Castleton

  Rachel Corbin's Apartment

  Ned finally returns to the apartment after almost two days. Rachel sits up on the sofa cushions as her surly boyfriend slams the front door. She presses the blanket to her chest and drops both legs off of the couch. Ned spies her sitting there, his eyes becoming pinpointed. Rachel stiffens as he takes his wallet out of his back pocket. He sets the wallet on the small table beside the door--along with his van keys.

  With a cruel smirk, Ned ambles slowly towards Rachel. He opens his arms wide, narrowing his eyes further.

  "Did you miss me, Honey? I missed you," Ned rasps. "Oh God...Did I miss you."

  "Where have you been, Ned? It's been almost two days," Rachel asks, drawing the blanket tighter around her body.

  Ned drops down onto the couch, staring into Rachel's eyes. He reaches into his left pocket and takes out a tiny box. Rachel's heart flutters and she averts her gaze.

  "Oh no, Ned. You didn't?" Rachel whispers, shutting her eyes to prevent tears from flowing.

  "I did!" Ned says, gripping Rachel's chin and turning her face back towards his. "Open it. No. I'll open it."

  Ned opens the small box and there is a necklace, not a ring, inside. Rachel's stomach does a dance, a dance of relief. A necklace is much better than a ring.

  "It's beautiful," Rachel gasps, admiring the gold necklace within the box.

  "A beautiful necklace...For a beautiful woman," Ned says in a soft whisper, leaning forward and kissing the flesh behind Rachel's right ear.

  Rachel's body shivers slightly. Ned takes this as a sign. He grips the blanket wrapped around Rachel's body with one hand. Locking eyes with his uncertain lover, Ned tugs on the blanket. Rachel shivers again as her flesh is exposed to the cool evening air. Ned slides an arm around Rachel's waist and kisses her lips.

  "I love you, Rachel. It's been a long time since I could buy you nice things. I thought...I hoped you'd like it."

  "I do like it, Ned. I do," Rachel reassures him.

  "Then...How about...We get a ring to go with it?" Ned whispers, sliding his partially open lips over the flesh of Rachel's neck. "We can get married while we're away. No more of this place. No more doubting each other. How about that, Rachel?"

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  "Ned? What are you talking about? What's come over you?" Rachel gasps.

  "I've been thinking about what you said a few days ago. I've been thinking about it a lot," Ned says, tenderly caressing Rachel's exposed stomach. "I want us to be married. I want us to go away together. I wouldn't care if we never came back here again."

  "Ned..."

  "Ssh, Rachel. I get it. It's too soon," Ned nearly sighs, sliding his right hand up Rachel's torso. "You need to think about it. I know. But don't think about it too long, Rachel. The money won't last forever. It never does."

  "Money? Ned, please tell me what you did. Tell me how you got the money. I won't tell anyone. I just want to know. Please tell me...You're not helping shuffle girls around are you? You're not taking Stefan's place? Please tell me...You're not. Please, Ned."

  "No. No. Of course not," Ned exclaims, his expression shocked. "No. Come here, Rachel. No."

  Rachel allows Ned to embrace her. He kisses her left temple, whispering softly. His warm breath tickles her scalp.

  "Of course not, Rachel. You know how I felt about Stefan. Everything went to hell when that sonofabitch moved to Castleton. He should've stayed in that crazy ass town he came from. No one needed him here. As soon as he officially moved in here...He started muscling. I hated Stefan's stank ass."

  "You hated him...Because he got to Karine first," Rachel says, separating from Ned and meeting his gaze. "You wanted Karine. You only settled for me."

  "That's not true, Rachel. That's not true."

  "Sure it is, Ned. And now...Karine is dead. She's not gonna waltz in...After a few years away...And jerk you off. She's really gone this time. You don't want me!"

  "That's not true, Rachel. That's just simply not true," Ned insists, reaching out and gripping Rachel's elbows in both hands. "I love you. I never loved Karine."

  "You don't have to lie, Ned. It's okay. I've made peace with it," Rachel lies. "I just...I needed to know. I needed to look in your eyes."

  "Whatever you see in my eyes...It isn't what I'm feeling, Rachel. I promise you," Ned states, his eyes searching Rachel's face.

  "So...Who was the woman in that video, Ned?" Rachel timidly asks. "How long have you known her? Is she one of Stefan's little beauties? Do you love her?"

  "No," Ned simply states, taking Rachel's face between his hands.

  He kisses Rachel firmly on the lips. After a moment, he drops both hands from Rachel's cheeks and wraps his arms around her waist. Rachel closes her eyes as he guides her down onto the cushions. After several moments of feeling Rachel up, Ned unzips his pants.

  -

  -

  Later that evening

  Rachel steps out of the bathroom, completely dressed. Her hair is still damp but she decides not to bother blowdrying it. If she doesn't hurry, she'll be late for work. Wrestling a ponytail holder into her wet hair, Rachel hurries across the master bedroom.

  Ned props himself up on an elbow. He watches Rachel from his spot on the bed.

  "What's the big hurry, Rachel? Let me drop you off. Why have a van if I ain't gonna use it?"

  Rachel's blood freezes in her veins. She slowly turns to face her lounging boyfriend.

  "That's okay, Ned. Get your rest. I need the exercise anyway."

  "Like hell you do," Ned protests. "Lose any more weight...And your titties are gonna shrink. I like you just the way you are, Honeysuckle."

  True embarrassment seizes Rachel and she stammers--unsure of how to respond to such an honest compliment. If it is a compliment? With Ned, who knows?

  "Okay, Ned," Rachel says.