Re: Beautiful Disaster [16+][Completed]

by **ChloeRussellx** Thu Jun 21, 2012 5:37 am

♥ C H A P T E R | T W E N T Y | T H R E E♥

Dougie set our bags down and looked around the room. “This is nice, right?”
I glared at him and his raised his eyebrows, “What?”
I unzipped my suitcase and shook my head. Different strategies and the lack of time crowded my head.
“This isn’t a holiday. You shouldn’t be here, Dougie.”
In the next moment he was behind me, crossing my arms around my middle with his, “I go where you go.”
I leaned my head against his chest and sighed. “I have to get in the casino. You can stay here or check out the area. I’ll see you later, okay?”
“I’m going with you.”
“I don’t want you there, Doug.”
A hurt expression weighed his face and I touched his arm. “If I’m going to win twenty-five thousand quid in one weekend, I have to concentrate. I don’t want you to see who I’m gonna become while I’m at those tables, okay?”
He brushed my hair from my eyes and kissed my cheek, “Okay babe.”
I slapped on the mascara and blusher, and slipped into a little gold dress, pulling on a pair of heels, cringing at the sight of the mirror.
“You don’t have to do this, Heidi. You owe him nothing,” Chloe said.
“He owes Benny money, I’ve gotta do something.”
We stepped out of the lift at the casino, into the neon lights and bustling people. Vegas was heavenly hell, the only place you could find dancers in feathers and stage makeup, businessmen in luxurious suits, and wholesome families in the same building. We strutted down an aisle lined with red ropes, and handed a man in a red blazer our I.Ds. We got into the huge room, walked past aisles of slot machines, the blackjack tables, and then stopped at the roulette wheel. I scanned the room, watching the various poker tables, settling on one with older gentlemen in the seats.
“That one,” I said, nodding across the way.
I walked over to the table, using my most charming smile. Locals could smell a hustler from a mile away but I had two things in my favour that covered the scent of any con: youth…and tits.
“Good evening, gentlemen. Mind if I join you?”
They didn’t look up. “Sure sweet cheeks. Grab a seat and look pretty. Just don’t talk, that sexy little English accept you got will put us off.”
“I wanna play, there’s not enough action at the black jack tables.”
One of the men chewed on his cigar. “This is a Poker table, princess. Five card draw. Try your luck on the slot machines.”
“I’ve always wanted to play poker in Vegas. And I have all these chips.”
“There’s a minimum ante, sugar. Five hundred.”
I pushed my chips forward. The dealer shrugged and tossed in his own. “Jimmy,” he said, offering his hand. When I took it, he pointed aa the other men, “Mel, Pauly, Joe and Winks.” I looked over to the skinny man chewing on a tooth pick, as predicted, he winked at me.
An hour later, I had taken twenty-seven hundred from my opponents, and they were beginning to sweat.
“What you two doin’ here?” Chloe and I turned at the same time.
“Jesse,” I couldn’t help but grin.
“This is my place you’re scamming, Cookie.”
“You know I hate that, Jess.”
“Excuse us,” Jesse said, pulling me by the arm.
Jesse’s dad ran the casino, an it was more than a surprise that he had joined the family business. We used to chase each other down the halls of the hotel upstairs, and I always beat him when we raced up and down the lifts. He had grown up nicely. He still had the slightly bronzed skin and green eyes I remember, but the rest was a pleasant surprise.
His emerald irises sparkled in the bright lights. “This is surreal. I thought it was you when I walked by, but I couldn’t convince myself that you would come back here.”
“It’s me,” I smiled.
“You look…different.”
“So do you. How’s your dad?”
“Retired,” he smiled. “How long are you here?”
“Just until Sunday. I have to get back to uni.”
“Hey, Jess,” Chloe said.
“Chloe,” he chuckled. “You are each other’s shadows.”
“It’s good to see you, Heidi. Why don’t you let me buy you dinner?” he asked, with a smile.
“I’d love to, but I’m not here for fun, Jess.”
He smiled. “Neither am I. You know you’re not allowed in here. You and Mick are both banned.”
My face fell, Jesse wouldn’t give into my charms so easily. I knew I would have to tell him the truth.
“I’m here for Mick. He’s in trouble.”
“The usual?” He asked, I nodded. “I wish I could help. I know it’s neither yours or your dad’s fault you got banner, but you know I can’t let you stay.”
“Well it is his fault, ‘cause if he hadn’t got himself in trouble then the fight wouldn’t have broke out. Look, Jess, I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t desperate. He owes Benny.”
Jesse sucked in air through his teeth, a concerned crease formed between his eyebrows. “I have until tomorrow. Please, just give me ‘til then.”
He touched his palm to my cheek. “I’ll make you a deal. If you have dinner with me tomorrow, I’ll give you until midnight.”
“I’m here with someone.”
He shrugged. “That’s the deal, Heidi. You know how things are done here…you can’t have something for nothing.”
I sighed, defeated. “Fine. I’ll meet you tomorrow night. I’ll meet you at Ferraros if you give me until midnight.” We used to go to Ferraros all the time. He kissed me on the cheek. “It was nice to see you again. Five o’clock alright tomorrow? I start work at eight.”
I smiled as he walked away, but it quickly faded when I saw Dougie staring at me from the Roulette table.
“Shit,” Chloe and I said in unison.
Dougie glared at Jesse as he passed, and then made his way to me.
“Who was that?”
“Jesse. I’ve known him for a long time.”
“How long?”
I looked back at the poker table where I was playing. “Dougie, I don’t have time for this.”
“He’s her ex,” Chloe answered him.
“He’s your ex-boyfriend?” Dougie asked, instantly angry.
“He’s not my ex-boyfriend, we were close as kids, I came here a lot.” I shot Chloe a glare. I took Dougie’s chin in my hand, insisting on his full attention. “I’m not supposed to be here, Doug. My dad got us banned from here, but he’s given me until midnight. I’ll explain everything later, but I’ve gotta go get back to the game, all right?”
He took a deep breath. “All right. I’ll see you at midnight.” He bent down to kiss me, but his lips were cold and distant.
Ten minutes before midnight, I sat at sixteen thousand. I felt the familiar hands of Dougie’s on my shoulder, I didn’t dare turn around and loose concentration, not with three thousand pounds waiting to be won.
I laid down my hand of cards, grinning from ear to ear.
“Unbelievable!” Pauly said.
“I’m out,” Joe grumbled, standing up and stomping away from the table.
Jimmy was a bit more gracious. “I can die tonight and feel I’ve played a truly worthy opponent, kid. It’s been a pleasure, Heidi Chapman.
I froze. “You knew?”
Jimmy smiled. “I played you six years ago. I’ve wanted a re-match for a long time. Take care sweetheart. Tell your dad Jimmy Reynolds says hello.”
Chloe helped gather my winnings, and I turned to Dougie. “I need more time.”
“Wanna try the black jack tables?”
“I can’t lose money, Doug.”
He smiled. “You can’t lose, babe.”
Chloe shook her head, “It’s not her game.”
“Dougie nodded. “I won a little. Six hundred, you can have it.”
Danny handed me his chips. “I only made three. It’s yours.”
I sighed. “Thanks guys, I’m still short five grand though.”
I looked past Danny to see Jesse approaching. “How did you do?” he asked, smiling.
“I’m still five grand short, Jess. I need more time.”
“I’ve done all I can, Heidi.”
I nodded. “I know. Thanks for letting me stay.”
“Maybe I can get my dad to talk to Benny for you?”
“It’s Mick’s mess. I’m going to ask him for an extension.”
“You know that’s not gonna happen. If it’s less than he owes, Benny’s going to send someone. You stay as far away from him as you can. Get on a plane, Heidi. You hear me?”
I nodded. Jesse sighed and his eyes grey heavy with sympathy. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my hair. “I’m sorry. If I wasn’t my job at risk, you know I’d do something more.”
I nodded, pulling away from him. “I know. You did what you could.”
He lifted my chin with his finger. “I’ll see you tomorrow at five.” He bent down to kiss the corner of my mouth then walked past me without another word.
I glanced at Chloe, who watched Dougie. I didn’t dare meet his eyes; I couldn’t imagine what angry expression was on his face.
“What at five?” Dougie asked, his voice dripping with subdued anger.
“She agreed to dinner if Jesse would let her stay. She didn’t have a choice, Doug,” Chloe said. I could tell by the cautious tone of her voice that Dougie was beyond angry.
I peered up at him, and he glowered at me with the same betrayed expression Mick had on his face the night he decided I’d taken his luck.
“You had a choice.”
“Have you ever dealt with these people, Dougie? I’m sorry if your feelings are hurt, but a free meal with an old friend isn’t a high price to pay to keep Mick alive. And probably even myself too.”
I could see that Dougie wanted to lash out at me, but there was nothing he could say.

By the time I knocked on the large green door I had seen plenty of times before, I felt hugely sick. I wasn’t surprised to see the enormous door man - frightening, and as wide as he was tall - but I was stunned to see Benny standing beside him.
“Benny,” I breathed.
“My, my…you’re not Lucky Thirteen anymore, are ya? Mick didn’t tell me what a beauty you’ve grown into. I’ve been waiting for you, Cookie. I hear you have a payment for me.”
I nodded and Benny looked to my friends. “They’re with me.”
“I’m afraid your buddies will have to wait out here,” the doorman said in an abnormally deep bass tone.
Dougie immediately took me by the arm. “She’s not going in there alone. I’m coming with her.”
Benny eyed Dougie and I swallowed. When he looked up to his doorman and smiled, I relaxed a bit. “Fair enough,” Benny said, “Mick will be glad you have such a good friend with you.”
We followed him inside. Dougie kept a firm grip on my arm, purposely standing between me and the doorman. We followed Benny into the lift, travelled up four floors in silence, then the doors opened.
A large mahogany desk sat in the middle of a vast room. Benny hobbled to his plush chair ad sat down, gesturing for us to take the two empty seats facing the desk. I reached over to grab Dougie’s hand and he gave me a reassuring squeeze. “Mick owes me twenty-five thousand. I trust you have the full amount,” Benny said, scribbling something on a notepad.
“Actually,” I paused, clearing my throat, “I’m five grand short, Benny. But I have all day tomorrow to get that. And five-thousand is no problem, right?”
“Heidi,” Benny said, frowning. “You disappoint me. You know my rules better than that.”
“Please, Benny. I’m asking you to take all I’ve got now and I’ll have the rest for you tomorrow.”
Benny’s eyes darted from me to Dougie. It was then that I noticed two men take a step forward from the shadowed corners of the room. Dougie’s grip on my hand tightened, and I held my breath. “You know I don’t take anything but the full amount. The fact that you’re trying to hand me less tells me that you’re not sure you can get the full amount.~”
“I can get your money, Benny.”
“The deadline isn’t until midnight tomorrow,” Dougie said, glancing behind us at the approaching men.
“Mick called me tonight. He said you’re taking care of his debt.”
“I’m doing him a favour. I don’t owe you anything, he does, so if you’re gonna set your men on anyone, set them on Mick. He got into debt with you, I’m trying to give it back to you.” I said, sternly. I’d had to deal with Benny and others similar enough times because of Mick, and I was absolutely sick of it!
Benny leaned both of his fat, stubby elbows onto the desk. “I’m considering teaching Mick a less, and I’m curious just how lucky you are, kiddo.”
Dougie shot up out of his chair, pulling me with him. He jerked me behind him, backing up toward the door.
“Joseph is outside the door, young man. Where exactly do you think you’re going to escape to?”
“Dougie,” I warned, watching Benny’s men approach us.
Dougie pushed me behind him for a few feet and stood tall. “I hope you know, Benny, that when I take down your men, I mean no disrespect. But I love this girl with all my heart, I wont let you hurt her.”
Benny burst out a loud cackle. “I gotta hand it to you, son. You’ve got the biggest balls of anyone that’s ever come through those doors. The large fella to your right is David, and if he can’t finish you with his fists, he wont hesitate to use the knife he’s got under his belt. The man to your left is Dane, and he earns me money, winning fights. He’s got a fight tomorrow, he’s never lost. Don’t hurt your hands, Dane, you’re gonna get me thousands tomorrow.”
Dane smiled with wild eyes, “Yes, sir.”
“Benny, don’t! I can get you the money!” I yelled.
“This is going to get interesting very fast,” Benny chuckled, settling back comfortably in his seat.
David rushed at Dougie and my hands flew up to my mouth. Before David could do anything, Dougie shoved his face straight into Dougie’s knee. When Dougie threw a punch, he made sure to put all his strength into it. Two punches and an elbow later, David was on the floor in a blood heap.
Benny’s head fell back as he laughed hysterically. “Well, go on, Dane. He doesn’t scare you, does he?”
Dane approached Dougie more carefully, with focus and precision. His fist flew at Dougie’s face with great speed, but Dougie dodged, ramming his shoulder into Dane at full-force. They fell against Benny’s desk, then Dane grabbed Dougie with both arms, throwing him to the ground. I covered my face, unable to watch when Dane got Dougie trapped beneath him.
I heard a painful cry and when I looked up, I saw Dougie hovering over Dane, holding him by his hair. He rammed his face into the front of Benny’s desk, then he scrambled to his feet, disorientated and bleeding.
Dougie watched him for a moment.
Dane forced forward and landed his knuckles into Dougie’s jaw. Dougie smiled and held up his finger, “That’s your one.”
I couldn’t believe it. Dougie let himself get hit. He was enjoying himself. Until this moment, I never realised what Dougie was capable of.
With Benny’s laughter in the background, Dougie finished Dane off. “Amazing young man! Simply amazing!” Benny said, clapping with delight like a seal would.
Dougie pulled me behind him as Joseph filled the door way. “Should I take care of this, sir?”
Benny shook his head, watching Dougie. “What’s your name, son?”
Dougie was breathing hard. “Dougie Poynter.” He was wiping the blood off his hands and onto his jeans.
“Dougie Poynter, I believe you can help your girlfriend out.”
“How?” Dougie puffed.
“It doesn’t look like Dane is gonna be able to fight tomorrow. I suggest you take this place. You do it, I forgive the remaining of Mick’s debt.”
Dougie turned to me. “Babe?”
“Are you alright?” I asked, wiping the blood from his face. I felt my eyes well up because of fear and relief.
Dougie smiled. “It’s not my blood, baby. Don’t cry.”
Benny stood. “I’m a busy man, son. Play or pass?”
“I’ll do it,” Dougie said. “Tell me when and where and I’ll be there.”
“You don’t even wanna know who?”
Dougie shook his head.
Benny’s grin spread across his face. “I like you, Dougie. I think we’ll be good friends.”
“I doubt it,” Dougie said, opening the door for me.
“Shit! Are you okay?” Chloe cried upon seeing the splattered blood covering Dougie’s clothing.
I just nodded as Dougie grabbed my hand and we rushed to the hotel with Danny and Chloe close behind.
While Dougie was in the shower, I explained what had happened in Benny’s room to Chloe and Danny. When Dougie appeared from the bathroom with a towel around his waist, the only evidence of a fight was a little red mark on his cheek below his red eye. “One of the guys had a fight tomorrow night. I’m taking his place and in return Benny will forgive the other bit Mick owes.”
Chloe stood up. “This is ridiculous! Why are you helping Mick, Heidi? I could kill him!”
“Not if I kill him first,” Dougie seethed.
“So you’re fighting tomorrow? Like a proper pro fight?” Danny asked.
Dougie nodded. “At some place called Zero’s. Six o’clock.”
“You’re a fuckin’ idiot, Doug! You’re gonna be fighting a complete psycho, I just know it!” Danny said.
“Yeah, probably,” Dougie smiled, “but he’s not fighting for his girl, is he?” Dougie cradled me in his arms, kissing the top of my hair. “You okay, babe?”
“This is wrong. I don’t even know how to begin to talk you out of it.”
“Did you not see me tonight? I’m gonna be perfectly fine. I’m fighting for you, babe, nothing’s going to happen to either of us.”
“I don’t want you to do this, Doug.”
“Well, I don’t want you to go to dinner with your ex-boyfriend tomorrow night. I guess we both have to do something unpleasant to save your waste of space dad.”
I had seen this before. Vegas changed people, creating monsters and broken men. It was easy to let the lights and stolen dreams dissolve into your blood. I had seen the invincible look that Dougie wore on his face many times as I was growing up, on numerous people. The only cure was a plane right home.

by **HannaWestwood** Thu Jun 21, 2012 7:06 am

Oh my god this is all wrong!!! Let's hope Jesse won't make things worse!
Oh dear, be brave Dougie! You're insane but you're doing it for Heidi so...

Awww if he dies, Heidi would never forget herself!!! O_O

Can't wait to see what's next! Let's hope it's not too awful!! Shocked

Thank you for this super awesome chapter ! xXx

by **if looks could kill** Fri Jun 22, 2012 2:16 am

GAH this gets better and better!
More soon!!

by **ChloeRussellx** Sat Jun 23, 2012 4:53 am

♥ C H A P T E R | T W E N T Y | F O U R♥

Dougie finally broke through the crowd with Benny’s hand on his shoulder, whispering in his ear. Dougie nodded and replied, my blood ran cold seeing him so friendly with the man who was about to kill us, not even twenty-four hours before. He walked taller as the crowd roared. He smiled wider and when he reached me, he planted a kiss on my lips.
I could take the salty sweat mixed with the metal taste of blood on his lips. He had won the fight, but not without a few battle wounds of his own.
“What was that about?” I asked, watching Benny laughing with his buddies.
“I’ll tell you later. We have a lot to talk about,” he said with a huge grin.
A man patted Dougie on his sweaty, bare back.
Dougie turned and shook his outstretched hand, “Looking forward to seeing another fight of yours, son, that was incredible!” the man said, handing him a bottle of beer.
“Thanks!” Dougie grinned before turning back round to me. “C’mon babe.” He took a sip of his beer, swished it around in his mouth and spat it out, it was mixed with blood.
He snaked through the crowd, taking in a deep breath as we got outside. He kissed me once then led me down the street, his steps were quick.
In the lift of our hotel, he pushed me against the mirrored wall, grabbed my leg and pulled it up in a quick motion against his hip. His mouth crashed against mine, and I felt the hand under my knee slide up my though and pull up my skirt.
“Dougie, there’s a camera in here,” I said against his lips.
“I don’t give a fuck,” he chuckled, “I’m celebrating.”
I pushed him away. “We can celebrate in the hotel room,” I said, wiping my mouth and looking at my hand, seeing streaks of crimson.
“What’s wrong with you, babe? Everything’s brilliant! I’ve got the girl of my dreams! You’ve won, I won, we paid off Mick’s debt and I just got the offer of a lifetime.”
The lift door opened and I stood in place when Dougie stepped into the hallway.
“What offer?” I asked.
Dougie held out his hand, but I ignored it. My eyes narrowed at him, I already had an idea of what he was going to say.
He sighed. “I told you, we’ll talk about it later.”
“Let’s talk about it now.”
He leaned in and pulled me by the wrist into the hallway and then lifted me off the floor into his arms.
“I am going to make enough money to replace what Mick took from you, to pay for the rest of you uni fees and mine, and buy us both brand new cars,” he said, sliding the key card into the slot and opening the door. He set me back on my feet, “And that’s just the beginning!”
“And how exactly are you going to do that?” My chest tightened and my hands began to tremble.
He took my face in his hands, ecstatic. “Benny is going to let me fight here in Vegas. Six figures a fight!”
I closed my eyes and shook my head, blocking out the excitement in his eyes. “What did you say to Benny?”
Dougie lifted my chin and I opened my eyes, afraid he had already signed his life away.
He chuckled. “I told him I’d think about it.”
I exhaled the breath I’d been holding. “Oh, thank God. Don’t’ scare me like that, Doug. I thought you were serious.”
Dougie steadied himself before he spoke. “I am serious, babe. I told him I needed to talk to you, first, but I thought you’d be happy. He’s scheduling one fight a month. Do you have any idea how much cash that is?”
“I can add, Dougie. I can also keep my sanity when I’m in Vegas, which you obviously cant. I have to get you back to England before you do something stupid.” I walked over to the wardrobe and ripped our clothes from hangers, stuffing them in our suitcases.
Dougie gently grabbed my arms and spun me around.
“I can do this. I can fight for Benny for a year and we’ll be set for a long, long time.”
“What you gonna do, drop out of uni and move here?”
“Benny’s gonna fly me out, work around my schedule.”
I laughed once. “You can’t be that gullible, Dougie. Have you forgotten about Dane? you’ll end up being one of his thugs!”
He shook his head, “He doesn’t want me to do anything except fight, babe.”
“And you trust him?” I asked with disbelief. “And what about McFly? What’s gonna happen to the band? You’ve got the final of Battle of the Bands coming up.”
Dougie’s jaw clenched. He was irritated at having to convince me. “I wont need McFly, they can find someone else to play bass. This is good for us. I can’t make money like this anywhere else. After a year, I’ll stop. We’ll go back to normal life.”
“You don’t just quit with Benny. He’ll tell you when you’re gone. I can’t believe you’re even considering this! The moment you decide you’re done with it, Benny will lose millions, you think he’s gonna allow that?”
After that, I refused to speak anymore about it until we were on the plane home. As soon as we were in English surroundings, he would go back to his normal self.
We buckled our seat belts on the plane. Dougie sighed and looked out of the window. “My first fight is in three weeks.”
My mouth dropped open. “You already said yes?”
He winked. “Not yet.”
“But you’re going to?”
He smiled. “You’ll stop being mad when I buy you a brand new Mini Cooper.”
“I don’t want a Mini Cooper,” I seethed.
“You can have anything you want, baby. All you gotta do is pick your favourite colour.”
“You’re not doing this for me.”
He leaned over, kissing my hair. “No, I’m doing this for us. You just can’t see how great it’s gonna be,”
I had to believe that Dougie loved me enough to forget the Queen’s face printed onto sheets of paper and false promises from Benny.
“Babe, do you know how to cook a turkey?”
“A turkey?” I said, taken off-guard by the change of topic.
He squeezed my hand. “Well, the twins’ birthdays are coming up, and you know my dad loves you. We haven’t had a good home cooked meal since my mum died. I thought maybe we could try cook together? Have a real dinner for once instead of ordering a pizza.”
“Sure.”

Dougie set out suitcases on the bed and collapsed beside them. He hadn’t said anything else about fighting.
I bathed Baby, disgusted that she stunk of dirty socks from being in Tom’s apartment.
“Oh! You smell so much better!” she stood up on her hind legs, covering my face with puppy kisses. “I missed you too, little girl.”
“Babe?” Dougie said, nervously playing with his fingers.
“Yeah?” I said, rubbing Baby with the fluffy white towel in my hands.
“I wanna do this. I want to fight in Vegas.”
I looked up at him. “You’re gonna work for Benny?”
He nodded nervously and smiled.
Tears glossed my eyes, knowing he was resolved. “I don’t want you to buy me anything with that money, Dougie. I don’t want anything to do with Vegas or anything that goes along with it.”
“If I were to win money from fighting here, you wouldn’t care.”
“It’d be different and you know it.”
He frowned.
“Why did you even ask me, Dougie? You were gonna do it anyway.”
“I want your support on this, but it’s too much money to turn down.”
“Okay then. You’ve obviously made your decision.”
Dougie beamed. “I’m starving. You want anything?”
I shook my head and he kissed my forehead. Once his footsteps left the hall, I pulled my clothes from their hangers. Angry tears fell down my cheeks.
Dougie was going to be apart of everything I hated, and if he wouldn’t let me save him, I had to save myself.
I zipped my suitcase up and yanked it off the bed and down the hall, passing the kitchen without glancing in its direction. I hurried outside to where Danny and Chloe were still.
“Babe?” Dougie called from the doorway of the building.
I touched Chloe’s arm. “I need to go back to our room.”
“What’s going on?” She asked, noting the seriousness of the situation by my expression.
I glanced behind to see Dougie jogging down the path to where we stood.
“What are you doing?” he said, gesturing to my suitcase.
Dougie wouldn’t let me leave if I’d told him the truth now, and by morning I’d have convinced myself to accept his decision. Acceptance would mean no escaping from the danger and mess.
“I have stupid amounts of dirty clothes, I’m gonna go use the ones in our building.”
“Are you stupid amounts of dirty clothes, I’m gonna go use the ones in our building.”
“Are you staying here tonight?” He asked, unsure of what I’d just said.
“Depends when my washing is done.”
Dougie smiled, pulling me against him. “In three weeks, you wont need to do any washing, you can throw them all away and get new, clean ones every time.”
“You’re fighting for Benny again?” Chloe asked, shocked.
“Dougie,” Danny began.
“Don’t you two start on me, too. If I’m not changing my mind for the love of my life, you two have got no hope.”
Chloe looked at me with understanding eyes. “Come on, Heidi, let’s get going.”
I nodded and Dougie leaned down to kiss me. I pulled him closer, knowing it would be the last time I felt his lips.
“See you later,” he said. “Love you, babe.”
“Love you too,” My voice cracked slightly.
Danny lifted my suitcase into the boot and Chloe slid into the drivers seat beside me. Dougie folded his arms across his chest, chatting to Danny as Chloe turned on the engine. “You can’t stay in our room tonight. He’s gonna go straight there when he figures it out,” Chloe said slowly backing away from the parking space.
Tears filled my eyes and fell down my cheeks. “I know.”
Dougie’s cheerful expression changed when he saw the tears. He wasted no time jogging to my window. “What’s wrong, babe?” he asked, tapping on the window.
“Go, Chlo,” I said, wiping my eyes. I focused on the road ahead as Dougie jogged alongside the car.
“Babe? Chloe! Stop the fucking car!” he yelled, slamming his palm against the glass.
“Heidi, don’t do this!” he said, realisation and fear distorting his expression.
Chloe turned onto the main road and pressed on the accelerator.
“I’m never going to hear the end of this.”
“I’m so, so sorry, Chlo.”
She glanced into the mirror and pushed her foot to the floor. “Fucking hell, Dougie.”
I turned to see him running at full speed behind us, after he reached the corner of the road, he turned and sprinted back to the apartment.
“He’s going back to get his car, he’s gonna follow us and cause a huge scene.”
I closed my eyes. “Just…hurry. I’ll sleep in Libby’s room, she’s round Harry’s tonight.” We keep a spare key of her room like they did for us incase of an emergency. This was most definitely an emergency.
“He’s really going to work for Benny?”
I simply nodded.
Chloe grabbed my hand and squeezed. “You’re making the right decision, Heidi. You can’t go through that again. If he wont listen to you, he’s not going to listen to anyone.”
My phone rang. I looked down to see Dougie’s named and pressed ignore. I turned it off and put it in my bag.
We pulled into the car park and Chloe held open the door as I lugged my suitcase.
“He’s going to end up getting arrested,” Chloe said as she gave me Libby’s key once we were inside her room.
She ran back to the hall and I watched her rush across the car park from the window, getting in her car just as Dougie pulled up in his car. He ran to the passenger side of Chloe’s car and opened the door. When he realised I wasn’t in the car, he ran into the building.
My heart sped up even more as I waited for the drama to begin.
Down the hall, Dougie pounded on my door, calling my name. “Babe? Open the fucking door! I’m not leaving until you talk to me!” he yelled, banging on the door.
After several minutes of quiet, I cracked open the door, peering down the wide hallway and saw Dougie sat on the floor with his back to the wall with his hands covering his face. I shut the door as quietly as I could. After an hour, I glanced down the hall again. Dougie hadn’t moved.
I checked twice more during the night, finally falling asleep myself about four.
I purposely overslept, knowing I would avoid Dougie if I did. I turned my phone on to find he had flooded my inbox with endless amounts of texts. They all varied from rants to apologies.
I called Chloe in the afternoon. She kept a hushed tone when she spoke. “I haven’t told Danny where you are incase he tells Dougie. Dougie’s beyond pissed off at me. I’m probably staying at ours tonight. He was kicked out of English today. When you didn’t come in, he kicked over both of your desks. Danny said he waited for you after all of your classes where you’d usually go to. He’s going crazy, Heidi. I told him you were done the second he made his decision. I can’t believe he thought you’d be okay with it.”
“Pop into Libby’s when you get here. I don’t think I can go with you, yet.”
Libby and I were room mates for the next week. I avoided the cafeteria at all costs, I would go anywhere else but there to eat, and I also played it safe by leaving all classes early. I knew that I would have to talk to Dougie sometime, but I couldn’t until he had calmed down enough to accept my decision.
I sat alone Friday night when Libby went to Harry’s again. I was laying in bed, holding the phone to my ear while I spoke to Chloe. I rolled my eyes when my stomach growled.
“I can come pick you up and take you somewhere for dinner,” Chloe said.
“No, it’s your first night with Dan in almost a week, Chlo. I’m just going ot pop over to the cafeteria. It should be safe by now.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Tell Dan I said hi.”
I strolled to the cafeteria, in no hurry to suffer the stares of the remaining people at the tables. The entire campus was alerted with the breakup and Dougie’s behaviour didn’t help either. Just when the lights of the cafeteria came into view, I saw a dark figure approach.
“Babe?”
Startled, I stopped in my tracks. Dougie walked into the light, unshaven and pale. “Fuck, Dougie! You scared the hell out of me!”
“If you would answer your phone when I call I wouldn’t have to sneak around in the dark.”
“You look rough,” I said.
“I feel it.”
I tightened my arms around me. “I’m actually on my way to grab something to eat. I’ll talk to you later.”
“No. we have to talk.”
“Doug…”
“I turned Benny down. I call him Wednesday and told him no. I’m not gonna fight for him, babe.” there was a hopeful glimmer in his eyes, but it disappeared when he registered my expression.
“I don’t know what you want me to say, Dougie.”
“Say you forgive me. Say you’ll take me back, please,” he begged.
I clenched my teeth together, I was not going to cry. “I can’t.”
Dougie’s face crumpled and I took the opportunity to walk around him, but he side-stepped to stand in my way. “I haven’t slept, or ate…I can’t concentrate. I know you love me. Everything will be the way it used to be if you’ll just take me back. I can’t be without you, Heidi.”
I closed my eyes, avoiding his hurt, pleading eyes. “We’re not right together, Dougie. I think you’re just obsessed with the thought of owning me more than anything else.”
“That’s not true. I love you more than my life, babe,” he said, hurt.
“That’s exactly what I mean. that’s crazy talk.”
“It’s not crazy. It’s the truth.”
“Okay…so what exactly is the order for you? Is it money, me, your life…or is there something that comes before money?”
“I realise what I’ve done, okay? I see why you’d think that, but if I’d known that you were gonna leave me, I would have never…I just wanted to take care of you.”
“And throwing me in with the dangers of what I’ve fought my whole life to get away from, is taking care of me?”
“Please don’t do this. I cant stand feeling like this…it’s…It’s killing me.”
“I’m done, Dougie.”
He winced. “Don’t say that.”
“It’s over. Go home.”
His eyebrows pulled in. “My home is with you. Without you I don’t have a home.”
His words cut me, and my chest tightened so much that it was hard to breathe. “You made your choice, Doug. I’ve made mine,” I said, silently cursing my quivering voice.
“I’m going to stay the hell out of Vegas, and away from Benny…I’m going to finish uni. But I need you. I NEED you. You’re my best friend, my everything.” His voice was desperate and broken, matching his expression.
In the dim light I could see a tear fall from his eye, and in the next moment he reached out for me and I was in his arms, his lips on mine. He squeezed me tight against his chest as he kissed me, and then cradled my face in his hands, pressing his lips harder against mine, desperate to get a reaction. “Kiss me,” he whispered, sealing his mouth on mine. I kept my eyes and mouth closed, relaxing in his arms. It took everything I had not to move my mouth with his, having been craving the feel of his lips all week.
“Kiss me!” he begged. “Please, babe! I told him no!”
When I felt hot tears rolling down my cold face, I shoved him away. “Leave me alone, Dougie!”
I had only made it a few feet when he grabbed my wrist. My arm was straight, outstretched behind me. I didn’t turn around.
“I am begging you.” my arm lowered and tugged as he fell to his knees. “I’m begging you, Heidi. Don’t do this.”
I turned to see his agonizing expression, and then my eyes drifted down my arm to his, seeing my name in thick black letters on his flexed wrist.
I looked away, toward the cafeteria. He had proven to me what I had been afraid of all along. We much as he loved me, when money was involved, I would be second. Like I was with Mick.
If I gave in, he would either change his mind about Benny, or hate me every time money could have made his life easier.
“Let me go, Dougie.”
After several moments he finally released my arm. I ran to the glass door, yanking it open without looking back. Everyone in the room stared at me as I walked toward the food area. I turned for a moment to see that Dougie was on his knees, palms flat on the pavement.
The sight of him on the ground made the tears I’d been holding back rush down my face. I dashed down the hall to the bathrooms. It was bad enough that everyone had witnessed the scene between me and Dougie. I couldn’t let them see me cry.
I cried in the cubicle for an hour, until I heard a tiny knock on the door.
“Heidi?”
I sniffed. “What are you doing in here, Tom? You’re in the girls toilets.”
“I saw you come in here ages ago. I thought either you were having a huge shit, or something was wrong. But I guessed something was wrong after seeing Doug’s performance outside.”
I shook my head. I knew he couldn’t see me, but I couldn’t speak another word. I heard him sigh and then his palms slapped on the floor as he crawled under the door.
“I can’t believe you’re making me do this,” he said, pulling himself under with his hands. “You’re going to be sorry you didn’t open the door, because I just crawled across that piss covered floor and now I’m going to hug you.”
I laughed once, and then my face compressed around my smile as Tom pulled me into his arms. A hug always makes things better and worse at the same time.
My knees buckled beneath me and Tom carefully lowered me to the floor, pulling me into his lap.
He sighed and shook his head. “What am I gonna do with you?”

by **HannaWestwood** Sat Jun 23, 2012 7:13 am

Wait... Tom and Heidi? Oh dear? Could it be more than friendship? Dougie is going to turn sooo mad!!! Shocked

Oh dear Heidi, why can't you go back with Dougie? He freaking loves you! OMG I'd have burst in tears if a boy like him told me what he told Heidi...

Heidi must feel so ill-at-ease... Oh... Sad

Tom is so funny Very Happy

Let's hope Dougie won't go to Vegas again! But now he lost Heidi, he could feel like he has nothing more to loose... OH DEAR, That'd be awful!!! affraid

Can't wait for next chapter! bounce

xXx

by **elisabethhh** Sat Jun 23, 2012 10:27 pm

Dougie you're just being stupid... if he didn't realise that he'd lose Heidi when he even thought about saying yes to benny, he obviously doens't love heidi as much as he says he does :O
lol

Great chapters Very Happy

I LOVE YOUR WRITING CHLOE Very Happy

more when you can Very Happy

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

by **if looks could kill** Sun Jun 24, 2012 4:21 am

omg dougie are you completely stupid
Heidi needs to realise that he's sorry though. awh Sad

more more more soon.

by McMaddie182 Mon Jun 25, 2012 6:22 am

*NEW READER*

Love this fanfic! Relativley new member! Looking forward to the next add Very Happy

by **ChloeRussellx** Mon Jun 25, 2012 8:12 pm

♥ C H A P T E R | T W E N T Y | F I V E♥

“Just because we’re not together anymore, doesn’t mean you can’t wear the bracelet I bought you,” Alex said as he slid into the seat next to me in class.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you if you wanted it back.”
He smiled, “It was a present, sweetheart. I don’t give presents with conditions.”
Peter entered the room and shuffled some papers about on his desk, trying to get organised for the lecture ahead. The room filled with students, filling it with a buzz of chatter. “I heard that you and Dougie broke up a couple of weeks ago.” Alex held up a hand seeing my impatient expression. “It’s none of my business. You’ve just looked so sad, and I wanted to tell you that I’m sorry.”
“Thanks,” I muttered, turning to a fresh page in my notebook.
“And I also wanted to apologise for my behaviour before. What I said was…not nice. I was just angry and I lashed out at you. It wasn’t fair, and I’m sorry.”
“I’m not interested in going out with anyone, Alex,” I warned.
He chuckled. “I’m not trying to take advantage. We’re still friends and I want to make sure that you’re okay.”
“I’m okay.”
“Are you going home for half term this week?”
“I’m going home with Chloe.”
Alex began to speak but Peter began his lecture. The subject of half term made me think of my previous plans to help Dougie with dinner for his brothers birthdays. I thought about what that would be like, and I found myself worrying that they would be ordering pizza again like he said they did. A sinking feeling came over me.
After class, my face flushed when I saw Dougie jogging toward me from the car park. He was clean shaven again, wearing a hoodie and one of his caps, ducking his head away from the rain.
“I’ll see you in a bit, Heidi,” Alex said, touching my back.
I expected an angry glare from Dougie, but he didn’t seem to notice Alex as he approached. “Hey, babe.”
I offered an awkward smile, and he shoved his hands into the front pocket of his hoodie. “Danny said you’re going with him and Chloe tomorrow.”
“Yeah?”
“You’re spending the whole half term break at Chloe’s?”
I shrugged, trying to seem casual. “I’m really close with her parents.”
“What about your mum?”
“She’s an alcoholic, Dougie. She don’t know it’s half term.”
He was suddenly nervous, and my stomach wrenched with the possibility of a second public display. Thunder crashed above us and Dougie looked up, squinting as the large drops fell against his face.
“I need to ask you for a favour,” he said. “C’mere.” He pulled me under the closest bit of shelter and I took a deep breath, hoping there isn’t going to be another scene.
“What kind of favour?” I asked, suspicious.
“My uh…” he shifted his weight. “Dad and the guys are expecting you on Thursday.”
“Dougie!” I whined.
He looked at his feet. “You said you would come.”
“I know, but…it’s a little inappropriate now, don’t you think?”
He seemed unaffected. “You said you would come.”
“We were still together when I agreed to go home with you. You knew I wasn’t going to come.”
“I didn’t know, and it’s too late anyway. Darrell flew in specially. Everyone’s looking forward to seeing you.”
I cringed, twirling the damp strands of my hair around my finger. “Everyone was going to be there anyway, weren’t they?”
“Not everyone. Darrell doesn’t usually take it off work for birthdays, but he wanted to because you were coming with me. They all made the effort of being there since I promised them a real meal. we haven’t had a woman in the kitchen since mum died and…,”
“That’s not sexist at all,” I said sarcastically.
He tilted his head. “That’s not what I meant, babe. C’mon, we all want you there. That’s all I’m sayin’.”
“You haven’t told them about us…have you?” I said in the most casual tone I could manage.
He fidgeted for a moment, and then shook his head. “Dad would ask why, and I’m not ready to talk to him about it. I’d never hear the end of how stupid I am, believe me I already know it, but hearing it from him too, I really can’t handle that. Please come, babe.”
“I have to put the turkey in the oven at six in the morning. We’d have to leave here by five…”
“Or we could stay there.”
My eyebrows shot up. “No way! It’s bad enough that I’m going to have to lie to your family and pretend we’re still together. You should have told them!”
“I will. After this week…I’ll tell them.”
I sighed, looking away. “If you promise me that this isn’t some stunt to try and get back together, I’ll do it.”
He nodded. “I promise.”
Although he was trying to hide it, I could see the spark in his eyes. I pressed my lips together trying not to smile. “I’ll see you at five.”
Dougie leaned down to kiss my cheek, his lips lingering on my skin. “Thanks, babe.”
Chloe and Danny met me at the door of the cafeteria and we walked in together. “I’m not coming with you two tomorrow.”
Danny’s mouth fell open. “You’re going with Dougie?”
Chloe’s eyes darted to mine. “You’re what?”
I sighed and shoved money at the cashier. “I promised Doug I’d go when we were on the plane, and he told them I’d be there.”
“In his defense,” Danny begun, “he really didn’t think you two were gonna break up. He thought you’d come around. It was too late by the time he figured out that you were serious.”
“That’s bullshit, Dan and you know it,” Chloe seethed. “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to, Heidi.”
She was right. It wasn’t as if I didn’t have a choice. But I couldn’t do that to Travis. Not even if I hated him. Which I didn’t.
“If I don’t go he’ll have to explain to them why I didn’t show, and I don’t wanna ruin the twins’ birthday. Darrell is coming home, so otherwise he’d have flown in for nothing.”
Danny smiled. “They all really like you, Heidi. John was just talking to my mum about you the other day.”
“Great,” I muttered.
“Heidi’s right, baby,” Danny said, “if she doesn’t go, John will spend the day bitching at Doug. There’s no point in ruining their day.”
Chloe put her arm around my shoulders. “You can still come with us. You’re not with him, anymore. You don’t have to keep saving him.”
“I know, Chlo. But it’s the right thing to do in this situation.”

The sun melted into the buildings outside the window, and I stood in front of my mirror, brushing my hair while trying to decide how I was going to go about pretending with Dougie. “It’s just one day. You can handle one day,” I said to myself.
Pretending had never been a problem for me; it was what was going to happen while we were pretending that I was worried about. When Dougie dropped me off after dinner, I was going to have to make a decision.
I turned, looking at the door when there was a knock. Chloe was already on the road with Danny, so it couldn’t be her, Libby was off home too. I couldn’t imagine who it could be. I set my brush on the table and pulled open the door.
“Dougie,” I said, confused.
“Are you ready?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Ready for what?”
“You said pick you up at five.”
I folded my arms across my chest. “I meant five in the morning!”
“Oh,” Dougie said, disappointed. “I guess I better call dad and let him know we wont be staying, then.”
“Dougie!” I complained.
“There’s a spare bedroom you can sleep in. We can watch a movie of your choice, or-”
“I’m not staying at yours dads!”
His face fell. “Okay. I’ll uh…see you in the morning.”
He took a step back and I shut the door, leaning against it. Every emotion appeared and disappeared of my insides.
With Dougie’s disappointed expression fresh on my mind, I pulled open the door and stepped out, seeing that he was slowly walking down the hallway, dialling on his phone.
“Dougie, wait.”
He flipped around and the hopeful look in his eyes made my chest ache.
“Give me a minute to pack a few things.”
A relieved, appreciative smile spread across his face and he followed me to my room, watching me shove a few things in a bag from the doorway.
“I still love you, babe. I always will.”
I didn’t look up. “Don’t. I’m not doing this for you.”
He sighed. “I know.”
We rode in silence to his dad’s house. The car felt charged with nervous energy, and it was hard to sit still against the cold leather of the seats. Once we arrived, Deano and John came out of the house with similar broad grins on their faces. Dougie carried our bags from the car, and John patted his back.
“Good to see ya, son.” his smile broadened when he looked at me. “Heidi Chapman. We’re looking forward to dinner tomorrow. It’s been a long time.”
I nodded and followed Dougie into the house. John rested his hand on his bulging belly and grinned. “I set you two up in the guest bedroom, Doug. I figured the double bed in your room wouldn’t be suitable for the pair of you.”
I looked at Dougie. “Actually, er…Heidi is gonna be staying in the guest room and I’ll be in my room.”
“Why? She’s been staying at you’re apartment, hasn’t she?” John asked, confused.
“Not lately,” he said, desperately trying to avoid the truth.
John and Deano traded glances. “Darrell’s room is filled with boxes and old crap, so I was going to let him take your room. I guess he can sleep on the sofa,” John said, looking at the discoloured, ratty cushions in the living room.
“Don’t worry about it, John. We were just trying to be respectful,” I smiled, touching his arm.
His laughter bellowed throughout the house, and he patted my hand. “You’ve never met my sons, Heidi. You should know it’s damn near impossible to offend me.”
Dougie nodded toward the stairs, and I followed him. He pushed open the door with his foot and sat the bags on the floor, looking at the bed then to the floor.
“I’m sorry, babe. I’ll sleep on the floor.”
“Fuck yeah you will,” I said, pulling my hair into a ponytail. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”
He sat on the bed and rubbed his face in frustration. “This is going to be a fucking mess. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“I know exactly what you were thinking. I’m not stupid, Dougie.”
He looked up at me and smiled. “But you still came.”
“I have to get everything ready for tomorrow,” I said, opening the door.
Dougie stood up. “I’ll help you.”
We peeled a mountain of potatoes, cut and chopped up vegetables, set out the turkey and finally everyone decided on what type of gravy they wanted. The first hour was more than uncomfortable, but when the twins arrived everyone seemed to gather in the kitchen. John told stories about each of his boys, and we laughed about tales of earlier disastrous dinners they’d attempted to make.
“Turkey roast has always been our favourite dinner of all time,” Dylan said.
“Last year we got more than fed up of ordering pizza whenever it was a special occasion so we decided to try and cook it ourselves. It didn’t go down too good. We all ended up with food poisoning.”
“The boys’ mum was an amazing cook,” John mused.
“No pressure, Heidi,” Darren chuckled, grabbing a beer from the fridge. “Let’s get out the cards. I want to try make some of my money back that Heidi took.”
John waved his finger at his son. “No poker this weekend, Daz. I brought down the dominos, go set those up. No betting, I mean it.”
“Fine, old man,” Darren said, shaking his head. Dougie’s brothers evacuated the kitchen, Darren turned around and looked at Dougie. “C’mon, Doug.”
“I’m helping Heidi.”
“There’s not much more to do, baby,” I said. “Go ahead.”
His eyes softened at my words, and he touched my hip lightly. “You sure?”
I nodded and he leaned over to kiss my cheek, squeezing my hip with his fingers and whispered, “I love you,” into my ear before following Darren into the next room.
John watched his sons file out of the doorway, shaking his head and smiling. “This is amazing what you’re doing, Heidi. I don’t think you realise how much we all appreciate it.”
“It was Doug’s idea. I’m glad I could help.”
His large frame settled against the kitchen side, taking a swig of his beer while he pondered his next words. “You and Dougie haven’t talked much. You having problems?”
I squeezed the washing up liquid into the sink as it filled with hot water, trying to think of something to say that wasn’t entirely a lie. “Things are a little different, I guess.”
“That’s what I thought. You have to be patient with him. Dougie doesn’t remember much about his mum, and after we lost her he was never the same. I thought he’d grow out of it, you know, with him being so young. It was hard on all of us, but Doug…he quit trying to love people after that. I was surprised that he brought you here. The way he acts around you, the way he looks at you; I knew you were something special.”
I smiled, but I kept my eyes on the dishes I was scrubbing.
“Dougie will have a hard time. He’s going to make a lot of mistakes. He grew up around a bunch of motherless boys and a long, grouchy old man for a father. We were all a little lost, and I guess I didn’t help the boys cope the way I should have. I know it’s hard not to blame him, but you have to love him, anyway. You’re the only woman he’s loved besides his mother, I don’t know what it’ll do to him if you left him, too.”
I swallowed back the tears and nodded, unable to reply. John rested his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “I’ve never seen him smile the way he does when he’s with you. I hope all my boys have a Heidi one day.”
His footsteps faded down the hallway and I gripped the edge of the sink, trying to catch my breath. I knew spending the weekend with Dougie and his family would be difficult, but I didn’t think my heart would break all over again. The men joked and laughed in the next room as I washed and dried the dishes, putting them away. I cleaned the kitchen and then washed my hands, making my way to the stairs for the night.
Dougie grabbed my hand. “It’s early, babe. You’re not going to bed, are ya?”
“It’s been a long day, I’m tired.”
“We were getting ready to watch a movie. Why don’t you come back down and hang out? If you fall asleep then I’ll carry you to bed later.”
I looked up the stairs and then down to his hopeful smile. “Okay.”
He led me by the hand to the sofa, and we sat together as the opening credits played.
Dougie reached his arm above me, resting his arm on the back of the couch. He was trying to keep up pretences while appeasing me. He had been very careful not to take advantage of the situation, and I found myself very conflicted, both grateful and disappointed. Sitting so close to him, smelling the mixture of cigarettes and his aftershave, it was very difficult for me to keep my distance, both physically and emotionally. I struggled to block out everything John had said in the kitchen.
Half way through the movie, the front door flew open and Darrell rounded the corner, bags in hand.
“Hi everyone!” He said, setting his bags on the floor.
John stood up and hugged his oldest son, and everyone but Dougie stood to greet him.
“You’re not going to say hi to Darrell?” I whispered.
Dougie watched his family hug and laugh, “I got one night with you. I’m not going to waste a second of it.”
“Hi Heidi. It’s good to see you again,” Darrell smiled.
Dougie touched my knee with his hand and I looked down, and then to Dougie. Noticing my expression, Dougie took his hand off my leg and interlocked his fingers in his lap.
“Uh oh. Out of the honeymoon stage by the looks of it,” Darrell commented.
“Shut up,” Dougie grumbled.
The mood in the room shifted, and I felt all eyes on me, waiting for an explanation. I smiled nervously and took Dougie’s hand into both of mine.
“We’re just tired. We’ve been working all evening on the food,” I said, leaning my head against Dougie’s shoulder.
He looked at our hands and then squeezed, his eyebrows pulling in a bit.
“Speaking of tired, I’m exhausted,” I breathed. “I’m gonna head to bed, baby.” I looked to everyone else. “Good night, guys.”
“Night, honey, sweet dreams,” John said.
Dougie’s brothers all wished me good night and I headed up the stairs.
“I’m gonna get to bed too,” I heard Dougie say.
“I bet you are,” Darren teased.
“Lucky bastard,” Tyler grumbled.
“Oi! We’re not going to talk about your sister like that!” John warned the boys.
My stomach sank. The only real family I’d had in years was Chloe’s parents. The six foul-mouthed, loveable men downstairs had welcomes me with open arms, and tomorrow I would tell them goodbye for the last time.
Dougie caught the bedroom door before it closed and then frozen. “Did you want me to wait in the hall while you got changed?”
“I’m going to jump in the shower. I’ll just get dressed in the bathroom.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “All right. I’ll make a bed.”
I nodded, making my way to the bathroom. I scrubbed myself raw in the shower, trying to fight the overwhelming dread I felt for both the night and the morning.
When I went back into the bedroom, Dougie dropped a pillow on the floor on his make-shift bed. He offered a weak smile before leaving me to take a turn in the shower.
I crawled into bed, pulling the covers to my chest, trying to ignore the blankets on the floor.
When Dougie returned, he stared at the sheets on the floor with the same sadness that I did, and then turned off the light, situating himself on his pillow.
It was quiet for a few minutes, and then I heard Dougie heave a miserable sigh. “This is our last night together, isn’t it?”
I waited a moment, trying to think of the right reply. “I don’t want to fight, Doug. Just go to sleep.”
Hearing him shift, I turned onto my side to look down at him, pressing my cheek into the pillow. He supported his head with his hand and stared into my eyes. “I love you.”
I watched him for a moment. “You promised.”
“I promised this wasn’t a stunt to get you back. It wasn’t,” he reached up his hand to touch mine. “But if it meant being with you again, I cant say I wouldn’t consider it.”
“I care about you. I don’t want you to hurt, but I should have followed my gut feeling in the first place.”
“You did love me, though, right?”
I pressed my lips together. “I still do.”
His eyes glossed over and he squeezed my hand. “Can I ask you for a favour?”
“I’m in the middle of the last thing you asked me,” I smiled.
He seemed unaffected by my comment. “If this is really it…if you’re really done with me…will you let me hold you tonight?”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea, Doug.”
His hand gripped tight over mine. “Please? I cant sleep knowing you’re a foot away, and I’m never gonna get the chance again.”
I stared into his desperate eyes for a moment then frowned. “I’m not having sex with you.”
He shook his head. “That’s not what I’m asking.”
I searched the dimly lit room with my eyes, thinking about he consequences, wondering if I could tell Dougie no if he changed his mind. I shut my eyes tight and then pushed away from the edge of the bed, uncovering the bed. He crawled in beside me, hastily pulling me tight into his arms. His bare chest rose and fell with uneven breaths, and I hated myself for feeling so peaceful against him.
“I’m gonna miss this,” I said.
He kissed my hair and pulled me to him, unable to get close enough to me. He buried his face into my neck and I rested my hand on his back in comfort, although I was just as heartbroken as he was. He sucked in a breath, and pressed his forehead against my neck, pressing his fingers into the skin of my back. As miserable as we were the last night of the bet, this was one-hundred times worse.
“I…I don’t think I can do this, Dougie.”
He pulled me tighter and felt the first tear fall from my eye, “I can’t do this,” I said, clenching my eyes shut.
“Then don’t,” he said against my skin, “Give me another chance.”
I tried to push myself from under his grip, but he was holding me too firmly for any possibility of escape. I covered my face with both hands as I quiet sobs shook us both. Dougie looked up at me, his eyes heavy and wet.
With his large, gentle fingers, he pulled my hand away from my eyes and kissed my palm. I took a staggered breath as he looked at my lips and then back to my eyes. “I’ll never love anyone the way I love you, Heidi.”
I sniffed and touched his face. “I cant.”
“I know,” he said, his voice broken. “I never once convinced myself that I was good enough for you. I’ve always known you can do so much better.”
My face crumpled and I shook my head. “It’s not you, Doug. We’re not good for each other.”
He shook his head, wanting to say something but thinking better of it. After a long, deep breath, he rested his head against my chest. When the green numbers on the clock across the room read eleven o’clock, Dougie’s breaths finally slowed and evened out. My eyes grew heavy, and I blinked a few times before falling to sleep myself.

“Ow!” I yelped, pulling my hand from the oven and automatically covering the burn with my mouth.
“You okay, babe?” Dougie asked, shuffling across the floor and slipping a t-shirt over his head. “Shit! The floor’s fucking freezing!” he screeched. I fought a giggle as I watched him hop on one foot and then the other until the soles of his feet got used to the tiles.
The sun barely peeked through the blinds, and the rest of the house were sleeping soundly. I pushed the antique pan further into the oven and the closed the door, turning to cool my fingers under the sink.
“You can go back to bed. I just had to put the turkey in.”
“Are you coming to bed?” he asked, wrapping his arms around his chest trying to fight off the chilly air.
I nodded.
Dougie yanked his t-shirt off as we both shoved our legs under the covers, pulling the duvet up to our necks. He tightened his arms around me as we shivered, waiting for our body heat to warm the compact space.
I felt his lips against my hair, and then his throat moved when he spoke. “Look, babe, it’s snowing.”
I turned to face the window. The white flakes were just visible. “It feels like Christmas,” I said, “Well, it isn’t far away I guess, only a few weeks.”
He sighed and I turned to see his expression. “What?”
“You wont be here for Christmas.”
“I’m here now.”
He pulled his mouth up on one side and leaned down to kiss my lips. I leaned back and shook my head. “Doug…”
His gripi tightened and he lowered his chin, his eyes determined. “I’ve got less than twenty-four hours with you, babe. I’m gonna kiss you. I’m gonna kiss you a lot today. All day. Every chance I get. If you want me to stop, just say the words, but until you do. I’m going to make every second of my last day with you amazing.”
When he noticed me staring at his lips, the corner of his mouth turned up again, and he leaned down to press his soft mouth against mine. It began sweet and innocent, but the moment his lips parted, I massaged his tongue with mine. His body instantly tensed, and he took a deep breath through his nose, pressing himself against me. I let my knee fall to the side and he moved above me, never taking his mouth from mine.
He wasted no time undressing me, and when there was no more fabric between us, he gripped the bent metal of the headboard with both hands, and in one quick movement, he was inside me. I bit my lip hard, fighting the cry that was making its way up my throat. Dougie moaned against my mouth, and I pressed my feet against the mattress, positioning myself so I could raise my hips to meet his.
One hand on the metal and the other on the back of my neck, he thrust into me over and over, and my legs quivered with his firm, determined movements. His tongue searched my mouth hungrily, and I could feel the vibration of his deep groans against my chest as he kept to his promise to make our last day together amazing. I could spend a thousand years trying to block that moment from my memory, and it still wouldn’t have even blurred one bit.
An hour had passed when I clenched my eyes shut, my every nerve focused on the shuddering of my insides. Dougie held his breath as he thrust inside me one last time, before erupting into a very loud moan. He dropped onto the bed beside me, heaving deep breaths, speechless and dripping with sweat.
I could hear voices downstairs and I covered my mouth, giggling at our misbehaviour. Dougie turned to me, scanning my face with his soft, blue/green eyes.
“You said you were just going to kiss me,” I grinned.
As I lay next to his bare skin, seeing the unconditional love in his eyes, I let go of my disappointment, and my anger, and my stubbornness. I loved him, and no matter what my reasons were to live without him, I knew it wasn’t what I wanted. Even if I hadn’t changed my mind, it was impossible for us to stay apart.
“Why don’t we just stay in bed all day?” he smiled.
“I came here to cook, remember?”
“No, you came here to help me cook, and I don’t report for duty for another eight hours.”
I touched his face, the urge to end our suffering had become unbearable. When I told him I had changed my mind and that things were back to normal, we wouldn’t have to spend the day pretending. We could spend it celebrating instead.
“Dougie, I don’t think we…”
“Don’t say it, okay? I don’t want to think about it until I have to.” he stood up, and pulled on his boxers, walking over to my bag. He tossed my clothes on the bed and then yanked his shirt over his head. “I want to remember this as a good day.”
I made eggs, bacon and toast for breakfast and sandwiches for lunch, and when the football match began on the TV, I started dinner.
Dougie stood behind me at every opportunity, his arms wrapped around my waist, his lips on my neck. I caught myself glancing at the clock, eager to find a moment alone with him to tell him my decision. I was anxious to see the look on his face, and to get back to where we were.
The day was filled with laughter, conversation, and a steady stream of complaints from Dylan about Dougie’s constant display of affection.
“Get a room, Dougie! Fuck!” He groaned.
“You’re turning a hideous shade of green,” Darrell teased.
“It’s because they’re making me sick. I’m not jealous, dickhead,” Dylan sneered.
“Leave ‘em alone,” John warned.
When we sat down for dinner, John insisted on the twins both cutting the first bit together, seeing as it was their birthday. Seeing as no one could afford a great deal for presents for either of them, it was the little things that they got which made it more.
I was a bit nervous until the compliments rolled in. By the time I served dessert which was apple and rhubarb crumble, there wasn’t a crumb of food left on the table.
“Did I make enough?” I laughed.
John smiled, “You made plenty, Heidi. We just wanted to tide ourselves over until next year…unless you’d like to do this all over again at Christmas. You’re a Poynter now. I expect you at every holiday, and not to cook.”
I glanced over at Dougie whose smile had faded, and my heart sank. I had to tell him soon.
“Thanks, John.”
“Don’t tell her that, dad,” Darren said. “She’s gotta cook. I haven’t had a meal like this since I was five!”
I felt at home, sitting at a table full of men that were leaning back in their chairs, rubbing their full bellies. Emotions overwhelmed me when I fantasized about Christmas, and Easter. I wanted nothing more to be apart of his broken, loud family that I adored.
Once everyone had recovered from the mass food intake, the brothers began to clear the table and the twins headed to the sink.
“I’ll do that,” I said, standing up.
John shook his head. “No, you don’t. the boys can take care of it. You just take Dougie to the sofa and relax. You’ve worked hard.”
The twins splashed each other with the dish water and Deano swore as he slipped on a puddle and dropped a plate. Darrell got the broom and dustpan and began to sweep the glass. John patted his sons on the shoulders, and then hugged me before retreating to his room for the night.
Dougie pulled my legs onto his lap and slipped off my shoes, massaging the soles of my feet with his thumbs. I leaned my head back and sighed. “That was the best meal we’ve had since mum died.”
I pulled my head up to see his expression. He was smiling, but it was tinged with sadness.
“I’m glad that I was here to see it.”
Dougie’s expression changed and I braced myself for what he was about to say. My heart pounded against my chest, hoping he would ask me back so I could say yes.
“I’m different. I don’t know what happened to me in Vegas. That wasn’t me. I was thinking about everything I could buy with that money, and that was all I was thinking about. I didn’t see how much it hurt you for me to want to take you back there, but deep down, I think I knew. I deserved for you to leave me. I deserved all the sleep I lost and the pain I’ve felt. I needed all that to realise how much I need you, and what I’m willing to do to keep you in my life.”
I chewed on my lip, impatient to get to the part where I said yes. I wanted him to take me back to the apartment and spend the rest of the night celebrating. I couldn’t wait to relax on his new sofa with Baby, watching movies and laughing like we used to.
“You say you’re done with me, and I accept that. I’m a different person since I met you. I’ve changed…for the better. But no matter how hard I try, I cant seem to do right by you. We were friends first, and I cant lose you, babe. I will always love you, but if I cant make you happy, it doesn’t make much sense to try to get you back. I can’t imagine being with anyone else, but I’ll be happy as long as we’re friends.”
“You want to be friends?” I asked, the words burning in my mouth.
“I want you to be happy. Whatever that takes.”
My insides shrivelled at his words, and I was surprised how overpowering that pain felt. He was giving me an out, and it was exactly when I didn’t want it. I could have told him that I had changed my mind and he would take back everything he’s just said, but I knew that it wasn't fair to either of us to hold on just when he had let go.
I smiled to fight the tears. “Fifty pounds says you’ll be thanking me for this when you meet your future wife.”
Dougie’s eyebrows pulled together as his face dropped. “That’s an easy bet. The only woman I’d ever wanna marry just broke my heart.”
I couldn’t fake a smile after that. I wiped my eyes and then stood up. “I think it’s time you took me home.”
“C’mon babe, I’m sorry. I know that weren’t funny.”
“It’s not that, Doug. I’m just tired, and I’m ready to go home.”
He sucked in a breath and nodded, standing up.
I hugged his brothers goodbye, and asked Darrell to say goodbye to John for me. Dougie stood at the door with our bags as they all agreed to come home for Christmas, and I held my smile long enough to get out the door.
When Dougie walked me back to mine and Chloe’s apartment, his face was still sad, but the torment was gone. The weekend wasn’t a stunt to get me back like I thought. It was his closure.
He leaned over to kiss my cheek and held the door open the me, watching as I walked inside.
“Thanks for today. Well, this whole weekend. You don’t know how happy you made my family, and me too, just spending that time with you was great.”
I stopped just before the door to the apartment. “You’ll tell them tomorrow, wont you?”
He sighed. “I’m pretty sure they already know. You’re not the only one with a face like a slapped arse, babe.”
I stared at him, stunned, and for the first time since I’d met him, he walked away from me without looking back.

by **HannaWestwood** Tue Jun 26, 2012 12:53 am

Awww noooo! Heidi,yu wait for too long!!! Now, Dougie found reasons not to try to get you back anymore! Buuuuh! Sooo saaaaaaad! I don't want things to end this way! That would be sooo awful!!!! affraid

Please, don't do that Chloe Sad

"Loved" that chapter, even if I'm gutted concerning "Heigie" =/

xXx

by **if looks could kill** Tue Jun 26, 2012 4:40 am

I want to cry. HEIDI FOR GODS SAKE YOU STUBBORN ARSE.
more please..

by McMaddie182 Tue Jun 26, 2012 7:10 am

great chapter! poor dougie, he seems so sad Sad

new add soon? xx

by **ChloeRussellx** Tue Jun 26, 2012 7:45 am

♥ C H A P T E R | T W E N T Y | S I X♥

Exam studying was a pain for everyone but me. I kept busy with Chloe either in our room or in the library. When everyone’s timetables changed because of exams, I only saw Dougie when we passed each other. I went home with Chloe for Christmas, thankful that Danny had stayed with Dougie so I wouldn’t have to suffer their constant displays of affection.
The last week of the holidays, I caught a cold, giving me a good reason to stay in bed. Dougie said he wanted to be friends, but he hadn’t called. It was a relief to have a few days to wallow in self-pity.
The return to uni seemed to take years. I was eager to start the next term, but I was far more eager to see Dougie than anything. Although I noticed in the few times I’d seen him that he was impervious to all the girls that approached him after news of our break up, he seemed content with our new friendship. We had spent almost a month apart, leaving me unsure of how to act around him.
The first day back, a fresh energy had filled all through campus, along with a sheet of snow.
Because of the timetable changes, I no longer had any lectures or scheduled study time with Dougie, Chloe or Danny, I did have a lot of my time with Tom though. Abby dropped out of uni over the Christmas holiday, which meant her and Tom had to split up because of the distance.
I anxiously waited for Dougie at lunch, but when he came in he simply winked at me and then sat at the end of the table with some other friends. I tried to concentrate on Chloe and Tom’s conversation, but Dougie’s voice kept catching my attention. He was talking about Darren’s new girlfriend that he’d met at The Red Lion one night. I braced myself for any mention of any girl he’s took home or met, but if he had, he wasn’t sharing it with his friends.
Once he finished his lunch, my heart sped up when he walked up behind me and rested his hands on my shoulders.
“How’s your lectures, Dan?” he asked.
Danny’s face scrunched. “First day is so boring! Hours of class rules and what’s expected to be handed in and deadlines. How about you?”
“Eh…I guess they have to do it though. What about you, babe?” he asked.
“The same,” I said, trying to keep my voice casual.
“Did you have a good Christmas?” he asked, playfully swinging me from side to side.
“Pretty good,” I said.
“Good, babe. I’ve gotta go,” he said, he slipped his hands down around my middle and kissed me on the cheek. “See you soon, babe.”
I watched him rush for the doors, he shoved them both open with such force that if he wasn’t moving as fast as he was, the doors would have bounced back and smacked him right in the face.
“Huh,” Chloe said in a high-pitched tone. She watched Dougie storming through the snow and then shook her head.
“That was kind of weird, wasn’t it? Except for the mood swing but, that’s nothing different,” She said.
“How do you mean?” Danny asked.
“He’s almost normal…as normal as Dougie can be. What’s up with him?”
Danny shook his head and shrugged. “I don’t know, he’s been like that for a while.”
“How backwards is that, Heidi? He’s fine and you’re miserable.”
“You’re miserable?” Danny asked with a surprised expression.
My mouth fell open and my face flamed with instant embarrassment. “I am not!”
She pushed her salad around in the bowl. “Well, he’s just about ecstatic. Like I said, not including the mood swing.”
“Drop it, Chloe,” I warned.
She shrugged and took another bite of her salad. “I think he’s faking it.”
Danny nudged her. “Baby? You going to the Valentines Day party with me or what?”
“Cant you ask me like a normal boyfriend? In a nice way?”
“I have asked you…repeatedly. You keep telling me to ask you another time.”
“I don’t wanna go without Heidi.”
Danny frowned, “She was with Doug the whole time last time. You barely saw her!”
“Stop being a baby, Chlo,” I said throwing piece of lettuce at her.
Tom elbowed me. “I’d take you, but I don’t do the lovey dovey stuff of Valentines Day, it’s a waste of time.”
“That’s actually a good idea!” Danny said, his eyes bright.
Tom cringed at the thought. “Valentines Day is against my religion.”
“What religion?!” Danny chuckled.
“Please, Tom?” Chloe pleaded.
“Déjà vu,” I grumbled, thinking back to when I was in this situation with Dougie about the first date party.
Tom looked at me and sighed. “It’s nothing personal, Heidi. I just don’t wanna go.”
“I know.” I shook my head, dismissively, waving away my embarrassment. “It’s fine. Really.”
“I need you there,” Chloe said. “We made a promise, remember? No parties alone.”
“You’re not gonna be alone!” Danny said, offended.
“Quit being so dramatic,” I said, getting annoyed with the conversation.
“You want dramatic? I put a bin next to your bed and held a box of Kleenex tissues for you all night, and got you cough medicine twice all while you were sick for FOUR days over Christmas! You owe me!”
I wrinkled my nose. “I’ve kept your hair sick-free after nights out so many times, Chloe Russell!”
“You SNEEZED in my FACE!” she said, pointing to her face.
I could never argue with Chloe once she was determined to get her way. “Finem” I said through gritted teeth.
“Tom?” I asked him with my best fake smile. “Will you go to the stupid Valentines Day party thing with me?”
Tom hugged me to his side. “Yes. But only because you called it stupid.”
I walked with Tom to class, we discussed the party and how we were really dreading it. We picked out a desk in our Psychology class, and I shook my head when the lecturer began.
The snow began to fall again, floating delicately through in the soft wind.
After the lecture was over, a boy I’d only met once at the last date party knocked on my desk as he walked by, winking. I think I remember his name being James. I offered a polite smile and then glanced over to Tom. He gave me a wry grin, and I gathered my notepad and pens and shoved them into my bag.
I lugged my bag onto my shoulder and strolled to mine and Chloe’s along the gritted path with Chloe on one side and Tom on the other. A small group of students had started a snowball fight on the grass, and Tom shuddered at the sight of them, covered in clumps of white coldness.
“I’ll see you later girls! Dinner tonight?”
Chloe and I nodded, smiling when Tom kissed my cheek and then Chloe’s. It’s amazing how close we had become since I met Dougie, Tom’s like a brother to me now. He stayed on the wet path, careful to stay in the middle so that he wouldn’t miss and step into the stow.
Chloe shook her head at his efforts. “You’d think he’s gay with the way he’s walking right now.”
“He’s from London, Chlo. He’s probably not use to the snow, even less so than we are.”
She giggled and pulled me toward the door.
“Heidi!”
I turned to see Alex jogging past Tom. He stopped, catching his breath a moment before he spoke. His grey coat was snug around his chiselled body. “I wanted to know if you wanted to grab dinner with me tonight.”
“Oh. I uh…I already told Tom I’d eat with him.”
“All right. I was just going to try that new burger place in town. Everyone’s saying it’s really good.”
“Maybe next time,” I smile.
He nodded and shoved his hands in his pockets, quickly walking back the way he came.
Chloe and I went straight to Libby’s room when we made it back to our building. She was sitting with her head buried in a driving theory test book, studying when we walked in. “Hi Libs!” We both greeted at the same time.
“Oh, hi girls!” Libby grinned widely, placing a book mark in her page and closing it up.
“Have a good Christmas together?” she asked.
“Yeah! I’m surprised we’re still not feeling rough from the alcohol we drank,” Chloe giggled.
“I got a cold at the end of it though,” I added.
“Yeah, and she sneezed in my face!”
I rolled my eyes and laughed, “You’re not gonna forget that for a little while, are you?”
Chloe shook her head with a little smile.
Libby chuckled, “That’s disgusting.”
“How was your Christmas?” I asked Libby.
“Wasn’t too bad. It was the Christmas dinner that was the best part! Saw my cousin Sophie for part of it, I stayed there. Other than that, didn’t do hell of a lot,” She replied.
Chloe chatted about her day and plans with Danny for the weekend. We searched the internet for funny videos, laughing so hard we were wiping away tears.
I was grateful that I had these two to keep me occupied. The hours passed so quickly I didn’t spend a moment wondering if Dougie had called until Chloe decided to call it a night.
Chloe yawned and looked a her watch. “I’m going to bed. Hei…aw, shit!” she said, snapping her fingers. “I left my make-up bag at Dan’s.”
“That’s not a tragedy. Just get it tomorrow.”
“It wouldn’t be a tragedy if I didn’t have my pill in there. C’mon, I have to go get it.”
“Cant you just get Danny to bring them?”
“Dougie has his car. He’s gone to The Red Lion with Darren. His car is in the garage.”
I felt sick. “Again? Why is he hanging out there so much, anyway?”
Chloe shrugged. “Does it matter? C’mon, let’s go!”
“I don’t want to run into Dougie. It would be weird.”
“Do you ever listen to me? He’s out!” she whined, tugging on my arm.
I stood up with mild resistance as she pulled me from the room.
“Bye, Libby!” I called.

We pulled up to Dougie’s apartment and I noted that neither of the cars were there. I breathed a sigh of relief, and followed Chloe up the icy steps towards the apartment. “Careful,” she warned.
If I’d known how unsettling it would be to step foot in the apartment again, I wouldn’t have let Chloe talk me into going here. Baby scampered around the corner at full speed, crashing into my legs when her paws failed to get grip on the tiles. I picked her up, noting that she has grown a fair bit since last time I saw her, letting her greet me with his kisses. At least she hadn’t forgotten me.
I carried her around the apartment, waiting while Chloe searched for her bag.
“I know I left it here!” she said from the bathroom, stomping down the hall to Danny’s room.
“Did you look in the cabinet under the sink?”
I looked at my watch. “Hurry, Chlo. We need to get going.” My heart was beating double speed while I waited.
Chloe sighed in frustration from the bedroom.
I looked down at my watch again, and then jumped when the front door burst open behind me. Dougie stumbled in, his arms wrapped around Frankie, who was giggling against his mouth. A box in her hand caught my eye, and I felt sick when I realised what it was: condoms. Her other hand was on the back of his neck, and I couldn’t tell whose arm was tangled around who.
Dougie did a double take when he saw me standing alone in the middle of the living room, and when he froze, Frankie looked up with a smirk on her face.
“Babe,” Dougie said, stunned.
“Found it!” Chloe said, jogging out of Danny’s room.
“What are you doing here?” he asked. The stench of beer blew towards me, and my uncontrollable anger overcame any need to pretend casual.
“It’s good to see you’re feeling like your old self, Doug,” I said. The heat that radiated from my face burned my eyes and blurred my vision.
“We were just leaving,” Chloe snarled, grabbing my hand as we slid past Dougie.
We flew down the steps toward her car, and I was thankful it was just a few steps further, feeling the tears well up in my eyes. I almost fell backward when my coat snagged on something mid-step. Chloe’s hand slipped from mine and she flipped around the same time that I did.
Dougie’s fist gripping my coat, and my ears caught fire, stinging in the cold air. His lips and white polo top was covered in a ridiculous shade of deep red.
“Where are you going?” he said, half-drink, half confused.
“Home,” I snapped, straightning my coat when he released his grip.
“What are you doing here?”
I could hear the snow compress and crunch under Chloe’s feet as she walked up behind me and Danny flew down the stairs to stand behind his cousin, his wary eyes on Chloe.
“I’m sorry. If I’d known you were going to be here. I wouldn’t have come.”
He shoved his hands in his coat pockets. “You can come here whenever you want, babe. I never wanted you to stay away.”
I couldn’t manage to hide the acidity in my voice. “I don’t want to interrupt.” I looked to the top of the stairs where Frankie stood with a smug expression.
“Enjoy your evening,” I said, turning away.
He grabbed my arm. “Wait. You’re mad?”
I yanked my arm from his grip. “You know…I don’t even know why I’m surprised.”
His eyebrows pulled in. “I cant win with you. I cant fucking win! You say you’re done…I’m fucking miserable here! I had to break my phone into a million pieces to stop myself from calling you every minute of the day - I’ve had to play it off like everything is just fine at uni so you can be happy…and you’re fucking mad at me? You broke my fuckin’ heart!” His last words echoed into the night.
“Dougie, you’re drunk. Let Heidi go home,” Danny said.
“Do you want me, or not? You can’t keep doing this to me, babe!”
“I didn’t come here to see you,” I said, glaring up at him.
“I don’t want her,” he said, staring at my lips. “I’m just so fucking unhappy, babe.” his eyes glossed over and he leaned in, tilting his head to kiss me.
I caught him by the chin, holding him back. “You’ve got her lipstick on your mouth, Dougie,” I said, disgusted.
He took a step back and lifted his t-shirt, wiping his mouth. He stared at the red streaks on the white fabric and shook his head. “I just wanted to forget. Just for one fuckin’ night.”
I wiped an escaped tear. “Then don’t let me stop you.”
I tried to go back to the car, but Dougie grabbed my arm again. In the next moment, Chloe was wildly hitting his arm with her fists.
He looked at her, blinking for a moment in stunned disbelief. She balled her fists up and pounded them against his chest until he released me. “Leave her alone, you bastard!”
Danny grabbed her and she pushed him away, turning to slap Dougie’s face. The sound of her hand against his cheek made me flinch. Everyone froze for a moment, shocked at Chloe’s sudden rage.
Dougie frowned, but he didn’t defend himself.
Danny grabbed her again, holding her wrists and pulled her to the car while she lashed out.
She fought him, her brown hair whipping around with her attempts to escape from his grip. I was amazed at her determination to get Dougie. “How could you? She deserved better from you, Dougie!”
“Chloe, STOP!” Danny yelled, louder than I’d ever heard him. “Heidi broke up with him. He’s just trying to move on.”
Her eyes narrowed and she pulled her arm from his grip. “Well then why don’t you go find a random WHORE-,” she looked at Frankie, “-from somewhere and bring her home to fuck, and then let me know if it helps you get over me.”
“Chlo,” Danny grabbed for her but she got into the car in time, slamming the door as she sat behind the wheel. I sat beside her, trying not to look at Dougie.
“Baby, don’t leave,” Danny begged, leaning down into the window.
She started the car. “There is a right side and a wrong side here, Danny. And you are on the wrong side.”
“I’m on your side,” he said, his eyes desperate.
“No you’re not, that’s why you stuck up for him!” she yelled, pointing at Dougie before she backed out of the parking space.
“Chloe? Chloe!” Danny called after her as she raced to the road, leaving him behind.
I sighed. “You cant break up with him over this. He’s right.”
Chloe put her hand on mine and squeezed. “No he’s not. Nothing about what just happened was right.”

When we pulled into the car park beside our building, Chloe’s phone rang. She rolled her eyes as she answered. “I don’t want you calling me anymore. I mean it, Dan,” she said. “No you’re not…because I don’t want you to, that’s why. You can’t defend what he’s done, you can’t condone him hurting Heidi like that and be with me. I know she broke up with her, but if he really wanted her back, he’d still be trying, and not wanting to sleep with every cheap tart he can find. You don’t see Heidi fucking the first guy she sees! It’s not Dougie that’s the problem, Danny. He didn’t ask you to defend him! Ugh…I’m done talking about this. Don’t call me again.”
She shoved her way out of the car and stomped across the road and up the steps. I tried to keep in step with her, waiting to hear the other side of the conversation.
When her phone vibrated again, she read the text message then turned it off.
“Dougie made Dan take Frankie home. He wants to come by on his way back.”
“You should let him.”
“No. You’re my best friend. I can’t handle what I saw tonight, and I can’t be with someone that will defend it. End of conversation.”
I nodded and she hugged my shoulder, pulling me against her side as we walked up the stairs to our room. I decided to skip getting a shower and crawled straight into bed, not bothering to get changed either. I couldn’t stop thinking about Dougie stumbling in the door with Frankie, or the red lipstick smeared across his face. I tried to block out the sickening images of what would have happened had I not been there.

Danny was right, I had no right to be angry, but the overwhelming pain was too much to hide.

Tom shook his head when I sat in the seat beside him. I knew that I looked awful; I barely had the energy to change clothes and brush my teeth. I had only slept an hour the night before, unable to shake the sight of the red lipstick on Dougie’s mouth or the guilt over Danny and Chloe.
Chloe chose to stay in bed, knowing once the anger disappeared, depression would set in. She loved Danny, and although she was determined to end things because of his side picking, she was prepared to suffer the after effects of her decision.
After class, Tom walked with me to the café. As I feared, Danny was waiting at the door for Chloe.
“Where’s Chlo?”
“She didn’t go to class this morning.”
“She’s in your apartment?” he said, turning for the door.
“I’m sorry, Danny,” I called after him.
He froze and wheeled around, with the face of a man that had reached his limit. “I wish you and Dougie would just get your shit together! You’re like a fucking tornado! When you’re happy, it’s love and peace, when you’re pissed off, you take the whole fucking world down with you! Just sort it out Heidi!” He stomped away and I exhaled the breath I was holding.
Tom pulled me into the café. He chose a different table to where we’d usually sit with Dougie, and I was more than happy to follow him there. Dougie didn’t stay long at in the café though, he didn’t even eat. He noticed me just as he was leaving, but he didn’t stop.
“So Chloe and Danny broke up, too, huh?” Tom asked while he chewed.
“We were at Dan’s last night and Dougie came home with Frankie and…it was a mess…they took sides.”
“I’ve already heard Danny’s side of it when he called me last night, ranting.”
Tom patted my back, “You cant control the decisions they make, Heidi. But I guess this means we don’t have to go to that Valentines thing?”
“Looks that way.”
Tom beamed. “I’ll still take you out. I’ll take you and Chloe both out. It’ll be fun.”
I leaned on his shoulder. “You’re the best, Tom.”
I hadn’t thought about Valentine’s but I was glad I had plans. I couldn’t imagine how miserable I would feel spending it with Chloe alone, hearing her rant about Danny and Dougie all night.

January passed, and after constant but failed attempts by Danny to get Chloe back, I saw less and less of both him and Dougie. By February, they stopped coming into the café all together, and I only saw Dougie a handful of times on the way to lectures.
The weekend before Valentine’s Day, Chloe and Tom talked me into going to The Red Lion, and the entire drive to the place, I dreaded seeing Dougie there. We walked in, and I sighed with relief to see no sign of him.
“First rounds on me,” Tom said pointing out a table and sliding through the crowd to the bar.
We sat down and watched as the dance floor went from being empty to overflowing with drunken uni students. After our fifth round, Tom pulled us to the dance floor, and I finally felt relaxed enough to have a good time. We giggled and bumped against each other, laughing hysterically when a man swung his dance partner around and she missed his hand, falling to the floor.
I stopped abruptly when I saw Danny walk up behind her. He whispered something in her ear and she flipped around. They traded words and then Chloe grabbed my hand, leading me to our table.
“Of course. The one night we go out, and he shows up,” she grumbled.
Tom brought us two more drinks, including a shot each. “I thought you might need them.”
Anyone that saw Tom with me and Chloe must have thought he was either a master when it comes to getting girls, or gay. I silently chuckled to myself thinking about either one of them.
Chloe tilted her head back before we could toast and I shook my head as I clinked my glass to Tom’s. I tried to keep my eyes on my friends’ faces, worried that with Danny being there, Dougie wouldn’t be far behind.
Another song came on and Chloe stood up. “Fuck this. I’m not sitting at this table the rest of the blood night!”
“That’s my girl!” Tom smiled, following her to the dance floor.
I followed them, glancing around for Danny. He had disappeared, and I relaxed again, trying to shake off the feeling that Dougie would show up on the dance floor with Frankie. A boy I’d seen around campus danced behind Chloe, and she smiled, welcoming the new dance partner. I had a suspicion that she was making a show of enjoying herself, in hopes that Danny would see. I looked away for a second and when I looked back to Chloe, the guy was gone. She shrugged and continued to shake her hips to the beat.
The next song began to play and a different boy appeared behind Chloe, his friend dancing next to me. After a few moments, my new dance partner manoeuvred behind me, and I felt a bit unsure when I felt his hands on my hips. As if he’d read my mind, his hands left my waist. I looked behind me, and he was gone. I looked to Chloe, and the man behind her was gone as well.
Tom seemed a bit nervous, but when Chloe raised an eyebrow at his expression, he shook his head and continued dancing.
By the third song, I was sweaty and tired. I retreated to our table, resting my heavy head on my hand, and laughed as I watch yet another guy ask Chloe to dance. She winked at me from the dance floor, and then I stiffened when I saw him yanked backwards, disappearing through the crowd.
I stood up and walked around the dance floor, keeping my eye on the hole he was pulled through, and felt the frustration burn through me when I saw Danny holding the surprised man by his collar. Dougie was beside him, laughing hysterically until he looked up and saw me watching them. He hit Danny’s arm, and when Danny looked in my direction, he shoved his victim backward onto the floor.
It didn’t take me long to figure out what was going on: they had been yanking the guys that were dancing with us off the dance floor and threatening them to stay away from us.
I narrowed my eyes at them and then made my way to Chloe. The crowd was thick, and I had to shove a few people out of my way.
Danny grabbed my hand before I made it to the dance floor.
“Don’t tell her!” he said, trying to hide his smile.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Dan?”
He shrugged, still proud of himself. “I love her. I can’t let other guys dance with her.”
“Then when’s your excuse for yanking the guy that was dancing with me?” I said, crossing my arms.
“That wasn’t me,” Danny defended, quickly glancing at Dougie. “Sorry, Heidi. We were just having fun.”
“Not funny.”
“What’s not funny?” Chloe said, glaring at Danny.
He swallowed, shooting a pleading look in my direction. I owed him a favour so I kept my mouth shut.
He sighed in relief when he realised I wouldn’t tell on him, and then he looked at Chloe with sweet adoration. “Wanna dance?”
“No, I don’t wanna dance,” she said, walking back to the table. He followed her, leaving Dougie and I standing together.
Dougie shrugged. “Wanna dance?”
“What? Frankie’s not here?”
He shook his head. “You used to be a sweet drunk.”
“Happy to disappoint,” I said, turning toward the bar.
He followed, pulling two guys from their seats. I glared at him for a moment, but he ignored me, sitting down and then watching me with an expectant expression.
“Are you gonna sit? I’ll buy you a drink. What‘s it gonna be, twenty two shots?” he grinned.
“I thought didn’t buy drinks for girls at the bar.”
He tilted his head in my direction with an impatient frown. “You’re different.”
“That’s what you keep telling me.”
“C’mon, babe. What happened to us being friends?”
“We can’t be friends, Dougie. Obviously.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to watch you maul a different girl every night, and you wont let anyone dance with me.”
He smiled. “I love you, babe. I can’t let other guys dance with you.”
“Oh yeah? How much did you love me when you were buying that box of condoms?”
Dougie winced at my words and I stood up, making my way to the table. Danny and Chloe were in a tight embrace, and making a scene while they kissed passionately.
“I think we’re going to that Valentines Day party again,” Tom said with a frown.
I sighed. “Fuck sake.”

by **if looks could kill** Tue Jun 26, 2012 9:58 pm

This is so frustrating....
More now. I need to know what's gonna happen. Omg. I feel like screaming. Dougie and Heidi just need to tell each other they want to be together and Dougie needs to stop being a whore.

by **HannaWestwood** Tue Jun 26, 2012 10:52 pm

Awww Danny and Chloe are back together! Very Happy

But Danny's right; Dougie and Heidi need to get things right because this situation is not cool for people around them! =/

Let's hope she won't fall for Tom too fast though!!!

Thanks for the chapter

xXx

by **ChloeRussellx** Wed Jun 27, 2012 3:39 am

There's a video with the song I've got lyrics to in the next chapter, so you can listen to it during that bit ;D If it doesnt show up for anyone, it's 'The Reason' by 'Hoobastank' Smile

by **ChloeRussellx** Wed Jun 27, 2012 3:41 am

♥ C H A P T E R | T W E N T Y | S E V E N ♥

Chloe hadn’t been back to our apartment since her reunion with Danny. She was constantly absent at lunch, and her phone calls were fewer. Truthfully, I was happy that Chloe was too busy to call me from Danny’s. It was awkward hearing Dougie in the background, and I felt a little jealous that she was spending time with him and I wasn’t.
Tom and I were seeing more and more of each other, and I was selfishly thankful for him being just as alone as I was. We went to lectures, ate and studied together, I even had him round a lot. Even though there had been silly rumours going through campus that we were more than friends, neither of us could care less. We were both thankful for the company.
“Heidi?” I heard when I was on my way to a study session with Tom.
“Hi, Alex,” I smiled.
He took two tickets from his pocket. “You said you like Example, and he’s playing round the corner from here tonight, so I thought I’d get us some tickets.”
He smiled then added. “I can go with Drew if you already have plans.”
“So it’s not a date?” I asked.
“Nope, just as friends.”
“We’ve seen how that works out for you,” Tom teased.
“Shut up, you!” I giggled. “That sounds good, Alex, thanks.”
His eyes lit up. “Would you like to get pizza or something before? I’m not a great lover of those horrible chips they sell at venues before.”
“Pizza sounds great,” I nodded.
“It starts at seven so I’ll pick you up at half four?”
I nodded again and Alex waved goodbye.
“Dougie’s not gonna be happy when he hears about his,” Tom said.
“You heard him say it’s not a date. And I can’t make plans based on what Dougie is okay with. He didn’t clear it with me before he took Frankie home.”
“You’re never gonna let that go, are you?”
“Probably not, no.”

We sat in a corner booth, and I rubbed my hands together, trying to get warm. I couldn’t help nothing we were in the same booth Dougie and I were in the first time we came in here together.
“I noticed the bracelet,” Alex said.
I looked down at the diamonds on my wrist, “I told you I liked it.”
The waitress gave us menus and took our drink orders. Alex seemed nervous when he spoke. And he was speaking a lot, I was enjoying listening too. But I wondered if he was under the impression we were on a date, regardless of what he said.
He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. I think I’ve got verbal diarrhoea tonight. I just haven’t spoken to you in so long, that I suppose I had a lot to say.”
“It’s fine. It’s been a long time.”
The restaurant door chimed and I turned to see Dougie walk in. I took Dougie two seconds to meet my stare, but he didn’t look surprised.
“Fuck sake,” I muttered.
“What?” Alex asked, turning to see him walking over.
When Dougie saw me watching, he smiled. “Tom told me you were here. The final of Battle of the Bands starts in forty minutes, babe. I want you there.”
“Doug…”
His face was worried. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was out with Alex, or he really did want me there.
“I need you there.”
“You’ve done it before, plenty of times. You love being on stage.”
“Heidi,” Alex said quietly.
“Please babe, I really need you there,” Dougie said, his confidence was fading.
I looked at Alex apologetically, “I’m sorry.”
“Are you serious?” he said, “you’re leaving in the middle of dinner?”
“You can still call Drew, cant you?” I asked, standing up.
The corners of Dougie’s mouth turned up as he tossed a twenty pound note on the table. “That should be enough.”
“I don’t care about the money…Heidi…”
“He’s my best friend, Alex. If he needs me there, I’ve got to go.”
I felt Dougie’s fingers slide into mine as he led me away. Danny was on the phone when we got to the car.
Dougie sat in the back with me, keeping my hand firmly in his.
“Where’s Chloe?” I asked.
“Studying for her Chemistry exam tomorrow.”
“I like the Chemistry lab,” Dougie said. I laughed once and then looked to Dougie who had a small grin on his face.
“I didn’t think you have Chemistry,” Danny said.
“Yeah, but I did Biology in there one time,” Dougie winked at me. He chuckled and I elbowed him. He pressed his lips together until the urge to laugh subsided and then he winked at me again, squeezing my hand once again. His fingers intertwined with mine and I heard a small sigh escape his lips. I knew what he was thinking because I felt the same. It felt like nothing had changed.
We pulled into a dark patch of the car park, and Dougie refused to let go of my hand until we went through the backstage door.
We went down the corridor and spotted Tom, Harry and Libby, “Hey!” I smiled brightly.
Tom’s eyes lit up, “I thought you were gonna be mad at me when you arrived,” he confessed. I looked at him confused. “Because I told Dougie where you were…” He said.
“Maybe I was a bit mad,” I said throwing a dirty look to Tom and then Dougie. Dougie tensed beside me, waiting for me to scream at him “but now I’m over it.”
He loosened up and squeezed my hand with a smile.
“Were do you two wanna be for the gig? You can watch from the sides or you can go into the crowd,” Harry said.
“Crowd,” Libby and I said at the same time.
“Make sure you stay with Libby, babe. I don’t want you getting lost, okay?” Dougie said,
“I will. Good luck!” I said, touching his chest.
Dougie grabbed my shoulders and pulled me to his lips. He lingered for a few seconds then pulled away, “That’s all the luck I need.”
“I’ll never be able to figure you two out,” Tom said, shaking his head.
I was still stunned from the warmth of Dougie’s lips when Libby pulled me through the corridors and into the stage area where we pushed into the front row. We were in prime position to see the boys perfectly.
The same guy that introduced the semi final of the competition got onto the stage and introduced the bands. McFly were last and when they came out, as usual Dougie wore a slight grin on his face as he winked at me, unaffected by the screaming girls in the building.
“It’s nice to see a lot of familiar faces here tonight, I think we’re starting to get a little fan base going!” Danny grinned as he spoke into the microphone. “How you all doing?”
The crowd screamed and Danny chuckled, “Good.”
“As you know, each band has got two songs to play tonight, one of our own, and one cover. We’re gonna kick it off with the cover song, but this one is just me singing, so enjoy,” Dougie spoke and the girls screeched. One girl behind me was extraordinarily loud, it felt like my ear drum was going to burst.
They started playing their instruments and I recognised the song right away. Dougie’s eyes locked with mine when he prepared to start singing.
“I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you

And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
Thats why I need you to hear

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

and the reason is you
And the reason is you
And the reason is you

I'm not a perfect person
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I've found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you”
All throughout the song, he wouldn’t stop looking at me, it was as if he was singing the song directly at me, tears were forming in my eyes as I heard his angelic voice.
“Aww, wasn’t that a lovely song?” Danny said.
“We’ve got a fast song of our own now, so now’s the time to go crazy. This is called Party Girl,” Tom announced.
I grinned from ear to ear seeing the boys having so much fun, especially Dougie who was still throwing me glances. He would grin at me when some lines came up, they made me think back to my birthday and I couldn’t help but chuckle. The song sounded like they were describing me. Half way through the song, people started crowd surfing and the man behind me was attempting to get lifted by his surrounding friends. He leant hard on my shoulder to help himself up and it was too heavy for me to handle and I was struggling to stay standing. “Get off!” I yelled at the man but he didn’t take any notice.
“Get off her, you’re hurting her!” Libby yelled to the man, but he didn’t hear her either. I nearly lost my balance about three times, before I noticed Dougie had seen the man and had lost concentration and was watching me and the man with worried eyes.
The man managed to get up just before the song finished, and he pushed me down so hard that I did lose my balance and fell straight to the floor, the man falling with me crushing my arm. He lay there laughing hysterically, obviously drunk. As soon as the song finished, Dougie threw his bass guitar from around his neck, gave it to someone at the side and ran to the side of the stage, five seconds later he came running out of the door me and Libby came from. Girls crowded round Dougie, obstructing him from getting to me to help me, “Move out the way!” Dougie said to the girls who were grabbing at his arms. He literally pushed past her and ran over to me “Get the fuck off her!” Dougie yelled, punching the bloke straight in the nose, which immediately poured with blood. Dougie picked the man up by his t-shirt, lifting him off the ground, Danny through the barrier and took me and Libby to the door before going back to Dougie who was punching the man in the face over and over. “Dougie! Leave him! Not in here!” Danny yelled, trying to make Dougie see sense.
“No problem,” Dougie growled.
He basically carried the man to the back of the hall, out of the back doors and then out of the building, everyone rushed behind them to see the drama unfold more outside. Dougie let go for a moment and the man tried to run, unlocking his car as he ran along. Dougie caught the bloke again and slammed him against the car.
The man pleaded with Dougie, even as Dougie gripped his t-shirt and rammed his head into the car door. The begging was cut off with the loud thud of his skull against the windshield, and then Dougie pulled him to the front of the car and shattered the headlight with the man’s face. Dougie launched him onto the front of the car, pressing his face into the metal while shouting at him.
“Dougie! Stop!” I screamed, fearing for the man’s life.
“Shit,” Danny said. I turned to see blue flashing lights lighting up the street, someone had obviously called the police because of Dougie.
“Dougie!” I screamed.
Dougie left the man’s limp body on the front of his car to sprint towards us. Danny pulled me to the car park, opening his door. I jumped into the back seat anxiously waiting for them to both get in.
Dougie and Danny jumped into their seats, and Danny swore when he saw the trapped cars backing from the only exit. He sped the car up the curb and across the patch of grass, speeding all the way to Danny and Dougie’s building.
The boys opened their doors in silence, and Dougie reached into the back seat, lifting me into his arms. He carried me up the stairs, through the corridor and into the apartment. He took me through the living room and down the hall without a word, setting me on his bed. Baby pawed at my legs, jumping onto the bed to lick my face.
“Not now, Baby,” Dougie said in a hushed voice, taking the puppy to the hall and shutting the door.
He kneeled in front of me, touching running a finger along the torn fabric of my shoulder which the man had grabbed onto a few times and eventually ripped. His once white t-shirt was now soiled with blood.
“I’m so sorry, babe. If I’d seen him sooner I would’ve got to you quicker. Them girls…” he cleared his throat of the anger and worry that choked him. “I couldn’t get to you.”
“Will you ask Chloe to take me back to ours?” I said.
“You can’t go back there, did you see how many police were over that side of campus? Just stay here. I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
I sucked in a faltering breath, trying to fight off any tears. He felt bad enough without seeing me cry.
Dougie stood up and opened the door.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“I’ve gotta get a shower. I’ll be right back, babe.”
Chloe shoved past him, sitting beside me on the bed, pulling me to her chest. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there!” she cried.
“I’m fine. The man was drunk, he was just trying to crowd surf like the rest of them were,” I said, wiping my tear stained face. I had to admit, it terrified me being trapped under his body like that, the thought of getting trampled on by the crowd on top of that, not being to move.
Danny knocked on the door as he entered, bringing a small glass of vodka.
“Here,” he said, handing it to Chloe. She cupped my hands around it and nudged me.
I tipped back my head, letting the liquid run down my throat. My face scrunched up with the burning. “Thanks,” I said, handing the glass back to Danny.
“I’ll get you another one, I think we all need one after that,” Danny said, returning to the kitchen.
Dougie walked in with a towel around his waist, holding a cold can of beer against his eye. The man must have hit Dougie in his attempts to get away. Chloe left the room without a word as Dougie slipped on his boxers, and then he grabbed his pillow.
Danny brought four glasses this time, all full to the brim with amber liquid; it looked and smelt like whiskey. We all knocked it back without hesitation.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” Chloe said, kissing my cheek.
Dougie took my glass, sitting it on the night table. He watched me for a moment and then walked over to his wardrobe, pulling a t-shirt off the hanger for me and tossing it on the bed.
“I’m sorry I’m such a fuck up,” he said, holding the beer to his eye.
“Did you get hit? Your eye is beginning to swell.”
He shook his head, “Heidi, you could have been seriously hurt tonight. Don’t worry about me.”
“It’s hard not to when your eye is swelling really bad,” I said, situating his t-shirt on my lap.
His jaw tensed. “It wouldn’t have happened if I’d just let you stay with Alex. But I knew if I asked you, you’d come. I wanted to show him that you were still mine, and then you get hurt.”
The words took me off-guard, as if I hadn’t heard him right. “That’s why you asked me to come tonight? To prove a point to Alex?”
“It was part of it,” he said, ashamed.
The blood drained from my face. I had gone with him thinking he needed me, thinking that despite everything, we were back to where we were before. I was nothing more than a marked territory and I had allowed myself to become it.
My eyes filled with tears. “Get out.”
“Babe,” he said, taking a step toward me.
“Get OUT!” I yelled as loud as my lungs would allow me too. I picked up the glass from the night table and threw it at him. He ducked, and it shattered against the wall in hundreds of tiny shards. “I HATE you!”
Dougie heaved as if the air had been knocked out of him, and with a pained expression, he left me alone.
I yanked off my clothes and pulled the t-shirt on. The noise that burst from my throat surprised me. It had been a long time since I had sobbed uncontrollably. Within moments, Chloe rushed into the room.
She crawled into the bed and wrapped her arms around me. She didn’t ask me questions or try to console me, she just held me as the tears drenched the pillow case.

by McMaddie182 Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:14 am

Great chapter! Poor doug, and is heidi kicking him out his own room?

looking forward to the next add! Very Happy

by **ChloeRussellx** Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:20 am

Only for the time being Razz

I'll post more in like 5 mins!

by **ChloeRussellx** Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:24 am

♥ C H A P T E R | T W E N T Y | E I G H T ♥

Just before the sun came up fully, Chloe and I quietly left the apartment. We didn’t speak on the way to our building, and I was glad for the silence. I didn’t want to talk, I didn’t want to think, I just wanted to block out the last twelve hours. My body felt heavy and sore, as if I’d been in a car accident. My shoulder definitely hurt the most though from the pressure the man put on it last night. “I’m fine here on my own, go to class,” I said when Chloe followed me inside when she should be going to her revision session before her exam.
“You’re not fine. I don’t want to leave you along right now.”
“That’s all I want to be at the moment.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but sighed. There would be no changing my mind when I was in this sort of mood. “I’m coming back to check on you after class. Get some rest.”
I nodded, locking the door behind her. The bed squeaked beneath me as I fell onto it in a huff. All along I believed that I was important to Dougie; that he needed me. But in that moment, I felt like the shiny new toy Alex said I was. He wanted to prove to Alex that I was still his. His.
I’m nobody’s.
As the thoughts sunk in, I was overwhelmed with the grief I’d felt from the night before and the entire break up with Dougie. I belonged to no one.
I’d never felt so lonely in my life.

Tom sat a green glass bottle in front of me. Neither of us felt like celebrating, but I was at least comforted by the fact that Dougie was avoiding the Valentines Day party. All the girls wore red or pink dresses, the tables were covered with tiny decorative hearts, and Tom rolled his eyes at the ridiculous decorations.
“Well, isn’t this romantic,” he said, pretending to be ecstatic.
Danny and Chloe had been downstairs dancing from the moment we arrived, and Tom and I protested our presence by drinking in the kitchen. I drank the contents of the bottle quickly, determined to blur the memories of the last date party I attended. This was the aim for both me and Tom; get as drunk as we can and pass out to forget everything.
Tom popped open another bottle and handed me another, aware of my desperation to forget. “I’ll get more,” he said, going to the fridge.
By the time Danny and Chloe rejoined us, there were six empty bottles on the table beside me. My mouth was numb, and it felt a bit easier to smile. I was more comfortable, leaning against my spot on the kitchen side. Dougie hadn’t shown up, just like Chloe said he wouldn’t, and I could survive the remainder of the party in peace.
“Are you going to dance or what?” Chloe asked.
I looked to Tom. “Are you going to dance with me, Tom?”
“Are you going to be able to dance?” he asked, chuckling.
“There’s only one way to find out,” I said, pulling him downstairs.
We bounced and shook until a thin sheet of sweat began to form under my dress. Just when I thought my lungs were going to burst, a slow song came on. I rested my head against his shoulder. The alcohol made my body feel heavy and sluggish as I tried to move to the slow tempo.
“Mind if I cut in, Tom?”
Dougie stood beside us, half amused, half prepared for my reaction. The blood under my cheeks immediately burst into flames.
Tom looked at me, and then at Dougie. “Sure, man. Enjoy.”
“Tom,” I hissed as he walked away. Dougie pulled me against him and I tried to keep as much space between us as possible. “I thought you weren’t coming.”
“I wasn’t, but I knew you were here. I had to come.”
I looked around the room, avoiding his eyes. Every little thing Dougie did I was very aware of. The pressure changes of his fingers at the points where he touched me, his feet shuffling beside mine, his arms shifting, brushing against my dress. I felt ridiculous pretending not to notice. His eye was only a light red mark now, within another couple of days he would be as good as new.
He watched my every breath, and when the song was half-over, he sighed. “You look beautiful, babe.”
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what? Tell you you’re beautiful?”
“Just…don’t.”
“I didn’t mean it.”
I huffed in frustration. “Thanks.”
“No…you look beautiful. I mean that. I was talking about what I said in my room. I’m not going to lie. I enjoyed pulling you from your date with Alex…”
“It wasn’t a date, Dougie. We were just eating. He wont speak to me now, thanks to you.”
“I heard. I’m sorry.”
“No you’re not.”
“You’re right,” he said, sighing when he saw my impatient expression. “But that wasn’t the only reason I took you with me. I wanted you there with me, babe. You’re my good luck charm.”
“I’m not your anything,” I snapped, glaring up at him.
His eyebrows pulled in and he stopped dancing. “You’re my everything, babe.”
I pressed my lips together, trying to keep the anger displayed, but it was impossible to stay mad at him when he looked at me that way.
“You don’t really hate me…do you?” he asked.
I turned away from him, putting more distance between us. “Sometimes I wish I did. It would make everything a whole lot easier.”
A cautious smile spread across his lips in a thin, subtle line. “So what pisses you off more? What I did to make you wanna hate me? Or knowing that you cant?”
The anger returned. I shoved past him, running up the stairs to the kitchen. My eyes were beginning to gloss over but I refused to be a sobbing mess at the party. Tom stood beside the table and I sighed with relief when he handed me another beer.
For the next hour, I watched Dougie fend off girls and chuck shots of whiskey, vodka and other various liquids down his neck in the living room. Each time he caught my eye, I looked away from him, determined to get through the night without a scene.
“You two look miserable,” Danny said.
“They couldn’t look more bored if they were doing it on purpose,” Chloe grumbled.
“Don’t forget…we didn’t want to come here,” Tom reminded them. Tom touched my arm, “I think we’ve done our duty here, you ready to go?”
I drank the remainder of my beer in a quick gulp and then took Tom’s hand. As anxious as I was to leave, my legs froze when the same song that Dougie and I danced to at my birthday party floated up the stairs. I grabbed Tom’s bottle and took another gulp, trying to block out the memories that came with the music.
James, the guy who tapped on my desk a little while ago, leaned against the kitchen side beside me. “Wanna dance?”
I smiled at him, shaking my head. He began to say something else, but he was interrupted.
“Dance with me.” Dougie stood a few feet from me, his hand outstretched to me.
Chloe, Danny and Tom were all staring at me, waiting for my answer as anxiously as Dougie,
“Leave me alone, Dougie,” I said, crossing my arms.
“This is our song, babe.”
“We don’t have a song.”
“Babe…”
“No.”
I looked to James and forced a smile. “I would love to dance, James.”
James’ face stretched into a grin, gesturing for me to lead the way to the stairs.
Dougie looked at me, the hurt displayed in his eyes. “A toast!” he yelled.
I flinched, turning just in time to see him climbing onto a chair, stealing a beer from the shocked guy closest to him. I glanced to Chloe who was watching Dougie with a confused expression.
“To dickheads!” he said, gesturing to James. “And to girls that break your heart,” he bowed his head to me. His eyes lost focus. “And to the absolute fucking killer of losing your best friend because you were stupid enough to fall in love with her.”
He tilted back the beer, finishing the half of the bottle that was left, and then tossing it to the floor. The room was silent except for the music playing in the basement, and everyone stared at Dougie in obvious confusion.
I grabbed James’ hand and led him downstairs to the dance floor. A few couples followed behind us. We dance a few stiff steps and James sighed.
“That was…weird.”
“Welcome to my life.”
Dougie pushed his way through the couples on the dance floor, stopping beside me. It took him a moment to steady his feet. “I’m cutting in.”
“No, you’re not!” I said, refusing to look at him.
After a few tense moments I glanced up, seeing Dougie’s eyes boring into James’. “If you don’t back away from my girl, I’ll rip your fucking head off.”
James seemed conflicted, his eyes nervously darting from me to Dougie. “Sorry, Heidi,” he said, slowly pulling his arms away. He retreated to the stairs and I stood alone, humiliated.
“How I feel about you right me, Dougie…it very closely resembles hate.”
“Dance with me,” he pleaded, swaying to keep his balance.
“Go drink another bottle of whiskey, Dougie.”
I went to walk away but Dougie caught me by the arm and before I could react, he threw me over his shoulder. “Put me down!” I said, pounding my fists into his back.
“Stop hitting me,” he growled, taking the stairs two at a time.
Every pair of eyes watched me kick and scream as Dougie carried me across the room.
“Danny! Is Chris outside?” Dougie asked,
“Uh…yeah?” he said.
“Put her down!” Chloe said, taking a step toward us.
“Chloe,” I squirmed, “don’t just stand there! Help me!”
Her mouth turned up and she laughed once.
Dougie headed for the door and I glared at her.
Dougie opened a car door and tossed me into the backseat, sliding in beside me. “You’re the driver tonight, Chris?”
“Yeah,” he said, nervously watching me struggle to escape.
“I need you to take us to my apartment.”
“Dougie, I don’t think…”
Dougie’s voice was frightening, “Do it, Chris, or your head will be through that windscreen, I swear to fucking God.”
Chris pulled away from the curb and I lunged for the door handle. “I’m not going to your apartment!”
Dougie grabbed one of my wrists then the other. I leaned down to bite his arm. He closed his eyes, and then a low grunt escaped through his clenched jaw as my teeth sunk into his skin.
“Do your worst, babe. I’m tired of your shit.”
I released his skin and jerked my arms, struggling against his grip. “My shit? Let me out of this fucking car!”
He pulled my wrists close to his face. “I love you, fuck sake! You’re not going anywhere until you sober up and we figure this out!”
“You’re the only one that hasn’t figured it out, Dougie!” I said. He released my wrists and I crossed my arms, refusing to look or talk to him for the rest of the way.
When the car slowed to a stop, I leaned forward. “Can you take me home, Chris?”
Dougie pulled me out of the car by the arm and then he swung me over his shoulder again, carrying me up the stairs. “I’m calling your dad!” I cried.
Dougie laughed at me. “And he’d probably pat me on the back and tell me it’s about fucking time!”
He struggled to unlock the apartment door as I kicked and waved my arms, trying to get away. “Stop it, babe, or we’re gonna fall backwards!” Once he opened the door, he stomped into Dougie’s room.
“Put. Me. Down!” I screamed.
“Fine,” he said, dropping me onto Danny’s bed. “Sleep it off, we’ll talk in the morning.
The room was dark, the only light came from the open door. I fought to focus through the darkness, alcohol and anger, and when he turned into the light, it lit up his smug smile.
I pounded the mattress with my fists. “You cant tell me what to do anymore, Dougie! I don’t belong to you!”
In the second it took him to turn and face me, his expression had morphed to anger. He stomped toward me, planting his hands on the bed and leaning into my face.
“WELL I BELONG TO YOU!” The veins in his neck bulged as he shouted, and I met his glare, refusing to even flinch. He looked at my lips, “I belong to you, babe,” he whispered, his anger melting as he realised how close we were.
Before I could think of a reason not to, I grabbed his face, slamming my lips against his. Without hesitation, Dougie lifted me into his arms. In a few long strides, he carried me into his bedroom, both of us crashing to the bed.
I yanked his t-shirt over his head, fumbling in the dark with his belt buckle. He pulled it open, ripping it off and throwing it to the floor. He lifted me from the mattress with one hand, and unzipped my dress with the other. I pulled it over my head, tossing it somewhere in the dark, and then Dougie kissed me, moaning against my mouth.
With just a few quick movements, his boxers were off and he pressed his chest against mine. I grabbed his backside, but he resisted when I tried to pull him into me.
“We’re both drunk,” he said, breathing hard.
“Please,” I pressed my legs against his hips, desperate to get him in me. Dougie was set on us getting back together, and I had no intentions of fighting it anymore, so I was more than ready to spend the night tangled up in his sheets.
“This isn’t right,” he said.
He was just above me, pressing his forehead against mine. I hoped that it was just half-hearted protesting, and that I could get him to change his mine.
“I want you.”
“I need you to say it,” he said.
My insides were craving him and I couldn’t stand it a second longer. “I’ll say whatever you want.”
“Then say that you belong to me. Say that you’ll take me back. I wont do this unless we’re together.”
“We’ve never really been apart, have we?”
He shook his head, his lips sweeping across mine. “I need to hear you say it. I need to know you’re mine.”
“I’ve been yours since the second we met.” My voice took the tone of begging. Any other time I would have been embarrassed, but I was beyond regret. I had fought my feelings too long. I had experienced the happiest moments of my life at uni, all of them with Dougie.
One side of his mouth turned up as he touched my face, and then his lips touched mine in a soft kiss. When I pulled him against me, he didn’t resist. His muscled tensed, and he held his breath as he slid inside me.
“Say it again,” he said.
“I’m yours,” I breathed. Every nerve, inside and out ached for more. “I don’t ever want to be apart from you again,”
“Promise me,” he said, groaning with another thrust.
“I love you. I’ll love you forever.” The words were more of a sigh, but I met his eyes when I said them. I could see the uncertainty vanish, and even in the dim light, his face brightened.

Dougie woke me with kisses. My head was heavy and aching from the multiple drinks I’d had the night before, but the hour before I fell asleep replaying in my mind. Soft lips showered every inch of my hand, arm and neck, and when he reached my lips, I smiled.
“Good morning,” I said against his mouth.
He didn’t speak; his lips continued massaging mine. His solid arms enveloped me, and then he buried his face in my neck.
“You’re quiet this morning,” I said, running my hands over the bare skin of his back.
He shook his head. “I just want to be like this,” he whispered. “I didn’t mean to wake you up. Why don’t you go back to sleep?”
I leaned back against the pillow, pulling up his chin. His eyes were bloodshot, the skin around them red and blotchy.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, alarmed.
He pulled one of my hands in his and kissed it, pressing his forehead against my neck. “Just go back to sleep, babe. Please?”
“Did something happen? Is it Chloe?” with the last question, I sat up. Even seeing the fear in my eyes, his expression didn’t change. He simply sighed and sat up with me, looking at my hand in his.
“No…Chloe’s fine. They got home around four this morning. They’re still in bed. It’s early, let’s just go back to sleep.”
Dougie put both hands on the side of my face and kissed me. His mouth felt different though. It was as if he was kissing me for the last time. He lowered me to the pillow, kissed me once more, and then rested his head on my chest, wrapping both arms tightly around me.
“Have you slept?”
“I could. I didn’t wanna…,” his voice trailed off.
I kissed his forehead. “Whatever it is, we’ll get through it, okay? Why don’t you get some sleep? We’ll figure it out when you wake up.”
His head popped up and he scanned my face. I saw both mistrust and hope in his eyes. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t get what’s going on, Doug. I’m here, explain it to me.”
“You’re here? As in you’re staying? With me?”
My head was beginning to spin from both the alcohol and Dougie’s crazy questions. “Yes. I thought we discussed this last night?”
“We did,” he agreed.
I searched the room with my eyes, thinking. His walls were no longer bare like they used to be. They now had reminders of places that we’d spent time together, and had black frames with pictures of me, us, Baby and our group of friends. A larger frame of the two of us at my birthday party hung by a nail above his headboard.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “You thought I was going to leave didn’t you?”
He shrugged, “That is what you like to do.”
“Is that what you’re so upset about? You stayed up worrying what would happen when I woke up?”
He shifted as if his next words would be difficult for him to say. “I didn’t mean for last night to happen like that. I was a little drunk and I followed you around the party, and then dragged you out of there when you didn’t want me to…and then we…,” he shook his head, clearly disgusted with the memories playing in his mind.
“Had the best sex of my life?” I smiled, squeezing his hand.
Dougie laughed once, the tension around his eyes slowly melting away. “So we’re okay?”
I kissed him, touching the sides of his face. “Yes, idiot. I promised, didn’t I? I told you everything you wanted to hear, we’re back together, and you’re still not happy?”
“Baby, stop. I love you,” I said, smoothing the worried lines around his eyes. “All the shit could have been over during half term at your dads, but…,”
“Wait…what?” he interrupted, leaning back.
“I was ready to give in on your brothers birthdays, but you said you were done trying to make m happy, and I was too proud to tell you that I wanted you back.
“Are you fucking kidding me? I was just trying to make it easier on you! Do you know how fucking miserable I’ve been?”
I frowned. “You looked just fine to me.”
“That was for you! I was afraid I’d lose you if I didn’t pretend to be okay with being friends. I could have been with you this whole time? What the fuck, babe?”
“I…” I couldn’t argue; he was right. I had made us both suffer, I had no excuse. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry? I nearly drank myself to death, I could barely get out of bed, I shattered my phone into a million pieces to keep from calling you…and you’re sorry?”
I bit my lip and nodded, shamed. I had no idea what he’d been through, and hearing him say the words made my heart break all over again. “I’m sorry, Doug.”
“You’re forgiven,” he said with a grin. “Don’t ever do it again.”
“I wont. I promise.”
He flashed his teeth and shook his head. “I fucking love you.”

by McMaddie182 Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:26 am

That was an awesome chapter once again! An Dougs so cute Very Happy

Really looking forward to your next add now :-)

by **if looks could kill** Sat Jun 30, 2012 4:32 am

YES
THIS IS GOOD
THEY'RE BACK TOGETHER
Fingers crossed nothing else happens now -_-
more soon!!!

by **ChloeRussellx** Sat Jun 30, 2012 5:25 am

♥ C H A P T E R | T W E N T Y | N I N E ♥

The weeks past, and it was a surprise to me how quickly Easter holiday was upon us. There was still snow on the ground and more had fallen. Dougie led me by the hand to the café queue, putting different hot dishes onto a tray. “Heidi,” Tom grinned at me and then winked at Dougie. “What you doing for Easter?”
“We’re staying here. My brothers are coming here,” Dougie answered as we sat at our table.
“I’m going to kill Harry!” Chloe announced, getting snow out of her as she approached.
“Direct hit!” Danny laughed. Chloe shot him a warning glare and he stopped. “He’s an arsehole.”
We laughed as he watched her stomp to the queue, quickly following her.
“He’s so whipped,” Tom chuckled.
“Chloe’s not in the greatest state of mind,” Dougie explained, “She’s meeting Dan’s family this week.”
“Whoa, they must be serious,” Tom said.
“When you have it Tom, you’ll realise. You gotta grab it with both hands and never let go,” Dougie said, smiling at me.
By the time Danny and Chloe returned with their trays, they had made up. They were discussing her meeting his parents. They would leave that evening.
I watched her pick at her food as she was fretting about what she should pack and what to wear when they go.
“I told you, baby. They’re gonna love you. Love you like I love you,” Danny said, tucking her hair behind her ear as the corners of her mouth turned up.
Dougie’s phone began to vibrate on the table and he picked it up. “Hi Drew.”
He nodded occasionally as he listened. “I’m not doing it any more though. I’m not sure, yet. I wont go without her and Dan’s not in town. Hmm, that’s not a bad idea.”
When Dougie hung up, I waited for him to explain.
He looked at me nervously. “Drew wants me to fight. I’ll get enough money to pay the rent for the next eight months. He says the guy is good.”
I watched his nervous expression for a moment before smiling, “Not good enough to beat my tough guy though.”
Dougie’s eyes lit up and he leaned over to kiss my forehead with appreciation. “I can stay home, Doug.”
“No, babe.”
“I’ll wait up for you,” I smiled, trying to seem happier than I felt.
“I’m gonna ask Darren to come. He’s the only one I’d trust enough so I can concentrate on the fight.”
“When is the fight?”
“Next week sometime.”
Dougie walked me to class, his grip tightening a few times when my feet slipped on the ice. “You should be more careful,” he teased.
“I’m doing it on purpose, you’re so easy to fool.”
He chuckled. “If you want my arms around you, all you have to do is ask,” he said, pulling me into his chest and pressed his lips to mine. My feet left the ground and he continued to kiss me as he carried me easily across campus. When we reached the door of my class he set me on my feet.
“When we do our timetables for next year, we need more classes together.”
“We’ll have to work on it,” I said, giving him one last kiss before going to my seat.
I was surprised how the lesson flew by. I handed in the last assignment for today then I headed to mine and Chloe’s apartment. I packed a few things into a bag for while I stay at Dougie’s. I said I’d go meet him at the science block.
The campus was nearly empty, with only a few left behind. When I turned the corner, I saw Dougie standing outside, finishing a cigarette. One hand was shoved into the pocket of his jeans. Smoke drifted from his mouth and nostrils as he looked to the floor deep in thought.
“What’s on your mind, baby?” I asked. He didn’t look up. “Dougie?”
His lashes fluttered as my voice registered and the troubled expression was replaced with a smile. “Hey, babe.”
“Is everything alright?”
“It is not,” he said, pulling me against him.
“Okay, what’s going on?” I asked with a frown.
“Just have a lot on my mind. This week, the fight, you being there…”
“I told you I would stay home.”
“I need you there, babe,” he said, flicking his cigarette to the floor, then he wrapped his hand around mine, pulling me toward the car park.
“Have you spoke to Darren?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I’m waiting for him to call me back.”
Chloe rolled down the window and poked her head out of Danny’s car. “Hurry up! It’s fucking freezing!”
Dougie smiled and picked up the pace, opening the door for me to get in. I watched Dougie stare out of the window.
Just as we pulled into the parking space outside Danny and Dougie’s apartment, Dougie’s phone rang.
“What the fuck, Daz?” he said, “I called you four hours ago! Listen, I need a favour. I’m fighting next week and I need you there. When I call you, I’ll need you there within an hour, I dunno what time yet. Can you do it or not, dickhead? ‘Cause I need you to keep an eye on my girl for me. Some bastard put his hands on her at the final a couple of days ago and…yeah,” his voice lowered to a frightening tone. “I took care of it. So if I call…? Thanks Daz.”
Dougie hung up and leaned his head on the back of the seat.
“Relieved?” Danny asked, watching Dougie in the mirror.
“Yeah. I dunno how I was going to do it without him there.”
“I told you…” I began.
“Babe, how many times do I have to say it?” he frowned.
I shook my head at his impatient tone.
His fingers lightly grazed my cheek. “If you’re not there, I’m not gonna be able to concentrate. I’ll be wondering where you are, what you’re doing…if you’re there I can see you, I’ll be able to focus. I knew it’s crazy, but that’s how it is.”
“I like crazy,” I smiled, leaning up to kiss him.
“Obviously,” Chloe muttered.

Dougie held me tight against his side. The steam from my breath mixed together with Dougie’s in the cold night air, and I could hear the low conversations of those filling into the side door of an abandoned building.
It was a very old building, and although I know things like parties and other fights had been held there before, I was uneasy about the venue.
“This is one of the worst ideas Drew has had yet, this place is a mess,” Dougie grumbled.
“It’s too late to change it, now,” I said, looking up at the scaffolding around the building.
Dougie’s phone lit up and he looked at it. His face was blue against the display of his phone, and I could see the worry lines in his forehead and between his eyebrows.
“You look nervous tonight,” I whispered.
“I’ll feel better when Daz gets his fucking arse here.”
“I’m here, you whiny little girl,” Darren said in a hushed voice. I could barely see his outline in the darkness, but his smile gleamed in the moonlight.
“How you been, sis?” he said. He hugged me with one arm, and then playfully shoved Dougie with the other.
“I’m good, Daz.”
Dougie immediately relaxed, and then he led me by the hand to the back of the building.
“If the police show and we get separated, meet me at Heidi’s apartment, okay? You know where that is don’t you?” Dougie said to his brother.
“Yup, no problem brother!” Darren grinned. We stopped at an open window low to the ground, I could see Drew inside and was waiting.
“You’re fuckin’ with me,” Darren said, staring down at the window. “Heidi’s barely gonna fit through there, never mind me.”
“You’ll fit,” Dougie assured him, crawling down into the blackness inside. I leaned down and pushed myself backwards, knowing Dougie would catch me.
We waited a few moments, and then Darren grunted as he pushed off the ledge and landed on the floor, nearly losing his balance.
“You’re lucky I love Heidi. I wouldn’t do this shit for just anyone,” Darren grumbled, brushing off his t-shirt.
Dougie jumped up, pulling the window closed with one quick movement. “C’mon,” he said, leading us through the dark.
Hallway after hallway, I gripped Dougie’s hand in mine, feeling Darren pinching the fabric of my t-shirt.
I could hear small pieces of gravel scrape the concrete and I shuffled along the floor. I felt my eyes trying to adjust to the blackness of the basement, but there was no light to help.
Darren sighed after the third turn, “We’re never gonna find out way out of here.”
“Just follow me out. It’ll be fine,” Dougie said, irritated with Darren’s complaining.
When the hallway grew lighter, I knew we were close. The noise of the crowd was getting louder and louder, eventually they were roaring and I knew we had arrived.
Dougie and Darren discussed strategy for the fight as I peeked outside. It was packed and chaotic as the big fight in Vegas, but with less room.
It looked like there had been some building work going on in the building recently with desks and other furniture pushed to the sides of the room.
The room was dark, lanterns hung from the ceilings, creating a flickering glow on the cash being held high as bets were being called.
“Babe, did you hear me?” Dougie said, touching my arm.
“What?” I asked, blinking.
“I want you to stand in this doorway, okay? Keep hold of Darren’s arm at al times.”
“I wont move. I promise.”
Dougie smiled, “Now you’re the one that looked nervous.”
I glanced to the doorway and then back to him.
“I don’t have a good feeling about this, Doug. Not about the fight, but…something. This place makes me feel uneasy.”
“We wont be here long,” Dougie assured me.
A man’s voice came over a louder speaker, I turned to see Drew standing on a chair. A pair of warm, familiar hands were on each side of my face. “I love you,” he said, slipping his hands around my waist and lifting me off the floor, squeezing me to him as he kissed me. He lowered me to the ground and hooked my arm around Darren. “Don’t take your eyes off her,” he said to his brother. “Not even for a second, this place will get crazy once it all starts.”
“I’ll guard her with my life, little brother,” Darren said, tugging on my arm. “Now go kick that guy’s arse and let’s get out of this shit hole.”
“…so let’s welcome DOUGIE POYNTER!” Drew yelled into the megaphone.
The volume was deafening as Dougie made his way through the crowd. I looked up at Darren, who had the tiniest crook of a smile on his face. Anyone else might not have noticed, but I could see the pride in his eyes.
When Dougie reached the center where everyone was crowded round in a circle, I swallowed. Dougie’s opponent, Joe, wasn’t much bigger, but he looked different to the man he fought in Vegas. He wasn’t trying to intimidate Dougie with a severe stare like the other one; he was studying him, preparing the fight in his mind. I knew before the fight began that Dougie had more than a fight on his hands, he was standing in front of a monster.
Dougie seemed to notice the difference as well.
His usual smirk was gone, in its place an intense stare. When the horn sounded, Joe attacked.
“Fuck,” I said, gripping Darren’s arm.
Darren moved as Dougie did, as if they were one. I tensed with each swing Joe threw, fighting the urge to shut my eyes. Joe was cunning and precise. The strength behind the punches alone were enough to make me want to cry, it was as if the whole thing had been choreographed and practiced to perfection.
The air in the room was heavy; the dust from the sheets had been lifted and caught in my throat each time I gasped. The longer the fight lasted, the worse the ominous feeling became. I couldn’t shake the feeling, but I forced myself to stay in place so Dougie could concentrate.
In one moment, I was hypnotised by the chaos, in the next I was shoved from behind, I tightened my grip on Darren, refusing to budge from my promised spot. Darren turned and grabbed the shirts of two men behind us and tossed them to the ground as though they were rag dolls.
“Back the fuck up or you’ll wake up tomorrow in hospital!” he yelled to them.
I gripped his arm tighter and he patted my hand. “I got ya, Heidi. Just watch the fight.”
Dougie was doing well, and I sighed when he caused Joe to bleed first. The crowd grew louder, but Darren’s warning kept those around us at a safe distance. Dougie landed a solid punch and then glanced at me, quickly returning his attention to Joe. His movements were almost calculating, seeming to predict Joe’s attacks before he made them.
Noticeably impatient, Joe wrapped his arms around Dougie, pulling him to the ground. The crowd surrounding the make-shift ring tightened around them, leaning in as the action unfolded on the floor.
“I can’t see him, Daz!” I cried as I bounced on my tip toes.
Darren looked around, finding Drew’s wooden chair. In a dance-like motion, he passed me from one arm to the other, helping me as I climbed onto it. “Can you see him?”
“Yeah!” I said, holding Darren’s arm for balance. “He’s on top, but Joe’s legs are around his neck!”
Darren leaned forward on his toes, cupping his free hand around his mouth, “FUCKING TAKE HIM, DOUGIE!”
I glanced down to Darren and then leaned forward to get a better look at the men on the floor. Suddenly Dougie was on his feet, Joe holding tight around Dougie’s neck with his legs. Dougie fell on his knees, slamming Joe’s back and head against the concrete in a devastating blow. Joe’s legs went limp, releasing Dougie’s neck, and then Dougie reared back his elbow, hitting Joe over and over with his clenched fist until Drew pulled him away, placing a red piece of fabric on Joe’s body.
The room erupted, cheering as Drew lifted Dougie’s hand into the air. Darren hugged my legs, calling out to his brother. Dougie looked up at me with a broad, bloody smile; his right eye had already begun to swell.
As the money passed around the crowd and people began to prepare to leave, my eyes drifted to a wildly flickering lantern swaying back and forth in the corner of the room behind Dougie. Liquid was dripping from its base, soaking the sheet below it. My stomach sank.
“Daz?”
Catching his attention, I pointed to the corner. In that moment, the lantern fell from its clip, crashing into the sheet below, immediately bursting into flames.
“Shit!” Darren said, gripping my legs.
A few men around the fire jumped back, watching in awe as the flames spread to the next sheet. Black smoke filled the corner, and in unison, every person in the room flew into a panic, pushing their way to the exits.
My eyes met Dougie’s, a look of terror on his face.
“Heidi!” he screamed, pushing at the sea of people between us.
“C’mon!” Darren yelled, pulling me from the chair to his side.
The room darkened, and a loud popping noise sounded from another side of the room. The other lanterns were igniting and adding to the fire in small explosions. Darren grabbed my arm, pulling me behind him as he tried to force his way through the crowd.
“We can’t get out that way!” we’ll have to go back the way we came!” I cried, resisting.
Darren looked around, forming a plan of escape in the center of the confusion. I looked to Dougie again, watching as he tried to make his way across the room. As the crowd surged, Dougie was pressed farther and farther away.
Darren pulled me to the door way, and I looked back. “Dougie!” I yelled, reaching out for him.
He was coughing, waving the smoke away.
“This way, Doug!” Darren called to him.
“Just get her out of here, Daz! Get my girl out!” he said, coughing.
Conflicted, Darren looked down to me. I could see the fear in his eyes. “I don’t know the way out.”
I looked to Dougie once more, his form flickering behind the flames that had spread between us. “Dougie!”
“Just go! I’ll catch up to you outside!” His voice was drowned out by the chaos around us, and I gripped Darren’s sleeve.
“This way, Daz!” I said , feeling the tears and smoke burn my eyes. Dozens of panicked people were between Dougie and his only escape.
I tugged on Darren’s hand, shoving anyone in my path. We reached the doorway, then I looked back and forth. Two dark hallways were dimly lit by the fire behind us. “This way!” I said, pulling on his hand again.
“You sure?” Darren asked, his voice thick with doubt and fear.
“C’mon!” I said, tugging him by the arm.
The further we ran, the darker the rooms became. After a few moments, my breaths were easier as we left the smoke behind, but the screams didn’t quieten, louder and more frantic than before. The horrific sounds behind us fuelled my determination, keeping my steps quick. By the second turn, we were walking blindly through the darkness. I held my hand in front of me, feeling along the wall with my free hand, gripping Darren’s hand with the other.
“Do you think he got out?” Darren asked.
His question undermined my focus, and I tried to push the answer from my mind. “Keep moving,” I choked out.
Darren resisted for a moment, but when I tugged on him again, a light flickered. He held up a lighter, squinting into the small space for the way out. I followed the light as he waved it around the room, and gasped when a doorway came into view.
“This way!” I said, tugging on him again.
As I rushed into the next room, a wall of people crashed into me, throwing me to the ground. Three women and two men, all with dirty faces and wide, frightened eyes looked down at me.
One of the boys reached down to help me up. “There’s some windows down here we can get out of!” he said.
“We just came from that way, there’s nothing down there,” I said, shaking my hand.
“You must have missed it. I know they’re this way!”
Darren tugged on my hand. “C’mon, Heidi, they know the way out!”
I shook my head. “We came in this way with Dougie. I know it.”
He tightened his grip. “I told Dougie I wouldn’t let you out of my sight. We’re going with them.”
“Darren, we’ve been down that way…there were no windows!”
“Let’s go!” a girl cried.
“We’re going,” the man said, looking to Darren.
Darren tugged on my hand again and I pulled away. “Daz, please! It’s this way, I promise!”
“I’m going with them,” he said, “Please come with me.”
I shook my head, tears flowing down my cheeks.
“I’ve been here before. That’s not the way out!”
“You’re coming with me!” yelled, pulling on my arm.
“Darren, stop! We’re going the wrong way!” I cried.
My feet slid across the concrete as he pulled me along, and when the smell of smoke grew stronger, I yanked away, running in the opposite direction.
“HEIDI! HEIDI!” Darren called.
I kept running, holding my hands out in front of me, feeling for walls.
“Come on! She’s gonna get you killed!” a girl said.
My shoulder crashed into a corner and I spun around, falling to the ground. I crawled along the floor, holding my trembling hand in front of me.
When my fingers touched rock, I followed it up, rising to my feet. The corner of a doorway materialised under my touched and I followed it into the next room.
The darkness was endless, but I tried to focus away the panic, carefully keeping my footsteps straight, reaching out for the next wall. Several minutes passed by, and I felt the fear well up inside me as the wails from behind rung in my ears.
“Please,” I whispered in the blackness, “let this be the way out.”
I felt another corner of a doorway, and when I made my way through, a small stream of light glowed in front of me. Moonlight filtered through the glass of the window, and a sob forced its way from my throat.
“D-DARREN! It’s here!” I called behind me. “DARREN!”
I squinted my eyes, seeing a bit of movement in the distance. “Daz?” I called out, my heart fluttered wildly in my chest. Within moments, shadows danced against the walls, and my eyes widened with horror when I realise it was actually the flickering of flames.
“Fuck,” I said, looking up at the window. Dougie had closed it behind us, and it was too high for me to reach.
I looked around for something to stand on. The room had wooden furniture covered in white sheets. The same sheets that would feed the fire until the room was gone.
I grabbed apiece of white cloth, yanking it from a desk. Dust clouded around ,e as I threw the sheet to the ground and lugged the bulky chair across the room.
I shoved it next to the wall and climbed up, coughing with the smoke that was slowly drifting into the room. The window was still a few feet above me.
I grunted as I tried to shove it open, clumsily twisting the lock back and forth between each push. It wouldn’t budge.
“Fuck sake!” I yelled, leaning into my arms.
I leaned back, using my body weight that I could manage to force it open.
When that didn’t work, I slid my nails under the edges, pulling until I thought my nails had pulled away from the skin. Light flashed from the corner of my eye, and I cried out when I saw the fire lining the hallway.
I looked up at the window, once again digging my nails into the edges. Blood dripped from my fingertips, the metal edges were sinking into my skin.
Instinct came over all over senses, and my hands balled into fists, ramming into the glass. A small crack splintered across the pane, along with my blood smearing and spattering with each blow.
I hammered the glass once more with my fist, and then pulled of my shoe, slamming it with full force.
Sirens wailed in the distance and I sobbed, beating my palms against the window. The rest of my life was just a few inches away, on the other side of the glass. I clawed at the edges once more, then began slapping the glass with both palms.
“HELP ME!” I screamed, seeing the flames draw nearer. “SOMEONE HELP ME!”
A faint cough spluttered behind me. “Babe?”
I flipped around to the familiar voice. Dougie appeared in the doorway behind me, his face and clothes covered in black.
“DOUGIE!” I cried. I scrambled off the desk and ran across the floor to where he stood, exhausted and filthy.
I slammed into him, and he wrapped his arms around me, coughing as he gasped for air. His hands grabbed my cheeks.
“Where’s Daz?” he said, his voice raspy and weak.
“He followed them!” I bawled, tears streaming down my face. “I tried to get him to come with me, but he wouldn’t!”
Dougie looked down the approaching fire and his eyebrows pulled in. I sucked in a breath, coughing when smoke filled my lungs. He looked down at me, his eyes filling with tears. “I’m gonna get us out of here, babe,” His lips pressed against mine in one quick, firm movement, and then he climbed on top of my make-shift ladder.
He pushed at the window, and then twisted the lock, the muscles of his arms quivered as he used all of his strength against the glass. If he couldn’t get it to budge, I’d had no hope.
“Get back, Heidi! I’m gonna break the glass!”
Afraid to move, I could only manage one step away from out way out. Dougie’s elbow bent as he pulled his arm back before ramming his fist into the window. I turned away, shielding my face with my bloody hands as the glass shattered above me.
“Come on!” he yelled, holding his hand out to me. The heat from the fire took over the room, and I soared into the air as he lifted me from the ground and pushed me outside.
I waited on my knees as Dougie got out and then helped him to his feet. The sirens were blaring from the other side of the building, and blue lights from fire engines and police cars danced across the brick on surrounding buildings.
We ran to the crowd of people standing in front of the building, scanning the dirty faces for Darren.
Dougie yelled his brother’s name, his voice becoming more and more helpless with each call.
He pulled out his phone to check for a missed call and then shoved it back in his pocket. “DARREN!” Dougie screamed, stretching his neck as he searched the crowd.
Those that had escaped were hugging and whimpering behind the emergency vehicles, watching in horror as firemen shot water through the windows and others ran inside, pulling hoses behind them.
Dougie ran his hand through his hair, shaking his head. “He didn’t get out,” he whispered. “He didn’t get out, babe.”
My breath caught as I watched the soot on his cheeks streak with his tears.
“Darren’s smart, Doug. He got out. He had to have found a different way,” I said, trying to convince myself aswell.
Dougie collapsed into my lap as he fell to the floor, gripping my shirt with both fists. I held him. I didn’t know what else to do.
An hour had passed. We watched with waning hope as the firemen brought out two people, and then came out empty handed the rest of the time. As the paramedics treated the injured and ambulances tore into the night with those that got burnt, we waited. Half an hour later, the bodies they were returning with were ones they couldn’t save. The ground was lined with casualties, far outnumbering those that had escaped. Dougie’s eyes didn’t leave the door, waiting for them to pulled his brother from the building.
“Dougie?”
We turned at the same time to see Drew standing beside us. Dougie stood up, pulling me along with him.
“I’m glad to see you guys made it out,” Drew said, looking stunned and bewildered. “Where’s Daz?”
Dougie didn’t answer. Out eyes returned to the charred remains of the building, the thick smoke still blowing from the windows. I buried my face into Dougie’s chest, shutting my eyes tight, hoping at any moment, I would wake up and this was all just a horrible nightmare.
“I have to…I have to call my dad,” Dougie said, his eyebrows pulling together as he pulled his phone out again.
I took a breath, hoping my voice would sound stronger than I felt. “Maybe you should wait, Dougie. We don’t know anything, yet.”
His eyes didn’t leave the number pad, and his lip quivered. “This aint fucking right. He should’ve never been there.”
“It was an accident, Dougie. You couldn’t have known something like this was going to happen,” I said, touching his cheek.
His face compressed, his eyes shutting tight. He took a deep breath and began to dial his dad’s number.

by **ChloeRussellx** Sat Jun 30, 2012 5:26 am

There's now only 2 chapters left!

by McMaddie182 Sat Jun 30, 2012 6:19 am

That.
Was.
AMAZING!!!

Only 2 chapters left :-(
looking forward to the next add Smile

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