A love worth fighting for

Chapter One

Richmond's POV

“What's your problem Richmond?” Mr Sullivan or rather my dad's voice thundered into my living room immediately I opened the front door of my apartment. He slammed the door behind him, the heels of his oxford following right behind me

It was a norm for him to come banging at my door once there's a complaint from school, but not on a Monday morning, not when I have been at my best, in school though

“What have I not done this time?” I stopped to answer him, already tired of his unending demands on being a better son, and pissed at his presence. “I'm tired Dad, I am really not ready for all these naggings. My word, it's an early Monday morning, don't you have a briefing at work?” my eyes met his rage filled eyes.

“I wouldn't be here if you learnt to behave properly. You can't just live as you want Richmond, you can't rub all this shame on me.”

‘Shame?’ what the fuck was he talking about?’ I ran my head through everything, every activity, every corner that I would have messed up - nothing shameful. Oh except the party last night I got really drunk, Riley had to drive me home.

“Gosh” my face flushed, I couldn't believe he was roaring so loud because I was drunk. “Dad, I was just a bit drunk.” I responded, my focus firm on my image on the mirror trying to knot the black tie hanging round my neck

“Look at this,” he showed me the screen of his phone. A video of me that only one person should have recorded was playing from a social media page. “DOES THIS LOOK DRUNK?”

”What?” I yelled. My face furrowed, my jaws clenched. The little thing left of my reputation was about to be dipped into the dirt by my girlfriend, who had made a video of me making out with her last night. “RILEY” I screamed immediately, running up the stairs. 

Riley, my girlfriend, was lying on the bed, fiddling with her phone. I smashed the phone on her face, held her up by the collar of her dress. I could feel her shiver at the intensity of my rage. “What the fuck have you done?” I asked through clenched teeth.

“I. I…” she mumbled, her voice barely leaving her throat. “I didn't, d… do.”

“You're gonna stay here, delete that shit, then you will fuckin leave my house, and my life.” I ordered without letting her finish. She began fumbling with her phone and the sheets that covered the lower part of her body. “Now Riley. NOW!” The rage took over my voice.

My furrowed eyes met my dad standing at the base of the stairs. He does this all the time he's here; ruin my day. All the ‘new-week-new-me’ impression I wanted to create on the first day after a long mid session break has been demolished. I'll still show up, the old me, the real me.

My dad would have been a commander in the military, if he didn't voluntarily cut short his service years, now he wants to train me like life is a battlefield. “Dad, I said I have taken care of it, you can go now.” I echoed, my voice was calm, but the frown on my face lingered, the thought of my first day being ruined stayed in my head.

Riley frightenedly, hurriedly ran down the stairs, dropping and picking some of the cloths she gathered in her hand.

“Taken care of it? Is that what you said?” My dad's voice was hoarse and calm. “I always take care of your shits son. You are incompetent, impatient and selfish just like your goddamn mother.” His voice went up like fire that just met gasoline.

I was already at the door heading out to the campus. I opened the door and stood behind it. “You know what? Get out.” I held the door open, as his words penetrated sharply like a bullet. 

My mom had left us to be with another man when I was three years old, maybe if she was here I'd have been a better person. Now I barely have an image of her in my head.

My dad slowly walked towards me. A smirk plastered on my face. He touched my shoulder, I flinched so his hands would drop. “Son, you know we are all that we have, and I lose my mind each time I see my reputation crumbling on the floor like this.” 

He knew he didn't have to bring my mom into this, he intentionally did this to hurt me, a revenge for his ‘crumbling reputation’ and it was a perfect blow. “Just go.” I widened the threshold so he'd know I meant it.

I slided my back against the closed door till my butt landed on the floor. Thoughts of my childhood and mom taking me to preschool stayed in my head. Tears gathered in my eyes and rolled down my cheeks after a blink.

I was in my third year, and I had to be available for the pathology lectures by 9am. I'd be late if I didn't hurry, and the worst that could happen is being late for Prof. Cooper's lecture. He'd use you for all the examples, and I hate standing in front of all those clowns in my class.

I changed to a blue shirt, drove as fast as I could, hoping I made it in time for a medical career determining step.

‘Who the fuck parked this old, forsaken thrash on my spot?’ I stepped out of my sport car and looked around, no one was close, I had to find a place to park, I'll find who had the nerves to take my spot. ‘Couldn’t even park something better.’ I mumbled as I walked past the rickety car parked on ‘my spot.’

My dad had already ruined my day, taking my car spot at the lot was the height of it, more reasons to give it hot and hard to whoever stepped on my nerves. 

I had this frown on my face that made everyone afraid of approaching or talking to me except Prof. Cooper who doesn't give a fuck about who my dad is, and Bradley who understands me like he does Histology texts and articles.

“What's up bro?” Bradley halted in front of me and gave out his hand for a shake. “What's with the long face man? Another daddy drama?” He tapped my shoulder and turned to join me back to the lecture theatre.

“Everything is fuckin wrong bro. Riley, my dad, and…” I couldn't find the word to describe who'd be brave enough to park at my spot. “I don't know who parked at my spot.” Pointing towards the lot.

“That should be the new girl. Heard she's on scholarship and resuming today.”

She must be brave, she deserves to be taught some lessons. I felt a surge of anger boiling through me as the sight of a female standing up against me flashed in my head.

With a clenched fist and jaw, I stepped into the lecture theatre, thankfully, Prof Cooper was not in, but someone strange was on my seat. 

The grip I had on my iPad intensified, my body froze, my heart thudded heavier in my chest. Getting closer, she had the body frame of the woman I hate most, her head lowered, focused on the screen placed on the table.

“That's the new girl.” Bradley nodded towards the right back corner of the lecture theatre. It was my seat she was sitting on; another event to make my day worse.

“Oh. That's her?” My gaze was fixed on her direction. Her blond hair dropped over shoulders, her face was covered. I hastened my pace.

Bradley nodded. “Go easy man.” He whispered.

I raised my hand to tap her shoulder when we got closer. The thought of who I'd see made my heart sink. My heart beat intensified, I didn't find the courage to tap her out of her focus. I slowly stretched my hand again towards her.

Fear had replaced my anger, my hand shook as it slowly went close to her. She raised her head just before my finger touche

d her. My eyes widened, my body froze. ‘Mom?’ I whispered in my head