One: Over Now

FOUR YEARS EARLIER; California; Day

  "...no, I mean it, go away"

  The door slammed in his startled face. After a moments pause he recovered, knocking persistently.

  "Isa, baby" he coaxed softly as he continued to rap on the door. His eyes darted around furtively for signs of suspicious media or fans, but the hall was desolate. "You'll have nightmares if you sleep on it"

  He pressed his ear to the door, listening for sounds, but only the sound of silence greeted him. "Baby?"

He heard heavy, thumping noises as she wrestled with the knob, and the latch release, finally unlocking it successfully. He stumbled forward clumsily when the heavy door flew open.

"I'm only doing this because I don't want you to freeze and then-"

Her explanation was cut short by his warm lips on hers; while his strong arms slid around her waist.

"No…" she managed to mumble as she pulled away from his grip. "You can't expect to be forgiven every time by a kiss" she stated simply. "It's not fair, Kevin!"

He slumped against the wall while he watched her hazel eyes darken. She had her moments and it was obvious this was not one of the better.

"Look I’m sorry, okay?”

 He edged closer, which only spurred her move further away “Isa, honey, please? I just get aggravated with work ’n all...just gets to me sometimes…"

"Don’t use that as an excuse, please"

Silence hung in the room as they watched each other untrustingly. "Just forget it" she announced finally, aiming a white work shirt at him, which, instead, hit the opposite wall.

"Forget-"

Her eyes pleaded, with tired exasperation "Us, Kevin"

He shook his head, disbelief etched on his dark features "Nah uh. No way; you’d never do that"

"Kevin" Isabelle addressed as she walked over. "I deserve better than stupid fights, and-" she scanned the room, searching for words. Finally, she stared him straight in the eye “lectures and major make out sessions afterwards..."

"No relationship is perfect, Isa"

"They're not, I know that" she sighed retiringly. Her eyes had become moist, heavy with emotion. "I deserve better than someone who isn't here half the time and when he is, we're fighting"

He shook his head stubbornly, refusing to believe what Isabelle had just told him.

"We'll work it out-" he assured.

"Kevin" she interrupted, facing him. She glanced down and pulled off the silver band on her index finger, shaking her head. "This is the third time in a month we’ve tried to make it work" She reached over and took his hand. Prising his palm open, she slipped the shiny silver band in his hand.

"I'm tired of fighting. I'm tired of waking up and not seeing you there. I'm tired of you cheating on me. I'm tired of trying to figure this relationship out. Its over Kevin."


“No”

Perplexed, he ceased writing, dropping the pen with a clatter on the cedar table. “Pardon?”

His eyes darted around nervously, simultaneously shaking his dark hair falling into his eyes. “I said no” he repeated, slowly, sounding out each syllable with precision. “She can’t do this” he deflected desperately, biting into his bottom lip until it bled, a deep unceasing crimson. “It’s- it- it’s just not possible, Harry” he stammered forcedly.

The suit who had been sitting across the dark cedar desk, shook his head sadly before he offered consolingly “I don’t know what else to tell you, Kevin, but this is what happened-”

“Well, it shouldn’t have okay?” Kevin grunted defensively, his green eyes fierce with emotion. “She was fine, yesterday, it was all worked out, no problems…” he persisted; his mind was numb, shock residing within the confines of his head. Weariness suddenly engulfed his body like a blanket. Everything that seemed fine yesterday was now hanging in a blank void. Uncertainty wasn’t something new, but this was something he wasn’t sure he was able to deal with on his own.

“Abigail needs you now” Harry offered gently, the concern in his grey eyes seeping through his usually cold demeanor.

Kevin shook his head, adamantly “No, I can’t. Anything else, I mean, God, I’d be fine… Isa will be fine. She’s strong. She’ll get through this”

Harry arched his eyebrows slightly before he studied the silhouetted figure by the window; he was falling apart silently, flake by flake, piece by piece. Hope was all Kevin had left now, and nothing could deter him from believing anything short of a miracle.

“Okay” Harry agreed quietly. “As long as you believe”

Kevin’s eyes flickered up urgently, “No, you don’t understand” his voice was wavering, struggling to convey whatever thoughts he had jumbled in the fearful recesses of his mind. “She has to be okay” he stated bluntly. “She has to be” he finished. With a swift movement of his coat, he flew out the door.

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