My Promise To you: a Kian Lawley and Bethany Mota fanfic

Chapter 8

A/N: I'm changing the story to present time. I found it kind of uncomfortable and difficult to write it in past tense form, so I know it'll be much easier to change it.

Kian's POV
We both pull back after hearing Eva's scream. My heart sinks as I see Bethany already up and on her way to look for wherever Eva and Meredith are. I follow after her, though I'm still caught up on the moment she and I had. Or, almost had.

We find them in my room, Meredith is hunched over, and Eva is holding her hair back. Meredith is throwing up, her breakfast, her lunch, the drinks Nick gave her, all in there. Bethany kneels down and comforts Mere, while I stay back. I don't know what to do.

"Kian, can you get a towel or something?" Eva says, over Mere's gags. I nod and rush out of the room and into my bathroom down the hall. I open the cabinet by the shower, and pull out a blue towel. I turn around, and I see my reflection. My beat up lip makes me look like a bad guy. In a good way. I don't know if I like it.

I make my way to my room, and Meredith is leaning against the end of my bed, looking completely hung over. I hand Eva the towel and she cleans up the mess.

"That's definitely going to stain," Meredith mumbles. She groans and bends over again, but she doesn't throw up. There's nothing else to throw up.

I shrug and lean against the wall. What a night, I think. Who cares if it stains my floor? This is all my fault anyway.

It's like Bethany reads my mind or something, because she gets up and walks over to me. She doesn't say a word, but she stands by me, and it brings a sense of calmness over me. I look over at her, and she smiles. Butterflies.

Meredith is knocked out again, and I carry her back onto the bed after Eva cleans her mouth.

"What time is it?" Eva asks, more to herself than anyone else. She takes her phone out and checks. "9:17."

"It's getting late," Beth says. "Can I leave Meredith here? Or should I take her home?" I can hear the stress in her voice, and the way she runs her hands through her hair.

"I think it's best if you leave her here, Beth," Eva suggests. "She is not moving."

Bethany nods and sighs. Her breath comes out shaky.

"Can I stay here? To look over Mere," Eva asks me. I nod. "Well, I'm going to sleep, too. I'm so tired and jet lagged." She plops down on the bed after she gently pushes Meredith to make some room. Bethany and I leave the room, and I close the door after me.

Beth's POV
How did this happen? I ask myself. How did Eva and Meredith end up here, when they said they weren't going to come?

"You okay?" Kian asks. I look back at him, and he looks back. Concern in his eyes.

"I'm fine." I sit down on the couch and tuck my feet under my body. I'm exhausted, actually. Tired.

He sits down next to me, and he faces me. I don't look over at him, for a while. When I finally do, he's smiling. I frown.

"Why are you smiling, Kian Lawley?" I ask.

His face flushes and he looks down. Did I say something wrong?

"What?" I ask and nudge him.

He looks back up. "I like it when you say my name." I stare at him, and this time, it's my turn to smile.

But, I look away. I sigh and face foward again. We were about to kiss, before Meredith started throwing up. I know it. We were both leaning into each other.

Do I like you? Am I catching feelings? I push those thoughts aside and shake my head. No catching feelings. No falling in love.

"Beth." Kian whispers. I look at him, and his eyes are closed. "Do you ever think about how things could've been different? If certain things didn't happen. If certain things did happen." His voice comes out sweet but manly all at the same time. Just the right balance. The perfect balance.

I think about what he said, and I reply, "Yes. All the time." He opens one eye, and closes it again. "How about you?"

"Of course," he says. "Thinking about it right now." I stare at him, at his face. Every curve, and every feature, the bump and wound on his lip, I take it all in. I sigh and look away again. No catching feelings.

I feel a chill, and I feel my arms get goosebumps. I didn't bring a sweater, or jacket or coat. Nothing. I look over at Kian, his smile is gone, and his breaths grow steady. He's asleep. He looks so peaceful. So perfect.

I mentally smack myself, and look away. I find Eva's coat on the smaller couch, and I'm relieved. I walk over and slip it on, though it's a size smaller than me.

I look back at Kian, and back at the small couch. I want to fall sleep on something soft, but the small couch is too small, and Kian is on the other couch. I have no other choice.

I walk back to my same spot. Luckily there are some folded blankets, and I put one over me, and one over Kian. I sit back down, and get comfortable.

Just as I'm falling sleep, I feel something. I open my eyes, and Kian's strong arms are around me, pulling me close. It isn't forceful, it's gentle, like a mother's touch. I look at him, and his eyes are still closed. He must still be sleeping, unaware he's doing this.

I relax in his arms, my head against his chest. I hear his steady heartbeat, and I feel safe, I am safe.

Da-dun. Da-dun. Da-dun.

Although I was trying to keep my distance, to stop myself from possibly liking Kian, there's no place I'd rather be than in his arms. And so I fall asleep.