Fanfic: Once Bitten (Chapter 2)- Hellcats
So yeah, I should have had this chapter done a LONG time ago. Sorry. I got distracted by my new obsession Pretty Little Liars and Toby/Emily. I really do want to finish this, so I'm going to make a conscious effort to do chapters on a timely basis. *nervous grin* At least that's the plan. *laughing*
In case you need to remember what happened last chapter:
chapter 1
Title: Once Bitten
Author: Jailynn
Fandom: Hellcats
Couple(s): Dan/Savannah, Noah/Savannah
Rating: PG (possibly later PG-13)
Spoilers: If you've seen episode 8, you're good. I don't know where the show is going to go so this story is completely mine.
Warnings: It might be a little anti-Marti as I'm not happy with her or her drunk mother. Also: I'm a bad editor, please forgive all stupid mistakes
Feedback: Love some
Status: WIP, multiple chapter
=-=-=-=-=
Chapter 2: Moment of Truth
=-=-=-=-=
He stands at her side and looks over at her. His dark eyes try to reassure her that no matter what he'll be there. Savannah smiles, her lips shake and she lets the expression drop. Her heart literally hurt and they haven't even stepped inside. What is it going to be like when she's face to face with him, them? Noah holds out his hand, palm up. She takes the offering in relief, hoping he will instill strength in her like he has done in the past.
“You don't have to walk in there,” Noah says, giving her the out in case she needs it. “We can go somewhere and just talk.”
Tempting, the idea of never entering the bar is very tempting and it's on the tip of her tongue to give in and leave, but she doesn't, she can't. This is her world. This is her squad. These are her friends...well most of them anyway. She can't abandon them because her heart is broke. It isn't fair to them. They didn't do anything to her...well most of them anyway. One bad apple, or cheer leader in this case, should not ruin the bunch, or her fun. Savannah takes a deep breath in, holding it then releases it slowly and tries to smile again. With his hand in hers she feels the expression come easier and stay. Turning her head toward him, she shakes it slightly, “No, I need to do this.” Pausing, she changes her words, “I have to do this.”
Noah knows her well enough to take her words for what they are and nods. “Okay then,” he straightens his shoulders and grins back at her. “How about we show them all how it's done?”
Her eyebrow quirks and her eyes slant a little in amusement, “Show them how what is done?”
“How to party,” he lets go of her hand and bounces a little, shaking his body. A much needed laugh bubbles up inside of her at the display. He stops, a soft look on his face and he sighs, “There she is.”
“There who is,” Savannah questions quietly.
“The girl I used to know,” he responds taking her hand again.
She chews her bottom lip thinking about those words. “Did she leave?”
“I thought,” he meets her eyes with an honest stare. “I thought she might have for a moment.”
“I don't want to lose who I am,” she admits as they stand in the doorway. The pulsing music starting to seep into her skin. She pushes her brown hair over her shoulder and drops her eyes from his. “I just want to grow. I just want to be better than I am right now.”
Noah squeezes her hand, “I think you can grow. I think you already have, but I don't think you can be better than you are right now.” Sadness fills her and she turns away from him to hide the tears. He curls a finger under her chin and gently turns her back. “You can't be better than the best, Savannah. It just wouldn't be fair to the rest of the world.”
Her insides warm at his words, not just because he was being sweet to her and she really needed that right now, but because she knows he means what he says. He has never lied to her, unlike certain other people she knows... Savannah leans her head against his shoulder, holding his arm with her other hand, “Thanks, Noah.” He shrugs and she knows, once again that with him at her side she'll be fine- she'll be stronger. “Let's do this!”
He laughs and pushes open the door, holding it for her to get through.
=-=-=-=-=
Dan sees the door swing open and like he has done all night, he waits, watching, hoping to see a certain brunette walk through. For the past hour and a half, he's been extremely disappointed, because even though lots of brown haired, brown eyed, pretty girls have entered the bar, none have been the right one. He takes a deeper pull from the bottle in his hand. He knows that if she doesn't come soon, she isn't coming and his time is running out. The bitter beer slides down his throat as she walks in finally. Her head is down and he feels his stomach tighten. She looks beautiful. The neon light from the sign at the door lights a halo on the crown of her head.
He smiles a little. A halo. Perfect for her. Because she is an angel. Sweet and gorgeous. Smart and honest. Good and he didn't deserve her, even for the small time he had her. His eyes drop and he scuffs the tip of his boot against the worn wood floor. Dan can still see her eyes, so broken, so confused, as he told her he needed time. He can still feel the sting of her hand connecting with his cheek. He deserved that slap. And more. He deserved so much more. How could he have been so careless with her heart?
Taking a deep breath, he looks up again and sees her coming through the crowd. Her smile is small on her lips. Her eyes are shining in the dim lights. Her blue sundress, compliments her sun-kissed skin in the most alluring way. He can't help the smile that settles on his lips at the sight of her. He's drinking her in. Soaking up her presence. God, he misses her.
Savannah's deep, endless brown eyes meet his and he can feel his mouth get dry. Her small smile shakes on her lips and she turns away from him, reaching behind her. He follows her movement and his chest constricts. Noah walks into view. Her ex comes to stand at her side. She grips his hand, whispering in Noah's ear. Dan looks briefly in Marti's direction and sees she is watching the silent play unfold. Her blue eyes meet his in sympathy.
“Sorry, Dan Patch.” His best friend says just loud enough for him to hear over the music. Dan shakes his head. He doesn't want 'sorry'. He wants Savannah. How stupid of him that it took losing her to realize that fact? “What are you going to do?”
He finishes off his beer in one gulp, “Oh probably something stupid.” Dan leaves the empty bottle on the bar and moves slowly toward Savannah. Her eyes get wide the closer he gets and her breathing comes quicker. He stops a foot from her and looks directly at the couple holding hands. His eyes graze over Noah. The good guy. Square. Clean-cut. He would never cheat on her. He would probably write her poetry. He is better for her and Dan hates him. He dismisses him with another glance, settling his eyes on Savannah. She nervously bites at her full bottom lip. “How have you been Savannah?”
Her eyes widen further. Whatever she is expecting that obviously isn't it? Maybe she expected him to walk past her? Look past her toward the door? Find another girl and ignore her? Her mouth opens then shuts in a firm line. Her eyes cloud with so many emotions he can't pick one out. She shakes her hair back, straightening her shoulders and she tilts her head to the side. The dark brown orbs clear until only one emotion is left: defiance. Dan feels momentarily impressed. Then the reality of the situation finally dons on him: she's going to stone him even further.
“I'm fine,” she chirps in her hyper voice. It rings false, but she doesn't give him time to analyze that. “How are you doing, Dan?”
“I'm doing alright,” he lies with ease.
Her nods slightly. “I wouldn't expect anything else.” Those words cut him just the way his sweet angel wants them to. He nearly reels back with the force of their power. She didn't believe their relationship ending effects him. That thought never entered his mind until now. Savannah turns her head toward Noah and she smiles effortlessly. “Do you want to dance?”
“Yeah,” Noah says with a grin of his own. Dan really hates this guy.
Savannah starts to walk past him and he reaches out to stop her. His hand lands on her upper arm and he feels the electricity tingle in his body at the contact. She looks down at his hand and he can feel her shake. He's a touch unsteady himself at being so close to her. Her jasmine perfume fills his head, making him woozy. What the beer can't make him feel, one touch of her skin could. She shifts, obviously recovering faster than him and he has to force himself to focus.
“Can we talk, Savannah? Please,” he pleads. He never pleads. He's the epitome of zen. But for her he'll be different he realizes. He'll change and he'll do it right this time. He'll do whatever he has to to be with her again. The need is that strong. He notices her waver. Looking around, she thinks. Her brown eyes see something behind him and she freezes. He turns to see what captured her attention and finds Marti watching them. His throat closes, he knows her answer. “Savannah...”
“I can't talk now, Dan,” she sidesteps him and moves further onto the dance floor with Noah. “I'm busy.”
She turns her head back toward him one last time and their eyes meet. What he sees in them gives him hope, under the current of hurt is a small glimmer of want. She still wants him, after everything. That's why she has been avoiding him. He rubs the back of his head and thinks. Dan watches them disappear in the crowd and resolves to himself that this isn't over. He knows what he wants now. He knows who he wants now. And he will find a way to get her back. Savannah Monroe better hold on, because Dan Patch is going to sweep her off her feet.
He turns around, pushing through the mass of cheer leaders and their dates toward the door. He has some planning to do.
=-=-=-=
Noah pulls Savannah close, wrapping his arms around her as they sway to some song she can't comprehend. Her eyes peek out over his shoulder watching Dan leave the bar. Her heart still hasn't fully settled. Her pulse is fluttering as if she just completed a truly terrifying jump. She wasn't prepared to talk to him. She really never imagined he would come up to her. It seemed ridiculous and yet that's exactly what he did. She sighs, closing her eyes. Is it really necessary that he look so good all the time? Did his blue jeans have to be so snug in all the right places? Noah moves his hand up and down her back in a comforting gesture.
“I'm proud of you,” he leans down to whisper in her ear.
“I don't know why,” she sighs back, annoyed with herself and opens her eyes. “I almost followed him out to talk. I would have too had I not seen her standing there looking at us. Why can't I be strong around him?”
“I think you're plenty strong,” he answers. “You held your head up high when no one would blame you if you wanted to run and hide. What they did to you was awful.”
She pulls back sharply, her eyes narrowing a touch, “What they did- what do you know Noah?”
Her ex blushes slightly, “Your mom told me about Marti and Dan and what happened. She thought you could use a friend and wanted me to know that you might need me. That I should call and lend you a shoulder.”
“You didn't call...” her words linger as she thinks them through. “I called you. Why didn't you listen to her? Why didn't you...?”
“Take advantage,” he finishes with his patient smile. “Because Savannah I would never want to use your heartbreak like that. I knew if you wanted me to be there for you, you'd call. If you wanted to figure it out on your own, you'd do that as well.” He brushes a stray hair back from her face. “I'm always going to be here for you. But I didn't want it to be because you were forced. We've known each other for so long and we've never lied to each other, I didn't want to start now.”
Savannah stares into his eyes and feels her body relax. “Thanks, Noah.”
He just smiles again and shrugs, swaying to the music.
=-=-=-=-=