Tear Down These Walls (48 page)

Celine just shrugs, “Well, now you know, Darling. It’s better that you
find out now, then when I move back in.”

“You’re moving in here?” Teagan gasps.

“That’s my plan in the next month or so,” Celine throws over her shoulder
as she turns to walk away from Teagan.

Teagan’s stomach turns, and bile rises in her throat. “I…I…have to go.”
Teagan bends down and grabs her shoes. She doesn’t even put them on but runs
out the door. When she gets into her car, the tears start to build up in her
eyes. “God, don’t let me cry, or throw up, in front of her.” Teagan quickly
starts her car and pulls out of the driveway. She gets a good half-mile away
before she pulls over. As soon as the car is parked, Teagan bends over and
cries loudly, cursing herself for letting Kellen in when he was married. He
lied to her, and she totally believed it. He was no better than any other guy.
He was the same. Asshole.

After her throat is dry from the sobbing, and her eyes cannot produce on
more tear, Teagan stops and takes a few deep breathes.  “He’s a liar. I
trusted him. Why did I trust him!?” She screams at the top of her lungs,
“Guys….they’re all bastards!!!”

Suddenly, her cell phone rings. It’s Kellen. She hits the ignore icon and
throws her phone down. Still crying, Teagan pulls away from the curb and goes
home. When she walks in, she turns off the alarm and falls to the floor,
shattered….and broken….again. She felt her heart break. Her chest hurts from
the pressure of it all. Kellen keeps trying to call. Every time he calls, he
leaves a message. Then, the text messages start.

Where are you?

Why aren’t you answering your phone?

Damn it, I am worried!

I’m leaving work.

Vigorously, Teagan shakes her head.
Just stay away. Leave me alone.

Kellen tries calling again….and again. Teagan ignores it every time.
Twenty minutes later, Teagan jumps at the heavy knocking at her door. “Teagan!”
Kellen yells through the door.

“Go away!” She screams.

“What in the hell is going on!?” Kellen demands. “What’s wrong?”

Teagan storms over to the door and swings it open. “I met your WIFE!
That’s what is WRONG!”

“How…how did you meet Celine?” Kellen stutters.

“I got out of the bathtub to find her in your house!” Teagan snaps. “Or
should I say your, as in yours and hers.”

“Teagan…..” Kellen exhales. “It’s not even like that.”

“Is she your wife!?”

He hangs his head. “Yes.”

“You lied to me!” She cries.

“Teagan, I have never lied to you,” Kellen states. “I wouldn’t do that.”

Taking in a deep breath, Teagan slowly asks, “Where were you on Tuesday
night?”

Slowly, Kellen closes his eyes and puts his fingers over her face. “It’s
not what you think.”

“Did you sleep at her house!? In her bed!?” Teagan screams.

“Yes….but it wasn’t….”

“Shut up!” Teagan yells. “Shut up, and leave me alone!”

“Teagan…baby…listen to me,” Kellen starts, stepping towards her.

She quickly points her finger at him. “Don’t “Baby” me, and don’t step
foot in this apartment!” Kellen puts his hands up and steps back. They stand
there for a second in total stalemate. “You lied to me!” Teagan cries out; the
pain in her chest is excruciating. “I trusted you. I put all my trust in you!
You are just as bad as Justin! But you have shown me the light!  All men
are the same…selfish, lying assholes!”

“Teagan, please, I would never hurt you,” Kellen sighs. “Let me explain.”

“No!” Teagan snaps angrily. “Go away. I don’t want to ever see you
again!”

“Please…” Kellen pleads.

“No! Leave me alone! You told Justin if I told him to leave me alone, and
not talk to me, he had to listen to me. Is that true!?”

With a heavy nod, Kellen replies, “Yes.”

“Then I am telling you, don’t talk to me anymore, not one word. Just
leave!” Teagan commands. “Now!”

“Can I say one thing?” Kellen asks. His face is pained, yet defeated. His
eyes are wet with potential tears.

“No! Go away!” Teagan yells. Kellen puts his head down and turns around.
With heavy steps, he walks away. She slams the door and collapses to the ground
crying. 

“You haven’t done anything but go to class for a week,” Victoria sighs.
“You have to do something, Teagan.”

“No, I don’t,” Teagan mumbles, as she pops a frozen dinner into the
microwave. “I’m fine.”

“Yeah, you’re perfect,” Victoria quips sarcastically. “Go shower, get
dolled up, and come out with us tonight. What better way to get your mind off
of a guy? Check out other cute guys.”

Teagan glances around her newly cleaned apartment and says, “I don’t want
anything to do with guys.”

“That’s fine,” Victoria teases. “There are plenty of hot girls, too.”

“No,” Teagan snaps sharply. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Victoria loses patience and raises her voice a bit. “It’s Mike’s
birthday. We haven’t missed each other’s birthdays since we all met.”

Teagan throws her hands in the air and exhales dramatically. “You fight
dirty.”

“Well, it’s the truth,” Victoria replies.

She thinks about it for a minute and then sighs. “Fine, I will come out.”

Gleefully, Victoria exclaims, “Yeah!”

“Pick me up at 7,” Teagan mumbles, not hiding her sadness.

“Cheer up, we will have fun!”

“Whatever, see you later.”  Teagan ends the call. “Great….just
great.”

Later that night, Teagan takes another shot. Everyone looks at her.
“Maybe you should slow down,” Isaac suggests.

“You….shut up,” Teagan snaps as she points finger in his direction.

“Teagan,” Victoria starts. “You’re going to make yourself sick.”

“Who cares!?” Teagan yells. “Since when do you curb our drinking?”

“Well, you have downed…..a lot,” Victoria says slowly. “It’s also getting
late.”

Throwing her hands up and dancing around, Teagan exclaims, “Tomorrow is
Sunday, we don’t have to do a thing!”

Frustrated, Victoria mumbles, “All right.”

“I want to dance!” Teagan yells. She turns and goes out onto the dance
floor.  Rather drunk, Teagan moves to the music seductively.

Suddenly, two hands sweep around her waist.  Teagan spins around. A
random guy is standing there. “You really know how to move, Dollface.”

Teagan hiccups and stares at him through bleary eyes. “Thanks.”

“Wanna dance?” The guy asks. She stands there for a minute staring at
him, still trying to focus in one something solid. The guy looks at her.
“Unless you have a boyfriend.”

At those words, Teagan scoffs, “No, my ex is a bastard.”

“Well, let me get your mind off of him,” the guy purrs.

“Okay!” The guy grabs her, and they start dancing. His hands start to
wander, but Teagan doesn’t care to stop him.

Teagan feels someone tug on her arm after she’s been out on the floor for
a while.  She turns to see Victoria. “Teagan, we should leave.”

“No,” Teagan replies sharply. “I am having fun.”

“Everyone wants to go home,” Victoria states.

“Then go home,” Teagan snaps. “I will catch a cab.”

Victoria sighs. “Teagan, come on.”

“I will give her a ride home,” the guy declares with a grin.

“Yeah,” Teagan says drunkenly. “He can give me a ride.”

Shaking her head, Victoria says, “I’m not leaving you here. We will
wait.”

“No. I will get a ride with……” Teagan looks at the guy and raises her
eyebrow.

“Tim,” the guy finishes.

“Tim,” Teagan says. “I will get a ride with Tim.”

“Teagan, come on. We’re leaving,” Victoria commands seriously.

Teagan waves her fingers, “Bye!”

“I meant you are coming with us.”

“No, I’m not,” Teagan snips. “I’m leaving with Tim.”

“Teagan.”

“Victoria….” Teagan starts. “GO….HOME.”

Crossing her arms, Victoria says, “I’m your best friend. I’m telling you,
we’re leaving.”

“I don’t give a damn who you are!” Teagan shouts. “I’m staying here!”

Exasperated, Victoria yells, “Whatever, Teagan!”

“Bye,” Teagan quips, giving her friend a look.

In a huff, Victoria turns around and walks away. Teagan turns back to
Tim. He has light blue eyes and blond, buzzed hair. He is the complete opposite
of Kellen, and that is exactly what Teagan needs. He smiles, “So, you are
leaving with me?”

“Looks that way,” Teagan giggles.

“Sounds good to me,” Tim murmurs, pulling her closer. He leans down and
kisses her. Teagan falters for a second, but then kisses him back. They dance
around for a while more. Finally, Tim leans to her ear and whispers, “Want to
get out of here?”

“Sure,” Teagan mumbles. She can barely see straight.

“Come on.” Tim grabs her hand and starts to pull her through the bar.
Teagan stumbles her way behind him.

When they get outside, Teagan exclaims, “Crap! It’s cold!”

“I will warm you up in a bit,” Tim murmurs, giving her a look. She
giggles.

“The fuck you will,” a deep voice growls.

Teagan and Tim turn to the side. Kellen steps out into the beam of the
streetlight above them. “What are you doing here?” Teagan snaps and throws her
hands on her hips.

“I came to take you home,” Kellen asserts forcefully. “Victoria called
me.”

“Who in the hell are you?” Tim asks hotly.

“This is my bastard ex,” Teagan slurs. “He is an assssshole.”

Tim pulls Teagan closer to him. “Well then, in that case, she’s leaving
with me.”

“Get your hands off of her,” Kellen commands. “She’s too drunk.”

“Whatever, dude,” Tim laughs.  “She seems okay to me.”

“She’s too inebriated to make that choice,” Kellen states. “Come on,
Teagan we’re leaving.” He glares at her, and the heat from his eyes startles
her. She takes a step back.

“No,” Teagan mumbles, grabbing her head.

“Come on,” Tim says, snagging her arm. “
We
are leaving.”

Kellen steps up to him. “Listen, she is too drunk. LAWFULLY, you could
get into a lot of trouble in the morning because I know for a fact she wouldn’t
want this.”

Shaking her head, Teagan retorts, “Who says I don’t want this? It’s not
like
sex
means
anything
. This is what guys want, right?”

“Teagan,” Kellen exhales softly. His eyes soften, but his frustration is
still obvious. “Come on, let me take you home.”

“No,” Teagan whimpers, the tears starting to build up. Suddenly, a wave
of dizziness hits her, and she falls forward into Kellen. Kellen grabs her.

“She’s too drunk. And she’s coming home with me.” Kellen attempts to pull
her to her feet, throwing her arm around his shoulder.

“Dude, she doesn’t want to leave with you.”

“DUDE,” Kellen bellows. “I’m an undefeated MMA fighter. You don’t want to
fuck with me!”

Tim takes a step back under Kellen’s glare. “Fine, she’s all yours.”

Teagan whispers, “I can’t feel my legs.”

In one swift movement, Kellen has her up in his arms. “I’m going to take you
home.”  Teagan starts to cry. “Baby, I’m so sorry,” Kellen exhales,
kissing her on the head. “Please, just talk to me.”

“No,” Teagan gasps. “Just take me home. I don’t want to talk to you!”

“Okay,” Kellen exhales. With that, he turns and walks away from the bar.
A few steps later, Teagan passes out.

*            
*            
*            
*             *

The next morning Teagan wakes up feeling like she was hit by a semi. “Oh
my god,” she groans, rolling over in bed.

“Are you going to be sick?” A familiar voice asks.

Teagan turns her head and looks next to her. Kellen is sitting in a
chair. “What in the HELL are you doing here?” she snaps.

“I brought you home,” Kellen states softly. “You were about to leave with
some strange guy you didn’t know.”

She shuts up. “I don’t remember that.”

“I doubted that you would,” Kellen exhales. “Now, are you going to be
sick?”

She grimaces and then says, “I don’t think so.”

“Okay, hold on,” Kellen replies. He gets up and leaves. A minute later,
he walks back in carrying a smoothie. “I made this for you.”

“I don’t want your help,” Teagan grumbles.

“Whatever, Teagan, it’s a smoothie, and it will make you feel better.
Just drink it,” Kellen instructs, rolling his eyes.

Sitting up, she takes it from him. “Thanks.”

Kellen plops back down in the chair. “Are you all right?”

“I feel like crap,” Teagan snips. “How do you think I am doing?”

“That’s not what I was asking about,” Kellen sighs.

“Don’t start on that shit,” Teagan growls. “If you are looking for a
heart to heart, you can just leave.”

He exhales and leans forward, “Can I at least say something?”

“No,” Teagan retorts. “Just shut up.” She takes a swig of the smoothie.

“Well, too bad,” Kellen starts. “I don’t give a crap about that woman.”

“Kellen! That makes it worse! So, you sleep with her instead of me, and
you don’t have feelings for her!”

“I didn’t…”

“SHUT UP!” Teagan screams. “Just shut up, and get out of my apartment!”

Falling to his knees next to the bed, Kellen begs, “Listen to me, please.”

“GET….OUT…. OF...MY….APARTMENT,” Teagan seethes. Kellen opens his mouth,
but she cuts him off. “Get out or I will call the police!”

“Fine,” Kellen whispers. He stands up and looks at her. “I do care about
you.”

“OUT!”

He nods and leaves. Teagan sits there completely still until she hears
the door open and close. Setting down the smoothie, Teagan drop her face into
her hands and cries.

For the rest of the day, Teagan lies in bed. Victoria calls, and Teagan
cries more and tells her everything. She apologizes up and down, and Victoria
says she forgives her. The day drags on into the night, and Teagan turns off
the light and goes to sleep.

The next three weeks are long. Teagan eats, sleeps, goes to class and
works. She barely talks to anyone, until Wednesday night, when she drags
herself out of her apartment.

Teagan exhales and says, “I have no idea where I’m going.”

“Use the map program on your phone,” Victoria replies over the speaker.

“I hate that stupid thing,” Teagan mumbles. “God, I would rather poke my
eyes out than go to this study group.”

“You told them you would come,” Victoria points out. “Just go.”

Teagan finally gives up and pulls over. “I’m going to hang up and get
directions.”

“All right, call me later if you want.”

“I will, bye,” Teagan sighs.

“Bye.”

Opening the program, Teagan punches in the address. She rolls her eyes
when she realizes she is in the completely wrong neighborhood. When Teagan
looks closer at the map, she scowls. It’s close to Kellen’s house. “Asshat,”
she whispers. Looking over her shoulder, Teagan does a U-turn. A few minutes
later, her car suddenly swerves and Teagan yells, “Crap.” The familiar thud,
thud, thud indicates that she has a flat tire. She pulls over and slams her
hand down on the steering wheel. Turning the car off, Teagan opens her door and
jumps out. The weather is starting to get nasty and wet. She pulls her coat
tighter.  Going to the other side of the car, she bends down. Her tire
isn’t just flat; it’s blown. 

“Crap, I don’t know how to change a tire. I’m such a girl.”  She
stands up and goes to get her cell phone. When she gets to the door, she tries
to open it. It won’t budge. The door is locked. Teagan looks through the
window. All the doors are locked. “Shit!” Thunder explodes in the sky, and rain
starts to pour down. “YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME!” She stands there for a second
and then stomps her foot because she knows that the only place she can go to is
Kellen’s.

Turning, Teagan starts to walk towards his house. When she arrives, she
stands on his stoop for a few seconds before ringing the doorbell. A minute
goes by before the door opens. When Kellen sees her, he exclaims, “Teagan!”

“I have a flat tire,” she grumbles.

“Jesus, get in here,” he stammers, pulling her inside. “You’re soaking
wet.”

“It’s raining,” Teagan declares.

“Obviously. Are you okay?” He inquires, unzipping her coat. “You’re
drenched.”

Her teeth start to chatter. “No, I’m freezing.”

Kellen puts his hand on her cheek. “Teagan, you’re ice cold.”

“No shit,” she stutters.

“Come on,” he takes her hand and leads her upstairs. “You need to get
warmed up.”  Teagan reluctantly follows him. When they get to his room,
Kellen says, “Go get in the shower. I will get you something to change into.”

“No,” Teagan snaps.

“You need to get warm and dry,” Kellen sighs. “Just get into the shower.”

She glares at him and then turns on her heel. Practically stomping her
way, Teagan goes into the bathroom. She slams the door. She quickly strips off her
clothes and gets into the shower. “Oh my gosh,” she moans. “Warmth.”

A few minutes later, there is a knock. “How are you doing?” Kellen yells.

“Better,” Teagan replies, turning the shower off.

“Can I come in? I have a sweatshirt for you,” Kellen states.

“Hell no,” Teagan snaps. She grabs a towel and wraps it around herself.
Opening the door, she sticks her hand through it. “Just give it to me.” Kellen
puts it in her hand, and she closes the door.

After she dries off and puts on the sweatshirt, Teagan opens the door.
She sees Kellen standing near the far wall. A fire is going in the fireplace.
When Teagan steps out, Kellen turns to her. “There’s a blanket on the bed. I
started a fire for you.”

Teagan grabs the blanket and wraps it around her shoulders. Slowly, she
walks over to Kellen. “Thanks,” she whispers.

“Why didn’t you just call me?” Kellen inquires, sounding confused.

Blushing, Teagan mumbles, “My door locked and my phone was inside.”

He bursts out laughing. “Is the car running?”

“It’s not funny,” Teagan snaps. He continues to laugh. Finally, she can’t
help but smirk. “No, it’s not running.”