Loved and Free

Chapter 3: Sara Beth

Sara Beth pulled onto the highway, heading home. Evelyn wanted to read all the information about diets and exercises and things she could do to get her body back in shape. 

"You know, we might be able to go next year when Deacon and Gatlin go to Scotland. Oh wouldn't that be fun." She said while reading her brochures. 

"Yup." There was more jealousy than anything in her voice. She hated to talk about her sister. 

After the family beach trip, Gatlin moved Deacon in her apartment. It was amazing, they came over almost every night, cooking dinner and watching movies. It felt amazing to have her first best friend back. Sara Beth almost stopped partying all together. That is until Tiffany transferred to their school. Tiffany was over at their house everyday, it seemed like. She pulled Sara Beth away to try this new alcohol, or she had a blind date that had a friend for her. Gatlin brought up that Tiffany was turning Sara Beth back to her old ways. Sara Beth told Gatlin she was just jealous because she spent all her time with her boyfriend and couldn't go out to have fun. 

That was a month before Gatlin and Deacon left for Scotland. That whole month, the house went back to the way it was. Sara Beth didn't seem to mind it, in fact she missed it. The whole crew came back, and this time with clothes. 

That was until she overheard her mama talking to her aunt about how proud she was of Gatlin and how far Gatlin would go in life with Deacon. She was so mad that day, Sara Beth decided to burn down the building Gatlin was building so that she could have her own place. She invited her all the friends that partied with her back to the house and got black out drunk that night. Ever sense, it has been back to the same thing.

They pulled into the driveway and Sara Beth noticed a teal Jeep blocking the way up to Gatlin's house. She knew that Jeep anywhere and frustration grew in her. She slammed the brakes into her spot and helped Evelyn out. Once Evelyn's cane was out of the back seat, Sara Beth all but took off in the house. 

Gatlin and Deacon stood up on the porch. Deacon went straight to help Evelyn. Gatlin walked to the edge of the porch. "What the hell are you doing here?" Sara Beth demanded from her younger sister.

"Happy birthday, Sara." She said calmly, almost inaudible. Gatlin was looking pass her sister, to her mom. "I was going to surprise you on your birthday but I see you have other plans." She quickly turned her head to face Sara Beth, "You told me you stopped partying and then I get to come home to a dump that my mother is living in?" The words were like a knife.

Sara Beth didn't stand down either, "The house ain't a dump. And I'm an adult now. I can do what I want. You can't just barge up in someone else's house." She noticed the people inside were taking shots and dancing. "I can't help it if you wanted to be a freak."

"With my shit together, Sara." Gatlin sighed. "Look at this. You are so mad that I am here that you left mama, struggling, to get to the house."

"She ain't struggling. Stop trying to make her think she's sicker than she is. Dr. Diaz said all she need was a better diet and more exercise." Sara Beth lit a cigarette and blew the smoke in Gatlin's face.

Gatlin's light blue eyes were turning black, "She can't walk a fucking marathon right now. You have to build it up." Sara Beth noticed her younger sister's fist was balled up.

She got in Gatlin's face, "You want to hit me? Hit me. All that is going to happen is you going to jail and charges will be pressed." She gave her sister a evil grin before taking another hit off her Marlboro light. 

"Girls! Stop! You just got home and it's your birthday." Evelyn weakly said. She knew it would do no good but was hoping it would. She was already feeling like she was about to fall. Thank God, Deacon was holding on to her.

The sisters' were in more of a stare down with each other. Deacon had finally made his way with Evelyn in tow to the porch.

"Gattie." Deacon warned. He had his arm around Evelyn's waist, helping her up the stairs, "Now is not the time. Let's get your mom in." 

Gatlin's whole demeanor changed. She opened the door for Deacon and after they got Evelyn in, she turned the stereo off. "Take it outside." She yelled over the boos and cussing. 

Sara Beth followed and sat down in one of the lounge chairs in the living room, "Trying to blow my party?" She asked. 

Deacon helped Evelyn in her chair and stood beside his girlfriend, in silent. Gatlin was beside the couch, "Sara. I came home to surprise you. We had a cake and decorations and I got in touch with your childhood friend, Jane. She was helping us get ready. Deacon slaved away to make sure steak, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, corn on the cob, and the salad were up to your taste. He had literally just mixed the salad after finishing everything but the steak. He was about to put them on the grill. I had found Thing 1 and Thing 2 bathing suits for us to wear tonight and lined the pool with lights for a nice night time swim. Even lit the tiki torches."

Sara Beth looked around. It looked way worse than when she left but when she took a better look, it looked like someone destroyed party decorations. Evelyn was looking too, "You did a good job Gatlin. I'm sorry that we don't get to enjoy it."

Gatlin smiled at her mom, "No, mama, it's fine." She looked back at her sister, "Tiffany came in and started pulling the decorations down, saying that they were ugly and that she could do better. She yelled through the house that she was calling the police. All those that are now outside, were helping her. One guy shoved his face in the cake. Thankfully, Deacon got him outside and the cake cleaned up before the alcohol came out. All your friends, ate your dinner and shoved mama's husband's grill into the brand new pool because it was hot."

"No one asked you to do all this." Sara Beth sneered. 

"No one had to. I did it because I wanted to." Gatlin said back. 

Tiffany had walked in from the pool, "It's not like it was any good." She picked. She walked over to Sara Beth, "Sara! The birthday girl! I think it's time we celebrated."

"Tiffany, honey. I think tonight everyone should go home." Evelyn calmly said.

"Why? Because Gatlin's home and wants to act all heroic? This is our home. Sara Beth told us." She said.

Deacon got involved this time. He walked in between Sara Beth and Tiffany, "Evelyn is the owner of the house, Not Sara Beth. She told you to lea--"

"You must be Deacon. You're hot. Why are you with that heap? You should be with a woman." Tiffany interrupted. She mover her hands up Deacon's chest, "I mean I can show you how a real man is supposed to be treated."

Before Gatlin opened her mouth, Deacon pushed Tiffany's hands off of him. Pushing her outside, he said, "Lady, I don't go after slutty trash. You have ten minutes to get you and that caboosh off this property or the cops will be called." 

"As you said earlier, Evelyn is the owner." She smirked, trying again with moving her hands on his arms.

He leaned in, like he was about to kiss her and smiled, "She already told you to leave, you cow." He shut the door in her face and walked back in the living room where Gatlin was putting things in a trash bag, "Where's your sister?" He asked while helping her.

"She left, saying that if her friends leave, she was going too. The friends started leaving, she left with them. I took her keys though." She let Deacon finish cleaning up and sat with her mom, telling her the adventures she had in Scotland and showing her all the gifts that were brought back. Gatlin cooked a dinner and the three ate and the couple helped Evelyn to bed, then went to bed on the couch.