A PRESENT TO REMEMBER

"Oh my God, Eric what happened to your face?"

I stood staring at him with a broken nose and lips standing in my sitting room.

I waited for him to come back but time was getting late so I had to leave since Mrs Cromwell was there to take care of Brianna.

I didn't expect to see Eric at my house left alone with his nose and lips bleeding. I rushed upstairs and grabbed a first aid kit.

I walked up to him and dragged him to the couch making him sit while I tended to his wounds. He wasn't saying anything and I decided not to ask him anymore questions.

It looked like he got into a fight with Dax. I wonder what happened between them that they had to fight. Is Dax even okay?

"You knew right?" He asked, finally saying something to me after minutes of silence.

"Know what?"

"That something was going on between Dax and Brianna"

"Did Dax tell you that or you just suspected it and concluded it by yourself?"

"It was obvious Gia" there was anger present in her voice.

"Then why don't you state if I knew or not, since everything is obvious"

"That's not what I meant"

"I don't care Eric but you were not supposed to fight with him"

"He was at the club wasting his life with drinks and having fun with girls. Gia my sister is in that condition because of him, I know he tried to save her and keep her safe but I just can't take it anymore.

Dax offered to help me protect her not the other way around" I know he was angry but fighting Dax was a wrong move.

"Brianna is not that dumb you know. She is the only one that knows the kind of relationship she had with Dax but I don't think there is something serious between the both of them.

The few times she told me about Dax the Only words that was leaving her mouth was, he is jerk, I hate him, I didn't slap him too hard. I have never heard something postive from her"

"I know Brianna is not dumb, is not her that I don't trust but Dax. Dax thinks women are just created to eat money and then satisfy men in bed.

Having to see his mother leave at a tender age affected him and he is now robbing it off on every lady he finds interesting. He just use you and pay you off" Eric said sighing in frustration.

"Well those ladies he is paying off for sex didn't say no to his money did they? Don't get me wrong am not supporting Dax but he didn't force himself on those ladies. Whatever they did was of their own will, he didn't force them so I don't blame him for thinking that way"

"But everyone is not the same, why let the innocent ones be affected by this?"

"I do know Dax is a complete jerk but did you bother asking him why he was at the club at that minute?"

"Why should I ask him when he was busy having fun"

"That is the problem Eric, you should have asked him and also give him the grace to speak"

"I really don't care anymore our friendship is over and I don't also want him anywhere close to Brianna"

"That is not your decision to make Eric. I think you should leave everything to Brianna to decide" I told him before I covered his wounds and left to drop the first aid kit.

"Will you like something to eat?" I asked him when I returned.

"No, maybe next time, tonight I don't have appetite to eat anything at the moment. I will see you tomorrow at school"

He got up and left. I have never seen Eric this angry before. Am going to kill Dax tomorrow if he doesn't have any reason on why he fought with Eric.

I waited patiently until the next day to meet Dax and when I finally have him standing right in front of me I just couldn't say anything.

He looked worst than Eric, he has a swollen eyes and a broken lips. Did Eric really did this to Dax?

"Start talking, what happened? What where you doing in a club when you are supposed to be at the hospital?" I asked him with anger boiling inside me.

"Am sorry Gia"

"You are sorry? Well if you don't know your sorry will not change what happened and it won't wake Brianna up!"

"I know, that was the reason I went to the club. I was miserable Gia. The guilt is just killing me, I can't even stay to take full responsibility for what I have done"

"What do you mean by that? Are you going somewhere?"

"My Dad called, he wants me to move to Europe" I was shocked, his leaving. There is no way he can just leave.

"But you can't leave"

"I know but this might involve Brianna's safety. It seems that putting Jake behind bars wouldn't stop him"

"Am still confused clear me up"

"Jake now has his own Army, and I think he might have sent them after me. My dad will never rush me to leave if he didn't think it was dangerous"

"Then what about Brianna, you can't just leave?"

"Me leaving is the only way she can remain safe. Jake will also be going with me since the trials will be there. I made sure they excluded Brianna out of this but Jake will still pay for his crimes"

"I can't believe this"

"Am sorry Gia, but leaving might be the best option. Eric was right I shouldn't have come into her life.

I can't believe I almost forgot my position at a time"

"What do you mean?" He keeps on speaking in a way that confuses me the more.

"It doesn't matter, I can't even see her anymore. Eric said I should stay off. I want you to give this to Brianna, I was going to give her this but we had a fight and she left.

That was the last time l saw her before the incident" he said giving me a Small gift bag.

"Am not taking that from you. If you bought something for her then wait till wakes up then you can give it to her yourself"

"But I can't see her. I don't want to fight with Eric anymore"

"Did Eric did these to you?" I asked referring to the his swollen eyes and broken lips.

"No he didn't, I kind of got into another fight with some street boys and they gave me a nice beating"

It was then I started noticing the bruises on his hands, face, neck. I walked up to him and grabbed his shirt raising it up.

Just like I thought, his skin was also covered in buries. They really dealt with him.

"You should really go and see a doctor. I wanted to know why you fought with Eric but seeing that you are in the worst situation is leaving me speechless"

"I didn't mean to fight Eric, I was drunk and wasted. It was a mistake I tried to correct but Eric won't talk to me, he wants me to stay off"

"I guess you should, since is too obvious he doesn't want you around her. I will let you know if she wakes up. When are you leaving?"

"I have less than a month"

"That should be until the end of the semester. I will see around"

"Thank you Gia, for hearing me out and also tell Eric am sorry. I will be waiting for him so we can talk"

"I will try to convince him to come see you, I have to go"

Eric's POV

I watched as she leave. I wish I could change everything but I can't. The only thing I can do is make up with everyone I have wronged before I leave.

I can't make more enemies for myself. Having to leave was Killing me inside. The pain is more than the physical pain am having right now.

I wonder if this was how my dad felt when my mother left. But I was the one leaving to start yet another annoying life. Am nothing but a coward.

I don't even think I can face her. Looking at the small present I got for her just before her birthday, I didn't know what to do. I went to her locker and kept it there.

I was going to ask her out that night. For once I wanted to date and give love a chance, but love is not for me. This is going to be a gift to remember.