Ok here's the next instalment I was kinda hoping I would have gotten a few more reviews for the last chapter I wrote but hey I guess that happens slightly dissapointing but meh.
anyway here's the next bit almost done I think... hope it's too your liking :)
Linka walked over to the far corner of the outdoor area and sat heavily on the stone bench burying her head in her hands. She silently watched the tears leave wet almost perfect circles on the newly cleaned ground.
Linka knew she was being irrational, although whenever it came to Wheeler it seemed to be a permanent state of mind. The last time she felt like this for a guy, she almost lost everything and never wanted to have to go through that again.
She was torn. Continue what she had been doing for the last 6 years... love someone but never admit it or give in and risk a broken heart?
It wasn't until Gi's little outburst that it seemed to become clear why she always chose denial over the truth and it boiled down to one person.
A tissue suddenly appeared dangling in front of Linka's face; she accepted it but did not need to look up as she already knew who provided her with it.
"Thanks Chelly" she muttered as she loudly blew her nose.
Chelly sat down on the bench a little up from Linka and casually flung one foot to rest on his knee as he spread his arms along the back of the bench.
"He's not Ivan, you know that right?"
"Da, but he is exactly like him" Linka kept her head in her hands as she spoke.
Chelly gave a little laugh which caused Linka to look up and cast him an evil glare.
"I don't think anyone could be like Ivan, especially that Yankee of yours."
"How would you know? You only met him once and he was so rude to you."
Chelly shrugged "I just do."
Linka didn't bother responding, instead she turned her eyes towards the stained- glass windows.
"Look Linka, what I have to tell you... it's hard for me to say. But I think you should know..." Chelly paused taking a deep breath before continuing "I love you. I always have and probably always will... on some level at least, so you have to listen to what I have to say."
Linka startled by the declaration she turned to her old friend but couldn't find the words to respond "but.. we.. I mean you..."
Chelly held up a hand to silence her and gave a little smile, finding Linka's response amusing
"I know. That boat sailed a long time ago, and I've dealt with it and moved on. But you can't do that with Wheeler."
"Ship"
"Huh, what's a ship?" Chelly gave Linka a confused look, not understanding what she was talking about.
"The saying, it's 'that ship has sailed', not boat. Sorry, I'm used to Wheeler correcting me all the time. Very rarely do I get to do it to someone else" Linka informed him.
He gave a little laugh "See? You just proved my point. If you didn't truly care for the guy, you wouldn't keep finding some way of bringing him into the conversation."
"Loving the Yankee isn't my problem" she cast her eyes down again as another tear slid down her cheek.
"He isn't Ivan and this isn't high school and it's certainly not our little home town of Kashin. I know that ublyudok hurt you and believe me when I say if I could've changed what happened I would have."
Anger flashed into those pretty blue-green eyes as she spun to face Chelly
"Ivan almost destroyed my life! I know I'm being over dramatic, but he said he loved me. How could anyone who claims to love someone do something like that?"
Chelly sat there in silence and waited for Linka to continue, but she retreated into the bad memories that were truly a living nightmare.
Ivan was one the popular guys at school, good looking, charismatic, athletic, an outrageous flirt and what Linka thought at the time, a genuinely nice guy. He knew Linka was very straight down the line but he claimed that's what he liked about her. He also quite liked the idea of dating a girl that knew her way around a dance floor and therefore he assumed the bedroom, but that thought he kept to himself.
He became quite possessive of Linka. He would watch her practise dancing and each time he did, unbeknownst to Linka, Ivan become excessively jealous, he would threaten or with his posse would often beat up Chelly if Ivan thought he was putting his hands in places that were 'Ivan's territory'.
It came to the point where Ivan propositioned Linka almost forcing her into something she didn't want to do. Building up the courage she told him no and refused his advances. His jealousy and bruised ego kicked in, claiming she wouldn't be with him because she was sleeping with her dance partner, despite knowing that it was far from the truth.
Although, rumours can be ugly things.
Sordid stories about Linka and her 'extra- curricular activities' quickly circulated around the school and were past around to the gossips of the town to ensure it would spread further and quicker in a shorter period of time.
It was a small town with high morals and virtue was a respected notion. As Linka's family was highly recognised and well respected in the community, any whisper of controversy spread like wild fire.
The unsavoury stories took on a life of their own, as they were embellished with each telling. Ranging from Linka and Chelly using 'dance practice' as an excuse for the couple to be intimate on school grounds - to Linka being pregnant but to prevent falling from grace she had it 'dealt' with.
When the last particular story reached the school principal, a strict catholic, Linka was pulled into the office suspended for 3 weeks for 'her acts', which happened to be during examination preparation classes and was forbidden to compete or practice dancing. If she showed up on school grounds she was threatened with expulsion, which would result in her failing her school year, jeopardising her almost perfect academic record.
As she walked around the town square the older women who once looked at Linka with respect, would now simply look at her with disgust and would cross the road to avoid her and her family. Some of the kids from school and older men would spit at her as she walked by. They were ostracised from the close net community. It went as far as Linka being asked to leave the Sunday church mass.
It had been a living hell for Linka and as a result of missing classes and the teachers refusing to help her catch up, she missed out on receiving a much needed scholarship for her to receive the tertiary education she desperately wanted. If it weren't for the strong will and love of her beloved family and close friends all standing up for her honour, Linka knew without a doubt she would not have made it through the ordeal in one piece.
All of this came from one jealous act of someone she loved and who claimed to love her in return.
Wheeler could become quite jealous and at times irrationally so. She had seen it on many occasions. He would never do something like this to her, she was sure that he wouldn't... but that's what she thought about Ivan.
She loved Wheeler, she couldn't deny that. But was it enough?...
"Are you back yet?"
Chelly's voice penetrated her thoughts, causing Linka to blink a few times as she regained focus and slowly came out of her thoughts.
"He wouldn't do that. He has no malice bone in his body and you know that" he gently added.
Linka could feel her heart beat faster, as her breathing started to become shallow and faster causing her to feel dizzy.
Grabbing the back of her head Chelly forced it between her legs and instructed her to take slow deep breaths.
"I can't Chelly, I just can't" she begun to weep as the pent up anguish begun to flow.
The muscle in Chelly's jaw tightened and his heart restricted as he placed a kiss on her temple. Pulling her close, he held her until he could no longer feel the shaking of her shoulders and the sobbing ebbed.
Having no idea how long they had been outside for they decided to slowly make their way back inside. Having collected the keys from Chelly, Linka headed back to his apartment.
Chelly walked her out to the front of street and watched her walk along the footpath, once she turned the corner and was out of sight he walked back inside and over to the bar.
"Can I have the phone? I need to make a call" the determined look on Chelly's face stopped Madeline from asking any probing questions, Amadine already had the phone in her hand, she held it out to him and gave a small nod of approval.
With a grim look he gave a gruff "thanks" as he started dialling the number.