Tear Down These Walls

by Sarah Kay Carter

  They stay that way until the music changes. When the beat starts to pick up, Kellen pulls away from her. Teagan smiles and so does Kellen. He takes her and spins her around. Teagan giggles. He pulls her back, and they start to dance. Teagan’s head starts to get foggy, and she can’t help but feel euphoric. She knows that she has missed this. She has missed having someone in her life. They dance with each other for the next hour. Finally, Teagan gasps, “I need to sit down. I have been standing in heels all day.”

  “Come, let’s get you some water and have you rest your feet,” Kellen suggests. He takes her hand and leads her to the bar. Teagan hops onto a stool and slowly takes her shoes off. “Ow,” she giggles.

  “Here,” Kellen says, pouring her some water. “Drink this.” Teagan eagerly takes it and chugs it down. “Thirsty?” Kellen chuckles.

  She finishes the water. “I guess so.”

  “More?” Kellen chimes. Teagan nods. He pours her another glass. While she is drinking that, Kellen murmurs, “You know what would help ease the pain in your feet?”

  “A massage,” Teagan quips.

  “That and soaking them in the hot tub,” Kellen whispers suggestively.

  Teagan grins. “Oh really?”

  “Mmmhmmmm.”

  “And where would you be while I am soaking in the hot tub?” Teagan asks.

  “Wherever you want me to be,” Kellen replies. A heat is very apparent in his eyes. Teagan gulps. He reaches over and traces his finger down her jaw line. “I have many thoughts going through my head right now.”

  Teagan sits there, as still as can be. “I need more liquor.”

  “Why?” Kellen inquires mischievously.

  “It will give me the courage I need,” Teagan quips. She waves down the bartender. “Can I get whatever beer you have on tap?” The bartender nods.

  “Liquor before beer, you are in the clear,” Kellen chuckles.

  “Beer before liquor, you’ve never been sicker,” Teagan giggles back.

  The bartender comes back a few seconds later and puts down the beer. Kellen looks at him, “Jack and coke, please.” He takes out some money and puts it on the bar.

  “Hard liquor still?” Teagan quips with a grin. “Trying to get drunk?”

  “It takes a lot,” Kellen laughs. “Like, a lot.”

  “Drink up; I want to see you tipsy,” Teagan instructs humorously.

  “I have actually drunk quite a bit already,” Kellen states, giving her a heated stare. “We are getting there.”

  “And what happens when you are tipsy?” Teagan asks.

  “I get very frisky,” Kellen answers. “This will be for your benefit later.”

  Teagan blushes. “Just my benefit?”

  Stepping towards her, Kellen bends down to her ear, “I want to show you what real pleasure is.”

  She gulps, “Now?”

  “Don’t you want to dance some more?” Kellen asks.

  She looks up at him. “I could give a damn about dancing right now.”

  Kellen arches his eyebrow. He is about to say something when a guy falls into them. “What in the hell…” Kellen snaps.

  The guy stands up and takes a swing at another guy. “Holy crap!” Teagan yells.

  A full out brawl between the two guys starts next to the bar. The din in the room is overcome with yelling. One of the groomsmen tries to grab one of the guys. That guy turns around and punches the groomsman in the face.

  A girl yells, “Someone do something!”

  “Jesus,” Kellen growls. He steps over to the guy who started the fight. He grabs out, and in two moves, flips him over onto the ground. “Stay,” Kellen snaps. The other guy steps back to kick the guy on the ground. Kellen swings his leg out and sweeps the angry guy’s legs out from underneath him. That guy lands hard on the ground and groans. The first guy quickly starts to crawl over to the second guy. “Don’t think so!” Kellen yells. He grabs the guy by the back of his collar and lifts him up. The guy turns around and tries to swing at Kellen. Kellen ducks out of the way and spins the guy around. He puts him in a headlock. The guy squirms as much as he can, but Kellen doesn’t let go. “Come on,” Kellen growls, dragging the guy out to the hall. Teagan quickly jumps down and follows him. “Teagan, stay there!” Kellen shouts.

  The other guy is suddenly running at them. Teagan turns into him and knees him right in the balls. He instantly drops to the ground. Everyone stops dead, and Kellen stares at her. Teagan takes a few steps back, just as surprised at what she just did. “That hurt!” The guy shouts.

  “Good!” Teagan snaps back. “This is a wedding, not a bar!”

  “You stupid bitch,” the guy growls, as he grabs at her feet. Suddenly, someone is stomping down on his hand, and a foot kicks him in the ribs. “Fuck!”

  Justin pushes Teagan further behind him. “You won’t lay a hand on her.”

  “Get his ass out of here!” Dwayne calls out, running over.

  Bending over, Justin grabs him by the back of his jacket. He turns and drags the guy across the floor. The rest of the groomsmen follow him. Finally, in the hallway, they get both guys restrained.

  Georgia is suddenly out there, screaming, “This is why I didn’t want to invite my extended family!” She goes over to one of the guys and slaps him. “This is my wedding, you stupid shit!”

  “Honey,” Dwayne says, stepping over to her. “We will take care of them. Go in there and deal with our guests. I will follow in a few seconds.”

  “Fine!” Georgia snaps. “You are never invited to anything again. Either of you!” Turning to Teagan, Georgia declares, “This is why I hate family gatherings. They are a bunch of Neanderthals.”

  “Come on,” Teagan laughs. “Let’s go have a drink.”

  “That sounds like a wonderful idea,” Georgia chimes back. She takes Teagan’s hand and drags her back to the bar.

  “Sit down here,” Teagan suggests, pointing to the stool she was sitting on. In a huff, Georgia plops down. “What do you want to drink?”

  Exhaling loudly, Georgia says, “Something strong.”

  “Two shots of liquid cocaine,” Teagan says to the bartender.

  Georgia laughs. “Wow, Teagan.”

  “You said something strong,” Teagan giggles back.

  “I did, didn’t I?”

  “The wedding has been wonderful so far; don’t let those two assholes ruin it,” Teagan states. “They are just losers.”

  “All of my extended family is,” Georgia sighs. “They’re ridiculous.”

  Teagan replies, “I don’t have much of an extended family, so I don’t think I have to worry about that.”

  “I have six aunts and four uncles,” Georgia groans. “And they are all trouble.”

  “Well, after this, you don’t have to invite them to anything for a long time,” Teagan declares. “Be happy about that!”

  “True,” Georgia chimes back. The bartender sets down their shots, and Georgia picks one of them up. “To making sure my kids don’t end up like my relatives!”

  Bursting into giggles, Teagan says, “Cheers to that!”

  They down the shot and both grimace, which sends them into fits of even more laughter. Unexpectedly, they hear, “You guys okay?”

  She turns to see Justin standing there. Georgia sighs, “Yeah, thanks for helping.”

  “Kellen and Dwayne called them separate cabs and are waiting outside with them. Both guys are lit,” Justin exhales, rolling his eyes.

  “To my extended family!” Georgia exclaims, as she picks up Kellen’s drink. She takes a swig. “Mmmm, jack.”

  “That was Kellen’s,” Teagan laughs. “He won’t mind.”

  “Are you okay?” Justin asks her. “You didn’t get hurt?”

  Shaking her head, Teagan says, “My knee hurts a little bit, but I will be fine.”

  Justin bends over to look at it. “Yeah, it’s a little red. You really nailed that guy.”

  “Yeah,” Teagan giggles.

  “I was tho
roughly impressed,” Justin chuckles back at her. “Who knew that you could be aggressive?”

  “Well, I have been taking self-defense classes since I got assaulted,” Teagan chimes.

  “ASSAULTED!” Georgia and Justin yell at once.

  “Ugh!” Teagan groans. “Stupid liquor, no mouth filter.”

  “What do you mean you were assaulted?” Justin snaps, putting his hand on her arm.

  Teagan doesn’t pull away from him, but she eyes him. “That’s how I met Kellen. He saved me. Two guys grabbed me off the street. They dragged me at knifepoint into the park. They were going to…well….yeah….but Kellen came in and kicked their asses. He saved me.”

  “W-O-W,” Georgia emphasizes.

  Justin shakes his head. “I would have killed the guys.”

  Teagan laughs sarcastically and pulls her arm out from under his hand. “And what you did is much better?”

  He takes a step back, with a look of shock. “You think that’s what I did to you?”

  “Of course that’s what you did,” Teagan retorts like he is an idiot. “You put my virginity on the internet for the whole world to see.”

  “You know, it wasn’t me,” Justin retorts.

  “Yes, it was you,” Teagan snaps. “Don’t pawn this off on someone else!”

  “No, I took the video, I did, but I wasn’t the one who put it on the internet,” Justin states. “I have been trying to tell you that.”

  Totally not believing him, Teagan leans against the bar. “And tell me, who was it?”

  “My drug dealer,” Justin mumbles.

  “What?” Teagan can’t contain her disbelief.

  With a heavy exhale, Justin runs his fingers through his hair. “I owed my drug dealer a bunch of cash, like a lot of money. So, I gave him my laptop. They found the video on there and posted it.”

  “I don’t believe you,” Teagan snaps. “Why wouldn’t you tell someone that?”

  “What!? Admit that I was addicted to coke??” Justin yells. “I couldn’t let my parents, or anyone else, find out.”

  Narrowing her eyes, Teagan says, “So, you kept it a secret and got five years of probation for something you didn’t do? Justin, I’m not a fool. First of all, you took the video. Why would you do that?”

  He groans and closes his eyes. “To prove to the guys I finally got you to give it up.”

  Clenching her hands into fists, Teagan growls, “You were going to show it to our friends!?”

  “No…” Justin replies. Teagan glares at him. “Okay, yes, I was.”

  Her fury builds. “So, you took it to show to everyone you finally coerced me into having sex with you! While the whole time you were fucking the entire cheerleading squad! What did it matter!? You were getting laid left and right!”

  “I was angry!” Justin snaps. “I had been waiting for years, and you wouldn’t have sex with me. It made me feel like I wasn’t enough of a man for you. I had to prove that I was!”

  “Oh my god!” Teagan exclaims.

  “Hey guys,” Georgia interjects. “Can you take this somewhere else or do it another time?”

  Jumping down from the chair, Teagan picks up her shoes. “YOU, come with me!” She grabs Justin by his jacket lapel and drags him out of the banquet hall. Without saying a word, Justin follows behind her. Slamming the hall door, she throws him down a hallway next to the elevators. “You son of a bitch!”

  “Teagan, please,” Justin exhales.

  “DON’T ‘TEAGAN’ ME!” she yells back. “You put me through hell!”

  “You said you loved me but wouldn’t show me that you did!” Justin shouts back.

  “I was 15 when we started dating. I am sorry, but that is too young to be having sex!” Teagan spits out.

  “You were 18 when you finally did,” Justin retorts harshly.

  “I didn’t want to!” Teagan cries. “You forced me to do it. You pretty much said it was sex or I lost you!”

  “We were 18; what in the hell were you waiting for!? A ring!?”

  Teagan throws her arms up, “I don’t know! I just wasn’t ready!”

  “So, what? I was supposed to wait until you were 21 or 22 before we could ever be intimate!? I am sorry; that is way too long!”

  Appalled, Teagan screams, “What in the hell does that mean!?”

  “You are sleeping with Kellen, and what, you are 22? You don’t even love him! What would I have had to do for you to have sex with me? You so easily give it up now!”

  “I…..what!?” Teagan stutters.

  “You are sleeping with Kellen! What in the hell does he have that I don’t!?” Justin asks hotly.

  “He is mature and a gentleman,” Teagan answers. “He protects me. He would never do anything like what you did!”

  Seeping in anger, Justin steps up closer to her. “I’m surprised you actually had sex; I always thought there was something wrong with you.”

  Tears start to build up and Teagan screams, “There is nothing wrong with me! He actually turns me on. You never did!”

  “So, you give it up to the first guy that turns you on!?”

  “You asshole! No, I actually have sex with guys willingly when they can last at least three minutes, since you were clocked at 2 and a half!”

  “You stupid bitch,” Justin seethes. “It was probably because I just wanted it over with. It was just something I finally achieved. You finally gave it up.”

  In that second, all the anger she has ever felt jumps out of Teagan. She reaches back and punches Justin straight in the nose. Teagan screams out at the same time Justin does. “My hand!” She cries out.

  “You….stupid….bitch,” Justin spits out, as he shoves her away from him.

  Teagan starts to fall back, but she is caught. Before she can even blink, Kellen is in front of her. Then there is a loud crack as his fist comes in contact with Justin’s face. Justin falls onto the floor. Kellen steps forward and kicks him in the stomach. The air is knocked out of Justin’s lungs with a wheeze, and he gasps. Dropping down to his knee, Kellen punches Justin in the face again…and then again.

  Finally, Teagan jumps forward. “Stop! Kellen, that’s enough!”

  Kellen punches him one more time, before he finally moves away from him. “Don’t ever BREATHE in her direction again!”

  “I am going to…..call….the cops…..on you,” Justin moans, grabbing his face.

  “Go ahead,” Kellen retorts. “I will tell them how you shoved Teagan. How is that going to look to your probation officer? You attacked the girl that you are on probation for! Go ahead, wanna use my phone? Here, I will call them myself.” Kellen pulls out his cell phone. He presses a button, “Hello, I need the number for the local police department.”

  “No! Stop!” Justin yells. “I will stay away from her.”

  “First you are going to leave. Just go. Get in a stupid cab and leave. Don’t let your friends see this because this is their wedding; don’t ruin it. I don’t want to see your pathetic ass again.”

  “Fine,” Justin groans, rolling over. “I think you broke my nose, if not more.”

  “Serves you right!” Teagan screams. “For all that you did to me!” She jumps forward to kick him herself. Before she can make contact, Kellen has her up in the air. “Put me down!”

  He laughs, “No, we are done here. Come on, Baby, let’s go upstairs.”

  “I should tell Georgia we are leaving,” Teagan snarls, glaring at Justin.

  “All right, Killer,” Kellen says, kissing her on the head. “Forget about Justin.”

  She glares at Justin before walking away with Kellen. They get around the corner, and Teagan quickly pulls her hand away from Kellen “What’s wrong!?” Kellen exclaims.

  Teagan sticks her hand out and pouts. “My hand hurts.”

  “Let me see,” Kellen chuckles.

  “It’s not funny.”

  “It kind of is,” Kellen laughs. He picks up her hand and starts feeling around it. “Open and close your hand.” Teagan c
omplies. “Does it hurt here or here?” Teagan shakes her head. “You bruised your hand. It will be fine.”

  She frowns. “It really hurts.”

  “Well, you punched him hard….” Kellen laughs, “In the face. Your hand isn’t conditioned for that. We can ice it later if you want.”

  “I need a drink,” Teagan says.

  “Are you sure, you are wavering on your feet?” Kellen points out to her. “I think you have had enough.”

  Teagan rolls her eyes.

  “Here, we will get a bottle of champagne and take it upstairs,” Kellen sighs. “Let’s go find Georgia and Dwayne.”

  They walk back into the banquet hall. Dwayne and Georgia are on the dance floor. “I’m going to go talk to them,” Teagan says. “You can get the champagne.”

  Kellen bends over and kisses her.

  “Meet you back here,” Teagan declares. He smiles and nods. Teagan turns and walks out onto the dance floor. When she comes up to Georgia, Georgia’s smile waivers. “We’re going upstairs!” Teagan yells over the music.

  With a speculative look, Georgia asks, “Where’s Justin?”

  “He went home and won’t be back,” Teagan retorts.

  Exhaling, Georgia says, “What happened?”

  “Nothing, don’t worry about it!” Teagan smiles “Enjoy your beautiful wedding. Keep your thoughts on tonight!”

  Mmmmm,” Georgia hums. “I can’t wait.”

  “Oh boy,” Teagan laughs. “On that note, I love you guys and will see you tomorrow.”

  “Okay, have fun upstairs,” Georgia teases.

  Teagan smiles, “I plan on it.” She waves. “See you tomorrow!”

  “Bye!” Dwayne yells back.

  She turns around and heads back to Kellen, with a bottle of champagne. “Ready?”

  “Yes,” Teagan snorts. “I have had enough of tonight.”

  “Oh, poor baby, well let’s get you upstairs,” Kellen laughs.

  As they walk to the elevator, Teagan groans, “I think my feet hurt as much as my hand.”