Tainted Love

Chapter 12

Raven's POV

"Goodbye." I wave to everyone. They quietly wave back still taken aback from my sudden departure. I hug Jonathan quickly and he lightly hugs back. I look at him as a silent thank you. He nods and pushes me lightly to my home.

"Keep in touch." Henry says. I smile and nod. Probably not. A part of me never wants to see them ever again. I never want to see that large bus with those hideous gray stripes on its sides.

I roll my suitcases slowly to the front door. I knock on the door mentally noting I should bring my keys everywhere with me. I wait for about a minute and knock again. More silence. As ten minutes pass, I decide to sit and wait. I should call. I don't think that'll go on correctly. So I wait.

I wait. And wait. Until an hour passes and a man goes up to the house. He's dressed rather messily. His hair tangled, clothes wrinkled and stained, and dark bags encircle his eyes.

"Brian?" I stand up and grip my bags. He sighs deeply and pushes past me. He unlocks the door and I follow him in. "Brian, I-"

"How long were you out there?" He goes into the kitchen and grabs some coffee. He grips his black mug tightly as if it's the only thing holding his life together.

"About an hour."

"Okay." I peer over to the counter to see numerous magazines with Spencer and I on the cover. "Why are you here early?" His calm voice causes me to become anxious. He acts as if nothing happened. Nothing.

"I needed to come home."

"I wonder why-"

"Talk to me!" I shout. He sets down his mug and comes closer to me.

"I am talking to you."

"No, talk to me. Yell at me! Scream, something!" He looks a little disappointed by my yelling. He gestures to the couch in the living room.

"Let's have a seat."

I toss my luggage aside and we sit on separate couches. Silence almost leaving a very sharp pain in my ear. I look up to Brian to see him facing me. He looks into my eyes and opens his mouth. Then finally words come out.

"Did you cheat on me?" My response is always persistent. I cry. My cry is almost of me choking on the air. My breathing hitching every three seconds.

One two three.

One two three.

One two three.

As if I'm gasping for air, drowning in my own cry. My throat closing. Swelling. This moment seems almost endless. Brian simply stares at me. More of him observing than staring. He watches as I begin to sputter the truth in different chains of responses. I look at him and cry out to him. Claiming I love him, anything to get him to love me again. Anything. I call him beautiful. Compliment him. Anything. He just watches me pathetically. Then he leaves and this is when it sinks in.

This is reality.

Everything seems as a blur. Him walking to our room. Picking up my belongings. The phone call with Twiggy. Followed by the end of everything. Twiggy dragging me out of the house. More screams from me. More cries.

And one last gasp.

"But I love you." I whisper this as if it's a secret. Almost to my self. Twiggy puts me into the car. Before the door slams I finally hear Brian's voice.

"But I love you too."

The door shuts and I'm trapped into a car.