Dear Bad Boy || Ransom Drysdale

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Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck.
I've changed my mind.
Robert answers the door with a huge smile spread cheek to cheek. He sets down a glass of scotch on a side table in the entryway.
"Eva!" He pulls me into an uncomfortably tight embrace, his green checked shirt smells of a musty cologne, expensive no doubt. The grand house is bustling with laughter and commotion.
He cups my face between his hands, "happy new year sweet heart." I blush intensely as he kisses each of my cheeks, and when he finally lets me go I step
behind Ransom shielding myself for a moment allowing myself to calm from the overwhelmingness of...family?
He pulls Ransom into a hug slapping his back enthusiastically, "Hugh! Happy new year!" I can't help but laugh internally, I don't think I've ever seen Ransom hug any one much less someone he met yesterday.
Ransom pulls away smiling awkwardly, "I...uh...call me Ransom.  Its my middle name." He reaches out shaking Roberts hand.
Why can't I speak?  Its like I've forgotten how.
"Em!!" Robert bellows over the loud murmur of conversations happening in various rooms, "Eva's here honey!"
Oh fuck, I want to die. Please let there be an explosion or a sinkhole. Just get me out of this.
Ransom slides his coat off and hands it to Roger who is gesturing for me to remove mine.
Looks like I'm staying. Ransom helps me out of my coat and passes it to him.
I feel bare, like it was some sort of security blanket. Like every part of me is exposed for the world to gawp at.
Emily walks troublesomely out of the kitchen, "Hello." Her lips part sheepishly, the house falls into an awkward silence as she makes her way towards us.
She holds a large glass of deep red wine in one hand her other rests on her slender hip.
She looks so elegant wearing green checked trousers, the fabric matching Roberts shirt, cute. She has a black chiffon blouse tucked in neatly. Her dark hair scraped high into a bun, she looks like Audrey Hepburn.
She is effortlessly beautiful.
I feel out of place.
Ransoms eyes burn into me willing me to speak.
If I could I would. But I feel myself shutting down.
I can't do this.
I never thought I'd say this...but I want to go home.
"Happy New Year...Ms uh..." Ransom stumbles not wanting to be impolite.
"Mrs, Anderson but Emilys fine." She dips her head.
Wait...do I call her Mrs Anderson, Emily or Mom?
"Happy new year Eva." She forces herself towards me holding me rigidly in an unenthusiastic hug.
"Happy new year Emily." I croak anxiously, the party falls into awkward silence.
I pull away from the embrace Ransoms hand grips mine, squeezing lightly three times.
Emilys brow furrows as she offers me a guilty smile, her eyes flitting around unable to make eye contact with me.
They both lead us into the bustling lounge, I allow my eyes to search the room quickly as I look for anyone remotely resembling grandparents, hoping that maybe mine will be here.
I'm not entirely sure if I've ever met mine from Emilys side, and dads parents died when I was a baby. Maybe things would have been different if I had them.
"Hey guys, this is Eva!" Robert introduces me to a room full of faceless strangers, each one jumping to their feet and pulling me in for a kiss on the cheek and a tight hug.
"This is Ransom my uh..." He wraps his arm around
my waist, "my boyfriend."
Its his turn to be attacked by hugs and kisses.
He accepts each one, and returns the greetings graciously.
Where has my bad boy gone?
How is he so good at this?
Emily thrusts a glass of champagne into my hand she stands by my side for a moment before I'm passed around and introduced to strangers whose names I can't retain. I smile, nod and say 'thank you', answering their questions about college. I lose sight of Ransom, my anchor.  My throat begins to tighten as the room overwhelms me.
I neck my glass of champagne in panic and search frantically around of another, unable to locate one so I use this as my excuse to leave the room.
Standing in the hallway I push through ragged panicked breaths my fingertips white as I grip on to the credenza, holding it for support.
My gaze falls on the countless picture frames filled with idyllic family photos, smiles and laughter spilling out of each one. Each one happier than than the next. Emilys happy family.
And there nestled in the back is me.
I must be seven years old, my eyes beaming with delight standing by her side.  Emilys arm draped over me as she smiles proudly.
I lift the frame to get a closer look.
"We went strawberry picking that day." The downcast voice from behind startles me, "you ate more on the way round than we put in the basket. Prest...your father was terrified you'd puke in the new car." Emily takes the frame from my hand, wiping a little dust from the glass before placing it back into its place.
"Why can't I remember this day?" I ask, my voice thick with emotion.
She shrugs her shoulders letting out a long sigh, "how long have you and Ransom been an item?" Her eyes wander into the kitchen and I unwittingly follow her gaze to see him drinking a scotch with Robert, both deep in conversation.
"Not long, we've been hanging out since last summer." I lie, not wanting to divulge the gritty details with this stranger.
She nods studying my face, "and this." She points to the yellowing bruise under my eyes and my nose, "how did you get this?" I thought I had done a decent job of concealing it, obviously not.
I'm not even sure how to answer the question, but before I can come up with a lie or fabrication I blurt out... "oh this is nothing...I got in the way of a fight between Rans and my..."
"Your father?" She cuts me off.
"My ex." My brows knit together, why would she assume dad had done this?
She stands her eyes glazed over with tears, I actually feel sympathy for her. I take a step towards her, I don't know why but I wanted to comfort her, as I walk closer she steps away from me.
It cracked me open, raw.
"Why are you here Eva?" Her lips pressed together in a thin line, "and I don't mean at this party, I mean why have you come into my life?"
Her words cut me deep, laced with her resentful tone.
"Back." Ransom growls deeply sliding himself between us. I hadn't noticed him coming from the kitchen.
Emilys lip curls in disgust, "excuse me?"
Ransom brings his eyes to meet hers his chest moving in and out as his breathing intensifies, "you said 'come into my life' and I think you meant 'back' because you were there for some of her life, before you abandoned her and left her with Preston, while you lived an entirely new life here in this shitty city." The sound from the party falls silent as they listen intently.
I watch numbly as Ransom pushes her against the wall, "I'm not sure why Eva came here I don't think she even knows, but she is your daughter!" He spits, his body vibrating in anger, "she raised herself and you should be thankful that she did. I wouldn't want her turning into a vicious little bitch like you."
His hands grip her shoulders as he slams her body hard against the wall, "enough!" Robert roars pulling Ransom away, his fist clenched harshly as he raises his arm ready to meet Ransoms face.
My chest tightens, I've seen this before. I know how it ends. I still have the bruises.
"STOP!!!" I scream at the top of my lungs the word scratching my throat, but I can't move.
The colour from the room starts to fade, my legs can barely hold me up.
I clamber my way to the front door racing down the steps onto the empty street, the icy wind howls around my ears and my body rattles uncontrollably.
"Eva wait!" Emily grabs my shoulder spinning me around to face her, "I'm sorry...I've been so harsh. But I'm happy here, and I have to put myself first.  You're an adult now, you don't need me. So respectfully please just leave me alone."
I wasn't able to control what came out of my mouth next but as I watched Ransom being thrown out of the house by Robert I burst into uncontrollable laughter, "you fucking selfish bitch!" I squeal, "you're right I have everything I need. That doesn't include you. You are such a...such a CUNT!" And by no choice of my own I take my hand a draw it across her cheek, the loud slapping noise echoing through the street.
Ransom runs towards me throwing my coat over my shoulder, "you good?" He cups my face studying my expression.
He turns to face Emily who stands with her hand pressed against her scarlet cheek, her eyes hang wide with shock.
I slide my hands into the sleeves of my jacket, "fucking fantastic, lets get the fuck out of here."