Page 74 of Save Me

Chapter 25

Beth

Christmas arrives in all its jingly, jangly, far-too-jolly-for-my-mood glory. We have but a few days left until the holidays, and I feel like I’ve done nothing but tread on eggshells. I’ve been trying to argue with Oliver over the fact that this will be my final Christmas at home with my mum and for that reason alone, I should be allowed to stay with her instead of attending a Mayfield party at his place. I can only imagine how hideous and thoroughly un-festive it will be at his mansion. They most likely make a sacrifice and engage in orgies or something as equally as abhorrent. With obvious reluctance, he has given into my pleas, and is giving me ‘permission’ to have this last Christmas with my family.

Meanwhile, Kai is still in a bad place. His mood has soured even more so over the last few weeks. I can’t blame him because since the scandal of his father’s affair, the family company has suffered to the point whereby there is talk of them having to sell up. Unfortunately, the husband of the woman he was sleeping with appears to have a lot of pull in this town and has talked a lot of people into withdrawing their business. His dad also had a surprise investigation from the IRS, which has only served to further dampen his father’s reputation.

With this in mind, I decide to do something I really wouldn’t choose to do unless I had to; I call Oliver. Although it pains me, I have to ask his permission to let me take my thoroughly depressed friend out for dinner and a movie. If I don’t ask, Leo is sure to tell him and I’ll bear the consequences, and no doubt, a fresh set of bruises. Or even worse, an extended stay over at his place.

“Beth, my darling, this is a pleasant surprise,” Oliver answers on the first ring, his smile oozing out over the phone. “What can I do for my number one girl?”

“Er, hi, Oliver, I need permission to take Kaiden, my best friend, out for dinner.” I pause to gauge how my request is going down with my psycho husband to be, but all I get is a big fat nothing. “He’s my friend, Oliver, and he’s extremely depressed. Please?”

“I do so love to hear you beg, Beth,” he chuckles arrogantly while I find myself having to bite my cheek. It’s something I often have to do when in his company. “I have heard the rumors surrounding your friend’s father and I have to point out that he brought his situation upon himself.”

“Yes, but I’m not asking to take out his father, I’m asking to take out his son, my best friend. None of this is his fault, Oliver!”

You condescending arse!

“Anything for you, my darling,” he coos, “but remember this favor because I most certainly will!”

“Thank you, Oliver,” I reply through clenched teeth, “goodbye.”

“Wait! I want to see you on Christmas Eve,” he says in such a way it leaves no room for argument. “I will come to you at three!”

“Ok,” I whisper, looking forward to it about as much as having a bikini wax, which is something I have already decided is not for me. Pity I don’t have the same choice when it comes to Oliver.

“Goodbye, my darling,” he says before hanging up. I sneer at the phone as though Oliver is physically sitting inside of the bloody little contraption.

However, at least I’ve managed to get my own way with Kai, so decide to call him as soon as my fingers can dial his number. I tell him, in no uncertain terms, that I am coming to take him out and that he better be ready to let me deliver some TLC on him. Surprisingly, he doesn’t argue, just tells me we’ll need to swing by his father’s office before we head out to watch something ridiculous and funny. Probably involving some fit guy to make us drool at the same time.

By the time we reach Kai’s place, he’s already out front with a half-hearted smile and a slump in his shoulders. I miss his usual grin, which is both cheeky and mischievous, as though he’s already thinking of something totally wicked to say about someone. Unfortunately, it’s been missing for a while now. Given the reason for its absence, there’s not too much I can do about it but be there for him, and to shoulder any sadness if and when he lets me.

I get out from the back of the car, which Leo is driving up front, and give him a small hug before leading him to sit in the back with me. I hold his warm, familiar hand all the way into town, keeping silent to let him feel comfortable with me. I smile when he slowly begins to grip mine back. He remains quiet, staring out of the window in deep thought as the scenery of houses, streets, and the ocean passes us by.

“Oh, we’re here!” I declare as I nudge him out of his daydream, trying to sound chirpy without being insensitive. I’ve never had to try this hard with Kai before; it’s heart-breaking to have to watch him battle with everything alone.

A crowd has gathered on the street with police presence and tape cordoning off a small building across the road from us. As a few officers clear a path between the onlookers bending their necks to try and get a closer look, I see the glass front has been shattered, as well as computers having been thrown onto the ground.

Before I can question anything, Kai is out of the car and running hurriedly over toward the commotion with determination and a panic-stricken expression. I try to follow him, but Leo’s meaty hand holds me back by my upper arm. He shakes his head and tells me to wait because it’s not safe. Apart from working for Oliver, I’ve begun to trust Leo, almost like him, so I stay put.

“What’s going on?” I ask a passing pedestrian who has been gawking at the scene for the past few minutes. The guy looks positively green, so I stand back and out the way of the sick zone for fear of him erupting his stomach contents all over me.

“They just found a gunshot victim…dead!” I feel the blood drain from my face as I look over at Kai, who is now having a heated battle of words with one of the police officers. “I heard them mention suicide or a possible robbery, but I don’t know for sure.”

The guy shuffles away, clutching at his head, probably kicking himself for being nosy and having to live with an image that will no doubt be stuck in his mind for the rest of his days. When he’s disappeared from view, I turn to Leo and beg him to let me go and help Kai. I even promise not to look at what’s inside of the annihilated office. Eventually, he sighs, but lets me go, with him following closely behind.

When I reach Kai, still baring his teeth at the officer who is desperately trying to calm him down, I place my hand on his arm, but he shucks it away. I doubt he even sees who it belongs to. He looks too enraged to deal with human touch, even mine, his best friend. After a lot of cursing and threatening to go to town on said officer, they reluctantly pull out a set of cuffs with a stern warning to keep his cool. Things are spiraling out of control, and I have no idea how to help my friend without further incurring his wrath. However, before anything else happens, Kai’s mother appears at his side and pulls him into her arms. Something he can’t argue with.

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper to the both of them, already knowing who the victim must be; it’s obvious from the streams of tears free-flowing down his mother’s face. Kai doesn’t acknowledge my words, but his mother mouths ‘thank you’ while she holds her weeping son with a sadness I’ve never witnessed in real life. It’s like a person completely breaking in front of you.

“I’m going to take him home, Beth,” she says softly after a few moments, just as Kai finally manages to take a breath through his pain. “Thank you for staying with him, but I think it’s best you went home too.”

Kai turns in his mother’s arms to face me, and with the way that he’s looking completely destroyed, I can’t help but sob for my poor best friend. It makes me forget to think and I wrap my arms around him, not even considering whether he’ll accept me or not. I am thankful when he holds me back, all the while sobbing and burying his face inside of the crook of my neck. My beautiful, broken, friend.

“I love you, Kai, and I’m here for you,” I whisper as he cries, “please, please call me at any time. I mean it!”

Leo places one of his hands onto my shoulder when Kai is led away by his mother, initially making me jump, but when I look up into his eyes, I can almost see a hint of a tear getting ready to fall. It has me smiling a little before I nod and let him lead me back to the car.

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