Behind closed doors (Nian fanfic) REWRITTEN

Chapter 3: Holding on and letting go

REWRITTEN

*There is a new character, I think you all will know him. Thank you all for reading!*

Nina's POV

I woke up early in the morning. The curtains were shut and I was really thirsty, my throat was dry and my head hurt.
What had happened last night?
When I moved I realize that first of all, I was laying on Ian's chest and second, I was almost naked. I sat up and looked around. My clothes were laying scattered on the floor and on the minibar was an empty bottle of whiskey. I turned my head to face Ian. He still had his jeans and his shirt on, to my relief. The last thing I remembered was that I had been in the bathroom at sometime. The whiskey must've hit me right afterwards.
I quietly got up and grabbed my clothes. While I tiptoed towards the door I put them on and finally, when I reached the door, sneaked outside. I breathed in deeply and made my way to the elevator. In the lobby I got to look at the clock for the first time. I froze in front of it thinking about last night and trying to remember bits and pieces.
„It's 6 a.m."
I turned around quite dazzled and saw a very handsome guy standing next to me.
„In case you didn't see."
„Thanks", I smiled, „But that's like the worst pick-up line ever."
He smiled as well and showed perfectly white teeth.
„Well, then give me some advice. Who knows, I might need it some day", he smiled charmingly again, "What would you say to a drowsy, beautiful woman staring at a clock at 6 a.m. in a hotel's lobby?"
I couldn't help but giggle.
„Well I'd ask her if she wants some hot coffee because according to your description she needs one really bad and won't say no."
„Thanks I hope I get the chance to try that someday."
I grinned and he asked me politely if I want to have coffee with him.
„I thought you'd never ask."
He chuckled and lead me outside.
„I'm Jamie by the way."
„Nina. Nice to meet you."
We walked in a small coffee house and took a seat. I could tell that everyone was staring at Jamie the second we had walked in. We ordered coffee and started chatting.
„So why where you in the hotel? Sorry if that's inappropriate I'm just curious", he asked.
„I could ask you the same question."
„I was there because I visited my grandma yesterday and it got late so I went to a hotel."
This guy seemed to be perfect. But what was I going to tell him?
„I just..." then I stopped and looked at him. His unavoidable eyes watched me with an understanding look.
„I killed the minibar."
He chuckled and I sighed relieved.
„Was there a reason for it?"
„Well, when I think about it I guess my boyfriend...ex-boyfriend."
„There is always a foolish ex-boyfriend."
„Always? How often do you pick up girls at 6 a.m. in a hotel?"
„You know last week there were four but I think the hotel employee doesn't count."
I laughed so hard I almost spit out my coffee.
„Good to know."
„What are you doing besides killing the minibar in hotels and staring at clocks?"
"I'm actually an actress."
„Let me just keep pretending like I didn't know that."
„Right..." I stared in my coffee.
There has never been someone I could just talk to who didn't know me. The last guy I had gone out with who hasn't seen me on TV before was Ian.
„You okay?"
„Sure I just...never mind. What are you doing besides picking up actresses in hotels?"
„I'm in a band."
„Wow that's...uhm...great."
He laughed and I felt really embarrassed and caught.
„I also model sometimes. It's not like I don't have a real job."
„I'd love to hear your band play sometime."
„And that's the worst pick-up line when you hear that someone is in a band."
I laughed.
„Did it work?"
„Absolutely."
I laughed again and then we just sat there, smiled at each other and drank coffee. Afterwards he even offered to get me a cab. He opened the door for me and before I got in he asked me out for dinner.
„What about the band?"
„You have to earn it."
„I'll take that chance."
He smiled and I gave him my card.
„Call me maybe?"
„I will", then he kissed me on the cheek, I got in the cab and he closed the door. I turn around when we drive off and see him still standing at the sidewalk smiling.
When I got home I got a call from Ian. I stared at the display not know what to do until it stopped ringing. I went to the kitchen and decided to eat something but as usual my fridge was almost empty, besides some pickles, diet coke and some eggs. I really needed to go grocery shopping. So I ordered pizza and sat down on the couch with Lynx. Then I remembered the key under the doormat and the key card on my bedside table. I removed the key and decided to watch Grey's Anatomy. Twenty minutes later the door bell rang and assuming it was my pizza I jumped up and ran to the door.
„Coming" I shouted and grabbed my wallet.
But when I opened the door Ian was standing in front of me looking utterly worried.
„You didn't pick up."
I just started at him in disbelief.
„Nina?"
„Yeah...sorry I didn't expect to see you."
He caught a glimpse at my wallet.
„I ordered pizza."
„Sure. Can I come in?"
I nodded and stepped aside.
He walked inside and looked around.
„It's nice."
„It is."
„My apartment isn't really homey right now."
„Why's that?"
„I never had the motivation to do something since I bought it."
I said nothing and closed the door.
„You left early today."
„Right... Look I hardly remember anything so could you please tell me what happened?"
„You can't remember anything?"
„The last thing I know is that I was in the bathroom. Did we talk? About us?"
„Not much. When I realized that you were hammered I thought it might be pointless."
„What happened then?"
„I tuck you in."
„And then slept in the same bed?" I asked reproachfully.
„Well, you made me."
I was about to say something when the doorbell rang again.
„That must be the pizza."
I opened the door and just when I was about to pay Ian stepped in and gave the delivery boy money.
„You don't have to pay this."
„What if I want to?"
„What if I don't want you to?"
We stared into each others eyes.
„Can I have a photo with the two of you?"
We both glared at the delivery boy and you could tell he was uncomfortable. Ian nodded and we took a photo. Then he said bye and slammed the door in his face.
„That was rude."
„He was annoying!" he shrugged and placed the pizza on the table.
I opened it and took a slice. Ian looked at me amused while I tried to eat the still hot pizza.
„What? I'm starving! I had no breakfast remember?"
„You rushed out! I would've ordered the whole menu."
I ignored him and he rolled his eyes. Then he sighed and kneeled down to pet Lynx. She purred and licked his face. She really liked Ian, she always had.
„You want some pizza?"
„Since you won't eat the whole on your own I'd be pleased to help you."
I raised an eyebrow and he grinned broadly. We stood there and ate quietly when suddenly my phone rang.
„You really love that song, don't you?" Ian said when he heard the 'Earned it'.
„It's Paul. Again", I sighed, „Paul? Hey!"
I walked outside the room.
„Nice to hear your voice since you ignored me the past days."
„You're neither my father nor my boyfriend, Paul."
„Speaking of. Have you seen Ian since the event?"
„No, Paul, I haven't and yes, Paul, I'm alright."
„Good. What if you would see him soon."
„Then I would see him."
„Would that be okay?"
„Why?"
„Just asking."
I sighed again.
„I guess. I mean I wouldn't talk to him and never want to be alone with him, but I'd tolerate his presence."
„That was...uhm...sort of nice. Hey, you have time tonight?"
„Now I see where this is heading."
„Candice wants to have dinner with some old cast members."
„Who's coming?"
„Joe, Steven, Zach, Trevino, Claire, Joseph and Persia, Kat, Sara, Taylor with his fiancee, Phoebe and I, even Torrey, and Cands invited Julie, Kevin, Daniel, Kayla, Malarkey, Arielle and Marco but they haven't responded yet."
„You have a list in front of you, don't you?" I chuckled.
„Indeed, yes."
„Okay good. And you didn't mention Ian."
„He is on the list. I just wanted to know if you come."
„To be honest I have plans today."
„Nina please. There will be at least...uhm...15 people present."
„I'll come but only if there are at least 18 people, excluding me and Ian."
„Deal."
I sighed, hung up and stared at my phone. When I got back in the kitchen Ian was on the phone.
„Look I gotta go now. Bye."
„I guess you just got invited?"
„Paul said you may not come."
„That's my decision."
„If you don't come please don't blame me."
„I would never."
We stared at each other for a long time.
„Neens, I..."
„I'm sorry", I interrupted him.
„For what?"
I rolled my eyes.
„You know for what. For doing what I did. I regret it."
„I don't want you to regret anything", he stepped closer, much closer, so close that I could feel his breath on my skin, „because the time when I was with you was the time of my life. And even though I might not feel the same now, you still mean the world to me. As much as I would love to kiss you right now", I bit my lip and looked at his, „I know it's not right."
„Because we may love each other", I started still staring at his lips, „but we're not in love with each other anymore."
„Right", he mouthed, „that would be foolish."
I looked into his blue eyes and all I could think of now was putting my lips on his. Deep inside of me something still refused to do that. I breathed in and caught a glimpse at his lips once again. Ian leaned closer and our noses almost touched but then I pulled him away softly placing my hands on his chest. Our eyes were still locked and all of a sudden he laid his hand on mine. Now I leaned closer with my hands still on his chest. I could feel his heart beat faster when my lips almost touch his. My ringing phone teared us apart, both confused and insecure.
„Uhm...hello?", I asked picking up the phone.
„It's Jamie, the guy who stalks stunning actresses in hotel lobbies."
„Oh hey... Look, I'm..." I started but then he interrupted me.
„I just wanted to ask you out for dinner tonight. In case you were about to say no."
Ian had gone to the other side of the table staring thoughtfully at the floor.
„Tonight?", Ian raised his head and looked at me, „I'm really sorry but I already have plans tonight."
„Then tomorrow?"
„You know what, can I call you back? I'm really busy right now."
„Sure, I can't wait to hear from you again."
„I won't forget."
„Bye, my dear."
"Bye."
I hang up and laid my cell on the table. Ian looked kind of betrayed and jealous.
„Who was that?"
„Just someone I met today."
„He seemed nice."
„He is."
I looked at him and when his eyes met mine my heart skipped a beat. I held my breath and just stared at him with the urge to run towards him and take him right there and now.
„You should go", I said with wavering voice.
„I should", Ian answered immediately. Apparently he had the same feeling. He stepped towards the door, opened it, said goodbye and left just like that, while I was still trying to calm my breathing. I kept standing in my kitchen totally perplexed.