Disclaimer: If I owned the sons of Ipswich, I wouldn't be writing. J
R&R my story. Flames Welcome. Tell me what I do wrong and/or what you want to see in the story and I will try to incorporate your thoughts into the text.
Thanks to MagykGurl for the reviews.
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A few days later…
"Everything's got a moral if only you can find it." I read tiredly. I sat next to Reid's bed waiting for him to wake up. I knew he would, I just didn't know when. I held my copy of 'Alice In Wonderland' in my lap and his hand in mine. It was past visiting hours, but I had paid off the nurse to let me stay.
Finally I closed the book. "I'm tired baby." I said hoping I wasn't psychotic in thinking he could hear me. "I'm gonna go back to the dorm." I stood. And shoved the book into a storage locker in the corner of the room. "We'll finish the rest tomorrow."
Before leaving I reached down and squeezed his hand gently. "I love you." I whispered before gently kissing his forehead and turning to leave.
- -
The next day…
Marianne Tempest always had subscribed to the idea of being proper even when no one was looking. I figure that's why she had Alona and me over for tea. I hadn't showed in more months than I could count, which explained the face on Alona's face when I came into the room.
Another explanation was that I was dressed in jeans and a Haley Bennett tee-shirt, they in sundresses. They both looked beautiful, makeup clad with short little smiles. I was ugly as hell, I hadn't really slept since what happened. Nightmares seeped through what sleep I was able to grasp.
Sitting down, I watched absently as the maid scrambled to set another place. My mother watched me and Alona's eyes darted back and forth between the two of us. With a sigh, I think I finally accepted my life. It was a start.
- -
I stood on the grass looking down at the headstone in front of me. It was the only one on the little hill. I remembered the last time I had been there. I remembered the funeral. I remembered the events leading up to it. No tears fell as I looked down on my father.
Gregory Tempest
A beloved father and husband.
"I'm sorry…" I whispered. "I wish you could understand." No tears fell or filled my eyes. I just stood there as the wind whipped around me.
I felt something move behind me and I turned. There they were…
- -
Tyler was distant with his mind on Reid, but thankfully, Alona had understood. She went with him to see Reid and would sit there holding his hand for support as he babbled idly about the day's or week's events.
Caleb showed up around lunch and stayed for a couple hours. He would watch TV sitting next to the bed. Sarah would usually come in around the same time, depending on if she was feeling up to it.
Pogue rarely made an appearance. He felt bad, because he had been more worried about Kate than his brothers. It was understandable considering Kate wouldn't have been able to protect herself, but you can make anything your fault if you think on it long enough. a/n: plug Friday Night Lights
Caleb blamed me. Best I could figure, he thought my power had done the frying of the brain the doctor blamed for the coma. I blamed myself as well, but I kept it in perspective. First off, I hadn't been able to control it. Second, he would have died. Caleb could go to hell, but I figured Reid would feel badly about that, so I visited after hours.
Tyler was the only brother I had any contact with. That was all through Alona. Sarah and I rarely talked. It was like living with a stranger. She must have agreed with Caleb. She was a nice girl despite everything, but her opinion meant shit to me. Kate sat with me in class. We didn't talk, but she offered comforting smiles. I offered the same.
At least there were other people I could depend on. Freddy kept me busy with the developer for the stables. He threw me into work and I was pretty thankful. Harley sent pizzas and bags of coffee, instead of flowers. Greg left me little notes in my room with cheesy little sayings on them to make me smile. Somehow, I didn't give any thought as to how he got into my dorm.
Mike, Diana, and Darren had all gone back to their respective lives. We kept in touch, but they were all kind enough not to ask about Reid.
- -
"I've had enough surprises today to last me a lifetime." I muttered sitting down across from my sister and her better half.
Alona smirked. "What's up now?"
My head fell into my hands. "I'm out of books, Beth is back, the bar's going down, Ms. Randall has decided to plan the most detail intensive extravagant wedding in the world, and if Victoria Bellows calls me 'Bella' one more time like she knows somebody, I might just jump off the nearest building."
Her smirk widened. "Look alive." she giggled out a mini-second before I heard the shrill voice call out.
"Bella!" So far, the only thing about her pregnancy that was normal was the growed up breasts. Otherwise, the bitch looked anorexic as ever. On top of that, the bright pink trendy track suit she was sporting was burning my eyelids.
I desperately tried to think of ways to get out from talking to her. "Hey Vikki." I murmured tiredly as she reached me.
"Oh my, are you feeling well? You have bags under your eyes. You should take care of that." She smiled innocently.
Alona hid her smirk by shoving some food into her mouth and Tyler looked away laughing silently. I squeezed my lips together. "Yeah, well. I haven't been getting much sleep." I spit out.
"Oh," she said still smiling. Her voice was giving me a headache. "Your busy then?"
My stomach fell. Great more of the lovely Bellow's. I thought sarcastically. "Not for you," I said forcing a smile onto my face. "What can I do for you?"
She giggled. "I wanted to have my divorce party at Tempest."
My head involuntarily cocked slightly to the side like a dog. "Divorce? It didn't work out with…" I trailed off having honestly forgot the man's name.
"Brian." I offended her. Yay. "No it didn't."
"Why?" Her face was priceless. Yay. "you two seemed perfect for each other." I lied.
She hesitated, then shrugged. "We didn't see eye to eye on some things. Can we do it."
I nodded. "Just give Freddy a call and see if the dates match up. I have a few big weddings being set up as we speak."
Victoria nodded and shot me her smile. Fake. "Thanks girl." Nope, didn't pull that one off. "I'll see ya."
"Hopefully." I called after her as she walked away. "-not." I muttered once she was out of range. Alona found the whole thing hilarious as she giggled. Tyler looked on with a weird grin on his face. "What the hell is a divorce party?" Alona shrugged. Tyler smirked. I groaned. "Life sucks."
"What else is new." Tyler shrugged as he grabbed Alona's now empty tray and his.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Alona turned to me. "Beth's back." I groaned again and dropped my head into my hands.
- -
Pogue and Kate were lying in each other's arms on the couch. Caleb walked in. Blame the next part on what you will; stress, tension, guys being jerks… "What are you doing?" Caleb asked his face blank, his voice low.
Kate motioned to the TV. "We're watching 'Deal or No Deal'." she said oblivious of the war going on between the guys, oblivious to the vibes.
"Why haven't you gone to see Reid?" he asked his voice still low.
Pogue pushed Kate up gently. "I don't know, man." he shrugged.
Caleb nodded sarcastically. "You're busy then." Pogue stood up. "Oh no don't get up. You're watching a stupid ass TV show."
"Caleb. Chill."
"Chill? Reid's laying up in the hospital! He was there for you when you were up there. Now it's your turn and you can't even pull yourself away from your girl long enough to come say 'hi' to your brother, who happens to be a goddamn vegetable!"
"Leave it alone, Caleb." Kate interjected gently.
Caleb snapped. "Get lost Kate!"
She pulled back as if he had actually hit her or something. "Get a life Caleb." she hissed as she shot out the door.
"What's your problem?" Pogue yelled as the door slammed shut.
Caleb laughed incredulously. "What's my problem?" he asked sarcastically. "My problem is that you don't fucking care!" He slammed the door as he left.
- -
Caleb showed up at the dorm minutes later and I happened to open the door. "I can't stay at my apartment." he muttered.
I nodded and let him in. "Take my bed. I can stay…somewhere else, I guess." I had been about to say my Gram's place, before I caught myself. I still wasn't sure I would ever be able to show my face up there.
He nodded acceptingly. I left him alone as Sarah appeared in the doorway. I packed a bag of necessities and made my way to my mother's place.
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