Sara had cried
all night, every time she thought of Chris all she saw was the hurt in his eyes
and when she thought of Ben butterflies invaded her tummy Kimberley now sat
facing her with a mug of tea cupped between her hands “You have to tell him
Sara…you have to tell him it’s over once and for all and mean it” Sara’s eyes
filled with tears once again “I know” she sniffed “Go and end it now…don’t keep
him clinging onto what little hope he has” Sara didn’t want to hurt either of
them if only Ben hadn’t confessed his feelings, everything would be fine she
would be happy with Chris wouldn’t she?
She argued with herself.
Ben smiled as she past him on the door step
but she didn’t return the smile instead she asked if anyone else was at home
“No Mum’s gone into town with Rupert and Lucy and dad’s at work” Sara took a
deep breath “Look I’ve come to tell you it’s over I’m with Chris” she said
hurriedly Ben stared at her “Look me in the eye and tell me it’s over” he
demanded she couldn’t “Sara look me in the eye” once again she averted her gaze
he placed both hands on her upper arms shaking her gently “Tell me!” this time
she looked up into those blue eyes “It’s It’s…” she couldn’t before she could
stop herself she was kissing him “No!
Ben it’s over!” she yelled pushing him away “Please Sara don’t do this I
love you” he whispered she stopped by the lounge door “I’m so sorry Ben” she
sobbed as she fled.
Chris was in
the garden when Sara reached him he had been cutting the grass anything to keep
busy “Hello Sara” said Chris’s elder sister as she got up from the back step
“I’ll be inside if you need me sweetheart” she told her brother who nodded as
he wound up the cord of the lawn mower “We need to talk” Sara told him uneasily
“Do we?” she shifted nervously “You know we do…I’ve told Ben it’s over…not that
it ever began” Chris sighed then sat down on the back step “It was a one night
stand?” she nodded “I was stupid…I don’t love Ben I love you” he patted the
step and she came to sit next to him “You really hurt me Sara…I thought we were
solid together I didn’t think anything or anyone rather could ever come between
us…but I know you were vulnerable and that Ben took advantage of you…I’m
willing to give us another chance…I love you Sara I always have” she smiled at
him “I love you to…and I’ll make it up to you” he smiled as he placed his arm
around her drawing her close.
“They’re back
together?” quizzed Ben when Mark came round with Jas “Looks like” Mark told him
gently Ben scoffed “So…that’s that then” he added looking at the ceiling “Ben
it’s not the end of the world” Mark told him “Isn’t it? I really love her Mark” Mark stared at him
“What? What?” asked Ben on noticing the
look on Mark’s face “Are you sure it’s love?” Ben rolled his eyes “Of course I
am” Mark bowed his head “What makes you think differently?” added Ben “I don’t
know…probably because you were like this when Paul was dating Morven” Ben’s
eyes widened “That was different” he said defensively “Was it…I’m not so sure
Ben it seems to me that you just want what other people have” Ben placed his
hands on his hips he knew exactly what Mark was getting at “That’s not true…I
didn’t try it on with our Paul’s bird!” Mark raised his eyebrows “Ben Paul told
me himself that you did” Ben was getting really defensive now “For heaven sake
both of you quit it” Jas intervened “Mark go and calm down…I know Chris is your
best mate and it’s natural that you’d take his side” she added as she followed
Ben from the lounge to the kitchen.
Ben stood by
the sink trying to calm down “Are you okay?” she asked he drew in a deep breath
“What do you think?” she frowned as she watched him take down a glass and fill
it with cold water “Ben…I know how you feel” she said in a low steady tone “How
the hell can you possibly know how I feel?” she looked down at the floor
“Because I’m in love” Ben’s eyes widened “Oh no…don’t do this to me not today
of all days” he pleaded Jas moved forward seizing her chance “Ben you know how
I feel” she said “Jas for fuck sake Mark’s just in the next room!” said Ben as
he removed her arms from around his neck “I don’t care…the sooner he knows about
us the better” Ben rolled his eyes this was the last thing he needed “There’s
no us” he hissed “Oh come on Ben you know that’s not true you always come back
to me” Ben was trying his best not to shout at her “Not this time” she stared
up at him once again “You don’t mean that…Ben I’ve been waiting for so long”
“I’m sorry…Jas I don’t fancy you I never have…you were just
there” he was now being cruel to be kind “What?” she looked devastated “You
used me?” he nodded regretfully as he watched her take a few paces away
catching a glimpse of Mark standing in the doorway “Mark this isn’t what you
think mate!” yelled Ben Mark maintained eye contact with Jasmine “It was Ben he
was upset and he just came on to me” Mark pouted “No I didn’t” he denied in a
venomous tone of voice Mark stared at them both “I know Ben don’t worry I heard
her” Ben looked relieved “I’ll catch you later” Mark added “I’ll get my bag”
Jas called “Don’t bother!”
“Oh what? You
putting on a big show for Ben’s benefit you’ll come crawling back to me you
always do your pathetic Mark well off you go you pathetic worm!” she cried
after him he stopped at the back door
“Oh what’s this…trying to think of something to say?”
“What’s this?” he scoffed as he struggled round to face her
a smirk on his face “This is me leaving you!” he told her happily as he
continued out into the glorious sunshine.
Jasmine rushed
out after him “Mark Mark wait” she cried as she caught up with him “Get lost!”
he growled she stared at him “What? You
don’t mean that Mark! You need me” she
insisted he shook his head “No! What I
need is for you to get the hell out of my life” she furrowed an eyebrow “Fine…I
was only with you out of guilt” Mark shook his head “Guilt?” she stiffened
“Yeah guilt…it was me put that bloke onto you and Amy…I saw you together that
day and suggested that you two were more than just friends I didn’t know that
she’d been dating a murderous scumbag…so now that I’ve confessed I can go with
a clear conscience” Mark simpered “Just go!” he dismissed angrily.
Jasmine
disappeared around the corner leaving him to make his own way home, this was
the first time he’d been left on his own and was beginning to freak out he was
sure the psycho was somewhere lurking around “What if he’s escaped
custody? What if he was coming for him
right now? What if he intended
finishing what he started? All these
questions were running through his head as he relived that night “Mark…Mark…MARK!”
“Noooo leave me!”
“MARK IT’S ME AMY”
He stared down to where she stood her hand on his arm “It’s
okay…take a few deep breaths…you’ve had a panic attack…it’ll pass in a minute”
he was now shaking “Come and sit down” she added pointing to a vacant seat
across in the park.
They both made
their way across the gravelled football pitch to the seat “A panic attack?” he
asked at last Amy nodded solemnly as she sat down next to him “They’re not very
pleasant but they do pass…just keep taking a few deep breaths” he obeyed
“Better?” he nodded as he looked around.
Children played on the swings nearby “You seem to know all about panic
attacks?” he said “I’m use to them…I’ve had them for years…they started when I
was about five” Mark looked into her eyes boy was she pretty he’d never really
noticed how pretty she was before and those eyes God they were the lightest
shade of blue “I’m sorry Amy…I was a complete bastard to you” she blushed “It’s
okay” she told him he shook his head “No it’s not okay…I had a go at you any
chance I got which I’d no right to do…especially when you had your own
nightmare to deal with” she saddened “Well we’ll get through it together…has
anyone from victim support been to see you yet?” Mark nodded “Yes she’s been
great she even came to court with me” Amy smiled “I can’t wait for Monday…to
see the bastard go down” Mark placed his arm around her and she felt
comfortable with it there she felt the comfort of a big brother “Yeah me
to…then I wont ever see him again!” she stared at him “I hope so” she said
quietly “I know so” Mark insisted then wondered just why he was so sure “Then
it’ll be over for you Mark…I still have my Dad’s case coming up soon” Mark
looked sympathetically down to where she sat “You’ll get through it Amy…you’re
a strong person” she let out a deep sigh as she stood up “He’s still my Dad
Mark regardless of what he did…part of me still loves him” Mark allowed her to
help him to his feet “That’s understandable…but what he did to you was
wrong…all forms of abuse is wrong Amy…just remember that” she nodded as she
walked him home.