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Chapter 17
Faith looked around nervously. What if Brian was somewhere nearby? She didn't notice him anywhere, and tried to turn her attention back to Christian, who would not stop talking about what he had done and how it had robbed his innocence as he tried to make it big. It hadn't taken long for her to figure out that as soon as Derek wasn't lurking over them, Christian started talking and wouldn't stop. It didn't help that all his words consisted of were himself. Or that he didn't let her get a word in otherwise.
"This is supposed to be a great play," Christian enthused.
I should be with Brian in the ocean right now, she thought to herself. Then she blinked. Did he just say something that wasn't about himself?
"Oh, really?" she said, trying to sound interested. Why am I seeing a play while I'm on a Hawaiian island? Am I nuts? No, she thought darkly. Derek is.
No, I am, she decided, when the harsh realization struck that she could be cheating on Brian. But wasn't he cheating on Leighanne? The whole thing was just crazy. So why did she feel so bad? Did Brian feel bad for cheating on Leighanne? She knew he did, if she thought she knew him at all. He had morals, values, a conscience, the usual.
"Do you want me to get you something to drink?" Christian offered.
"Sorry?" she said. "Oh, um no thanks, I'm fine."
He nodded and continued talking. The play started, and Faith tried to concentrate on it, but she was having a very hard time when all she could think about was Brian.
~*~*~*~*~
What am I doing here? Brian thought. Even as he pondered it, he knew the answer. Passing the time without Faith.
Suddenly, a familiar head caught his eyes. Curly black hair…
"Destiny!" he called, looking around for Faith. Destiny didn't even turn around.
He watched with confusion as she made her way all the way down the boardwalk-alone. Where was Faith? He followed her for some ways, until his heart sank when he saw her reach Howie, and the two linked arms and continued walking. He stopped cold and stared after them. Faith had lied.
Brian turned around and walked forward, his hands deep in his pockets and his head downcast. He found a seat in the back and watched the play without understanding it.
Faith felt certain that something was wrong. She twisted around in her seat and scanned the audience, and her heart stopped cold when she locked eyes with Brian. He slowly rose and began to walk away when he saw Christian turn and put his hand on her shoulder. Faith groaned and stood up.
"Sorry, Christian," she hissed. "I've got to go. It's an emergency."
"I'll call you," he called as she ran.
She ignored him and kept her eyes on Brian's back.
"Brian, wait for me!" she pleaded. He almost kept going, but as usual, her voice paralyzed him. He stopped and closed his eyes, and she almost ran into him. Faith put her hands on his back and laid her head between his shoulder blades, feeling every ragged breath he took. "I'm so sorry," she began. He stiffened. Was she confirming it? "Don't do that, Brian. It's me." He had to order his body not to succumb to her touch, and he was slowly finding that it was going to do just that, and very fast.
"Faith, why didn't you say in the first place?" he wondered.
"Say what?" she whispered.
"That-that you didn't want to be exclusive."
"Brian," she said, turning him around and looking into his piercing blue eyes. "You're the engaged one," she reminded him. He stopped cold. She had him there.
"Don't even turn this around on me," he said angrily. There was a bite to his words that scared her. "We agreed, Faith. You said you'd stick with me, no matter what, remember?"
She nodded silently, knowing she had used the wrong choice in words. She decided to let him rant, because she knew he was only letting out his guilty feelings out in anger.
"Brian, I-" she started, then stopped. What could she say? She tried again.
"I didn't want to go with Christian today."
"Then why did you?"
"I'm such a wuss." She let out a nervous laugh. "I couldn't say no."
"When a girl says no, she means no," he quoted.
"Honor your elders," she fired back. Then she sighed. "Listen, I'm not going to fight. Do you want to talk about it? Or should I stop wasting my time and let you sleep on it?"
"Honor your elders?" he repeated. A shadow of a grin pranced across his face. Then he wiped it off and looked at her. "Sleep on it?" he laughed. "We both know I will not sleep on it. I won't be able to sleep at all tonight."
She opened her mouth to respond.
"Faith? Is everything okay? I thought you had to go."
"Christian," she sighed.
"Christian?" Brian muttered. "I can't believe this."
"Christian, I really need to talk to Brian," Faith said. Christian looked suspiciously at Brian, and Brian stared back challengingly.
"It's really late, Faith. I promised your uncle I'd get you back to your condo before midnight."
"I can get back to my condo on my own," she said, smiling at him. Brian's fists clenched at his sides.
"I don't think so," he said, taking her arm. Her eyes widened, and she looked at Brian for help. He stared at her, not moving. Christian led her away, and Faith twisted around and locked eyes with Brian, her pools of brown pleading with him. He closed his eyes. Let your date escort you home, Faith, he thought painfully.
"Christian, please let me go," Faith said calmly. He released his grip on her arm obediently. "I have to go back and talk to Brian, so…I would appreciate it a lot of you just went back to your…wherever you're staying, and just don't mention it to my uncle."
"I'm not going back to wherever I'm staying until you're safe in your condo," he said firmly. She sighed.
"Look, I'm tired of this. It's really important," she said, practically growling. If he was surprised, he didn't show it.
"Here we are," he said lightly. "I had fun, and I hope you did too."
"I did," she lied. He smiled and leaned in towards her face. She panicked, and turned her head at the last second. He kissed her ear, and pulled away immediately.
"I'll see you, Faith," he said stiffly. She nodded and opened the door. She waited inside until he had disappeared.
"Faith?" Grace called. But Faith was gone, out the door and running.
~*~*~*~*~
Brian tensed. He hadn't moved since he had sank down onto the couch, and now he was sure he was hearing things. Or was someone really tapping lightly on the sliding glass door in the back of the house?
He got up silently and peered outside. He jumped back, holding in a cry of alarm when he saw two brown eyes mirroring his own pain. He opened the door and pulled Faith inside quickly.
"Look at you," he scolded. "You should have at least worn a jacket. And what are you doing outside alone anyway?"
"At least I know you still care," she murmured.
He blew out the air between his lips and shoved his back against the couch.
"How can I not?"
A small smile lit up her face so delicately that he almost gave in right then.
"Can I explain?" she asked in a small voice. He barely nodded. "I went to Derek's…my uncle's…all set on telling him about you, but there was this guy-Christian- there. Apparently Derek had already arranged the date, and I had no choice, because Derek 'could die happy if I found someone who would love me and care for me like I need'." She used bent fingers as quotes and rolled her eyes. "He obviously thought that Christian was that guy."
"You could have said…" he said, frustrated.
"I know," she said quickly. "Oh, believe me, I know. I about cried Brian, because I was so scared to say no. Derek would do anything for me, and he already does so much…"
"That doesn't mean anything," he responded fiercely. She nodded.
"I already told him on the first day that I didn't want him to try to hook me up, like he does every year, but he never listens," she explained.
"That's not fair to you, Faith," he told her firmly.
"I know!" she said. "I guess…I guess I was just afraid of what he'd say if I told him…about you. I mean, the fact that you're getting mar…with Leighanne. He might feel the need to lecture me on values…or even worse, prevent me from seeing you, or something. I don't know." She was frustrated. "But I'm really, really sorry, and I couldn't go to bed without telling you that."
She stood up to go, adjusting her shirt. "So, I'm going to leave, and let you think about what I said. You can just call me…if you want…"
He pulled her back down on the couch. "You're not going anywhere…"
He stroked her hair, and looked down at her lips, before claiming them as
his own.
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