Shaforostart It - THE SEQUEL (2016)

Chapter Three

Don't touch her

Leda how could you?

What the fuck is going on

The confusion. The shouting. The glares. The glares. It was a lot. Too much. So much that Denis hadn't come home in a week. Maybe two. I lost track of time. "Are you hungry?" Danny sat down on the couch next to me in his house.

"No."

"Leda... you haven't eaten all day. Please. I know you're hungry."

"Yeah, well I'm not, okay?" I snapped. I crossed my legs and pulled out my phone, wishing he would just take me home already.

"Leda I'm worried about the baby."

"Don't be." I shrugged. I slapped his hand away as he went to reach for my stomach. "Don't touch me right now."

"What's wrong?" I just looked at him obviously. "Yeah, I know. But you won't let me fix it."

"Because you can't."

"Yes I can. They'll listen to me. Leda."

"They all fucking hate you." Danny sighed and turned away.

"Fine. I'm only trying to help."

"Sorry," I sighed. "I shouldn't have said that. I'm just in a shitty mood. How can you possibly think you can make this better? Are you gonna turn back time and un-buy me a drink? Un-take me home? Are you gonna use the force to convince Denis not to hate me? To convince everyone not to hate me? No one had called. No one. I talked to girl Cam every day, but Kyle wanted to give me space, and think for himself, which I understood. You're sisters a slut now, must be a lot to think about. Not Sam, or Cam, or James, or even Ben had attempted to call or see me. Which I expected. But not Brandi, or Ciara, or Haley. I expected something. but nothing. Nothing but silence.

"Stop it." Danny said, smirking slightly.

"I'm not doing anything." I rolled my eyes.

"You're thinking. Come on." He took my hand and helped me up. "Dinner." Danny was good. Danny was sweet, and caring, and incredible, and I was so glad to know him. But I had never fucked up so bad.

Denis' POV

"You're smashed." Ben looked down over me as I sat bent over the toilet bowl.

"Trying to drown myself." I smiled up at him. He scoffed.

"In the toilet or the empty bottle of Jack on the kitchen floor?" I forced myself up, gripping the sink for stability. I looked in the mirror. My glazed over eyes, vomit dribbled down my chin. "Denis this isn't going to fix things. Whiskey won't make it yours."

Ben's POV

Denis punched the bathroom mirror. It shattered on contact, and cut open his knuckles and fingers. "What the fuck?" Ciara ran in to see what the loud noise was.

"You don't get to tell me that." Denis spat, looking me dead on.

"Denis. Get the fuck over it. And go home. Okay?" I walked off. He's gonna kill himself with this drinking. Would Leda even care? Is she even around anymore? I pulled out my ringing phone from my back pocket. Speak of the devil. "Leda?"

"Ben." Nope. The real Devil. Danny. "Don't hang up."

"What the fuck are you playing at, Worsnop." I snapped.

"I didn't know. I didn't know who she was. That she knew any of you. I never wanted this..."

"If you run. If you leave now, it's over. It's done. You're dead to me."

"I would never, Ben." I clenched my hand into a fist. "It isn't what I planned, and I didn't mean to fuck everything else up. But I'm not leaving. I'm not leaving this time. I want this baby, I want to be a father. I'm not going to run, Ben please. Give me a chance." I sighed, not wanting to acknowledge that I knew he was being honest.

"How is she?"

"She's asleep. She's.....okay. No. Actually, she's depressed."

"The baby?"

"The baby is alright. It's fine. Leda is torn up about everything though. she doesn't know what to do. She thinks you all hate her."

"I don't hate her, I just- what am I supposed to say, Danny? Hi, I know you cheated on my best friend with my ex best friend, and lied to him for six months, and now all he does is get so drunk he can't remember how to breathe. I know you stumbled into our lives and made everyone love you, and now you fucked up so bad no one can speak to you. But mates? That's not how it works, Danny."

"Ben she needs someone."

"Then be that someone." I hung up and tossed my phone onto the couch.

"Why?" I turned around to see Denis behind me. "Why did he call you."

"You need to go home, Denis. For her. She's still your wife."

"That doesn't changeshit. If she wanted me she wouldn't have done this. Wouldn't have lied to me."

"She needs you. And I don't care what you think about that. She needs you to be there. So get your shit together, Stoff. Soon.

"Ben, I need you." Denis' lip began to quiver. "Please." He begged. I sighed as I pulled him into a tight hug, as he began to sob into my shoulder.

"I'm here, Denis. I'm always gonna be here." I said softly. He paused.

"How do I do this?"

"Do what?"

"I wanted it. I wanted a kid so bad I was so-"

"I know, I know." I said as I rubbed his back. "It will be okay, Denis. We'll be okay."

"Promise me?" Denis snifled and pulled away, wiping his cheeks.

"I promise."

A/N: A hint of Brustoff for your little fangirl hearts. Tbh they're probably gonna fuck at some point in this book. It's all a mystery. We'll see.