Ransom

Love Eliza

ELIZA
I found myself buying two packs of Bud light. Even though I was way past twenty-one, I felt like I was doing something wrong— it was because I'm not a drinker. I needed that feeling— that tingling sensation and my mind to go blank. Beer, whiskey— alcohol. It gives you that escape. Images of my dad flashed through my head. My stomach turned as I climbed into my big red truck. When I walked into the silent house I groaned and put the cases of beer on the table. I could feel my body shaking. I hung up my keys and threw my shoes off. I grabbed one of my husband's old sweatshirts that I have always loved wearing. I slipped off my faded blue jeans and threw on a pair of sweatpants. I went back over to the two cases of beer, staring at them in disbelief. I took my shaky hand and grabbed one of the bottles. It was still cold from the store, it felt good against my burning body. I found Michael's bottle opener and found myself popping it open. The smell of alcohol burned my nose but I didn't care. I put the brown bottle up to my crackled lips and began chugging. It burned my throat on how fast I drank it but I didn't care. It was so refreshing focusing on something else other than my heart aching. I grabbed the rest of the beer and took it with me to the couch. I threw the TV on to fill up the silent room. I watched some cheesy baking show as I chugged another one down...

MICHAEL
"Come on Micheal! I would take those ropes off of you." She said, sitting on the floor, across from me.
"I'm not cheating on my wife." I growled, glaring at her. She rolled her eyes.
"You are telling me you never had an urge to kiss another woman while you were with... Eleanor?"
"Eliza. No! Of course not." I barked, my past tugging at me a little bit. I squirmed uncomfortably. She smirked and noticed my sudden uneasy ness and lack of confidence.
"Is it me Michael? Do I make you-"
"No! You are vile, you don't compete with my wife on her worst day." I snarled, being truthful with every word. Her eyes beamed with anger, fire brewing within them.
"Michael, if you don't kiss me right now I will hurt you." She said, her voice shaking. I rolled my eyes.
"No matter what you do to me, Diane. I will never be attracted to you in the slightest."
She stared at me stunned. Her mood suddenly switched.
"You love Ellie—"
"Eliza. And yes, more than anything." I whispered the last part, the thought of her bringing tears to my eyes.
Boss and Norman came back, both stumbling in. I rolled my eyes.
"He's yours boys." She told them lazily.
I squeezed my eyebrows together and watched her walk away and into a bedroom, closing the door. I swallowed hard while the drunken idiots came over, watching me closely. Norman came over, pulling me up by my shirt. I grunted and shoved him away with my shoulder.  He then took his arm and shoved into my throat, pushing me up against the wall that was behind me. I stared right back into his beady eyes, not backing down.
"Oh knock it off, Norman." Boss said lazily, looking in the fridge for something.
"This guy thinks he can make a fool out of me. I wanna teach him something." He growled, getting closer to me. My rage consumed me, I spat in his face. He let out a roar and wiped out his gun, pressing the barrel right into my chest. I breathed heavily.
"Hey! Calm down, Norman." Boss came over and grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back. Our eyes never lost connection.
"I thought I had anger issues." I muttered, rolling my eyes. Just then I felt a knee to my private area. I grunted and flopped down. I heard Boss sigh.
"Norman, we can show him whose in charge in other ways." Boss said, smiling evilly. I slowly looked up, panic rushing over me.