Echo in Her Mind

Thirty-Two

Ruben's head pounded as he moved in the bed, barely awake, but not willing to move just yet. The room was dark and quiet, so he assumed Bethany was still asleep in the bed next to his.

Guilt overcame him as the flashbacks of last night occurred in his head. The look on Bethany's face was surely enough to break him, but he had to stand his ground; had to protect himself, as well as her, from their undeniable future.

He had decided it was easier to have her hate him, than it was to imagine that she could never love him. So, he filled her head with lies, except for the part about Dessi, that was the only truth he had told her. It would've been hard to lie about it anyway, seeing as Dessi had marked him all over. But he hoped it had been enough to drive Bethany away from him.

Deciding he had laid in bed long enough, Ruben got out of it and headed straight to the bathroom to shower his last night sins off his skin. It took everything in him not to look at the bed next to his and get a glimpse of Bethany's face.

She was certainly his drug, and her kisses were the best high he had ever had, but it was time to start the withdrawal process. He needed to become clean of her again. It was the only way he was going to get through the rest of this mission sane.

Quickly, Ruben washed his body and hoped to escape the awkwardness that was bound to occur between him and Bethany when she awoke. He had plans to meet up with Dessi again in attempts to distract himself until The Watcher called upon them for the next vessel.

He was sober now, and knew if got into another screaming match with Bethany, he certainly wouldn't be able to stand his ground this time around.

Ruben got out of the shower and dried himself off with the towel hanging up next to it. After wrapping it around his waist, he snuck out of the bathroom, grabbed his bag, and raced back into it. He really needed to start to remember to bring clothes in with him. He mostly flaunted himself in front of Bethany to get a rise out of her, and it worked for a while there, but he was done with that foolish game now.

Once Ruben was fully dressed and ready to go, he left the solitude of the bathroom once again. He tried so hard not to look over where Bethany slept, but he failed this time around, and his eyes almost popped out of his head when he realized that it was empty.

His head whipped around the room in panic. She was there whenever he woke up, he was sure of it. Wasn't he? He was too stubborn to make sure. The Watcher was going to have his head if she ran away because of him. He had never been so scared in his life. He had no way of contacting her, and he really needed to invest in a phone for her after this.

Ruben's attention moved over to the door as movement could be heard on the other side of it. Bethany's form came into view next and Ruben couldn't decide whether to run up and embrace her, or yell at her for her actions.

He decided on neither, as he took in her appearance. Her hair was astray, and her eyes were glossy. The bags under her eyes indicated to him that she hadn't slept, and the fresh tears pouring out of them made Ruben feel like the worst person on the planet.

Was all of that from the words he spoke to her last night? It couldn't be, something else must've happened, right?

Ruben stared at her as she walked into the room, and her eyes widened as she realized he was awake. She didn't say anything though, just walked past him to the bed, and curled up on it.

"Where were you?" Ruben couldn't help himself from asking. He tried to sound nonchalant, to show her that he didn't really care, but was simply curious. He told himself it was to be prepared if The Watcher questioned him about all of this, but deep down he knew that was a terrible lie.

"I was hungry." Her voice was soft, damaged even, but Ruben knew better than to push it further.

"I am going out for a while; don't do anything stupid." Ruben advised, and even he flinched at the harsh tone that he spoke in.

He chanced a glance at Bethany when she didn't say anything in return. She was still on the bed, her back facing him, and his heart ached at how badly he wanted to go over and wrap his arms around her. If he had to bet, he would say that was the last thing she would want him to do after last night.

So instead, he left her alone, which he assumed was exactly what she wanted.

*****

The last thing Bethany wanted was to be left alone, but she knew better than to ask Ruben to stay. Not that she would personally want him to stay, but the idea of being alone with her thoughts was terrifying her. Although, if she told Ruben that he would certainly laugh at her, and probably tell her to stop being a little girl. When that became a thing, she hadn't a clue.

She was certain that he was going to meet the woman he was with last night again, the same woman that left all those markings on him; as if she was claiming Ruben as her own.

Bethany's chest felt tight at the image of the woman and Ruben entered into her mind, and she felt like breaking something as jealousy invaded her body. She didn't even know who this woman was, or what she looked like, but she must be beautiful for Ruben to go back to her again today. She probably looked like Ruben's mystery lover that he always talks about, and that made it worse for Bethany.

Ruben never wanted her; she was just his toy to fill a void in him until he found someone better, more experienced. Someone that could give him what he actually wanted. His time with her was over, and for the first time since she got sucked into this mess, Bethany couldn't wait for The Watcher call upon them, so that she no longer had to see Ruben's face every day. She just hoped that she could hold it all together until that day came.