Something Beautiful 》ANGEL FACE

Chapter 1

DECEMBER 1996

PRESENT...

Who would have ever thought eating chocolate and petting a cat would release the same chemical as falling in love. Falling in love seemed less significant when you compare it to those. Maybe that's why I fell in love with him so fast and easy, because it was simple. Like a stroke of a cat or a bite of chocolate. The boy, who was fixing to be the father of my child, was more than simple, however.

Bryan Eisner was lying next to me with wet blonde hair, rubbing my six month pregnant belly in a spoon. Just under a few layers of fat, muscle, and skin was my baby boy. Our baby boy, Daniel Eisner, who didn't know yet, but he was very much loved by myself. Maybe he did know by all of the chocolate and cat petting I did. I'm not sure if that's how it works or if my brain harbors dopamine like that. Oh, well.

He stops rubbing my stomach and pulls his hand away. I'm frustrated by this thanks to my hormones. Offended for a moment that he would stop touching me.

"Why'd you stop?" My voice cracked, making it sound as if I was fixing to cry. I was, but he didn't need to know I was being dramatic. I roll over to look at him, his angel face. He was so handsome, so beautiful. Like a sculpture made by a god. His blue eyes met mine. He wore a smirk on his lips.

"Where you could ask me that, and turn around where I could see your pretty face." He tucks a loose hair behind my ear. Valid answer for me, who was pumping hormones through my body. It was probably something less romantic, like scratching his balls or something. I wasn't going to press, however, if I was satisfied.

I see his eyes grow sad, I knew what he was thinking about without even having to ask. His audition was a complete flop today. He worked as a mechanic full-time, but on his days off, he would go for what he truly wanted to do. Act.

He read off a scene to this movie 'Fargo' he was auditioning for. They ended up cutting him off in the middle and told him he could leave because they had, 'seen enough.' It just wasn't right. They could have at least waited for him to finish.

"It's okay." I buried my head into his bare chest, "There will be more opportunities."

"Not like that, Y/N." He looks lost in his words, "I really don't know how you do it sometimes. Put up with a loser like me with barely a job. I just-"

"Ssssh." I covered his mouth before he could continue to get upset. It usually ended up with him exploding, going on a walk, and not returning until morning, "We're going to be okay." I tried saying it as sure as I could. I didn't even believe my words. How was he to? Mildew on the walls from water stains and tiny holes in the walls from termites, this was no place to raise a baby. I felt trapped, something I never wanted Bryan to think I felt. We had been apartment hunting, but nothing fit in our price range. He looked at me as if he was unsure of my words. I was never the best at convincing others.

I worked at this pizza place Monday through Wednesday. Pay was decent. Customers were jerks. Then, Thursday through Saturday, I worked at a daycare. I've always had a spark with kids, but chasing twelve kids while pregnant was tiring. Sunday was a rest day for me, appointments, and such my government granted insurance would barely pay for.

He kisses me then, and I feel euphoria take over my body.

"Want to get some Chinese?" He asks, knowing it was my favorite food to eat.

"Of course." I get off the top of him, getting dressed in a maternity black tank and patterned leggings. Nothing fancy, though, when he saw me, he stared, "What?"

"I really don't know why you're with me." He pulled me closer, his hands riding over my butt. He made me feel safe, even if we were living in a dangerous neighborhood, "I don't think I'll ever figure that one out." I think he says this not because he thinks I'm out of his league, but because I gave up everything to be with him. Everything isn't an understatement either.

Lights flickered at the Chinese food place right down the street from us with the red glowing sign that says, 'CHINATOWN.' We order our usual at the register. Mine's the Tangerine Chicken with a Sprite. His was the Sweet and Spicy Chicken, with a side of egg rolls and a Coke. We're the only ones here other than the workers.

We sat near the window, waiting for our food to come out. When it finally does, we eat. He gives me his egg roll leftover.

"Ready to go?" Bryan asks me, his seat making an awful noise on the floor from where he stood up. I just nod and walk with him, taking the last sip of Sprite. He grabs his Coke, he hasn't finished, and we leave.

We begin to walk off into the darkness of the night. The chill has settled in until morning.

"You look cold." He observes in his matter of factly voice. He had told me before we left that I would need one, but I protested. Much to my demise, he was correct.

"I'm fine." I try and sound as if I wasn't freezing to death. I could see my breath, and I knew the tip of my nose was red. He took his jacket off and puts it around my shoulders.

"I know you'll never admit it, but you're not fine." He looks up at me and smiles after making sure it was snug around me.

"Thank you." I blush. How he still managed to do that was strange to me. He fingers engulfed around mine now they we had approached the darker road. We were reaching our apartment, with only one street light, that flickered, wanting to die desperately. We passed the alley where I could see two dark figures pacing. Bryan sped up, which caused me too.

I felt a dirty hand yank me hard against the wall, my hand slipping away with Bryan's grip that grew weak. My nose felt stunned where I hit against the brick wall so hard. A gun pressed against the back of my head, and I began to panic and cry.

"Let her go!" He went for me but got kneed in the stomach. I screamed, causing the one who had me to pistol whip my cheek. I felt blood trickling down my face.

"Give me your wallet or the bitch gets it!" The one who wasn't holding me against the wallet demanded.

"Please, I'm pregnant, it's all we ha-"

"Shut up!" He yells, "All more reason to fucking kill you!" This made me sob more, but we didn't have a choice. It was the fifty bucks or our lives.

"Here, take it!" Bryan says, clutching the wad of cash in his hand with one hand and his stomach in the other.

"Fifty bucks?!" He sounded disappointed, but they ran off after as a car was passing by. Bryan put his arms around me, wiping off the blood on my cheek.

"Are you okay? God, what the hell... I'm sorry." We walked into our apartment building, going up to our room. I looked at my face in the mirror, where dried blood was all over my face. I sat on the bed while he cleaned the cut on my face, "I'm sorry I couldn't be better out there. I failed...I'm..." I whinced in pain when he dabbed the alcohol on my cheek.

"I love you, I'm just a little shook...I'm..." I cleared my throat, "I'm going to take a bath and go to bed." I get up and get my clothes out of our broken wooden dresser. I leave the door open slightly and start a warm bath with bubbles. I lean my head back against the cold tub and rest my eyes.