Second Bite of the Apple

Chapter 13: Bass Line Betrayal

Chapter 13: Bass Line Betrayal

Once safely behind the door of my usual practice room, hurt overtook my anger. How could she do this to me? I trusted her!

I should have just kept my stupid mouth shut. I never meant for Matt to get arrested. If anything he needs help and support. This was all wrong.

A timid tapping on the glass in the door broke my thought stream. Laura was hovering cautiously in the corridor. She really did look sorry. That was beside the point though, she still shouldn't have gone this far.

The door eased open as Laura snuck reproachfully into the room. I turned my back on her, pretending to be highly intrigued by some of the notes I'd made this morning.

"Can we talk? Please?" Laura asked feebly.

"Yes, umm, for my project, I've been looking-"

"Sian, you know that's not what I'm talking about."

"I have nothing to say to you," I tried desperately to prevent the pain I felt from seeping into my voice.

"I couldn't just sit back and do nothing. I couldn't let him get away with what he did to you! Don't you get it? I did it for you - to protect you! To make things right!" There was an imploring determination behind Laura's words but nonetheless I could still feel anger burning within me.

"Is that what you think?" My voice was rising steadily. "You think that him getting locked in a cell suddenly fixes everything?"

"It's a start!"

"I want it all to stop! Not start! I don't have the strength to go through all of this again!"

"You have me! I have strength enough for us both."

Laura wasn't backing down. I softened slightly at her words but it wasn't enough. This wasn't about her. It was about me.

"You don't get it do you? You have no idea what you've got yourself caught up in! One moment of weakness and suddenly you think you know every little detail about me!"

"No, of course not! But I've heard enough!"

"And so have I! I don't want to hear it Laura. Whatever your motivation, you took it too far. Did you you not even think to tell me first?"

"I - I just didn't want to ruin it. It was so nice to see you smile this morning. I just wanted things to stay that way. You can't hate me for wanting to make you happy?"

"No I can't," I had to agree, "but you can't protect me from everything. I've been through enough crap to be able to handle whatever life throws at me now. And you have to let me, even if there's a chance I might get hurt."

"I can't bear to see you crying though."

"But you didn't mind lying through your teeth if it meant getting a quickie in before registration."

"It's not like that and you know it!"

I'd definitely hit a nerve. A flush was rising in Laura's cheeks as she clenched her jaw in frustration. A small pang of guilt struck through me as I thought back to how perfect this morning had been. Laura was right, it was the first time I'd felt like myself in a long while. It was the first time I'd smiled like I meant it. But that didn't make it okay!

"After everything that happened this morning, I'm sure you could have taken a few minutes to explain. You say you didn't want to ruin it, but you already have."

Laura opened her mouth to argue.

"No, don't." I held my hand up halting her. "I trusted you. I trusted you and you betrayed me."