Chapter Twenty-Seven-1

"You have a fucking nerve showing up here!" Ben was relentless in his need to show us just how unhappy he was towards the situation, though did so by completely bypassing my presence. Never before had I felt so ignored and I didn't know whether to scream my arrival or to simply stand back and allow both men to hash it out. "I'm not looking for trouble," insisted Will, declaring his peace offering. "I'm here because I care about Rosie." "Bullshit! You only care about ridding your guilt and you think sleeping with her will do that!" spat Ben, approaching the composed rock star with great aggravation. Will's cheeks paled in displeasure, both repulsed and hurt by Ben's insinuation. My cousin acted as though our relationship was built on dysfunctional grounds and refused to acknowledge the fact that we might actually have feelings for each other. God forbid! "Have you seen what they're saying about her?" he rasped, growing increasingly aggravated. "She doesn't deserve this!" "Believe me, this was not how I planned everyone finding out about us," expressed Will, suddenly overcome with shame. I had yet to uncover the seriousness of the accusations aimed at me and found myself prolonging the inevitable. So far, I had read one newspaper article outlining my sordid actions in seducing a mentally disturbed rock sensation and refused to acknowledge the rest. I was a people pleaser, for heaven's sake. I couldn't handle the entire nation despising my every being. "Save your sorry excuses," replied Ben, causing Will's already prominent guilt to sky rocket. "You've failed her. You took her Dad away and now you've turned an entire nation against her! You don't fucking deserve her." Once again, my opinion was being overlooked and I couldn't quite believe the extremities Ben would go to. It was no secret he hated Will but to outright refuse my view on the matter was disrespectful and I was done sitting on the sidelines. "Don't you think I should be the judge of that?" I asked, alerting him of my existence for the first time since leaving the car. Whoever was driving had yet to pull away and I could only assume he was waiting for us to collect our luggage still situated in the boot. "I don't think you're capable of making your own decisions. Your choice in boyfriend is proof of that alone." "Ben!" scolded Zoe, jumping in to defend me. Thank goodness! "Disrespect me all you want but don't talk to her like that," warned Will, remarkably keeping his cool. I always did find his resolve a tremendous asset and even though in the midst of a potentially catastrophic conversation, I couldn't help but be proud. He always did remain true to himself and I needed to adopt some of that for myself. "Are you seriously telling me how to act around my own flesh and blood?" laughed Ben, gaining on Will like a man possessed. "Yes. I understand your hatred towards me and respect why you're upset but I won't let you bully her into thinking she's incapable of making her own choices in life. She's a grown woman, start treating her like one." Before I could process my appreciation, Ben pounced on Will and dragged him to the ground on an animalistic growl, shocking me to my very core. Putting all his effort into defending himself, Will never once threw a punch, which was more than what could be said for my idiot cousin. He continuously ploughed forwards and never once let up, even when Will's blood became prominent on his knuckles and white T-shirt. "Jesus Christ, Ben! Stop it!" yelled Zoe, unable to reach her possessed boyfriend. "You'll kill him!" The clear blue in his eyes were no longer his; a sure sign that he was not in control of his actions, worryingly so. I never expected him to react in such a way and needed to put a stop to this ridiculous display of testosterone. He wasn't thinking rationally and beating up the man he deemed responsible for the death of his uncle was a stupid act if nothing else. "Get off him!" I shouted, leaping in to disconnect their fumbling bodies. Not my best decision, I must admit. In the midst of wedging myself in between them both, Ben's fist came flying towards my cheek and pounded into my face like a force not to be reckoned with. I fell backwards a few feet before catching myself and ignored the pain shooting through my face. "Fucking hell!" raged Ben, utterly mortified. "Why did you do that, Rosie? Why did you get involved?" he cried, leaving Will's limp body to tend to my injuries. His left hand came up to evaluate his handy work but I didn't want his affection. I wanted Will's. "Are you okay?" I asked, pushing past Ben's trembling form to seek out my boyfriend's badly beaten body. "You're the one who just took a punch to the face, sweetheart. I should be asking you," he smiled, sitting up on a disgruntled moan. He spat blood from his weeping lip and struggled to focus his attention on my bruising cheek. "He's got a mean left hook, right?" "Don't joke, Will. It's not funny," I scolded, caressing the many bruises manifesting on his face. Coyly, Ben approached us and attempted access into our conversation. "Rosie, I'm sorry-" "For hitting me or for beating up Will?" I asked, squinting up at his fraught face. "For hitting you," he specified, unable to offer the same for Will. I ignored his futile efforts and focused back on Will, whose swollen face suddenly resembled that of stone. He fixated prominently on Ben and seemingly underwent a moment of clarification if his fierce determination was anything to go by. "I'll always put your happiness before my own, sweet girl," he stated, meeting my eyes, fiercely. "The last thing I want is to come between you and your family. I'm already the reason behind such heartbreak." "What? Why are you saying this?" I pleaded, grabbing a fistful of his bloodied up shirt. "You knew this going in. Why are you suddenly backing away now?" "Because no one is rooting for us, Rosie." "I am!" I insisted, prepared to fight tooth and nail for this relationship. Why wasn't he? "And what about Ben? I know you enough to know that you couldn't handle losing him. I can't destroy this family anymore. I won't." "Ben still might come around. We just have to give it time..."