CHAPTER FIFTY ONE

           THE BRUNETTE SLAMMED THE DOOR SHUT BEHIND HER AND STEPPED INTO THE CRISP AIR WITH A SHARP EXHALE. The car idled behind her, Juan and Rio still inside, their presence a lingering shadow that only added to the annoyance swirling within her. She could feel the pulse of adrenaline thrumming in her veins, her heart racing.

Ignoring the glare he was undoubtedly giving her through the windows, she parched up towards the house. The gravel crunched beneath her shoes as she looked at the familiar home.

Perhaps this wasn't such a good idea, she thought to herself, but there was no crawling back. 

With each step she took, memories flooded back to her. Laughter, parties and much more. Beth's laughter that once felt warm now felt tainted, the way her voice had twisted in anger and disdain.

The brunette didn't want to look back but she knew the car was still there, looming in the background even when she was out of sight. Though, as she glanced over her shoulder she hoped they'd leave.

As Lucy reached the front porch, the weight of what she was about to do pressed down on her shoulders uncomfortably. Her hand hovered near the doorbell, heart hammering in her chest. Anxiety clawed at her insides, but she couldn't back down now. Not after everything.

She wanted to look Beth in the eyes. Needed to, really. But the closer she got, the harder it was to breathe. Her palms were sweaty, and her pulse thrummed erratically in her throat.

Her finger hesitated over the doorbell once more for a moment before she pressed it. The chime rang out, echoing through the walls she once felt so at home in. Now it was like a trigger, pulling her back to a time she'd long tried to forget.

Seconds stretched into what felt like hours. She could practically hear her heartbeat in her ears, the steady rhythm pounding harder with each breath she took. Maybe Beth wouldn't answer the door or maybe she wasn't even at home.

The door clicked open.

Beth stood there, strawberry blonde hair neatly styled as she hovered in the doorway. Her eyes widened in surprise, mouth hanging open as her gaze fell onto Lucy and her expression faltered. She looked almost the same, except for the tired lines on her face and the way her shoulders sagged, like someone who had carried the weight of something heavy for far too long.

"Lucy ..." breathed Beth, her voice filled with relief.

For a fleeting moment she could feel herself waver. The sincerity in her voice, the guilt etched across her features, it was almost enough to make her forget why she was there. But then the anger came rushing back, chasing away any second thoughts.

The strawberry blonde stepped forwards, her hands trembling slightly. "I—I ... you're alive? I thought ... I can't believe you're here."

"You were worried about me?" The brunette's voice cut through the air like a blade. "That's funny considering you're the one who shot me."

Beth's face paled significantly and she was about to protest, but nothing came out of her mouth. Instead, she swallowed and looked away as her guilt became more evident. "I never meant to hurt you ... that bullet was not meant for you. Oh, Lucy. I've been worried sick about you."

Lucy's hands balled into fists at her sides. "Feeling guilty, you mean?"

"I know," she whispered as her voice broke once she met her gaze. "I know and i'm so sorry. I've been carrying this guilt for weeks and I ... I don't know how to make it up to you. I never wanted things to get so out of hand between us."

"You can't." retorted Lucy as she crossed her arms over her chest. "You can't just say you're sorry and then expect everything to be the way it was. Do you understand how much pain you've caused me? Any at all? How much you took from me?"

Beth's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "I never meant for any of this to happen. I thought that getting rid of him would solve all our problems but then you were there and I don't even remember what happened. I didn't know how to handle it, Lucy. I was afraid of what Turner would do to me if I didn't get him out of my life."

"And look where that got you."

Beth reached out a hand, as if trying to bridge the impossible gap between them. "Please, Lucy. I know I can't undo the damage, but I want to try. I want to be there for you. If you'll just let me..."

The brunette stared at her outstretched hand and memories of their past flooded her mind, but they were quickly overshadowed by the painful reality. Beth's apology hung in the air, fragile and desperate.

But even as Beth pleaded for forgiveness, it didn't feel like enough.

The surge of anger that had been building in Lucy's chest reached its peak. Without hesitation, she retracted her fist and thrust it forward, the impact connecting with Beth's face in a harsh blow. The sound of the impact reverberated through the air, sharp and brutal as she broke her nose. It was a harsh and brutal moment, one that marked the end of their broken friendship.

Beth cried out, stumbling back from the force of the blow. She fell backwards into the home, her hands catching her fall as she landed on her ass. The shock in her eyes mirrored the sting of the punch, her hand instinctively flying to her face where Lucy's fist had connected.

Blood dripped down to her lips.

There was no relief, no weight lifted off her shoulders. Only more anger.

Beth didn't try to get up. She sat there, cradling her face as she stared up at Lucy with wide, tear-filled eyes. "I deserved that," she muttered, her voice shaky. "I know I did."

Lucy's fists shook at her sides, her throat tight. "You're right. You did."

         THERE WAS A STEAMING MUG OF TEA IN FRONT OF HER AS SHE SAT IN THE KITCHEN, EYES STILL ON THE WOMAN THAT RUINED HER LIFE. Her hands rested on the kitchen island and the warmth of the cup did little to soften the cold anger that had settled. Beth shifted nervously in her seat, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for something to anchor herself to, anything but Lucy's glare.

Lucy hadn't taken a sip of her drink and she hadn't said a word since they sat down. She was waiting, watching, letting the silence stretch knowing it would press on Beth like a weight. And it did. Beth's hands trembled slightly as she wrapped them around her own mug, but she didn't lift it to her lips. She just held it, staring down at the swirling steam as if it might offer her some kind of salvation.

"My kids will be home soon with Dean." Beth muttered, breaking the silence in the kitchen.

The strawberry blonde touched her tender nose, dried blood beneath it as she winched. It was definitely broken and that brought her little satisfaction.

"I'll be gone by then."

Beth blinked, chewing the inside of her cheek, clearly trying to figure out what to say. Lucy's eyes wandered briefly to the refrigerator, noticing the colourful drawings stuck to the door with magnets. Beth's children had always been creative, drawing little pictures of the world as they saw it. Lucy's chest tightened at the sight. She had watched those kids grow up, had spent countless afternoons with them and loved them like her own. The thought of them growing up without their mother... it twisted something painful inside her.

Lucy let out a long sigh and leaned forward, her elbows resting on the table. Her voice dropped to a low murmur. "Rio's alive, too."

Beth froze.

The colour drained from her face instantly and her breath hitched in her throat. Her eyes were wide with shock and locked onto Lucy's for the first time since they'd sat down. "What?" she stammered, her voice barely audible now.

"You heard me." Lucy's voice was calm but there was a bitter edge to it, a flicker of satisfaction in the way she leaned back in her chair. "He's alive. You're a lousy shot and now he's coming for you."

Beth's hands began to shake visibly now, so much so that her mug wobbled between her fingers. She looked like she might drop it at any moment and she set it down. Her mouth opened slightly, lips trembling as if the words were stuck in her throat. "How... how is that possible?" she whispered, her voice thin and ragged. "Turner told me ... he said he was dead. He said—"

"Turner lied." Lucy interrupted, a bitter smile playing at her lips. "You thought you could trust him? That he'd protect you after everything you've done? Yeah, he didn't give a fuck about you. And Rio is more pissed than I am and he's coming for you." 

"No, no, this can't be happening." she whispered, shaking her head as if to will the reality away. "He's going to kill me, isn't he?" 

Lucy nodded. "Yes, he is."

The brunette stared at her for a long moment as she saw the desperation behind her eyes. And for a brief second, Lucy wanted to revel in it, to watch her squirm and to let her feel the kind of fear that Lucy had gone through. But then her gaze drifted back to the fridge, to the innocent drawings and to the smiling faces of Beth's children. Something shifted, it wasn't forgiveness nor was it pity. Not for Beth.

"I don't want you dead, Beth." Lucy said quietly as she met the woman's gaze. "Not because I care about you. I don't. Not anymore."

Beth opened her mouth to speak, but Lucy held up a hand as she tried to silence her.

"I don't want you dead because of them." Lucy's gaze shifted to fridge drawings. "Those kids... they don't deserve to lose their mother. No matter how much you've screwed up, they shouldn't pay for your mistakes."

Beth's lip quivered as she glanced at the pictures on the fridge, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. "Lucy, I—"

"Don't," Lucy interrupted, her voice hardening again. "don't apologise. It's meaningless. You didn't even have the decency to ask Turner about me. You didn't visit me in the hospital. Have you ever even cared about me?"

Beth opened her mouth again to say something, but Lucy's glare silenced her before a sound could escape.

"You should start packing, Beth." Lucy said, her tone sharp and final. "Get your stuff, grab your kids and get the hell out of town. If you want to keep your life, that's your only option. Because let me tell you there's nothing I can do about Rio if you stay."

"But... but I don't even know where I'd go." she stammered, the words spilling out in a desperate rush. "What about my kids? They've never lived anywhere else—"

"That's not my problem." Lucy cut her off. 

"Where do I go?" Beth's voice was barely above a whisper.

Lucy didn't flinch, her gaze steady and hard as she glanced toward the door. "Anywhere but here. Somewhere you can disappear. Where no one knows who you are."

Without another word Lucy pushed back her chair and stood, the legs scraping harshly against the floor. She straightened her jacket and gave Beth one final look.

"I gave you your chance." Lucy said quietly, her voice soft but firm. "Don't waste it."

when did this story turn cringe?  this always happens once i'm nearing the end and idk why.