I pray you learn to trust
Have faith in both of us
And keep room in your hearts for two
Things get damaged
Things get broken
I thought we'd manage
But words left unspoken
Left us so brittle
There was so little left to give -- Depeche Mode
~~~
Hayden had been lucky to have the past couple of days off -- he wouldn't have been able to focus. Even though he prided himself on his work and never letting himself get distracted, this was a time that had proven that completely wrong.
He had called Cara the next day after their conversation. She hadn't answered - none of the 7 times he'd tried to call through the day and night.
She really doesn't believe me, he thought in sadness. She really thinks that I would just run right back to Sienna. He knew that he had to do something -- it was just a matter of figuring out exactly what that 'something' was.
~~~
Cara wasn't quite sure why she'd avoided all of Hayden's calls. She was so confused and hurt. A part of her wanted to take him at his word and believe everything he said....but her cynical side wouldn't allow it - her cynicism refused to believe that the kiss that Sienna and Hayden had shared -- the kiss apparently viewed around the world -- wouldn't have happened unless they had both wanted it to happen.
"Ya know, I have been kissed before, when I didn't want to be," Steph spoke up after Cara had talked over her previous conversation with Hayden.
Cara looked at her, "....were you drunk?"
Steph looked down at the floor, "....well yeah....but that doesn't mean --"
"--that's exactly it," Cara said. "Hayden was stone sober, and working....there was no real good reason for him to let her in, let her be that close...unless he had wanted to."
"I just don't think he'd do that to you," Steph replied.
"You were the one ready to tear his head off the other day," Cara said.
"I know...but that was just instinct to protect you," Steph said. "The more I think about it....and what he said to you....I think he's telling the truth."
Cara sighed -- she wished it was that simple...but in her own mind, it just couldn't be. This had opened a whole new can of worms, so to speak. It had really brought out the jealous side -- the jealous side that had only reared its ugly head a few times in her life...but she hated it. She hated the way it made her feel -- and she didn't know if she could handle it on a regular basis.
"I know, to add even more to your plate....what time do you pick your parents up from the airport?" Steph asked.
Cara looked at her, in dread.
She had been excited at the prospect of your family coming to visit her out here -- but in light of recent events, it was going to be extremely awkward. They had heard all about Hayden and had been anxious to meet him. Then, she had had to bring the disappointment of explaining that he wouldn't be able to make it back in town -- and now....if they'd even heard a part of what had been circulating in the media....it could be very bad.
~~~
Cara chose not to tell her parents unless they brought it up first. She was determined to have a good weekend with them and to push every thought of Hayden into the back of her mind -- at least for the next couple of days, although she knew it would be easier said than done. Friday evening, she had picked up her parents from the airport and they had taken her and Steph to dinner at a quaint restaurant off the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.
Saturday morning, the group had gone out for a big breakfast and a day of sight-seeing around Los Angeles. Steph was filling them in on the various auditions she had been on.
"Cara, how is work going for you? Are you enjoying working for that production company?" her father asked.
"Yeah, its great, the people are really great," Cara replied, hoping he wouldn't press further about work or bring up Hayden.
"It's a real shame Hayden couldn't be here this weekend...I would have loved to have met him," Cara's mother said. "Jenny, Dora's daughter from down the street? She absolutely loves him! Dora said Jenny's seen all of his movies at least 20 times a piece!"
Steph looked over at Cara silently, who only gave a weak smile in response.
After a long day of sight-seeing, and a huge dinner at The Ivy, a treat for her parents - the group settled back in at the girls' apartment.
It had been cloudy and overcast for most of the day -- an oddity at times for the area -- after dark, the rain began to pour heavily.
"I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow," Steph complained. "I wanted to go lie out on the beach."
The group was in the living room watching television when there was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it," Cara said, kind of unsure who would be at their door at this time of night.
She could see a soaking wet figure through the peephole. It can't be, Cara thought to herself.
The heavy rain threatened to come inside as she pulled the door open. On the other side of the door, she found Hayden, standing there in a thin rain coat and jeans, completely drenched. The rain was rapidly falling in droplets from his uncovered sandy hair and those bright blue eyes looking right into her brown one's.