Unfinished
Chapter 5
It's nice to see your face again.
Tell me how long has it been.?
Since you've been here.
You look so different than before.
You're still the person
I adore.
frozen with fear.
Finished reading her latest letter. Sent chills and a feeling of protectiveness through him. He needed to do more than just write back. Opening the front door of his house. Keys in one hand the letter in the other. He would follow this address and talk to her in person. She deserved that amount of effort and proof that she was truly cared for from someone who wanted nothing more than to help and be there for her. Following the address on the envelope.
He drove and drove. Hours later he had arrived. The morning sun beaming brightly. Parking the car. In the street. He quickly crossed over. Taking a breath. Hopeful that Quinn was home. Because otherwise explaining why he was there would mean revealing what she had told him. And he didn't feel right about doing that. Walking up the stairs. He stood at the front door. Of a house, he didn't recognize. Then began knocking on the door.
Serena's face was tear streak. She felt empty. When it came to this.
She would always hurt in the same intensity. No amount of time would change that. Sighing as she looked at one last picture. Then put it away.
The sound of knocking at the door. Sent her scrambling.
Quinn was gone already. Chuck was in New York.
Serena was in no mood for surprises.
Especially not after the night she had.
Stomping loudly to the bathroom.
As she splashed water on her face. Pulling her robe on.
Over her night gown. Her feet in slippers. Quickly tying her hair in messy ponytail. Heading out of her room and straight for the door.
Down the steps. Following the knocking. Taking a breath.
As she opened the front door. The sight of the other person on the other end. Left her speechless. Every word she tried to speak. Didn't form.
Her heart felt like it would fly across the room. Her hands sweating.
Her eyes locked. Feeling the need to cover herself. The other person starting to speak.
Taken aback at the sight of her. Unable to recall how long exactly it had been.
His eyes scanning her. Wanting to smile at the expression on her face. She was speechless.
That was a rare event. Especially when it came to the two of them. Her arms were crossed. Her eyes had yet to leave mine.
"Serena." I said softly. "What are you doing here.?" I asked curious.
"Nate." I said. Quietly as if it was a secret. "I live here."
I said. Staring back at him.
"Why are you here at my door at this early hour.?"
I asked. Feeling a variety of emotions.
"I wanted to apologize." "For everything that happened."
"Between us and finally explain myself."
I said to her. Not realizing how much there was behind my words.
Noticing her react to my words. As she started to speak.
"I don't know what game you're playing but I'm done."
"I won't give you the opportunity to break my heart again."
"I don't need your apology because obviously, I never meant anything."
"To you at all after everything you put me through."
"I don't want to see you or talk to you."
Serena said. Wiping her eyes.
"Everything that happened was me trying to be enough for you."
"I wanted to protect you and love you and to make you happy."
"But of course you only made it seem like you were in love with me too."
"Only for you to marry Dan and live happily ever after."
"I'm sure you're parents were beside themselves."
"The son in law of their dreams."
"You were happy so I stayed away."
"And build a life for myself too."
"One where you were missing."
"But I moved on because I had no other choice."
"Just like you I don't regret my life and the family that was built."
"Because of it." "Don't blame me that your unhappiness is so visible to me."
"I knew you really well once."
Nate said.
"I wrote you a letter before the wedding."
"And you never wrote one back."
"Or let me know how you felt."
"None of this matters."
"We are not those people anymore."
"18 years is a lifetime."
"We've both become we are."
"And it's probably for the best we leave things in the past."
"Where it's safest."
Serena said.
"What's the real reason why you're here.?"
"You had no idea I lived here."
"So tell me the truth.?"
Serena said. Looking at him.
"I came here because you needed to know."
"That I would do it all again."
"And I love you."
"Even if me saying this means things stay the way they are."
"I wasn't going to say anything."
"But after reading Quinn's latest letter."
"I couldn't stay away."
Nate said. As he handed it to her.
And told her to read it.
Watching as she unfolded the letter and started to read.
Quinn and Chuck
"Not that I don't love visits from you."
"But this seems a little out of nowhere."
"Even for you Quinnie." Chuck said to her.
As she sat next to him.
On the couch in his home.
"No one knows that I'm here."
"And I don't want them to."
"At least not right now."
"I have to show you something."
Quinn said. As she began to wipe the make-up off her face.
And wrists. She then began to speak.
"Why is your face looking like this and your bruised and wincing."
Chuck said looking to her.
Taking a breath.
Not wanting to face him. So she looked away. Her voice shaky.
"This happened the other night."
"I was over a Zander's and things between us changed."
"He became this person I didn't know."
"Pushy and aggressive, when I didn't do what he wanted."
"He did all of this slapped me and gripped my wrists hard enough to bruise them."
"If I didn't get up when I did and yell at him and try to defend myself he would of done a lot more than that."
"He said he was in charge." "That I needed to cover up."
"Because I was his." "I should be grateful he even gives me attention at all." "He said he loved me." "If that's true."
"How could he do that to me uncle Chuck.?"
Quinn asked him. Her voice breaking. As she wiped her eyes.
Looking up at him.
Trying to control his emotion. As he began to speak.
"Guys like that look for girls that they think will do whatever they say and who will be easily controllable."
"That isn't love Quinnie."
"That's delusion and sickness and just wrong."
"Any man who puts his hands on a woman in this way."
"Isn't worth the air they breathe or being called a man at all."
Wrapping his arms around her tightly.
"Thank you trusting and telling me."
"You stay here relax and spend some time with Henry and Doretha."
"I promise you he will never lay his hands on you again."
"You go on I'll see you later." "I love you Quinn."
"I love you too." "Uncle Chuck." "And thank you."
Quinn said as she started going up the stairs.
"Cousin Quinn." Henry said happily.
Closing the door behind them.
She was safe. Now he would handle it.
Knowing what he looked like and where he lived.
Chuck began to drive. Taking deep breaths as he drove.
Trying to not take off his steering wheel.
With the amount of anger he felt.
Parking in the street. Away from other cars.
Walking slowly up the stairs. As he knocked on door.
His knocks calm and unassuming.
The door opened quickly.
Zander appearing with a look of surprise on his face.
"Mr. Bass what are you doing here.?" he asks curiously.
"Well I just figured it's been some time since we've talked and I thought it was long overdue." Chuck said. Smiling.
"Alright." "Come in Zander said. Closing the door behind him.
"So Zander you care for my niece don't you.?" Chuck asked.
"Yea I love her very much."
Zander said. Looking back at him.
"Cut the act you son of a bitch!" Chuck yelled.
"I saw her face and her wrists."
"I know who you are really."
Chuck said as he got up.
"Listen she's naïve she doesn't understand the way relationships work."
"I'm the boss of her she answers to me and I speak for her."
"I think it would be best if you stay out of our relationship."
"You want some truth."
"She was being a tease so I knocked some sense into her."
"Which is surprising considering what a whore her mom is."
"It's that simple really just teaching her a lesson."
Zander said smiling with pride.
"Wow you are a real deranged person."
"I would be doing the world a favor if I got rid of you."
"But I won't kill you."
"I will simply beat you until you have an idea of what you do to women."
Chuck said.
As Zander shook his head. And began to laugh. Throwing his head back.
Just then balled his fists and punched him over and over again.
Eventually going home.
….