"Alright, are ya still okay with holdin' the party here?" Polly asks, a cautious look on her face.

"It's a bit late now." Louise smirks, the beer sodden college guys chanting around us.

"Yep." Elena agrees.

"Sav?" Polly pleads with her eyes.

"It's fine." I assure her, "But we aren't making a habit out of this, okay?"

"Sure gal!" Polly grins before handing me a cup of punch. "I made y'all a lime and coconut flavored punch." She swiftly passes some to the other two. "Enjoy!" She finishes before turning and disappearing into the depths of our house.

"Alright." Louise grimaces at the liquid, "I'm gonna go find somewhere where I can drink this, and then throw it up without having to pay for any damages." She shrugs before sloping off.

"Well done for submitting that paper." Elena grins at me.

"Thanks." I reply, "I would have settled for a quick celebratory Chinese, but Polly wanted to celebrate in a more elaborate way."

"I wouldn't expect anything less." Elena giggles before a few of the guys join us, Pete wrapping his arm around Elena's waist as Liam downs a shot and we soon descend into easy conversation with them, laughing and joking about college life, Elena's inability to whistle and Liam's awkward experience with a girl and her sister the previous weekend.

Finally I spot the one man I've been waiting for walk through the doorway, his eyes quickly scanning the room before resting on me.

"Brett!" I exclaim happily, already tipsy as I skip over and wrap my arms around his neck.

"Hey baby." He grins, wrapping an arm around my waist before taking the beer that Liam is handing him.

"You're late!" I pout and he smirks at my expression.

"I'm sorry!" He mutters, "I'll make it up to you later." He nudges my shoulder and I blush slightly as Liam laughs, quickly excusing himself.

"I'll hold you to that." I grin.

"Good." Brett smirks before lowering his lips to my ear, "It's been far too long since I had your legs wrapped around me."

"Brett!" I squeal slightly, gently slapping him on his chest as my cheeks redden once more, never getting used to any kind of dirty suggestion that falls from his mouth. "How was work?"

"Long." He grimaces. "I can't wait for this deal to be finalized."

"Me neither." I smile in agreement, anxious to have my boyfriend's time back, "I need another drink." I announce and Brett quickly slings his own cup back, downing the contents.

"Me too." He agrees as I begin to lead him over to the kitchen.

*~*~*

Brett laughs at Elena and I as we attempt to dance together in the middle of the living room an hour later, none of the boys willing to make fools out of themselves, no matter how much drink we ply down their throats.

"Looking good Elena!" Pete calls out and she flips him off, causing the other lads to holler.

"Boys are so stupid!" Elena giggles and I nod in agreement as Polly struts over, her eyes wide.

"Have y'all seen Liam?" She asks.

"Liam?"

"We was in ma' bed making out and then he ran off!"

"Did you scare him?" Elena accuses, crossing her arms.

"Hold on!" I giggle, "Liam? As in Brett's quiet friend, Liam?"

"Hell yeah." Polly grins, shooting me a wink before disappearing back off into the crowd, her head craning back and forth.

"Wow." I shake my head as Elena smirks.

"Did I just hear Polly say she was making out with Liam?" Pete asks, sliding up behind her as she giggles. "What about Chris?"

"They had a one nightstand three months ago! I think Chris will be okay." She retorts and he laughs, sliding his arm around her as they continue to dance. I sure hope so, the memory of how hung up Chris used to be on Becky only too clear in my mind. Hell, she only planted a few kisses on him and he was smitten.

Excusing myself from the besotted couple I turn and make my way over to Brett as he finishes his bottle of beer, grinning at me as I approach.

"You having fun?" I ask, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Of course." He grins, "It's always fun when I watch you dance." He shrugs before lowering his head to mine, "It allows me time to consider all the different ways I can bend you over your bed later." He murmurs into my ear.

"Brett!" I exclaim, half giggling as I pull away.

"Tell me you don't want it." He challenges and I roll my eyes, unable to deny it. I have no doubt that he'll be true to his word, the legendary playboy knowing his way around the bedroom, that's for sure.

"I might need another drink."

"Oh no you don't!" He grins, pulling me closer towards him. "I need you to be alert." He smirks.

"Stop it!" I giggle.

"I mean every word." He whispers into my ear before placing a chaste kiss at the edge of my lips, leaving me wanting more. Way more.

"Should we go upstairs now?" I ask, a sly smile on my face. Suddenly his phone begins to ring, only slightly audible above the loud music and he quickly wrenches it out of his pocket, glancing down at the screen.

"I've got to take this." He mutters, shooting me a quick, apologetic smile before turning and striding out of the room, pushing passed the blocks of students. I make my decision quickly and follow him, my alcohol-heightened curiosity wondering what the hell his job needs him to do at two in the morning.

I spot him at the edge of the grass in front of our house, phone pressed to his ear and I quietly make my way towards him, stopping a meter short as I spy his rigid stance, his tensed back. In the last month I've seen Brett morph into a real businessman, and even though I know he hates his Father's business and how demanding he is, he loves the actual work. Getting him away from the Winters Atlantic Corporation as soon as possible is my top priority.

"No!" He snaps and I take another step towards him, "The cabs aren't running at this time!" I hear, before his words quieten again and I find myself unable to hear the conversation. Instead I bite my lip, looking over at the few couples that are leaning against our house and making out, some of them clearly dry humping each other. I grimace at the sight, quickly turning turn back away. I mean seriously, don't they have their own homes to go and do that against? I don't need those kind of ass imprints left behind on my house!

"Fine!" Brett finally snaps, tearing me out of my disgusted thoughts. I watch as he shoves the phone back in his pocket.

"Brett?" I ask cautiously.

"I've got to go." He mutters, turning back to face me and shooting me another apologetic smile.

"What?" I exclaim, "Where?"

"The office." He explains, "Apparently there's an emergency."

"But..."

"Sav I have to go." He interrupts, dropping a quick kiss on my forehead before turning and walking back out towards the street.

"Wait!" I exclaim, teetering after him, cursing Elena for talking me into wearing these blue heels. "How are you getting there?" I ask, watching as he pulls something out of his pocket. Keys. "No!" I exclaim, only now noticing the hideous company car that he drives, parked up across the street. He doesn't stop, unlocking it as he reaches it. "Brett don't you dare get in that car!" I yell, rage instantly flooding through me from the inside out.

"Don't Mother me Savannah." He mutters, pulling the door open and sliding in.

"You've been drinking!" I snap, grabbing hold of the door to stop him from closing it.

"I don't have time for this, I need to leave." He retorts, his face contorted with frustration.

"I am not letting you drive!" I practically scream as he wrenches the door from my hands, shutting it. Throwing myself over the hood of the car I plead with him through the windshield, my eyes glaring at him with nothing but anger.

"Get out of the way." I hear him yell as the engine springs to life.

"No." I shake my head. If he thinks I'm going to let him drink drive then he's got another thing coming. Fucking idiot.

"Alright!" He yells, throwing his hands up in defeat. Good.

I slowly lift my hands off the car and take a step back. Before I can blink he slams his hands back on the wheel and reverses the car away from me, giving me no time to react before he manoeuvres it around me, driving off down the street as my eyes widen in disbelief. Did he just...?

"Brett!" I scream after him, my voice unrecognisable.

*~*~*

"Urgh, I think I was run over by a train." Elena moans the next morning.

"No, you just consumed eight shots in half hour." Polly reminds her.

"Why did we think that was a good idea?" Louise grimaces. "You okay Savannah? You disappeared quite early."

"Yeah. I had a headache." I mutter, grabbing hold of a glass from the cupboard and filling it with water. Truth was I'd gone straight up to my room, left Brett around fifteen voicemails screaming at him and then sobbed my heart out, sitting at the foot of my bed all night, tears streaming down my face as I waited for the phone call that Brett had been in an accident. Thankfully it never came, with no cops showing up either.

Thank God.

"You feeling better now?" Louise asks.

"No." I admit. Will I ever? Can I ever forget what Brett did last night?

"Why don't you stay in bed today S?" Elena asks, her head still on the counter. "You could miss one day of college."

"No it's fine." I dismiss, "I'll take some painkillers and it will be fine." If only that's how it worked.

"There's nay way I'm goin' in." Polly scoffs.

"Me neither." Elena groans.

"I already called in sick to the cafe." Louise shrugs, "First time I've ever done it."

"I vote against hosting parties at our house next time." Elena snorts, "Have you seen the state of the living room?"

"Unfortunately." Louise groans.

"I'll help tidy it when I get back from college." I mutter.

"I have to get ready for my date with Pete in two hours." Elena moans.

"You're still going to go?"

"Yeah." She sits up slightly, nodding.

"I'm going to get ready for college." I quickly smile at them all before making my way upstairs to make myself look presentable. My phone is still on my bed and there have been no messages from Brett. It's the best thing really, I need space from him right now, and he probably knows that.

Hell, right now I don't even want to look at him, I don't want to confront what he did last night. It was the worst thing he could ever possibly do to me, and it has thrown our entire relationship into a great big fat uncertain question mark.

I can't be with someone who would endanger lives like that. I can't and I won't. There's no excuse for it.

But I love Brett. I haven't said it out loud, but I do. His Father puts so much pressure on him to help with the business, and last night I know that Brett felt like he had no other choice than to do what he did. But that's still no excuse.

Can I ever look over what he did last night? Can I trust that he won't do it again? I don't know. It was a decision like Brett's that caused my parents to lose their lives, and that decision is surely unforgivable?

I need space. I need space and time so that I can think everything through. And I need him to know that I'm hurting. He needs to figure out how wrong this is, how badly he messed up this time. Everything was going so well but this... I don't know how to solve this.

Turning to my closet I pull out one of Brett's oversized hoodies to wear. I'm angry as fuck with him, but I am not in the mood to wear anything but an oversized bundle of comfort right now.

*~*~*

Walking out of my lecture I grimace at the bright sunlight, having spent the last hour watching Pride & Prejudice in the lecture theater that Brett and I once spent our afternoon in, laughing and joking together.

My eyes are desperately trying to stay open after the night of absolute hell. Hugging my books to my chest I begin to walk across campus, passed the trees that lined the path.

I'll head back to my house and start on the Rochdale report for Mr Elidees in two days time. Another early submission will be sure to please him even more. I'm not stupid, I know that I am absolutely smashing this internship, and even though I don't think I want to do this for the rest of my life, it's good to feel valued, to have my work appreciated. I'm enjoying it for now.

Maybe I'll pick up some chips on the way home for us girls to eat tonight. We can have a movie night, a back to back Harry Potter-athon and stuff our faces. I sure do need something to take my mind off of my unforgivable boyfriend...

I'm shocked out of my daydream by the sound of my phone ringing. I shift my books to one arm and pull it out of my pocket, lifting it to my ear as I answer.

"Hello?"

"Savannah darling." Olivia's voice comes across, high pitched and panicked.

"Mrs Winters?"

"Yes. I think you should come down to the hospital." She manages to get out.

"The... the hospital?"

"Yes." She confirms and I feel my heart begin to race, my breath begin to quicken with fear. "Brett was in a car accident..." I hear nothing else as my ears go numb, a loud ringing the only noise I can comprehend.

The books in my arms fall to the hard gravel below, quickly followed by myself.

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