Nine bones

REMINGTON

11 MONTHS, 23 DAYS LATER.

“We… won?” I muttered beneath my breath, eyes glued to my phone, watching the hockey match live.

“We fucking won!” I screamed at the top of my voice, earning a groan from Clark and a grumble from my mum. This was the final match in a major competition, and our school — Chastity Verse — won.

“Pull over!” I ordered the driver behind the wheel. He glanced backwards at my mum, who groaned in frustration.

“That boy will be your ruin. I do not approve of him. I told you a million times already,” Mom complained as I planted a quick kiss on her temple and did the same with Clark.

“Bye Dad,” I greeted Clark before alighting from the car and hailing the next taxi immediately. I’d told Raphael I needed to take a break, go on this seminar thing with Mum because she practically begged about it, and Clark felt it was a good weekend to bond. But we won. I knew Raphael would be at the party thrown at their hotel tonight, likely high as a kite, but I couldn’t just leave him hanging. I’d surprise him. That would do. He won’t expect me to come around anyway.

After Soren had been sent off to some shady, secretive rehab his father wouldn’t speak of, I’d spent weeks falling sick and being gloomy. It was my fault. I confided in Raphael — he was the only friend I had — and he explained I did what was best for Soren.

Two months after that, Raphael and I began a relationship. And damn. He was everything: sweet, romantic. We were basically the school’s couple. After the shit with Soren, his father claimed he needed a while to stay with his mum and stuff; no one questioned a billionaire’s words. Raphael’s older brother, Maddox, became captain of the team. Raphael, next in line, gained fame in time. I became popular — I was straight-A, worked on my style, shed the old shy-boy thing. It didn’t take long for me to climb the ranks. I finally belonged.

“Sir?” the taxi driver called, pulling over. I smiled, paid my bill, and headed toward the hotel grounds. I could already hear the blaring music as I made my way to the suite. Punching in the code, the door clicked unlocked and I pushed it open. I was immediately welcomed by loud noise — the lights dimmed, everyone dancing, hugging, smooching, grinding like they typically should.

“Remi!” Maddox — Raphael’s brother — called out immediately. Our eyes locked and my smile widened. Only… he looked pale. Maddox always found me; we were best friends. I’d been close to his brother and he was my stepbrother’s best friend, so we clicked quickly.

“Now love, tell me why you’re not drunk off your senses yet? And any idea where your brother is?” I asked, throwing my arms around Maddox’s neck like we often did, flirting and being playful. But no one batted an eyelash at it. I was in love with his brother, and Maddox was simply the type to flirt with everyone anyway.

“You… fuck… I don’t know where he is. Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be at some seminar?” Maddox asked, except no matter how much he tried to keep his mask in place, he kept slipping. He looked anxious; his gaze kept refusing to linger on mine for long — I sensed the shift in his tone.

“Where’s Raphael?” I asked again. My breath hitched as I spoke. I pushed deeper into the party and Maddox’s hands clung to mine, stopping me. His lips almost brushed my ear.

“You shouldn’t be here. Please go home, Remi… please,” Maddox pleaded. I yanked my grip free and stormed toward the rooms. I’d been here before during the games to bait Raphael; I knew his room. I moved with Maddox hot on my heels. The door was locked, but of course I knew the code. I typed it in and it clicked. The door pushed open; time stilled.

My heart sank. Raphael was laid in bed — some girl on top of him, his glistening cock nudging the tip of her cunt, his hand on her waist while her breasts hung over his chest. A wave of shame overwhelmed me. And then fast it morphed into anger and pain.

“We are done,” I said before slamming the door shut. My eyes locked with Maddox but he said nothing, looking guilty as fuck. I turned on my feet; the party seemed to have suddenly died down. Everyone’s eyes were on me as a smear of tears formed in my eyes.

“Remi!” Raphael’s voice called after me, but I ran. I could hear him running, but I ignored his words and kept going as fast as I could. Tears spilled freely now.

“Give him space. Let him breathe. We’ll talk after,” Maddox said, anger laced through it. As I shut the door to their suite, standing right by the road, my breath hitched. Tears were still pouring, I was embarrassed — my love. I loved him and he shattered me.

I staggered toward the stairs, wanting to be alone. As I cried my heart out, spit ran free from the side of my lips and my phone buzzed continuously. How long had he been fucking some bitch on the side? Bitches? Had we ever been real? Did everyone know? I couldn’t breathe. It fucking hurt — was this how heartbreak felt? If I could, I’d claw out my fucking heart.

I’d do anything to make it stop. I needed to make it stop.

Footsteps came closer in haste and cut my thought short.

“Remi? Remi… thank fuck, here you are.” Maddox rushed forward, trembling as he reached for my hands.

“I know you want to be alone but you need to come with me now. It’s Soren… he’s… he’s here. He’ll murder my fucking brother if you don’t come now,” Maddox pleaded. I could hear the desperation in his voice as I stood frozen; all I could hear was the name — Soren. He was back? Here? How? Why?

Maddox pushed the door open and the party had gone silent, making it easier to spot them. Soren had his back to me, his fists bunched over Raphael whose face was bruised and bloodied. My heart raced faster and harder in my chest.

“You hurt him, Raphael. I warned you, and now I’ll break nine of your bones,” he spat, voice low and cold — “one for each letter in his name: R E M I N G T O N.”