Lights Out

Kicking Off

Wednesday 16th June.
"So Austria was good then, yeah?" Harry asked, sipping his wine.
"Yeah. I enjoyed driving the massive truck, I think that was my favourite bit. It was nice to be back in Monaco again, though. How was Faenza?"
"Busy, yeah. A lot of things to do, not much time to do them, the usual. Got to see Louis again, which was good. We caught up over a beer."
"God, how is he? I haven't seen him in ages!"
"He's good, yeah. He's, um, planning to propose to Angeline, which was the topic of much conversation."
"Wow! That's so amazing! Oh, I'm glad that they're doing well."
"Your dessert, monsieur," the water said, placing down a delicious looking chocolate brownie sprinkled with icing sugar and accompanied with clotted cream. It looked delicious.
"Are you sure you don't want a desert?" Harry asked me, the waiter standing next to him with his eyebrows raised, looking at me questioningly.
"No, I'd better not. Nick would have my hide," I chuckled.
"Enjoy, monsieur." The waiter nodded politely and left.
"Jess."
"Yeah?" I turned my head away from our surroundings back to who was in front of me, finding him holding out his spoon which held some of the glossy brownie and snowy cream.
"No thanks." I shook my head.
"How do I know it's not poisoned? You don't know who's out to get me," he said playfully. I gasped, feigning offense.
"And you're proposing that I should be poisoned instead?"
"Why, of course not, it probably isn't, but it's better to know anyway, don't you think?" He raised the spoon slightly, encouraging me.
"Come on," he said. "You know you want to."
I sighed.
"Fine. Just one spoonful."
"There we go." He smiled, victorious, and brought the spoon closer to me for me to try the velvety chocolate. I closed my eyes as it melted on my tongue, the richness mixed with the fresh cream causing my brain to spark and fizz in satisfaction.
"Good?"
"Mmh, yeah. It's good," I said, nodding with my eyes still closed.
"Oh, I have to agree with you there," he said, and I opened my eyes to find him in a similar expression to mine only moments ago.
"Would you like anymore?" he asked, opening his eyes again to look at me.
"No thanks. It's nice, but I'm full."
"Okay."
I picked up my phone after it buzzed from where it was on the table.
Gaia: Jessie
Gaia: Jessie I don't know what to do
Gaia: Some photos were taken
Gaia: I don't know who by
Gaia: But they're being released tomorrow and I don't know what to do
Gaia: Cosa devo fare
Gaia: Jessie per favore
Read 9.21pm
"Shit," I said aloud.
"What is it?"
"Gaia has a situation."
"De Luca?"
"Yeah."
"Do we need to leave?"
"I think so. I'm really sorry, Harry."
"It's okay," he reassured as he called the waiter over for the bill. "Do you know what it is?"
"Media."
"Ah, fuck. That can't be good."
"She's panicking. Let me split it," I said, bringing my attention back to the now.
"No, I'm paying. You can get the next one if you really want to, okay?"
"Fine."
"Okay, we're good to go." He stood up, holding his hand out for me, which I took. We retrieved our coats and left, heading in a hurry towards the hotel I was staying at.

Gaia was at my door when I stepped out of the lift with Harry. Her eyes were red from crying, her cheeks still wet with tears.
"How bad?" I asked as I opened my door and ushered her inside. I shot Harry a look.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he said, giving me a kiss on the forehead and casting a pitiful look at Gaia, who was sitting on my bed and starting to cry again.
"See you tomorrow." I closed the door, taking off my coat and placing it down beside me as I sat in front of Gaia.
"Talk to me."
"There's-, there are some photos."
"What kind of photos?"
"I-, I don't know what to do. They can't hold them off at all," she sobbed, her face crumpling. I took her into my arms, her head resting against my shoulder as she cried.
"It's going to be okay, but you need to try and calm down. What photos are they, Gaia?"
"Photos of me and the person I'm in a relationship with," she answered between gasps of breath.
"Okay, and why are you so worried about that?"
"I-, Jessie I can't-, I don't know how I'm going to deal with this." She broke down again, her body shaking uncontrollably. I held her tighter, rubbing her back softly to try and calm her down a bit.
"Tell me why you're so worried," I said, my voice gentle.
"I-, I'm gay."