made love to you. I have never fucked you. I have never just had sex with you."

Holden slammed his beer down on the patio table. "Okay. Now, I am getting involved." Holden, Jake, and Lewis started to make their way over to them.

"Don't do anything stupid," Lewis said.

"Don't do anything illegal," Jack said.

"Kick his fucking ass till it's between his shoulder blades," Ashley said, making her way over with them with Joanna in tow.

"Seriously, Ash! Don't egg him on, baby," Lewis told her.

"I cannot believe I gave you my virginity. I can'tbelieveI fell for all your shit. All the stupid songs! All the messages telling me how much you care and wanted to marry me and." She sobbed. "Have babies with me."

"I do. I want those things, too, more than anything! Please believe me." He decided that he was going to tell her the truth. All of it. "Let's go somewhere more private and talk."

"I need the truth. Did you fuck her?"

"Perri, please don't."

"Do you love her?" she asked, her eyes downcast. She was finding it hard to look at him.

"No. God no. I don't."

"I don't believe you," she whispered. "I don't believe any of what you've said. Even the things you told me before I left. I was a conquest. Something you thought you could never have but didn't want anymore after you did."

"Don't say those things. Please, baby girl, you know I love you! You know you weren't a conquest."

And now she was pissed again. She poked him in the chest with every sentence. "If you loved me, you would have never done any of this! You got caught again! I never want to see you again! I never want to talk to you again! Don't text me! Don't ask about me! Don't send me shit that says you're sorry! If I die, don't show up at my funeral! If you die, I'm putting fucking party trays on my front lawn!" She had found her voice again.

A small crowd had gathered behind them.

"Please, can we go talk somewhere? I will tell you everything! Please," he begged.

"Why the fuck would I want to hear everything! I want you out. OUT OF THIS HOUSE AND OUT OF MY LIFE." She was shoving him again, but he wasn't moving.

"I think it's time for you to go Bodhi," Joanna said.

"Yeah, you're only embarrassing yourself," Ashley said. "And you have embarrassed Persephone. Do you really want to cause her any more pain? Need we remind you why we are here? What drove her to be where she is now."

"No! I'm not leaving until she hears me out. Not until she listens to what I have to say."

"No. You're not. There is nothing you can say to make this better. Now, are you going to leave the easy way or the hard way?" Holden asked.

"NO. I'M NOT LEAVING EITHER WAY!"

"WRONG ANSWER!" Holden punched him square in the jaw. "Wanna try again?"

Bodhi rubbed his jaw. He pulled his arm back to retaliate, but he looked at Perri. Ashley was right. He was done making a scene. "I'll go. I'm sorry. I am so sorry."

"So am I. For believing in you, for trusting you, for loving you. Most of all, for making what I thought was love to you. You know what? I am not going to let this break me. I am not going to let you break me. I have so much more to stay healthy for. To live a good life. You are not worth my tears."

She turned around. Joanna took one arm, and Ashley took the other. "Hold on a second." Perri ran about five feet away and vomited.

Ashley and Joanna were rubbing small circles on her back.

Bodhi stood there helpless as he watched her vomit over and over.

"I think it's time for you to go, son," McClain said, putting his hand on Bodhi's shoulder.

Bodhi nodded and walked with head hung low out of the Persephone's life.

"Did you get to have that talk with him?" Joanna asked.

"I didn't get through everything. I told him about culinary school and that..." She took in a staggard breath. "I wanted to move to be with him. All I got out was his first name then Annie came up."

"You need to finish that conversation, Perri," Ashley said.

"No. I don't want him in my life anymore. He doesn't deserve to be in my life in any way, shape, or form. I can't trust him. So, there is no fucking way."

"Look, I hate him too, but there are just some times in life we have to put our big girl panties on and face head-on," Joanna said.

"I love you girls, and when this happens to you, you can go about it any way you want. But I can't, and if you really are my friends, you will keep it to yourselves. The same goes for my family."

"Hopefully, he'll keep his ass in England. I only have to worry if he comes back to the States."

🎧YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DIFFERENT- AARON WRIGHT🎧