Song: 'Before the Worst' by The Script
It's been a while since the two of us talked
About a week since the day that you walked
Knowing things would never be the same
With your empty heart and mine full of pain
So explain to me, how it came to this
Let's take it back to the night we kissed
It was Dublin City on a Friday night
With vodkas and coke, I was Guinness all night
We were sitting with our backs against the world
Saying things that we thought but never heard
Who would have thought it would end up like this?
But everything we talked about is gone
And the only chance we have of moving on
Was trying to take it back before it all went wrong
Before the worst
Before we met
Before our hearts decided it was time to love again
Before today
Before too long
Let's try and take it back before it all goes wrong
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HANNAH'S POV
I am sitting in the living room, changing channels constantly but nothing captured my attention. Since Andy has left, the day has been going on very slowly. I stayed in my room for most of the time doing nothing, just wondering about everything and nothing. My luggage stayed packed as well, I didn't feel like unpacking it and setting it all up in the wardrobe. Who knows for how long would I be here?
And to make the matter worse, I can't find my cell phone either, which is making everything more frustrating. I can't remember when was the last time I had it on me. Dude, how can one survive without a cell phone for two days almost? Now if that isn't a genuineness-level record, I don't know what is.
I haven't talked to any of my friends or family either. What if they thought I was dead?
Well, let's not go so deep, shall we?
But I miss them! And it's very lonely here. The whole day has passed by like this and it is night again. Being alone in a big house wasn't anywhere on my bucket list. It's terrifying. There's no human sound present, except the constant chirping of insects. The television noises in the background are not much assurance either.
It's 11 PM, maybe I should just retire to bed already. What's the point of staying up anyways?
Just when I was about to get up, I heard the sound of keys jingling outside the door. I couldn't help but feel frightened.
But before my mind could get any weird ideas, the door unlocked, and strolled inside none other than The Great Elijah Norman, the apple of my eye, looking unbothered as if it was just a normal day. Well, it's probably a normal day for him.
Not for me, though.
He saw me looking at him, his eyes the same as they were yesterday: empty, dark, and dangerous. He's wearing the same clothes as yesterday, the suit jacket and tie are gone, and his shirt is untucked and wrinkled. His hair which was styled within an inch of its existence is now disheveled in all places indicating his hands have been in them far too many times. The bags under his eyes also didn't go unnoticed by me.
He broke eye contact and walked past me without saying a word as if I'm not sitting right there. Just as he reached the bottom stair and stepped on it, I spoke.
Guess what? He's not leaving the room until we talk!
"Seriously?" he stopped right there but didn't turn around.
"You're going to pretend like I'm not sitting here and leave, again?" he still didn't turn. Oh, the audacity.
"We need to talk; you can't just go on ignoring me forever!"
"Can't I?" his deep thunderous voice echoed in the quietness of the night. His words sound more like a statement than a question. He finally turned around, his face giving away everything and nothing all at once.
"No, you can't!" I also said with conviction, "You need to explain all that you're doing." Feeling a little brave, aren't we?
"Excuse me? Explain... to you?" and he started walking towards me. Alright, not so much anymore.
"Ye... Yes, of course, you can't just leave me here alone. I know the circumst..." he cut me off in the middle by putting his finger on my lips, his eyes went to the darkest pits. My heartbeat was eradicated instantly; my mind comprehending.
"Shh." He intensified the look in his eyes, his finger intact on my lips, and I made no effort to undo it. "You got what you wanted. You got married to me and became Mrs. Elijah Norman. That is all there's to explain." His expressions remained neutral and his voice nothing more than a whisper but his words are seething with anger and arrogance.
A bit chatty today, huh?
"I wanted to marry you?" I scoffed and took one step back to create some distance, "No mister, it's the other way around."
"A bold claim. Let me get this straight once and for all." He stood right in front of me, towering over me with his six-plus height, successfully intimidating me. His stare is that of a hawk looking at its prey.
And he's still drunk.
"I never wanted to marry you;" he hissed, his voice only audible for me to hear yet the resentment was loud and clear. "you'll never be my wife. You're a fucking slut and that's all you'll ever be." The hatred in his eyes and words shook me to my core, his cruel and nasty words rendering me speechless.
We kept looking at each other, him with loathing and I was too stunned to even blink. Without blinking, he turned around to leave. I recovered back to my senses. Oh no, this is not the end of it.
"Yeah? Then why did you marry me, huh? Why you didn't end all this when you had a chance, when we were signing the papers, back at the altar, before it all started?" if only he did, we won't be in this situation. He turned towards me once again but stayed at a distance.
"If only I had an option. You and your father had a very elaborate plan and you succeeded. But not so much, no," he paused but I couldn't say any words either.
"Until now, everything happened the way you wanted it, but not anymore. You can fool Dad, but not me." no sound came out of me, not even to correct him.
"This is how it's going to work from now on." He stepped closer.
"These next two years will be spent like perfect strangers; you don't ask me where I am and I don't give a fuck whether you're dead or alive." He said without any hesitation, "There will be no communication between us except when we're in front of our families. To them, we remain a perfect couple who's slowly getting to know each other. But when we're alone I don't want to see you in the same room as me. No one can know what happens here behind the closed door, no one can ever know we're married." He paused when I didn't reply.
"Try and cross me. It's not a challenge but a warning." We kept looking at each other until he turned to go upstairs and left. I on the other hand was unable to move as I kept staring at where he was standing some moments ago.
Finally, I snapped back to the present and went back to what now is my bedroom. This is gonna be a long night, I thought to myself.
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ELIJAH'S POV:
I hope I've made myself clear to her.
After spending the whole day at my old apartment, I went back to my current house. Though I'm hardly ever present there. Most of the time I stay in the bedroom my office building has due to my late working hours, the rest of the time I'm out of the country for business deals. Today after so many years went back to my old apartment. That place holds so many memories that bring pain yet peace at the same time. Memories that I'm not willing to let go of.
This house is just a show-off of my immensely wealthy status. And a place to sleep, nothing else. But now she's there, which means I can't stay there. Just the thought of seeing her again brings my blood to boil.
But I had no option because I have to pack my bag and leave for Italy for a business deal. I could've sent someone else to do that for me if not for the fact that no one knows about my marriage and I intend to keep it that way.
Besides, I have her cell phone with me which she dropped inside the car yesterday when she fell asleep. And this bloody thing won't stop ringing. It's the zillionth time since yesterday that it has lit up and every time it rings, it's the same caller ID.
Nick.
With the same silly image popping on display.
What a bitch, got married and still hasn't gotten rid of her boyfriend.
I tossed the phone on the bed, took a quick shower, and changed into a clean suit. It's a relief I'll be gone for a while, it'll give me a little time to plan how to deal with this situation later.
I left the room with my travel bag in one hand, my suit jacket, and her cell phone in another when it went on once again. 73rd miscalls. It's midnight for goodness's sake!
Once again, the urge to bash her phone against the wall occurred but I controlled it.
Leaving it on the living room table, I picked up my car keys and left.