Do Not Enter

~6~

Tyler's P.O.V.

It was 3 am on a Wednesday.

I brought flowers, tulips, a box of cheap chocolates, and the biggest teddy bear I could find in the entire mall. Not to mention a plastic bag of bottle caps. Amanda Lynn loved all things cheesy and romantic and totally cliché and I could definitely do that.

I started throwing bottle caps at her second story window until she finally poked her sleepy head out.

'What did I do right in my life to have something as perfect as her?' I remember thinking to myself.

"Tyler," she called down to me in a loud whisper, "what the hell are you doing?"

After rubbing the rest of the sleepiness away from her gorgeous green - blue eyes, her face suddenly lit up. Her lips that I've grown so used to kissing over the last 3 years drew themselves up into the most beautiful smile.

Amanda quickly ushered me inside and told me to be quiet as it was 3 am and everyone was sleeping --- or so we thought.

We went to go climb the stairs of her basement and were confronted by Amanda's mom.

"And just what do you think you two are doing?" she questioned. Amanda and I looked at each with pure terror in our eyes, and Susan laughed.

"You guys have been together for 3 years and you want me to believe this has never happened before? Have fun-- not too much though." And with that she walked back into her bedroom, softly shutting the door behind her.

God I love Susan.

Amanda led me to the basements where a giant flat screen tv and air mattress were waiting.

I picked her up bridal style and carried her to the air mattress, gently laying her down and covering her face in kisses.

I remember looking down at her.

I remember telling her how much I loved her.

I remember her telling me I was the center of her universe.

I remember every detail that made up that night.

Every kiss and every touch and feeling and everything.

Amanda's the love of my life.

I'm going to marry her one day.

*****
My ringtone went off while I was in the shower, so naturally I didn't answer. It kept going off. One missed call, two missed calls, three missed calls until I got ticked off enough to get out and see who was bothering me.

Susan Johnson

Amanda's mom?

I call her back immediately and am confronted with heavy sobs. Her words are so slurred together that I hang up and get in my car, racing down the road, totally ignoring any speed limit sign I barrel past.

I'm at Amanda's house in 7 minutes - a new Personal Record. I put the car in park, and jump out, running to the front door. I don't even knock like I usually do, but barge right in and call out Amanda's name. Claire's name. Susan's name. And get nothing in return.

The entire house is eerily silent.
I walk down the hallways lined with picture frames of smiling faces and great memories. I keep walking until I reach Susan's master bedroom. I slowly enter and see a once strong, confident woman curled into a ball. She's rocking back and forth slowly, muttering something go herself, I caution my footsteps to be as quiet as they can and slowly make my way over to her.
"Susan" my voice is longing to comfort her and to find out what the hell is going on.
She cries out loudly, jumping at the sound of another person's being, and reaches out to me, her nails digging into my bicep.

"Tyler... Oh Tyler... My baby..." Her words are forced through seemingly endless sobs.

"Tyler, Amanda is dead."

I hear Susan's words...
They attempt to process...
Something clicks...
And my world goes black.

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Thanks for being patient with the new chapter 😊 (stupid writer's block) let me know what you think!

More to come