If Only
Shelby stared at him in shock. It wasn't that she didn't know what she wanted, it was only that she had never gotten what she wanted. It all seemed too good to be true. Scotts pleading eyes stared down at her waiting for any kind of sign that she would spend the rest of her life with him. Just as Shelby opened her mouth to answer there was a pounding on her bedroom door.
Shelby opened it quickly to see Daisy standing there out of breath and wide-eyed.
***
Ezra stood waiting for Shelby to arrive. He knew she wouldn't be alone, that her precious Scott would no doubt be lurking in the distance to protect her. He turned around hearing footsteps, there she was as moody as always.
" Well Shelby its good to see you" Ezra said
" Lets get to the point here" Shelby said. " What exactly is it that you want?"
" Now, now Mrs. Merrick I suggest you be nice to me" Ezra snickered. " Or your precious Scott who I'm sure is around here somewhere will be spending a very long time in the federal penitentiary" At this Shelby's heart dropped as much as she hid it from him she was scared of what would happen to Scott if anything ever got out. He would go to jail for the rest of his life because he was protecting her. Worst of all her dream of one day becoming his wife and having his children would never come true.
" What do you want?" Shelby asked
" 40,000 dollars" Ezra said.
" WHAT?" Shelby yelled. " Your crazy I don't have that kind of money"
" Well you better find it, or kiss your sweet Scott goodbye" Ezra laughed a little. " I'll be in touch"
***
Shelby cried all the way home in the car. Scott tried to talk to her, and ask her what he had said but she would only shake her head and say nothing. When they got home everyone sat in the living room of her apartment waiting for news. Everyone was scared they would be found out, they would all be in trouble but more so Scott.
" So?" Auggie asked anxiously. Jules slapped him in the back of the head. "OW!"
" What does he want Shelby?" Scott asked.
" 40,000 dollars" Shelby whispered but the room was so quiet that everyone heard her.
" What!!??" Juliet yelled. " None of us have that kind of money, what the hell are we gonna do?"
Scott pulled Shelby into his arms as she began to cry again. He rubbed her back trying to sooth her but knowing there was no way it would work. He was scared himself, not of jail, but of a life without Shelby.
" Everybody just calm down." David sighed. " This is insane we are not giving him any money"
" David we have to" Daisy sighed.
" How do we even know he knows anything, ya maybe he's on us but I don't think he has completely figured it out yet. I mean this isn't like him there must be some kind of reason he would black mail you"
***
Shelby came out of Scott's bathroom in her pajamas and climbed into his bed. She was feeling a little scared and asked Scott if she could stay with him. He walked into the room and shut the door behind him. He picked up a pillow and sat down next to her.
" I'll be rite outside on the couch if you need me" Scott said sweetly.
" The couch?" Shelby asked. Scott nodded. " No! I want you to stay with me" She said beginning to pout. " Please?" She asked crawling into his lap and kissing his neck.
" That's not fair" Scott laughed. " Ok, Ok!" He layed down next to her and turned off the light. She crawled into his arms and sighed happily. Maybe she would loose him soon she began to think, if she didn't get that money she would.
" Baby, I know that this is a bad time and that your really stressed out, so no pressure but I just want you to know that what I asked you this morning I was serious about, I want you to be my wife." Scott whispered.
Shelby looked up at him and began to kiss him passionatley as he rolled over ontop of her. Shelby stopped and looked up at him anxiously with pleading eyes. He was the only guy who she had ever actually wanted to make love to her.
" Yes" she said. " I'll marry you"