The Winner Takes It All

THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL
Chapter Twelve: You've Dug Your Own Grave, Now Lie In It
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's POV:

I had a gun in my hand.

It was loaded.

And it was pointed straight at Joel.

Joel slowly turned around, a manical smile on his face, and I pressed the gun to his forehead.

"I hate you," I said.

"You ain't gonna shoot me." Joel retorted. I pressed the gun to him even harder.

He threw me pushed me towards the bed and I stumbled.

"You don't know me." I assured him. "I'm not the same girl you tried to rape last time, she's gone."

Blood colored my fingertips.

"You took my life and you made it a living hell."

"If I can't have you, no one will."

"And all I can think about is that I hate you."

The music was off, and people crowded and gasped as they saw what was happening. I could hear many a phone dialing the police.

I looked at Joel straight in the eyes, and I knew he knew how much hatred I had for him. I could see it in his face.

"I hate you." I repeated menacingly, and I curled my finger to the trigger.

"," cried. "Please don't."

"I hate you." was all I said, ignoring 's pleas.

"!"

"I hate you."

"," said one last time. "Think about ."

My insides froze.

I glanced at with tear-filled eyes, and then back at Joel. Joel's smile had disappeared, but he was no more sane than he had been on the day he'd first attacked me. I released pressure on his forehead slightly.

"I hate you," I said. "But you're not worth any more of my time, or my life, or 's life, or my baby's." And with that, I removed the gun from his forehead, then clubbing him with it and kicking him as hard as I could in the stomach. Thank God I was wearing heels.

"I won."

leaped off the floor and ran to me, embracing me in a hug. I burst into tears immediately and sobbed into his shoulder. He ran his fingers through my hair.

"It's okay, love. It's okay."

The cops burst through the kitchen door and lifted an unconscious Joel off the floor. He came to just as they were hauling him out. He looked at me.

"What did you say? What baby? Whose baby?!" he thundered, trying to worm his way out of the police mens' grips. But he was powerless.

тАЬWhose baby?!" he screamed.

I sighed into 's shirt and he wrapped his arms around me. "I think the party's over." said to everyone. "Thank you all for coming. Sorry it had to end so early."

We said our goodbyes to our friends and slowly our new flat emptied. and stayed behind as always. pulled the chopsticks out of her hair and twisted it into a tight bun before shoving the sticks back through. let out an exasperated sigh as he pulled off his bowtie. I cracked a small smile as he shoved it in his pocket.

тАЬThere goes my best punch bowlтАж..тА? He mumbled to himself as he bent down and began picking up the pieces. squatted down to help, but his wince caught тАЩs attention.

тАЬ,тА? said. тАЬTake and get him patched up. Me and will handle the mess.тА?

тАЬThank you, .тА? I replied. тАЬYou are always around to pick up the pieces and clean up my messes.тА?

тАЬWhat are friends for?тА? replied with a smile, grabbing a broom from the corner.

I wrapped my hand around тАЩs waist and nearly dragged him out of the kitchen. He protested, but I ignored him. A few moments later I lowered him onto the couch.

тАЬWhere are you hurting the most?тА? I asked softly, crouching down to his level. I placed my hand on his knee and smiled as I caught sight of my engagement ring. It wasnтАЩt too flamboyant, but perfect and simple. It was the most beautiful ring I had ever seen. I had only had the ring two weeks, but it still took my breath away. With other hand I picked up a napkin off the coffee table. I dabbed it in a glass of water and pressed it up to тАЩs bleeding eyebrow.

тАЬIтАШm fineтАж.тА? replied with a wince as I began dabbing at the cut.. тАЬItтАЩs not everyday I feel like IтАЩve been hit by a bus.тА?

тАЬBe careful, ! Are you trying to cut yourself?! тА? We both cracked a grin as тАЩs voice echoed from the other room. started laughing when shouted a swear word.

тАЬI told you so!тА? shouted in return.

began to laugh harder and I dropped my hand to my side. Instantly, his laugh was cut short by a groan. He brought his hand to his chest and went quiet. He gritted his teeth in pain.

тАЬThatтАЩs it.тА? I replied getting up and reaching for the cell phone that was sitting on the table. тАЬWe are going to the hospital.тА?

тАЬNo.тА? groaned pulling me down beside him. тАЬWeтАЩve been in and out of the hospital for what seems like months. Your operations, my concussion, baby checkups. I mean, hell, last week even was in the hospital! I just want to stay home for once.тА?

тАЬBut ,тА? I protested. тАЬYou need an x-ray.тА?

тАЬIтАЩll be okay.тА? replied. тАЬI just need to sleep it off.тА?

We didnтАЩt speak again. I reached for the phone anyway and began to dial. I heard a soft thud, but pushed it aside. I paused when appeared at the kitchen door with a smile on her face. She leaned up against the frame and looked at me. Her arms crossed in front of her chest.

тАЬKitchenтАЩs clean.тА? said. тАЬAre you going to the hospital?тА?

тАЬWe are discussing it now.тА? I replied.

тАЬMore like arguingтАжтА? mumbled.

looked over her shoulder and her smile grew. Her eyes flickered mischievously and she met my eyes. For once, her mind was a complete secret.

тАЬтАЩs fainted.тА? She said.

тАЬWhat?тА? I asked. тАЬIs he alright?тА?

тАЬI think so.тА? said looking over her shoulder again, her grin growing. тАЬHe might have a slight concussion, though. He hit his head pretty hard on the tile.тА?

тАЬWhat did you say?тА?

тАЬHe mentioned something about how will need a playmate. I merely told him it would be a lot sooner than he thought.тА?

тАЬLast weekтАЩs hospital trip wasnтАЩt food poisoning, was it?тА?

shook her head.

тАЬThatтАЩs wonderful news!тА? exclaimed. тАЬIтАЩm really happy for you guys.тА?

тАЬ!тА? тАЩs voice echoed from the kitchen. He rushed up to and wrapped his arms around her. тАЬIs it really true? Twins!?тА?

turned bright red and smiled larger. She looked at me and then to , before looking at again. тАЬIтАЩm only about two months, but yes, . Twins.тА?

I watched the look of pure happiness appear on both and тАЩs face. I took тАЩs hand in my own and looked at him. We were finally happy, all of us. Joel had tried destroying my life, and almost succeeded. I ended up being stronger than anyone had thought. With the help of my friends I was able to survive my ordeal and look towards the future. I kissed on the cheek.

тАЬWe won.тА?