The Girl Behind the Camera

Chapter 7

I've been sitting in the corner of my cell with my head buried between my knees since I got here a few hours ago. I haven't spoken a word to anyone and even refused my one phone call. Who would I call anyway? I never know who Harry is going to be from one minute to the next. I can't depend on him. I don't know Brittany or Ace well enough to turn to either of them at a time like this. And I don't have anyone else.

I'm okay with that, actually. Maybe prison will be a good fit for me. 

"So date night ends in two assault charges..."

I look up and gasp when I see Sloan standing in front of my cell. He looks tired and worn, like he hasn't slept days. He's probably been using again.

"I understand Owen, but why did you bite the security guard?"

"He was taunting me. I wasn't gonna just let him get away with it. It's not like he's a real cop anyway," I reply dryly.

He shakes his head and rubs the stubble on his chin. "You are something else, you know that?"

"Why are you here?" I ask harshly.

"Wow, is that any way to talk to the guy that just dished out twenty grand to bail you out?"

"You should've saved your money. I want to be here."

He belts out a sarcastic laugh. "You are the most impossible person I've ever met."

He steps aside and lets the jailer unlock my cell. "You're free to go, Miss Allen," he says.

I stand up slowly and walk out of the cell, past Sloane and down the hallway. He hurries to catch up to me.

"So nothing? Not even a thank you?" he asks.

"I never asked you to bail me out. Besides, I think we both know why you're really here."

He sighs. "I'm not worried about the pictures. I'm worried about you."

"Don't bother. I'm fine."

When we step outside, I'm surprised to see that the sun is dawning. I guess I didn't realize how long I had actually been in jail. I follow Sloan to his car and quietly get into the passenger seat.

He starts the car, but pauses as if he's trying to think of something to say. He looks over at me, but I keep my eyes straight ahead.

"Why are you so mad about those photos leaking? No one even knows you," he finally says.

I stare at him in disbelief. "That's exactly why I'm mad! No one knows me and I wanted to keep it that way!"

"Look, I'm sorry, okay? I accept full responsibility for this. I'm the one that took you into the VIP room at Pulse. I'm the one that kissed you so you could get your pictures. It was all my fault that this happened."

While I don't say anything, I'm relieved that Sloan is taking some responsibility for this. I know I'm at fault too since I'm the one who blackmailed him into taking me to Pulse in the first place. But the kissing thing was not my idea. If I ever figure out who snapped those photos of us, I'm gonna stomp on their face.

"But if I'm being honest," Sloan continues, "I think it's funny that you finally got a taste of your own medicine."

My mouth drops open, but I'm unable to speak. Deep down, I know he's right. I deserved this. But I will never admit that. Especially not to him.

"Don't act so surprised, Alexa. You know this is karma at its finest. You've ruined so many people with your photos and you get fighting mad the second the same thing happens to you."

"Did you seriously bail me out just so you could preach to me about karma?" I ask.

"No. I bailed you out because I owe it to you, not because I'm trying to bribe you, like you still think I am. I told you, it was my fault those photos were taken."

"They were taken out of context..."

He looks at me and laughs sarcastically. "And how many times do you think you've snapped a photo that was taken out of context? You don't know the whole story. You only know what it looks like."

While most of the photos I've taken were definitely everything they looked like, I suppose that there's some I may have made some assumptions about. There's no telling how many careers and relationships I've ruined because of it.

"I know you're not the soulless, calloused person that you pretend to be. You think these people deserve the negative attention these photos bring, but what if some of them don't?" he asks.

I can't answer him. I'm too angry. Too embarrassed. Too emotional. Too guilty. I left the paparazzi life behind weeks ago, but it seems like it's going to haunt me forever.

When I don't respond, Sloan finally backs out of the parking space and drives away. He's remains quiet during the short drive to my apartment. I use the silence to really think about what he said.

I knew all along what a snake Owen Barnes was. I shouldn't have been so surprised that he'd publish photos of me. It's not like we were friends or anything. It's the fact that he thought I'd be happy about it that really pisses me off. I'm not a mindless, Sloane Cole groupie. I don't gravel at his feet the way the rest of the world does.

But I guess that's what Sloane meant by taking things out of context. Owen assumed I would be thrilled to have my face plastered all over the LA Circle sucking on Sloane Cole's face. What girl wouldn't?

Sloan pulls up to the front door of my apartment building and I start getting my things together. I open the door, but before I get out, I look at him and sigh. "Thank you for bailing me out."

I don't give him a chance to respond. I slam the door and hurry through the entrance without looking back. I get in the elevator and take a second to check my phone for the first time since last night.

There's dozens of text messages from Ace and Brittany. I never got a chance to tell them what happened, so who knows what they're thinking. What happened last night isn't something that can be easily summed up in a text or phone call. So instead, I text them both and ask them to meet me for coffee later.

____________________________

After I take a shower and wash the smell of jail off of me, I try to put on a little makeup and do the best I can with my hair. I'm getting better at it, but it's still not one of my strong suits. I put on a pair of black, ripped skinny jeans, a plain white tank and my white converse.

I throw on my shades, grab my bag and head for the door, but I stop when I see Harry standing in the kitchen. He's staring at the wall as if he's watching something, even though there's nothing there.

"Harry, you okay?"

"Do you see this?" he asks, keeping his eyes glued to the same spot on the wall. "This wall is covered in ants."

I walk into the kitchen and stand next to him. Of course, there are no ants on the wall, but just to play along, I nod. "Oh wow. I better go buy us a can of bug spray."

He finally turns and looks at me. "This kind of ant can't be killed by spray. We'll have to tear the whole wall out and find the colony."

"Jesus, no! Do not touch the wall, Harry! We'll find a professional that can handle this sort of thing. In the meantime, why don't you finish packing. Your flight leaves pretty early."

"I can't go to Japan while these ants are here," he says, looking closely at the wall.

I sigh in frustration. "I can handle the ants, trust me. Just please...please do not touch this wall until I get back. Okay?"

He nods and walks away.

I make my way down to the first floor to meet Ace and Brittany, silently praying that I don't come home to a huge mess later.

I spot Ace sitting next to the front door staring down at his phone. I start towards him, but I hear something that causes my blood to turn cold. I hide behind the wall next to the elevators and listen to what sounds like Brittany's voice.

"Alexa Allen. Yes. Did you find her? Great. Send me everything you have."

What the hell is she doing?

Part of me wants to confront her, but after what I've just been through, I'm more cautious than usual. Besides, if I really want to know what her agenda is, confronting her isn't going to get me honest answers.

I also don't want to take things out of context or make assumptions like I used to. There could be a perfectly rational explanation for this.

I take a deep breath and turn the corner with a big smile on my face. "Hi!" I exclaim in a painfully fake voice.

Brittney puts her phone away and jumps into my arms. "Alexa! What happened to you?!"

I pull away from her and frown. "Well, it's a long story."

"Are you okay?" Ace asks with a look of genuine concern.

"I'm fine. I just...had a small altercation and spent the night in jail," I explain.

"We heard," Brittany says, biting her lip nervously. "We were kind of wondering why."

"Yes, but we knew you'd have an explanation," Ace adds, giving Brittany a hard glare. Maybe that's what her little phone call was all about. They probably heard about my arrest and wanted to know more. Brittany, being the protective sister that she is, probably assumed the worst. I guess I wouldn't want my brother dating a criminal either.

"I do, but...it's kind of embarrassing," I tell them, hanging my head.

"We've all done some dumb s**t before," Ace says. "Why don't we get going? I've reserved a table for us La Premier."

"Really? La Premier?" I ask in disbelief. "That place is pretty..."

"Top shelf?" Ace says with a wink.

I was going to say expensive, but top shelf works too.

"Don't worry, I have connections," he says slinging one arm over my shoulder and the other over Brittany's. He leads us through the door where a cab is waiting for us.

We get into the back seat with Ace in the middle. He gives the driver directions to La Premier and we drive away.

Brittany scrolls through her phone while Ace and I go off into our own little world. It's unbelievable how much I missed him. It's also unbelievable how much I'm allowing myself to fall for him.

"I was worried about you last night. I called, I texted, I waited all night to hear back from you," Ace whispers, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

I rest my head against him and sigh contently. "I'm so sorry, Ace. If I could go back in time, I wouldn't have been so stupid."

"As long as you're okay, that's all that matters," he says, kissing the top of my head.

A strange feeling takes me over, something I'd guess you'd call butterflies. It's been a long time since I've allowed myself to feel this way, but Ace is doing a good job of breaking through my tough shell. I've found myself wanting to be around him more and more lately.

"Holy s**t, Alexa!" Brittany gasps, staring down at her phone. "Some photos got leaked of you and Sloan! When was this?" she asks, holding her phone up for me to see.

I stare at the photos in disgust before looking away. "It was a few weeks ago, the night I went to Pulse."

"The night we met?" Ace asks.

I nod.

"I hate the paparazzi," Brittany says, rolling her eyes. "I swear, if I ever catch one, I'll kick them straight in the teeth."

"No kidding," Ace says. "They are always hiding in the shadows, exposing things they have no business exposing. They can all rot in hell as far as I'm concerned."

I smile uncomfortably. My plan was to be honest with them about who I really am before explaining to them why I was angry enough to assault two people in the span of ten minutes. I can't do that now or they'll hate me. Not that I could blame them. Even I hate me.