Only if you had apologized

Jackson

Air has refused to reach my lungs. Her hand is on my thigh. Move in with me. Those words dangerously lurk on my lips and I hold back with all my will because I know it's too early to say it. She would refuse without a second thought.

'I should call a cab.' I said instead. She retreats her hand immediately, disappointment is evident on her face. It gives me a reason to smile. Old flames die hard, especially when they're as hot as me.

'Why are you smiling?'

'Did you want to invite me over?'

'Don't test your luck. I've already had drinks with you.'

'You hardly drank. I'm the one who's drunk here. Now let me call a cab.'

She shifted in her seat. 'Where will you park your car?' I answer her by parking it in her building's parking. She is ready to retaliate but I have no fear for the landlady has already been paid for this. I'd met that old woman earlier and gave a sufficient amount along with Cordelia's due rent so that she doesn't make a ruckus when she sees me around too much.

Cordelia stays in the car so I ask, 'Are you planning on spending the night in here?'

She sighed. 'Tell me honestly Jackson what did I say the night I was drunk?' it has to be something scandalous for her to be so worried about it. Did her father have an affair and now wants the mistress to have all his business and money? Or maybe Cordelia went out of her way and got involved with a guy who would bring shame to the family. There must be a reason why her ex is her ex.

'Why does it matter if I know?'

'You will use it against me.' Her eyes were dead serious about the accusation. She thinks I'm an asshole who would take advantage of her weakness. Well, she is right. I do want to know so that I can use it to my advantage in whatever situation is to arise between us next.

For now, I pretend to be a reformed guy. 'I will never do that.'

'Why not? After all…..'

I stared out the window. The parking lot was empty and dark. Suddenly, I was worried about her security. 'That is something that you do not me.' She was quiet. 'Close the door and windows well when you get into your apartment.'

She scoffed. 'Why? Are you going to break in? I'll not be surprised though. You did try to steal from someone's before.'

I clench my fingers around the steering wheel. 'Cordelia, allow me to remind you there is possibly nothing in that hut of yours that could be of use to me.'

She crosses her hands in front. 'Funny! You could've simply said that you were not a thief.'

'Even if I would've said it, there was no way you were going to believe it.' I looked at her and she held my gaze. I was left disappointed when she opened the door and went out of the car.

I rolled down the window and shouted, 'You know you can still apologize!' She stopped but didn't turn. Just say you're sorry Cordelia. I never got to hear that from you that day.

Fourteen years ago

'Get out!' The lady whose house I was working in barked.

I panicked. 'Where will I go?'

'I don't know. Go wherever you want but you're not staying here anymore. One look at you and I knew you would be trouble.' It was déjà vu. Last month I'd heard the very same words and then I was unemployed for days until I found work here. There was still a significant amount of school time left and I needed money to pay for my tuition.

'Let me stay here until school ends. Please, this is important to me.' I begged.

'The painting that you stole was important to me too.' Her livid eyes accused me and I stared in confusion. I thought she had caught me sleeping during work hours on the weekend. The owner of the house was a woman in her thirties who I had no idea worked where, but she threw cool parties almost every weekend for her friends. She'd hired me because she was too lazy to clean and there was way too much mess she would deal with by the time her guests left. I didn't mind the cleaning and when she offered to let me sleep in the garage I was okay with that too. But this weekend the year-end school assignments and being the librarian's assistant caught up to me and I slipped into sleep for hours until I was woken up by a jar of water. I'd apologized and she'd ignored me as anyone does to a doormat. I thought she was still upset because of that but this.

'I didn't steal anything.'

She scoffed. 'Tell that to the police.' She took out her phone and was about to dial the emergency number when I stopped her hand. She pushed me back. 'How dare you?! Just because a naïve high school girl fell for your charms and the stolen painting that you gifted her, doesn't mean you can go around touching anybody here. I'm a woman of class!'

I gulped. This was all going so wrong. One call from her and my entire career would be spoiled. 'Please ma'am! I can't have a police record. Please forgive me…..' I apologized even if I didn't understand half of the things that she said. Who was the girl she was talking about? When she didn't budge I fell to my knees and begged her again.

She sighed. 'Don't make me look bad! Fine! You don't want me to call the police and then get that painting back from your girlfriend.'

I looked up. 'I don't have a girlfriend.' As soon as those words left my mouth she slapped me so hard across the face I feared I'd lost my hearing. I placed a hand on my cheek where she'd hit me and stood up.

She saw the tears in my eyes. There is no way she missed them. But she laughed and then said, 'Cordelia Rosette was right about you.' She didn't leave me more confused and told me how the girl who stays a block away from her came with the painting saying that she didn't want her boyfriend to be involved in anything illegal. The painting was returned by Cordelia but the house owner wanted to test if I would tell her the truth so she acted as if she was going to call the police.

Cordelia had left me unemployed again, all within a month. There was unmeasured anger in me for her. Why did she have to go all the way out and hit me where she knew I would be hurt the most? Of course! She was the only player opposite me in this hating game.

Present

'It's not like you didn't equal the score.' Without looking back Cordelia reminded me that I might've not got an apology from her for that but I did get back at her.

Suddenly I had the urge to know from her why she did that. I got out too and held her hand before she gets into the elevator. 'Why were you so hell-bent on making me unemployed back then?'

She lifted her head, her chin up as if she was proud of what she did. 'I did what I wanted to.' A ring told us the doors to the elevator had opened and both of us got inside. 'I thought you were going home.'

'My cab hasn't arrived yet.'

'You haven't called a cab yet!' She yelled.

I moved closer to her. 'Shhh. I don't want an audience right now.'

'Strange you wanted an audience back then.' The sharpness of her eyes attacked me.

'I had to get back at you. Not only did you steal a painting and blamed me for that but also cost me my job!' She waited for her floor to arrive and when the elevator door opened again she stepped out. 'Go home, Jackson!' She said when she saw me following behind.

'First, tell me why you did it.'

'You told everyone in school that I was crazy about you and left you a note in your locker.'

We stood outside her door. I knew well she wouldn't open it until I left. 'That was for when you snitched to my previous employer about me being at that worker's bar.'

'You threw beer on me!'

'You called me servant!' The moment I shouted someone from the adjacent apartment came out and yelled, 'Keep it down! We're trying to sleep in here!' And then the door shut in our faces. I looked at Cordelia who was just as fazed as me.

'Time to leave.' She turned and opened the lock with her keys. Before she knew it I pushed inside before her. 'What are you doing?'

'Making a conversation.'

'I'm in no mood to talk to you. Get out!'

'I had to sleep in the school locker rooms for an entire week until I found another job.'

An emotion flashed on her face. 'You want me to apologize but why should I when you have already avenged me for all those things I did?'

'I didn't take my revenge properly.'

She looked sideways as her jaw clenched. 'Properly?! You had me on my knees in front of you, Jackson! With the whole boys' basketball team staring at me weirdly!'

'So what? I promised them a show I gave them one.' I said cockily that didn't go down well with her and she marched forward to slap me. Tomorrow at the meeting I would be stared at. The alcohol had kicked in by the time we left the restaurant but I managed to drive us home. I shouldn't have drunk and driven tough. But since I was already under the influence I could blame it tomorrow morning for what I'm about to do now.

I look at Cordelia and she is breathing heavily no more trying to control her anger. My hand takes her waist and she is instantly pulled towards me. I smashed my mouth on hers. The kiss wasn't meant to be romantic it was meant to remind her that this was still a war. We could've been civil. All she had to do was apologize but she didn't. So let her bare the consequences. My lips took her lower lip and tasted them like I had forgotten what they tasted like. The truth was I had never for once forgotten them, her. My other hand moved to her hair and I grabbed a fistful, might've pulled them a little. But then she placed a hand on my chest and I let go of her hair, now only gently caressing them as my tongue works its magic.

There is no way this is one-sided because she is responding as well. Old flame I told you about. This is it. Both of us as addicted to the drug we know can very well end us. She moaned and I am ready to take her to the couch but then suddenly when my legs hit the table in the center, it knocks some sense into me.

'How about you complete the task that was left incomplete that day?' She stiffens in my arms. I wrapped them even more tightly around her in case she wants an out. 'I'm sure you don't mind getting down on your knees again for me.' I whispered and she does the unthinkable.

Groaning in pain I'm on the floor when the front door opens and her best friend enters the scene with a look of horror on her face. 'What in the hell happened here?'