It's been ages, I know. Don't hate me.

Chapter 4

Beth's POV

We didn't hang around. Within a week I had moved into the new house with Jack, and things were running pretty smoothly. I needed to go and get the rest of my stuff from Dan's though. I was terrified. Jack and Alex had both said they'd go with me in case he tried something. That didn't really clear the anxiety though…

"Stop worrying. There's two of us and one of him. It'll be fine," said Jack.

"Jack," Alex began, "he's a buff gym-dick. By gym-dick, I mean he spends more time at the gym lifting weights than Zack does." Jack's eyes widened.

"Should we get Zack then?" Alex thought it over in his head for a while.

"That'd probably be best. I'll go call him." Alex got up off Jack's couch and wondered into the kitchen to talk to Zack. I'd never met him before, either. Seriously, best friends with Alex since forever and I've never met his band mates? How did that even happen? Well, Dan was pretty controlling…He'd only let me see Alex if he knew there weren't other guys there, because he knew Alex and I were more like brother and sister.

"You don't need to worry, Beth. Everything's gonna be fine, I promise." Jack placed his hand on my shoulder.

"You don't know him. It doesn't take much for him to lose his rag, and when he does, he's a maniac." Jack didn't seem to understand the truth in my words.

"We'll be there. He won't try anything." I decided not to argue. He clearly didn't believe me.

"Zack's on board. He's on his way over," Alex wondered back into Jack's front room, "now if he flips out we'll have muscle on our side." He raised his bicep to show off what little muscle he had, bless him, and pulled a face that can only be described as being constipated. I giggled, and he winked playfully. Such a joker.

It didn't take long for Zack to arrive. He looks a lot more buff in real life than he does on posters.

"Hey, you must be Beth. Weird that we've never met before, but Alex has told us all a lot about you."

"Right, we'd better get this over with. We'll take my car; it's got more room for your stuff. And don't worry," Alex put both of his hands on my cheeks and looked me in the eye, "I won't let him hurt you."

"Thanks, Lexi." Lexi was my nickname for him. We made our way out to the car, the fear still the dominant emotion in the cocktail of feelings swirling around my head.

"Alex, I can't go in…" My hands were shaking and I could feel my heart trying to make a daring escape from my chest. Jack leaned through the gap between the front seats, sticking his head in between where Alex and I were sat looking at each other. Alex looked like he wasn't sure what to do or say. Zack was quiet and motionless in the backseat.

"Beth, we're all here for you. Stop panicking, okay? We've got you," he said, pulling a goofy smile to soften me up. I sighed and took my seat belt off. The other's followed suit and we each climbed out of Alex's car.

Before we had even reached the front door, Dan was stood in the doorway looking as intimidating as he could possibly manage.

"What are you doing back here?" his voice was deeper than usual. Clearly he was doing whatever he could to make himself sound scary as well as look it. It was working.

"Back off, Dan," Alex warned. Dan looked at Alex with disgust, then saw Jack and Zack stood behind me.

"Who the fuck are these jokers?"

"They're my friends. Look, I just came for the rest of my stuff. I don't want any trouble."

"Be quick," he moved aside to let us through and we started on our way up the stairs, "my girlfriend will be here soon. A smug smile spread across is face.

"Pig," I muttered loud enough for him to hear.

"Got rid of it yet then?" I stopped dead and turned around to face him. I was utterly disgusted. The other's expressions mirrored mine. Alex looked furious.

"No, and I'm not going to. I am not going to murder my unborn child. You want nothing to do with this? That's fine. This baby doesn't need a dad, because it's gonna have all the love he or she needs from me. AND THEN SOME." I continued on my way to the bedroom with the others tailing.

I started stuffing a bag full of clothes, tears starting to fall.

"Hey, don't cry! This baby may not have a dad, but he's gonna have the best uncle!" Alex held my chin in one of his hands, "this kid will be surrounded with love." He pulled me into a hug.

"Wait a minute, you said "he"…You think it's a boy?"

"Kinda…I just imagine a little boy running around, the two of us playing baseball or soccer or something," he smiled at the ground.

"Weird, I imagined a girl…" Jack laughed.

"Aww, you guys…Come on, I wanna get out of here." I handed them each a bag, and they started folding my clothes and packing the rest of my stuff with me.

It didn't take long to finish. As we were loading the car, Dan came bounding over to us. He shoved my shoulder, pushing me into the side of the car. Zack was quickly stood behind him, ready to beat the shit out of him if necessary.

"I'm warning you Beth; get rid of this thing, or I'll have to do it for you. I will not ask again."

"I'd like to see you try," I spat back, venom dripping from every syllable. Zack put a hand on his shoulder, which he immediately shrugged off before stomping his way back inside.

"You okay?" Zack asked, his dominance starting to show. Alex rushed in front of me and held my face in his hands with a look of terror and concern engraved on his face.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Can we just go now please?" I failed to hide the shake in my voice. It was clear I was extremely distressed.

The ride home was quiet. No one knew quite what to say and tensions were running high. Whether they knew it or not, Dan meant what he said. He'd be out to get me, and he would not stop until he got what he wanted.

I didn't understand why he hated this baby as much as he did. He was acting like it was the spawn of Satan, destined to end humanity. I would do whatever I could to make sure I kept this foetus safe.

Anything.