Chapter 5

Kevin sat, staring at his phone. A million thoughts running through his head. He wanted to do everything in his power to make sure Elizabeth had nothing more to be afraid of. Even if that meant he had to do it himself.

He was still sitting there staring when the phone rang, causing him to jump out of his skin.

"Hello?" he asked suspiciously.

"Kevin?" the voice on the other end responded, whispering.

"No, Nick, it's your mother. Who did you think answered?"

"Kevin, this isn't funny."

Kevin's entire body tensed. "If I can ask, Nick, why are you whispering?"

"So he doesn't hear me."

"Who are you talking about? I thought you and Elizabeth were the only two home."

"We were, but before you shoot me yourself, I had to go to the grocery store. We were out of everything and none of you were picking up the phone. I wasn't gone for more then fifteen minutes, I swear Kevin. If I had known, I wouldn't have left."

"Nick, before I kill you, can you please tell me WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!?!"

"Calm down, Kevin, before he hears you," Nick hissed into the phone.

"Nickolas Gene..."

"You don't get it, Justin's here! He's, well I guess you could say he's trying to talk to Lizzy, but she isn't being very cooperative."

"That's my girl," Kevin chuckled. "Listen to me, Nick. Don't let Justin know you're there. I'm on my way."

"Be careful, Kev. From the sounds of everything, he's not...well, you'll see when you get here. Just hurry."

Dropping the phone in its cradle, Kevin grabbed his jacket and ran out the front door. There was no way in hell he was going to let Justin hurt Elizabeth again, and now it looked as if Justin were stupid enough to try again.

God, please let me get there before he hurts her again this time, Kevin prayed as he literally ran over to Nicks house.

~*~ At Nick's House ~*~

"Elizabeth, you know I didn't hurt you; I'd never hurt you! You almost married my best friend for God's sake. Can't you stop this continual harassment!" Justin Timberlake looked across the living room at her, contempt burning in his eyes.

Elizabeth said nothing. Her emotions weren't even showing in her eyes. It was like looking at a breathing statue. It was unnerving, and Justin kept shifting his weight from one foot to the other trying to get rid of the uneasy feeling that kept building inside of him.

"Well, aren't you going to say anything?" he demanded. "Or are you just going to sit there like the stupid bitch you are?"

"You don't know what you're saying, Justin," Elizabeth replied softly. "Why don't you leave before someone gets hurt."

"Oh, no you don't," Justin cried, grabbing her by the collar of her shirt. "You're not going to do to me what you did to Chris!"

"What happened to Chris was an accident..."

"No it wasn't and you know it."

"Put me down, Justin. I don't want you getting hurt," she never changed her voice, she just looked at him with tears in her eyes.

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" he asked, slapping her across the face, hard.

Before she could respond, Justin went flying through the air, hitting the wall like a rag-doll. Elizabeth looked up from the floor where she had been dropped.

Kevin stood over Justin, his eyes blazing like a roaring fire. "So, you decided to pay us a little visit did you, Timberlake?"

"This doesn't concern you, Richardson," Justin wheezed as he stood up.

"It does when it concerns you hitting one of my friends."

"And what do you think you can do about it? You have no proof."

"You put Elizabeth in the hospital. You came over here and started harassing her. You left your mark on her cheek. Need anymore proof, Timberlake?" Kevin spat, disgusted with the sight in front of him.

"You think you're so tough, Richardson. You don't even know what this bitch is capable of!" Justin screamed back. "I'd warn you to be careful, but if my best friend won't listen to me, you certainly won't."

Kevin walked over and picked Justin up by the collar of his shirt. "You don't know what you're taking about..."

"I've known her a lot longer then you have. I KNOW what I'm talking about!"

"Justin, you need some serious help..."

"I'm not the one who needs help around here."

Before Justin could continue his accusations, an officer took him away from Kevin. "Come with me, sir. We've got a nice warm bed with your name written all over it."

Walking past Elizabeth, Justin spat on her. "You'll never be anything more then a good for nothing, God-Forsaken, whore!"

Kevin knelt beside her and wrapped her in his arms. "Shh...It's going to be ok. He can't hurt you anymore."

~*~ Three Months Later ~*~

Kevin looked over the side of the boat. "You sure this is safe, Beth?"

Elizabeth chuckled, "Gee, Kevin, sounds like you don't trust me."

Kevin grinned back at her, "It's not that I don't trust you, It's that I don't trust Nick's boat."

"Lizzy's Harmony isn't going to hurt you..."

"You never know, she may blow sky-high in the middle of nowhere. Then what would we do?"

Elizabeth laughed, sending shivers down Kevin's spine. It had taken weeks of hard work and support to bring Elizabeth out of the shell that she had created around herself. Kevin was ecstatic that she was happy and carefree once again.

Kevin took a deep breath. Reaching in his pocket, he gripped the small box that was in there. His mind on what he wanted to say, he just hadn't found the right time.

I'll ask tonight, he thought to himself. Everything'll be perfect then.

Elizabeth expertly guided the boat back into it's dock. "We're back. Kevin, you don't have to look so...I don't know, depressed?"

He smiled and helped her out of the boat. "I'm not, I was just thinking."

"Well don't try to hard. We wouldn't want your head exploding, would we?"

Kevin laughed. Sweeping Elizabeth up into his arms, he started carrying her back to the car.

"Now why in heavens creation would you be saying that, Little Lady?" Kevin teased.

"Oh, no reason. Except for the fact that you hardly ever you the head God gave you," she teased back.

"What do you plan on doing about it?" he asked, leaning close.

"Give you over to you're cousin?" she whispered, looking down at the ground.

Kevin tilted her head up, making sure he could look into her eyes. "I've never told you this, but you've got the most beautiful smile."

"Please, Kevin..."

"Let me finish?"

She nodded, slowly.

"Before you walked into my life, I thought everything was perfect. I didn't realize I was missing out on the best thing that could ever happen to a person.

"I have to thank Nick for introducing us. If he hadn't where would either of us be today? Elizabeth, I know this may seem sudden, but I need to know how you feel about me. Will you marry me?" Kevin pulled the small ring box out of his pocket and opened it.

Elizabeth wiped the tears away from her face. "Kevin, please don't?"

"But why? You know we're meant to be together!"

"No I don't! I...I...I can't go through it again..."

"But sweetheart, this time it'll be different, I promise."

Pushing Kevin away, Elizabeth backed up. "I can't marry you, Kevin. I can't marry anyone!" Turning around, she fled out of the parking lot.

~*~ The Beach; Behind Nick's House ~*~

Nick watched Elizabeth walk along the shore, tears washing over her face. His heart broke with hers.

Slowly, he walked towards her. "He asked you, didn't he?"

"How did you know?" she whispered.

"I kinda figured. After all, we can see how he feels about you. He loves you, Lizzy."

"I know, it's just..."

"You're scared?"

"Yea, you could say that. After everything that's happened..."

"You have every right to feel the way you do. Listen, I don't know if this'll help or not, but you never know. I've got a cabin up on the mountain. If you want to use it, just to get away and think, it's there for you."

Elizabeth looked up at him. "You mean it?"

Nick wrapped her in a warm hug. "For as long as you need it. And if you promise me you'll come back...eventually."

Elizabeth chuckled, "I promise."

"Good, now let's go get you packed. That is, if you want to."

Elizabeth looked up and smiled, "Thanks Nicky."

"Anytime, Lizzy."

***

Next

Back to index