Part 2: Chapter 7

Rated PG-13 for language and mature subjects.

Beth and Jacob were sitting down at the kitchen table eating cereal. Beth smiled at her son.

"Are you ready to start your new preschool?" Beth asked.

"I sure am Mommy," Jacob said.

After Beth took Jacob to preschool, she immediately went to Baker Man and stormed into the store. Sophia was at the register.

"We need to talk!" Beth shouted.

"I'm working," Sophia said.

"There are no customers right now," Beth said.

"I don't want to talk to you," Sophia said.

"Good!" Beth shouted. "Then that gives me more time to talk to you! Back off! I do love Chuck and I'm not going to break his heart again! Becoming a mother changed me and I'm not that selfish girl anymore! Look, I'm sorry I kept it a secret that you had a nephew! Get the hell over it!"

Beth stormed out and got into her car. She then drove to Chuck's apartment and knocked on the door and Chuck opened it.

"Hey Beth," Chuck said.

"Hey Chuck," Beth said. "Can I come in?"

"Of course," Chuck said.

Beth walked into the apartment and sat on the couch. Chuck sat down next to her.

"What's up?" Chuck asked.

"Listen Chuck," Beth said. "I know in the past I have been horrible to you and broke your heart. I don't want to be that person anymore. I'm ashamed of the way I've treated you in the past. I love you Chuck. I really do. I need you. Jacob needs you. I really love you and I promise I won't break your heart again."

"I love you too," Chuck said. "From the moment Sophia forcefully made us sit together on that bus so she could flirt with Jamie, I knew you were the person I wanted to be with."

Beth and Chuck began making out on the couch.

"So do want to resume what we were doing last night?" Chuck asked.

"Yes I do," Beth said.

"Oh wait," Chuck said. "I used my last one last night."

"Oh," Sophia said.

"There's a pharmacy down the street," Chuck said. "I'll go get more."

"I'll come too," Beth said. "I need to get some more makeup."

Chuck and Beth walked down to the pharmacy. While Chuck went to get some condoms, Beth browsed in the makeup aisle. As she looked, a woman with a baby walked over to her pushing a cart.

"Excuse me," the lady said pointing a lipstick shade. "Do you think you can hand me the pink shade of lipstick?"

Beth handed the woman the lipstick.

"Thank you," the woman said.

"You're welcome," Beth said. "Cute baby. How old is she?"

"6 months," the woman said.

"I have a 3 year old son," Beth said.

Beth noticed the newspaper in the woman's cart. She thought she recognized the man on the front page.

"Can I see that newspaper real quick?" Beth asked.

"Sure," the woman said handing Beth the paper.

Beth looked at the front page, which included a picture of Ian Banks with the title Ian Banks Released From Prison.

"Oh my god," Beth said shocked.

"I know," the woman said. "I can't believe they ever released that man."

"He came to my house the other day," Beth said.

"He did what?" the woman asked.

"Yeah," Beth said. "He was looking for Peyton Sawyer Scott. I live in Peyton's old house. I gave him her address in Maine."

"Why?" the woman asked.

"He said his name was Josh and he was an old friend of Peyton's," Beth said. "Oh my god! He's going to try to hurt her again!"

Beth dropped the paper and ran to where Chuck was checking out.

"Chuck!" Beth shouted. "I did something stupid!"

"What's wrong?" Chuck asked concerned.

"I inadvertently put Peyton is danger!" Beth shouted. "We need to go now!"