Christian

Where do I start? Maybe at the beginning, when everything started going downhill.

I had been getting ready for hours. My longtime boyfriend had texted me saying we were going out. We had been together since high school. Probably one of the most cliche love stories but still it was mine. Anyways I finished my make-up and threw on my favorite black heels. Lukas had told me to dress nice so I figured we were going somewhere and he’d propose. Boy was I wrong. His white jeep pulled up in front of my apartment complex and I got in. “Hi babe.” I said. “Hey.” Lukas responded. “So, where are we going?” I asked while putting on my seatbelt. “Just to that place you like.” he said. Weird. Lukas was never like this. 20 minutes later we pulled up to my favorite restaurant. We stepped outside of the Jeep and headed inside the restaurant. I was greeted with low chatter and the delicious aroma of the food. Once we made it to the table Lukas’s behavior became even weirder. He wouldn’t make eye contact and was fidgety. This made me think he was actually going to propose. The waitress came around and greeted us, she told us her name was Amanda and would be our server today and proceeded to take my drink order. After she took my order she turned to Lukas and her face paled. They made eye contact and Lukas looked overcome with guilt. “Lukas, is everything okay?” I asked, my voice laced with worry. “Y-yes everything’s fine, I’ll just have a water.” he gave a small smile to the waitress and she walked off, her face like she’d seen a ghost. “So did you know her or anything, cause you kinda looked nervous?” I chuckled. Lukas took a deep breath, reached across the table, grabbed my hand, and started to speak. “Melanie, we’ve been together for five years. Your amazing and well I don’t know how to say this but-” before he could finish I said yes. “What?” he asked. “You were going to ask me to marry you right?” I looked to his eyes for the answer but they were downcast. “Lukas, what’s the matter?” “Melanie we need to break up…” He finally looked at me. “Like I said you’re amazing but I can’t do this anymore. I found someone and she’s smart and funny and I think I love.” My blood ran cold. It all clicked. “Is it the waitress?” I said, “Why does it matter?” “Dammit, Lukas is it the waitress?!” Lukas inhaled before responding “Yes.” “How long?” I managed to say. “Six months.” Amanda was finally walking back with our drinks “Here you go.” she said with a friendly smile. “Amanda is it? Well instead of a tip you can keep him.” I stood up the chair scraped against the floor. I walked out of the restaurant. Not saying anything, not feeling anything. I walked for another ten minutes before finally breaking down. I sat on the cold concrete reminiscing on the last five years of my life. Six months. For six months I had been living in a fantasy world. With it all going on behind my back. He loved her. Lukas said he loved her. My heart broke at the thought. I had spent so much time on my now ruined make-up thinking he’d finally propose tonight. I didn't know what to do. So I called up the two people I knew would be there for me. “Hey, Kim, Willow its me. Call me back when you can it’s important.” Voicemail. Great, when I need them most they don’t answer. I finally got up from the concrete dapped my face dry from the salty tears and walked in the direction of the local bar. That’s what I need alcohol. I stepped into the dimly lit building walked up to the bar and ordered a beer. I figured I’d start light and then get some strong shit. “A bit overdressed for a bar aren’t you?” A voice said behind me. I turned around and came face to face with a stranger. Odd since I know everyone in my town. “Maybe.” was all I could muster up. “Daniel Jones and you are?” he said while sticking his hand out in my direction. “Trying to get drunk.” I replied grabbing my beer and walking away from him. “Listen I’m new in town and I was wondering if you could help me out maybe show me around.” Daniel asked. This guy was relentless. “Listen I’m here to get drunk if the circumstances were different yeah I’d show you around but there not. So I’m gonna go get shitfaced.” I said. “Wow um ok. Maybe I’ll see you around yeah?” Daniel gave me a small smile and walked away.

1 Month Later

I had been a mess. Like if a train crashed into an 18-wheeler caught fire, exploded and then a meteor hit it. I mean I was with him for 5 years, Lukas was my everything and then it was over. “Hey, girl! We’re here.” I heard a familiar voice call out. “In here.” I mumbled into the pillow I was holding. My two best friends Kimberly and Willow walked in. “Oh honey. You gotta stop tormenting yourself.” Kimberly said. “Ya know she’s right he was never good enough for you anyways.” Willow chimed in. They were right but it still hurts knowing he’s gone, but I had to get over it. “Listen Mel we hate seeing you like this so we may have set you up on a little blind date.” Kimberly said. “I’m sorry what did you say?” I shrieked. “Please we even got you a dress. He moved on so should you. It’s still early but you should get back out there before you end up being a lonely cat woman.” Willow always made me laugh. “Fine but living alone with a bunch of cats doesn’t sound too bad.” They pushed me into the bathroom after handing me the dress. Holy crap. I looked hot.I came out of the bathroom and did a small twirl for the girls. It was a black knee-length dress with straps. I paired it with a pair of black heels and a denim jacket. After we finished my look Kim and Willow dropped me off at the bar. I was nervous, I hadn’t done this before. Inhale. Exhale. I walked towards the door and pushed them open. Wait how was I supposed to know what he looked like, was I overdressed, what if he stands me up. Oh no, I can’t do this I began walking towards the door when I bumped into someone. “Sorry.” I said when I looked up. Oh no it was Daniel the guy from a while back. “You again.” he said “What are you doing here?” “I was supposed to meet a guy for a blind date but I can’t.” I spoke “Really so was I. Wait are you Kimberly's friend?” Daniel asked. “Yeah um.” Wow this is awkward. “Well if you still wanna leave fell free but if not ill be at the bar.” Daniel walked away and left me to think. I decided a few drinks couldn’t hurt. I tucked a strand of my blonde hair out of my face and walked over to him. “Let’s do this.” I said.

1 Month Later

Daniel and I had really hit it off we had been seeing each other a lot. Tonight he was taking me somewhere but wouldn’t tell me. I had decided jeans and a nice shirt would be good. I threw on a pair of black boots and headed outside. An old dodge pulled up with Daniel inside. “This is new.” I said, “Yeah I decided to switch stuff up.” He replied with a smile. We made small talk on the way there. Then he pulled up to a lake. “Swimming at night? I don’t have the right clothes.” I said “Nope not swimming come look.” Daniel walked over and opened my door. In front of the lake there was a picnic. “Oh my god it’s beautiful!” I exclaimed. There was a basket with food inside, two wine glasses, and candles. “I thought you’d like it.” Daniel smiled and handed me a glass. “What kind?” I asked “Merlot.” I took a sip it was good. Over the next few minutes I had finished the glass and began feeling drowsy. Weird. Wine never makes me tired. I struggled to keep my eyelids open. “Daniel w-what's happening?” I mumbled softly. “Goodnight Melanie.” He whispered and then it all went black. “Melanie.” distantly a familiar voice called to me. “Melanie. Wake up.” My eyes slowly blinked open, I could feel my head throbbing and hear my heart beating. I was disoriented. “There she is.” Slowly a dimly lit room came into focus. I saw someone standing in front of me “D-Daniel?” I asked. “Nope try again.” he said If it wasn’t Daniel why did he look like him? “Who are you.” I cried. The stranger chuckled, “You really don’t know do you?” he said almost sounding hurt, “Well I'm Daniel’s twin Christian. And your Melanie Lee Woods, born in Bigfork Montana, 23 years old. Nice to meet you.” Christian, as he called himself, stuck his hand out like he wanted me to shake it. “Oh my bad you can’t shake my hand you seem to be a little tied up.” Christian laughed. “What do you want? I never did anything to you!” I struggled against the rope. “See you did do something to me, ever since Daniel ent out with you he just stopped talking to me and we’re brothers. I'm his family and he left me for you!” Christian yelled. “I didn’t know he had a brother I'm sorry.” I said “Right... Sorry is such a meaningless word isn’t it? It may sound good but it doesn’t fix anything! Now If your not in the picture then Daniel won’t leave me, his family, ever again.” Christian began to pace “Wait please don’t hurt me.” I said I began to struggle and try and break free of the rope only causing it to grow tighter and hurt my wrists. “It’s too late Melanie. I can make it look like a suicide. Say you were so broken up about Lukas.” He chuckled. “It's the perfect plan.” No. No no no no no! My life was finally getting better. The panic set in. I could feel the cold sweat dripping down to my face. The chills running up and down my spine. “Please. Christian, please think if you hurt me Daniel won't forgive you.” I tried to reason with him. “Your right.” I let out a breath I didn’t know I had been holding. “I'll just have to convince him there was something wrong with you.” Christian came towards me with something in his hand. “W-what is that?” I asked trying to scoot away. “Don’t worry it’s just a little sedative.” Christian pushed some of my hair away from my face. “What a shame…” Was the last thing I heard. I woke up in the backseat of the old pickup. “Danny slow down what happened?” I heard Christian say. He was on the phone with Daniel. I tried to scream but there was duct tape over my mouth. “I'll be home in a bit ok? I'll see you soon little bro bye.” Christian hung up the phone. “He’s worried about you doll.” Christian said. I tried to speak but couldn’t. Finally, the truck stopped. He got out and pulled me out with him. It was the lake where we had the picnic. “Are you right handed or left handed?” He asked while ripping the tape off my mouth. “R-right why?” I said. Christian didn’t answer, he began slipping on a pair of gloves. Then he pulled out a gun. “No! Christian please!” I cried. “Shut up!” He yelled. “It’ll all be over soon.” I could feel the cold metal on my right temple. The tears kept pouring out. I closed my eyes and took what I assumed would be my final breath. BANG! I flinched at the deafening gunshot. I was still alive? But how? I forced my eyelids open and saw him. Daniel. He had a gun in his hand. Christian was standing there a hole in his stomach, his mouth hanging open. “Danny?” Christain said his knees hid the ground and his hand went over the wound. Daniel dropped the gun and ran to his brother “I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Chris.” Daniel whispered. “It’s ok.” Christian chocked out. Sirens began to wail around us. It was all too much I fell to my knees and broke down. Daniel had shot his brother for me. Everything went by so fast. “Ma’am? Ma’am, are you alright? The paramedic asked. “What? Yeah, I am. I watched as Christian’s body got wheeled in another ambulance, and Daniel talked to the officers. I sat on the back of the ambulance for a while and then Daniel walked over. “Hey.” I said. He just looked at his feet. “What happened to Christian wasn’t your fault.” I said trying to comfort him. “I shot him. I shot my own family. He was always there for me, and how do I repay him? I shot him Melanie!” Daniel sat next to me and I put my head on his shoulder. “You did the right thing.” I said.

6 Months Later

Since everything went down Daniel and I have been each other's rocks. Two months after it happened Daniel and I got serious. We even got a place together. At Christian's funeral, Daniel did the eulogy. The best part is that everything is ok now. I sat on the couch with my favorite book and a cup of coffee when someone knocked. I opened the door to a face all too similar to the one I loved. “Christian.”