The Other Side of Love

Chapter 6

Annabel

    I wake up the next morning feeling like I've been run over by a bus. My head is banging and I don't think I had enough alcohol to justify it. I slide my sleep mask onto my forehead slowly and when I'm not assaulted by blinding lights, relax into my pillows. The large wall clock reads 10:37 but the room is blessedly dark. Lissa is not in the room but she had all the lights switched off and the curtain pulled across the window. She is so considerate and efficient I could kiss her! Sleeping in late anytime I can is a hobby of mine, so my skin feels near to bursting with the excitement of continuing my sleep. I slap my sleep mask back onto my face and with a happy grin, turn onto my stomach and go right back to sleep.

    Or try to. It doesn't seem like I've been asleep for a minute when I hear the door open, the person I assume is Lissa, but will surely not wake myself fully to confirm enters, pulling something that makes an awful lot of clattering noise behind her. I groan and press my face deeper into my pillows, willing the sleep to take me faster but I can feel it wafting away like errant smoke to my nostrils.

    "Wake up! I brought you breakfast." Lissa says cheerfully, summing it up with a clap.

    "Go away." I mumble, contemplating if I'll get away with whacking her mouth. She'd hopefully faint and I'd catch a bit more sleep before she wakes.

    "It's way past bedtime. Get up." She says, sounding closer now.

    "Go, go. I'm this close to sleeping back. I told you I'm sleeping in today." I say.

    "And you have." She must be right behind me. And then before I can react, she drags off all my covers. The chill instantly settles onto my exposed skin and I jerk up, about to wrestle her for the covers then stop. I smell it. Pancakes. Coffee.

    My eyes are drawn to the tray which was dragged in on a trolley. I see pancakes, french fries, french bacon and scrambled eggs. There is a big kettle on a the tray and smoke curls from the mouth, teasing my senses. Coffee.

    "Yup. Breakfast in bed. I got you pancakes baby!" Lissa says.

    "You suck man. Breakfast could have waited one measly hour but pancakes! Damn, I'd marry if I wasn't straight." I say, discarding my mask and heading to the bathroom.

    "Hurry! I'm starting without you. I'll try not to finish everything off." She calls out. 

    "If you do, I'll finally give in to my violent tendencies and bludgeon you to death." I say, closing the door behind me. Then I curse my lack of tact. I've been doing a really good job of avoiding thoughts of yesterday and the tragedy it entailed. And now I've gone and ruined it. I lean against the door as the grainy picture of Jennifer's body flashes through my mind. The bastard followed me here. All the way from LA. I remember Stefan's harsh words and can't help but feel a little guilty, irrationally. I did tote the psychopath with me. If I hadn't come here and he hadn't tagged along with me she would still be breathing. It's horrible logic but death does have a undoing even the most rational of us. It's crazy the way one decision can affect another person's life so drastically. My guilt makes me wish he wouldn't turn his sick attention on others but the thought of him focusing on me and me alone makes me shudder.

    Suddenly feeling vulnerable, I walk to the mirror and splash cold water on my face. My reflection stares back at me. I know I'm being silly but I feel like I've aged years since I last saw myself. My grey eyes are wide, haunted. Straightening, I berate myself. I have to be made of sterner stuff than this. When I think of my story, I don't imagine myself to be the weak helpless damsel. I'm far past that. It'll take far more than a threat, a letter and a bloody hair to reduce me to a whimpering mess. I feel slightly callous for not lingering on Jennifer's death so much but she's dead and I'm alive and if I intend to keep it so, as well as prevent any more deaths on my behalf, I'll need all my wits about me.

    Satisfied when the haunted look bleeds out of my eye, I pack my hair in a high ponytail with a bright pink ribbon and begin brushing my teeth.

    "Did you fall asleep on the toilet? What's taking you so long?" Lissa calls out from outside.

    "Mm--commmn!" I call back in a mumble around my brush.

    I step out when I'm done, feeling lighter and refreshed. The curtain by the far wall is pulled back and the room is bright. The tattered idea of snuggling back into my covers after the meal goes up in smoke and I move towards breakfast. It's been set up on the little dining table and Lissa is already seated, digging into the scrambled eggs.

    I join her, pouring myself a steaming cup of coffee and draining it, relishing the kick it gives to my system. I reverently take out a pancake and lay it out. I grab a handful of french fries and strew them over it, and take spoons of chocolate syrup and dash it across my meal. I dust off my hands and carefully roll up my concoction and take a bite, closing my eyes in ecstacy at the burst of flavor and texture. I open them to find Lissa shaking her head, amused.

    "Don't judge it till you've tasted it." I tell her. "Here." I offer her a bite which she always turns down.

    "That's a calorie bomb right there. I want no part in your unhealthy eating." She says, taking a bite off her wheat bread french toast pointedly.

    "I always work it out don't I. It's so worth it." I say, polishing off my calorie bomb delicacy.

    She shrugs. "So when we're done eating, you're going to take a shower and we're going to the park. We'll go to the movies after that and then spend the rest of the afternoon shopping before our flight."

    "I'm very sure personal assistants are supposed to plan my working hours. My free hours are mine to do with as I please and I say I'm sleeping till the evening." I say, starting on another batch of my concoction.

    "You need to get out, Annie." I look up and the see the concern and something very close to desperation on her face. Of course. She is thoroughly shaken by yesterday and while my way of dealing with it is to sleep and keep on sleeping, hers is to go out and make new memories to eclipse it like a normal person. She could have gone on by herself to have fun but her loyalty and concern drives her to make sure I'm not wallowing in my own thoughts. "It's not like you'll be coming back to San Francisco anytime soon. And you can always catch up on your sleep another time." She says, trying to lighten the situation.

    I oblige her. "You forget, I will be coming back soon, my tour, remember? And don't you think these bags and dark circles under my eyes are very unattractive? They look gritty and exhausted. My fans will take one look at me and fall right out of adoration."

    "You don't look so bad." She says, rolling her eyes at my exaggeration. "And whatever you imagine is wrong, we can always cover it up with make-up." She gestures theatrically at the vanity.

    "And the droopy gritty eyes?" I ask with a grin, knowing fully well my eyes my eyes could never be described as droopy.

    "Shades." She deadpans.

    "You make such a convincing case, how could I possibly say no?" I wink at her and we finish up everything on our plates.

    ............….……………………...….............

    After we took a long walk in the park, during which I was stopped by many fans who wanted autographs, stopped by many more who wanted pictures or videos and got free icecream from a man who swore my songs changed his wife's life, we indeed headed to the cinema next. And straight to the 3D section. Lissa complained she had enough of horror in her life without asking for more movie-wise but I dragged her to it and together we had squealed when a man in a cape turned out to have no face and screamed when we tried to run and fire had nearly engulfed us and laughed as our seats jerked along a rusted railway that crumbled behind us, our hands clasped tightly together the entire time. When we came out, and I'd squealed 'Again!', but Lissa had looked ready to faint, so I'd taken pity on her and went back in alone.

    I come out now, resisting the urge to have another go; the thrill is so addictive, and search out Lissa. I don't find her so I put on my shades, take a sip of my martini and march to the exit. A glance at my watch shows I have spent way more time in the movies than Lissa anticipated. Our flight is in an hour. 

    I step out of the building and look around, spotting Lissa at the sitting area. She is sitting with a man and is smiling at whatever he is saying. Curious, I make my way over to them. At my approach she looks up and her partner looks my way too. I feel a jolt of delighted surprise to find it is the man from the pub.

    "My, my," I say with a smile, "what a lucky coincidence. I don't believe we've been properly introduced though."

    Somehow, my disguise doesn't hold up as much as it did in the night. "Annabel Smith?" He asks, then looks at Lissa open-mouthed. "Your friend is Annabel Smith? Damn I'm such an i***t, its rather obvious now that I think of it." He says, smiling sheepishly.

    Lissa looks amused. "I'm her personal assistant, not her friend."

    "Lissa, you wound me." I say, touching a hand to my heart. "Here I thought you and I were becoming besties. Don't mind her, she's so silly. She's the only friend I got in this miserable city." I say, sitting myself down and wondering just how unwelcome my intrusion is. 

    "Annabel, this is David Lane and David, Annabel." Lissa makes the introductions.

    "Nice to meet you again, Mr Lane." I say shaking his extended hand.

    "Please, call me David." He says with a wide grin, exaggerating his southern drawl.

    "Then I insist you call me Annabel." He inclines his head in acknowledgement.

    "You took your time," Lissa says, glancing at her watch. "Considering how long your shopping usually takes I'm not sure that's wise now."

    "No shopping. I wouldn't want to steal the last moments of you two lovebirds." I say, eyeing Lissa over the rim of my martini. 

    She stares at me blankly, faint horror in her eyes at my using the term, 'lovebird' in description of anything about her. "We are friends." She says with finality, huffing in annoyance.

    I glance at David and he's staring at her intently with a look of mild dismay. "Well then, I'll be leaving you two friends to keep on discussing very friendly things." I say with a smirk.

    Lissa makes a stabbing motion wirh her hand and I laugh. "Who's getting all violent now?" 

    "See ya." I direct at David.

    I fish out my phone as I stride away and see many missed calls from an unknown number. A text from Julian telling me he might just adopt Josie, my cat, if I don't hurry back and another from Kim telling me she has today off work and has made a dinner reservation at a nice restaurant for us when I get back. I quickly reply the two messages and check out the unknown number. Seven missed calls and a voicemail. 

    I see a little mall at the end of the complex and head towards it, wondering what gift I should get Kim and Julian. I'm inspecting a long row of diamond bracelets as I press play and listen to the voicemail. The voice makes me pause, and elation fills me. Stefan. He called! His rumbling baritone makes me want to purr and I almost miss his message. He tells me to call him back urgently and that's the gist of it. I frown, he sounds rather serious for someone calling for a last-minute grovelling before my flight takes off like what happens in the movies. Shrugging, I resign to call him back after I pick my gifts. 

    After a long time scrutinizing my options, I end up with a simple diamond heart necklace for Kim, diamond stone cufflinks for Julian and cute rainbow necklace for Josie. Happy with my choices, I pay for them and stride back out of the mall. I'm stopped by a couple that want to take a picture with me and after smiling and pouting for their pictures, they thank me and I hurry off on my way, reminding myself to get a get a wide hat the next time I decide to make a public appearance. Lissa is waiting for me inside our car when I climb in.

    "What on Earth have you been doing? We have twenty minutes to get to the hotel and then to the airport!"

    "Calm down." I say, setting down my bags. "We are already on our way. So how did your impromptu date with David go?"

    "Lord, you're so persistent. It was not a date!" She says indignantly.

    "No? So I did not see you smiling and laughing at like, everything he said?" I ask her.

    "I did not smile or laugh at everything he said!" She exclaims, looking worried and I laugh.

    "I'm kidding. Not everything. Just nearly everything." She glares at me.

    Remembering Detective Holloway and his serious message, I pull out my phone and dial his number. He picks up on the first ring.

    "Where the hell did you keep your phone? I've been trying to reach you since morning!" He launches right into his words.

    "Why, hello to you too, Detective Holloway. I've been really good, thanks for asking." Lissa arches a brow at me and I shrug. 

    "Cut the crap. Have you left yet?"

    "If we're about to go into the part where you tell me what a mistake you've made letting a rare jewel like me go and offering up any price to have me postpone my flight for a quick tumble, I'm afraid you're a little late. I'm on my way to catch my flight, and catch it I will. Cinderella's time is up." I reply, wishing he had called earlier. The thought of leaving and probably not seeing him again... it sends a pang through my chest. I realise I'll miss him. The promise of s****l bliss I didn't get the time to explore... Dammit, he's a detective. What am I thinking?!

    "What on Earth are you yapping on about? So you're not yet on the plane. Good. Cancel the flight." He says. Something in my chest hitches and I actually contemplate telling Lissa to cancel the damn flight.

    "My, my, Detective. You're saying all the right words. A man after my own heart. Alas, that won't be happening. I'm a busy woman y'know." I say, digging a bar of chocolate from the bag in Lissa's hand and popping half of it into my mouth. Mmm, delicious.

    "I'm not asking you to, Miss Smith. I'm telling you to." He says and I stiffen. 

    I laugh humorlessly. "And there is your big mistake." I say, popping the rest of the chocolate in my mouth. "Nobody orders me around. It's been nice talk, Detective---"

    "Wait. We need you, Annabel. You're our only lead in this case. He has already killed one person, he might kill again. If you're here, we can protect you and you can help us." He says, switching to persuasion when force fails.

    "I've already told you all I know. I can't help you catch him. And I think you're wrong. I'm endangering myself more by remaining here. Perhaps if I go back he'll calm back down, I don't know why he felt triggered to kill someone now but he was content to send the occasional letter back in LA." 

    "So you're going to run and hide. You're going to let a faceless man dictate your actions. You're going to let fear rule you, let Jennifer's killer roam free so you can be safe." He sounds disappointed and I cringe.

    When he put it like that, I sound like such a weak pathetic thing. I know he's probably taunting me to get me to do exactly as he says but all that comes out of my mouth is, "Fine. I'll stay. I'm giving you a week, Detective. Find this man and let me go on with my life."

    He sighs in relief. "Thank you, Annabel. We'll try our best." And he ends the line.

    I stare at my phone in my hand, wondering how he got me to agree to this madness. I shake my head and put my phone down. And look up to see Lissa's horrified face. 

    "We're not staying are we?" She asks, the blood draining right out of her face.

    I realise then, that this is probably too much crime for someone like Lissa. She must have had a simple basic life and a whole, loving family. This little glimpse into the dirty part of life must be shocking and traumatising for her.

    "I'm staying, you're leaving." I tell her.

    "But---" she begins and I hold up a finger.

    "I can take care of myself, Lissa. Think of it as a one week vacation. And no arguments, you're getting on that flight."

    A myriad of feelings rush through her face. Most prominently is relief, and guilt because of the relief. I reach out and give her hand a squeeze of reassurance and rap on the driver's screen.

    "Speakers please."

    Gentle music fills the space and I relax back and close my eyes. One more week. My mind drifts to the detective, his proud jaw, those intense dark eyes, the slide of his tongue against mine and the rasp of his beard against my skin. I don't mind one more week with the detective. Not as much as I should.