BETH: I hope so
KELLY: Come on, drink up!
A man with dirty blonde hair walked over to them
KELLY: Hey Matt!
MATT: Severide!
Matt looked at Beth and smiled
MATT: Aren't you going to introduce me?
KELLY: This is Beth! Beth this is Matt Casey, he's a firefighter at Firehouse 51
BETH: Nice to meet you (smiling)
MATT: Likewise!
He smiled at Kelly. Just then Beth received a text from Shaylynn.
"Austin asked me to go to Bora Bora with him! See you in a week"!
BETH: What!
KELLY: Everything alright?
BETH: Austin asked Shaylynn to go to Bora Bora with him. She'll be away for a week!
KELLY: Lucky her
BETH: I'm gonna go phone her! Back in a bit!
Kelly laughed as Beth walked away
MATT: I saw a ring! Is she married?
KELLY: Yeah!
MATT: Severide! That's not like you!
KELLY: I know, but she's different! I like her
MATT: She looks high maintenance to me!
KELLY: And what's wrong with that?
MATT: You don't want to be the one paying for it
KELLY: I wont need to, she won 570 million dollars on the lottery last year!
MATT: What? (shocked)
Kelly laughed
KELLY: I swear I'm going to marry her!
MATT: I never took you to be a gold digger!
KELLY: I don't give a shit about her money, you know i'm not like that!
MATT: So, her husband?
KELLY: We'll be dealing with him soon
Just then Beth walked back over to the table and sat down
BETH: You've been talking about me, it's too quiet! (grinning)
Matt laughed then looked at them both
MATT: You two actually look like you belong together
BETH: Yay! (laughing)
Beth kissed Kelly on the cheek
BETH: Told you!
KELLY: How's Shaylynn?
BETH: Buzzing! So, Matt? Are you married?
MATT: Em, no. I was engaged but she died last year.
BETH: Oh no, I'm sorry.
MATT: That's okay. I'm seeing Gabby now.
He pointed to a dark haired woman who was standing by the bar.
BETH: Aww cool! (smiling)
He looked a Kelly then Beth
MATT: So, I'll leave you guys
He raised his eyes up and down to Kelly. Kelly laughed.
KELLY: I'll see you on shift tomorrow.
MATT: Sure! See ya Beth!
BETH: Bye Matt!
Matt walked over to Gabby.
GABBY: Well, what's she like?
MATT: She's really nice! I've never seen him look at anyone like that before. He loves her!
GABBY: He's known her for 2 days!
MATT: Whatever makes him happy!
SHAY: God, look at her!
Matt and Gabby turned and looked across at Beth and Kelly, Beth was laughing her head off while Kelly was staring at her smiling.
GABBY: I hope he doesn't get hurt!
Beth stayed with Kelly at the bakery apartment that night then went back to her house in North Side home while he was on shift. They texted each other off and on for most of the day but after 4pm she heard nothing more from him. His phone was switched off. Thinking he was out on a major call she left it til the next morning and phoned around 9AM. She still couldn't get a hold of him so she began to panic, thinking he was either hurt or he had done a runner. After driving to Kelly's house and not getting an answer after banging on the door for ten minutes, she messaged Shaylynn while sitting in her car.
"Hey, I haven't heard from Kelly since 4PM yesterday and now his phone is switched off, sorry to annoy you while you're on holiday but I don't know what else to do"
Shaylynn messaged her back
"I'll see what I can find out"
She wiped her eyes then started up the car and drove home.
It was fifteen minutes before Shaylynn phoned Beth
BETH: Hi!
SHAYLYNN: I have some bad news!
BETH: Oh no, what? (crying)
SHAYLYNN: Hey, he's okay! I spoke to the Chief at Firehouse 51. Shay died in a building explosion yesterday, Kelly's gone off grid!
BETH: Oh my god! Poor Shay!
SHAYLYNN: Shay was his best friend, he'll be devastated!
BETH: Can we find out where he is?
SHAYLYNN: I can try and make some enquiries
BETH: Will Matt know? I met him the other night?
SHAYLYNN: Beth, he'll want to be left alone!
BETH: I can't not let him know that i'm not thinking about him Shaylynn!
SHAYLYNN: God, your serious about him, aren't you?
BETH: Yeah, i'm going to leave Mark
SHAYLYNN: You and Kelly need to be a hundred per cent sure Beth! Mark could make it difficult for you and Kelly!
BETH: I don't care, I just want to know where he is!
SHAYLYNN: Leave it with me. The funeral will be soon and I can't see him missing that
BETH: Okay
SHAYLYNN: I'll phone you later, you take care
BETH: I will
Shaylynn hung up leaving Beth crying.
BETH: Oh my god, pull yourself together!
Beth decided to go for a shower, as she began to get undressed Mark phoned her
MARK: Hey honey!
BETH: Hi
MARK: Are you okay?
Beth burst into tears
MARK: Beth, what's wrong?
Beth had to think quick!
BETH: I banged my toe off a door!
MARK: Fuck, I thought someone had died!
Beth cried even more.
MARK: Fly over to me
BETH: I have meetings tomorrow.
MARK: Ditch the meetings
BETH: I can't.
MARK: I'm staying here for two more days, we had some problems with the tracks so I have to sort them.
BETH: Okay, I'll miss you
MARK: I miss you, I love you
BETH: I love you too
She was trying not to cry
MARK: I'll phone you later babe
BETH: Okay
Mark hung up then her phone rang again. It was Shaylynn
BETH: Shaylynn?
SHAYLYNN: He's in a cabin in Grayslake, I have the address
Beth breathed a sigh of relief, then she wondered if he would be happy to see her or not.
BETH: I wish he would just answer his phone. I don't want to drive all the way there and he turns me away!
SHAYLYNN: That's the chance you'll have to take! You should charter a helicopter, you'll get you there quicker
BETH: Good idea
SHAYLYNN: Are you going?
BETH: I don't know!
SHAYLYNN: Make up your mind!
BETH: Shaylynn! What would you do?
SHAYLYNN: It's not me we're talking about here! But I think you should go, he loves you!
BETH: How do you know he loves me?
Shaylynn hung up on her.
One hour and fifteen minutes later Beth was there! she had hired a Helicopter to take her to Grayslake. She asked the pilot to wait until she phoned him to let him know he could fly back to Chicago or wait for her. She could see Kelly outside chopping some wood as she walked up to the cabin.
He looked up and saw her. Her long blonde hair was blowing in the breeze. Beth couldn't tell if he was going to be angry or not.
BETH: Hi.
KELLY: It didn't take you long to get here
BETH: You knew I was coming?
KELLY: The second I turned my phone on earlier Shaylynn was calling me
He threw the axe he was holding onto a tree stump. Beth walked right up to him. It looked like he'd been crying.
BETH: I'm so sorry about Shay
He nodded then bit his bottom lip to stop himself from crying.
KELLY: I'm so glad you're here Beth
Beth put her arms around him and gave him a hug
KELLY: Don't let go (quietly)
BETH: I wont, I promise
He cried into her shoulder
KELLY: She was my best friend (crying)
She rocked him in her arms, almost dancing with him. It seemed to help.
BETH: Shh, it's okay
She had to wipe her own eyes.
BETH: I'm staying here tonight, whether you like it or not.
She took her phone out of her pocket and called the pilot.
BETH: You can fly back without me, ..... yeah, thank you.
Beth hung up as Kelly kissed her on the lips.
KELLY: Thank you. The funerals the day after tomorrow.
BETH: We driving back home tomorrow night then?
KELLY: Yeah, will you come with me to the funeral?
BETH: I don't know if it would be a good idea for me to attend.
KELLY: Shay would want you there.
BETH: It's everyone else I'm more worried about. I don't want to make the funeral to be about us Kelly, that's how it will turn out. They all probably disapprove of me.
KELLY: No they don't. Matt know's how much I like you. Please, go for me and Shay
Beth just looked at him.
BETH: Okay, but the first whisper I hear, I'm leaving.
KELLY: There won't be. Come on inside. I'll get you a drink.
They both walked into the cabin. It was basic with just a bed, couch and a kitchen area.
KELLY: It's not what you're probably used too, but the bed is comfortable and there's a shower room and a kitchen
BETH: It's fine, what more do we need?
KELLY: You want a coffee? Or something stronger? I feel like getting drunk!
BETH: I don't think we should get drunk
KELLY: I did last night, it helped me sleep
BETH: Well I'm here now
KELLY: I have some red wine somewhere
BETH: Maybe later, it's only just past lunch time
Beth put her large bag down
KELLY: What's in the bag?
BETH: Just a change of clothes and some essentials
KELLY: Come lie with me, I promise no funny business, I just want to hold you
She smiled at him then then lay down on top of the bed.
BETH: So what happened? Or don't you....
He put his finger to her lips
KELLY: Not now, I want to forget it. (quietly)
BETH: Okay, sorry.
When Beth woke up a few hours later, Kelly was lighting a fire with the wood he had chopped earlier.
KELLY: Sorry, did I wake you?
Beth sat up
BETH: No. It's cold.
KELLY: That's why I'm starting up the fire. Do you like fish? I caught some this morning.
BETH: I love fish, as long as i don't need to look at it's eyes
KELLY: They've already been gutted.
Beth was rubbing her arms.
KELLY: Sit beside the fire, I'll get you a blanket
Kelly produced a blanket then a glass of red wine
KELLY: You stay here while i make a start on dinner.
BETH: Okay, I'm gonna text Shaylynn and say I'm staying the night
KELLY: Is your husband still in New York?
BETH: Yeah, for an extra two days
KELLY: Does he leave you by yourself quite a lot?
BETH: Not all the time, I go with him but it get's boring just sitting in a recording studio
KELLY: I can imagine
Kelly took a drink from a tequila bottle
BETH: Shay drank tequila didn't she?
He looked at the bottle
KELLY: This was hers
He took a couple of gulps then put the bottle on the table next to the fire.
KELLY: I'll make dinner
Beth sent Shaylynn a text then got up to help Kelly. He was frying the fish in a huge frying pan, There were tears in his eyes.
BETH: Oh babe! You want me to do that?
KELLY: No
BETH: Kelly do you want to be on your own?
Just then Beth's phone rang.
BETH: Fuck, it's him.
Beth answered
BETH: Hey!
MARK: What are you doing in Grayslake?
BETH: What? How do you know I'm in Grayslake?
MARK: I checked on where's my phone! What are you doing there!
BETH: Looking at properties that are for sale! Mark i don't think i like you spying on me
MARK: I'm not spying on you! I worry about you
BETH: Well don't!
Beth hung up on him
BETH: He's fucking spying on me!
KELLY: You need to tell him about us!
BETH: I'm working up to it!
Her phone rang again. She answered.
BETH: What?
MARK: Beth, what the fuck is going on? You've been acting weird for days!
BETH: Nothing is going on! what i don't like is you checking up on me every two minutes!
MARK: You know that's not true! I'm flying home!
BETH: I'm staying here tonight so there's no point
MARK: What hotel are you staying in?
BETH: It doesn't matter!
MARK: The fuck it matters! I'm flying home to Chicago! You make your way home too!
BETH: I'll be home tomorrow!
MARK: Beth! (shouting)
Beth jumped then hung up on him again.
KELLY: Switch off your phone
Beth switched off her phone
BETH: You don't need this shit Kelly
KELLY: It's fine
BETH: I know it's not the right time, but we need to be sure what we're doing here. He won't let me go that easily!
KELLY: I'm not letting you go either! I'll kick his ass!
BETH: Can you text Shaylynn and tell her Mark might phone her, I'm here looking at property!
KELLY: Sure. You take over here
He kissed her then walked away to text Shaylynn. His phone rang while he was texting
KELLY: Shaylynn?
SHAYLYNN: Why is Mark phoning me? I never answered
KELLY: He know's she's in Grayslake, he looked her up on find my phone. She told him she was looking at properties here
SHAYLYNN: Okay, as long as I know so I can keep the story the same. Kelly, you are serious about Beth aren't you?
KELLY: Totally, I love her
Beth turned to look at Kelly when she heard him say that, she smiled at him
KELLY: I need to go
SHAYLYNN: Okay hun!
Kelly hung up then walked right up to Beth
KELLY: I love you, I know it's only been a few days but ......
BETH: I love you too!
They started kissing totally unaware of the fish that was burning in the frying pan
KELLY: Shit!
He grabbed the frying pan and put it in the sink. Beth switched off the gas on the stove.
BETH: Now we're gonna starve
KELLY: There's a little restaurant up the road, we'll go there later
When Beth got home the next day, Mark was sitting in the living room only wearing a pair of jeans. He had obviously been drinking.
MARK: So, you're finally home!
BETH: I told you I was coming home today
They both stared at each other.
BETH: I'm sorry.
MARK: Sorry for what Beth?
BETH: I've met someone else!
Shaylynn belongs to RonnaSweeney