Love Ain't Like That

Chapter 6

Beth-

By the time I got most everything unpacked and put away and got a shower, I was ready to collapse. So I turned off the light,crawled into bed and pulled the blankets up to my chin but I couldn't go to sleep.

I wasn't scared to be on my own, my mind was simply in overdrive. I couldn't stop thinkin' about everythin' I still needed to do.

I laid there for an hour, never even closing my eyes, when I decided to get up and watch tv or read, anythin' to clear my mind so hopefully I could get some sleep.

Shane-

Lori shook her head and sighed, then stood up.

"This is all your fault," she said, pointing her finger at me. "You know that, don't you? Every little thing that has happened is your fault."

"Don't try to blame me for your problems," I snapped. "You were unhappy and you would've jumped on any dick that was offered. Mine just happened to be the easiest to get to."

She rolled her eyes.

"I'm not blaming you for that. I'm blaming you for everythin' else. None of this would have happened if you hadn't tried to fuck Beth or sucessed in fuckin' her," she squinted her eyes and shook her head again. "Yes, Shane, I know and I'm pretty damn sure I'm not the only one who knows so don't you dare give me that look and don't even try to deny it."

I took a sip of my beer and stood up, lookin' down at her.

"How the hell did you find out about that?"

"Well, for a while I suspected somethin' was goin' on but I wasn't sure and I never had any proof. At least not until she showed up here with bruises," she gritted her teeth and glared at me. "I recognized the shape of your hand, Shane. It was the same one you've left on me."

"I didn't do that to her intentionally," I shouted. "I never meant to hurt her and as for you, you wanted it rough. You told me Rick couldn't give you what you wanted and that you wanted it rough, to try out somethin' new. So don't try to make me out to be some guy who goes around hittin' women and leavin' bruises on 'em."

She scoffed. "I may have wanted it rough but I highly doubt she did. So tell me why the hell you took it that far with her."

"I never took it that far with her, Lori. I left those bruises when I was tryin' to stop her from runnin' out after I let it slip I had been fuckin' you. I didn't even know I had hurt her until Rick told me he had seen the bruises."

"Do you expect me to believe you just happened to let it slip that you had been fuckin' me?"

"I don't give a flyin' fuck what you believe."

Beth-

I sat up in bed and looked at my phone.

2:30 A.M.

Damn it!

I sighed and leaned back against the headboard and looked around the room.

I spotted the gift Maggie had left for me on my desk where I had left it unopened when I made my bed.

I got up to get it and sat back down crossed legged on the bed and pulled the ribbon off, slowly tearing in to the wrapping paper.

It was a brown box, no writing anywhere on it. I grabbed my keys off of my nightstand and cut into the tape.

My eyes went wide and I gasped as I pulled the tissue paper out of the box and stared down at Maggie's gift.

I picked up my phone and quickly typed out a text to her, not caring about the time or wakin' her up.

"What the hell were you thinking, Maggie?"

Not even two minutes after I sent the text, Maggie called.

She was laughin' when I answered the phone but stopped when she realized I wasn't sayin' anythin'.

"Look, Bethie," she said,"I know you're not the type of girl who sleeps around and I know you're not exactly comfortable talkin' about sex but I wanted you to know that it's perfectly normal for you to try new things."

"And that's why you bought me a box of condoms and a vibrator."

She chuckled but quickly got serious. "Yes, it is. I know you're a virgin, Bethie, so I got you the vibrator to explore on your own and I got you the condoms in case you feel it's the right time. I just want you to be safe and I know how you feel about birth control. But you do know there's absolutely nothin' wrong with that, right?"

"Yes, Maggie, I know. I just don't feel that's right for me. I may feel different if I find someone I want to have sex with but right now, I don't want it."

"Okay. I'm just bein' a big sister and that makes me worry about you. I'm always here for you, Bethie. No matter what or when, I will always be here for you."

"I know, Maggie, and thank you for bein' such a big sister. I love you."

"I love you, too, baby girl. And don't forget what I told you before."

"What you told me before," I said quietly.

"Yes, last summer when we had a little talk."

"Oh, you mean when you thought..."

"When I thought you were sleepin' with Daryl, yes, the talk we had then about usin' oral as a work-around if you're just not ready to go all the way."

I groaned and shook my head. "Unfortunately I remember that entire conversation as well as the videos you showed me."

"Hey, what was I supposed to do? I knew you wouldn't talk to Mama or any of your friends about havin' sex so I felt, as your big sister, I should have that talk with you. By the way, since it's almost three o'clock in the mornin', I feel the need to reiterate somethin' else I also talked to you about."

"Oh God, Maggie," I groaned again. "I remember that as well."

I could almost hear her shruggin' her shoulders when she said, "All I'm sayin' is, you have a brand new vibrator and it's a great way to help you relax and fall asleep."

Before I could say anythin' else, she muttered "Goodnight, Bethie" and hung up.

Beth-

In the week since I moved in to my apartment, I've settled in nicely.

I got my class schedule and job at a daycare that was willin' to work around my classes.

Everythin' was fallin' into place and I couldn't be happier.

Shane-

I knew it was late but I had already made up my mind about what I was gonna do and where I was gonna go.

I pulled my car into the parkin' lot and shut it off.

It wasn't that hard to find her address and to figure out which windows belonged to her apartment.

The clock on my phone said it was four in the mornin' but I knew she was probably awake though there wasn't a single light on.

I could go up to her apartment now and wake her up if she is asleep or I could wait 'til daylight.

Either way, it's time we sit down and have a talk.

7:00 A.M.

Seven o'clock in the mornin' and not one light had come on in her apartment.

I was startin' to think she wasn't even there when a light finally came on.

Beth-

I rubbed my eyes, yawned and filled my cup with coffee.

I smiled when I took that first sip. Coffee and chocolate always made me smile.

Sittin' down on the couch, I grabbed my phone and was scrollin' through my text messages when I heard a knock on the door.

It was too early for company and I knew it wasn't any of my family. They would have called or texted before they showed up.

When I pulled the door open, I gasped and took a step back then I quickly tried to shut the door.

Shane-

I wasn't expectin' her to invite me in with open arms but when she tried to shut the door in my face, it pissed me off.

I stuck my hand out and pushed it open.

"I just wanna have a talk with you, Bethie," I told her as calmly as I could.

"There's nothin' to talk about and even if there was, you can't just show up here and expect me to act like everythin' is fine."

I took a step towards her and she took a step back.

"You can't be here, Shane. You need to leave."

I took another step and she backed up again.

"I'm not leavin' until we talk," I said as I shut the door behind me.

"Leave, now," she said but her voice cracked.

I held up my hands and took a deep breath.

"I'm not gonna hurt you, Bethie. I would never do that. I just want to talk. Don't you think you owe me that much?"

Beth-

I could feel my heart poundin' in my chest and it felt like it would explode any second.

I stole a glance towards my bedroom, wonderin' if I had time to run and get my gun.

He grabbed me by my upper arms and I froze.

"Let me go, Shane. Please," I begged, tryin' not to cry.

"Not until we talk," he said. "You can't just ignore me and say it's over in a text and expect me not to wanna talk about it."

"We'll talk," I said as tears slipped down my cheeks. "We can talk now but first, please let me go."

He stared at me for a moment and then let go of my arms.

I tried to fake a smile as a pointed to the couch.

"Have a seat," I told him. "I'm goin' to go change and then we can talk."

He grabbed me by the wrist as I took a step away and spun me around to face him.

"You don't need to change," he said and led me towards the couch.

Before he could push me down, I tried to calm my nerves.

"Let go of me," I said but this time he held on to me.

"Let her go," a voice called out but it didn't register in my head until Shane pushed me down and turned around towards the bedroom.

He started laughin' and it scared the hell out of me.

"I get it," he grinned. "You'd rather shack up with this piece of shit than to let anyone know we're together."

"So what if she does?"

"Daryl," I gasped and stared at him with wide eyes.

A/N: I know, I'm horrible but there's more to come.

Please review!

-A