14 - battle of the boys

Amina

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"Orientation for the internship was absolutely amazing! I met so many people and learned so many things."

"That's great babe." Aaron says as he takes a forkful of noodles into his mouth.

It was the day after my training at Acme and I was out eating dinner with Aaron.

"But you'll never believe who I ran into at the office?"

"Who?"

"Dominic! He was there for an interview." I lie, remembering our agreement. "He gave me a ride home after work and-"

"You rode home with Dominic?" He asks, cutting me off. I nod, twirling my noodles on my fork before putting it in my mouth. "Is that why you didn't call me yesterday?"

"Well not necessarily. I got in late and-"

"I don't want you hanging around Dominic anymore." He says sternly.

I raise a brow, "Excuse me?"

"Is that a problem?"

"First I need you to stop cutting me off. And secondly, when did you start telling me who I can and cannot hang out with?"

"Since you became my girl?"

"I don't ever remember you asking me to be your girl?"

He scoffs, "Then what the fûck have we been doing for the past few weeks?" I shrug nonchalantly. "Fine, will you be my girlfriend?" He asks in annoyance.

I furrow my brows, "Are you really asking me to be your girlfriend right now? Just so you can tell me to stop hanging around Dominic?" I scoff angrily as I stand up, "Call me when you get out of the 1950s jackass." I throw my napkin on the table before getting up.

I heard him sigh tiredly from behind me as I left the booth. He wasn't even going to chase me either? Men these days just don't know what women want.

I get outside and pull out my phone, ready to call for an Uber. What a jackass! Thinking he can decide who I can and can't talk to. He didn't even ask he just demanded I stop talking to Dominic.

Plus I didn't want to stop hanging out with him. We weren't doing anything wrong? I haven't even kissed him since the last time we hooked up. Sure I thought about it sometimes but I never acted on it.

See if Aaron knew my full history with Dominic I would understand. But he doesn't and is just trying to be controlling.

"Ami come on." A voice says from behind me. Aaron was walking up to me from the restaurant.

I roll my eyes, "Go away control freak."

"I'm sorry. Let me drive you home."

I sigh, closing the Uber app. "If this is going to work you cannot try to boss me around."

"I know and I'm sorry. I just don't like Dominic, and I don't like how he looks at you."

I quirk my brow, "How does he look at me?"

His jaw clenches, "In an unfriendly manner."

"Well, he and I are just friends, barely. He gives me rides occasionally and he's my neighbor, that's it."

"Are you sure?"

It wasn't the right time to tell him the whole truth. So I nodded, "I'm sure."

"Fine, but I still want limited contact."

"Fine limited but not prohibited."

"I guess."

I smirk, "Glad we've come to an agreement."

-

It was Friday afternoon and I had caught a ride with Isaiah after studying together in the library for our finance exam. He had asked if I wanted to come over a bit and hang out. Of course I said yes, it felt like I hadn't hung out with all of those knuckleheads in a while.

But at the moment I was regretting my decision.

"Timmy Turner would beat Jimmy Neutrons ass in a fight!"

"How? Jimmy is a genius!"

"Timmy has the power to wish for anything! He could just wish for Jimmy to be dead!"

Yes, these grown men were arguing about cartoons fighting.

"No! The rules in the show state you can't wish for someone to die or to lose a competition. If we're talking a death battle the rules limit him." Isaiah states.

"That doesn't mean he can't wish for awesome battle gear to help him win." Noah pipes back.

"Jimmy would still win. Timmy might have power but he's not smart."

"Guys shut the fûck up!" Caleb exclaims in irritation. "We're trying to watch TV and y'all are arguing about fictional 10-year-olds fighting to the death."

I laugh at his comment. It was starting to get ridiculous. They had been arguing for the past 10 minutes.

"I won though." Isaiah mutters.

"Y'all ready for your first game? It's coming up soon." Will says as he enters the living room with a bowl of chips in his hand.

Noah sticks his hand in the bowl taking a handful and earning a scowl from Will. "I'm absolutely ready. I've been training hard all preseason." Noah says as he stuffs his face.

"He's lying he's close to being benched." Oliver says with a chuckle.

Noah frowns, his mouth stained with crumbs. "But I'm not yet!"

"You still gonna ride with us to the first game Ami?" Isaiah asks.

I smile widely as I nod, "Of course! We're going to celebrate after right?"

"You know it."

"Just in case you didn't know your little boyfriend is not invited to come with us." Caleb adds.

I sigh, "Oh come on, isn't he your friend?"

Caleb scoffs, "He was, barely."

"Really Caleb? You stopped being friends with him because of me?"

"No, I stopped being friends with him because he disrespected me. If he was for real about being serious with you he could've said that and I'd be cool with it. But instead, he went behind my back and decided to do what he wanted anyway."

"It's not that big of a deal. Maybe he was scared to talk to you about it because you did threaten to strangle him with his balls." I remind him.

Noah scoffs, "Aaron ain't scared, especially not of some kiddy threat like that."

I sigh, "Don't tell me you don't like him too."

He shrugs, "I already told you how I felt about it, Ami."

"Does anyone else here not like Aaron?" I ask looking around the room. They all raise their hands in response. Even Isaiah had his hand raised, the same goofy kid who gets along with everyone.

"What's your reason for not liking him?" I ask Isaiah.

"I just think the way he went about getting with you was weird. As a friend you don't do that." Isaiah says with a shrug.

"What about you Oliver? Aren't you guys on the same team?"

Oliver shrugs, "I never liked him truthfully. He has a bad attitude and was never a team player."

"Just a couple of weeks ago you guys were all eating at the diner together?"

"Yes, that was before he decided to go behind my back and date my little cousin." Caleb responds.

"Caleb I'm older than you."

"And I don't care."

I sigh, reclining back against my seat on the couch. "Whatever guys." Suddenly my phone rings from my pocket. "Speak of the devil." I mumble as I pull it out and look at the screen.

"Hey."

"Hey, what're you up to?" Aaron asks.

"Just hanging with Caleb and the guys. What about you?"

He was silent for a moment before speaking. "Want me to come pick you up? We can go grab some food."

I shake my head, "Nah Calebs dropping me off and then I have homework to catch up on. Maybe after that."

"Well alright. I'll see you later then."

"For sure."

I hang up the phone and realize that everyone is staring at me. "What?" I ask.

"Was that him? What'd he want?" Isaiah asks.

"To go eat. I told him later."

"He should know better than to try to come over here." Caleb says with a scoff.

"Jeez, you guys really hate him. Would you rather I date Dominic Taylor?"

They all gasp and Isaiah clenches his chest, "Oh God no."

I laugh at their theatrics. "Dominic actually isn't all that bad. And I can confirm he's not a drug dealer."

"Oh really how do you know?" Noah questions.

"Because we're best friends now." I say with a smile.

Caleb sighs, "Ami you pick the worst guys to hang around."

"Clearly." I state, motioning my hands to all of them.

"Hey!" Noah says, a hurtful expression painted on his face making me laugh. I continue to hang out with the guys, playing video games and eating snacks while debating different topics.

-

"Nicki Minaj would slaughter Lil Wayne in a rap battle!" I exclaim to Will.

"Ami, Wayne discovered Nicki!" He exclaims back.

"And? That doesn't mean- "

My phone started ringing in my pocket again. I sighed before pulling it out to see who it was. Once again, Aaron. It had only been an hour since the last time he called.

"Hello?" I ask as I pick up the phone.

"I'm outside."

I quirk my brow, "Outside where?"

"The guys' house, let's go eat."

I furrowed my brows in confusion, gaining the attention of the guys. "Why are you here?" I ask in a hushed tone as I stand up from my spot and head toward the kitchen, "I said don't pick me up."

"Ami just come outside I wanna talk to you."

"That son of a bitch is outside isn't he?" Caleb says as he stands from his seat. "I thought he knew better." He chuckles as he makes his way to the front door.

"Caleb hold on!" I call out as I follow behind him.

"Didn't I tell you not to come here anymore?" Caleb asks as soon as he gets outside.

Aaron chuckles, "I'm picking up my girlfriend. I didn't ask you to serve me cookies or anything."

Caleb chuckles sarcastically, "You got jokes huh?"

Aaron steps out from the car, "Look why don't you take your ass back in the house and continue playing with your boys so that me and my girl can go?"

Suddenly Caleb shoves Aaron, "You think you're real funny huh?"

Aaron shoved him back and before I knew it they were fighting. The other guys came out quickly to pull them off of each other and thankfully nobody got to leave any bad wounds.

"What the hell guys!" I exclaim at the both of them.

"He started this!" Aaron shouts.

"Nah I didn't do shit! You did when you started macking on my little cousin behind my back!" Caleb exclaims.

"You don't own her!"

"That's not the point this conflict doesn't have shit to do with Ami. This is between you and me."

"Man, whatever." Aaron says before pulling himself from Noah's grasp. He gets into the car, shutting the door behind him. "Ami you coming?" He asks as he rolls the window down.

I sigh before turning to him. "I told you I would meet you later."

He scoffs, "Whatever." Before driving off.

"Caleb, why are you picking fights? You wanna get kicked off the team?" I ask him.

"Me? He came onto my property!" Caleb exclaims.

"You pushed him first!"

"Guys!" Isaiah exclaims. "Let's go inside and calm down a bit before we attract any more attention." I let out a deep breath before following the guys back into the house.

Tension in the house were prominent as I waited in silence for the pizzas that Noah threw in the oven to be ready. After that Isaiah had agreed to take me home because Caleb was too mad to speak to me.

It was silent at first when we both got into the car. He said nothing and neither did I. That was until he finally did.

"I hope you don't still plan on being with him."

I sigh, unsure of that answer myself. I liked Aaron, but I was starting to see sides to him that I didn't like. At all.

"Probably not to be honest." I whispered.

"Good. That's all I wanted to hear."

We arrive at my apartment and I say goodbye before making my way into the complex. As I made my way up the steps I could hear arguing above me. Aaron and Dominic were going head to head bickering with each other.

"What is going on here?" I ask as I reach the top of the steps.

"Ami, finally. We need to talk." Aaron says sternly.

"I don't feel like talking to you tonight." I respond as I unlock my front door.

He catches my arm to stop me from opening the door, "We need to talk."

"Looks like she doesn't want to talk to you." Dominic interjects.

Aaron glares at Dominic, the irritation written clear on his face. "Stay the hell out of it."

Dominic was about to speak but I stopped him. "It's okay. Let's go, Aaron."

He follows me into the apartment and to my bedroom, shutting the door behind us. "What the fûck is your problem?" I ask in irritation, "Showing up to my cousins' house? Picking a fight with Caleb? And now you're arguing with Dominic?" I exclaim as I pace back and forth. He stays still as I continue to rant. "Do you even realize how much worse you've just made things for us? Now everyone really hates you!"

"Are you done?" He asks.

I stop pacing and look up at him. "What do you have to say for yourself?"

"You will never pull what you did today again." He stated in a stern tone.

"Huh?" I ask completely puzzled.

"You stayed. Did you ever consider how that made me feel? How it made me look?"

I furrow my brows in confusion, "I never told you to come!"

"And now you're over here defending Dominic? Whose side are you on!"

"There are no sides!"

"Wrong answer! You're supposed to side with me, always! But yet you're always defending everyone but me. Your cousins, Dominic, when are you going to be on my side?" He sighs looking up at me again, "What is he to you?"

"Don't act like I haven't been defending your name constantly to everyone!" I retort back. "And do you even think about how hard you're making it?" I ask in return.

"Do not ignore my question!" He exclaims.

"You're the one ignoring me! I already told you Dominic is a friend and there is nothing more to talk about there."

"It sure doesn't seem like it."

"Clearly you're freaking seeing things! He's my neighbor we've gone through this-

"Don't fûcking lie to me!" He exclaims suddenly, grabbing my arm aggressively and making my eyes widen.

"Let go!" I exclaim before pushing him off. In complete shock, I just stare at him. "I don't know what's come over you today, but I don't like it. Get out."

"Ami I-"

"Get out!" I exclaim as tears form at the brim of my eyes.

He lets out a frustrated breath before leaving my bedroom. Thankfully the girls had both gone out so I was alone in the apartment and nobody had heard our argument.

Tears began to fall as I wiped them aggressively. I had never seen Aaron so angry. He seemed so out of character today and I didn't like it at all.

Suddenly I hear knocking at my front door and frown. I quickly get up, ready to chase Aaron away for the second time. I didn't want to speak to him, not now. I open the door, "Aaron I said get-" I stop mid-sentence as I'm met face to face with Dominic instead.

"I heard yelling, are you okay?" He asks softly.

My eyes begin to water but I hold them back. "I'm fine, don't worry about me."

"You sure?"

I nod, "It's best if I don't talk to you right now. Thanks for coming by though."

He nods, "Well, just knock on your wall if you need me." He says with a small smile.

I nod politely before shutting the door on him. I would've loved to invite Dominic in and let him comfort me. But considering he was the topic of our fight it didn't seem appropriate.

Instead, I made my way back to my room, cuddling up to a pillow before crying myself to sleep.

———

Yikes.

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- AuggiePooh_