"HOW MUCH!"

Elicia:

Gulping down my food with a swig of coffee, patting at my mouth with the napkin before I began my monolog of my boring life with the fucked-up twist at the end.

“So, I was abandoned as an infant at a local firehouse outside of DeWalt Texas, which was annexed a few years back into Missouri City. Small quiet town, great people. Miss Clay, the head mistress of Guiding Light Orphanage took me in, named me, and supported me in anyway she could manage.” Taking another bite as Randi cleared his with a sip of coffee.

“You have no idea who your parents were?” Shaking my head no shoveling another bite into my mouth.

“So, Miss Clay named you?” He sounded amused like he silently understood my situation.

“Yep. Elicia DeWalt. No middle name and no relation to the Tool. Just the small town where I was abandoned nineteen years ago.” That megawatt smile sparking a power surge somewhere as he took another happy bite of his food.

“My childhood was normal except for my academic advancement being higher than normal. Not to mention my love of music and dance, which got me a full ride at one of the most prestigious Fine Arts schools in the world.” Cleaning my plate with the wheat toast as Randi finished off his with a satisfied sign.

“Okay, so where does Bain fit into your normal?” The question I dreaded the most.

“Summer of my senior year I was enjoying the baby grand in the auditorium during a break in my summer janitorial job. The sound of the piano cords revibrating off the tri-level balconies had this strange calming effect on me. So, surprise to me when Bain DeLois appeared clapping as I covered the piano back-up.” Nodding to Cindy as she refreshed our empty cups with a fresh brew of coffee, disappearing just a quickly as she had appeared.

“Okay, so far I know how you gained your name, the superior status of Miss Clay but no mentioning of friends just this Bain. What happened?” Randi cut through my generic explanation with a firm gaze as he sipped his coffee with a few noticeable puffs on the steamy liquid.

“Bain was the typical Bad Boy from a prominent family. He was funny, a drummer with the brightest amber eyes that would sparkle whenever he laughed, exposing his dimples which he always tried to hide with a straight face. The entire time he never noticed my existence but for some reason he noticed me that day in the auditorium playing Clair De Lune.”

“Miss Clay and Bailey, my only friend, always lectured me about Bain, but I didn’t listen because he made feel special. Miss Clay had allowed me to move into the studio apartment above the garage at sixteen because I was academically stable. She always called me a Talented Soul, so the apartment became my safe place. I went to my apartment to surprise Bain with my International scholarship, which I had known about for weeks. Secretly packing our bags, hiding them in the front closet.” Pausing as that strange heat swirled in my stomach as the tears pushed violently to break free but I couldn’t let Randi see me vulnerable, steadying my next breath.

“Spill.” Randi leaned against the table with a strange expression.

“I stood in my doorway shocked, disgusted, hurt deeply as Krystal moaned loudly with her legs wrapped around Bain’s hips.” Stopped abruptly by a guttural snarl as Randi turned a dark crimson, shaking in anger as I tried to figure out what the hell caused that sound.

“He was fucking another bitch in your home on your bed?” He managed to growl out with a shaky breath behind clenched teeth.

“Yep. Then he had the nerve to chase after me in the jeans I had bought him, slapping him forcefully telling him to Enjoy then taking off in the Lyft to the airport.” Laughing darkly ay the sound of my palm connecting to that tight jawline and the satisfying stinging burn that lingered until boarding the plane.

“E, I-I don’t know what to say. Seriously, from the little time we have spent together you seem so carefree and lively like a butterfly dancing through the wind.” Randi seemed conflicted as he spoke with a hurt tone, reaching for my hand that twirled the cup against the tabletop absentmindedly.

“Hey! New Life, New Me. Right? Plus, I would have never had the best night of my life if it weren’t for you.” Squeezing his hand back as his scowl turned upright into a bright smile.

Squealing in shock as he pulled me from the booth, dropping at least fifty dollars equivalent in British pounds as he darted outside unlocking his car.

“Change in plans.” He laughed brightly as we pulled out into traffic.

“You said the school provided an apartment, right?” He looked at me with a tilted smirk, dropping the gears with a swiftness as we raced through the busy streets, approaching the address of the apartment provided from the school.

“Yeah, why?” Looking at him confused as he pressed the call button on his steering wheel. Ding.

“Call, Elias.” Randi commanded as he pulled out front the apartment I would be staying in during school.

“Hello?” A deep, husky voice spoke through the car speakers, sparking a strange fluttering in my heart as I listened to the call looking out at the cute apartment front with a little café on the ground level.

“Hey, quick question: If a school pays for housing can the student make other arrangements for housing and refund the extra expense?” Randi spoke with a chipper tone, snapping my head towards a super megawatt smile as the lightbulb clicked on.

“Randi, no. I couldn’t do that to you.” Grabbing his forearm with pleading eyes.

“Relax E. I travel a lot and my house sits empty most of the time, plus you need a safe place, and the city is great and all, but I would feel better knowing you were at my house.” Randi’s smile melted the last barrier as hot, ugly tears rolled down my cheeks.

“Excuse me?” The deep husky voice asked in an angry, amused tone as a few audible coughs rang out from the background.

“Elias, Elicia, Elicia, Elias. He’s a family friend and he own’s Club S with his three brothers.” Randi tapped his finger nervously against his steering wheel, looking out his window at the apartment front.

“Nice to speak with you.” I replied softly, feeling the fluttering grow in intensity.

Why am I so nervous?

“Pleasure is all mine.” Elias spoke with a soft purr to his words, igniting a heavy heat to pool in my stomach, fidgeting with my fingers as Randi smiled at my bashfulness.

“Don’t forget us!” Another husky voice called from the background, snapping my eyes to a humorous Randi shaking his head with a sly smile.

“H-Hi.” Laughing nervously as a jumbled slur of incoherent words sounded through the speakers as Elias cleared his throat.

“Back to your question, yes. If Elicia agrees to stay at your house, then the money allotted for the apartment will be returned with no issue. Has she taken possession of the apartment?” Elias spoke lightly as it sounded like he was dialing someone on the other end.

“No, we’re sitting outside of it as we speak.” Answering the question for myself because this was my decision to make, no one else’s.

“What’s the name reserved under for the apartment?” Elias asked with a click of a pen.

“Elicia DeWalt like the Tool brand. No relation.” Laughing back as my head plopped against the cool black leather head rest.

Randi chuckled with a shit eating grin.

“Yes, I need to speak with whoever oversees housing… Yes, I’ll wait… Elias Nightshade speaking.” His voice sounded confident and firm but calm and reassuring.

“Mr. Kinney, good to speak with you… The reason I am calling is a new student, Elicia DeWalt wants to change her housing agreement and relinquish the apartment provided by the school… Yes, and the funds will be transferred over to her account, correct? Good, Thank you Mr. Kinney… Good Day to you also. Click.” The sound of the receiver clanked hollowly through the speakers as the incoherent bantering resumed in the background.

“Okay. You’re all set. The apartment was funded under a private account but with strict instructions to place any remaining money into an account set-up under Elicia DeWalt at the Lloyds Bank. I’m sending Randi a text with the account information as we speak.” He sounded excited to be helping a compete stranger, which made the heat grow hotter in my stomach as Randi coughed into his fist with a perked brow showing me the text of the account balance.

“HOW MUCH!!!” Shouting in shock at the one, two, three…six zeros that followed behind the twelve.

“It’s roughly nine million in pounds.” Another husky voice chirped in happily as my head became light and the rainy London city began to look like watercolors.

“Randi, I don’t feel so good.” Holding my chest as my heart drummed violently against my chest, gasping for breath as the sound of stampeding feet grew louder in the speakers.

“Elicia, deep breaths, girly.” Randi cupped my face in his palms, breathing deeply with me as my vision grew fuzzy.

“Randi, what’s wrong?” A fourth voice spoke from the others as my stomach tossed violently, gripping the door handle in time as my breakfast came back up with a fury.

“Panic Attack.” Randi spoke calmly as his hot palm rubbed soothing circles along my back, while his other held my hair back as my stomach heaved the remaining contents onto the rainy curbside.

“Take her home. We’ll check in later.” Elias spoke with a concerned tone as the phone beeped off.

Sitting back, wiping my mouth with a napkin as Randi pulled back out into traffic, navigating the streets a little calmer to not upset my already swirling stomach.

“Who would provide that much money?” Asking no one in particular.

“Don’t worry about it right now. Let’s get you home so you can rest.” He laughed lightly as we headed home which sounded weird but reassuring in a strange way.

Closing my eyes as the soft hum of the engine eased me into a soft sleep.