Broken Bad Boy

PERCIE

"Hey." I gave Hailey the brightest smile that I could master. I didn't want this moment to be awkward. Judging by the look on her face, she was shocked to see me with Remy, and she wasn't entirely pleased. "Hey." Her expression remained confused.

"Hungry?" I kissed her nose. "I know you have a lot of questions. I'll explain later."

"I'm starving." Remy broke the tension, rubbing his abdomen.

Hailey's brows knitted even more in confusion, giving a what-the-hell-is-going-on look.

"Let's find a place then," I suggested.

"I know just the right place," Remy replied.

"Of course, you do." Victoria snorted.

"That's Victoria," I introduced her to Remy even if she was crossing her arms over her chest, narrowing at him.

"The not-so-friendly-for-someone-like-you. What's your hidden agenda this time?" She lifted her chin, and so as her brow.

Remy shook his head. "None."

"I don't believe a single word you said."

"That's good then that it is just a word." Remy smiled as he noticed Victoria wasn't a friend at all. "Do you have a nickname, Victoria?"

"It's Queen for you," she emphasized the word queen.

I tried to contain my smile. "Your friend is something," I whispered to Hailey, wrapped in arms.

"She is."

"I bet my fifty bucks they will get along in less than a week."

"Don't even try. You don't know Victoria at all."

"We'll see about that." I was confident I would win.

"Enough of this awkward situation and tension. It's suffocating. Let's eat. I'm famished. Remy Larkin, your treat." Megan grabbed Victoria and walked away.

"Follow me. It's okay with you, Hailey?" Remy seemed sincere as he asked my girlfriend.

Hailey just gave him a quick nod.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

***

Remy chose the place. It's a Bistro just near the campus.

"You always come here with F5?" I asked Remy, sitting to my right. Victoria and Megan were across from us. Hailey hadn't said a word throughout the ride. "No."

"With your girlfriends then?"

Remy stared at Victoria. "What made you say I have a girlfriend?"

"You and your goons always have girls snaking around you like poison ivy."

Remy laughed. I even joined him. "What a good metaphor you have, Queen. But to answer your curiosity, I don't have girlfriends. Well, for almost a year now. And honestly, I haven't moved on if that's what you wanna know." I watched Hailey's reaction. There was a slight surprise reflected in her eyes. I wasn't a jealous person, but I felt a squeeze in my chest.

"Well, you have fallen so madly in love with her. I thought you and goons have this pact not to fall for girls or pretend not to have hearts. What happened?"

"She died."

An involuntary gasp of shock escaped from the girls, including Hailey.

"Oh, my god! I'm sorry," it came from Hailey.

"Thanks." He smiled timidly at her.

Our order finally arrived, breaking the silence on the table.

"Dig up. Don't worry. I don't a have no plan on poisoning you, Queen."

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"Just me? That's marvelous and terrifying at the same time," Victoria replied. "But this smells good. At least, I'm full before I die."

"No one is dying today," Megan said.

I looked at Hailey beside me, squeezing her knee under the table. "You haven't said anything since you saw me with Remy. It's bothering me."

She lifted her gaze at me. "If this is what you thought is the right thing to do."

"How about you? What do you think about this?" I needed her honest opinion, and I still wanted her approval. As much as I wanted to consider Remy as a friend, if Hailey was not on board, I had to prove to her that Remy had good intentions. "It's a little bit overwhelming, but I could get used to him being around."

"Thanks. It means a lot to me, Lee."

"What changed?" She started eating.

"I'll tell you later."

"Okay."

"Is the menu meet your taste, Megan?" Remy asked.

"Yeah. It's good, actually."

"Good to know."

"Why'd you ask?"

"An honest review from valued customers means a lot to me."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "You own this place? Sorry for the word, sweetheart, but fuck me."

"Very original, huh?"

"Roninstory, seriously? Who gives a bistro name like that?"

"It's not my idea, but don't lie. There's a ring to it, right, Hailey?"

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"It sounds like an old Japanese book, but the menu is more on Italian food."

"Ronin is his middle name, Lee."

"Oh, sorry." She wiped her lips.

"My mom is half-Japanese."

"I see," Victoria ventured. "Do you own a sword?"

"I played fencing."

"Of course, you do." Here was the sarcasm again, but I enjoyed having them around.

Amused, Hailey reacted, "What's your deal with Remy, Victoria?"

"He seems to have a lot of talents and skills. That's all. He played balls, as well. Do you know that? I don't know what else he enjoys playing."

"I should be offended, Victoria, but I let it pass since my reputation precedes me. I can't go back in time and change what I did, but I intend to prove to Matthews that I'm not that person I was yesterday. You may see me as this bully, feared, and overconfident, but what people didn't see is what I feel deep inside, who I truly am behind this facade. I struggled to find my identity, deal with my grief, and I don't have real friends. Unlike you, guys. Deep inside, you all are way better than me and have a life better than."

"I'm so sorry, Remy. We all deal with our issues and grievances differently," Hailey muttered.

"I'm an asshole, and it pains me to admit my mistakes when all people see in me is the almighty Larkin."

"I don't see you as the almighty, Larkin. But you're right on one thing, though. You're an asshole."

"Jeez. Thanks for the boost of confidence, man."

"Everyone has hiccups once in a while, but doesn't give us the right to seek harm to others and act as if they are better than us," Megan spoke up.

"You're right. I'll make this right," Remy declared with a deep sigh of realization.

"You haven't apologized to Hailey."

Our attention diverted to Lexie in the aisle, still glaring at Remy.