Their Broken Queen

~ Flashback, age 13 ~ Come on, you promised youd sit with me while Tae finished our project, Ozias whined as he tried to drag me to the computer lab. I know, but Evander just asked me if I could meet him in the library really quickly, I said, trying not to laugh at the pout on Ozias face. Ill only be a minute. Oh, please, Evander is going to keep you the whole time, Ozias sulked.

I wont let him, I replied, but he wasnt convinced. What if I just go with you? he suggested, shrugging his shoulders. That would leave Tae all alone, and you know I hate that, I said. You only hate it because he hacks into your socials every time you give us more attention than him, Ozias teased.

Yeah, and last time, he posted a ton of embarrassing pictures of me, I replied with a laugh. The double chins I was so hideous. Ozias laughed as he reached up to cup the side of my face, brushing his thumb across my chin. My laughter died down as he stared at me.

Electricity was crackling between us, and I held my breath, unsure of what to do. I dont want to pull away, but Im also a little bit scared. Double chins Hideous, Ozias scoffed softly. Would it make you feel better to know that I jerked off to those pictures?

My face flamed as embarrassment coiled in my belly. W-what? I stuttered. Ozias, as usual, wasnt phased in the slightest.

It was real, it was raw, it was unfiltered you, he replied. And nothing gets me going more than you, Sweets. At any angle. Hes joking, right?

He has to be. Weve been friends our whole lives pretty much. Ever since the first day of fourth grade. Ozias had stood up for me when some boys were pushing me around on the playground.

I had been at school for a few days and couldnt seem to make any friends. We moved in the middle of the school year and everyone pretty much had their friend groups already. I never seemed to fit in. That day was the first day anyone was nice to me.

Ozias and his friends had been on an extended weekend vacation, so it was the first day I had met any of them. Even as kids, they were all very protective of me. That day, Ozias had threatened the boys who were pushing me, and then took me inside to meet his friends. The six of us have been practically inseparable ever since.

That being said, this charming attitude that Ozias has isnt new. Ever since we were old enough to know what se.x is, hes made similar to this. However, this is the boldest thing hes ever said to me. I blame the fact that they were all raised in a motorcycle club.

The Infernos Demon Riders MC. The demons are great, dont get me wrong. Ive spent so much time in the clubhouse that its like a second home to me. I know that they party and party hard.

I also know that they make sure I dont see everything that happens there either. Did I break you? Ozais teased me when I just stood there with my mouth open like a mor.on. Break her?

Thats my job, isnt it? I groaned at the sound of that voice. I didnt even get the chance to turn around, or plan an escape before Chayton slung his long arm around my shoulders. Ozias smiled at our friend before they fist bumped.

Youd never break Bly and you know it, Ozais told him, shooting me a wink. You have no idea how much I want to, Chayton muttered. I looked up at him with a frown. Chayton is just a big bully.

Hes rude as hell, but he has a big heart under it all. Hes just a big ol sassy pants. But hes so dang tall and buff, youd never guess he was kind. You just have to dig for it.

Anyway, Chayton continued without looking at me. What are you guys doing? Well, Peaches here thinks shes going to meet Evander all alone in the library, Ozias told him. I told her that I should come with.

Oh, definitely, Chayton said, spinning us around in the direction of the library. Lets all go have a little bit of fun. Ozias was on my other side within seconds. He was so close that his fingers brushed against my hand.

I looked at him and he winked at me. My face flushed with heat and I quickly looked away. So, Ozias said. Want to come to the clubhouse- ~ Present, age 25 ~ Beep!

Beep! Beep! Beep! My alarm clock going off pulled me from my dream.

Or my memory, I should say. I groaned as I reached out to slap it, making it stop. I rolled over in my bed and stared at the ceiling, thinking about that damn dream. Its been years since Ive even seen them.

Almost ten whole years. Why do I keep dreaming about them? Probably because my time with those five were the only times in my life that I was happy, that I felt safe. Still, I wish it would stop.

I hate having to be reminded of everything I lost every time I try to sleep. The good memories hurt just as much as the bad ones now. Although I would rather dream about them then- I shook my head, clearing the thoughts from my mind. Im not going down that road first thing in the morning.

Or ever, if I can help it. Slowly, I dragged myself out of bed and headed for the bathroom. My apartment is tiny as hell, but its just me. Well, me and Butter, my black cat that I saved about a year ago.

Found him outside the diner I work at, licking a stick of butter that didnt quite make it into the dumpster. Hence, the name Butter. He was wounded, scared, and only a kitten when I found him. Weve been together ever since, and he is my dearest and only friend.

I talk to the girls at the diner, and were friendly, except Abby, but After everything I went through with my first set of friends, and everything after I cant bring myself to trust anyone. Understandably so, but its lonely as hell. Lonely or not, at least Im free now. I sighed as I looked at myself in the mirror.

I look like I barely slept. I was crying in my sleep again, so my eyes are a bit puffy. I cant believe I was crying over a stupid memory like that. I guess it wasnt that stupid.

Not for the 13-year-old Blythe. The one that thought those five hung the stars in the sky. That day was the day that we all found out Ozias was moving. The party he was trying to invite me to at the clubhouse was his familys going-away party.

Ozias didnt even know himself until that night. Honestly, Ozias is the only one of them that I dont actually harbor any hard feelings for. Other than his lack of communication when he moved, he never did anything to me. Ozias never bullied me, he was never mean to me, and he always knew how to make me smile.

I wonder if the reason he never wrote me a letter, or texted, or even added me on any of my socials was because of the others. Or maybe he just outgrew me and forgot about me. I dont blame him. We were kids and he didnt know.

Or maybe he did know and just didnt care. Ozias family was deep in the MC. His father was part of the club and owned a gym in town. The whole reason they moved was because The Infernos Demon Riders opened a new chapter.

It was right in the heart of whatever state was the biggest MMA scene. Ozias dad jumped at the opportunity. I remember how the six of us spent that party. We were all sad, devastated really.

We tucked ourselves in Kylians room for the entire night. We reminisced. We promised to never lose contact. We cried and laughed and And it all turned out to be a lie anyway.

It doesnt matter anymore. We were just kids, and I was stupid for thinking that we would remain the way we were forever. My mom picked me up from the clubhouse the next day. It was something she had been doing for the last few years.

I never questioned it because I was just happy that she would let me stay the night. After she announced her engagement though, I realized that I had been overlooking a lot. Like the small, lingering glances they made. The way that Tusk would always make sure he was near us in some way.

The way that he would already be talking to my mom when I came down the hall. How comfortable she seemed to be there. Tusk was a great guy. He was the clubs enforcer, and he was always kind to me.

That didnt change when he married my mom either. No, it was other people that changed. Like his son and his sons friends. I thought that living with one of my best friends was going to be the coolest.

It was anything but. My whole life changed after that. Thats what happens when people around you start scheming. I rolled my eyes at my reflection before jumping into the shower, the water as hot as it could go.

I need to stop thinking about them. All of them. The MC, my mom, the guys. Theyre all in my past.

Im moving forward now. Moving past it all. Past the MC. Past my fake friends.

Past my delusional mother. Past my sperm donor of a father. And most importantly Past my abusive husband and the scars he left me.