*CHAPTER FOUR*

~Sherri's POV~

It's 6 a.m….I wake up with a start, and look over at her sleeping next to me. Her arm is around me as I lay here on my back. I squint my eyes and look around and remember: last night. My heart begins to pound as I notice the make-shift bed we had made just hours before right here by the couch. I close my eyes and will myself to keep breathing as a slow pound begins to throb in my temples. My stomach does multiple flips, but it's not because I have butterflies. Instead, it signals that I drank way too much, and if I don't move soon, I will be sick all over me and her. I manage to move her arm before running across the trailer to the bathroom where I am sick.

I wash my face and brush my teeth before facing myself in the mirror where I again feel that sea-sick feeling in the pit of my stomach as the throbbing in my temples worsen. I feel a tightness rise up in my throat as the room begins to spin, and I barely make it to be sick again. This time, I know I have to leave...I have to get out of here before she wakes up. Before she smiles that smile my way and I lose all resolve. I tip-toe as quietly as I can to my closet and pull out a pair of shorts and a tee while grabbing flip-flops as I yank up my hair and grab my purse and phone. I turn to look at her as she peacefully sleeps there, and my heart melts but I can't allow this to stop what I am feeling right now: FEAR. I quickly make it to my car and make it home where I barely make it up the drive before being sick in the bushes. By this time, my phone begins to ring and I'm on the porch crying my eyes out. I pull out my phone just in time to see a missed call from Teri. I throw my phone back into my purse and barely stumble through the door before making it to my bedroom. My phone rings again,and this time I throw it across the rom before falling into my bed, half-dressed as I cry myself to sleep.

~Teri's POV~

I hang up my phone and take a deep breath. I feel so sick to my stomach, but I push that aside. Why would she do this? I know we were drunk but not that drunk. We both knew what we were doing. She had plenty of time to stop last night. I don't know if I should feel mad or sad. I just know I have to talk to her! I grab a hoodie out of the closet and throw it on with some jeans. I quickly brush my teeth and pull my hair up in a messy bun on top of my head. I grab my keys and run out of the trailer and to my car. When I get in the car I grab my phone again and text her. Im on my way over.. We need to talk!

I start the car and drive a little too quickly to her house. I swear I hit every red light from the studio to her place. My mind was racing. What was I suppose to say? Im sorry we fucked all night, and you cheated on your husband but im in love with you? Or do I get mad that now I feel like last night meant nothing to her because she just up and left this morning without a word? My emotions are so tangled, and I don't know how I feel. I really don't have that much time to figure it out because I pull up in her driveway and notice the front door is cracked open. I get out of the car and walk up to the door "Sherri?!" I call out. Leo runs up to me and I bend down and pet him "Hey big boy, where's mama huh?" I stand up again and head upstairs. I walk into the bedroom, and I hear her sniffling in the bathroom. I had every intention of walking in the house and yelling at her. Telling her how mad I was that she just took off. But as I walk into the bathroom I see her leaning over the toilet throwing up and crying. I kneel down beside her and put my hand on her back. I whisper and brush her hair out of her face "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry love..."

~Sherri's POV~

I try to get up when she enters the bathroom to brush my hair out of my face. I attempt to wash my face and brush my teeth before turning to her, "Please…" I whimper softly. "I can't have you here…" I trail off before she grabs me by my arms and makes me face her. I look away but she places her fingers under my chin and makes me look into her eyes which automatically sends tears running down my face. "What's going on, Sherri?" she whispers to me, and I see a deep sadness boring a hole straight to my heart. I just can't do this….I'm hurting her. I'm hurting myself! What were we thinking? We have to work together, and we were so very very foolish last night….My thoughts are interrupted by her pulling me against her. I hear her heartbeat thudding in my ears, and I stifle back a sob as she smoothes my hair, "Shhhhh, love, don't cry. I'm here."

We stay this way for a bit before I manage to pull away from her and exit the bathroom towards my bed yet again and repeat what I said earlier in my head to her face, "I..I can't..we shouldn't..I've got to sleep…" I fail miserably at this point, and I can see that she is becoming irritated with me. I never have a hard time communicating with her. By now, in our friendship, we can talk about everything; so, she must want to shake me. She comes to my side of the bed and sits on the edge, looking down at me. "Is this what you really want, Sherri?" I can see the pain, the anger, the hurt, all of these emotions swirling around in her beautiful gray eyes as she clears her throat and licks her lips. I make eye contact for a bit before turning my back to her and burying my face in the pillow. I can feel her hand slightly run down my back as she quickly gets up. My sobs become louder as I hear my bedroom door shut. This must be what it feels like to die a slow and torturous death.

~Teri's POV~

I run my hand down her back as if hoping by my touch she will turn around and face me. Hoping she will grab me and tell me not to go, tell me that last night was amazing and that she never wants to let me go. But she does not do this. In fact I feel her tense slightly as i touch her which sends a sharp pain into my heart. I take a deep breath and stand up. I can't do this.. Im so mad and seeing her like this is breaking my heart. I walk out of the room and as I shut the door I hear her sob. I turn back towards the door and lean my forehead on it thinking if I should go back in. I close my eyes and take another deep breath and walk downstairs. I dig in my purse and pull out a small box and card. I had got Sherri a gift for the ending of season 1A. I wipe a tear off my cheek, and I set the gift on the kitchen counter where she will see it.

I left her house and drove home. It was so hard leaving her like that. But I know that what we did was wrong. I know she is married, and I know that she loves Kamar. But this thing between us can't be denied. I love her. I'm in love with her and after last night, I know she loves me too. I have to fight for her but I don't know how at this point. I get home and take a shower. I stand under the water for what seems like hours crying. My whole world feels like it's crashing around me. What did we do last night? I could lose her completely. I can't let that happen. I will fight for her. Once the water runs cold I get out of the shower and wrap a towel around me. I wipe my eyes that are now swollen and red and I grab my phone. I swipe to unlock it and smile as I see a photo collage of the kids and Sherri. The most important things in my life in one picture. I click her name and dial her number and pray she picks up.