“Well, now that that’s over, I want you all to be bathed and ready for bed by 10 p.m.,” Mr. Carswell said with a stern voice. He stood up and then walked down the hallway back to his room.
The door shut and then Nick stood up.
“I will go get ready for bed first,” Nick said, getting up and walking towards the bathroom. Nick looked exactly like Ethan and Dylan, but had brown hair and brown eyes and was much smaller than them.
“I will go get ready for my turn,” Ethan said, getting up and walking towards his bedroom.
Dylan remained on the couch with Bethany.
“Aren’t you going to get ready for bed?” Bethany asked.
“In a little while,” Dylan said with a sad tone to his voice.
“You know you can talk to me Dylan. If Caroline rejecting you bothered you. . .” Bethany began to say, noticing that Dylan seemed to look like he was being grabbed with cold hard icicles.
“It’s just. . .” Dylan began leaning on Bethany’s arm.
“It’s okay. I won’t judge you,” Bethany said. “I know how much it hurts.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I’m in love with someone, but he’s getting married to a rich girl for his father’s company.”
“You’re in love with Ethan?”
“Yes. I have been for a long time, but I guess we can’t always get what we want can’t we?”
“No. But, I thought. . .,” Dylan began. He started to shake a little and Bethany put her arms around him.
“You thought what?” Bethany asked.
“I thought she loved me back.”
“It’s not that easy. . .” Bethany began.
Ethan was in the hallway peeking out from around the corner listening to their conversation.
“She probably does love you, but she is just doing the best she can for your father’s company. Did you ever stop to think about the fact that she’s going to marry Ethan just to help your father’s company?”
“No.”
“So, in a way. . .she’s showing that she still loves you even though she can’t be with you. It hurt her pretty bad when she told you ‘no’. She wanted to say yes, but she knew she couldn’t disappoint her father.”
“That makes sense, but what about Ethan? What does he want?”
“I’m not quite sure whether he is marrying her for the company or because he kinda likes her.”
“But, he said he loved you.”
“Well, life’s difficult. Our feelings change. One minute you’re in love and then the next. . .you're not.”
“But, doesn’t it hurt to see him with her.”
“Well, of course, it does. It hurts a whole lot, but you can’t help someone’s decisions.”
Nick then walked up to Ethan in his nightclothes.
“What are you doing?” Nick whispered to Ethan.
“Shh. I’m listening,” Ethan responded.
“Well, it’s your turn for the bathroom,” Nick said. Then he walked out from behind the corner and ran to Bethany.
“Bethany! I’m ready for another story!” Nick shouted excitedly running up to Bethany.
“Oh, are you now?” Bethany said with a smile.
“Yes!” Nick said.
“One moment. . .,” Bethany began, taking her arms off Dylan's shoulders. “Why don’t you go get ready for bed.”
“Ok. . .,” Dylan said, slowly getting up and walking to the bathroom.
“Can I snuggle with you, Bethany?” Nick said, sitting by Bethany on the couch.
“Of course,” Bethany said, folding her arms around Nick, holding him tight. “Now, what story would you like to hear tonight?”
“A love story,” Nick said happily.
“Are you sure?” Bethany asked, surprised.
“I’m sure,” Nick said.
“Ok. . .Once upon a time, there was a beautiful maid and a handsome prince that she worked for. . .,” Bethany began.
A long time later, Bethany finished up the story and Ethan and Dylan had come to listen too.
“. . .and the prince married the rich girl next door and lived happily ever after,” Bethany said, finishing the story.
“What happened to the maid? I thought the prince loved her?” Nick asked.
“The maid lived happily watching the prince and his bride grow up and spend the rest of their lives together. The end,” Bethany said.
“But, why didn’t the prince marry the maid? He’s supposed to marry the maid,” Nick said, getting angry.
“All right Nick, it’s time for bed. Say ‘goodnight’ to Bethany and Ethan,” Dylan said, picking up Nick and holding him in his arms.
“Goodnight, Bethany, and goodnight Ethan,” Nick said while being taken off to his room.
A few seconds later there was silence and then Bethany got up to go to her room.
Another few minutes later there was a knock on Bethany’s door.
“Come in,” Bethany said, taking out her hair and looking in the mirror.
Bethany was wearing a light blue worn nightgown making her hair stand more out.
“It’s me,” Ethan said, coming in and closing the door behind him. Bethany looked at him.
He was wearing a light green button-up nightshirt and matching night pants. His hair was a mess and it still looked cute on him.
“Do you need something?” Bethany said with a little anger escaping her tone.
“No. I just came to say goodnight. Did I do something to upset you?” Ethan asked, sitting on Bethany’s bed.
Bethany paused and then sat next to him on her old torn bed.
She looked into his eyes and then began to cry.
“Hey. Hey. What’s wrong?” Ethan asked, looking worried. He then grabbed Bethany and pulled her into his lap.
Bethany wrapped her arms around his neck and cried into his shirt.
“I’m. . .so. . .sorry. . .,” Bethany said, trying to calm down.
“Don’t be. Tell me what’s wrong. I won’t judge you,” Ethan said with a soft and sweet voice.
That seemed to make Bethany cry harder.
“I. . .I. . .I. . .can’t. . .live. . .like. . .this. . .anymore,” Bethany said, trying to get her words out.
“What do you mean?” Ethan asked.
“I’m tired of being the one who has to put on a fake smile,” Bethany began straightening herself up in Ethan’s lap and calming herself down. “I’m tired of being away from my sisters. I’m tired of being the only one who cares.” Bethany ripped her arms away from Ethan’s neck and placed them in her lap.
“Hey. Who said you were the only one who cared?” Ethan said, lifting Bethany’s face to meet his.
“I. . .,” Bethany began.
“I love you, Beth,” Ethan said with such passion, meaning every word.
“But. . .”
“Nothing. Caroline can’t compare to you. You are one of a kind and I love you because you’re you.”
Ethan then kissed Bethany letting his hands flow around her waist. Her hands flowing around his neck and into his hair.
They kissed and kissed. Their kisses were passionate and full of love and hope.
“I love you too, Ethan,” Bethany said, breaking the kiss. “As much as I enjoy this, it is time for us to head to bed.”
“You’re right, as always,” Ethan said, whispering the last part in Bethany’s ear. Ethan then pulled Bethany in for a final kiss.
The door then swung open. Mr. Carswell came in striped nightclothes and slippers.
“What is going on?” Mr. Carswell said, looking at Bethany sitting in Ethan’s lap.
“Um. Father let me explain,” Ethan began to say, moving Bethany off his lap.
“I don’t want to hear it. Bethany, you can’t love Ethan. Ethan is marrying Caroline whether you both like it or not,” Mr. Carswell said.
“Yes sir,”Bethany said looking at her hands in her lap.
“Both of you go to bed. Bethany, we have a lot to do tomorrow,” Mr. Carswell. “I’m going to pretend that this never happened. If it happens again, you both will be punished.”
“Yes, father,” Ethan said, standing up and bowing. Ethan left the room, leaving Mr. Carswell and Bethany in the bedroom alone.
“You know better, Bethany,” Mr. Carswell said, looking a little sad.
“Yes sir,” Bethany said.
“Now, get some sleep,” Mr. Carswell said, turning off the light in Bethany’s bedroom and walking out.
“Goodnight,” Bethany said as the door closed behind Mr. Carswell. Bethany settled herself in the covers and made herself comfortable. She waited a few more moments before she quietly cried herself to sleep.
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