The College Lovers Series - 2. College Lovers 2: Is She Another Friend?

Chapter 20

          While enduring lying in bed with Xeena's head on his chest, Vince heard a thud and cries from downstairs. He thought the cries sounded familiar.

          "Sophia?" He sprung to his feet and ran to the window.

          Xeena sat up in bed.  "What's wrong?"

          Vince pulled the curtains and got the shock of his life.  "Vernon!"

          Vince saw his brother holding his elbow close to his body. There was blood under his lower lip and elbow that he was holding. He kept falling to his knees and Sophia was trying ever so hard to keep him up right.

          There were streams of tears rolling down Sophia's cheeks.

          "Don't ever come strolling back!" The big muscle man shouted. "Your brother doesn't want to see you anymore!"

          The next thing Vince saw was his brother and Sophia limping back out of sight with the dog, barking behind.

          "NO!" Vince cried. He turned to Xeena looking very rough.  "Unlock the door."

          "What?" Xeena questioned.

          "You heard me, UNLOCK THE DOOR!"

          "I'm sorry, Mark, but I can't." Xeena said, aware that it would not make anything better.

          "All right." Vince said, trying to calm down. "If you're not going to do it, then give me the keys."

          Xeena slowly shook her head. "I love you, Mark, and I don't want you out of my sight."

          Frustrated, Vince grabbed Xeena's arm, pulled her out of bed and pinned her to the wall.

          Xeena gave a small scream of pain and fright. She was frightened. She had never seen Vince act so aggressively before.

          Vince squeezed her arms. "I tried reasoning with you, Xeena. But if you keep me here any longer, I swear I'll give you the pain you never ever imagined, you understand?"

          Xeena fearfully nodded her head.

          "Now, whether you love me or not, I love my Sharni and nothing will change that." Vince said with a tone of firmness in his voice. "Now, give me the keys!"

          Xeena managed to reach for her pocket and handed Vince the keys.

          Vince took them, unlocked the bedroom door and swung it open.

          "Wait, Mark."  Xeena began to cry.

          Vince grabbed her by the hair and tilted her head backwards. "The name's Vince. So live with it!"

          He dropped the keys in front of Xeena and left her crying on the floor.

          Vince ran downstairs and was about to reach for the door of the house, when it was his turn to be pinned to the wall.

          Vince shook his head to clear out what just happened.  He saw the strong-armed guy glaring down at him.

          "Where do you think you're going?"  Grumbled the big guy.

          "Jason!"  Xeena called as she ran down the stairs.  "Let him go."

          The strong-armed guy looked up at Xeena in confusion. "But you said..."

          "Just let him go." Xeena said again as she came down the stairs.

          The strong hands of the big guy released their grips on Vince.

          "Go Vince."  Xeena said.

          Vince was surprised, yet thrilled to hear his name again, by someone who never said it before.

          "You don't want Sharni worrying any longer." Xeena told Vince. "Now GO!"

          For the first time, in the last twelve hours, Vince gave a smile. 

          "Thanks Xeena." He said and ran out of the house.

          At about 7:30 in the evening, Ade, Lisa and Sharni arrived back at the Carrs' house.  Sharni had a spare key and opened the door,     

          Once the door opened, the trio were surprised to see Mr. and Mrs. Carr in the living room, sitting together on the couch.

          "Wow, you guys are home early!" Ade came in with the girls. "We thought we'd get the house warm and ready for you."

          "Did you have a good time?" Lisa asked eagerly.

          "We ended up not going." Mrs. Carr said slowly.

          "Mandy was too upset to go."  Mr. Carr added sadly. "So we 'ad to turn back."

          "Oh my, Mrs. Carr." Lisa tried comforting the twins' mother as she sat down beside her. "Everything's gonna be ok, you'll see."

          "I know Vernon advised us not to call the police, but I couldn't help it." Said Mrs. Carr. A tear rolled down the petite woman's face.

          "So you called them?" Sharni asked, sitting herself down next to Lisa.

          Mrs. Carr nodded. "I just want my sons home safe and sound."

          Just then, there was a sound of a dog barking outside.

          "That sounds like Donald!" Ade said with a hint of excitement and anxiety in his deep voice at the same time. He ran and opened the front door. Then when he stepped out to see what was happening outside, he was in devastated shock.

          "We need help here, please!" The policeman cried.