Belle reclined on Shawn's sofa as he paced across the living room. "Shawn, please. Calm down."
Shawn stopped and flung Belle's picture on the table as Belle rolled her eyes at the Brady temper. "Calm down? Some creep is carrying around a picture of my girlfriend and you want me to calm down?"
"Yes!" Belle said, standing up to put her hands on Shawn's shoulders. "Look, I told you. Sam's on yearbook, right?" Shawn nodded. "Well, the staff has pictures they want to put on the collage page, right?" Shawn clenched his jaw and nodded again. "And they need to the student's permission to put their picture on the page. He was probably going to ask me before you came over, Tough Boy."
Shawn gave an 'a-ha' look. "Oh, yeah? Then why didn't Sam just ask you while I was there?"
Belle sighed in exasperation. "Why are you looking for reasons to be jealous? He probably just got nervous, he's really shy. You know that."
Shawn sighed in defeat. "You're right," he admitted. "I'm sorry, I don't know what all that was about."
"Maybe misplaced jealously," she pointed out.
"I'm sorry, baby. Let's just drop it," he said, wrapping Belle into a hug.
Belle grinned. "About time."
Shawn pointed down at the floor. "So, you're going to help me finish this poster or what?"
"Help you?" Belle laughed in disbelief. "That's my artwork," she said proudly, pointing at the half-done poster of the former President.
"No, I drew the White House," Shawn said in defense with a pout.
"Oh, is that what that is?" Belle teased, leaning closer to the posterboard.
"Hey, hey, no ragging on my skills," Shawn joked, lifting Belle up from behind. She screamed and started kicking her legs as Shawn flopped her over his shoulder. "Funny how we're alone in the house...no parents, no baby...and all we're doing in homework," Shawn said mischievously.
Belle groaned. "Is that all you think about?"
"Did you remember that I am a seventeen-year-old guy with a hot girlfriend? Pretty much, yeah," Shawn joked as Belle tried to swat his shoulder without falling.
Suddenly, Belle's cell phone rang from her bag. "Can you get that?" Shawn slowly leaned over, making sure he wouldn't drop Belle from over his shoulder. "Just dig around in there." Shawn opened the purse to find a mountain of girlie stuff.
"Geez, the new Wonder of the World: The Bottomless Purse." Shawn shifted through make-up and brushes. He began pulling things out as the phone continued to ring and Belle giggled at Shawn's frustration. "Ew!" he screamed, flinging a tampon across the room. Belle rolled her eyes as Shawn made a disgusted face. Finally, he grabbed the phone and flipped it open. "Hello?" he asked. Nothing. "Hello?"
"Um...is B-Belle there?"
"Yeah, hold on a sec." Shawn gently put Belle down and handed her the phone.
"Hello?" Belle chirped.
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
Belle swallowed at the sound of the breathing. "Who is this?" The breathing grew more shallow on the other line. "Hello?" Belle asked again, her voice cracking with fear. She turned to Shawn with frightened eyes and Shawn took the phone. "Hey, who is this?" he demanded.
"Back off. Your Perfect Girl is going to be mine."
Click.
Brady pulled away and looked over Christina's shoulder to see Heather's back going into the kitchen. He wondered if she saw. Some of the customers in the restaurant applauded Christina and Brady's kiss and dance and they sheepishly took their seats.
"Well," Christina said with a laugh.
Brady stared at the kitchen's doors. Did she see or not?
Christina threw her hands up. "That's it. I give up."
"Huh?"
"Brady, what's the color of my eyes?" Christina asked, immediately shutting them.
Dammit, Brady thought. "Um...hazel?"
Christina opened her eyes to reveal a pair of angry brown eyes. "Am I wearing a skirt or pants? And don't look under the table."
"Um...pants?" Brady guessed.
Christina made a buzzer sound and stood up to reveal a knee-length skirt. "Geez, Brady, do you even remember my name?"
"Christina!" he said proudly.
"At least you paid attention to something," Christina mumbled. "Why did you even ask me here? Were you in the mood for Italian and just didn't have anyone to go with? Or this some sort of mean joke?"
"Christina, I--"
"Thanks a lot, Brady. What a date! I might have well came by myself. I'd probably have a much better time!" Christina yelled.
"Christina, I'm sorry!" Brady suddenly felt very guilty. Here was an innocent, kind, pretty girl and he was just using her. "Look...honestly? I brought you here...to make my ex-girlfriend jealous."
Christina stared at him blankly. She then grabbed her jacket off the back of her chair. "Good-bye, Brady," she said steadily.
"Wait! Please, I'm really sorry."
"Oh, are you?" she asked coldly.
"Yes, I am. I shouldn't have used you like I did...you're a great girl and deserve more than me being selfish."
Christina plopped down in her chair. "You got that right," she muttered.
"You're staying?" Brady asked hopefully. He wanted to make it up to her since he wasn't being fair before. Thanks to Heather, shades of the Old-Brady were coming through and he wanted to treat Christina with...respect.
"I have no way of getting home since you picked me up," she pointed out.
"Look, Christina, I really am sorry. Let's start over." Christina still looked skeptical. "I swear. This date will be you and me from now on, not you, me and Heather."
Before she could respond, two plates of spaghetti plopped down on the table. The two looked up to see Heather with a fake grin on her face.
Christina, not noticing the mock smile, pointed at the spaghetti. "Um, we didn't order anything yet," she said kindly.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Heather gushed with syrupy sweetness. Brady cleared his throat. "Well, my treat," she continued, batting her lashes.
"Really?" Christina asked suspiciously. Some strange waitress handing out free food?
"Sure! Sort of a congratulations," Heather smiled.
"Congratulations?"
"Yes. Congrats, Chris. You've been kissed by a horrible, whiny, pathetic, bitchy, sad excuse for a man," Heather spat, never taking her eyes off of Brady.
Oops, he thought. Plan Backfiring! May Day! May Day!
Christina's eyes were full of realization. "Oh...you're Heather..."
"Yes, yes I am. Did Brady tell you that before or after he mauled you?"
Christina decided to keep her mouth shut and let Brady and Heather work it out. Besides, Heather's angry eyes were still locked on Brady.
"Heather, not here," Brady pleaded.
"Oh? Why not?" Heather asked, putting her hands on her hips. "You can make out with some chick here, but I can't yell at you here?"
"Why do you care? You're not my girlfriend anymore," Brady pointed out.
"Oh, give it up, Brady! We had a fight! It's not like I don't love you anymore," Heather blurted out.
Christina buried her face in her hands. This couldn't get any more uncomfortable.
Brady stared at Heather. "Y-you do?" he finally got out.
Shalini came up behind Heather with a tray. "Heath," she said gently. "You better get working or you're gonna get fired. This new manager's a bitch."
"Shalini, meet Brady Black," Heather said tensely.
Shalini's memory was flooded with talks about the infamous Brady. "Oh...kick his ass," she decided before going to serve the soup of the day. Brady ignored the waitress and the girl across from him. All he could see was Heather, his Heather. Who was still in love with him. "Heather--"
"But obviously, you don't love me back."
"That's not true!" Brady protested.
Heather laughed bitterly. "Really?! You show love by kissing another girl? You show love by being an asshole to me? You need some help on the definition of love, then, Brady...you're a little off!"
Brady tried to get his plan back on track. "Heather, you're just yelling out of jealously. Just calm--"
"Screw you, Brady," Heather said lowly, before lifting the plate of spaghetti and dumping it over his head. Brady sat there in surprise and Christina sighed miserably as Heather ripped off her apron and ran out of the restaurant crying.
Christina stared at a shocked spaghetti-wearing Brady with a smirk on her face.
"So," she said, opening her menu calmly. "Now that you've had dinner, what do you want for dessert?"
"They're arguing right now near the side entrance," Philip offered. Jason still stared at the napkin in front of him.
She called me wonderful. A small smile creeped over his face. Mimi called me wonderful. No one ever called me that before...but she did.
Jason flung open the car door and Philip immediately grabbed onto his arm. "Woah, dude, where are you going?"
"To see Mimi," he answered simply.
"You're crazy! She'd flip if she saw you here! Mimi knew that you knew that she and Ethan were going out to dinner tonight. She'll realize that you were spying on her," Philip pointed out.
"But I didn't know they were coming here," Jason shot back before happily climbing out his car. "Mimi will be happy to have me save her from boring old Sweater Vest," he called.
"What did you say?!" Ethan's voice rang out. Mimi bit her lip...that kiss was...awful. With Jason, it was exciting and passionate, but sweet and gentle. And before she knew it, Mimi had been daydreaming about Jason's kisses and was breathing his name. "I said..."
"Jason's name!" Ethan roared.
"Ethan," Mimi said carefully. She never saw so much rage in someone's eyes before.
"Where do you get off calling me that while you're kissing me?"
"Ethan, leave her alone," a shaky voice called out. Mimi and Ethan looked over to see a tearstained Heather and Ethan marched over to the girl.
"Don't tell me what to do, Heath."
"I'm not scared of you anymore," Heather announced, clenching her fist.
Ethan smirked and gave her a hard hit across the face. Mimi cried out as the side of Heather's head made contact with the wall. Heather sunk to the floor and Ethan turned to Mimi, who backed up a few steps in fear.
Jason jogged to the building. Mimi, will you be my girlfriend? Too simple. Mimi, you're amazing and-- He heard a cry. Jason looked up to see Mimi and Ethan a few feet away and Heather on the ground. He frowned in confusion.
"So, Meems, tell me. Who was the better kisser?" Jason slowly realized what was happening when he heard Ethan's tone of voice. No...it couldn't be.
Mimi straightened up bravely and shot Ethan an angry glare. "Jason."
Before Jason could smile, Ethan backhanded Mimi across the face.
Chapter 33
Christina wiped the last of the sauce off of Brady's face and sighed. "There, got it," she said grumpily. Brady pulled another noodle from off of his head and threw it onto the plate. "Thanks," he muttered.
"That's one interesting ex ya got there, Brady." Brady smiled sadly in agreement. "What did you do to her?"
"What?" Brady spat.
"Oh, c'mon. I doubt she just goes dumping spaghetti on all her customers," Christina pointed out as Brady laughed at the image.
"You never know with that girl's temper."
"Sorta like yours," Christina said carefully.
"How would--"
"Belle shared some stories," Christina said simply.
Brady tilted his head back and looked up at the ceiling. "Yeah, we're both really stubborn people. I guess it's always been an obstacle between us."
Christina shook her head. "Look. So you have some problems...every couple does. The only thing that matters now is that she loves you."
Brady rose his eyebrows skeptically. "Said my date."
"Brady, I think we both know that I'm not here to be your date," Christina said with an edge to her tone. "Might as well make you open your eyes since I've got nothing else to do here."
"You know I'm sorry about that, right?"
"Yeah, yeah. Stop apologizing and go fix this," Christina said, a smile involuntarily crawling over her face. Belle had always said matchmaking was to Christina as shopping was to Belle.
Brady frowned in surprise. "Are you sure?"
Christina gave a small smile and nodded slightly. "I'll call up Jessica and get her to pick me up."
"I feel bad just deserting you."
"Wouldn't you feel worse if you never saw Heather again?" Christina pointed out. Brady let her words sink in as Christina got up to find a payphone.
"Wait!" he shouted, springing up and grabbing her elbow. Brady kissed Christina softly on the lips and gave her a grateful smile. "Thank you."
Christina just smiled back and turned to find the phones. Brady ran off to find Heather...the woman he loved and always did.
Philip plopped down across from Chloe. "Well, I called the chauffeur, he's bringing the limo up."
Chloe looked up from her dinner in surprise. "Why aren't we just going home with Jason?"
"He might, um, take while."
"Take a while doing--oh, geez. Tell me he's not going to talk to Mimi."
Philip shrugged. "He's not going to talk to Mimi." Chloe sighed in relief but Philip continued. "He's going to ask Mimi out instead."
Chloe dropped her fork. "With Ethan there?"
Philip took a sip from his water. "I don't think Jason really gives a damn."
"I never thought...I mean...Jason Welles and Mimi Lockhart."
Philip shook his head. "Tell me about it. Hopefully, Meems won't reject him." He looked at his watch. "Soooo, baby, tell me what time exactly do you want me over?"
Chloe swallowed nervously. "Um...well, before midnight because I don't really want to wait." Philip grinned and his eyes were full of curiosity. "But," she continued. "After ten o'clock...I have to, uh, get something at the store."
Mimi fell to the ground and stayed there in shock. She never had been hit before and it definitely didn't feel wonderful. Her face stung and tears immediately fell from her eyes.
It took Jason all of five seconds to pounce on to Ethan, knocking them both to the ground.
"You asshole!" he screamed, bringing his fist down on Ethan's face again and again. All that ran through his mind was the image of Mimi being hit. His only thought was this jackass hurt his Mimi and now Ethan was going to answer to him.
Ethan whined as blood began to cover his face, which made Jason hit him even harder. "What's the matter, Ethan? Can dish it out on a girl but can't take a man?" Ethan tried to throw a punch towards Jason, but he easily dodged it. "Those years of law school ain't helping now, are they?!" Jason continued to pound Ethan's face, ignoring his groans of pain.
"JASON!" A scream froze Jason's actions. He looked over his shoulder to see Mimi sitting up against the wall. One side of her face was red and tears were streaming down her cheeks. Jason lifted himself off of Ethan and crawled towards Mimi.
"Jason..." she said again quietly, sniffing. Ethan groaned again from behind them.
Jason carefully placed his hand on the spot where Mimi was hit. "Are y-you okay?"
Mimi wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. "You really kicked his ass," she said with a soft laugh. Jason smiled slightly, but his face was covered with concern. He gently ran his hand through Mimi's hair.
"Why did you say...my name, Meems?" he scolded lightly. "You knew he'd get mad."
Mimi looked up and shook her head. "Don't you remember Lesson Number 18?" she joked.
"Never lie to your date," they said together. Mimi's eyes widened in surprise that Jason remembered. They stared at each other in silence before another moan broke the gaze. "Obviously, Khaki Boy forgot The Universal Lesson: Never hit your date." Jason's eyes darkened and Mimi grabbed his arm.
"It's okay, Jase. I'm okay now."
"Your okay now? Mimi, you were backhanded by some bastard yuppie and you're just okay now?" Jason asked in disbelief.
"I just meant...I'm okay now b-because you're h-here," she stammered. Jason gulped and tried to think of something to say. Something clever, comforting...anything!
Suddenly Mimi gasped. "Heather!"
Jason looked over to the collapsed Heather and he and Mimi immediately scrambled to her side. They didn't even notice as a bloody Ethan began to drag himself to a standing position near the wall. Jason gently moved Heather's face to see that the hit against the wall left a big gash on the side of her head. Mimi began to cry and Jason was begging Heather to wake up as he smoothed out her hair, half of which was matted down with blood.
"What the hell is going on?"
Mimi, Jason and Ethan looked up to see a shocked Brady.
"Well?" Belle asked impatiently. "Who was it?"
Shawn muttered something to himself and ran his hand through his hair. "D-don't worry about it. Let's get back to the project."
Belle crossed her arms. "Okay, now I know something's up. The day you're wanting to do homework is the day Brady and Mom share a loving hug. Now, who was it?"
"Sam," Shawn sighed.
"What?" Belle asked skeptically.
"I mean, he didn't tell me it was him. But I recognized his voice," Shawn said. "Even though it wasn't the shy, quiet voice we're used to."
"What do you mean?"
Shawn looked up at the ceiling. "Let's just say Sam's voice can get a very threatening edge to it."
Belle's eyes were immediately filled with concern. "Threatening? He threatened you?" Shawn just looked down at his feet and Belle grew panicked. "Shawn! What did he say?!"
"That...you'll soon be his," Shawn muttered angrily through his teeth.
Belle slowly plopped down on the couch. The room was full of silence until Belle finally spoke up. "Are you sure it was Sam? I mean, Shawn, he's so harmless!" she protested.
Shawn nodded. "I'm positive, Belle. I'm also positive I'm going to kick that bastard's ass."
Belle sighed. "Shawn..." she warned.
"Look, Belle, I know you're not a big fan of violence, but he's threatening to take you away from me," Shawn protested.
Belle wrapped her arms around Shawn's neck and lightly kissed his nose. "It doesn't matter, Shawn. No one could ever take me away from you."
"So you're not scared?" Shawn asked.
Belle shook her head rapidly and Shawn chuckled as her hair whipped him in his face. "He'll get over it, Shawn. Trust me. He's just...lonely."
"That's no reason to carry around your picture, somehow get your cell phone number and start calling you," Shawn pointed out, tightening his grip on Belle protectively.
Belle dramatically rolled her eyes and grabbed Shawn's collar. "Shawn. Please stop talking about this. Fine, so Sam's a little weird and he made a prank call. It's no reason to call up your dad and file a report, okay?"
Shawn flashed a mischievous grin. "You know, you're cute when you're upset."
Belle rose her eyebrows mockingly. "Are you saying I'm not always cute?" she joked.
Shawn took one look into her piercing blue eyes and buried his face against Belle's neck. "I'm saying that I'm done talking for tonight," he growled against her skin.
Belle swallowed and closed her eyes. She never knew how to react when Shawn got like this...which was pretty often, lately. It drove her crazy but the fire between them was growing more each day and both of them knew it. Shawn was, of course, more comfortable with that fact but Belle wasn't sure if it meant they should take their relationship to the next level.
Belle opened her eyes to find her staring into Shawn's worried expression. "Are you okay, babe?" Belle smiled at Shawn's concern...he always knew when to continue or when to back off.
"I'm okay...I was just thinking," she replied.
"Well, penny for your thoughts," Shawn said softly, brushing her hair back behind her ear.
"Truth? I'm a little...scared. I guess," Belle stammered.
"Scared? Scared of what? Of Sam?" Shawn said, straightening up. Belle tried not to giggle when Shawn went into instant protective mode.
"Of us...I mean...everything seems to be moving so fast, that I don't know what to do. I mean, if I should--if we should..." Belle said nervously.
Shawn gently took her chin in his hand and smiled. "Belle, sweetie, I love you. And you know you're not obligated to do anything you're not ready for."
Belle smiled out of relief. "How did I get so lucky? Most boyfriends would--"
"I don't care what most boyfriends would do. Belle, it took us our whole lives to get where we are now. I want you to be happy...I don't want you to regret a thing," Shawn said, never taking his eyes of off Belle's face.
Belle leaned her forehead against Shawn's. "I love you," she whispered. Her cell phone rang again and Belle frowned. Shawn sighed out of frustration and grabbed the phone.
"Listen, why don't you just leave Belle alone?" Shawn spat.
Silence.
"Well? Speak up, I'm not in the mood for your games."
After a long pause, a voice answered. "S-Shawn?"
Shawn closed his eyes in embarrassment. "Oh. Hey, Chloe." Belle couldn't help but to burst out in laughter.
"Um...is everything all right?" she asked in confusion.
"Yeah, don't worry about it," he assured her. "Here's Belle."
"Hey, Chloe," Belle chirped.
"Hey, Belle...look, what are you doing tonight?"
Belle bit her lip. "Well, me and Shawn were just finishing up our project for History. Why?"
"Well, I just got home from the Olive Garden and I need your help. Could you come over in an hour?"
"Um...hold on a sec," Belle said, and then turned to Shawn who was working on the poster. "Do you think we can finish this in an hour? Chloe needs my help." Shawn gave her the thumbs-up and Belle returned to the cell phone. "I'll be there."
Chloe and Belle walked into the grocery store while Belle was being as perky as ever. "I can't believe you're going to do this, Chloe!" she squealed. "Wow...I mean...wow. Are you nervous?"
"I'm scared to death," Chloe admitted.
Belle pointed to the shopping bag that Chloe was carrying. "Well, that is definitely a good choice." Belle and Chloe had stopped at the mall before going to the grocery store.
Chloe looked down at the bag. "Are you sure it's...well, is it...?"
Belle sighed. "Chloe, like I said a million times in the dressing room, it's sexy without being slutty. Philip will love it."
Chloe nodded and led Belle down an aisle. Both of them grabbed a handful of things off the shelf and kept walking. Chloe was still nervous. "But is the whole plan too...cliche?"
Belle took something else and shook her head. "No! It's so romantic! Besides, I don't think Philip will be like, 'Chloe, next time you decide to seduce me, can you get a little more creative?'"
Chloe let out a laugh and smacked Belle on the arm. "Cute."
Belle grinned and tilted her head to the side. "I thought so." The girls stopped in front of a display and both took a deep breath. "There's so many," Belle pointed out, staring at the condoms.
Chloe let her eyes wander over the boxes. "Um..."
Belle took a box and pushed it in Chloe's face. "Does Philip like glow-in-the-dark?" she giggled.
"Belle!" Chloe scolded in a whisper before tossing the box back. Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind. "Belle, someone's going to know I'm buying these."
"Well, we can't steal them."
"They're going to think I'm filming a porn movie," Chloe groaned, pointing at the condoms and then their armful of stuff.
Belle rolled her eyes and took a box of Trojans. "There. The number one trusted condom," she said matter-of-factly.
Chloe gulped and the girls made their way to the cashier, who was a forty-ish woman. "Oh, god, Belle, I can't do this," Chloe protested, blushing at the idea of broadcasting her love life to a stranger.
"What happened to the Chloe that didn't give a poop what people thought about her?" Belle asked. Chloe instantly laughed at Belle's choice of words and Belle smiled that she was able to get Chloe's mind off of the cashier. The girls dumped their items on the conveyer belt and Chloe stared at her shoes nervously. The cashier tiredly rang up her items as Belle waved to two guys from their school an aisle over. The cashier rolled her eyes when the box of condoms wasn't ringing up. She grabbed the speakerphone and turned it on, her bored voice filling the store. "Price Check for Aisle Seven. Trojan Condoms for Aisle Seven, Price Check."
Belle burst into laughter as Chloe looked up, mortified. The boys on the other line cracked up as one shouted to his friend, "K-Man's getting some action tonight!"
Chloe's face turned completely red and felt the need to bolt from the store. She thought she was going to die when an elderly couple behind them began to murmur. "Young kids today and their premarital sexual relations," the man said disapprovingly to his wife.
Belle tried to stifle her laughter for the sake of Chloe's embarrassment, but the situation was just too much--Chloe Lane, usually able to brush off anything coming her way, couldn't bear a box of condoms. Belle finally couldn't hold her laughter anymore when a senior from their school who just got a job at the store ran up to the cashier.
"Here's a new box with the barcode," he said, tossing it to the cashier. He threw a wink in Chloe's direction. "Have fun," he smirked before running off.
Belle leaned against the counter as her laughter grew louder. Chloe glared at her friend as she thought her face was going to burn off from embarrassment. The cashier noticed Chloe's discomfort and patted her hand reassuringly. "At least you're using protection," she offered, giving Chloe her items and receipt. Belle cracked up again as Chloe grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the store.
Ethan instantly felt nauseous. He had a feeling he wasn't going to make it out of this place alive. Brady dropped to his knees next to Heather. "Heath, baby, wake up," he whispered.
Jason swallowed. "Brady--"
"What the hell happened to her, Jase?" Brady demanded. Even though Jason didn't do anything, he backed up a little in fear. He saw Brady's temper in action before and he didn't want to get in his way. Ethan quietly tried to slide against the wall to the parking lot, but being in extreme pain didn't help him out too much.
The three others looked down when they heard Heather mumbling. Brady caressed her cheek with his hand and Heather flinched. "Don't hurt me," she muttered, her eyes fluttering. Brady frowned in confusion. "Who did this?!" he yelled, looking up. Brady and Ethan made eye contact and Brady's eyes clouded in anger. Ethan gulped and Jason took Mimi's arm to move them both aside.
"Gap Boy," Brady fumed.
"I already took care of him," Jason said in vain.
"Not good enough...he's still standing," Brady growled before getting up.
"Brady," Mimi protested. Between Jason and Brady, Ethan would probably take up permanent residence in the hospital. She reminded herself of her cellphone and quickly dialed up an ambulance for Heather, just in case...and likely Ethan.
In six quick steps, Brady grabbed Ethan's shirt and slammed him up against the wall. Ethan yelled out when the back of his head made contact with the building.
"I've been waiting for this day for a long time," Brady muttered.
Ethan wiped the blood from his mouth. "Because Heather ran to me? Just because you couldn't satisfy your woman, Black, doesn't mean--"
Brady responded with a hard punch to Ethan's face. He slammed Ethan up against the wall again. "I think it would be in your best interest not to talk, Gap Boy."
But Ethan couldn't help and enjoy pissing Brady off after all this time, not aware of what Brady's temper could do. "That's what I try to tell Heather. But hitting her always shuts that bitch up."
Ethan felt his stomach drop when Brady's face contorted into an expression of rage he never saw in any person's face before. "Good to know," he roared. "I'll be glad to shut you the hell up!" Brady punched Ethan in the face again and then couldn't stop. His fist grew more powerful with each hit as new blood mixed with old on Ethan's face. When Ethan began to cry from the pain, Brady pulled Ethan away from the wall. "Now you know how Heather feels," Brady whispered, punching Ethan in the face again. Ethan flew to the ground and cried out as pain shot through his body. He felt like he was going to pass out in seconds. Ethan blinked away the blood that covering his face and prayed that was the last hit.
Brady approached Ethan again until he heard a familiar voice.
"Brady?" Heather whispered.
He looked over to see Mimi and Jason hovering over Heather. Brady ran to Heather's side and kneeled next to her. "I'm here, sweetie. I'm right here."
Heather's eyes slowly opened and blinked, trying to focus. "It hurts," she cried, as the side of her head throbbed.
Brady gingerly brushed her hair off of her forehead. "I know it does. But I'm here for you. I'm gonna make you feel better, Heather, I promise."
Heather's vision finally focused on Brady's worried face. "P-promise," she repeated. She broke her gaze from Brady's. "I don't believe in promises anymore."
Heather's words went to straight to Brady's heart as he remembered their one year anniversary.
"Promise me you'll always be here for me, Brady."
"I promise."
"Believe in me, Heather. I'm here..." he whispered, thinking back to the night he made his promise.
"You'll just leave again," Heather said softly, her voice shaky with pain.
"I never left you," Brady protested.
"Yes, you did. You stopped loving me," she said as tears fell down her face. "You hate Marlena too much to love me."
Brady shook his head desperately. "Never. I never stopped loving you."
"I don't want to get hurt again," Heather said, closing her eyes.
"You won't. I love you, Heather--I need you. I can't lose you again. Please...it's always been you. I'm here," Brady pleaded as sirens wailed in the distance.
Heather opened her eyes and watched a tear fall down Brady's face. For the first time since they were dating, Heather felt like she was staring into the real Brady Black's eyes. "You better mean it this time," she said lightly. Brady smiled as he felt another tear fell down his face. "I love you, Brady," Heather said softly.
The sirens grew louder as Brady grabbed Heather's hand, knowing he would never let go again.