Romance in the Rain (Quinntana)

Ch. 10 Dun Dun Dunnn

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Fabray Estate

The photos Brittany treasured most were scattered on the coffee table and she looked over them solemnly with Lord Tubbington in her arms.

"Mama was right, Tubbs," Brittany said, deflated. "I got to know Santana first but I let the chance slip by... I love her so much, yet Quinn caught up with me." She sighed, slowly setting the cat down. "I can't keep lamenting my love. I need to put this behind me. I can't take it anymore." She picked up each portrait and tore them apart before placing them in a bowl and lighting a match. "I don't want to live in the past."

The cat meowed loudly as Brittany watched the flames burn her most prized possessions. Moments later, an aggressive knocking came at her door.

"Brittany, what are you burning? Open up!" Martha yelled, coughing at the smoke. "Are you inside?"

"I'm fine, I'm just burning something unwanted. Never mind about me," Brittany said loud enough so it could be heard from the other side of the door.

She dropped another portrait in but this one caught too close to the curtain.

Sam arrived back home after getting escorted out of Grand McKinley. He stormed up the steps, muttering to himself when he noticed the chaos. The smoke was all over the hallway now. "Bring water! And call 911!"

A few brutal attempts later, Sam and the butler finally broke the door down and the rest of the family rushed inside. After making sure Brittany was unharmed, everyone let out a sigh of relief. The girl didn't even realize the danger she had put herself in.

"Brittany, did you set fire to your room?" Russell asked angrily.

"I didn't do it on purpose," Brittany said meekly, looking down in shame. "I was just burning some unwanted things. I didn't expect the curtains to catch fire."

"Are you out of your mind? The older you get, the more brainless you become!"

"Cool down dear, we should be glad that we only lost the curtains. Come on, let's go," Martha said, attempting to calm Russell down.

After their parents returned to their own room, Sam nodded at Brittany to go downstairs and she hesitantly followed. They moved into the great room to get some fresh air as the maid and butler cleaned the mess up in Brittany's room. He handed her a glass of water and sat down across from her.

"What were you burning?" he asked cautiously.

She sighed, running a hand through her long locks. "Pictures."

"Do you feel better now that they're gone?"

"The fire broke out before I was done," she answered with a distant look in her eyes. "So silly of me. What did I burn those photos for? It doesn't help."

Sam sighed. "Britt, both of us have been drawn into the war between Father and Quinn. He is the old panther and she is the young panther and we're all just puppies and kittens. If we aren't careful, we'll be killed by them," he pursed his lips. "Quinn wants all of us to suffer hell. I still remember every word she said when she was whipped... she said she'll take revenge and laugh when we're weeping."

Brittany bowed her head in defeat. "She's already seen my tears."

"Don't let her get you down, we can't let her get us down. The war has just started, we don't know who the winner is yet. We have to protect what's ours!"