Less than Perfect, S. J. Evans [classic literature books txt] 📗

not going to ever dislike you, I couldn’t. Besides, if it weren’t for you I wouldn’t have anyone to call ‘stool girl’” He said, grinning.

Skye let out an almost inaudible gasp and smiled. He thinks I’m beautiful, how can he think that?

“Jules, you’re impossible.” She laughed and let her muscles relax entirely.

“That’s good, it means I’ve done my job.”

“Wow, who knew someone could be proud of such things.” She teased back.

“Yeah, who knew?” Jules jumped up from the couch and held out his hand. “Hey, come with me, I want to show you something.”

“Something? Like what?” Skye raised her eyebrows at him and timidly took his hand.

“Nothing.”

“Wait, Jules, what do you mean nothing?”

“Exactly what I said, I don’t actually have something to show you, I just wanted to get off the couch.” His bright grin became brighter and more beautiful. “Do you like looking at other peoples pictures, we could go look at a few? There’s a ton on the walls upstairs.”

“Not really, but I guess it wouldn’t be too bad to give it a try.” Skye was trying to have a good time. She didn’t want to let her worry that somehow Bryan would find out and scare her out of it. She decided to make her own decisions for once; and she was enjoying it.

“Good,” he winked, “come on, stool girl.” Jules steered her through the crowds of people and up the long wooden staircase. They laughed after bumping into a couple kissing and having them snap at them groggily. “Does everyone always get this drunk at parties?” Skye asked Jules once out of the crowd.

“You really don’t get out much do you, stool girl?”

“I guess not.” She smiled, letting herself really enjoy the company of a boy who wasn’t trying to use or hurt her. Jules was different, and it warmed her heart.

They continued down the hall and browsed the walls, giggling as they looked at all of the old pictures. Skye stopped chuckling and dropped her gaze. She carefully leaned against the wall. She couldn’t get over a sound that was slipping in her hearing, it sounded almost as Bryan’s voice tucked in a whisper. He’s not really here, is he? Why would he be whispering even if he was?

She asked herself.

Jules saw the alarm in her face and his bright grin faded into concern. “Skye, what is it?” He asked crouching down near her.

“Do you hear whispering?”

“Yeah, is that a problem?” He switched his gaze back and forth between her and the continually digressing hall; trying to understand what was going on. “I’m not following why you’re so alarmed by it.”

“I think I know the voice.” Skye said giving him a quick glance. She took a breath. Skye pushed the bedroom door open quietly but Jules swiftly pulled her back, leaving her close by him and looking into his eyes again.

“Hold on there, stool girl, you can’t just barge in the room. Something could be going on in there.”

Something, no, he wouldn’t do that to me. Not Bryan.

“Nothing’s going on in there. The only thing that’s going on is you refusing to let me go in on my own terms. Jules, I need to know what’s going on in there,” she said sliding her arm out of his grasp.

Jules followed right behind her as she peered into the bedroom, looking around for a sign of anyone, or Bryan. She stepped through the doorway and the hushed sounds became clearer. There were two teenagers passionately kissing on the bed, and when Skye looked at the boy more carefully she gasped.

“Bryan?” She murmured in disbelief.

Bryan and the stranger snapped away from each other, Bryan almost falling off the bed in shock. Bryan’s eyes were wide and filled with surprise. He jumped to his feet, muttering a curse, while the other girl sat on the bed with her eyes pinned on Jules. She was embarrassed and her face was flushed.

The moment Bryan really realized what had just happened his veins pulsed and his jaw set; he was angry. “Skye, what are you doing here?”

“I came with Rachel, who—who’s that?

” She said pointedly.

“No one, she’s—well—I was just showing her around.” He stammered.

“Bryan, you can’t make excuses! If you had been showing her around you wouldn’t have been making out with her, quit it with the lies. I don’t need this right now!” Skye cried. She was feeling her breath catch and tears well up. A few stray tears trickled down her pale cheeks. “Don’t

follow me, Bryan, we need space.” She warned.

Jules looked at all three of them, utterly confused and upset. He didn’t exactly know why Skye reacted so strongly, but he was pretty sure that he was getting it.

“Skye, look we can talk about this—”

“No—we can’t, Bryan. At least not now. Have fun with your new toy, Bryan, I hope she’s worth it.” Skye rushed out of the room and down the hall, leaving Bryan helplessly staring after where she had just been. He rubbed his neck and started to follow her but Jules stopped him, catching Bryan by his shirt.

“She said not to follow her, so where do you think that you’re going?” Jules’ tone was urgent and warning but still calm.

Bryan scoffed and shoved Jules’ arm off of him. “And who do you think you are, she’s my girlfriend, she’ll understand.”

“No, you need to understand,” Jules gripped Bryan’s shirt with both hands and yanked him towards him. There was a slim space in the doorway and the make out queen slipped out of the room, slightly afraid. “She’s important to me, and I won’t let you near her if she doesn’t want you near her. She may be your ‘girlfriend’ but you’re sick if you think you can two-time her and not even experience the consequences. Stay away from her right now, or you’ll seriously regret ever knowing her. And me.”

Bryan laughed at Jules and regarded him darkly. “She’s important to you

? Sorry to break it to you, pal

, but she and I are already one. Yeah, you can step away now, because you’ll never have a chance with her. Didn’t your mommy ever tell you not to threaten anyone?” Bryan shoved Jules’ hands off of his shirt and Jules let him. Jules was becoming infuriated. “I’m not the kind of guy you want to be messing with. So stay away from me and my life, Jules

.” He spat.

Jules flinched momentarily but then just drove his cold eyes into Bryan’s. “Get out of here, Bryan, you’re wasted.” Jules turned away from Bryan and ran after Skye.

“Skye!” He called once downstairs in the foggy room. “Skye where are you?” He muttered through his teeth. He checked the entire basement and hurried outside, calling her name again and again.

“Jules,” Skye sobbed quietly; she was crouched down near a bush, her head in her knees while tears escaped.

“Skye!” Jules breathed, running over to her and immediately crouching down. “Hey, it is okay, he’s not going to bother you.” He said as he caught his breath, “everything’s fine.”

I wish. Skye let out a crippled sigh and winced as the pain caught up with her. “No, no, it’s not.” She mumbled.

“Hey, come here.” Jules gently pulled Skye into him and wrapped his arms around her as a shelter from the world. “I’m not going to let him near you, if you don’t want to see him he won’t see you, okay?”

Skye let her hands wrap perfectly around his body and nuzzled herself in his support. “Okay,” She sobbed.

Jules sat there with her, holding her fragile body, and kept his eyes looking out for Bryan.

Skye breathed in his scent and committed it to memory. After tonight she may never see Jules again. When Bryan gets a hold on her she’ll be in for it. If only Jules really could stop Bryan from getting near her.

Just feet behind them Bryan stood watching them, waiting for the moment that Jules would let go of Skye. He was furious, and he would take out his revenge on Jules. Walking towards them he whispered under his breath, “I knew he was bad news, and now, now I’m not letting him get away with it.” A sickly grin crept up his lips and he wobbled forward, utterly wasted and furious, but in his own mind, up for the challenge.

Open and Closed

“Skye, I should get you home,” Jules said as he held her so close she wished he never would let her go.
Skye sighed and pulled herself away, she couldn’t show the fact that she needed him. She had to be strong. “Right, of course.” She whispered. Her arms were shaking and she wiped her eyes from all of the tears and smeared makeup. I should have taken one of Rachel’s wipes with me.

She laughed at herself inside.
Jules helped her up and stared into her eyes. “Did you come here with someone?”
“Yeah, my friend—” Her voice caught when she saw Bryan standing a few inches from Jules. “Jules!” She shrieked as Bryan swung his fist at Jules.
Somehow, Jules avoided the punch and dropped Skye out of the way protectively; his body landing inches above her shielding her from Bryan’s trashed self. “Stay down,” he whispered into her ear harmonious.
Skye nodded and closed her eyes, fear clutching a hold of her. She didn’t want to see a fight, she couldn’t handle it, and she didn’t want to see violence again, not this soon.
Bryan grabbed Jules by his back and pulled him up. He spun him around and spat in his face. “What are you still doing around my girl? She is my life. I thought you were going to be a good little boy and stay out of it. You wouldn’t want to upset her now, would you? See she’s hurting, you’re the reason.” He warned.
“No, Bryan, you’re

the reason she’s hurting. I’m not going to fight with you; I just want you to stay away from her. You can’t help her while you’re wasted; in fact, you can’t help her now at all. If she was your life you would let her go, leave her alone. Haven’t you done enough to her?”
Bryan actually took everything Jules had said and thought about it. He looked into Jules’ calm eyes and took a breath, shoving Jules away. “Fine, you’re right, I am

wasted. But if you so much as touch her

again, I swear you’ll regret it.”
“And I’ll be looking forward to it.” Jules said coolly, a smile tipping at the edge of his mouth. He watched as Bryan wobbled back over to the house and sighed as he was lost in the crowd.
Skye sat up and stared up at Jules, her heart racing and breath scratchy. “Is he gone?”
“Yeah, he’s gone.” Jules said, taking in the realization of what he had just done. He had just opened the door to a fight; and when that fight broke out the only thing he could wish is that Skye wouldn’t be around. He painfully took