"Where did you get these?"I demand, my voice barely above a whisper.Charlotte's smile widens.
"Oh, I have my ways.And that's not all."She pulls out her phone and plays a recording.Cole's breathy moans fill the air, along with my own muffled moans.I feel the blood drain from my face.
"What do you want?"I ask in a choked whisper.
"I want to help you.What you're doing with that boy is a sickness Caleb."Charlotte says, "So what you're going to do is break things off with him."
I cross my arms over my chest.“If I don't?”
She smirks.“Caleb if you don’t I will be forced to splash these photos all over the front page.You know what they do to people like him in this town.Think of him, his poor Mother, they would have to flee, that is if he survived…”
“Okay, Okay I get it.”I interrupt her.The terrifying truth is she's right, Cole would be in danger if this got out.I know I would.I could lose everything but that doesn’t matter near as much as Cole’s safety.“I’ll break things off with Cole on one condition.”
Charlotte's brow quirks, “I’m listening.”
“After that, you do not involve him in anything else.Don't touch him, don't talk to him, nothing.”
“Agreed but...”She says, stepping closer to me, “I have my own condition, you can’t have any contact with him in any way ever again.”She states firmly.“And…You answer to me, when I text, when I call.No matter what I ask for.”This feels like signing a deal with the Devil, but I nod, Cole’s safety has to come first.
She backs me into the wall, her claws dancing up my chest as she leans in close, her cloying perfume suffocating me.Her voice drops low and sultry.“I can fix the damage he's done Caleb.”Her breath brushes my lips.“I’ll even let you call me Daddy.”
She forcefully smashes her lips to mine, seeking entry as she reaches down to grope my flaccid cock.I recoil from her, pushing her back.“Stop it…” I rasp.
She takes a step back running her pointer finger and thumb over her lips.“Okay Caleb, for now I’ll let you grieve your little toy but I’ll be waiting and I’m not a patient woman.”She says breathlessly as she retrieves her purse and walks out the door.
I slid down the wall until my ass hits the floor holding my face with my palms.Everything is so fucked up and its all my fault.
THE FOLLOWING DAY, as I sit at my desk, it dawns on me that Cole never made an appearance at all, the better I suppose I was a mess after Charlotte left.Hopefully he got some sleep and is feeling better.
Thinking of Charlotte reminds me of what I have to do today and it fills me with a dread and pain so sharp I can barely stand it; he deserves so much more than this but I hope one day he'll understand that I did it all for him.
Suddenly, the door to my office bursts open, startling me from my thoughts.Cole storms in, his face a mask of fury and hurt.His usually vibrant green eyes are bloodshot with hints of that yellow tint beneath giving them a monstrous appearance.His hair disheveled and his once snugly fitting clothes dangle off his body rumpled and stained.There are dark circles marring his under eyes, and the yellow hue on his skin seems brighter.
He sways as if he is drunk.“Fuck you!”He screams when I get up to walk towards him.“Don't you fucking dare come near me, Caleb.You are a liar.”He says pointing at me and backing away.I am stunned, what is wrong with him?
“Cole, I…” I try, “No, fuck you, I don't want to hear another word from your lying, beautiful mouth.”He chokes with a sob.I try to go to him but he stops me with his hand out.“If you fucking touch me, I'll turn you in for assault.”I can't fathom what is happening right now.I feel dizzy and sick from the venom he is spewing.
“I saw you with Charlotte last night, you piece of lying cheating shit!I hope you had fun fucking her because we are done!”He screams.
“Cole, it's not like that.”I plead.
“I know what I saw, do you think I’m fucking blind Caleb!?Stay the fuck away from me, you goddamned bastard.”He turns, staggering out of my office.
My hands instinctively reach up to run through my hair.What the hell just happened?Maybe it's better to let him think he's right.If he hates me, at least he'll stay away.My heart is breaking in my chest at the thought of him hating me.My sweet Angel is now a mess of burning anger and pain that I caused, and the pain in his eyes will haunt me forever.But at least he's safe, my mind repeats over and over again.As long as he's safe, nothing else matters.
A loud thud echoes down the hallway.My heart leaps into my throat as I rush to the door.Cole is lying motionless on the floor.I sprint down to the hallway and drop to my knees beside him, pulling him into my lap and gently cradling him.
"Cole!Can you hear me?"I gently tap his cheek, hoping to wake him up.His skin feels like it's on fire.Panic sets in as I reach for my phone, my fingers trembling as I dial 911.
“911 what’s your emergency.”The dispatcher answers.
"I need an ambulance," I tell the dispatcher, my voice cracking."St.Mary's Church.It's my...my friend.He's collapsed and he's burning up."
The dispatcher assures me help is on the way.I hold Cole's limp body as I wait for the ambulance, my heart pounding wildly in my chest.His breathing is shallow and ragged.I brush damp hair from his forehead, feeling the heat radiating off his skin."Please be okay," I whisper, tears threatening to spill over.
The wail of sirens pierces the air.Paramedics burst through the doors, their voices echoing in the hallway.They gently but firmly push me aside, their practiced hands moving over Cole's body.I watch helplessly as they load him onto a stretcher, an oxygen mask obscuring his beautiful face.
I relay Cole's symptoms as best I can while they load him onto a stretcher.As they wheel him out, one of the EMTs turns to me."We're taking him to St.Joseph's.You can follow us there."I nod numbly, watching as they load Cole into the ambulance.The doors slam shut and they speed away, leaving me standing alone in the empty Church parking lot.My hands are shaking as I fumble for my car keys.
