Relocating

Bethany

I walked into Francisco's Finest and I was there before Eliza. She was always here first. Dan even shouted "hey Eliza" at me before I went back to see him and show him who it really was. It was Monday, so maybe she wasn't too happy to come into work.

I hadn't heard from Ashton since our nice night at the music hall with Aria and Jacob. Now that I think about it, I haven't really heard from Aria either. I only saw her in the lobby. I spent all of Sunday looking at apartments in the newspaper. I didn't find one yet.

Eliza came in at 7, which is an hour later that she's supposed to. I see why she's late once she walks in. She has a gauze wrapped around her wrist.

"Eliza what did you-"

"Save the questions and I'll tell you both." She says and I see Dan come around the corner. He nods his head to signal for her to proceed.

"So, I picked up my tea. Kettle this morning and didn't notice how close it was to my wrist. Then I felt my wrist get really warm and then it started to sting. After a minute I realized it was burning and I felt blood on my arm. I threw the tea kettle in the sink, and started screaming in pain. I had to wrap it in paper towel, run to CVS, and go home because I didn't want the blood to stain the cabinets. I put on a burn gel, wrapped up my burn, and cleaned my blood off the floor. And that leads up to now." She says and catches her breath.

"Rachel. You control the machines today. Eliza will work with me behind in the stock room or with our lovely costumers. Deal?" Dan says.

"Deal." The two of us respond and he walks back to his office.

I had manned the machines only once and that was when Eliza called in for a sick day. I hated it. I always overfilled the cups and the foam actually burned me one time. I felt bad for Eliza though, so I decided I would be brave and face the machines.

I checked my phone whenever we didn't have someone in the place. I texted Ashton this morning to just say hey and ask him what else he did this weekend, but he hasn't texted back. That was two hours ago. I also sent Aria a hello, but she didn't answer. I knew I didn't do something wrong.

I finally cracked when I got out of work. I texted Jacob asking if Aria was okay and he was the first person in my friends circle to respond.

To Jacob: Are any of you guys charging your phones lately??

To Rachel: I'll have Ashton or Aria call when they get a minute...

To Jacob: What happened?

To Rachel: Bethany is dead. She was injured in an attack Saturday night and died last night.

I'm about to ask who Bethany is, but that would be actually really rude. I re-read the message as I wait for the call. I never met a Bethany. Then, it clicked. Bethany was Ashton's sister that went to Afghanistan the day I arrived in the airport. Just as that clicked, my phone rang. It was Aria.

"Rachel?" She chokes.

"Aria I had no idea!"

"It's" she pauses to breathe, "going to be okay. I hope it is. Ashton locked himself in his apartment and won't let us in. Maybe he'll let you-I can't let him hurt himself-I-he can't. Just-"

"Aria. Settle down. I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Please. I don't think he will kill himself, but I just don't know. He's never really lost someone and he-I just can't lose two people in one day. Please"

"Aria keep trying to get in. I'll be there soon." I say.

I'm honestly worried. Ashton would never kill himself. I would never ever forgive myself if he did. I ran to Ashton's, due to my lack of a car. I made it there in 20 minutes jogging and sprinting whenever I got the energy to. With my adrenaline pumping, it was easy.

I got there and saw a dead-faced Aria on the steps and Jacob sitting against the door. I really hoped nothing else had happened since I got off the phone.