Part 4
I could hear Paul running behind me, calling my name, trying to catch up. But I didn't turn around; I just kept going, trying to find an exit. It wasn't that I was angry at Paul - it was Tim I wanted to smash to pieces. But the sight, even the thought of Paul's lips meeting those of someone else, particularly Tim, send me into a rage.
Paul reached me and grabbed me, gently spinning me around. "Rich, hold on! I didn't kiss him, he kissed me!"
"I know that!" I couldn't help but yell, the anger was intense.
"Then why are you angry with me?"
"It's not you i'm angry with," I balled my hands into fists, "it's that son of a bitch Tim! He told me he didn't care about you anymore, the fuckin' lying bastard!"
"I know, he lied to me too." Paul's voice decreased in volume. "But he's also drunk, he probably didn't know what he was doing."
"Oh, he knew exactly what he was doing!" I shouted, pointing in the direction of the bathroom where the scene took place. "He's been waiting and scheming to move in on you!"
"Even so, he can't and never will have me! Rich, I love you so much, you know that. I don't want him. I've never thought of him romantically."
"But you fucked him, didn't you?" I raised my eyebrows.
"You know how I was back then - i'd fuck anything."
"Except me."
"I fucked him, but I make love to you. It was just sex - there was never anything else there." We were both speaking at a quieter volume at this point. "Rich, since we started this relationship, there hasn't been anyone else but you. I've changed from the Village Bicycle I once was."
"The Village Bicycle?"
"Everyone's had a ride."
I giggled at his joke, which eased the tension. Paul smiled and cupped my face in his hands. I felt his warmth flowing from his hands through my entire body, washing my anger away. He always had that power to take away all the pain from me.
"What i'm trying to say, sweetie, is that you've changed me. I didn't like who I was back then. I didn't think i'd ever be able to find someone I could love, and have that person love me in return. But then I realised that the one thing I ever wanted and needed, the one person who could show me what true love was, was there the whole time. And that was you. Nobody else could ever take your place. Nobody. You just remember that."
It was just what I needed to hear. I leant down and kissed him warmly, my heart swelling with more love than I ever thought I could feel. The thing that made me the most upset was the thought of ever losing this man I held so dear.
As we kissed, Tim rounded the corner and stopped in his tracks when he saw us, swaying on his feet. The scent of alcohol filled the room, nearly making me sick.
"Oh, crikey, someone pass the bucket!" he called upon seeing our embrace. I broke the kiss and narrowed my eyes at him.
"Fuck off," I dismissed him, trying to control my temper but with little success. He ignored my threat and moved in closer, smiling like a cheshire cat.
"Rich, you have to play fair. You can only have Paul for a certain amount of time before you have to hand him over to his next screw."
"Excuse me?" Paul asked, turning to face him fully. It was his turn for his blood to come close to boiling point.
"Tim, i'm warning you, say anything more and i'll break you," I growled. Still, he wasn't intimidated, and shook his head dismissively at me.
"Slut," he hissed at Paul.
That did it. I erupted like a volcano, and threw a powerful punch at his face. He fell to the floor with the impact of my fist, and I grabbed him by the collar and tossed him against the wall, clutching as his throat. He stared at me, wide-eyed and shocked that I had such power in me. When I was beyond enraged, it even amazed myself what I could do.
"Fucking prick! Leave us alone!" I shouted in his face, punching him in the stomach. He doubled over in pain. I readied myself to strike him again, but Paul quickly grabbed my arm, holding it back.
"Rich, stop it! He's not worth it!" he pleaded. I glared at Tim for a moment, shaking my head in disgust. Finally I let go of his throat and stepped back, Paul still holding my arm.
"Tim, you're drunk. Come back to us when you've sobered up and come to your senses," Paul told Tim, trying to keep his voice even and calm. Tim made no response and simply stared at us. My body was almost shaking - I was ready to kill him. If it weren't for Paul holding me back, I probably could've done just that. I had never felt so furious towards Tim in all the time that i'd known him. The fact that he was drunk didn't do much to help the situation, either.
"Come on," Paul gently led me away, soothingly rubbing my arm. "We'll deal with this in the morning."
I didn't want to see Tim so soon after lashing out at him, but I thought that if we both spoke to him about his behaviour and asked him to leave us alone, he may finally do so. But secretly, I wasn't holding my breath. When Tim wanted something or someone badly enough, he would fight for possession. Viciously.
But I could fight harder.
Part 5