Perfect Strangers

A Fool

Trigger warning: This chapter contains abuse.

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After this day, Faye spend every possible day with Claire and the others. She sneaked out to met up with them; go to the bars that Claire was singing at and being in awe of the woman's talent. She finally felt happy, it was like being where she actually wants to be. Like she'd finally found her place; a place where she wasn't a worrier and where happiness was her constant friend.

They all are like a little group of friends and Faye didn't even mind Lee and H being around. Yes they were supposed to be her bodyguards but whenever Travis wasn't around, the atmosphere between them was less tense and less professional but more like an actual friendship. They are friends - they'd cared more for her in the past three years than any of her previous 'friends' and even more than the guy who's supposed to be her boyfriend. They helped her out, no matter when, and - what's the most important factor - they didn't treat her any different just because she's famous. Faye often felt bad for being famous and having career ambitions; even in school teachers had told her to learn something out of the spotlight. It had made her question her goals, leaving her wondering if maybe she should let go of wanting to become a performer. But deep down she knew she wouldn't want to let go of this goal she had ever since being in primary school.

Anyway - today had been a lovely day so far. Faye still had time off from filming and had spend the day at the café with Lee and H and their friends. The dance crew currently was with them as well and they all were busy enjoying a nice meal, enjoying each other's presence - and Faye loved being around them all. She trusts them all, trusting them more than her boyfriend about whom she'd barely thought the past few days. It felt weirdly good. She even began to get along with Lisa, although they still are frosty with each other at times but they were so different that it's no surprise. Faye knows they all would get along sooner or later; unlike many friendships she's had in the past, this friendship here was build on kindess, help and trust.

But all that trust shattered when a tall man approached the café. 

The door swings open and the atmosphere immediately becomes tense. Like someone switched a light off. Faye wishes to hide somewhere - knowing that Travis is angry... and she knows how angry he could be. "What the heck?" he shouts, even making H in the background shrug. "Is this what you're up to when I'm arranging work commitments for you? Hanging out with this group of people you don't even know?"

"How did you-"

"Well my mates weren't out of town, weren't they?" Travis shouts, grabbing a glass and throwing it in her direction. He didn't hit her though, hitting the wall instead. "You met up with random people?" he snaps.

"They're my friends!" Faye speaks back, surprised about this slight burst of confidence - which made Travis even angrier.

"Friends?! They're not your friends - you belong to me, not to them! You're coming with me now!"

"No, please. They're nice people, we've-"

"Shut. Up." he growls, grabbing her hair. "You're listening when I talk to you and I say that we head off now. Gosh I'll smack you, you're such a fool!" he shouts. Having seen enough of how this guy treats Faye, Giovanni hastily nods to Aljaz so his best mate would call the police. Acting as if he had enough of this all, Aljaz walks out of the café, shaking his head; but Travis didn't even realise it, being too focused on his anger towards his own girlfriend. "Don't look at me like that!" he snaps at Faye, who now was crying silently. Of course I never find friends, she thinks saddened. Who wants to be friends with someone like me? 

"Leave her alone." Gioanni says bluntly, making Faye freeze on the spot. He spoke back, she thinks, full of anxiety. What happens next is that Travis grabs Giovanni by the shoulder to literally throw him over the table. For a moment, everyone was silent before Faye speaks up.