The Girl Behind the Camera

Chapter 2

I toss and turn in my bed for hours, trying everything from putting a pillow over my head to putting my earbuds in to drown out the sound of Harry talking to himself in the next room. He does this often and at the most inconvenient hours. 

"I will destroy you. No, not in this life. In this life, I am immortal." 

I furrow my brows as I listen to his insanity. He's harmless, I know, but sometimes he scares the s**t out of me.

"You are no match for my powers. I've been increasing in strength for ten thousand years, waiting for the day that I would face you again."

Jesus Christ. Jason Bourne. The drugs have really done this poor guy in. He isn't always like this. In fact, sometimes he can be perfectly normal. But after tripping acid while playing video games for five years straight, Harry has moments when he completely loses his grip on reality, despite the fact that he's been clean for over two years.

I've never been a user myself, so I don't know what all the hype is about. I do know the effects it has on people even years after they use. Harry is exhibit A. My mom would be exhibit B. She overdosed a couple of years ago and ever since, I've cut all users out of my life. I can't go through that kind of heartbreak again.

I guess that's why I tolerate Harry's insanity. He's sober now, but the lasting damage from years of acid trips can't be undone. I feel bad for him, but at the same time, he brought this on himself. Just like my mom did.

That's why I've turned out to be the heartless b***h that it seems I am. My life was once pretty normal. My dad was a lawyer here in LA, my mom was an interior designer to the stars. I was an only child and pretty much got whatever I wanted. My dad was killed in a drunk driving accident when I was twelve and after that, my mom just kind of spiraled out of control. She was hooked on prescription drugs for years until she turned to harder things, like cocaine.

I moved in with my boyfriend, Ben, just before my mom overdosed. Even though she wasn't the best mother to me, it still hurt to lose her. Ben decided he couldn't deal with multitude issues so he left a couple of years ago and I haven't heard from him since. 

"If you breathe the same air as me you are doomed to the depths of hell!"

Oh dear. 

_________________________

Even though I barely got any sleep last night, due to Harry's dramatic dialogue with himself, I have to be on my A-game today. Rumor has it, the heiress of Hollywood Hotels, Kate Michaels, has been getting cozy with a soccer player from Southern Cal. The women's soccer team, might I add. It's not the lesbian fling that's breaking news though; it's the fact that said fling is going on behind the back of her amazingly beautiful fiance, Andrew Arthur, who just proposed to her last week.

Nothing gives me greater pleasure than ripping apart relationships. Especially unhealthy ones. Hey, the way I see it? I'm doing them all a favor. Lucy Stephens will get the girl of her dreams and go on to be a world famous women's soccer player. Kate Michaels will officially come out of the closet. Andrew will realize his fiance isn't batting on the same team and will find someone better for him.

Kate is leaving Starbucks now and she's been checking her phone every thirty seconds or so. She's getting into her car so I creep forward in my Fiat and get ready to follow her. I get behind her as she speeds away down Sunset Boulevard. She's heading to the side of town where normal people live, which is odd for someone like her.

She pulls up to a quaint little house and gets out of her car. I park across the street and wait for her to go inside. Someone comes to the door, but I can't make out who it is. I grab my bag and exit the car, creeping towards the house and trying to remain unnoticed. I hear talking coming from the backyard, so I tip toe around to where I see a swimming pool. I don't see the source of the voices yet, but I get my camera out just in case.

I make myself comfortable in the bushes next to to the pool and use the zoom on the camera, or my stalker scope, as I like to call it, to get a better look.

And there they are.

Target: Kate Michaels

Age: 21

Occupation: Hotel Heiress

She couldn't have made this any easier for me. They are making out like no one's watching, and I guess they really think no one is watching. Too bad for them. I snap a few photos, but as their make out becomes more heated, I decide to stick around. 

I snap a couple more photos before I notice someone snooping around my car.

I quickly put my camera away and sling my bag over my shoulder. I jog towards my car, but I stop in my tracks when I see who it is.

Sloan Cole.

"What the hell are you doing to my car?"

He looks surprised to see me, even though I get the feeling he was looking for me.

"Alexa Allen?"

"Depends on who wants to know," I reply, pushing past him and unlocking my car.

"Look, I just need to talk to you. I'm Sloan-"

"Sloan Cole. I know who you are," I say harshly. "What the hell do you want?"

He looks shocked. I guess he thought I would gravel at his feet as I'm sure most girls do. "You have photos of me."

I wait for him to continue, but he doesn't say anything else, just looks at me expectantly. Does he really think I'm just going to hand them over?

"I don't know what you're talking about," I shrug.

"Come on, let's do this the easy way, yeah? How much?" he asks, leaning against my car and looking like a million bucks in that tight fitting black t-shirt he's wearing.

"How much? Do I look like a prostitute to you?!" I ask incredulously. 

He sighs. "No. That's not what I meant. Look, just name your price and I'll buy them from you. They can't get out. My career will be ruined."

I get into my car. "Should've thought about that before you snorted a line of cocaine in front of an open window, Cole."

I slam the door shut, but he knocks on my window. "Please, Alexa. I will do anything."

I'm tempted to just drive away. I could get thousands for these pictures, but then again, there's a reason I haven't sold them yet. I don't find drug addiction quite as humorous as the affairs and sexcapades of the rich and famous. Actually, I don't find it humorous at all. The last thing I want to do is ruin Sloan's life and read about him overdosing in the news the next day. I couldn't live with that kind of guilt. 

Even though I have every intention on deleting the photos, I'm not going to let him know that. I roll down my window and smirk. "Anything?"

He nods. "Anything."

_____________________

Sloan comes back to my apartment so we can discuss the details of anything. He's dumber than I thought. I'm really going to make this worth my while.

I hand Sloan a beer and sit down on the sofa next to him. "Sorry, I don't have anything fancier than bottled beer."

He takes a long chug and I can't help but notice how perfect his profile is. His face is perfectly symmetrical. Every detail, every definition- perfect. His skin is perfect, his jawline is perfect; this guy is freaking gorgeous. While my inner fan girl is swooning, my outer anti-social b***h is cool as a cucumber. 

"Are you kidding? I love a cold beer. I'd rather have this than any expensive scotch or champagne," he replies. 

Even though I try not to, I feel the corners of my mouth turn up into a smile. His eyes meet mine and I while my instinct is to look away, I'm completely captivated by the deep blue oceans that are the eyes of Sloan Cole. Damn. 

I pull my eyes away from him and clear my throat. "So, about this anything." 

He smiles, revealing his perfect white teeth. "I'm going to regret the hell out of this, aren't I?" 

I nod. "Oh yes. You're costing me thousands of dollars here, Cole."

"Right," he lets out a humorless laugh. "How do you sleep at night knowing you've ruined so many people's lives?"

"Like a baby," I reply bluntly.

He raises his brows and blows out a breath like he's shocked to learn I'm so heartless. "Wow."

"Listen, money is money. The way I see it, people shouldn't do things they have to hide. Me? I'm an open book. No one could snoop around in my life because my life is as boring as watching paint dry."

"I find that hard to believe," he says, taking another sip of beer. "You follow the rich and the famous around to catch a glimpse of the darkest parts of their lives, things they try to keep out of the public eye. Your life is nothing close to boring."

"You're getting off subject. Let's get down to business," I say with a bored tone. He just sighs, so I continue. "I won't sell the photos of you if..."

I pause for dramatic effect and watch his eyes study mine intently and his pulse race through the vein in his neck. Wow. I really do hold all the power here. I like this.

"You help me. Help me to find out where the next big scandal is. Help me get into places I wouldn't normally get into. Help me-"

"Wait, wait, wait," he interrupts. "You're going to use me to ruin the lives of others? No thank you."

"Okay, have it your way then." I stand up and pretend to walk away, counting down the seconds in my head before he inevitably stops me.

3...

2...

1...

"Wait."