Loved and Free

Chapter 1: Sara Beth

Sara Beth was awaiting her clock to turn midnight. She was excited because she would finally be eighteen. Her friends all gather around to help her celebrate. 

Sara Beth was the oldest of two, her and Gatlin. She had curly brown hair that she hated and green/blue eyes. Not hazel, just gorgeous green color sometimes and blue the other. She was around five and half feet and had the short legs to match. She had nothing to offer on top but made up for it on the bottom. 

They were in the den of her house that she shared with her mama and new step dad, Mark. Drinks were pouring and drugs were being done. That's a party. She knew most the people here, in fact most the girls here never left. They lived here, basically. The party never ended, just calmed down during the day. Everyone knew that if you wanted to get wasted, to come to Sara Beth's place, and that is how she liked it.

"THREE... TWO... ONE... HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARA!!" Everyone screamed before taking shots. Sara Beth hated having two first names so she only went by Sara. 

Even though she was always surrounded by friends and family, she always felt misunderstood and alone. She shrugged the feeling she was getting now and took her own shot before she screamed out "It's my birthday bitches!"

Early the next morning, Sara Beth's alarm went off. She turned it off and winced in pain at how early it was, seven in the morning. She pulled herself away from the purple floral bed that was filled with other people and hopped in the shower.

Sara Beth's room was a light purple painted. Liquor bottles filled bookcases that once held books. Her dresser had makeup, ashes, old cups, and jewelry littered over the top. Posters of rappers and pictures of parties she threw filled the walls, covering up only some of the holes. Her bed was always filled with two or three extra people. She had a in suite bathroom that was painted a couple of shades lighter purple. 

After she dried off, she went to wake her mama, Evelyn. "Mama? You up?"

"Yes, baby, I am." She said in a weak voice, looking at her phone.

"It's time to get ready for your appointment."

"Okay baby. Do you know if Mark is coming to this appointment?" Evelyn was already dressed and was making her way out of her bedroom.

Mark was Evelyn's new husband. He wasn't any better than her last husband. When she married him, he promised her different, but didn't deliver. And now, she is to old to be divorced for the third time, on her fourth husband.

Sara Beth was making her a cup of coffee, "I think he fell asleep in the living room." She took a sip of her coffee, "I did grab one of his credit cards though." 

"You know, I wonder how Gatlin and Deacon are doing in Scotland?" Evelyn said as she poured herself a cup of diet Mountain Dew.

"Who the hell cares what she and that dress wearer are doing?" Tiffany, one of Sara Beth's friends said as she walked through the kitchen wearing nothing but a shirt and a pair of panties. Tiffany never met Gatlin or Deacon, except with passing glances. All she knew was that during the preparations for the trip they were going on, there was a fight.

Sara Beth smiled, "Exactly, I am going to get dressed and then we will head out." Sara Beth was mad at Gatlin because of the trip. Also, Gatlin did not condone their mama's marriage with Mark, saying he was just as bad as Jeff. It's true, except Mark had more money and didn't care what happened in his house.

She went into her room and picked a yellow American Eagle logo shirt and some jeans with the holes all in them. She paired that with a pair of silver hoop earrings and black flip flops. Making sure her makeup was matching her attire. The people that were asleep in her bed had woken up and was getting ready as well. They were joking around and singing to the music on her stereo. 

Tiffany came into the room too, "So after you take your mama to the doctor, we going to grab a bite to eat and then head to y'all's new pool right?" She sat on Sara Beth's vanity chair.

"Of course. It is my birthday after all. Just have to get mama back in the house comfortably. And then the rest of the day is mine. But wake everyone up and tell them to either go home or clean the house." Sara Beth walked out of her room with blowing a kiss to Tiffany. Tiffany started getting ready with the others.

She walked to her black Jeep Liberty with Evelyn in tow. They drove off to Evelyn's doctors appointment blaring Sugarland. 

They didn't talk during their ride, they never did after Gatlin found Deacon. It wasn't fair to Sara Beth that Gatlin has one bad boyfriend and then finds true love while she couldn't find it if it slapped her in the face. Sara Beth told herself she would never be jealous of her sister's relationship, it would eventually end.  No relationship lasts anymore.

Sara Beth was texting her friends during stop signs and red lights. "The house is clean, mama. The guys back at home did it."

Evelyn was texting too. "That's great baby. Tell them I said Thank you!" She went to read her text a loud to Sara Beth, "Mama. We just went to Buchanan Castle! It was amazingly beautiful. Beau and Dixie have been loving the no sun thing. Me, not so much. I miss the South Carolina sun. Tomorrow is going to Loch Ness and seeing if we can find the Loch Ness monster. I sent all the pictures I could from today. I love y'all!! And I cant wait to give y'all y'all's gifts we got. Give Sara Beth a huge hug for me. Gotta go. Bye!"