Listen To Your Heart ~ Book One.

Maggie's Request

(I walk away towards the elevators. Claudia watches me go, then turns away as Billie's family approaches her.)

"Everything okay?" (Finneas asks.)

"Yeah. How's Billie?"

"Sleeping. The doctors ran some tests, and then they gave her a mild sedative to put her asleep. They're saying rest and physical therapy and she should be good as new."

"That's good to hear."

"Where'd David go?" (Billie's Mom asks.)

"He left. Said he wasn't leaving L.A. though." (Claudia replies.)

"Billie's just upset. Give her time to process things."

"I hope you're right."

(They leave the hospital and return home to get some much-needed rest. David had called Valerie and had gotten a taxi to her place. Claudia kept trying to call David, but she gets no reply. David sits outside the guest house of Valerie's property.)

"Jesus...David. You look like hell. When's the last time you slept?"

"I slept for awhile last night, until Billie woke up. Before that? I don't know."

"How is Billie?"

"Awake. Bruised. Mad at me."

"Mad at you? What did you do wrong this time?"

(Valerie smiles and I could tell by the tone of her voice that she was joking...but I was too tired to laugh.)

"I wasn't there to protect her. Can't say I blame her. I'd feel the same way if this had happened to you."

"David...you not being there isn't your fault. Her family wasn't there. Her security wasn't. For anyone to heap all the blame on you isn't right."

"You got a point, but to see her beaten up like that..."

"Get some rest. You'll be able to think clearer after you sleep."

"Yea...I guess. Goodnight."

(One week later. Claudia hadn't been able to reach David, except thru a few text messages. Billie was out of the I.C.U. unit, and had started physical therapy, but her doctor and therapist both agreed that she wasn't progressing like she should...and she seemed angry...about everything. Her psychiatrist is brought in, who talks to Billie, but it doesn't seem to help. Billie's mother invites Claudia over to their house.)

"I've tried calling David. He hasn't replied back. All I get are texts." (Claudia tells them.)

"Do you know where he is?"

"Still in Los Angeles, at his friend's house."

"Call him. I'd like to speak to him myself."

(Claudia brings up my number on her phone, and hands it to Billie's mother as it rings. Meanwhile...David has been 'moping around' the guest house. Sleeping a lot, not really eating or talking that much. Valerie tries talking to him, David's cell phone rings.)

"Hello Claudia."

"David? This is Billie's mother."

"Mrs. O'Connell? Hi...is everything alright?"

"No...it isn't. Can you come over to our home?"

"Sure...I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Alright. See you soon. Thank you."

(The call ends. I shake my head.)

"Billie needs your help again?" (Valerie asks.)

"I guess. I can't think of any other reason her Mom would want to see me."

(About an hour and a half later, I'm at Billie's parents' house. As her mother speaks with me.)

"I don't get it. You want me to visit your daughter, who just happens to hate me?"

"She's very angry...all the time. The least little thing seems to set her off."

"Okay...well...I'm not a doctor. So, if your daughter hates me, how exactly am I supposed to help?"

"Go see her. Talk to her. Find out what's causing her anger."

"You mean besides blaming me for her getting raped?"

"Yes."

(I jerk my thumb at Finneas.) "You mean he hasn't figured out a way to make his sister happy like before? Shocking!"

"Why don't you fuck off?" (Finneas says.)

"Suck...my...dick." (I tell him.)