I am so on a writing high today I'm not sure why, but oh well. I hope you guys all read and review.
Chapter 13: What You'd Do For Love
The tall glass of water Erik had given her made Brittney feel better, but she needed to use the bathroom and stood up.
"Do you want me to go with you?" Meg asked as Brittney seemed to lose her footing for a second.
"No, that's okay. I'll be right back."
She walked into the hall and Erik followed her till he got to the doorway and watched. It wasn't until Brittney had gotten into the bathroom and the door closed behind her that she saw Christine glaring back at her in the mirror. She thought of turning and leaving again, but she couldn't wait.
Slowly she sneaked past Christine and disappeared into one of the stalls. Quickly she did what she had to do and went past Christine, intent on washing her hands in Erik's room.
But before she could even touch the door handle a voice caught her attention. "Don't tell me you're leaving without washing your hands. That's so gross."
Brittney gulped. The only soap dispenser was on the left wall and Christine was standing right next to it. Slowly she came up behind her and put some soap into her hands and went down to the opposite sink. As she washed her hands she saw Christine go for the door and leaned up against it.
It had been a trick. The way Christine had positioned herself no one could come in and no one could go out. Brittney was horrified now, because she was cut off from Erik. "What are you doing? You've gone mad!"
"Have I? I'm surprised you can't see the same thing happening to your precious boyfriend. However he should have been mine all along. He loved me once before, but I shot him down, because of Raoul. When I saw him here at this school I thought I was getting a second chance. But no you had to fall for him. How dare you!"
"It's not all my fault. He fell in love with me, because he trusted me. The one thing it seems you never gave him. Now please let me through."
"No one is going anywhere till you agree to my condition I'm about to make. If you don't I'll make your life a living hell."
"What's the condition? I never agree to anything unless I know the full details."
"Fine, then. I want you to stay away from Erik and say that your little relationship with him is over. No walking to or sitting next to each other in class, no looking at him, or talking to him."
"I can't promise that. It'll break his heart."
"So? I'll just come and pick up the pieces. He'll love me again in no time."
"I won't agree to those charges. You can forget it," Brittney snapped.
Christine had lost patients with this girl and went up to her. Skin hit skin as Christine's hand came in contact with Brittney's face. "This is but a small taste of what I can do to you, so if you don't want to suffer anymore I suggest you agree and soon. Don't worry about finding me. I'll find you."
With that Christine pushed Brittney to the floor and walked out of the bathroom. Brittney pushed herself up, but when she did she felt sick and crawled over to the closest stall where she puked into the toilet. Finally she fell back onto the floor and lay there sobbing. What was she going to tell the others?
xxxxx
Erik saw Christine leave the bathroom, but Brittney still hadn't come out yet. He was worried about her. "Meg, can you go into the bathroom and go see if she's okay?"
"Sure. I'll be right back."
Meg hurried into the bathroom and found Brittney lying on the floor of the first stall. The toilet hadn't been flushed yet, so Meg reached over and flushed it. Then she knelt down and positioned herself, so that she was lifting Brittney up off the floor.
"Erik," Brittney gasped sadly.
"It's okay. We're going to him right now," Meg said allowing Brittney to lean on her and got her out into the hallway. Erik was waiting for them and instantly pulled Brittney into his arms.
"Was she okay?"
"I found her sobbing on the floor of the first stall. I think it was because she had gotten sick before that. Wait a second," Meg said looking at Brittney's cheek.
"What?"
"There's clearly a handprint on her face." They both looked and Meg had been right. There upon Brittney's left cheek the skin was red with the shape of a handprint. "Who do you think did this to her?"
Erik thought for a moment and then it hit him. "Christine."
"What? But Christine couldn't have, could she?"
"I saw her leave the bathroom just before I sent you in there.
At the mention of Christine's name Brittney pulled herself closer to him as if she was trying to run and couldn't get away. He looked down in shock at her before reaching down and lifting her chin up. Slowly she choked out his name. "Erik."
"Brittney did Christine do anything to you?" he asked quietly.
She nodded; to afraid to speak in case Christine was still around.
"Erik let's go back in your room and talk this over. Christine might be still around," Meg suggested in a whisper as she came to help Brittney to her feet.
Even though Brittney was aware that Meg was trying to help she pushed her away and clung to Erik's waist as if she was a lost and helpless child. Too much had happened to her in the past few days and she was so tired. To top it all off her body ached and felt sore.
It was a surprise to her that Erik knew exactly what she wanted and she didn't need to say anything. As soon as they were back in the room he sat down on the bed resting the pillow across his lap, and then helped her lie down and rest her head on the pillow. Once she was comfortable he ran his fingers through her hair messaging her scalp.
He was putting her to sleep, but she didn't care one bit. She was more than willing to welcome sleep with open arms, but something kept tugging at the back of her mind. "Stay away from him or I'll make sure your life is miserable." Christine's words haunted her and quickly she sat up fear visible in her eyes.
Erik clutched her shoulders and stared at her. "Brittney what's wrong? What did Christine do to you?"
Taking a deep breath Brittney told the three of them what had happened in the bathroom. When she finished Erik stood up and went to the window rubbing his temples in utter frustration. "Christine is ruining once again the greatest thing in my life; first my dignity and now my relationship. When is she going to realize that she is doing all the wrong things?"
Brittney pulled the pillow to her chest and a few more tears slid down her cheeks at the pain of the words that had came from Erik's mouth. The whole situation was making her doubt being with him at all. She shook her head. "I can't just leave him like this. He's done so much for me already. We need each other more than either of us could imagine. Christine doesn't frighten me. We'll fight this together," she thought smiling through her tears.
"Erik, I…"
"Brittney maybe we shouldn't see each other anymore," Erik interrupted her.
Nadir, Meg, and Brittney especially looked up in shock at this as Erik moved his hand to his hip and rested it there before it became a fist.
"What do you mean? Are you actually giving into her?" Brittney shouted.
"I don't want to risk you getting hurt. Christine can be demanding at times and when she puts her mind to something nothing will stop her."
"But giving into her requests just shows your weak," Nadir put in, but soon shut his mouth as Erik turned and glared at him.
Brittney felt hurt and stood up. Quietly she undid the ribbon around her neck and pulled off his class ring and kissed it before holding it out to him. "I suppose you want this back?"
He looked at her at first confused and then rejected. "Keep it. I still love you Brittney and at least you should keep something to remember me by. Besides…" he said a big smile on his face. "…I'm not really leaving you."
"I don't follow."
Erik hurried over to her and rubbed her shoulders. Then he took the ring and the ribbon from her tying the ring to it and replacing it around her neck. "You forget how clever I am my pet. Christine will never know if I leave you or not. She doesn't have Intro to Theatre with us, so we'll meet up there and spend the morning together. And there are nights were we don't have to worry about anything. Plus she goes home on the weekend with Meg."
Brittney wasn't exactly sure she was hearing this and punched his arm. "That was not funny."
"I can prove I'm not going to leave you," Erik said rubbing his arm. He cupped her cheeks in his hands and gave her a long kiss. When he pulled back from her she looked so happy that he couldn't keep from kissing her again.
"Aw, look Nadir I knew Christine couldn't keep these two apart," Meg said with a sigh.
Nadir was turning a bright pink at Meg's comment and Erik was the first to notice. He was laughing so hard he had to pull away from Brittney and clutch his sides. Nadir's face was now as red as Ketchup and both girls were watching in confusion.
Suddenly Nadir stood up and punched Erik's other arm as hard as he could. "Will you knock it off already; you're making me look bad," he hissed.
"Well then get over there and ask her out or something. You know you want to," Erik replied rubbing his other arm, which was throbbing a bit.
Nadir's eyes went wide and he hesitated as he walked over to Meg. Erik finally gave him a shove and Nadir fell to his knees. He glared at Erik, but soon turned back to Meg, who was smiling at him.
"Meg Giry would you like to go to the movies with me this Friday at 7:30?"
Meg started blushing and offered her hand to him. "I'd love to Nadir. I was actually waiting for you to ask me."
Nadir got a huge smile on his face and then fell backwards upon the floor.
"What happened to him," Meg asked crawling over and holding up the teen's head.
"He fainted that's all. He likes you Meg," Erik replied.
"Oh, I knew that. He always went tongue tied when he was around me and he was always trying to be polite. How can I not like a guy like him?"
"Oh, trust me it's possible," Erik said wrapping an arm gently around Brittney's waist. "I've known him for quite a few years and he can be quite a pain in the rear end at times."
Meg and Brittney looked confused at him, but then Brittney let out a loud yawn. Rubbing her eyes she laid her head against Erik's shoulder and wanted nothing more than to go to sleep.
"Here let me help you wake up Nadir." Erik took a towel out of the closet and folded it up a couple times. He lifted Nadir's head up and put the towel underneath it. Then he got a cup of water and dumped the contents onto Nadir's face.
Nadir quickly sat up sputtering and coughing. "What the hell? Erik you jerk you got me all wet!"
"Well duh. I had to get you out of my room somehow and carrying you out was not an option."
Nadir grabbed the towel and began drying off his face. "I don't know why I put up with you sometimes. I could name a number of reasons why I dislike you at times, yet I always seem to come back for more humiliation at your expense."
"Nadir I'm hurt by your comment. You should be grateful I even let you hang around with me, because I can say that not many individuals on this campus would want to hang around with a couple of misfits like us."
"We do," Meg and Brittney announced in unison.
"Oh, really; and why is that?" Erik smirked.
"Because you're sweet, kind, and drop dead gorgeous," Brittney said wrapping her arms around Erik's waist.
Erik put the back of his hand to her forehead. "Are you running a fever or did I just hear you say drop dead gorgeous?"
Brittney cheeks turned the deepest red and she nodded. "Plus personality counts too and you have a great sense of humor."
He leaned his forehead against hers. "Well you have a great personality and you're so beautiful to me, my little kitten."
Brittney gave a small purr in the back of her throat; then followed it up with a small meow.
"I think it's time we leave the Phantom and his kitten alone now," Meg suggested taking Nadir's hand into hers. The poor teen's back went rigid and sweat began to form on his forehead. Yet he allowed her to lead him from the room closing the door behind him.
"What was she talking about when she said Phantom?" Brittney asked as Erik kissed her cheek.
He pulled back and had a half smirk, half annoyed look on his face. "It's a nickname I had back in high school. It started up mostly, because of the way I dressed and would move through the hallways. People began calling me the Phantom of the High School as a joke, but I grew attached to it."
Brittney thought for a second. "You know I kind of like that, but it needs a bit of a change. Instead of being the Phantom of the High School you can be the Phantom of MSU."
"That doesn't sound so bad. But now I think it's time for you to get some sleep. You have a speech to give tomorrow."
"Oh, man I completely forgot about my speech."
"Calm down. You lie down and try to get some sleep and I'll type it up for you all right?"
She nodded and he kissed her one last time before bringing her over to the bed and allowing her to lie down before pulling the comforter over her and grabbing her speech materials. "You know what; you've slept in my bed more than I have this semester."
"Admit it you like going to sleep with the smell of my shampoo within your pillow."
"Yes I do."
She smiled up at him and slowly allowed her eyelids to close. Erik lowered the curtain and turned off the overhead light and crossed over to his computer; where he spent a good portion of the night typing up the outline and writing up very detailed note cards before allowing him self to go to Brittney's side. He brought her against him taking in the sweet scent of Raspberry and Crème conditioner she used in her hair.
Wow, sorry I took so long to update. I was busy with the Will Roger's Follies and I am so grateful for three days off from that. Plus the site not working will make the wait even longer and man that drives me nuts. Next I will be working on ch.60 of Little Lotte's.