Chapter 8 | Drugged

Author's Note:

This will be the final POV chapter for Stefan!

DISCLAIMER: The following chapter contains content not suitable to underage readers. 18+ only, and do not try this at home.

∞∞∞

Stefan's POV

The last of the boxes filled the kitchen and living room awaiting to be loaded onto the U-Haul which had been scheduled to arrive in just two days.

Katherine sealed the last box of everything we could live without until after the move, "That's it, that's the last box. It's crazy to think this is our whole life we're packing up. I'm so happy we're doing this."

I wrapped one of my arms around her back and onto her shoulder pulling her in tightly, "Me too. My father's on board and already has a building for the breakout of the firm lined up in Boston, I can't believe how supportive he's being."

Earlier in the month, I called a private meeting with my father to discuss mine and Katherine's final decision to relocate for the bettering of our marriage. It wasn't a decision brought on lightly, but after much consideration, it was for the better of things.

∞∞∞

The hotel room was pitch black when I finally made my way back to the room from the beach. Katherine's dull breathing let me know she was still asleep, leaving me enough time to jump in the shower in order to collect my thoughts.

The heat from the water stung my back as I stood there glaring at the shower floor, my life was slowly coming to crumbles.

Callie was pregnant, the baby was mine. The facts were unfolding before me and there seemed to be no way out, no solution to fix either situation.

Katherine was going to leave again if she found out about Callie's pregnancy, and I couldn't tell Callie not to keep the baby. My life was ripping at the seams, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

Katherine laid sprawled out on the bed peacefully, I wanted to wake her. Kiss her face in and just live in the moment, but I knew if I did I'd fall apart right there before her.

Morning came slowly, the sun peaked from beyond the sea signaling the morning hours. My eyes were heavy from the lack of sleep, and puffy from the amount of tears I had let fall.

Katherine rolled over to nestle her head into my chest, "I didn't think you were coming back last night. I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have suggested we moved. Not after everything you've worked so hard for."

I attempted to bring her in slightly closer, "I didn't think about your feelings, and everything that's happened. I thought about myself and what was best for me, I shouldn't have done that. You were right, we do need a fresh start."

The twinkle that was once in Katherine's eyes returned brighter than ever, "You mean it?"

I brought her up to my lips speaking just before I had kissed her, "My heart is where you want it to be. You say you want to move, I'll make that happen."

The way mine and Katherine's bodies were in sync that morning made the chemistry as strong as it had been on our honeymoon, when the love was fresh.

The fireworks were almost as strong as those you'd see on New Year's, and the heat between us was electrifying.

In those lustful moments, my problems had slowly crept to the back of my mind. It was Katherine and I.

We arrived back in Seattle to our normal lives but it felt as if everything was as it should be. Katherine and I had decided to move within the next month or so; a new state and city where nobody knew our names or our past, a complete fresh start and clean sleight for the both of us.

Katherine had her eyes locked in on an old Victorian style home in Boston; complete with her dream half wrapped porch, windows covering the exterior, an outdoor greenhouse, and a backyard equipped to make a play area for the children.

My father had reluctantly agreed to let me work from home while he branched out a breakout law firm for me to solely run, a huge responsibility far greater than taking over the law firm altogether. My father was now placing me in charge of 'his baby', his company, in a new state. Claiming it was going to take the firm to newer and greater heights, which in the end would benefit us both.

Katherine was over the moon when it had been realized that relocating was a possibility, "I knew your father would understand."

The embrace she had given me was like no other, I couldn't help but press her lips to mine. Pulling her away for a second I managed to catch my breath long enough to say, "I told you, my heart is where you want it to be. Get to packing."

∞∞∞

Callie had numerously emailed me informing me of the pregnancy, telling me about the first doctor's visit and so forth. A part of me felt guilty for not being there, the other part was solely invested in mending my marriage.

Katherine wasted no time getting the house boxed up and ready for the move, the big necessities were the first to go and we were down to our very last load of things before the month was up.

I had kept the pregnancy from Katherine up until now, I wanted to tell her after the move. I wanted there to be distance between Callie and I before Katherine was made aware of the severity of the situation, I felt guilty and selfish.

Katherine sat in our bedroom watching her iPad on the Queen sized mattress we had on the floor as our temporary pallet. I made my way to the bathroom to freshen up my suit before heading out to Georgie's Pub for some last minute drinks with Chad before the big move.

"Are you going out tonight?" Katherine asked this instead of her usual 'You're not coming home, are you?' she had grown accustomed to using.

I stood in the doorway adjusting my tie and the buttons on my shirt, "Drinks with Chad, he's become such a kiss ass since he learned about the move. Guess he thinks this is his fifteen minutes of fame, free alcohol so I'll bite. Do you want me to bring you back anything?"

Katherine shook her head in refusal and returned her attention towards her movie she was watching. I gave her a kiss atop her forehead before making my way out the door, "I'll be back soon, I love you."

Benji was waiting outside of the lobby smiling from ear to ear as he held open the car door, "How is Ms. Katherine this evening?" Benji had taken into account how I was making the effort to slowly mend things with Katherine, his actions towards me had done a complete turnaround since I had eliminated Callie from the mix.

The only thing he wasn't aware of was how deep I was in an emotional hole and rollercoaster with my inner demons. "Georgie's Pub," I said as he made his way to the driver's seat, "Drinks with Chad. Im behaving Benji."

"I must say that you are, I haven't seen Ms. Katherine this happy since the two of you first got married," he tipped his hat into the mirror signaling his approval.

Georgie's wasn't as packed as I had anticipated it to be, and I couldn't make out Chad's car in the minimal cars that were parked out front. Benji shot a glance of confusion towards me and I couldn't do anything but shrug my shoulders.

It wasn't like Chad to randomly spaz out on a boy's night out, especially if the night out contained any amount of alcohol. He was either running late, or something was seriously wrong.

At Georgie's, can't be out long. Where are you? -- S

I sat in the car and stared blankly out into the parking lot, watching the road for any sign of Chad's vehicle pulling up. A vibration from my phone broke my train of thought, a text from Chad appeared on the screen:

Running late, be there in 15. Meet me inside at the bar. -- Chad

"Says he'll be here in fifteen minutes and for me to just wait for him at the bar," I put my phone into the same pocket as my hanky preparing myself to retreat from the vehicle, "Be back here by 10:00 Benji."

Benji signaled me with a nod in agreement and I was out in the open air which smelt of stale alcohol, and the light chatter of a few occupants of the pub could be heard in the distance. I watched as Benji turned the vehicle, and accelerated as he made his way down the busy Seattle street.

There was only five occupants on the inside of Georgie's, all appearing to be regulars as I had seen them here times before. Jeremy was over wiping down tables of messes from occupants and refilling beer glasses. I sat myself at the bar and started pealing up a few bar peanuts before he finally acknowledged my presence, "Hey stranger, what'll it be? The usual I presume?"

I shook my head in refusal, "I'm waiting for Chad, I'll order when he gets here." Jeremy shrugged his shoulders and returned to his work. "Jeremy," I asked for him blankly and his attention was returned to me with eagerness, "Has Callie been in here lately?"

Jeremy gave out a sinister chuckle, "Speaking of, thanks for putting in a good word for me. She was in here a couple weeks ago with her friend, we've gone out a few times since then. She really is a great one Stefan, I owe you one!"

I looked at him confusingly but brushed it off as some sort of practical joke, a way for Callie to get back at me. Of all people she would choose Jeremy, the common denominator linking me to her. She would've been better off just choosing Benji before choosing Jeremy.

I watched as the time for Chad to arrive had come and gone, and grew increasingly worried.

Where are you? Leaving soon. --S

I didn't want to abandon Chad when he had arranged the night out, but I didn't want Katherine inconveniently waiting up for me. "Looks like your buddy isn't coming," Jeremy wiped the bar of any remaining remnants of alcohol for the tenth time, "Did you change your mind on that drink?"

I fiddled with my phone waiting for a response before giving Jeremy my one drink order, "Just grab me a Jack and Coke Jeremy."

He looked at me pleasingly, "That's the spirit, let me grab some fresh Coke from the back."

10 minutes, don't leave! --Chad

I annoyingly glanced at my phone and the clock, 9:37. Chad was never increasingly late for anything. Not business, not casual outings. I was becoming more worried as each minute passed, a feeling that wouldn't fade until I saw his cocky ass walking through the front door.

The slamming of the entrance made me jump nearly out of my barstool. The clanking of heels moving across the floor brought back too many unwanted memories of Callie, it was like I knew who the feet belonged to. Jeremy walked back into the front of the bar grinning from ear to ear at the feminine presence, making my nerves unsettled to the point where I had to look over my shoulder.

"Melanie," Jeremy ran from behind the bar to wrap her in an embrace, "I thought you weren't going to show."

I held two fingers up at Jeremy, "Forgot my drink."

He released the mystery woman and retreated back behind the bar sliding me the beverage.

The mystery woman perched herself on the barstool beside me, leaning far enough forward to reveal her cleavage in Jeremy's direction to which he flashed her a seductive wink. "Jeremy," she whipped her hair behind one of her shoulders, "Get me a double vodka, it was a rough day at the office."

He didn't hesitate to prepare her a beverage knowing it wouldn't be her last. I gulped the entire drink in one swallow, slamming the shot glass face down signaling the end of my rounds.

I checked my phone for any word from Chad, no new messages. Watched as the clock steadily climbed closer and closer to 10:00. "I guess he's not showing. Tonight was a complete bust," I rested my head on my hands, started to feel a little uneasy.

"I had a friend stand me up once," the girl motioned for Jeremy to get her a refill, "I found someone better and drunk the night away. Want another round? It's on me."

I shook my head in refusal, the room was spinning all of a sudden. It was the entire drunkenness brought on by one shot of Jack Daniels, except it wasn't drunk I was feeling. The room was spinning uncontrollably to where I couldn't stand, and I began to fade in and out of consciousness. I collapsed onto the floor as a sea of blackness swallowed me.