The next morning, Beth woke up and after taking a bath and brushing her teeth, she turned on her phone. Fielding all the messages from the others, she went straight to her mom's. Sarah's third voicemail left her heart pounding and her entire body tightening with fear. Retrieving nothing, she immediately bolted out of the room and out of the hotel. Brandon pushed past the crowd in front of Beth's house like a mad man. His eyes were stuck on the building ablaze in front of him. Thick smoke darkened the clouds. He felt the hands of the Police officers and Brian around him, but he kept fighting. He had to. Beth's house was on fire. 'Elizabeth, I'm choking. I-I think I left the stove turned on earlier. I'm going to ch-eck. Where are you? C--call me as soon as you get this.' Sarah's strangled voice kept ringing in Beth's head. The voicemail was sent a little over an hour ago. She had called over and over again, but it had gone straight to voicemail. "Please, go faster," she hassled the
As Beth walked down the lonely road with her hoodie up to avoid the stares of people, she turned off her phone and shoved it in her pocket. Sherlie had stayed away from Brian because of her, and for as long as she remained there, Sherlie would continue to avoid people till Beth was ready to be around them. Beth wasn't ready, but she wasn't going to wait till she was. She couldn't risk causing issues in Sherlie's life. She refused to cause a rift between Sherlie and Brian. She couldn't cause that too. If only she had gone home... If only she had left the hotel sooner...If only she had blown Brandon off from the start...If only Brandon hadn't bet on her...Why? Why was her life so sorrowful? Why did she attract pain wherever she went? Sherlie didn't think so. Brian didn't believe it. Her mom used to call her a blessing.... Her father had always called her his bright light in darkness... But light didn't kill. Sherlie. Brian. Brandon. Her mom... If only they knew. If only they k
"I can-""Shh." He rose his eyes to hers, then looked down to the angry finger imprints around her neck. She watched as the simmering anger in his eyes boiled over. Bowing her head in resignation, she let him wash her in her bra and panties. In that moment, she didn't care. Her mind wandered. She drifted in and out of her body, remembering words that cut through her, and images that caused her heart to pound against her ribcage. When a hand landed on her shoulder, she flinched, spun around, and instantly cried out in pain."Fuck, I'm sorry. I'm sorry."Her knees buckled. He caught her and with his arms around her waist, helped her out of the shower cubicle. In the bathroom's front space, he draped her in a towel and led her into the room. Handing her a robe, he briefly left the room for her to put it on, and to hand Lola over to the vet who'd come at his beckoning. Knocking twice, he stepped back into the room, holding a cup of grape juice. Beth sat on the bad, ramrod straight. Sitting
She forced air into her lungs and held it before slowly letting go. After repeating the procedure a few more times, her racing heart began to slow down. Her lungs didn't feel as tight."That's right, baby girl. Breathe in and out. Good," Brandon spoke in her ear.She looked to Brandon with tired eyes and whispered, "I'm sorry." Brandon watched Beth's eyes close as she fell asleep. Sherlie and Brian who had been stood at her room's door watching the whole ordeal, followed Brandon after he partially left the door open and went to the living room.Unable to sit, Brandon began pacing the length of the living room."I have never seen Beth that scared before. Ever." As he ranted, he racked his brain. What could have possibly made her react like that? She had looked so scared and helpless. She was plain terrified. With a puzzled look on his face, Brian pulled out a dining chair and lowered onto it. Sherlie stood with her back against the wall, deep in thought."What happened before we came i
Brandon went quiet, darting his eyes from one of hers to the other. Because I am stuck in love with you. "Well, because...." He trailed a finger down her face. ".... Because you are my Elizabeth, and I adore you. You and all your craziness," he said, making a face at the last part that made her laugh. His heart lifted at the sound of her laughter. "I feel..." She exhaled with a smile on her face. "I feel better. So much more better. Thank you, Brandon. Thank you." "Thank you for talking to me." "You have done more smiling and shown more emotions today than I have ever seen you show in public," she teased. "Has Brandon Wade gone soft?" His expression changed. He feigned a military look so quickly, she blinked in surprise. "Don't push it." She threw her head back and cackled. Hiding a giddy smile, he got out of bed and began for the door. "Come get breakfast," he called out behind him. Once he was at the doors she called to him. He turned around to look at her. "Don't take a
As she spoke, she made a conscious effort to move all around the room, touching things and letting things catch her attention. She hoped it would help shake off her arousal. She also hoped she would be turned around when he came out of the bathroom. She heaved out a sigh of relief when she heard the water stop hitting the floor, and the patter of feet that followed. Upon stepping out of the bathroom, Brandon smiled at the image she painted. His woman, in his space, curiously examining his things. Deciding to not interrupt her talking, he carried on into the closet. A few minutes later, he came out in a red t-shirt and black shorts. "Yup," he responded to a question she randomly asked. Beth turned when she heard him right behind her. She took in his fit. Better, but not much. Those shorts did nothing to disguise his toned thighs, and the shirt loosely hugged his torso. When he leaned towards her, familiarity made her wrap her arms around his neck. His palms took a hold of her thighs an
"Elizabeth, you are being unreasonable." "Unreasonable?!" She yelled, unable to hold it in. "I am being 'unreasonable'?! You have the guts to-- okay," she abruptly ended, nodding her head. "Okay," she repeated. He watched her turn around and reach for a plate. His eyes followed her as she dished rice into the plate and drizzled her sauce on top. She then turned around and walked out of the kitchen, breezing past him. He stood there, listening to her retreating footsteps. A few seconds later, he heard her room door close. Overcome with confusion, annoyance and disbelief, he was heading out of the kitchen when his phone buzzed. Yanking it out of his pocket, he read a single text from Brian. 'Brandon!!!' He scrunched up his face. What was his problem? Unlocking his phone, he went to text Brian back when he saw he had 4 unread messages from him. The first message was a link. The second message read, 'Beth and Sherlie saw this at 1 a.m. She's deleted it, but a lot of people already rep
Gritting her teeth, she shut off the water and got out of the bathroom. Lola followed, licking up the water that trailed down her legs. She dressed up and sat on the floor with Lola, rubbing her fur and petting her, seeking a distraction. When her butt began to feel numb and she was tired of stewing in her gloomy mood, she got up and called to Lola. They both went to the door. Upon hearing her door's lock click, Brandon pushed against the wall he had been leaning against with his hands in his pockets and stood straight. She looked at him, mildly wondering at the amount of time he had stood there for. He took the scowl on her face, the slight dip of her brows and her slumped shoulders. All tell tail signs that she was not in a pleasant mood. As if called by the universe to prove his suspicion right, he saw the closed shut and icy look that suddenly entered her eyes. She tried for an erect position and breezed past him, saying,"Don't talk to me."Brandon let out a deep sigh. "Elizabeth