There Will Be Blood by Brieanna Boyce (bookstand for reading txt) 📕

Skylar

I don't remember how long I spent at sea in that little rowboat, it was at least a few days. The sea went on forever with no end in sight, until finally I saw a bit of shore in the distance. I couldn't wait I jumped out of the rowboat and swam to shore, even with the waves it was easy. When I got closer I realized that it was not a beach but a dock lined with fishing boats.

I pulled myself onto the dock and sat sighing relieved.

A portly bald man came up to me, "Miss you alright I saw you swimming from quite a distance."

I looked up to the man and smiled, "I'm fine sir," I got up, "Just leaving."

The man shook his head, "I've got two little girls you seemed to be swimming from awhile away...Come the guys are on break we're making some shellfish for lunch you can have some than you can go on your way."

I smiled, "okay," I followed the man happily to a little shack on the dock, there were a bunch of men wearing overalls and boots.

"Gents I want you to meet..." The man turned to me realizing he didn't know my name.

I smiled, I wanted to say Skylar so badly, "Raven, my name's Raven."

"Nice to meet you Raven, my name's Joe, sit sit."

Joe introduced me to the rest of the guys and soon enough the food was done. Now I wasn't sure about how I liked shellfish but I was starving it seemed so long since I'd eaten FOOD. I inhaled a whole bunch of clams the men around me joking and poking fun at me.

Finally when I was able to control myself again I looked at the men, "Where am I?"

"Carolina Beach, North Carolina."

I blinked, North Carolina? I remembered the last time I came here, with Ashley I remember how for at least a little while I was able to enjoy a peaceful existance... I was forgetting myself again...

As soon as lunch was over I thanked the men and told them I had somewhere to be. They waved and wished me luck, I smiled and waved back but all I could think was, "I won't need luck in hell."

I continued walking until I hit the actual town and that's when I realized, the shanty beachtown, the beach nearby, the smell of salt water. I was here again, but it wasn't the same Skylar visiting.

Waliking down the pier I looked at the shops and went into a little dive near the beach, somewhere I used to like eating, on the rare occasions I decided to eat out. They made the best burgers and their onion rings were awesome, it wasn't even expensive. I looked over the menu even though I already knew what I was getting.

"Can I help y- OH MY GOD!"

I jumped suprised and looked up than there she was, Ashley. Her eyes were bright her smile wide, she was glowing, her long blonde hair stretching past her shoulders.

"SKYLAR!" she exclaimed excitedly, "Look at you! Oh my god what are you doing here?!"

She embraced me reaching awkwardly over the counter, "You cut your hair!"

I smiled, "Yeah needed a bit of a change," I looked at her, "It's so good to see you again."

Ashley came out from behind the counter, revealing a large protruding stomach despite the rest of her body being so small.

"Oh my god... are you-"

"Pregnant!" Ashley exclaimed excitedly.

Ashley looked so good, being pregnant strangely suited her, she seemed alot more put together and alot happier.

"Actually my shifts just ending I'll just get what you usually got and then we can go to my place and chat a bit."

I sighed happily, I know I should've said no but it was so good to see Ashley so happy... it's the first time in awhile I haven't been plagued with dark thoughts.

Ashley got us some food and we walked along the pier, her house wasn't too far off and I was suprised at how beautiful it was. It was a two story home, with that beatiful worn down look that alot of beach houses have.

"Ashley... why are you working there when you can afford a place like this...?"

Ashley smiled, "My husband bought us this place and because I don't know I like to keep myself busy." she than held up her ring finger on it a huge pink diamond surrounded by small white diamonds.

I looked at the giant rock on her finger and then the nice house, "Husband huh?"

Ashley chuckled and walked inside, and dropped her keys on a beige marble countertop, the cabinets were painted white, allowing the light from the outside to shine brightly into the room. She took out two plates, some ketchup, and drinks then went into the living room. I followed behind and we sat to eat.

The burger tasted better than I'd ever imagined, I just ate my weight in clams, and yet all I could do was eat again.

Ashley chuckled, "So what's been up with you since we seperated."

I sighed, "Nothing good... What about you how'd you meet your husband?"

Ashley smiled, "well his family was looking at renting summer homes here, they were at the docks trying to figure out what they'd do with their boat, and I was fishing. Brooklyn came up to me and asked me about fishing he didn't know how, so I told him to meet me there at 4 am the next day and I'd get a canoe and we'd go fishing. We did and one thing lead to another and we were seeing each other every day."

"Brooklyn huh? What's he like?"

Ashley shrugged, "Opinionated, stubborn, he does have a temper, but he's nice too."

I could tell Ashley was uncomfortable talking about it, I certainly wouldn't forget but I'd let it go for now.

"So do you know what the baby's gonna be?"

Ashley smiled, "He's a boy, his name's Ike William Scott"

I smiled, "I'm so happy for you Ashley things seem to be really coming together for you."

Ashley smiled, "Why don't you stay here for the night?"

Ashley was glowing, her blue eyes shining bright, I knew what I should've done, I should've said no, should've tried to find my bearings and figure out a way to Brazil. How could I say no? She was the first sign of true happiness I'd seen in a long time.

"Okay, one night couldn't hurt."

Suddenly, the door opened, a man stepped in, he was clean shaven, he had handsome dark features, he was tall, his suit was pristine, it was clear that he had money to spare, and it seemed he was a successful buisnessman. His hair was slicked back his nose straight, not a single hair out of place.

"Brooklyn, honey," she got up and took off his jacket and hung it up, "This is my friend Skylar."

He looked at me, a look of disgust flashed through his eyes like lightening, it was only a moment, a glint, but it was there and it was intense. Brooklyn looked to Ashley trying to hide the upset quivering of his voice with a serene smile.

"Honey I wasn't aware we were having company, we had some friends to meet up with tonight."

Ashley bit her lip nervous, "I know but we see them quite often and Skylar will only be in town for a short while."

There it was a flash again in his eyes, and Ashley's happy demeanor was gone, only a moment ago she'd been shining bright her radiance impossible to miss and now she was dull and meak.

I didn't know what was going on but I had a hunch and I didn't like.

For now there wasn't much I could do about it, and shaking Brooklyn's hand tried to be cordial, "It's a pleasure to meet you congradulations on your marriage. You have a lovely home."

"Thank you," he said dismissively, than looked at me curiously,"You two claim to be good friends yet I have never seen you before..."

"Yes well I'm a traveler, I hop place to place."

"Hmmm," Brooklyn seemed to dissaprove but tried to remain friendly, at least as friendly as he could manage, "Yes well pleasure meeting you, though it would've been nice to have some warning," his eyes darted for a moment to Ashley, "I'll be upstairs."

I waited until he had ascended the steps, "Is he always that bitchy?"

Ashley chuckled than stopped herself, "No he's not bitchy he's just..."

I rose an eyebrow.

"Yes he's always like that."

I smiled helping her put away the plates, "Are you happy? I mean really happy? With him I mean."

Ashley sighed, "He is the father of my child, I want my son to have someone there for him."

I sighed, "I suppose but..."

"Look," Ashley put up her hand, "I'm alot better off because of you I mean heck I'd be dead if it weren't for you, but I don't need your saving anymore I can handle this."

She was right, who was I to stop her? Hell, I couldn't even get my own shit together so it was probably good she didn't rely on me but then, why do I feel so uneasy?

"You can stay here tonight."

I looked towards the stairs, "Are you sure your hubby won't be upset?"

She rolled her eyes, "What's one night?"

"Okay but I'll sleep on the couch."

Ashley and I sat on the couch, and she had a big impish grin on her face.

"What?"

Ashley smiled, "So which guy did you go with?"

"Huh?"

"Last time you were here... There was that blonde guy who captured us that you knew and for some demented reason were into-"

"Hey he's-"

"and that gorgeous boy that was pining over you."

I sighed thinking about Tristan and Kale, "Niether, not that I've really had time to think over my romance life."

"Niether? Wait... you had your chance with two hot guys who totally wanted you and you didn't pick either."

I sighed, "Look Tristan is dead and I haven't seen Kale since..." When was the last time I saw Kale, "Probably since we'd said goodbye, here."

"Oh..." Ashley looked guilty, "I'm so sorry about your boyfriend-"

I held up my hand, "It's fine... I just don't want to talk about it." Tristan and Adoni were gone, but they'd be avenged and if there was any sort of afterlife for the three of us I would join them but not until I saw the queen's head on a spike.

Suddenly Ashley was crying, and apologizing.

"No, no," I sighed, "Don't cry Ashley," I hugged her and pat her back wondering how in the hell I became the one comforting her.

"I'm sorry," she sniffed, "It's just I feel bad here I am practically throwing my happiness in your face then prying in your buisness."

I pet her head and shushed her, "nonsense you didn't do anything wrong Ashley." She quickly fell asleep leaning on me