Prologue #2
TJ reminded me a lot of my brother and Rex.
He played football, was the golden boy on campus, and had huge dreams. The difference was he didn’t have any specific degree in mind and was only going to school because it gave him better odds of being seen by scouts and getting a better position in the draft.
TJ’s dream was to play ball professionally and it was all he worked towards.
He never studied or did homework, spending all of his time working out, practicing with his teammates, and making phone calls.
Every thought revolved around football and I spent more time on the field than anywhere else on campus.
Things between TJ and me moved fast after that first run in.
He seemed to show up everywhere I was including a few of my classes.
At first he was kind, attentive, and never let anyone get too close to me.
I went to all of his games and wore his jersey.
Something he wanted me to do even though it broke my heart because previously I’d only ever worn my brother’s or Rex’ jersey to their games.
Part of me felt as if I were betraying the two of them by wearing TJ’s jersey and I couldn’t shake the feeling.
It only took him two months for me to catch him cheating on me the first time. I still remember it as if it happened yesterday.
Walking into the frat house on my own always makes me feel a little nervous and as if I’m missing my brother and Elara even more than normal.
Neither one of them would have ever let me walk into a party on my own.
The only reason I even showed up tonight is because TJ begged me after his game.
The second he came out of the locker room, he placed his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side before mentioning the party and giving me that puppy dog look he’s perfected.
With a deep sigh, I gave in but told him I’d meet him there because I wanted to get rid of my bag and change.
TJ kissed me before leaving with his friends as they all celebrated their latest win knowing scouts were in the stands watching them all play.
I scan the crowded room filled with thick smoke from cigarettes and the joints being passed around as the music blares so loud the entire house seems to vibrate.
Large groups of people stand around while a section of the living room has been transformed into a dance floor.
Couples grind against one another as they continue drinking and smoking like no one else is around them.
The football team seems to be in two sections.
One surrounds the beer pong table while the other group stands in the kitchen as if they’re guarding the alcohol so no one can take it from them. There’s no sign of TJ anywhere.
It takes longer than normal to wander through the first level of the frat house.
TJ is nowhere to be found including outback where a bonfire is blazing to ward off the chill in the air.
A game of spin the bottle is being played and everyone is lost in their own world.
A few people greet me, but they won’t meet my eyes.
That’s when the feeling of dread starts to fill me and I head back inside.
“Taleah, when did you get here?” Mason asks, walking up to me from the kitchen with a drink in hand.
“I’ve been here for a little bit. Have you seen TJ?” I ask him since he’s TJ’s best friend and always knows where he is.
“Why don’t you come to the beer pong table with me,” he says instead of answering the question and I know whatever I’m about to find isn’t going to be good.
Ignoring Mason, I head for the stairs and make my way up to the second floor past couples who don’t have a room here and are choosing to make out on the stairs.
My steps are slow as I get to the top of the stairs and look straight down the hall where TJ’s door sits closed.
I hear the unmistakable moans coming from behind closed doors as I make my way toward the room I’ve been in countless times.
Instead of knocking, I simply open it when I finally stop in front of his room.
The sight that greets me is enough to shatter my heart as tears well in my eyes and I fight to hold them off.
“You beg me to come here and this is where I find out?” I say, my voice strong and calm despite the pain filling me.
TJ is laying on his back in the same bed I’ve been in countless times since we started going out.
He’s naked and I can clearly see the tattoos on his chest as a blonde rides him.
She’s moaning so loud porn stars would be proud.
Honestly, TJ doesn’t have a big dick and he’s not that good so I know she’s faking it.
TJ is gripping her hips so hard his fingers are white as she throws her head back and her hair drags along his thighs.
“So fucking good,” TJ groans out, his voice hoarse as if he hasn’t heard me and is solely focused on the girl fucking him.
“Who’s better? Taleah or me?” the blonde bimbo questions him, her voice grating on my nerves as I grab his football from the desk right inside his door.
“You. Taleah’s like a dead fish,” he says and that’s when I release the football and hit his hand on the skank’s hip.
“A dead fish? Honey, if you knew what to do with your limp dick, I wouldn’t just lay there and pretend it feels good.
I have to get myself off every fucking time I’m with you.
Honey, you need better acting skills. TJ isn’t good enough for you to be shrieking like a damn banshee,” I state, my voice hard and cold now as TJ throws the girl off him and stands from the bed completely naked.
“This isn’t what it looks like, Tally,” he says, with no remorse on his face as he takes a step toward me before I hold up my hand to stop him.
“Really? I literally caught you getting fucked by a sorority bimbo in your bed, TJ. And just so you know, he can’t stand sorority girls.
Says you're all a bunch of clueless bimbos who are only here to sink your claws into a rich guy to become a trophy wife. I’m not the only person he’s said that to.
And you could really use some lessons on faking it when you’re with a guy who does nothing for you.
TJ’s dick isn’t big enough to warrant what I heard when I walked in here.
And he sure as hell isn’t good enough for screams that loud.
You honestly sound like a banshee instead of someone sexy,” I say before turning my gaze back to TJ and holding my hand up to stop him from walking closer to me.
“We’re done. Don’t contact me and stay away from me on campus.
I’m not about to be cheated on by some asshole who compares me to a dead fish because he does nothing for me. ”
“You can’t be serious, Tally. I’m drunk and fucked up. That doesn’t mean you should end our entire relationship,” he says, giving me that same puppy dog look that does absolutely nothing for me this time.
“I am ending our relationship, TJ. I deserve better than you’ve ever given me and I know what I’m worth. I’m not some stupid bitch who will take any pathetic piece of shit who gives her attention to be my man,” I tell him before turning and leaving the room and frat house.
I listen as TJ yells my name before he manages to put something on to run after me.
Yeah, he chased after me that night and never caught up to me.
I was out of the frat house and in my car before he could even put his pants on.
I wish I could say that was the end of my relationship with TJ, but it wasn’t.
I’m the dumbass who chose to take him back and was with him when he lost everything.
That’s when things between us turned worse than I thought it would ever get.
“Bhodi, I have to go now. I’ve got to go to work so I can make money.
I’ve put plans in place to prevent TJ from getting my money.
Including the inheritance in my name. He’s not happy about it, but can’t do anything to change the situation,” I say, pressing my fingers against my lips before pressing them against the cool stone in front of me.
“I love and miss you to the moon and back. I’ll be back in a few days, Big Brother. ”
Standing from my seat on the grass, I brush off my jeans and give the headstone one last look before I turn and walk toward the parking lot where Bhodi’s motorcycle is parked.
Rex and him got motorcycles on the same day.
My brother got a Suzuki Hayabusa and had it wrapped in all black.
There isn’t a speck of color on the bike.
I’ve kept it all the same and ride it daily unless it’s raining out.
Rex got a Ducati Panigale V4 that he wrapped completely red with no other color on the bike.
His wrap is custom with skulls on the tank and his rims are also red.
I’m not sure if he still has the bike and tell myself I don’t give a shit if he does or doesn’t.
It’s not like I was ever on the bike with him.
Heading for the parking lot, it takes me a little bit to walk the distance.
We buried Bhodi toward the back of the cemetery under a large tree.
He always loved nature and where he’s buried is perfect.
It’s not only under the large tree, but there’s a clear view of the sky and woods are a short distance behind his grave.
Animals are constantly wandering out of the tree line.
We talked about putting a bench there, but my parents decided not to.
I won’t go against them so I sit on the ground whenever I come up here.
I wipe my tears away as I finally get to Bhodi’s bike and know I’ll have to redo my make-up once I get to work.
Today is going to be a very long day. They always are when I’ve been here to see my brother.
Still, I won’t ever stop coming here because I know I’m the only one who visits Bhodi’s final resting place.
My parents haven’t come here since the day he was buried and Rex has never stepped foot here.
Including the day Bhodi was buried. That’s the same day my heart turned to ice and I vowed to hate Rex for the rest of my life.