Chapter 26

The sun has almost disappeared behind the buildings by the time Bethany and I step into the door of the pub.

For once, it’s been a decent day today. It warmed up a bit before the shadows became long again. I almost feel bad for staying indoors for the night.

Since it’s a Saturday night, it’s quite crowded in the bar. The music is loud, and I think I saw a sign when we came in saying its Karaoke night.

Upon entering fully, my gaze rests upon the man up front slurring a song that is unrecognizable due to him being drunk. I roll my eyes.

“Want a drink?” Beth asks me, flicking her hair over her shoulder and turning to me.

I nod eagerly/ “Yes, Ma’am.” I follow her up to the bar and watch her as she orders an apple martini. I smile crookedly and order too.

I turn in my seat, facing Bethany as she crosses her legs. She tucks a strand of wavy hair behind her ear, exposing a collection of earrings and a feather tattoo behind her ear.

I smirk and lean forward, my lips hovering close to her earring.

“Nice tattoo,” I whisper just loud enough so she can hear.

She smiles slightly, then points to the inked rose on the side of my elbow. “I like yours too.”

“Thanks,” I smirk, pulling away from her ear.

The bartender slides our drinks across the counter to us, and I sip mine slowly.

Over all that’s happened between Bethany and me, I know I like her. She’s fun to hang out with and damaged like me. I may not trust her, but I do like her.

Be careful. The doubtful side of me always reminds the curious side.

I want to move on but I just can’t make myself.

My one drink turns into three, and three turns into five. Soon, I’m feeling a bit tipsy and my thoughts are centered around nothing important. I’m so used to this relaxed feeling.

“Harry,” Beth’s voice comes from beside me.

I raise my eyebrows in question, setting my glass down.

“I’m gonna go use the girl’s room,” she says, standing from her stool. “Be right back.”

I nod, and then watch her disappear around the corner.

My thoughts once again wander to Bethany. My curious side says she’s sweet and sensitive; but my doubtful side says that she’s just here to hurt me.

I know that I shouldn’t listen to that side of me because not everyone comes into my life just to break me. But then again, most people I come across want to hurt me in one way or another.

I scratch the back of my neck, closing my eyes and sighing. I don’t know what to think anymore.

So I decide not to think anymore. We came here tonight to have fun. I’m done dragging myself down.

I stand, stumbling a little as I walk through the hazy room over to where she disappeared.I wait outside the door, lighting a cigarette and placing the white stick between my cracked lips.

“What are you doing?”

I turn, smiling a little as my gaze meets Bethany’s. I shrug, taking a drag from my cigarette. “Smoking.”

She rolls her eyes, leaning against the opposite wall from me. “I can see that.” Her lips curl up into a small smile.

I take the cigarette away from my lips again, exhaling the white smoke.

Just stop thinking.

“What do you say we try karaoke?” I ask randomly, stepping closer to her.

Her eyes widen. “Oh, no. No, no, no,” she groans.

The alcohol gives me a boost of confidence, and I tuck a wisp of hair behind her ear to uncover her earring. “And why not?”

She doesn’t look uncomfortable by my action at all, even though she’s pressed so close to me and our noses are inches apart.

I chuckle. “Love, that’s what karaoke is for.”

She shakes her head, but the grin spread across her lips is a dead giveaway.

I lean close to her ear. “For me?”I whisper, sticking my lower lip out.

Beth rolls her eyes. “No, Harry. You’re drunk.” She shoves me away jokingly, the smirk still evident on her face.

I shrug, stumbling back. Bethany helps steady me. “So?” I press stubbornly.

“So, I’m not going to make a fool of myself with some drunk guy,” she says playfully, poking my chest with her forefinger.

I feign hurt. “Just some drunk guy?” I gasp in fake shock, staggering back and placing my hand over my heart like I’ve been shot.

She smirks, thinking she’s won. I quickly grab her hand before she can protest any further, and drag her to the front.

“A Thousand Years by Christina Perri,” I tell the D.J.

He nods and hands us a crumpled piece of paper with the lyrics printed across it. “Go on up,” he rasps, pointing two fingers holding a cigarette to the stage.

I wink at Bethany, who’s glaring darkly at me, and lead her up the stairs to the stage.

The song soon starts and I smile encouragingly at her. She rolls her eyes at me, and then opens her mouth to sing. When she reaches the chorus, I join in with harmony.

It’s not perfect, but neither are we.

And as I watch her shamelessly belt out the song, I realize how much alike we really are. The way she sings reveals to me that she has secrets too. I’m not the only one who’s been hurt. We’re broken soul mates who’s hearts have been searching our entire lives for each other, even though neither of us knew it.

She’s turned everything around for me. I have waited what seems like a thousand fucking years for someone like her.

And that’s when I finally realize that I’m falling in love with Bethany Carol.

She understands and accepts me and all my idiosyncrasies. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to figure it out.

All at once, a gunshot sounds, shattering the moment and the calmness of my heart. My right shoulder explodes in pain and I stagger backwards, grasping air. I can hear screams erupt, and everything turns chaotic. Everybody scatters, and I finally hit the floor.

I know exactly what’s going on. Des is here. When he shot at me, he was aiming straight for my heart, but missed. I could have died.

And I still can.

I remain motionless where I hot the ground below the stage, feeling blood flow out of my wound. I’m getting weaker and weaker by the second.

Flashbacks and memories of my time spent with Bethany flash through my mind and run together in confusion. My stomach feels like I’m going to be sick.

“Harry I don’t want to die! Don’t let me die!”

“Help me!”

A loud shot rings out, and the person I loved in front of me slumps down in their seat, dead.

“All people have some sort of secret; we should be careful who we fall for.”

“Maybe it would be easier if we didn’t fall in love at all.”

My breathing is uneven, and I’m not sure if it’s because of the vivid flashbacks running through my head, or the pain I’m in. I don’t know whether to scream or cry.

Nothing is clear anymore.

I slowly open my eyes. People are running, and shots are still ringing through the air. But it’s muffled in my ears, almost as if it’s not real. As if I’m just watching myself die.

I don’t see Bethany anywhere, but right now I don’t care. I’ve started thinking again.

My words from that night I stayed at Bethany’s flat and had the nightmare are pounding through my mind.

“Be careful who you fall for.”

“Be carful who you fall for.”

“Be careful who you fall for.”

My head aches. I want to go home. I want to drink until I pass out. I want to be alone again.

I manage to scoot into a dark corner, my ears still ringing with those words.

I painfully sit up and wrap my arms around my knees. I don’t understand what’s going on anymore. I don’t know where or even who I am.

Fear does that. It’s consumed me. It’s driven me insane; out of my mind. There’s no turning back now.

Notes

Yay lol I'm not double updating because my parents will kill me if I'm on the internet too long :/ I'm sorry guys but this one is long . . . even though its kind of a cliffy D: sorry not sorry ;)

Don't forget to comment! I'm just so happy to see everybody's comments! (over 8,000 reads alksjdhflkajshdflkjahsdjkfhbkjsa thank you)