I can't be sure that this state of mind, is not of my own design
I wish there was an over the counter test, for loneliness.
For loneliness like this.
8:30AM
Cara paid the cab driver and tried to quietly let herself into the apartment.
Her behavior was in vain because she found Stephanie sitting on the couch, waiting for her.
"Hi," Cara said weakly/
Stephanie just looked at her in surprise. "You scared the living hell out of me."
Cara looked at her in surprise and then rolled her eyes. "Geez, sorry Mom."
"Don't be sarcastic," Stephanie said. "We're new to this city and you disappear for the entire night with a complete stranger. I freaked out-"
"--hey wait a minute," Cara stopped her. "Weren't you the one on my case about getting out and having fun?"
"Yes," was all Stephanie could reply. Stephanie always had a flair for the dramatic -after all, considering her chosen profession.
"We're both adults, Steph. I don't need a babysitter."
"Yeah, you were pretty out of it last night though," Stephanie said.
Cara sat down on the couch beside Stephanie, putting her head in her hands. "Yes, I'm just a giant walking hangover at the moment."
"Well, now that I know you weren't lying in a ditch somewhere....tell me what happened!" Stephanie cried.
"Hayden's very sweet and we had a great night together," Cara said, her head still in her hands, not meeting Stepanie's widened eyes.
"Do you mean to tell me that you slept with him?" she asked.
Cara slowly looked up at Stephanie with a look of guilt - she didn't need to answer the question. Her eyes said everything.
Stephanie playfully slapped her arm, "you little hussy!"
Stephanie was only joking but it didn't serve to make Cara feel any better.
Cara had never had a one night stand before. In fact, she'd always prided herself on not being that type of girl....apparently until now.
"I know...and I'm not proud of it," Cara said.
"Well I sure as hell would be!" Stephanie laughed.
Cara looked at her.
"What?! I would be..." Stephanie said excitedly.
Cara just shook her head. In the light of day, her transgressions didn't seem all that fun, exciting or appealing.
"I feel like a sell-out," Cara said. "There I was, as predictable as every other girl around there wanting his attention...."
"Yeah, but you had his attention. Trust me, no one else did," Stephanie said.
"Yeah, well that was last night - he probably has blinders on in pursuit of a conquest," Cara said dryly.
"Geez, you're cynical," Steph replied.
"I'm just speaking the truth."
"So, what happened this morning?" Stephanie asked in an interested tone.
"Nothing, I left before he woke up."
Stephanie's eyes got even wider. "So, you, a college graduate ingenue, actually bailed on a Hollywood stud player guy?"
Cara cringed at the description.
"Unbelievable," Stephanie said in amazement.
~~~~~~~~~
Hayden grumbled under his breath, stumbling into the kitchen to get a glass of water to take his aspirin.
"Geez, somebody fell off the wrong side of someone's bed...god knows who's bed though?" Tove needled him in a teasing tone.
Hayden was not amused, "shut up Tove. I'm not in the mood for the bullshit remarks."
Hayden sat down in a chair across the table from Tove.
"Want some coffee?" Tove asked. Hayden shook his head that he did.
"So, did you sleep here last night?"
"Yeah," was all Hayden replied.
"I thought I heard someone leave early this morning," Tove pressed further with the conversation.
Hayden looked at a magazine setting on the table, not really wanting to discuss the matter. "Yeah."
Tove rolled his eyes, "That's really all I need Hayden....I'd rather you not bring girls back here that will stalk the place."
"She won't be stalking, alright?" Hayden snapped. "In fact, she left before I woke up."
Tove looked surprised. "Wow...your old routine."
Hayden rolled his eyes. "Oh well...last night was last night. It's over. I'll probably never see her again anyway."
~~~~~~~~~~
Monday morning
"Alright, we have two meetings back to back this morning," Tove said as he got out of the car with Hayden following.
"Alright, sounds good. I've read the script for the Atlantic project. I think it sounds promising," Hayden commented.
"Yeah, I liked it too," Tove said as he opened the door to the office.
Hayden followed him through the door and the sight he saw nearly put him into shock. There, sitting before him at the desk was Cara.