Listen To Your Heart ~ Book One.

At the Beach part 2

"Hey...we need to talk." (Finneas says.)

"Yea...Claudia told me. Beer?"

"No thanks."

(I shrug.)"That much more for me. So, what's on your mind?"

"My sister is pretty upset."

"I'm sure you'll take care of it like last time."

"Look...I'm just very protective of my sister. Billie told me that you have a younger sister. Aren't you very protective of her?"

"Depends on what exactly you mean by protective?"

"Look...it's bad enough Claudia acts weird when I try to hold her now. Billie and I know we fucked up."

"Yea. You fucked alright."

"If you're going to take out your hostilities on anybody, take them out on me. Not my sister."

(I finish off the beer. Pop open another one.)

"Did Claudia tell you that I don't have an issue with you fucking your sister? Provided of course, I still get to fuck Claudia."

"She told me. I already promised Billie and my parents that it wouldn't happen again. Losing Claudia was a wakeup call."

(I laugh.)"God...I don't know who's more full of shit. You or your sister!"

"Bro... I'm just trying to apologize here."

"Yea...and like I told your sister. Why are you apologizing for something that you both wanted? Let me put it to you this way. I busted my ass, to treat Billie right...and in the end, you did everything in your power to keep us apart. So, you really need to ask yourself, what's stopping me from releasing your video on the Internet? You set me up! Paybacks are a bitch, asshole."

"I was hoping we could work something out."

"We can. You continue to fuck your sister. I continue to fuck Claudia. Everybody's happy."

"And you'll delete your copy of the video?"

"Eventually...but right now I'm keeping that as insurance. You wanted me to stay away from your sister? She's all yours bro... fuck away!"

(Finneas glares at me and gets up and leave. A half hour later, Claudia shows up.)

"Can we talk?"

"Sure."

"Can we take a walk while we talk?"

"That can be arranged."

(Claudia and I walk along the private beach.)

"What's on your mind?"

"I'm pregnant."

"What!?"

"I'm pregnant...and before you ask...it's Finneas's baby...not yours."

"But..."

"David...do you realize what I'm saying to you...I'm going back to Finneas, so we can raise our child together. You can go back to Billie...if that's what you decide to do. We can only be friends, nothing more...I'm sorry."

(She turns to leave, but I grab her arm.)

"Answer a few questions for me."

"Yes?"

"Finneas said you've been acting weird whenever he tries to hold you. Why? Is it because you'd rather have me holding you instead?"

(Claudia closes her eyes, as a single tear runs down her cheek.)

"No... I've...just been feeling...a bit nauseous...because of the baby."

"Then why aren't you facing me?"

"Goodbye David."

(I let her go, she starts walking back towards their beach house. Billie is waiting for her in the backyard. Her and Claudia speak for awhile, then Billie gives Claudia a hug.)

"Thank you."

"Yea...your welcome."

(Billie walks down the pathway to join me on the beach, as Claudia stands there and wipes tears from her eyes.)

"I'm so sorry, David." (She whispers.)

(Finneas comes out the back door.)

"I'm guessing you told him?"

"Yes."

"It's better this way, Claudia. He won't release that video if he can't have you. Our secret stays safe, thanks to you."

"Go to hell." (Claudia tells Finneas, as she walks into their beach house.)