Battles In Life

9

Out of all places in the city, I happen to be living in the apartment across from Lochie. I am shocked but also very relieved, at least he is someone I already know. Well sort of know.
"Dana would you still like to go out for coffee or have coffee in one of our apartments? I will be happy with whatever you decide" "ahh, we can still go, it's probably good if I ahh, get out and get some ahh, fresh air" "okay when ever you are ready".
I walked towards the elevator and pressed the button, as the doors opened we both stepped in.
"How long have you ahh, lived here Lochie?" "Nearly three years" "do you ahh, always use the back entrance?" "Not always, sometimes I have to enter the lobby to collect my mail" I nodded "I can not ahh, believe out of all people you ahh, end up being my neighbor" "is that a bad thing?" I shook my head "no ahh I think it is great, you ahh, are someone I have ahh, come to know and trust". Feeling the elevator stop, we waited for the door to open up and stepped out.
"I'm glad you feel you can trust me dana, I'd like to get to get to know you a lot more, you seem like a really good person" "I..I still don't understand why but if that is ahh, what you want to do, that is okay And ahh, thank you" "dana I can tell. You are not only kind, you are caring and I can tell you have a big heart. I haven't even got to know the whole you yet but I am pleased you have given me the chance" "I ahh, I have a very hard time ahh, trusting people, I ahh, hope you do not let me down too" "I would never want to let you down dana" I nodded. As much as I want to believe Lochie, I don't know if I can. I have been hurt so many times, especially by people who I thought were the closest to me.

"Mr hernandez, who is your friend?, Are you two dating?, We had seen you two together before. can you tell us anything?"
What is going on, why is the paparazzi around and why did they approach us.
My heart rate started to pick up as those people flashed their Cameras in our direction. Lochie instantly blocked me from the cameras "please leave us, I will not be answering any of your questions" "mr hernandez who is this woman?" "I said I will not be answering any of your questions". Lochie turned to me putting his hands on my arms gently "lets get you out of here" "please" cameras continued to flash In our direction but Lochie covered me as much as he could and I was thankful. Getting inside the cafe, I instantly took a seat in the corner "dana I am really sorry" "it's okay Lochie, I just ahh I don't understand, I ahh don't know who you are and ahh what you do" "would you like me to tell you?" I nodded "what would you like to drink?" "A latte please" "okay I will get that before i start" I nodded.
I needed to slow my heart rate down before I have an attack. Just breathe dana, it's okay, just breathe in. One, two, three, four, five and breath out. One, two, three.
"Dana are you okay?" "Ahh, yeah Lochie, just ahh calming my heart rate" "if you would like to go, we can" "no, no it's okay. I'd like to hear about you".
"Okay I'm Lochie hernandez, I am the owner of the hernandez group. Have you heard of it?" "No" "i own the largest modelling company in the city" "you ahh, you sell fake images, just like the ahh, paparazzi" "no I don't. I started my company in hopes to show the world that natural beauty is best. I do not want anyone thinking they have to look a certain way, I do not Photoshop any of my shoots. I actually started this company because of natalie, natalie used to think that she wasn't perfect in her own body, looking at all the photoshopped images in magazines and thinking down about herself, wanting to look exactly like all the models in the magazines" "and that is why paparazzi were out there?" "Yes and I am so sorry for putting you in that position, that is why I was happy to just meet you here but to my surprise you are now my neighbor and we ended up walking together" "I ahh, I understand".
I honestly didn't know what to think. Lochie seems like a really nice guy but I cant be in the spotlight, I like to hide myself away. "Lochie I ahh I don't.." "dana please don't, I know you don't want to be in the spotlight. I completely understand but I don't want you to push me away. I really like your company" "I dont know if I ahh, can deal with the paparazzi Lochie, if my ahh past finds me.." "your past?" I nodded taking a deep breath "it's because of ahh my ex and ahh some other people who I ahh used to call my ahh, friends, that I ahh have anxiety. I ahh, moved to the city so they had ahh, less chance of finding me, if they ahh, start looking" Lochie went silent.
"Your lattes" "ahh thankyou" "you are welcome miss. You are mr hernandez?" "yes I am" "it's lovely to see you in our cafe, I hope you enjoy your latte" "thank you ma'am".
"Dana can I ask what happened in your past?" I dont know if I can tell Lochie, I have only ever spoken to a psychiatrist About what had happened. "It's okay if you don't want to tell me" "I ahh, I have only ever spoken to a psychiatrist About it. not even my ahh, mother knows everything that ahh, happened. It's ahh, not easy for me to talk about" Lochie never broke his eye contact with me and as I looked into his chocolate brown eyes something was stirring inside me. "It's okay dana you don't know me that well either" as hard as it was I broke eye contact "I ahh, have a small scar on the side of my face near my temple and ahh, some scars on my ahh, wrists. I ahh, had more but they have fully ahh, been removed from laser treatment, the others will take more treatments to fully go" "those scars are from what ever happened to you?" I nodded "can I see them?" Pulling my fringe away from over my temple I showed Lochie the small scar on my face "that ahh, was from a ahh, knife" "what about your wrists?" Lifting my sleeves I put my arms on the table. Lochie moved his thumbs over both wrists as he looked at the scars, his touch was soft. I have never let anyone touch them. I don't even know why I am letting Lochie. Lochie looked straight into my eyes "these have had laser treatment?" I pulled my arms away, pulling my sleeves back down. "Yes ahh, six times but they were very long. They ahh, did go most of the way up my ahh, forearms" "dana were they from self harm?" "I ahh, expected that question but no, ahh they aren't, I have never wanted to ahh, hurt myself just... just get better and ahh, live a better life" Lochie gave me a heart warming smile, causing something inside me to stir again. "You are a very strong woman dana whatever you went through" "I ahh, I'm trying" "how often do you get the laser treatments and when is your next one?" "Every three months but ahh, they only laser one bit at a time. My next appointment was supposed to be in two weeks but I am ahh, going to cancel it" "why are you cancelling?, Do you not want it done?" "Yes of course but ahh, my mom usually comes" "I will go with you, please don't say no, I'd like to be there for you" I didn't know what to think why would he offer, he has already offered to help me in so many ways. "Why ahh, why do you want to help me and ahh, be there for me Lochie?" He stared at me for a moment but a small smile made its way on his face making something again stir in me "dana I like you, that's why I want to help you and be there for you. It may come as a surprise to you but you caught my eye, the moment I had seen your beautiful green eyes and I can't get them out of my head" my breath got caught in my throat. A well known really good looking business man likes me, how do i respond to that. "Dana don't think too much okay, I'm not expecting anything from you but If you like me in return then I'd be a very happy man" I nodded " ahh, thank you for being honest with me Lochie" "I wasn't sure how you'd react but I couldn't not tell you, I hope I have not pushed you away" "ahh, no Lochie but I ahh, am very shocked and ahh, to be honest I think you are a very nice and ahh, good looking guy" Lochie had a million dollar smile on his face showing his perfect white teeth.

"Would you like to head back to the apartment?" "Ahh yes, when you are ready" "well let's go" "would you ahh, like me to give you some money?" "No I have already paid" "okay thank you".