Isaac

If I'd know what Polly was doing, or more pointedly who, I would have kissed Beth in the cave, snatched my moment before my world shattered. I don't know how many times I wished I could rewind that moment and do it over.

The night of the prom and in the aftermath of Polly's murder, I was an anxious wreck, but the moment Beth entered the room, I relaxed. There's just something about her that calms me. I remember her walking down the stairs, biting her lip nervously because she wasn't sure if I would like her dress, which seemed ridiculous to me because she could have worn a burlap sack and I would have thought her beautiful in it. The dress she was wearing was way better than burlap. She wore a gown that seemed to be made of liquid silver that flowed over her hips and glimmered in the light. Her shiny, dark hair was half up, half down and curled loosely around her shoulders. She wore diamond stud earrings and a diamond necklace that settled at the hollow of her throat. She told me later they were her mother's jewels.

I couldn't help myself. I actually kissed her hand. Cheesy, I know. I used to wonder why guys did that in the old movies, but now I know. Your feelings are so overwhelming, you have to do something to show her. It's not that you want to only kiss her hand, but it is all you dare do, at least that's all I dared do in the presence of her father and sister. But my eyes silently told her so much more. That look in the cave was magnified one hundred times, and she glowed under my gaze.

We had probably been at the prom for only twenty minutes when trouble found us. We had danced a song or two, and let me tell you, feeling the silky material of her dress in my hands and holding her close was heaven. I left her for just a minute to grab us a drink.

When I returned, she was boxed in by four guys. They were weaving back and forth, clearly drunk, and clearly jackasses. One of them was holding Beth tightly at the waist and undressing her with his eyes.

"You're awful brave," he leered, "dating that bastard."

"Isn't that your date over there?" Beth said coolly. She nodded at a girl in a fluffy purple dress who was too busy chatting with her friends to notice what her stud of a guy was up to. "She's awful brave, dating a douchebag."

He wrapped Beth's hair in his hand and yanked her head close to his.

"Aww, don't be like that. I don't think she'd mind if I got a little taste of what the son of the whore's drinking."

Then he leaned in. This was not happening. That jerkwad was not going to steal my kiss! As he tried to kiss her, I saw red. But before I could punch the guy, Beth kneed him hard in the cojones and sent him crashing to the ground. Then with a beauty and majesty I can't even describe, she placed one of her dainty heels on his chest and looked down at the guy.

"Don't you dare call my boyfriend a bastard again!"

Then she actually spit on the guy. The other guys backed away, covering their precious family jewels with their hands as my queen glided toward me. I don't know exactly what we were before that point, but you better believe I was latching onto the title of Beth's boyfriend and never letting go.

We got kicked out of Beth's first and only prom. They might have let the self defense ride, but they couldn't condone the spitting. I felt a little guilty, knowing how much she'd looked forward to it, but I was also walking on air. The whole town could be against me, hell, the whole world could be against me, but if I had Beth at my side, we'd be fine.

She may have been born high and me low, but it didn't matter. We were just a couple of screwed up kids there for each other when we needed it the most. We were meant for each other.

Maybe it's not surprising, that urge to punch David, considering the way Beth and I are linked. Over the years I have tried to let Beth go, but my reaction just now makes one thing clear. There are invisible threads that still bind us tightly. I have traveled to five continents, I have immersed myself in other cultures, I have learned four languages, I have dated plenty of women, trust me, I have tried to forget her. Maybe that's what I need to do now. Confront this childhood infatuation, and find a way to loosen these invisible threads so I can put our history behind me. Maybe then I can finally move on, so I don't compare every girl I date to her, so I don't wake up, still, with my arms aching to hold her.

I let go of Beth's car like it's burned me. The past has a way of always doing that whenever I think about it too long.

Enough! I don't have anything to prove to these people anymore. I've done enough. These things I've denied myself for the past ten years, well I'm tired of denying myself. I'm ready to finally live fully and enjoy what I've worked so hard for. I'm ready to open myself to love, and to allow someone to love me.

My new ride is only a few cars over from Beth's—a sleek gun metal Aston Martin with all the extras, including red leather seats with an embroidered design on the driver's side and booming surround sound. I bought it almost immediately after I got back to the states. It's a symbol of my emancipation. It's my declaration to the world that I intend to fully live life. I may end up loving this car as much as Beth loves hers. After squeezing into public buses in third world countries for the last decade (yes, I have actually shared bus seats with goats and chickens), it's nice to finally allow myself a little luxury.

But I'm not taking the car home today.

The SilentHawk is my ride.

Solere was given the prototype to test. Designed as off-road vehicles for Special Operations forces, the SilentHawk is a stealth hybrid motorcycle sheathed in camouflage. It has the flexibility and toughness of an off road vehicle, but unlike most motorcycles, it is quiet while in electric mode. If David likes it, Solere may put together a joint venture. 

I'm interested in the SilentHawk for more selfish reasons. I want to take one of these bad boys back to Africa so I can avoid public transportation altogether. No more being crammed like a sardine breathing in the stench of BO, thank you very much.

As the breeze ruffles my hair, I think about Beth. Despite her buffoon of a father and stuck up sister, she never was pretentious, and I smile to think of her natural beauty compared to the polished sophistication of the women David works with. I don't think she even realized she had a dirt streak on her cheek. Knowing Beth, she had likely just come straight from working in her beloved garden. 

The years have altered her, and I'm trying to put my finger on just how. Moving to Harvard and away from the toxic presence of her father and sister had done wonders for Beth. When she was a student there, she had glowed with vitality and health that came not only from living life on her terms, but from knowing she was passionately pursuing her life purpose. This Beth, although still lovely, is a little thinner, a little more tired, a little more resigned. She has rings under her eyes, like she's experienced countless sleepless nights.

I wonder how Beth is involved in David's competition. She's probably planning to mentor as well. It is so strange seeing her after all these years, knowing our lives have gone on without each other, and we are now strangers. There was a time when there were no secrets between us. I wonder if she ever started that business she always talked about. Or maybe she decided to take the family track instead? For all I know, she's happily married to some amazing guy and I'm the lame schmuck still mooning after her. She probably has a houseful of rugrats. She would make an awesome mom, considering how good she is with kids.

I kick myself for forgetting to look for a ring on her finger. I could ask David, but then he'd want to know why I'm asking, and that could get kind of awkward.

Besides, it doesn't even matter. Even if she's not married, Beth and I can't be together.

I had once convinced myself it didn't matter what the world thought, at least I could count on Beth to always be in my corner and never reject me.

I believed it, that is, until the day she did.

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If you enjoyed this, please vote. I would be ever so grateful :)

So, I'm sorry to get this chapter out so late in the day, but I have a very good reason for it! Drum roll please? I have just created my very first trailer! You can check it out by going to the first chapter of Restless Hope and looking for it in the media box. I will also put a link to it below. I would love to know what you guys think. I'm more than a little proud of myself since I've always wanted to figure out how to do this. 

Also, image above of the artist concept for the SilentHawk, which is a real prototype a company is working on. I totally dig the name!

Dedication this chapter goes out to an awesome Wattpadder AhsokaJackson. I have been enjoying your comments immensely and very much appreciate everything you point out. Thanks so much for your enthusiasm for this story and my Shadow Wars books! If anyone is into romance (and it seems likely because you're here), check out her book "Shattered." :)