Always & Forever (A 'The Last Of Us' Fanfic)

Chapter 4

Beth got back to Shawn's house by 11:15. She suddenly felt extremely nervous. This was going to be...no...this would be the night that would change everything between her and Joel. She got out of Joel's truck and slowly made her way to the front door.

"Beth! You're back," Shawn shouted opening the door for her.

"Well, I came back for Joel. You know where he's at?" she asked suddenly feeling the intense butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

"Yeah...I do," he replied deviously.

She waited.

"Well, are you gonna tell me or what?" she pushed.

"Oh right. Sorry. I think he's upstairs sleeping off all that liquor he downed," he said then burped.

"He drank?" she asked a little surprised.

"Yup. He really let loose once you left," he said wobbling a little.

"Well, I did tell him to have fun. I'm gonna go and check on him," she said.

"Yeah. You go and do that. First door on your left," he said giving her a creepy smile.

"Um...okay then," Beth said then swiftly made her way to the stairs.

She reached the top of the stairs and went to the door on the left. She opened the door then quickly shut it. There was a couple having sex in that room. She then stopped to think. Shawn had said the first door on the left. This was the only door to her left. Had he lied? But why would he? She opened the door again, this time a little slower. At a closer glance, she recognized Joel's button down lying on the floor. She opened it up wider and saw that it was in fact the man that she loved having sex with some other chick. And not just any chick. Roxanne Sullivan, the school slut.

"Joel?" Beth said getting choked up.

Roxanne turned and smiled.

"Well, isn't this a surprise?" she asked breathlessly while rocking back and forth with Joel still buried deep inside her.

Joel looked over to the opened door.

"Beth...Oh god. Wait...let me explain," he said a little breathless himself.

Beth backed away from the door, threw his keys in the room, then turned and headed back downstairs. She wanted to breakdown right there and then. But she did not want an audience for that. So, she sucked it up and kept walking with her head held high.

"Did you find them?" Shawn asked.

"Yeah. I– wait. You knew both of them were up there?" she asked getting angrier.

"Well yeah. Now you and I can get together. You can forget about that asshole," he said coming to wrap and arm around her.

She pushed him away.

"You fucking pig," she said.

"Beth! Please!" Joel called from the top of the stairs.

He was frantically putting his clothes back on. Beth looked up at him, scoffed then stormed out the door. She took out her keys and headed to where she had parked.

"Beth! Please stop!" Joel shouted from the door.

But Beth wasn't gonna stop for him. Her heart was shattered and the only thing she wanted to do was go home and cry her eyes out. Joel ran up to her and grabbed a hold of her arm.

"Beth, I can explain," he said as he turned her around.

"Explain? You can explain how you were clearly having sex with the school slut? So me walking in and seeing the two of you like that, wasn't explanation enough? Okay then. Please, Joel. Explain. I'd love to hear what you come up with," she said sarcastically as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"It...it didn't mean anything," he started.

She scoffed and chuckled lightly.

"Right. It really looked like it didn't 'mean anything'. I can't believe you right now," she said turning around again.

"Beth. Trust me...I swear I never meant for this to happen," he said.

"But it did happen, Joel! It. Happened. And to think I was coming over to tell you..." but she didn't finish.

"Tell me what? Beth...tell me what?" he begged.

"It doesn't matter. You're drunk. Nothing I say is gonna make a bit of difference," she said softer.

"No. It will. Beth...please tell me what you were gonna come and tell me," he said placing his hand on her cheek.

She moved away from his touch. This wasn't how she thought tonight was gonna go at all. She fought as hard as she could to hold back the tears that threatened to fall at any second. She took in a deep breath to calm herself.

"I...I can't look at you right now. I'm going home. Please don't try to call me or talk to me," she said sternly.

She turned and quickly made her way to her car.

"Beth..." Joel called.

She ignored him and got into her car. She took in a few more breaths to keep her from breaking down completely. She was an emotional wreck and was sure that if she wasn't careful, she'd end up in an accident or worse. She could feel the vibrations of Joel calling for her outside. She turned the key to the ignition and blasted her radio. She drove all the way home with nothing but the music coming through her stereo keeping her company.

Joel watched as Beth's car disappeared down the street. She was gone. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. Although he was drunk, there was no way he was ever going to forget that look of disappointment and pain she had as she stood frozen by the door. He had managed to get his pants and shirt on but his shoes were still upstairs. He reluctantly made his way back into the house and endured all the stares that he was currently getting. His head hung in shame. When he got back to the room, Roxanne was still there. Still unclothed and waiting for him.

"Put your clothes back on, Roxanne," Joel said going over to pick up his shoes and his keys that Beth had thrown.

"I thought we could pick up where we left off," she said winking at him.

"We are not 'picking up' anything," he said.

"You sound like you're sobering up," she said sitting upright.

"Yeah. Well, disappointing the love of your life will do that to you," he said.

"The love of your life? How could you still feel that way after what we just did? And how could you be sobering up? The sleeping pill should have knocked you out by now," she said.

Joel stopped and looked at her.

"The what?" he asked sternly.

"Joel...it was only half of one. I didn't want to cause any internal damage so I put half a pill in your water," she said going up and wrapping her arms around him.

He pushed her away in disgust.

"You planned to take advantage of me while I was passed out? What the hell, Roxanne? Who fucking does that?" he asked appalled.

"I just...I wanted you to give me a chance. And baby, I have to admit, you were the best I've ever had," she said smiling widely.

"That was a mistake. Get it through your head, Roxanne. I will never love you. I'm sorry but I don't know how else to phrase it. Get rid of this pointless delusion that you have about us. We are never gonna happen again. Ever. The faster, you get that through your head, the easier it will be for all of us. Oh and by the way, the next time you want to roofy someone, you may want to consider their weight. It takes more than half a pill to knock me out completely," he finished then stormed out.