~Chapter two~
As Shawn Brady comes down stairs to open the pub, he sees someone sleeping in one of the booths. "Excuse me? Are you lost?" The girl wakes up and looks at him "Greta?"
"Oh Mr. Brady hi. What time is it?"
"It's six in the morning. What are you doing here?
"I've been waiting for your grandson actually."
"Eric?"
"Yes Eric. He was supposed to meet me here last night and I guess I fall asleep waiting for him. Do you know where he is?"
"Actually the last I heard from him. He was at Titan something about starting taking pictures of Nicole Roberts again."
"Thank I'll try there." Nicole God! I hate that girl this is the second time he has stood me up! I can see Shawn is shocked and is staring at me so I decide to leave. I go to get out of here and I realize I am locked in. Shawn starts to laugh, comes, and unlocks the door. I start walking towards Titan in the mood to kill Eric Brady! When I get to titian. They will not let me in. I keep telling them I am with Eric Brady. They say sorry he is busy. I bet! "Get him over here. He'll let me in." Then I see Eric and Nicole walking bye laughing and the security guard laughs, "It doesn't look like he need you. I scream, "Eric!"
He turns around, "Oh Greta, What are you doing here?"
"I would ask you the same thing but I see." In addition, I shoot Nicole a rude glance. "Now when did you started dog sitting?" Everyone in Titian who heard that including the security guard start laughing.
"Greta!"
"What? I'm sorry Eric but if you stand me up for her then you're not worth it!"
"Stand you up?"
"Yeah, for the second night in a row."
"Well we can tell who's a big priority to him." Nicole whispers to me.
"I'm leaving!"
"Greta! No! Please don't!" He tries to run after her but Nicole pulls him back, "Saying please, Eric don't she's not worth it."
I kept running until I could not even see Titian any more. The nerve that little *itch! I start to cry. He did not even run after me. As I start crying even more, a tissue is handed to me and I turn around to see Eric standing behind me.
"I'm so sorry Greta. I never meant to…" I put my finger over his lips and kissed him. I knew that if he said any thing else that I would lose all the trust I had left in him.
Back outside the Black's House I hurry up the ladder connected to Belle Black's room, missing a couple of steps and almost falling twice. As I get up to her window I can still her singing in her pick pajamas, "pour my life into a paper cup. The room is turning and I am spilling my guts…" How she didn't wake up the rest of the house I don't know. When I got in the room, I see her holding a sharp kitchen knife in her hand right up against her neck. "Isabelle don't!"
"Shawn have you ever cried but you didn't know why and as soon as your parents saw they just walk away. It's like no one cares."
"Belle, give me the knife."
"No this is the one thing that no one is going to take away from me!"
She starts to move the knife closer to her. "Please, don't."
"Shawn get away. Leave! You don't want to see this…"
I cut her off. "You're right. I do not. That's why I can't leave."
"Please Shawn just leave and for once just this once don't argue with me."
"No! Belle no. You won't go through with it and that I do know." I move closer to her she gets closer to the door.
"Don't argue with me! I will to!"
"So why haven't you?" I do this so she will get distracted.
"I will…"
"When?" she is almost cornered.
"Why do you care?"
"Why shouldn't I?"
"You are so dumb! This has nothing to do with you!"
"Oh it doesn't right so that's why you called me tonight because it has nothing to do with me. Not so I can come here and stop you."
"You can't stop me!"
"Belle, you right I can only stop you if you want me to." She seems to be thinking about that. "Come on Belle. Is this really what you want to do?" She seems to not know what to say. "Has you life really gotten this bad?" She starts to cry and drops the knife. I grab the knife, lay it on her desk, and hold her. "Isabelle it's ok. Everything is going to be ok. I promise you. Look lay down." I bring her over to her bed, pull down the covers, and lay her down. "Just go to sleep everything will be fine when you wake up. Close your eyes now." She does and she starts breathing easier. In about thirty minutes she was sound asleep. I pulled the covers over her and leaded over and kissed her on the forehead and say, "I love you Isabelle." I go and get the knife with the intention of putting it up. I open her bedroom door and look around. "No one is awake that's good." I whisper to my self. "Now Shawn all you have to do is go downstairs in the kitchen and put the knife up and leave." I tell myself. I get down the stairs and into the kitchen I am in the process of opening up the cabinet where the knife goes, when John opens his bedroom door. I turn around with the knife in my hand. "Who is that down stairs?" He says softly trying not to wake up any one. I move, drop the knife and try to get to the door. "Stop thief." Oh wonderful I come here to save his daughter and know he thinks I am trying to rob him. I feel so under appreciated! When I get to the door, I realize that John is not far from me at all. I also realize that the alarm is on. Well forget it. I open the door, setting off the alarm. John rush to turn it off and I get away. I run as fast as I can to get home. I was about a mile from my house when I suddenly realize I am out of breath. I stop and breathe. I look at my watch. It is about three in the morning. When I get into the house, I am exhausted and cannot wait to get into bed. When I do, I go to sleep instantly.
"Shawn!" Shawn-Douglas!" "Wakeup!" My dad jolted my out of a weird dream about Belle and me. "What do you want?"
"Your are late for school! So get up!" My dad did not look too happy.
"Sorry I guess my alarm clock didn't do off."
"No, you didn't wake up. That thing woke me up!"
"Ok so I slept late. Sue me?"
"Well that's not exactly what I was thinking about doing but that's not a bad idea." He looks at me with a smile. In addition, I could not help but smile back. "Oh guess what someone broke in to Marlena and John's house last night."
"Really?" Then I realize that my dream was not a dream at all. "Did they take anything?"
"No. I do not think so, but everyone is pretty shaken up about it. After school, I am going to pick up you and Belle and we are going to go over to their house. Marlena wants John and I to check out what's wrong with their alarm system. Hey if you get ready in the next two minutes I'll bring you to school."
I almost answer ok but then I remember I have to get the money for Philip so I say, "Dad! Come on that is so uncoil. I mean I'm old enough to drive."
"Funny you on the road. Ha" he starts to laugh. "So why is cool for me to pick you up but it's not cool for me to drop you off?" I give him an annoyed look. "Ok, Ok walk if you want, but hurry up please." He walks out the door. I start to get dressed and realize that I do not have my watch. "I most have left it at Belle's since that was the place I had it. What if my dad finds it when we go over there today." I think to myself. I put on my jacket and walk down stairs and out the door and I try not to run in to my dad because if he realizes I lost my watch he will kill me literally. That watch belong to Grandpa Shawn and it is a keepsake. He has constantly told me how important it is. Therefore, I decide it is best not to tell him a thing about the watch. What he does not know will not hurt him. Right?
As I get to the bank, I try to look as mature as possible and I can tell it is not working very well because one of the workers is staring at me. Therefore, I try not to try so hard and walk up to one of the main windows. The lady also stares at me. "Excuse me I need to make a withdraw from an account here?"
The lady looks at me for a couple more seconds and then responds, "Who name is it under?"
"Shawn-Douglas Brady."
"Ok let me check the computer." She comes back in about two minutes. "This is a minor account. It has to be opened by…"
I finish it for her. "By Bo Brady or Hope Williams or by the minor himself when he turns eighteen."
She looks at me in astonishment, "How did you know that?"
"Ma, I set that account up for my son long ago. I think I know what it says. And yes I'm Bo Brady."
"Sorry Mr. Brady but…."
"I look a little young. Everyone says that."
"Ok. Now Mr. Brady, how much money do you want to take out exactly?" "$1,000 exactly."
"And how would you like that in bills are a check?"
"Bills please." She goes back to the vault and comes back with the money. "I just need you to sign here. Please?" She passes me a sheet of paper and a pen. I hesitate. Ok now this is forgery. She gives me this odd look so I pick up the pen and I sign my dad's name to the paper. She hands me the money and says, "Thank you for doing business with Salem Bank. Come again."
The whole walk to school I kept thinking I cannot believe you did it, Shawn. Dad is going to kill you and everyone knows Bo Brady has a bad temper. In response, I keep telling myself that he will not find out and that the money is going to a good cause. However, I just will not believe in. That Brady conscience sure can bother you at a time like this.
When I got to school, I finished the note I was going to leave with the money. I found Philip's locker quickly and slide the money in. When I turned around the principal was staring at me I had yet to realize that I was late for school. "Excuse me, Mr. Brady."
"You're excused sir. But what exactly did you do?"
"Don't smart-off to me Mr. Brady."
"Yes sir."
"What are you doing in the hall? Do you have a hall pass? Or Are you just late for school?"
"I'm going to class and no and yes."
"Well then here." He hands me detention slip.
"Thank you sir."
"Now get to class." He walks off shaking his head. "Kids…Kids."
I rush to my Math class as quick as I can. I make sure to grab my book. As I open the door, I can see we are having a "pop" quiz. I try to slip in my seat but Belle sees me. "Oh hey Shawn!" I give her a mean look.
The teacher turns around to where I am. "Who just said something?"
Belle answers, "I was just trying to tell you that Shawn is here."
"Thanks Belle." I save the girl's life and in return she does this oh how nice.
The teacher looks at me, "Mr. Brady, you're late to my class."
I stand up, "I know and I'm sorry but I've already talked to the principal." I show her my dentition slip. "Fine. However, you missed a "pop" quiz. And there will be no chance to make it up." Oh just wanted I wanted to here this morning.
"How much points was it, Ma?"
"20 points." I sure needed that grade. I was already doing poorly in this class. I sat down and open my book to the page we are on.
When class is over, I run up to Belle, "What was that for?"
"What?"
"The "Oh Shawn's here" statement. I mean couldn't you just have kept your mouth close!"
"No. Sorry." Then she walks away and I am left standing there with my mouth hanging open. I tried to stay away from her for the rest off the day actually I tried to stay away from everyone but at the end of the day I had to face her again. When I get outside not even a second passed when she comes up to me, "Your dad's here. Come on hurry. You don't want to be late again today do you?" She smiles. I look where she is headed and sure enough, there was my dad waving at me and smiling. Therefore, I grab my books and head over to the car, when Philip grabs me by the shoulder.
He pulls me behind the column. "I got the money."
"I'm glad. Now let me go!" I push his hands off me.
"Why did you give me the money?" "I made a promise to give it to you and I don't brake my promises." This time I got away and got in to the car. When I got into the car, my dad and Belle give me this odd look. "What do I have something on face?"
They both respond no. We drove for a little while in silence expects for the music. My dad broke the silence, "So how was school today?"
"Fine." I responded.
"Oh very interesting, Bo. Shawn got a detention." She smiles at me.
My dad looks over at me, "Is that true Shawn?"
I know I could not lie to him especially with Belle in the car so I answer yes. He then asks why.
I choice my next words very carefully, "Well I was a little late to school."
Belle speaks up, "A little late! Very funny you missed a pop quiz in math."
Then my dad looked really mad, "Shawn, she better be joking!"
"Sadly enough she's not, dad." I look at the road and realize where almost there. My dad notices that too and says, "Well talk about this when we get home!" He turns into the driveway. I turn around and look at Belle who is only smiling. She makes me so mad! My dad gets out of the car and walks to the house. I get out of the car and so does Belle. I grab her by the arm and yell, " I save your life and you get me in trouble. Well know this next time I won't save your life."
She yanks her arm away from me, "You didn't save my life! I did! If I would have wanted to kill myself then I would have!" She starts to walk off.
I run after her, "What did I do that made you so mad at me?" I ask stunned.
"Look just leave me alone or I'll tell my dad that you were the one that tried to rob my house." She walks into the house, slamming the door in my face. "And I don't know why I even cared."
I walk into the house and see Marlena sitting down on the couch with Belle she looks like she has been crying. My dad and John are working on the alarm system. I just cannot stand around and watch this anymore so I tell my dad, "Look I'm going home. I'm sorry Marlena, Belle and John about what happened and I would love to help but I've got tons of homework." Marlena looks up at me and responds, "It's ok sweetie, We understand. Right Bo?" "Yeah Shawn that's fine but remember you're grounded." "How could I forget! Bye John, Marlena, Belle." I go out the door but stay by the window to see what John; Marlena and dad are going to talk about. "Belle, honey why don't you go up to your room. Your dad, Bo and I need to talk privately." "Sure mom. I understand. Just don't say anything that bad about Shawn." She walks up stairs laughing. "When did she get so smart-eleck." John says. "Yeah, I know our two little kids have really grown up. Speaking of our kids. Bo, did I hear you say Shawn's grounded. I cannot believe it you, Bo Brady the rebel, punishing someone especially your son. I mean Hope was always the one to do that you hated pushing him. What could your sweet little boy have done that was so bad?" "As you said Marlena, they have grown-up. What you think I like doing this! God! I do not. I wish I didn't have to but he and Victor didn't leave me with much of a choice." John looks him in shock, "Victor Kiriakis, the same Victor who's your father. When did he start having anything to do with your life?" "Yes, John what other Victor Kiriakis do you know? And he still doesn't want anything to do with my life he came because he cared about his other son." "Philip?" Marlena asked, "What does he have to with you and Shawn?" "Well Shawn beat him up because he made fun of him, Gina, Hope and me." "That doesn't sound like Shawn? What proof do you have of this?" Marlena asked. "Well Philip's word and the fact that I saw him attack him at our house. Shawn says he didn't do it but there are just certain things he won't tell me like why he was home late and how he had Philip's blood on him." "But do you believe him or Philip?" Marlena questioned. "I want to believe him so badly Marlena but it so hard I mean ever since Hope left he seemed to drift apart from me and I can't tell when he's telling me the truth and when he's lying." I decided to leave I could not take the whole think with my mom again.
When I got home there were messages on the answering machine. So I play them, the first one, "Bo this is you mom I'm calling to check on you. When you get, this message call me. I'll be at the pub." "Bo, it's Roman I have a plan on getting Hope. Call me. You know the number. Hey, you know we will get your fancy face back." "Mr. Bo Brady this is the bank. We are calling to confirm the withdraw you made this afternoon on your son's account…" I delete the message before listing to the rest of it. I decided I had better go up to my room and start working or my dad will lose it even more.
When my dad gets home. He plays the messages and calls Roman back. After he hangs up the telephone, he calls John. Then he comes up and knocked on the door. "Come in. You're going to any way right?" "Yeah your right I am. Hey have you seen your watch lately." He holds up my watch. "You must have dropped this when you were over at Marlena and John's. Hey do you think you want to go to Paris?" I look up at him shocked. "Yeah, I would love to, but why?" "Well we've got to go and bury Princess Gina's body and we're hoping to find your mother." I look up at him and we both have this gleam of hope in our eyes.
Greta walks into to Titan, right past the security guard with a smile. She goes right into Eric's office. Eric looks up at her and smiles. "I was hoping to see you." He goes over to her and kisses her. She pushes him back. "Save that for tonight." "What's tonight?" "Hopefully our first date in a long time." "Hopefully?" "Yes hopefully that's if you don't stand me up!" "I won't I promise, Greta." "Well we're meeting at the pub." "Why at my Grandparent's restaurant?" "So if you stand me up, I'll have a ride home. Eric don't you dare stand me up again." She walks off thinking, "Cause if you do I'll never be able to trust you again."
End of chapter 2
Will Eric stand Greta up? In addition, what will happen in Paris?