Life Altering Beautiful

by T. A. Hardenbrook

  As hard as I tried I just can’t shake what Trent had said to me out of my mind. I know this man is full of shit and I need to believe that Seven never would have done that to Anderson, but there is a small amount of doubt plaguing my mind. Driving back up to the barn I notice Seven and Tammy sitting out at the fire pit, just watching that girl takes me breathe away. “We done here” Trent asks as he looks in disgust at his dirt covered hands. “Yeah dude, whatever” I mumble as I start to unload the tools from the gator. Trent mutters a couple choice words as he walks off, fucker has completely ruined his chance with this family as far as I was concerned.

  I quickly finish my task and head on over to Seven, she looks absolutely stunning sitting around the fire. Her hair is piled up high on her head and she is wearing one of my sweatshirts again, causing my dick to twinge at the mere sight of her. “Hey baby” she calls out as I got closer, holding her arms out to embrace my dirty body. “I see you didn’t kill him” she smiles as squeezes my body into hers. “Why can’t you be nice” Tammy sighs as she turns her attention back to the fire. “When he deserves it, and all the shit he’s done be thankful he’s still standing” I grunt, taking the seat next to Seven. I stare at the fire trying to let the flames erase my mind, demanding the heat to melt my ugly thoughts until there was nothing left.

  Seven

  The weekend with Stone’s family flew by; it was nice to see what a loving functioning real family looks like. Having a heart to heart with Tammy was like a weight had been lifted off my chest, I need my friend back even if she is still dating a pathetic excuse of a man. There was just something that came so easily being involved in the Hasting life, it is almost too good to be true.

  We created our life together and immediately smashed it into a routine; we would go to school then over to the gym for a little while, and after a long hard workout we headed home. Day after day we would follow this schedule, and I was finally convinced that my life deserved this sense of normalcy. I had finally moved all my stuff out of the dorms and into Stone’s apartment, and if that didn’t scream commitment then him giving me a copy of the key should. Not only had we smothered ourselves with each other’s lives, but I had taken up a part-time job at the gym helping Jason run his business. Nothing screams I love you more than spending almost every waking minute together.

  How Jason has kept the gym open so long I will never know, considering I’m the one paying all the important bills now so they aren’t late. My life just seems complete now that I was involved in the gym family too. Just over a year ago my life was shattered. I truly convinced myself that I deserved all the shit this world was throwing at me; that my life was a vain existence and I was forced to deal with its mediocrity for the rest of my life. Now I had a future; a man who loves me including all my flaws and a new outlook on my future. I am going to be a survivor, or so I thought.

  I couldn’t seem to figure out what Jason wanted me to do with this stack of files. I had a good system down but the occasional bracket coming across my work space still didn’t seem to add up in the gym world. I grab a plain folder and draw a huge question mark on the front of it; stuffing it in file box, I’ll deal with that crap later as I glance at the clock. It was a little past seven and Tammy should be here by now.

  Walking out into the gym I notice Tammy flirting with our trainer Gus in the cage. “You’re not even changed yet, get your ass in check my dear” she yells at me with a smile. “I was busy with my job” I holler back at her. “You don’t have a job; you are Jason’s mail bitch so he won’t lose this place!”

  I shake my head and hurry to change; I’m drying to blow off some steam and am quickly realizing why Stone is so addicted to this MMA thing.

  After going several rounds with our trainer Tammy and I exhausted when Stone and Jason walk in. “Well look at you two combat Barbie’s” Jason says with a smirk. “Please boy, I can still kick your ass without breaking a nail” Tammy says as she steps out of the cage. Stone and I can’t help but laugh, Jason has always had a thing for Tammy and she won’t give him two minutes of her day.

  “I’m going to head out girl, we still on for a movie Friday” Tammy says while picking up her gym bag. “Of course” I smile as I take a long swig from my water bottle. “Text me” Tammy yells as she heads out the door. “She will fall in love with me, just wait” Jason says as he walks into his office.

  “Well I’m glad I don’t have to wait” Stone says as he grabs my sweaty body and swings me around. “Personal space Stone” I giggle. “Your mine, there is no such thing as personal space” nibbling on my neck. “And that is my clue to go, see ya next week Seven” Gus says as he leaves the cage.

  “I’ve got a couple of questions to ask Jason and then we can head out okay?”

  “Sure thing babe, come find me when you’re done” Stone says as he places me back on the ground and plants a light kiss on my lips.

  “Jason what do you want me to do with these” as I wander over and grab the questionable folder. “Let me see” as he reaches for it. I take the opportunity to wipe my face off with a towel I had on my desk, I felt gross but didn’t need to look the part too. “Yeah Seven don’t worry about this stuff, if you come across it just shred it okay” he says while walking over to the shredder and dropping the whole folder into the machine. “Okay” I shrug as I toss on my sweatshirt.

  “Are you coming to Stone’s graduation party Saturday” as I pause at the door. “Yeah I wouldn’t miss it for the world” he says while watching as the folder gets destroyed in the shredder. I’ve always had my suspicions there was more than just the gym being funneled through his financial records, I just didn’t see how deep it was till now.

  Chapter 14

  Stone

  It was a little after three pm and I had turned in my last paper for my bachelors in business management. I always knew I would eventually graduate, but figured it would take me a hell of a lot longer than four years I had done it in. The only thing left today was to head over to the frat house, help get shit together for the initiation dinner tonight then head home to clean my ass up.

  I couldn’t wipe a stupid smile off my face; I’m not normally one to toot my own horn but fucking toot toot. My phone started to ring with Seven’s ringtone and it only furthers my deliriously happy moment. “Hey little one” betting my grin could be see through the phone without face time. “Did you do it” Seven asks excitedly. “Yep, you are the proud girlfriend of a college graduate” I said as I unlock Ol’ Red. I have to pull the phone away from my ear to keep my hearing intact after the piercing screams of Seven. “I’m so proud of you! Do you realize what you’ve done Stone!”

  `“Yes babe, I did live this life for the last four years” I chuckle. “What are we going to do tonight to celebrate” as she finally brings her voice down several octaves. “I’ve got the final initiation tonight, I thought you knew” as I pull the truck out of the parking lot and steer it in the direction of the frat house. “Yeah my bad, I apparently did not listen” her voice now at normal levels. “Wait can you say that again” I stammer. “What are you talking about Stone Hastings” she demands. “The second part” as I try to keep my voice cool. “I’m completely lost Stone.”

  “The part where you were wrong, I want to hear that again” this time I’m not able to hold my laughter back.

  “You are such an ass.”

  “This is true, I work really hard for this fantastic ass” I say as I pull up in front of the house.

  “Whatever, how late do you expect to be tonight?”

  “Shouldn’t be too late babe, maybe tenish?”

  “Alright I’ll go into the gym and see if Jason needs any help for a little bit.”

  “Thanks babe, your amazing” as I end the call and hop out. I need to celebrate tonight, even if Seven wasn’t going to be with me it would still be a great time.

  The house was full of brothers, everyone with a beer already in their hands. “Stone” a couple guys yell at me as someone tos
ses me a can. I quickly catch it and pop the top; this is exactly why I joined, well that and dad wanted me too. I give a salute to the interim president and set out to find Hunter. “My amigo” Hunter exclaims as I walk out on the back deck to see him sitting in a kiddie pool.

  “Living large I see” a bound down the steps to my best friend. “Dude I can’t believe you’re done” he says while patting a spot next to him in the tiny pool. “Yeah I’m good out here man” as I pull up a lawn chair and take a seat. “What am I going to do without you, who am I going to party with” Hunter complains as he tosses his beer can behind him and picks up one floating in the pool. “I’m not falling off the earth Hunter, I’ll still be around” as I grimace when he pops the top on his beer. “Dude that’s cool, I’m sure it’s going to take me another ten years till I pass” he laughs and slams the beer back.

  “What time is this thing going down tonight” I ask as I watch the pledges clean up the remnants of last week’s kegger. “Yeah I don’t really know” Hunter laughs.

  “You’re the pledge chair idiot, how do you not know?”

  “Because I’m not big on planning, we will just say congrats and here’s a shot.”

  Oh shit I had a feeling everyone was going to end up very drunk tonight.

  I didn’t remember if this was my fifth shot and my eight beer, or if it was my fifth beer and my eight shot. At this point did it really matter as I stumble through the house looking for something to eat. I know the pledges had put some food out somewhere, yet in my drunken state I couldn’t’ remember where they had placed it. I could feel my phone vibrating in my pocket and I knew I should really answer it but I could always call whoever it was back later, as I grab a shot from a brother walking by.

  I could no longer taste the liquor going down my throat, and every part of my boozed up brain told me to stop, but I couldn’t I was a fucking graduate. “Stone my man” Hunter yells as he stumbles into the kitchen with two blondes attached to his arms. “This is, you know I don’t remember your name” he laughs as he looks at the girl hooked onto him. “It’s Alison” she giggles, I couldn’t help but smile when her eyes meet mine. This girl was hot, not beautiful like my Seven, but I would have done her before I started dating Seven. “Yes, Alison” Hunter says slowly as he wiggles his eyebrows at me. “Hey dude, I’ve got a girlfriend” I slur as I stuff my hand into the chip bag I found.

  “It’s okay I won’t tell” the girl says with a husky voice. Red flags were flying up all over my radar, I know I should just walk away from this but I can’t seem to make my feet move. “Alison, I’m going to leave you here with my good buddy Stone, this one and I have some things we need to tend to” Hunter laughs as he grabs the other blonde tighter and wobbles out of the room. “So Stone I hear you just graduated” as she runs her finger down the side of my arm. “Yep” as I close my eyes to keep the room from spinning. Fucking Hunter, why in the hell did he do this to me?

  “Want to go sit down and talk somewhere quiet” Alison says as she presses her body into me.

  “I just need to sit.”

  “Well let me help you” she whispers as she grabs my hand and leads me into the living room. It takes everything in me to walk in a straight line, putting two feet in front of the other is not an easy task when I’ve had more than my fair share of booze tonight.

  “I’ve had so much to drink tonight” Alison hints as she scoots closer to me on the couch. “Look I have a girlfriend who I love very much” I mumble. “Well then where is she then, you know I could keep you company tonight, I know how to keep secrets” she whispers into my ear. This chick is hot, but I can’t and won’t do that to Seven. I can feel her hand run down my chest, but my body feels too heavy to move. “I can make you feel good Stone, won’t you let me” as she brings herself to straddle my legs.

  I let my head fall back to the top of the couch, closing my eyes to keep the room from spinning; I need to get out of here. I can feel her slowly undoing the buttons on my shirt, letting her hands wander over my chest and stomach. “You’re so hot” as she grinds herself into my crotch. My phone starts to vibrate again and she quickly reaches for it. “No” I manage to gurgle out. “Hello, who is this” she snaps as she answers the phone. “He’s a little busy at the moment, he’ll have to call you back” she growls into the phone and ends the call. The contents in my stomach started to turn, and I know it wasn’t from the alcohol; she just spoke to Seven on my damn phone.

  “Get the fuck off me” as I manage to gather the last bit of sobriety I had to push this woman off my lap. “What the hell, we were having fun” she shrieks as she lands next to me on the couch. I struggle to stand but finally make it over to the door, I have to get out of here and call Seven, and I have to explain what happened. The cool air slaps my face and instantly makes me hurl down the steps. I have to get to Seven was all I could think of as I stumble for my truck, suddenly my world went dark.

  Seven

  My body is shaking when a girl answered Stone’s cell. My phone shattered into a million pieces on the floor on impact, yet I didn’t care. It felt as someone was tightening a vice on my chest, slowly turning the handle till I couldn’t breathe anymore. Tears are streaming down my face but I can’t move my hands to brush them away. I want to feel numb I’m desperate to feel anything but the pain that was pulsing through my body. How did I ever think this was going to work, how could my heart possibly break any more than it already was.

  “Seven” a voice calls to me but I can’t seem to move my head in the direction. “Seven what’s going on” Jason says while standing in front of me. I can’t seem to form words to tell him, my mind and my heart are competing for space right now and my broken heart is winning. “Your scaring me Seven, talk to me” Jason’s eyes are filled with concern from the state he has found me in. “Stone” I manage to squeak out as my legs suddenly give way and I topple to the floor in a heap.

  Jason tries to reach out and grab me but I’m too far gone, lying on the floor I curl myself into a ball hoping to just disappear. Jason is immediately on the ground with me slowly wiping the tears that are gushing like a broken faucet down my face. “Seven” he whispers as he gently lifts my body off the floor and into his lap. I notice with my blurry vision several other pairs of feet surrounding us, great now everyone is going to know that Stone no longer wants me. I was thrown out with the trash tonight, just waiting for the garbage man to come collect my sorry ass.

  Jason barks something to the people around us and several of them fade away; I had to get a grip on this, I couldn’t let this consume me. Taking a deep breath I try and slow my breathing, which reduces the tears coming down my face. “Breathe Seven, I’ve got you” Jason says quietly as he slowly rocks our bodies back and forth.

  After what feels like an eternity of sitting on the floor I finally push myself away from Jason’s tear stained shirt. “I’m okay” I whisper as I use my hands to try and dry my face. “Come on then” as he gently nudges me off his lap and grabs my hand and pulls me into the office then shuts the door. He slowly leads me to the big chair and nods for me to have a seat while as he climbs onto the desk. “What happened Seven” he asks cautiously. I have to fight back the tears again as I yank on the strings of my sweatshirt.

  “I called Stone” as I take a couple deep breaths. “A girl answered and said they were busy” as I bite down hard on my lip to bring some physical pain to my shattered heart. “I can’t believe it” Jason mutters as he shakes his head. “Well you should” hatred is the emotion now taking control of my body. “Seven that’s not like Stone, he’s madly in love with you.”

  “Really Jason, cause you know he has never actually told me he loved me. Not once, I’ve said it many a freaking time but never once from that bastard” I spit out in rage. It’s amazing how quickly one can switch their emotion; all I was seeing was red now. I want to confront the fucker and pound the shit out of this girl, and in my rage filled moment I was going to do just that.

  Qui
ckly I dash out of the office and storm off to my car. “Seven wait” Jason yells as he rushes after me. “Why, do you want to come witness the castration of your friend” as I stop dead in my tracks and wheel around to face him, my body temperature rising to a point that couldn’t be healthy. “I’ll drive” was all he said as he slowly approached me. “Good I’m going need an escape plan and you waiting in the car serves it purpose” as my mind screams of all the horrible things I was going to say to his stupid ass and that tramp he was with. “Lock up for me” Jason asks a guy by the counter as he hands him the keys, the man only nods as he looks at me.

  Laughter emerges from my twisted face, I was past the crying stage and went directly into hell have no furry like a woman scorned stage. A little evil giggle releases from me as Jason opens the door for me to climb in; Tornado Seven was on the ground and set for massive destruction. I’m pretty sure I would win an Emmy for the performance I was about to put on, this girl was going to wish she never took a step in that house tonight.