| Title: Brooding California Author: Priscilla Chapter 7: Readjustment I sat there, the cold rising up from the ground strong enough to match the chill in my chest. My tears were like a river, I couldn't remember when I'd started and I didn't remember when I finished, I just stared off into nowhere for the longest time. Sleep is not something you need when you're distraught and feel like your own feelings have been taken and used against you. That's how I felt right then, as if I'd been betrayed. I didn't know what to do; I felt trapped in a situation that I'd put myself in. How many times had I laughed at the idea of Milo being alone for any long amount of time? It was profoundly obvious that if I wanted him with a passion so would most of the normal female population of earth. God, how could I have been so stupid? To think that just because I had these feelings he would just automatically know how I felt and react accordingly? Shaking my head at the now humiliating facts, I got up from my hiding place on the public park bench and pulled out my cell. Let's see, I've almost completely severed the relationship between me and my parents, so of course, the only one left was Krista. I pressed the speed dial number and waited. Krista worked out of her office at home so I knew that she'd be up and typing away by now. "Krista Lawrence, attorney at law." Came her vibrant voice on the other end. "Hey." I said trying to fake a happy mood. I don't know why I always felt I had to do that with her, I guess it's just the goodness that radiates off her. Like you can't feel glum for any length of time around her. "Annie hey! So tell me how'd it go with Milo?" She asked in a very excited voice. "Not good. That's kind of why I called. I need to get out of here, go someplace that everywhere I look won't remind me of him." I said my voice cracking and eyes tearing up immediately. Krista sighed heavily. "I'm so sorry baby." Was all she said after several seconds pause. "Do you have money? Like enough for a ticket down here?" "Yeah." "Then get yourself on a flight NYC. I'll be waiting for you at La Guardia." She sounded excited again, and I have to admit that I was too. Maybe this was meant to happen if only to bring us together again. "Ok, I'll see you in a couple of hours." I said before hanging up and hailing a passing cab. Screw whatever was left there. I didn't want to think about the things I was leaving behind. When I get to New York, I'd call the guys and tell them what happened. Maybe this band thing just wasn't meant to be, you know? Title: Brooding California Author: Priscilla Chapter 8: Confrontation My heart was thumping wildly in my chest as I looked up at our building. Well, mostly their building. Only they would live here after today. I finally got my legs to work long enough to get me in front of the Suite door. I pulled the key from my front pocket and opened the door. It emitted no sound as I pushed it open and I was grateful. I just wanted to slip in and out unnoticed. I stepped in and shut the door behind me as I made my way down to the bedrooms. I instantly noticed that the mess I'd left behind had been cleaned up. I had to shut my eyes as the events that lead to this moment flashed through my head like some decrepit slide show. Snapping out of it, I made my way to the end of the hallway and opened my bedroom door. I pulled open my closet door and started pulling my clothes off the hangers, neatly folding them and placing them in the duffel bag I'd bought on my way here. When that was finished, and I was pretty sure that all my belongings were in the bag, I sat down and grabbed a piece of paper and a pen from the night table next to the bed. It took several minutes to scribble some kind of coherent apology to Miriam that I could feel ok about. I also wrote down my sister's address and her phone number where she could reach me anytime. "So you're back." The sound of Milo's voice stopped my hands in mid fold of my mini letter to Miriam. I stared blankly at my hands for a few seconds, trying to gather my strength for what I was about to do. I placed the neatly folded paper with a large M. on the bed and stood up slowly. Milo felt ignored I guess, because he stepped around me so that we were facing each other. "Not for long. I'm leaving." I said, cringing inwardly at the chill in my tone of voice. When he didn't say anything, I picked up my bad and turned towards the door, but before I could walk through, a strong hand reached out and took hold of my forearm. "Don't do this Annie. You don't have to go." I turned my astonished gaze onto his unwavering brown and almost gasped. I wish I could describe what they said to me at that moment. They spoke of sorrow and regret and need that I knew Milo would never be able to express with words. My eyes teared up without knowing until Milo stepped in and brushed a few drops away from my eyes with his thumb. I closed my eyes and tried to store the feeling of his soft touch, of his skin on mine, in my memory bank. So that I could call on it whenever I felt the need, then I stepped back and away from him. "I have to go, I'm sorry." I said as I quickly turned and ran out of the bed room, out of the suite and out of his life. |