Beyond the Lesson (TXS)

Bad Timing

"We've been waiting for you." The familiar raspy voice says from beside the wall that sepearates the foyer and the living room. "Sit down next to your brother, Talia." The woman that has been tormenting Verenas and I life making it impossible for us to be together says holding a gun to the side of my temple. I look at Tyson who's tied up sitting on the couch with his eyes bulging out his and tears flowing out. "Now!" She yells and I walk slowly to the couch and sit next to my brother.

"You've been like a ghost this past month Carmen."

"Don't act like you know me! And don't act like I didn't give you not one but two fucking warnings to stay the fuck away from Verena! But did you listen? No of course not because you think you're fucking slick." She says sitting on the coffee table infront of us aiming the gun not at me but at Tyson.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

She chuckles. "You don't think it's a little bit of a fucking coincidence that when you are no longer in town neither is she and then you both arrive back at the same fucking time? Where'd you go?" I stay quiet. "Not talking huh? Let me guess, California?" I continue to stay quiet and she chuckles shaking her head. "That's fine. I have my ways of making bitches talk."

"This isn't going to get her back, Carmen."

She smiles. "But it will, get rid of you. She's going to hurt so much that she'll have no one who will even want to deal with her, that she'll come running to me and guess what? I'll be right there."

"Leave Tyson out of this. He had no idea."

"Oh I know. But I warned you. Beating your ass wasn't enough. And I tried to not kill a kid. Because that's what you are Talia, you are a fucking kid and I'm going to enjoy killing him infrint of you just like your parents killed themselves infront if you." She says with a devilish smirk on her face and my body goes cold.

"Wh-what?"

"Oh you didn't know? Yeah that's public record sweetie. I know all about you. I just didn't to now you had a death wish. It's a shame really, you are cute. I can see why she's so fond of you."

"Please don't hurt him! It-it was me all me! I didn't listen please don't hurt my brother. Please!" I choke out.

She laughs. "No." She says plainly and I drop my head and then look at Tyson.

"So why not just kill us? What are you waiting for?" I ask getting frustrated.

She shrugs. "I'm a sadist. I want to watch you suffer in pain." She says and then pulls out a switch blade. She glides it down my face to my neck. "So what should I cut first?" I feel blood drilling down my neck. I hiss at the pain of her digging and dragging the knife on my skin and I hear Tyson screaming with the gag in his mouth.

BANG! We turn to the source of the front and back door being stormed in with flashlights and guns being pointed straight at Carmen. "Carmen drop the gun and knife so help me god I will kill your right where you stand!" A familiar voice yells making Carmen drop the gun immediately.

"Mrs. Romano. What a pleasure." She says and then guys grab her arms.

"You won't be sayin that for long. Go take her to the warehouse. We'll be there soon." She says nodding at them to leave and the guys drag Carmen out. I release a breath and grab the knife to cut Tyson loose.

"Oh my god Tyson! Are you ok!" I hug him and he hugs me back.

"I am now that I know you're ok. She kept saying you were already dead Talia! I-I thought I lost you!" He cries out and we hug again. "You have a lot of explaining to do." I chuckle and nod in his shoulder.

"Va tutto bene?" Verenas dad asks coming inside in his all black suit.

We nod. "Uh yes sir we're fine. Thank you."

He shakes his head. "Your family Talia. We do anything for family."

"Where is she?" I ask him and he turns his head just when Verena walks in and her eyes widen at the site of me and runs to me.

"Oh my god Talia!" She hugs me and kisses all over me. "Are you ok?" I nod looking at her. "You're bleeding."

I shake my head and kiss her. "I'm ok baby. Where were you today?"

"My parents called telling me that they spotted her scoping out Tysons school last night after he had his last class. We knew she'd grab him today so you'd watch whatever twisted shit she had in mind. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. If you did anything knowing we'd come, you'd do something stupid and it would be too late." She says and I sigh.

"I'm just glad you're ok. Thanks for the save." She nods and smiles uo at me and her brings a cloth that Verena puts in my neck and I hiss. "Shit!"

"It's alcohol baby. I'm sorry." She blows on it and then they put a bandaid on it.

"You're her teacher." Tyson says and we turn to him.

Well here goes nothing. "Tyson this is Verena, my girlfriend." I introduce them and he sighs.

"Makes sense now why she didn't want me to meet you. You made her extremely happy so thank you." He says surprising us both and hugging her.

"I'm sorry I put you guys in this position." She says and he pulls back.

"It's not your fault. Clearly you're just that damn amazing to have a crazy ex." He says making us laugh. "Welcome to the family." He says and she smiles and then looks at me. I grab her and kisses all her passionately so glad I get to do this.

"This is probably the absolute worse time to do this but this experience alone makes me realize we don't have time in life to just wait for the best moment." I get down on one knee and she gasps.

"Talia?"

I smile up at her beautiful tear filled eyes. "Verena, from the moment you gave me detention, I fell in love with you even if I didn't realize it then. You have made me the happiest person in the world in these short months we've known each other and that says a lot because I have not been the happiest in a while." She smiles sweetly at me and caress my face. "I requested to graduate early and I'll most likely get approved." Her mouth goes agape in surprise and I smile. "So,Verena please, please marry me." I beg and she nods repeatedly allowing her tears to fall. "Yes?"

"Sì! Oh my good Talia yes." She pulls my face and leans down to kiss me. I smile against her lips. "Is this forreal?" She asks and I nod smiling.

"Uh Tyson hand me my suitcase." I say and he rushes to it still slightly in shock himself and brings it to me. I go in it and reveal a velvet box. "Didn't think I'd propose without a ring did you?" I ask and she kisses me again and I slide the princess cut diamond ring on her finger.

"It fits perfectly."

"I got it on thanksgiving." She looks at me. "I knew I wanted to ask you to marry the second you agreed to moving in together. Though we still have to wait for that, I love you Verena. There wasn't going to be anything stopping me from making you my wife." She wraps her arms around my neck and kiss me again.

"Holy shit you're moving in together?" Tyson asks and we chuckle.

"I have a lot to talk to you about." I say and he nods. I smile back at my fiancé and take her lips again feeling like I'm literally on a cloud.