Stanton Bliss(22)

Ben walks right up to this guy’s face. “If you want to live… Get the f*ck out of here now.”

“Make me.” The guy sneers.

Oh. My. God. Ben is not someone you mess with.

Ben grabs the German by his throat and holds him at least fifteen centimetres off the ground. Adrian stands in a rush and pulls me by the arm out of the way. Joshua grabs me from him and takes me to the wall and hands me to Max.

“Take Natasha outside.”

I shake my head in a panic as I see Ben go ballistic and punch this guy in the face. What the f*ck is going on?

The table tips over and all the drinks smash on the floor.

“Ben!” I hear Bridget scream. Joshua grabs Bridget and she starts to wrestle with him.

The German punches Ben, but he responds, returning with three quick, hard punches.

Joshua wrestles with Bridget as Brock stands and watches, but doesn’t move to break it up.

Max grabs my arm. “Outside, Tash.”

“Break it up!” I yell.

Max looks at me with a this-guy-deserved-it look.

Max pushes me forward and I stumble out through the front doors. We wait around the side of the building as bouncers run in from everywhere.

“What the hell is going on?” I yell at Max.

Next thing I know, Bridget is being dragged out of the doors by Ben and pulled around to the side of the building.

They don’t see us.

“What the f*ck do you think you are doing?” Bridget screams.

“What the f*ck are you doing?” Ben yells in her face.

I shrivel. Shit, Ben is scary when he’s mad.

“I’m getting over you,” her voice cracks in pain.

Oh, pity fills me. My poor sister is hurt.

Bens face falls. “Bridget,” he says softly.

Her face screws up as tears fill her eyes. “Don’t!” she cries.

“I-I don’t want it to be like this between us,” he stammers.

She pushes him hard in the chest. “You did this. Not me.”

He runs both of his hands through his hair in frustration. “Bridget,” he repeats.

“Why, Ben? Why?”

His haunted eyes hold hers, their hurt evident.

“Answer me!” she screams.

“Come on, Natasha.” Max grabs my arm to stop me listening. They don’t even realise we are here. I snatch it away. “Shh.” I growl.

Ben shakes his head. “I can’t be…” He stops as if not knowing what to say.

“What?” she yells.

He doesn’t answer.

“You can’t be loved, is that it?” she cries.

“Bridget,” he says sadly.

“No. Don’t you dare Bridget me. You spent every night in my arms, and then when I needed you the most–”

He cuts her off. “It was my fault she went missing.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it. I’m going inside and I’m going home with that guy.”

“No!” he yells.

“Maybe I could depend on him. He wouldn’t leave me when I needed him.”

Ben drops his head and my heart breaks for him.

“I can’t be what you want me to be, Bridget,” he says softly.

“Yes, you can, Ben,” she cries.

“I’m not wired like you!” he yells angrily.

The tears run down her face. “Like what? To be loved. To be happy?”

He doesn’t answer.

“Is that the problem? I stupidly told you I loved you that night. Is that why you left me?”

Ben’s face falls as if remembering, and he drops his head. He stands still and doesn’t answer as he thinks.

I put my hand on my chest as my heart breaks for these two.

He looks up and, with renewed control, mutters the word, “Go.”

She screws up her face. “What?”

“Go home with him.”

Bridget’s shoulders slump in defeat. “Ben,” she sobs.

“Its not who I am Bridget. I can’t be that man.”

Bridget puts her head in her hands and starts to weep. Ben turns sadly and disappears inside. Max and I stand shocked as we watch him disappear into the darkness.

“Stupid prick,” Max whispers.

“Natasha,” Joshua calls me from behind and I turn and face my love. I’m so relieved that he and I don’t go through this shit anymore.

“Bridget,” Abbie calls as she comes round the corner in search for her friend.

“Take me and Didge home, boys.” I walk over and grab Didge into an embrace. She is openly heartbroken. I look up the lonely, dark road to home.

Oh, man, what a shitty way to end a great night.

Adrian

I watch him slowly slide his hand down her clavicle, his tongue skimming along her jaw. “I’m taking you home,” he breathes.

Abbie’s eyes flicker with arousal and I smirk at Nicholas. Brock made his move as soon as his two sisters left. I had wondered how long it would take. This persona he has going on in front of the two of them is damn right humorous. They think butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth but, boy, have I got news for them. They turn their eyes to me as they walk over and I look away, pretending I haven’t been watching them make out for the last fifteen minutes against the wall.