Chapter Eight.

Rick looked at the graves all around him and drew in a sharp breath. Zayne and Buck were in a place like this, buried six underground in Indiana National Cemetery.

"I am sorry." He whispered, tears burning his eyes. "I'm sorry that I couldn't save you both."

Do you not think it is about time you forgive yourself? Rose's words whispered across his heart.

He stuffed his hands into his hoodie's pocket. He lifted his face to the sky, letting that day's ambush play all over again in his mind.

They had been quietly approaching the enemy's camp to ambush them, unaware that the enemy had already been lying in wait for them. Immediately they had gotten close to the gate, it had rained bullets. Zayne had gotten hit immediately. Buck who had been beside him, had reached out to Zayne and had had bullets run through him, killing him immediately. Just as he had been about to run to them, Fred, the Captain, had grabbed him by the collar and had screamed for whoever was still alive to retreat. And even though everything within him had wanted to scream and scream, he had had to let himself get dragged by Fred, the picture of his two best friends dead replaying in his mind.

He shut his eyes and sobbed, his shoulders racking with grief, the pain in his heart almost tearing it out of his chest.

"I couldn't save you."

The truth is you could not have stopped those bullets from hitting Zayne and Buck. The truth is you could not have stopped Zayne and Buck from dying. It is about time you forgive yourself, Rick.

He fell to his knees and sobbed harder, letting that truth wash through his heart. He sobbed harder, letting the pain and the regret flow out. He sobbed harder until he could picture Buck's smiling eyes and Zayne's loud and annoying laughter. He sobbed until he was exhausted but there was a smile on his lips.

******

"How did you get invited again, Bonnie?" Rose asked as they climbed out of the car.

"A favorite customer of mine and a friend of mine invited me and asked me to invite as many as I can. She is the wife of the owner of the house."

She looked up at the minimalist house and whispered. "Wow." The house was so beautiful and the surrounding view was breathtaking.

"Yeah." Bonnie grabbed her hand and led her and Rick in.

A woman who was in her early thirties smiled at them. "Hello, Bonnie." She hugged Bonnie. "So glad you could make it."

"Where you are and there is free food?" Bonnie stepped back. "Of course, I'll be there."

The woman chuckled and turned to her and Rick. "Hello, I'm Isabel McCarthy." She extended her hand.

Rose took it and gave it a firm shake. "I'm Rose Hokins."

"I am Rick Walton." Rick shook Isabel's hand.

"It is so nice to meet you both." Isabel smiled at them. "The food, the people and the party is this way." She led them out to the patio.

There were people - quite a number of people - everywhere.

"Gee, you know a lot of people." Bonnie said, her eyes taking in the party.

"Not me, my husband. I do know my own share of people but most of the people that are here are a result of my husband's fame. Come on, let me introduce you to him." She led them to the muscled man that was manning the barbecue grill.

Rose watched, a smile curling on her lips, as Isabel's husband's eyes lit up the moment they fell on her.

"Did you see that?" Rick whispered into her ear. "That's exactly the way my eyes lit up everytime I see you, Rosie Ann Hokins. The same way I feel whenever you wrap your arms around me like she is doing now." He stroked her face. "Every single moment I am filled with the wonder that you are mine."

"Lord, have mercy!" Bonnie muttered underneath her breath.

She turned, chuckling when she saw Bonnie roll her eyes.

"No safe place to land my eyes." Bonnie murmured in mock disgust.

Rick nodded to some group of people seated behind them. "That pretty much look like a safe place."

Isabel stepped back and gestured to them. "Honey, this is the Bonnie I always talk about and these are her friends, Rose and Rick."

Her husband shook their hands. "It is so nice to meet you all. I'm Jacob and I am glad to have you in my home. It's a relief to know this barbecue won't go to waste."

"With this amount of people in your house?" Bonnie cocked a brow. "I doubt that."

"You know what they say, it is the drops of water that makes an Ocean." Jacob replied.

"Would like for me to introduce you all around?" Isabel asked.

They looked at themselves, then shook their heads. "No, thank you." They said together.

"We are pretty good." Bonnie added. "We will just blend in."

Isabel smiled amusingly. "Okay, whatever you say, Bonnie. I will see you all soon, need to go perform my hostess roles."

"Why don't you guys grab a plate and I serve you my delightful barbecue?"

"With such high adjective," Rick's lips lifted in a half smile. "I bet it is nothing short of delicious."

"You bet right."

After being served, they found a free table.

"So now what?" She asked as she sat down.

"Enjoy the view." Bonnie let her eyes roam around. "And the music. And the delightful barbecue."

"Or we could introduce ourselves around." Rick raised his brow.

Bonnie bit her lips. "Umm, after we're done."

"So, Bonnie, how did Isabel become your favorite customer?" Rose asked, stylishly licking the off her fingers.

"Seriously, Rose?" Rick raised his brow, half amused, half dismayed. "Even here?"

"What?"

"You're licking your fingers!"

"Stylishly." She shot him a 'duh' look.

"Stylishly or not, you are still licking your fingers.

"I can't let it go to waste, can I?"

Rick threw back his head and moaned.

Bonnie chuckled. "I can not believe you still have not stopped this your terrible habit."

"You guys are exaggerating this thing. there is no big deal in licking your fingers, is there?"

"There is!" Rick exclaimed.

She giggled. "Okay, fine. I will try to stop." She chuckled. "You both should see your faces right now."

"Oh, I know how it looks." Rick answered. "It is ruined in dismay."

She laughed.

"So, how did Isabel become my favorite customer?" Bonnie returned to her question. "Well, she was kind, not vicious like some crazy brides, calm rather than a wrecked ball of stress and she was sweet and fun to talk to. So we developed a friendship. She would drop by a few times by the shop and then she referred people to me. So that's how she became my one time favorite customer."

"Awwwn."

"Yeah."

"How has business been, Bonnie?" Rick asked.

"Very well, actually." Bonnie tilted her head in thought. "It's mostly always busy."

"Then why have you not employed any salesgirl to assist you?" She asked, curious at why her friend was stubborn to get a salesgirl. "Bonnie, almost every time you drop by the shop you are stressed."

Bonnie shrugged. "Cause I am not yet rich enough to."

"Bonnie!"

"Because I still have college loans to pay, okay?!" Bonnie snapped. "Because, there are still bills stacked on my table that are screaming to be paid!"

"College loans?" Her brows furrowed. "You took college loans?"

"Of course, I took college loans." Bonnie snapped. "I don't have a rich daddy that could pay my tuition fees, Rose!" She drew back her chair. "Excuse me, I am suddenly parched."

She watched, mouth agape as her best friend stormed out of their table to the punch table.

"What...?" She started.

Rick covered her hand. "Take it in."

"How..."

"In."

She inhaled deep.

He squeezed her hand. "Let it go."

She nodded.

"O don't think it was you she was directly attacking. I think you hit a sore spot."

She turned and stared at her friend. Her friend that had been going through a lot and she had had no idea. Shame washed over her. She felt like a bad friend.

Bonnie came up, three glasses of punch in her hand. She placed one glass in front of her, and another glass in front of Rick. Then she sat down. "I'm sorry for snapping at you, Rose. I should have been more coolheaded. I am sorry. It's just that a new bill just landed on my table yesterday and everything just rose up and went crashing down in one wave of anger."

"Why did you not ever tell me?" She cried.

Bonnie shrugged. "I just didn't want to."

"Why?!"

"You were always telling me about your problems, I felt you had had enough and should not add to it."

"That was wrong. I always came to you because I knew and still know that you would always be there for me, and every time I came, I came ready to do the same for you." She shook her head. "Never feel that way again, Bonnie. I am and will always be here for you. Understood?"

Bonnie gave a form nod, then smiled. "I am sorry."

"It is okay, you are forgiven. How far are you with the payment?."

"I have paid seventy per cent."

"How much remain?"

"Thirty thousand dollars."

"Do you want us to help?"

Bonnie shook her head. "Nah."

"You're sure? I've got a rich dad."

Bonnie chuckled. "I am sure." Bonnie looked at Rick. "I am sure."

Rose picked up her punch and took a gulp. "Are we going to start meeting people now?"

Bonnie made a face. "I am rather comfortable where I am."

She raised a brow. "The geat and mighty Bonnie is shy?"

"I am not shy."

She turned to Rick. "Rick, Bonnie is shy."

Rick feigned surprise. "Who would have guessed?"

"Fine!" Bonnie exclaimed. "Let's go meet people."

She giggled and stood up.

"Hello."

She turned to see who was greeting and saw the young man whose eyes were intently fixed on Bonnie. Her eyes roamed him from the crown of his head to the sole of his feet in analysis. He was quite handsome - actually very handsome- blond, well built; his eyes were gentle and bright - which was a weird combination, if anyone asked her - and he had a nice smile.

"Hi." Bonnie replied.

Judging from Bonnie's blank face, she was affected the young man's handsome face.

She smiled, mischief dancing in her head.

Rick cocked a brow, his eyes asking 'what are you up to, now?'

She grinned. "Hi."

Rick nodded at the young man. "Hello."

"I'm Kelvin. I saw you at the punch table and your face was quite unfamiliar."

"That's because we don't know each other."

Yep, Bonnie was affected.

"I am Rosie." She extended her hand.

Kelvin took her hand in a firm handshake. "It's nice meeting you, Rosie."

Rick shot her a frown before extending his hand to Kelvin. "Rick."

She watched, bewildered, as Rick held on to Kelvin's hand, his eyes shooting off warning.

What is wrong with Rick?

When Rick finally let go of Kelvin, he came closer to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. She raised her brow at him, then turned to Bonnie.

Don't you dare! Bonnie's eyes warned

She grinned, the mischief in her rising. "And she is Bonnie."

"Bonnie, a rare but exquisite name."

Bonnie's eyes were dead.

"Smile, Bonnie." She mouthed.

If it was possible, Bonnie's eyes went deader.

"So how did you get to know about the party?"

She kicked Bonnie's leg.

"Isabel is a friend." Bonnie answered.

"Wow, how come we have never met?"

"Because the world is full of surprises."

Rick sniggered. "Poor guy."

She whacked his chest.

"Would you guys like to hang out with the rest of my buds?" Kelvin asked.

"Of course." She answered before Bonnie could turn the offer down.

"Cool. You coming now?"

"We are right behind you."

Bonnie scowled at her.

"You're welcome." She gloated.

"You mischievous punk." Rick tugged on her hair.

"What was that about?"

"What?" He gave an innocent face but his dancing eyes told her he knew just what she was talking about.

"Holding Kelvin's hand for so long, sending him warning vibes, wrapping your arm around my shoulder when you were done shaking him."

"You introduced yourself as Rosie."

She opened her mouth, closed it then smiled.

They got to the table where Kelvin and his friends were gathered. After introductions were made, a particular guy named Stefan kept hovering over her and the fact that it kept irking Rick tickled her. Finally when Stefan's attention was getting too much, she raised herself bon her toes and kissed Rick.

"About time you did that." Rick whispered.

"Watching you fume is a pleasure I can never pass."

He chuckled. He curved his arm around her neck and looked at Bonnie, who was still giving off 'stay-away' vibes to Kelvin who was still with her. "Should we go and rescue her?"

"Nah. Her shoulders are beginning to relax."

"You really want them to come together."

"I just want her to be happy."

"Bonnie has always look happy to me."

"Okay, less lonely."

"Bonnie has not been lonely, she has always had us."

She scowled at him.

"What?" His eyes danced with laughter. "Just stating 'em as I see 'em."

"Well, you are seeing 'em wrong."

"Are you sure?"

"Affirmative."

"Okay, whatever you say, smarty pants...So we are leaving them?"

"Yup."

"So what now?"

"Keep having fun with Kelvin's bud."

"Except Stefan."

She giggled, tempted to prod him. "Or we go watch those playing snookers?"

"I like that idea better."

She laughed out loud.

At the second play, Bonnie joined them st the snooker table.

She didn't have to wait long before Bonnie let out a girly scream. "Gosh, he is so handsome! Why does he have to be handsome and so sweet and..?"

Rick's brow drew together. "I thought you did not like him."

"Of course, she likes him." Rose replied. "She is pretty bad at pretending."

"Of course, she is." Rick said, his eyes saying otherwise.

"He asked me out to have lunch with him on Friday." Bonnie continued.

"Did you say yes?" She asked, excitement bubbling within her.

"Ehhhh..."

"Bonnie!"

"I said yes, but..." Bonnie groaned. "I don't know. I don't know him, we just met..."

"Well, it all starts one day and you will know him as you keep going out with him."

"I would have preferred if we were already friends before going out but with this attraction sizzling between us...urghhhhhh."

She grabbed Bonnie's hands. "Life is a risk, honey. You can not keep waiting for the normal you are used to."

"It sounds more sensible when you are the one saying it than when you are the one hearing it."

She laughed. "Just because it is all starting this way, him being a stranger and all, does not mean something beautiful and true can not come out of it."

"Can you stop throwing my lines back at me? Cause they are not making sense in my head right now and I am wondering how I could have said them."

She laughed harder thwn squeezed her hand. "Those lines are as true as the day. Let's take it with Kelvin one day after another and see how it ends. Just make sure your mind is open to the possibilities."

Bonnie smiled. "Thank you."

"And please," Rick came in. "Pretend less, let him know you like him. I did not say flirt, just encourage him."

"I want to take things slow, real slow. So, I'm still going to be doing the blank face and dead eyes thing." Bonnie replied. "It will help me to be objective in judging him."

"Sugar, there is already feelings involved, you can not be objective anymore."

"Oh, brother." Bonnie moaned. "I feel like I'm doomed."

She chuckled. "To something beautiful, yes."

"You are so excited about this, Rose."

"Of course, I am. Love is beautiful."

"Do you not think you are getting ahead of everything?"

"Of course not. Love begins one day."