My phone rang. I glanced at the screen and saw Ace's name flashing. I hesitated, unsure whether to answer it or not. I decided to ignore it, thinking it was best to give him the cold shoulder.
But Ace wasn't one to give up easily. He called again, and this time, I picked up, my heart racing with anticipation.
"Hello?" I said, trying to sound calm.
Ace's voice was smooth, like honey. "Sharon, where are you ."
I didn't answer just kept mute...
"Come back Pookie, we need to talk"
I was taken aback, my mind racing with thoughts. "What? No, Ace. I'm not coming back."
Ace's tone changed, becoming more persuasive. "Come on, Sharon. You don't get to decide that now, do you?."
I felt a surge of anger, remembering the way he had treated me earlier. "No, Ace. I'm done. Leave me alone... And maybe it is for the best that we are done for good"
Just as I was about to hang up, Zion snatched the phone from my hand, his eyes flashing with anger.
"Hey, Ace," Zion said, his voice firm.
Ace's voice came through the phone, sounding irritated. " what's going on? Give the phone back to Sharon."
Zion's tone was cold, his words dripping with warning. "No, Ace. Sharon's done with you. Leave her alone, or you'll have to deal with me."
Ace laughed, a menacing sound. "Give Sharon the phone, I have no time exchanging words with someone like you ."
Zion's voice was steady, his words laced with threat. "I'm not playing, Ace. I'm warning you. Leave Sharon alone, or you'll regret it."
There was a pause, and then Ace said, "Give her the phone, don't be the one regretting ."
Zion smiled, a cold glint in his eye. "I'm shaking in my boots, Ace."
I was about to take the phone from back but Zion hung up, his eyes resting on me.
As we drove, I couldn't help but think about what had just happened. Ace's words, Zion's warning... it all swirled together in my mind, making me feel like I was walking on thin ice.
Zion's voice broke the silence, his tone gentle. "You okay, Sharon?"
I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. "Yeah, I'm fine."
Zion's eyes flicked to mine, his gaze piercing. "You don't have to be scared, Sharon. I've got your back."
I smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards him. "Thanks, Zee."
The car ride home was quiet again, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was like we both knew that words weren't necessary, that sometimes, just being there for someone is enough.
As we pulled up to my apartment, Zion turned to me, his eyes serious. "I'll walk you up."
As we walked to the door, it swung open, and Maxie stepped out, looking concerned. "Hey, guys! What's going on?"
Zion nodded at Maxie. "I asked Maxie to come stay with you tonight. I was worried about you, Sharon."
Maxie's eyes widened, and she rushed to hug me tight. "Oh, Sharon! Are you okay?"
I nodded, my voice muffled against Maxie's shoulder. "Yeah... I'm fine."
Maxie pulled back, her eyes searching my face. "What happened?"
I shook my head, and Zion intervened. "We'll talk about it later, Maxie. Just keep an eye on her, okay?"
Maxie nodded, her expression fierce. "You bet I will."
Zion turned to me, his eyes serious. "I'll check in with you tomorrow, okay?"
I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards him. "Thanks, Zee."
With that, Zion turned and left, leaving me and Maxie to our quiet moment together.
As we walked into the apartment, I let out a deep breath, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. Maxie followed me, her eyes still searching my face.
"Okay, spill the tea, Sharon," Maxie said, plopping down on the couch. "What's going on?"
I sat down beside her, trying to gather my thoughts. "It's Ace, Maxie. He's been acting crazy, and I don't know what to do."
Maxie's expression darkened. "What did he do?"
I filled her in on everything that had happened, from Ace's erratic behavior to Zion's warning. Maxie's eyes widened, her anger growing with each passing minute.
"That bastard," Maxie muttered, her voice low and venomous. "I'm going to kill him, Sharon. I swear, I'm going to kill him."
I reached out, putting a hand on her arm. "Maxie, calm down. It's okay. Zion's got my back, and you're here with me now."
Maxie's gaze snapped to mine, her eyes flashing with anger. "You're not going back to him, Sharon. You're done with him, okay?"
I nodded, feeling a sense of determination wash over me. "I'm done, Maxie.It was supposed to be a non-emotional compliance, I am to be blamed after all but I promise it's over now."
Maxie's eyes clouded over, and she looked away, her voice barely above a whisper. "Sharon, I have something to tell you and please don't be too upset with me."
I turned to her, curious. "What do you mean?"
Maxie took a deep breath, and her eyes snapped back to mine. " My relationship with Jake was toxic and abusive Shar".
I felt a pang of surprise, and my heart went out to Maxie. "What happened?"
Maxie's expression hardened, her jaw clenched. "He abused me, Sharon. Emotionally, physically... it was a mess."
I gasped, feeling a surge of anger and sympathy for my friend. " When you say abused... Do you mean he hit you?" I asked, my blood boiling
Maxie nodded, her eyes flashing with determination. "It's okay, Sharon. I'm okay now. "
I felt more anger as Maxie spoke, my eyes narrowing. "Maxie, why didn't you tell me about Jake? Why did you keep it to yourself all this time?"
Maxie's eyes widened, and she looked taken aback by my reaction. "Sharon, I... I didn't want to burden you with my problems."
I shook my head, my anger growing. "Burden me? Maxie, we're best friends! You're supposed to trust me with your secrets, with your pain. Why did you keep this from me?"
Maxie's expression softened, and she reached out to me. "Sharon, I'm sorry. I was ashamed, okay? I didn't want you to see me as weak."
I pulled away, my anger still simmering. "Ashamed? Maxie, you're not weak. You're one of the strongest people I know. And I'm hurt that you didn't trust me enough to tell me about this."
Maxie looked down, her eyes shining with tears. "I'm sorry, Sharon. I was wrong to keep it from you."
I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "I understand why you did it, Maxie. But promise me that you'll never keep something like this from me again, okay?"
Maxie nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "I promise, Sharon. I'm sorry again."
I hugged her tight, my anger slowly giving way to empathy. "It's okay, Maxie. I'm here for you, and I'll always be here for you."
She smiled...
"When Marcus get's to hear this it's over for Jake... He better pray I don't find him anywhere "
Maxie pulled away immediately"no don't tell Marcus "
I pulled her back in for a hug "of course I will"
Jake was never going off the track, as well as Aec...
I was about to take the phone back but Zion hung up the phone, his eyes never leaving miney