Well I totally freaked out people…my little Middle East theme story and the then the whole September 11 thing, was a little too coincidental and so I've been procrastinating and I am so freakin sorry! I got all wrapped up in The Strong Are Saying Nothing I know it's been MONTHS and I'll never do that to ya'll again. Watch for my Christmas fic coming soon and the next chap of The Strong Are Saying Nothing by Lauren and me!

The Absence of Fear

Chapter 9

Shelby walked downstairs in the clothes that she hated so much. Scott was coming, at least she was sure of one thing. But she couldn't act the part of a self assured person, someone who had everything underneath their feet. She had to seem distraught and worried or else Brad would know something was up. He may have been a jerk but he wasn't stupid. Brad was actually very bright; one of the brightest people Shelby had known her entire life. And he was good looking too. But he was so full of hate. Overflowing with hate, that it overpowered his finer points till all that was left was a jerk and a half.

When Brad saw her he gave her what was almost a smile, but not really. Brad never smiled. He was sullen. He thought it made him look more in control; more overpowering. Shelby did not return the smile. She stared at him with her icy blue eyes and didn't move a muscle. They stood there like that for a minute, each trying to get the other to back down first. Brad looked away and so did Shelby.

"Well, you look very nice." He tried to complement her.

Why is he even bothering? What a jackass "Save your breath," Shelby hissed. "I hate you and nothing you say is ever going to change that. EVER." She crossed her arms over her stomach protectively and thought about the two unborn children. Scott's children. Scott. Her Scott.

"Go upstairs and go to bed." He said strangely calm. "I'll be up after a while."

"It's only 7 o'clock."

" I know what time it is. Just DO it, and I'll be up LATER." He said. She could see that familiar rage building in his voice and in his eyes. Even his body language, but Shelby couldn't help it. She always pushed the limits, even when it could get her into trouble.

"I'm locking my door, " she said matter of factly.

"Go ahead. I'll get in if I want to whether you lock it or not." He said. The rage still building. He was on the brink. On the verge of a melt down.

She turned slowly and made her way up the stairs. She couldn't wait any longer. She knew she had to get out. She couldn't wait for Scott. Not after what Brad had said to her. It brought back memories of lying in bed when she was a child waiting for the door to creak open and the monster that haunted her dreams to come in. Only it wasn't a dream. It never was. Walt was very real and so was Brad.

Shelby went into her room and shut the door. She sat in the darkness for awhile. She felt paralyzed. Scott was coming, so she couldn't leave. But if she didn't she could get raped…or worse. She had to leave. But maybe she'd wait until tomorrow. Maybe then she'd be rested. She didn't want to stress her body out too much. If it had just been her then, sure, but she had the babies and they were the only one's to be worried about.

About an hour later Brad entered the room. Shelby sat on the edge of the bed. He got behind her and kissed her neck. She swung her elbow back and gave him a blow to the stomach. It hurt her more than it hurt him, because his stomach was so built up. That was one of the things that had attracted her to him in the first place.

"GET OFF ME!" she yelled. He didn't listen and tried to kiss her again. GET OFF ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GET OFF! She screamed in her mind. "If you kiss me I'll throw up in your mouth! I am pregnant and I don't feel well. If you TOUCH me I'll throw up on you." She said. He pulled back. It sounded ridiculous, but she meant it. The thought of kissing him now so thoroughly disgusted her that she knew if she had to she could throw up.

He got off the bed, left the room and shut the door. She let out a long sigh of relief. She didn't even know she had been holding her breath. She looked down at her hands shaking and realized how close she had actually come to being raped. Maybe Brad did have a scrap of decency in him after all. Or maybe he just didn't want to get thrown up on and that was entirely possible

Shelby turned off the light and settled in the hard bed to try to drift off into sleep. She would get out by tomorrow.

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SORRY I KNOW IT IS SHORT!!! MORE COMING SOON!!!! Can I get like…7 reviews?