Previously:  Candice shook her fragile head violently, "I don't want to remember it, anymore. I don't want to remember it anymore..." She kept repeating, falling on her knees and burying her face in her hands, her hair broke free from it's ponytail and fell onto her shoulder.

He knelt down opposite her and took her hands away from her face. She looked so broken, so sad. He had to take care of her. 

Bryan lifted her chin up, their faces only centimetres apart. "It's okay..." He whispered softly. "It's gonna be okay." 

--

Bella grinned like a Cheshire cat, like she was thinking of a great plan. "Okay...well, my brother's friend is an employee at the amusement park that we went to. Since it's closed tonight i asked him to open it just for us." 

 Bryan stopped, then looked at her skeptically. "Wait...no...really?" 

 "Really." She confirmed. She pulled on his arm, "Come on." 

--

"Let me just ask you something..." She began, "What are your intentions...with Bella?"

The man on the other line chuckled, "Nothing...Seduce her."

Candice chuckled once, breathing out of her nose. "Right...okay...well, they just went into the direction of the amusement park. Make sure you're there." She ordered.

"Let me just ask you something..." The guy said. "How do you know Bryan will really want you, kid?" 

--

"I saw it. He has two separate keys. His house and car keys and another one with a key chain of Bella's name on it." Candice said.

--

Bella's manager snatched that key from Candice's hands and shoved it in his back pocket. 

"Thanks, kid." He said, and ran away.

"Hey!" Candice hissed, running after him. 

--

Bella ruffled her dark, messy pixie cut hair, before she head the door opening behind her, and closing.

"Back early?" She said, "What d'you get?" She asked, turning around, and gasping, her heart dropping to her stomach painfully, as she broke out in cold sweat. "What are you doing here?" She asked, her voice trembling. 

Her manager smirked at her in a sinister way, his eyes darkening.

-----------------------------------

Chapter 9: The mask (18+)

'A pretty face doesn't mean a pretty heart.'

-Unknown

Bella shook in fear, her eyes opened wide, as she shook her head. "What are you doing here?" She asked again, her voice more forceful.

Her manager chuckled, swinging Bryan's key chain around his finger.

Bella gasped, her eyes catching the key chain, then darting back at her manager again. "Where's Bryan?" She demanded.

--

Candice stopped Bryan, gently touching his arm, then she put her hands behind her back innocently, swinging her weight back and forth on her toes then her heels. 

"You know...you're really unfair." She said.

Bryan furrowed his eyebrows, but there was a playful smile painted on his lips. "How come?" 

"You teased me. Don't you think i deserve a proper kiss?" She asked, biting her lip. 

Bryan was confused for a second, but he remembered what he did yesterday, when he admitted that he cared about her. 

He thought he was being careful...kissing her on the forehead. But she wants more? 

"Well go on then." Candice said, waiting for him.

Candice saw the blank look on Bryan's face and rolled her eyes. "Kiss me." She said, impatiently. 

Bryan looked unsure for a second, then stepped closer to her. His eyes darted down to her lips, then back at her eyes. He shook his head slowly, "I can't. It isn't right."

"So, it's not right in public but it's right in my bedroom?" She asked.

"No...it's just...Bella's waiting for me..." Candice rolled her eyes and crossed her arms at the sound of her name, looking away. 

"I can't cheat on her." Bryan explained, desperately.

Candice gritted her teeth. She had enough. That bitch Bella needs to go down. "Well she might be cheating on you! You know, with her manager."

"Why do you say that-"

"Because i know..." Candice secretly looked over to Bella's house across the street, mentally smiling to herself. She sighed, "Forget it. I'm just...I didn't mean it." 

Bryan nodded, about to leave her and walk away, but she stopped him. 

"Let me at least say hi to her. I'll apologize for last time...you know... for ruining your 'date'." 

--

"What can i say?" Bella's manager, Steve said. "I like you." He shrugged, smiling widely, slowly walking over to her, as she stepped back cautiously. "I find you attractive."

"Please just...get out." She said, gritting her teeth, "Fuck off." 

"You're very ungrateful." Steve said. "I give you a raise and this is how to treat me." 

Bella gave up the tough act, and dropped her shoulders, looking at Steve with a pleading expression. "What do you want?" She asked, weakly and breathlessly. 

Steve was finally in front of her, as he stroked her cheek. "I want...you." 

She instinctively pulled away, looking spitefully at him. "I'm gonna call the police." She warned. 

Steve didn't seem like he cared, in fact, he looked amused, as he forcefully placed his lips on hers. 

She froze, then she tried pushing him away, screaming. He pulled away and quickly covered her mouth, squeezing her cheeks painfully and easing closely to her face. "Shut up." He whispered, making Bella have shivers running down her spine.

He threw her down on her couch and pinned her down, aggressively ripping off her shorts. 

"No..." She cried, "Please." 

"Shhhh." Steve licked her cheek, then her neck.

She grimaced, disgustingly, "No..." She tried kicking her legs out, but his weight was too heavy. 

--

"I'll try to be nice." Candice said, giving Bryan a sweet smile. 

Bryan didn't look convinced.

She rolled her eyes, "I promise i'll be nice." 

"Good." He said, walking over to Bella's porch. 

He opened the unlocked door, and stood there, his blood heating up, his jaw clenching and his face as hard as stone.

Candice gasped dramatically, covering her mouth, but laughing on the inside.

Bryan saw Steve, Bella's manager...on top of Bella...Bryan looked down at the floor, seeing both of their clothes piled on top of each other, as he saw Steve thrust himself inside Bella. 

No...

He felt sick...he couldn't take it anymore...he didn't want to see what was there in front of him anymore. 

Bryan instantly walked over to the couch and grabbed Steve by the throat, throwing him to the ground.

"What the fuck!?" Bryan shouted, throwing Steve a punch. Bryan turned to Bella, a hurt and betrayed look on his face, "Bella-"

Steve got back up and pushed Bryan away, then punched his lips. He quickly grabbed his clothes and ran out of the door, secretly giving Candice a mischievous smile, before heading away. 

Bella had tears running down her cheeks, as she covered her mouth, shaking her head. "It-it-it's not what you think!" She stuttered, visibly shaking. 

"So you were cheating on me with your fucking manager! I can't believe this!" Bryan angrily yelled, feeling like breaking something.

"You don't understand i wa-!" Bella tried to say, desperately.

"I thought i could trust you!" Bryan said, "But you made me look like a fucking fool going around and screwing your manager behind my back!" He ran his hands through his hair, groaning loudly.

"You don't understand..." Bella said, in a quiet trembling voice.

"Then explain what the fuck that was!" 

Bella flinched by Bryan's angry voice. She trembled looking down. No...she couldn't tell Bryan...it was too shameful...what would he think of her? 

"That's exactly what i thought." Bryan spat, knocking over a vase that was next to her. She flinched, another tear running down her cheek. 

Bryan walked out, passing Candice by the door way, as she just stood there, looking at Bella. 

She didn't cheat on Bryan...and Candice knew it all too well...she can tell...

Bella hugged herself, shaking and sobbing.

Candice could tell... Bella was raped...

Steve.

Steve raped her.

He said he wasn't going to do anything bad to her...

Candice nearly spoke up, feeling sympathy for Bella, but she shook her head, clenching her jaw. 

No...

She deserved it. Candice hated Bella. 

Finally...

Finally someone could experience the same pain Candice went through. 

Candice crossed her arms, giving Bella and evil smirk. 

Bella buried her head in her arms, crying, "Why....Why....?" She sobbed to herself.

Because now you can suffer like i did, Candice thought in her mind, as she looked at Bella, grimacing. "Slut." She spat at her, raising her voice to make sure Bella heard that, then slammed her front door shut and ran after Bryan, grinning to herself. 

"Bryan!" A voice called out. 

Bryan turned around, swallowing hard and forcing his tears away. 

"I'm so sorry...i'm sorry that had to happen-"

"You were right." Bryan quickly said, breathlessly. 

Candice pressed her lips together, then softy placed her fingertips near his lips. "You're bleeding." 

Bryan seemed to chuckle, placing his hands on top of her's letting it stroke his cheek. 

Candice felt guilt creep up on her, but she ingnored it. 

Bryan quickly pulled away from her, punching the concrete wall nearest to him.

"Bryan, don't!" Candice pleaded, holding his arm.

"Candice, get off me." He said, slipping away from her grip. "I'm gonna fucking kill him." He yelled, punching the wall again, until his knuckles began to bleed.

"Bryan, please! You're hurting yourself!" Candice cried, wrapping her arms around Bryan, trying to stop him. 

"Candice...please get off me...i don't want to hurt you..." He said, trying to control his anger.

"I don't fucking care! Just stop, Bryan, please!" She screamed.

"Candice get the fuck off me!" He yelled. 

"No..." Candice said, closing her eyes shut, "You can't push me away, not now." She repeated what Bryan had said to her before.

Bryan stopped, and breathed heavily. 

"Isn't that what you said to me? Well, you can't push me away as well...Bryan i..." She unwrapped her arms around him. "I care about you too...okay? So stop..." She said, sniffing. "And fuck her! Fuck that Bella girl, you don't need her anyway!" She clenched her fists, "She lied to you...she cheated on you...She's not worth it." 

Bryan finally turned to her, his eyes bloodshot.

Candice sniffed again, and gave him a sad smile, slowly walking away, crossing her arms. 

Bryan watched her walking away, as he stood there, frozen. He didn't...he couldn't let her walk away like this...

He forced his legs to run after her, as he grabbed her and stepped into an alleyway, then placed his lips on hers.

It was a long, slow kiss. His kiss felt forced, desperate.

He pulled Candice's waist closer to his, as he picked her up, her back brushing the wall, as she wrapped her legs around his waist. She took his face in her hands and kissed him passionately, their tongues brushing against each other.

They pulled away, Bryan still carrying Candice, looking up at her. She held on to his shoulders, her mouth slightly parted. 

--

Candice picked up the phone, but her mother was already shouting on the other end. 

"Candice where are you!?" She demanded, "And where's Bryan?" 

"What are you talking about? I left a note-oh...i forgot to leave the note...sorry..." She lied.

"Well, where are you?" 

"Calm down!" Candice said, "I asked Bryan to take me to Chipotle." 

"Without my consent?" Her mother asked.

"I told him you're fine with it...you are fine with it, right?" 

Ms Harrington sighed, "Candice...you can't keep doing as you please..."

"Why not? You are..." 

"Candice...let's talk about this at home." Ms Harrington said.

Candice scoffed, "I'd rather talk with dad." She said, knowing that will get under her mother's skin. "I wish i lived with him instead of you." She spat, then groaned, "Just go to work, already."

"Candice-"

Candice hung up before her mother said anything else. 

Candice looked ahead of her, where Bryan was walking slowly, putting his hands in his jeans pockets. She smiled and walked quicker, until she was right beside him. "How're you feeling?" She asked.

"Do you really wanna know?" He asked, turning to her slightly. 

Candice looked worriedly at Bryan and took his hand in hers. "Stop thinking about her...She's not worth it." 

"Candice...you don't know how much i loved her...how long we've been together...what we've been through..." 

"And look how she fucked you over." Candice snapped. "You don't need her. You have me. I'm here for you." She said, pointing at herself, desperately. 

Bryan looked at her, then nodded slowly. "Yeah...you're right..." He whispered. "Let's go." He said.

--

 Candice chuckled. "Why did you bring me to your place?" 

Bryan shut the door behind him.

"You're crazy." Candice said, smirking.

Bryan turned to Candice, smiling back, lust was in his eyes and his heart was beating frantically in his chest. 

Candice took her shirt off slowly, then slipped her jeans off. She tucked her hair behind her ear and unhooked her bra. 

She looked up at Bryan and smiled seductively at him, "Come on, then. You can do the rest." She half whispered.

Bryan was stuck in a trance, his eyes tracing over Candice's beautiful body, as she waited for his touch. She was perfect. 

He walked over to Candice and placed his hand at the back of her neck.

Bryan kissed Candice's shoulder, then her collarbone, and finally moved over to her lips.

Candice found herself on his bed, as he took off her panties and threw them on the floor, staring down at her hungrily.

He was much more aggressive this time, thrusting inside her with more power. He groaned and held her waist, penetrating her with quick short thrusts that made her gasp out loud and made her feel like 100 electric shocks of pleasure hit every nerve in her body.

"Bryan," she gasped.

He grunted holding her waist tighter, feeling Candice tightening around his manhood. He fucked her roughly, but more passionately than last time. It was like he was releasing his anger out, and turning it into lustful pleasure for both of them.

They both reached their climax, and Bryan breathed heavily onto Candice, while she let out her last moan and closed her eyes, as Bryan kissed her neck, his facial hair stubble brushing against her skin, causing her to shiver in excitement. Their skin moved against each other, as Bryan's hand trailed along her inner thigh. Then wrapped around her waist, as he picked her up. Soon, they were both sitting up on the bed, but Candice's legs were still around Bryan, and he was still holding her.  Candice ran her hands through his tousled hair, as Bryan slowly bit Candice's lower lip.

--

Candice ran her fingers on Bryan's chest, and sighed. She sat up, and grabbed her bra off the floor, putting it back on.

Bryan watched her slip on her underwear, as her smooth legs graciously moved around the room, bending down and retrieving her clothes, giving Bryan a great view to look at.

She smiled at him when she caught him staring. She turned away, shaking her head.

--

Samantha stopped at the 12th floor of the building, her lanyard swaying back and forth as she walked near his office.

She stopped behind the door and took a deep breath...

She hasn't been to this part of the building in years.

She knocked and heard the all too familiar voice telling her to enter.

She opened the door and met his eyes, looking away quickly.

But he didn't seem to react to her coming in, as he gave her a friendly smile.

"What can I do for you Samantha?"  He said formally, as if they were just strangers.

"This is about something serious...personal." She said, and sighed, "look, I need you to talk to Candice."

He looked at her, with no expression on his face, then turned back to his paperwork.

"I talked to her last month." He said, coldly.

"Yes, Marcus, you did." Samantha snapped. "But right now...I think you should. Before it's too late...it wouldn't hurt to talk to your own daughter." She said.

Marcus sighed.

"She needs you right now." Samantha said.

He looked up at her, "What about you, then?"

Samantha looked at the floor, dropping her shoulders.

"I may give her a call later," he finally said.

Liar, Samantha thought.

He stood up and walked near her, "I've got an important business meeting, so I suggest you get back to work, now." He said, and left his office.

--

Candice looked worriedly at Bryan, as he was sitting on his front porch drinking cheap liquor for nearly an hour.

She sighed and opened the door, and stepped down one porch step, "I better go..." She said. 

Bryan put down the bottle of liquor, "No...no...i am...responsible for you..." He said, his words slurred. 

She sighed, dropping her shoulders, "You're drunk." She pointed out, helplessly. 

"No, i'm not...trust me...it'll take a whole lot more..." He gulped, "...for me to get drunk. Come on, i'll take you home." 

Candice sighed and brushed her hair out of her face. 

He got up and stumbled down the stairs as Candice helped him, giggleling. "You're out of it." She looked at his black pick-up truck in his driveway. "I hope you're not thinking about driving me there." She mumbled.

 "I'm...perfectly...perfect to drive." He insisted.

"No you're not." Candice said, still giggleling. "We're taking a cab." 

Bryan groaned and threw his limp arm around her shoulder, making Candice nearly collapse on her own feet. 

Candice pulled out her phone and called a taxi. 

"They're coming in five minutes." Said Candice. 

Bryan rubbed his forehead, and sat on the sidewalk. 

Candice felt a hint of sadness, frowning at his back, as she slowly walked over to him and sat down next to him. 

"Oh god..." Bryan finally said, "I'm gonna get fired. I'm so screwed."

Candice laughed, "Relax. My mother's not gonna fire you."

"I'm so screwed-" He stopped, realizing something. "Why do i need a job anymore? The money won't matter to me anymore...me and Bella's plan...it doesn't matter anymore so what's the point?" 

Candice was confused for a second.

"I'll probably just move back in my parent's place...oh god..." He said to himself.

Candice stood up angrily, "Fuck you! It does matter! What about me. huh?" She demanded.

Bryan sighed, "Candice, you-you know i...don't mean it like that..." He said. 

"Can't you see that i'm trying to help you and you're...still thinking about Bella...like life doesn't mean anything to you now that she's out of your life! Do you know how shit that makes me feel?" 

Bryan looked up at her, his mouth open, then groaned again, reaching up and grabbing her hips. "I'm sorry..." He mumbled, pulling her back down. 

She sat back down on the pavement and angrily glared at him, crossing her arms. He wrapped his arms around her and rocked them both softly. 

Candice rolled her eyes, trapped in his arms. 

"Okay...?" Bryan said, "I'm sorry, i wasn't...thinking." He said, slowly. 

"You weren't..." Candice agreed, "You're drunk." 

Bryan chuckled, "You're right...i admit....i'm completely...drunk." He snuggled his face on her neck.

Candice giggled uncontrollably, "It tickles...Bryan..." She said, between giggles. 

His weight pushed her down, as she found herself on the ground, laughing hard. "Bryan...stop that." She giggled. 

He snuggled closer to her, completely out of it. 

She managed to wiggle out of his grip and steadily grabbed him by the shoulder. A car pulled over in front of them, and Candice stood up. "Come on, the cab's here." She said.

When he wouldn't move, she tried to grab him and pull him up, but she couldn't. 

"Bryan." She hissed, "You have to get up..."

"Mm..." Bryan groaned.

"Bryan if you don't get up...my mum's gonna find out and you'll b-be fired." Candice said.

The car honked and Candice turned around.

"Everything okay, miss?" The cab driver asked.

"Um..." She looked back and forth at him and Bryan, "actually, can you give me a hand?" 

--

"Well, at this point I don't even know what to do..." Candice said to herself, looking hopelessly down at Bryan, who passed out on the couch.

She sighed and marched upstairsm Did he decide to get drunk because of that stupid Bella? That thought angered her. Why was she so important to him?

She thought that by getting rid of Bella, she'd have him all to herself, the only person who'd care about her.

But what is that empty feeling sinking into her chest?