Tea & Biscuits

‘So tell me Beth? How have you been? It’s been so long. Are you still working in the travel agents?’

‘Yes.’ Beth lied.

‘DON'T FUCKING LIE TO ME!’ Steve screamed and put his foot on the accelerator as they sped out of town and onto a winding country lane.

‘Steve! Slow down…. I’m sorry…I forgot, I moved jobs.’
Beth gripped the edge of the seat; her breath was coming in short bursts. She thought she was going to die.

‘I know. I went into the travel agents. They told me you didn’t work there any more. And you moved house didn’t you. Twice.’

‘How the fuck does he know so much?’ Beth was so scared she couldn’t speak but nodded. He was looking at her and expected a response.

‘I know you were seeing someone else, Beth. I understand you were lonely. I forgive you. But its just the two of us now.’ Steve’s face lit up with happiness.

‘How do you know about Alan?’ Beth said in a strangled whisper. ‘Oh god, let him be OK’

‘I said I forgive you Beth, but you will not mention his name again, OK?’ Steve’s face was clenched, a nerve in his cheek pulsing with fury.

Beth knew it was a bad idea but she needed to know and seeing as she was probably dead anyway, she decided to play a dangerous game.

‘What did you do to him, Steve?’ Her voice held the edge of a challenge.

‘To who?’ He looked at her, his face deadpan. She knew it was a trap before she opened her mouth.

‘To Alan!’ Beth was frantic.

Steve laughed slowly.

‘You went and did it, even after I told you NOT TO!’ He screamed in her face, not watching the road. The car mounted the grass verge and he veered it back sharply onto the road.

Beth gasped and closed her eyes tightly.

‘Did he fuck you, Beth?’ Steve asked her quietly.

‘None of your business.’ Beth retorted. She was getting sick of this.

Steve grabbed the knife and waved it in front of her face.

‘Answer me you fucking bitch or I will kill you!’

His voice was menacing, specks of spittle on his lips. He was driving erratically, the car veering all over the road.

Beth gasped. ‘O.k. O.K!’ She took a deep breath. ‘Yes…’

An image of her and Alan making love in front of his fire passed through her mind and tears sprang into her eyes.

‘Tell me I was better than him! TELL ME!’ He was screaming, not controlling the car.

‘I can’t….’ Beth sat fighting the tears, glancing at him slowly, a plan forming in her mind.

‘WHY THE FUCK NOT??’ Steve was incredulous. 'This stupid bitch just wants to die' he thought.

‘BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A LIE!’ Beth screamed into his face and grabbed the steering wheel, turning it sharply to the right.

The car veered off the road, hitting the grass verge at speed. It flew into the air before landing on its roof and turning over and over. There was a sickening noise of crunching metal and glass, the sound of a car horn, the hum of the engine, steam rising from the bonnet.

The windscreen was smashed inwards, hiding the faces of the occupants. Blood was dripping down the inside of the glass.