Beauty and the Beast

‘Home’ was in my sights for all of three minutes before Louis walked through the front door. Two black eyes, a sling around his left arm, and a busted lip were the outer damage Andy had done to him. I screamed and ran for the stairs. When he called out to me, Andy came running. He stood in front of me and seemed to growl. I gladly let him defend me.

“What the fuck is he doing here?!” Andy yelled when Jake came running from the large entrance into the ball room.

“Calm down, he’s only here to get his money back and to apologize.” Jake put his hands up to Andy.

Louis back away from me and looked to Jake. “For God sakes call off your guard dog.” He said to Jake.

“We just came back from a much need break. From him specifically. And when we get back then you call him over?!” Andy was still yelling, one hand wrapped behind him to keep me safe.

“Let him explain himself!” Jake yelled back.

“There is no excuse for what this sicko did to, Kenna. Nor for you Jake. Get him out of here. Get him his money back outside.” When Jake tried to protest Andy screamed louder. “Now!”

Jake clenched his jaw and pulled Louis out with him. Andy sighed and stepped away from me slightly. “I’m fine, he didn’t even touch me.” I commented when Andy placed both of his hands on my face, as is checking for scratches.

He stopped and sighed. “What’s going on?” CC asked walking into the foyer.

“Jake stepped over a line and I will never forgive him for that.” Andy said moving to the side of me and walking up the stairs.

When CC looked to me I felt I owed him an explanation. “Jake brought Louis over.”

“Oh shit.” After a moment of silence CC walked over to the stairs with me and sat on a step. He offered for me to do the same. When I followed, he sighed. “Andy really feels something for you, you know that?”

“What?” I acted like I didn’t see what was obviously there.

“Honey, the minute you start showing him you feel the way I know you do he will tell you himself that he loves you.” He smiled to me and held my hand tight in his. “You’re a really strong, beautiful woman, but if you wait any longer, he won’t be around next time you need it.” His smile dropped and his grip tightened.

“Why does every body keep telling me that I need to move fast? What if I don’t love him?”

CC sighed and looked down at our hands. “He has a past that is catching up to him fast.”

“What’s wrong with him?” I stood and looked down at CC. “Mayell said he was a monster or something?”

CC stood with me motioning with his hands for me to keep my voice down. He sighed, “when he’s with you, the best in him comes out. I have never seen him happy. Ever. But when he’s with you…” CC was moving his hands all over the place, like he was trying to grab a word that was floating in the air. “He is a good guy, but he doesn’t know how to love anymore.” He stopped moving his hands finally. “You need to show him that love exists.”

“What if I don’t want to?” I asked. This was all too much to take in.

“Then, then you’ve lost him forever.” He gave me a fake half smile and walked back to where he came from.

I stayed silent on the steps until he was out of sight. “Wait,” he popped his head from behind a wall. “I want to ask something first.”

“What’s that?” He asked.

“I want to go back home.” I gulped.

CC shook his head and walked closer to me. “The rest of the guys won’t allow it. And what does that have to do with Andy?”

I sighed and walked toward him. “I want to know what life I want.”

“Like I just said, you don’t really have an option here.” He shook his head. “Jake won’t allow it.”

“Jake is one, if the rest of them agree with me then he has no say.” I just wanted a chance to say goodbye really.

He grunted and paced, scratching his head violently. He finally stopped and looked up the stairs. He sighed and smiled. “I’ll bring it up to them okay?”

I clapped my hands together and almost jumped for joy. He placed his hands on my shoulders and gave me a stern look. “What?”

“This might be the thing that sends Andy over the edge.” He was more serious than I have ever seen him.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He sighed, “if you choose your old village over him he will not chose you over anything else.”

“I don’t even know if I want to love him.” I finally got away from his grip on my shoulders and ran and hand through my hair. It had grown to my waist since I had been here.

He smiled, “he is a tough one to love, huh?” He chuckled. “I’ll do my best okay?”

I hugged him tight. “Thank you so much!”

He hugged me back even tighter. “Even after your sexy week away you want to leave?” He chuckled.

“I don’t need to explain my wants.” We let go of the hug. It had gotten awkward fast.

“I know, just wanted to know for sure if Andy satisfies like he said he does.”

I didn’t want to ask what he meant nor to whom he meant. “Thank you, CC.”

He nodded and slapped the side of my arm gently. “Of course.”

Notes