What A Catch.

Chapter 61

Pov Pete

I sit next to Beth and Patrick in the car. She shuffles uncomfortably, Patrick is looking out of the window and admiring the outside.

We pull in to a driveway, and I hear Beth wimper from beside me.

I grab her hand, climbing out of the car. Patrick leads the way to the abandoned house, the door isnt locked. He grabs the handle and pulls the door open, letting Beth and I enter first. The room is a tip, a lamp smashed on the floor, plate smashed everywhere. Someone had obviously been here recently.

Pov Beth

The happy memory or two that I had as a child is washed away quickly. Tears prick my eyes, everything is everywhere and all my favourite things are broken on the floor.

I lead the guys up to my room, the only room where there is minimal damage, although there wasnt a lot in there to begin with. We step over shrapnel, it looks like a bomb went off.

I grab my suitcase from the cupboard and fill it with what I have remaining of my stuff. I stuff in the couple of teeshirts and pairs of jeans that I have. Patrick stands silently in the centre of the room, observing the situation. Pete starts helping me pack. Although he is technically just looking through my stuff.

I hear Pete snigger quietly as I stuff my underwear and bras into my bag. I punch him lightly in the arm, smiling at him.

I grab my diary from my bed side table and my picture of me and my mum, it had a crack in it. I didnt have much more, except for some crappy straighteners... I could get some new ones.

I grab my purse, saved for when I would escape. It is filled with enough to keep me alive for a few weeks, a few hundred dollars.

I step back and look at my room. Even more empty. Theres nothing nice about it anymore, nothing homey.

Closing the half empty suitcase, I walk out of my bedroom door.

Patrick said he will take my bag to the car as I say goodbye to the house. He promptly leaves, taking my suitcase off of me.

I walk out of my room, through to my mums room. He smell hits me and my breath hitches, my eyes tearing up.

I walk straight to her cupboard, searching through. I pull out a scarf thar she always wore. I wrap it around my neck, inhaling her scent. Before rushing out of her room, I take her perfume that she always wore, her scent.

Once out of the room, I slam the door. I never realised that I was breathing so heavy. I turn away, running down the stairs.

The living room is trashed, nothing to be saved.

I still go through the cupboards and pull out my giant packet of Reeces cups.

I stuff one into my mouth, hoping that it would make me feel happier, but end up almost chocking. I never realised that I wasnt breathing, or that I am crying, or that I couldnt fit a whole one of these into my mouth.

I slide down, back to the counter, onto the floor. Placing the chocolate next to me, I drop my head into my hands.

Petes warm presence appears next to me, his hand on my thigh.

I realise my hands are numbing and I start to panic. Im not sure why, but I cant breathe and when I try, I make scraping sounds, like a rake across concrete. My legs twitches and I curl into a ball.

I feel a hand touch my shoulder and I jump, moving away quickly. I move back into a corner.

I hear someone shout and I scream, not as loud as usual, but Im not sure. Someone makes contact with me again and I dig my fingers into my face.

I feel like Im flying as everything spins around me. My breath is as inconstant as the amount of tears flying down my face.

I reach my arms out, trying to gain balance, as everything spins and I feel like Im falling.

I feel someone under me as I open my eyes, slowly.

I make eye contact with Patrick. Stunned, I slam my eyes closed again.

I feel someone rub circles on my back as I feel myself lurch forward. I must be in the car, leaving my house, forever.

I turn around, hugging Petes chest. I lean my head into it as I let myself cry. I sob for a bit.

Its a new chapter.

"She is gone. The house is gone. My normal life is gone." I cry into his top that is slowly being drenched.

He continues rubbing my back and I take short stuttering breaths.

"Why is my life so messed up?" I ask.

They dont have a reply.

I close my eyes again, hoping to leave this nightmare of the daytime.

Pov Pete

As she falls asleep I take a bite of the chocolate that she dropped on the floor, handing a piece to Patrick.

She has a good taste in chocolate, Ill give her that.

I stroke her head. Her beautiful hair cascading from it, down her back and over her face. She lets out little snores and her tired figure rises and falls.

Her touch tingles on my skin and I smile down at her. Shes perfect.

Patrick nudges me. I look up. He points at our house.

I lift up Beth in my arms, balancing the chocolate on her leg. I carry her inside, and I greet the other guys.

I walk straight past them to my room, placing her in my bed. I stroke her head, kissing it lightly, before leaving.

I place the chocolate in the cupboard and flop down on the sofa.

Everyone gives my weird looks and I briefly explain before leaving the subject for silence.

They all look at me sensitively as I get comfy and yawn. I shrug.

"Its like a job." I say, "although I love her so not as much."

Casey walks in, in some heels and a pretty dress, and sits down in a huff.

"Where have you been?" Andy asks.

"Photo shoot," she clarifies, "its a lot of fun."

Everyone nods and makes positive sounds.

"Is panic! staying the night?" She asks.

"The week, to write songs." Patrick clarifies.

"Where is everyone sleeping? Im in the spare room?"

"Yeah... Brendon and Ryan may share that one. Spencer is on a blow up bed and so is Dallon."

"Where should I sleep?"

Everyone thinks for a while, unsure.

"We could share?" Patrick says, "you see, I shared a bed with Beth when she first joined us... Actually a smaller bed..." Patrick says. "So its not going to be that bad?"

"Fine then." She says quietly.

Patrick nods at her before Spencer interrupts.

"I hope the room is big. I dont want to hear them going all night." Spencer says, pointing to Ryan and Brendon.

"Yeah, its huge." Joe clears up.

"Thank God."