After Thought // Chance Sutton

Chapter Ten

"When people hurt you over and over, think of them like sandpaper; They may scratch and hurt you a bit, but in the end, you end up polished and they end up useless." - Chris Colfer.

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Sometimes I wish I could go back, and fix what I had with Allison. We were the best of friends back then, I thought I knew everything about her. Until the secrets started pouring in. Eventually it got too much to handle.

And now she is standing in front of me, next to the one person I almost let ruin my life.

"Get the hell out of here Luther," Chance said, nostrils flaring.

I guess they aren't friends anymore.

"What do you guys even want?" I asked, more annoyed than ever.

"Just wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Our town's hotshots are back, and everyone is going crazy about it. Wanted to see it with my own two eyes how much you really changed Beth." Allison explained yet the grin that played her lips told another story.

"You saw her, now leave." Chance growled, he rose out of his seat putting his body in between Luther and I.

"It's a shame Chance, you have girls falling at your feet and you still have this weird obsession with her." Luther rolled his eyes, "if I would have known she end up this sexy maybe I wouldn't have said anything back then."

"Ya know I was having a rather nice time until you showed up, can you just leave?" I questioned. "Nobody wants you here."

"Looks like little scared Beth finally wants to speak up, how funny," Allison's eye's narrowed on me.

"Funny back then it was fat ass Beth," Luther commented.

"Get the hell out of here Luther, or else." Chance stepped closer to him, he had a solid three inches on the kid, and peered down on him.

"We were friends for like ten years, you really gonna hit me?" Luther egged.

"Trust me, I don't give a fuck about you anymore." Chance said.

What happened to make everything like this? I wondered silently. But somehow standing in front of someone who made me feel like utter shit about myself, and someone who was there for me through everything was the biggest contradiction of them all.

Even if Allison and I don't talk anymore, she's acting like none of that ever happened.

"I know you give a fuck, but I didn't come here to see you now did I? I wanted to see Beth, and have a little talk with her." Luther tried to step closer to me, but Chance was not having it at all.

"Over my dead body," I said, getting as close to the booth as I could.

The way Luther was looking at me, sent shivers down my spine. And not in the good way either, he utterly repulsed me.

"You know Beth, I always get what I want." He growled.

"Stay the fuck away from her, or I swear to fucking god-" Chance started.

"Luther, get out of here before I call your Father." Andre, the owner of the diner said. "You're always causing trouble."

And with that Luther and Allison left. I could breathe again, I'm just thankful I wasn't alone. It probably would have been a completely different story.

Chance was quiet, as he paid our bill and lead me out to his car. It's ironic, this isn't the first time Luther ruined my night.

"What the hell was that about Chance?" I asked.

His features hardened, and he didn't answer just drove. I spat out directions, but it seemed like he knew where he was going already. All I want is to understand everything that's going on. And not be confused for once.

He pulled up to my house, ready to drop me off.

"Can we talk inside?"

Shaking his head, "Beth I can't.'"

"No, I'm tired of being kept in the dark. If you want to see me ever again, please I'm begging you."

He sighed, just looking at me for a second and then nodding. I walked him inside, thanking god that we'd be alone for a little while as Zara and my Dad were still at the restaurant. I never thought a trip to Ohio could ever be this eventful. Especially in the span of a few days.

I ushered us into the family room and sat down on the couch.

"Abbi and Luther, after that night we met in the bathroom made me be quiet about what happened. I had no choice back then, I wasn't a good person Beth. It's kinda why I wanted to leave so badly. To get away from who I used to be. I lied, stole, and cheated everyone around me and Luther and Abbi were the only people who knew my secrets," he sighed, and for a moment I thought tears were going to pierce his eye's.

"So they threatened to tell everyone about your past?" I questioned.

"And more. The stuff I did Beth, would have landed me in jail. It was the price I was willing to take because I was so fucking scared. It's not how I wanted the situation to go down. You don't know how much I liked you back."

"Is that why you guys aren't friends anymore?"

He shook his head, "yeah. When I started getting a little more popular online, Luther got jealous. And I basically had to pay him enough money not to tell the internet about the shit I used to do. Honestly, our friendship ended way before that though."

My Mom used to say something about forgiving people. And that if in your heart, you know they deserve it then grant them that. Forgiveness is something that always was hard for me. I can hold a grudge for years.

But Chance is different.

"I truly am sorry for any pain that I, Luther, or any of them caused you," his fingertips grazed my cheek.

His touch was something I did not know that I missed. I shuddered under it, "it's okay. Everything is in the past now."

That's when I saw something, it was in his eyes, like a fire igniting. Neither of us moved, but we just stayed in each other's presence. Close, and touching. His warmth radiated onto me, and it made my heart beat faster and faster.

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A/N: Sorry this is so choppy, my writing isn't the best due to stressing out over this damn hurricane. If you've been affected by Harvey, or Irma so far my heart is with you. And if you live in Florida or any of the surrounding islands please stay safe. Be with your loved ones, stock up on water and batteries.

PS, thanks for 400 yall rock.