| � Is he gone?!� � Yeah. He left a couple hours ago. He knows,� � About us?� � About the baby, and he didn�t care,� � Heather do you want me to come over?� � No! no. If he comes back you being here would only makes things worse.� � But if he�s got a gun-� � Dusty, Just trust me. If he comes back I�ll call the police,� Heather said her good-byes and sat up the rest of the night, afraid to close her eyes. ~ � Do you really think they�ll miss you? Do you really think they care about you Heather?� Nick asked quietly, softly running the tip of the revolver down her tear soaked cheeks. � Do you really think that?� � Nick I-� � Shut up!� He yelled. � Did I say you could talk?� He dragged the gun down underneath her chin and pushed up hard, causing Heather to whimper. � It would be so easy to just�. Kill you right now,� He said lifting his crazed eyes to her. � So� easy�� Still holding the gun to her he leaned in closer and kissed her hard on the lips, and pulled the trigger. Click. He pulled away, and smiled. � You got lucky,� Heather bolted up, nearly falling off the couch. She looked around the room and noticed the blanket. She pushed it off and stood. She wasn�t at home. She was in someone�s apartment. It was filled with artwork and countless crystal pieces. There was a hardwood floor and a large window that looked out onto the ocean. She still wore her pajamas and from all appearances, she was alone. She walked over to the door and opened it. � Where are you going?� Heather turned around and saw Dustin holding two cups in his hands. � Dustin,� She sighed. � Where are we?� � At my apartment� well my other apartment. Last night after I talked to you, I was so worried about you and even though you told me not to come over I did. And I didn�t want you in that house by yourself so I brought you here. I thought it would be safer,� He handed her her cup of tea. � He won�t find you here,� � Dustin, I have to go home,� She said. � Being here�s only going to make things worse-� � Can things s get worse Heath?� He asked. � Nick could have killed you last night-� � But he didn�t. He walked away. He loves me Dustin, I know that-� � What is wrong with you?! After everything you�ve been going through you still want to be with him?� � Dustin, it�s more complicated than that. Nick isn�t a bad person. I know he�s not. And all we need is time to work all this out. All we need is time to talk through this. Listen I�ll catch a cab, and go home, and I�ll call you later, alright?� � No. You can�t catch a cab in your pajamas; I�ll take you home.� � No, because if Nick�s there, that will only upset him more,� � This whole thing upsets me, Heather. This guy is crazy and he�s going to hurt you,� � You don�t know him like I do,� � I don�t want to know him. I don�t trust him,� � Dusty, I�m having his baby. I can�t leave him now,� � You can�t leave him? What about you? Are you really that blind? You�re going to stay with him-� � Yes,� � And there�s nothing I can say to change your mind?� � No; and if you�re really my friend, you�ll support my decision,� Next Page |