Have a Heart 2

by Rachel Burns

  “I appreciate your call. Is she nearby?” Scott could hear that he was still trying to sound cordial while he was truly very ticked.

  “Yes, she is in her room. I’ll bring her the phone.” Scott was feeling sorry for her again. His poor little Brianna was about to get into a lot of trouble.

  He swiftly moved down the hall and knock on her door. She opened up and looked at him and then the phone. “Scott, really?” She took the phone and closed the door in his face.

  “Yes, Daddy.”

  “I was just wondering what time you have services on campus?”

  “At nine.”

  “See you then. Goodbye, darling.” He hung up. Brianna’s mouth just dropped open. Not again. He was coming to spank her. Didn’t he know how old she was? Too old for a spanking that was for sure. She opened her door, and Scott was still standing there. He looked a little mad too.

  She gave him her most brilliant smile. “Thank you, Scott.”

  His breath caught in his throat. He smiled back at her and even blushed a little.

  “He’ll be here tomorrow.” She thrust the phone at him and closed her door in his face again.

  “Yep, my little Brianna has got fire.”

  Brianna had been relieved to see both of her parents standing outside of the chapel with the Dean. Her mother’s presence might be able to help her some. They all went in and sat together as one big happy family. The sermon was about guilt and forgiving yourself. She was being ambushed.

  After church, the pastor came and sat in the pew in front of her. He asked her lots questions about why she felt guilty. They all talked rather openly. He even talked about leaning on others too much to take care of her guilt. She had to forgive herself. He’d talked with Cathy a lot after the attack, and she didn’t blame Brianna. She was even glad that Brianna hadn’t been with her. She would have felt guilty if something had happened to her too.

  Brianna’s parents weren’t mad at her. They were more worried than anything else. She cried and promised that she wouldn’t use Scott to get rid of her guilt. She even promised to apologize to him. Brianna and her parents were invited to lunch at the Dean’s. They had a lovely afternoon. Her father walked her back to her room while the Dean showed her mother the school garden, which was beautiful in spring.

  Her father closed and locked the door behind them. He went right for her chair. Her hands automatically went to her skirt to open it so he could spank her.

  “Wait, I want to talk to you alone for a second. Sit down.” He patted her bed. “The pastor is right. You have to forgive yourself too. You can’t depend on someone else to do that for you. What I want to know is are you going to do your schoolwork like you should, or do I need to fly out here again next week?”

  Brianna had to really stop and think about it. “It wasn’t so much that I did it on purpose as I just couldn’t concentrate.” She shrugged her shoulders.

  “Do you want me to spank you?” He looked her deep in her eyes.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Either you do, or you don’t.”

  “I don’t want anyone to hear and they would. They probably already think I’m crazy. I don’t want to do anything to confirm their suspicions.”

  Charles looked amused. “Why do they think you are crazy?”

  “Scott and I got into a fight yesterday.”

  He smirked and raised his eyebrow. “Go on.”

  He was here to scold me, and I told him that I wouldn’t be his problem soon, and he said he liked being a part of my life, and that he would even come to my wedding one day. I told him why that would probably never happen.” She made a motion with her hand over her scars. “Then he broke out in uncontrollable laughter, and I tried to kick him out. He said what everyone says about it not being a problem, the right guy wouldn’t mind etc … He even went on and on about it, but everyone heard him laughing. I don’t know what they are thinking.”

  Her father looked like he was going to burst out laughing too. “Come here.” He opened his arms wide and pulled her on his lap when she went to him. “You know I really like that boy. I have even talked to Cathy’s parents about the two of you renting an apartment together next year. Her parents are worried about Cathy’s safety. So we already started looking at places for the three of you. Cathy, you and – Scott. Think of that as your punishment. Two more years with him, and if you pull something, I hope he will continue your discipline there too.”

  Charles laughed and cuddled with his speechless daughter, holding his baby in his arms. He had a feeling that she wouldn’t be his much longer. Scott would be taking her away. and soon too. Scott planned on telling her at the beginning of summer vacation. The hint dropping that he was already doing was very clever.

  Chapter 8 – Making Up

  “So, how was your day?” Cathy walked into Brianna’s room and sat down on her bed. She crossed her legs and smiled at her friend.

  She too thought that it was ridiculous that her friend felt guilty. In fact, she was relieved that Brianna wasn’t with her. She wouldn’t put it past her x-boyfriend to have hurt Brianna and in her condition Brianna might have died, and Cathy would have had to live with the guilt of that. But she did recognize that her best friend was under too much pressure.

  Things would get better when Brianna and Scott finally got together. Brianna just needed to be held.

  “My parents had the pastor talk with me. Everyone keeps saying I shouldn’t feel guilty, but I do. I know you would have waited for me. I was trying so hard to avoid Scott because I made a mountain out of a molehill. Like he would have –” she didn’t say that it was unlikely that he would want to touch her and especially there.

  Cathy guessed at the rest of the sentence. “I know he thinks the world of you. It’s always Brianna this and Brianna that. He is constantly saying how pretty you are and how smart you are. He thinks you can do no wrong, and I agree. I personally think that the reason you weren’t there was divine intervention. He would have hurt you if you had been with me. I may have even lost you, and it would have been my own fault. I was the one who couldn’t wait to lose her virginity. You even warned me. And you were the one who told Scott I was missing. You did everything just right. Please, you don’t have to feel guilty.”

  “Oh, I don’t anymore. I’m going to be punished.”

  “I’m sorry about that. Maybe I can put in a good word with your father. I’ll tell him that I talked to you, and that everything is okay now.” Cathy felt bad for her friend.

  “That won’t help. You get the same punishment too.” Brianna watched her friend pale.

  “I guess it is only fair my father spanked you too.”

  “You aren’t going to get a spanking from my father. Our parents get together even when we aren’t around, and they think up punishments for us.”

  “Spit it out, Brianna, what is it?” Cathy was getting very nervous.

  “The good news is that we get to share a real apartment together in Birmingham.” Brianna made a happy face.

  “That sounds – fantastic.” She thought about it for a while. “Just drop the other shoe already Brianna”

  Brianna leaned in close to her friend. “Scott will be living with us too,” she whispered.

  “Oh,” Cathy thought about that for a while. “No, that’s okay. I’d feel safer if he was there. I’m okay with that. I’m just surprised that your parents would let you live with Scott before you two are –” She managed to stop herself before she said ‘married’. “I mean that they would let you live with a guy.”

  “Oh, Scott isn’t just any guy. He is Mr. Perfect who saved my life and keeps me in line. They think that he could do no wrong. I mean he even calls my parents by their first names. Even you aren’t allowed to do that.”

  “Yeah, he likes your parents too. He talks well of your whole family.” She got up and went to the door and looked out. She closed the door then. “He feels bad about what he did. He thinks so highly of you. More than of the other gir
ls. He heard you explaining to the others that you are still a virgin, and that you only wanted your husband to see you naked. He knows how you feel about that. I think he likes that about you. That, of course, makes what happened even worse for him.”

  “I have had a lot of time to think about it. He may be the only one to ever touch me there. I should consider myself lucky. At least, I don’t have to die untouched.” She made a funny face at the end.

  Cathy swallowed hard. It was all she could do not to laugh at her adorable friend. “Do you remember when everyone was telling me not to rush into sex? They were right. I know that lots of people have told you that when you find your Mr. Right, it won’t matter to him. Everyone is right once again. I know seeing is believing, but you will one day.

  “I’ll leave so you can get your grades back up to snuff. Please do. I happen to know that Scott is working out expectations for you right now. He will be stopping by tonight. I don’t want him to have to punish you. That would make me feel guilty.” Cathy left quietly.

  Brianna did everything that she had to. She was used to catching up. By the time Scott knocked on her door she felt that she was ready.

  She opened the door herself instead of just saying come in.

  He towered over her.

  “Come in,” she said meekly.

  He did, and he went right to her desk chair, pulled it out and sat down. “Are we back to that again? Okay I’ll play along. Brianna, will you please sit down.”

  Brianna had stayed standing by the door. Her heart was beating so loudly, he must hear it. Something in her wanted to ask him if they could go out on a date, like they had after they had met in the bookstore, but part of her was thinking about him lying to Hannah last year. What lie would he tell to get rid of her?

  Like someone like him would want her. He was really good-looking, all the girls thought so in the beginning. It had even bothered her that the new girls had smiled at him like he was a movie star or something.

  That was until they had learned what his purpose on the floor was. They avoided him mostly too, but lots of them did watch him when he couldn’t see.

  Maybe this was like some Stockholm Syndrome thing.

  Scott was a lot like her father. Was that why she liked him?

  Really if she did ever find someone, then it would be someone who wasn’t as strong and good looking. Someone like him would never be interested in someone weak like her. This was a question of survival of the fittest. His type didn’t like hers.

  This was just a little school girl crush. He was like her teacher. This was even classic. What would she do next? Draw him a picture with hearts on it with her crayons?

  “Okay, you are scaring me. Brianna!” He honestly was scared. She wasn’t responding, and her heart was racing. He picked her up in his arms and laid her down on the bed.

  “Oh God, what happened?” She was totally embarrassed. She sat up and looked around. He was sitting on her bed with his face so close to hers.

  “I don’t know. It was like you passed out in standing.”

  “Okay, that was new even for me. I’m sorry, Scott. I didn’t mean to do that to you again.”

  “Hush.” He was taking her pulse again. “It is just way too fast. I’m going to call the nurse.”

  “No, Scott, I’m just fine. I was thinking about something, college and worrying. I’m back now. Sorry.”

  He grabbed onto her shoulders and frowned at her. “You know you shouldn’t be worrying. I’ll call the nurse over, but I think that you should really go to the hospital so they can check you out.” He pulled out his cell before she could stop him. “Hello, here is Scott from Polk Hall. Brianna isn’t feeling very well. Should I bring her in, or do you want to come here?”

  Brianna couldn’t believe what she had done. This was getting worse and worse. “Um Scott, I was just daydreaming.”

  “Hush,” he told her. “We’ll be right there.” He hung up. “She wants me to bring you in. Can you walk?”

  “Yes, I can. I’m fine. We don’t need to do this.”

  “Brianna, do you really want to discuss this with me?” He gave her the strictest look he could muster.

  “Um – I – You wouldn’t really, would you? I mean you think I’m not feeling well,” she stammered. She felt her face heating. She must be all red.

  “No, I wouldn’t, but as a threat, it has been very effective these last couple of years.”

  “So I don’t have to go?” she asked hopefully.

  “How is this for a threat? Either you walked on your own two feet, or I will carry you.” He watched her forehead wrinkle. She was mad at him. He felt like everything was a no win situation with her. He hated having to be so strict with her. “We have to go now, or the nurse will think the worst.” He grabbed her by her hand and pulled her out. He locked her door for her and pulled her along with him.

  Brianna’s heart was pounding loudly. She hoped the nurse wouldn’t send her to the hospital. She would be fine if she could just be alone.

  The nurse hurried her to one of the ECG machines. She was opening the buttons on her blouse. Scott tried really hard to look away, but he couldn’t. He could see a slight bit of the curve of her breasts. He remembered what they looked like.

  The nurse asked questions, and he answered them about what had happened.

  Scott was staring at her scars, she thought. Yeah right, her future husband wouldn’t mind. She was a freak. Tears were gathering in her eyes. This was too much for her.

  “Scott, you can go. I’ll call you and let you know how she is.” The nurse stood in between them. She had seen Brianna’s tears. The poor thing was probably remembering what had happened last year.

  “Yes, of course. Please keep me posted.” He walked to the door and stopped with his hand on the handle. “Get well, soon, Brianna. Goodbye.”

  He felt so alone as he walked back to the floor. He had thought that he would get to stay with her. She was so important to him, and she didn’t even know it. He had been sent away. One day he would get to stay with her and hold her hand.

  He was so worried. What if that was the last time he ever saw her? He regretted that he had avoided her the last four months. Four wasted months. If she came back, he would check on her every day. When he was finally able to tell her that he loved her, she would realize that it was true.

  He entered the floor in time to hear two of the first year girls arguing with each other, very loudly in the hall.

  “Ladies will you please join me in my room.” He grabbed each of them by an ear and pulled them along after him. Just two more months of this crap too.

  He sat them down and had a nice talk with them. They were both interested in a guy from in town here. He seemed to be dating both of them. Scott couldn’t understand why they would think that he was worth the trouble of fighting over.

  “Neither of you may leave campus at all this year, and I will write a letter explaining everything to my replacement.”

  “You’re leaving?” they both asked at the same time.

  “Yes, I was only working here until I saved enough money to go back to school.”

  “But we need you here,” one whined.

  “What school are you going to go to? I assumed that you had a college degree,” the other asked.

  “Yes, I do. I’ll be going to law school.”

  The girls were so surprised. They wanted to share their bit of news with the others. They had found something to pull their friendship back together.

  “You can spread your gossip tomorrow. Yelling in the halls will get you punished. I will see both of you in your rooms separately.”

  His phone rang, and he answered it.

  Both girls were relieved to hear the words, “I’ll be right over.”

  Scott turned his attention back the girls. “You two ladies get a reprieve. I have to fetch Brianna from the nurse’s office. I want both of you to go to your rooms. I’ll deal with you later.” He shooed them out of his room and hurried
to go to his Brianna.

  Brianna was sitting in the waiting room. Scott came in, and his eyes looked her up and down. “How is she?” he asked the nurse.

  “I think she is just a little tired. She admitted that she had been studying all afternoon, and that she forgot to go to supper.”

  “She did, did she?” He folded his arms over his chest and glared at her.

  Brianna felt her head sink into her body. She wished she was a turtle that could crawl into her shell and hide. She had forgotten about supper. Lunch with the Dean had been on the large side.

  “Yes, I called over to the cafeteria, and they are fixing her up a tray. Can you pick it up on your way back? They are closing now.”

  “Of course, we will.”

  “Good, if there are any problems, call me, and you can decide tomorrow morning whether or not she can go to her classes.”

  “Her heart is fine now? It was beating so fast before.” He still looked worried.

  “Her heart settled down right after you left,” the nurse told him.

  Brianna wished the floor would open up and swallow her. He would know that she liked him now. She was really glad that she wasn’t still hooked up to the machine, or it would be skyrocketing.

  That her heart had settled down after he left he could believe. She was probably worried the entire time that she would get caught. Why was it that every time he actually checked on her she was up to something? “Come on, Brianna. Let’s get you into bed.” With a box stop over his knees, he thought.

  She pulled all of her courage together and rose and went to stand next to him. He looked mad as he opened the door for her. He didn’t say anything as he walked to the cafeteria with her, and she couldn’t think of anything to say.

  Scott didn’t have the same problem. He was practically biting on his tongue not to yell at her. He opened the door of the cafeteria for her. A lady was sitting at one of the tables with a tray. She looked ready to go home. Scott took the tray.

  “I’m really sorry about this. I’ll make sure it never happens again. I promise. Thank you, so much.” Scott glanced back at Brianna after he spoke. She hung her head.