When Perfect Meets Crazy

Contrary to how crazy yesterday had been with the car scare and the prom committee debacle, today was shaping up to be quite peaceful. School passed by uneventfully. The prom committee even did some ass kissing since the caterer ended up calling with a change of heart half an hour after I left. And Olly, thankfully, hadn’t tried to give me another heart attack so far. In fact, she had been almost angelic which under normal circumstances would’ve been suspicious but yesterday already happened which meant she was also cozying up to me for having saved her ass.

She retired to her room for the night a while ago. Our dad wasn’t home yet. Everything was as I liked it, quiet and peaceful. I was curled up on my window seat, reading a novel on my phone with my afghan wrapped around me. The plan was to finish the book before my dad got home, then go to bed.

I had only a few chapters left and it seemed like the guy I wanted to get the girl was actually going to get the girl. I, unfortunately, had a penchant for second leads so the characters I root for rarely end up together but this time, it seemed like they would.

I smiled to myself, pulling the afghan tighter around my shoulders as a cool breeze filtered in through the open window. I absently reached for my cup of tea while waiting for the next page to load.

My gaze flitted out the window, taking in the clear night sky and scenic two-way street. I sighed, a quiet satisfaction filling up my chest.

Well, until I spotted Ian clumsily staggering up the street.

I almost spilled hot tea on myself in shock. What the...? He made it to my backyard before unexpectedly crashing to his knees.

I frowned, gently setting the cup down when he didn’t immediately get to his feet. I got to mine and reluctantly went down to find out what the problem was.

“Ian?” I called from the safety of the doorway.

A groan was all the reply I got.

“You good? What are you doing here?” I tried again.

I watched, worry beginning to gnaw at me as he slowly rose to his feet, limping the distance between us until like me, he was standing in the illuminated part of the doorway.

I gasped, my hands flying to my mouth.

His face was more red, blue and purple than his normal skin color and was liberally stained with blood. He was sporting a split eyebrow, an swollen shut left eye and what I hoped to God wasn’t a bullet wound in his right arm.

“The fuck...?” I rushed over to him.

He groaned.

“Are you...? What the fuck happened? You need a doctor!” I hissed, hooking his good arm over my shoulder to support his weight.

I wasn’t sure what was wrong with his left leg but a huge part of me really did not want to find out.

“Yell at me inside the house. I think I shook them off but I’m not sure,” he managed before slipping into a coughing fit.

fleeing from my mind. 'I think

was all ice and frost. “You think?” I repeated. “Meaning,

right. If he had in fact led a group of criminals to my house,

well yell inside as I could outside. My dad wasn’t home yet and Olly

dad chose this inopportune moment to show up. A bleeding boy in

sat him on my bed, drew my blackout curtains close, and then switched on the lights.

off his authentic leather boots -I couldn’t help noticing, sue me- before sitting him down more comfortably, with

ordered before heading downstairs to get everything

I laid them at the foot of the bed before going back to lock my room door just in case. Olly could suddenly wake up and need something from

him, meeting his

I ordered.

sounded, especially given the fact that my

a sigh leaving his lips.

match this evening and

there, idiot.” I glared. “From

his face that weren’t

confusion coating his

this. If I’m going to risk my family’s and my safety, I think it’s only fair

almost immediately, reminding me

about holding out on me

butterflies as I took in

“Fine,” he breathed.

gestured for him to go on as I

I helped him get

That part had been too obvious. I hadn’t even felt that much of

generations. My grandmother handed the business down to my father not long after my older sister was born.”

a deep breath, his shoulders

my dad been evading taxes for years, he’s been cutting shady deals too. Also, we own an insurance company which he uses to skirt the law and swindle people out of their money. There were a bunch of other things too but the highest on the list was that he was suspected of being in bed with some drug network.” He stopped, hissing in pain as

be a devout follower of

had thought was a bullet wound was actually just a nasty graze from a chain-link fence apparently. The bleeding was completely out of proportion and I would have told to him to have himself checked for bleeding disorders at his earliest convenience but I didn’t want to

on,” I encouraged, keeping the knowledge that his arm would need stitches to myself

that got the FBI involved.” He heaved, exertion worsening his pallor. “I think. But they couldn’t pin anything on him. Not a single thing. My dad doesn’t just think he’s the smartest in the room. He usually is. He came out clean. He’s very good at skirting the law. There wasn’t a single shred of evidence to pin him down but

his Adam's apple bobbing up and