Fools Rush In

Chapter 12

"Right about now is the time in my set when I'd call my friend Gemma Curtis out here to sing a few songs with me," I heard Drake tell the crowd after he did a few songs. "But I can't do that tonight."
You could hear the disappointment in the crowd.
"Now now now," he said. "I can't do that because instead I want to call out my wife Gemma Curtis to come join me on stage"
The whole crowd cheered, as I joined him on the stage.
"Isn't she beautiful, guys?" he boasted. "I got lucky."
"We both did babe," I said, and kissed him. The crowd awed and we went on to do our songs.
After I went backstage so Drake could finish his set I checked my phone and saw I had about 10 missed calls from Anthony. It was starting all over again. But he was in Pennsylvania and I was in California, it couldn't have been like it was before, could it?
My phone started ringing again. It was him again. He was just going to keep calling.
"H-hello?" I answered it.
"Why the hell are you ignoring me?" he asked.
"I wasn't ignoring you," I said. "I was doing my set. I've been on tour with my husband. I'm a singer now. I even have studio time next week and a meeting with a real record label."
He laughed, "Good luck with that. That pretty boy just told you that to get you where he wanted you. You aren't anything. You think just cuz he dresses you up and takes you outta Pittsburgh that you are suddenly something special? You're still just a lowlife whore."
"No I'm not!" I cried. "Leave me alone. You and me are over. We've been over."
"We'll never be over," he said.
I hung up and buried my face in my hands and cried.
"We'll never be over," his words eerily kept running through my mind.
"Gemma?" I heard Taylor say. I quickly dried my eyes and looked up at him. "Is everything okay?"
"I don't know," I sighed.
"Are you and Drake having problems?" he asked, sitting down next to me.
"No," I said. "Nothing like that. It's complicated."
"Well I'll listen if you want to talk?" he offered.
"Thanks Tay," I said. "I appreciate it. But I will figure it out. I should probably talk to Drake first."
"Good thinking," he said, smiling. "I'm glad you guys are giving this a chance. He seems really happy with you, happier than he was with Paydin. You two are a good fit."
"I hope so," I said, looking at the stage where Drake was singing "I Found A Way," which meant his set was almost over with.
"I gotta finish getting ready," he said, standing. "But if you ever need to talk, you have my number. And Nat's good for listening too. And Becky."
"And the whole Hanson clan?" I joked.
He nodded, "Something like that."
"Thanks again Tay!" I said, and hugged him. "I am going to miss you guys a lot."
"We're going to miss you too," he said.
"Hey," I heard Drake say. "You movin in on my woman Hanson?"
Taylor laughed, "Dude, she'd already be gone if I was going to take her from you."
I laughed, "He has a point. Tay is kind of the perfect man."
"Well, thanks for that," Drake teased.
Taylor laughed, "See you guys later?"
We nodded and Taylor left to head back to his dressing room.
"So Tay's the perfect man huh?" Drake teased, when he was gone.
"Shut up stupid," I said, softly. "You know I love you."
He nodded and hugged me to him.
"Anthony called again," I told him.
He shook his head, "We're changing your number first thing in the morning."
I nodded, "I have a weird feeling about this whole thing though."
"You think he'll come out here?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Let him come out here," he said, hugging me tighter to him. "LA's a big city. A lot bigger than Pittsburgh. He's not going to be able to find you that easily. And even if he did, I told you I won't let anything happen to you."
I didn't say anything, just held him tighter.
After the show was over, we said our goodbyes to Hanson and I bawled like a baby. It really was bittersweet saying goodbye to them.
When we got home we got ready for bed and lay awake talking. I told him everything that had happened with Anthony.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through all that," he said, holding me tight.
"It is what it is," I said, nonchalantly. "Its in the past now now. I just want it to stay in the past."
"As long as you're with me it will," he said. "You're not that same girl anymore. You're not even the same girl I met in that truck stop three weeks ago."
"I know," I said. "I can't help but be scared though."
"Don't be scared," he said. "You're safe with me."
"I feel safe with you," I said, and kissed him.
"Good," he said, squeezing me.
Several days went by and things were going pretty good. I had changed my number so I didn't receive any more phone calls from Anthony.
I was starting to feel comfortable again. I had two days left until my studio appointment. Drake was out doing some work for Ultimate Spider Man.
I was straightening up the house when my phone rang. I saw it was CeCe and answered it.
"Hey Ceec," I said. "How's it going?"
"Things are going very badly for CeCe," I heard Anthony's voice on the other line.
"Anthony?" I gasped. "What are you doing?"
"I'm on my way to LA love," he said. "To retrieve my property."
"Where's CeCe?" I asked. "Why do you have her phone?"
"Don't worry about CeCe," he said. "She's not anyone's problem anymore."
"What did you do?" I cried.
"Don't worry," he said. "She wouldn't give up your address willingly. Too bad I found it written down next to her computer after I killed her."
"No!" I cried. "You didn't!"
"Oh yes I did," he said. "She stuck by you to the end. She always was a good friend to you. Too bad she can't say the same for you, since it's your fault she's dead."
"No no no," I cried, sinking to the floor. "Why are you doing this?"
"I told you," he said. "We're never going to be over. You're going to pay for what all you've done. You've been a bad girl. But once we're back together I think you'll straighten back up."
"Shut up!" I cried. "Just leave me alone!"
I ended the call quickly and dialed the number to the truck stop. They told me CeCe hadn't came into work the night before and hadn't called or anything which I knew was unlike her.
"Oh God," I cried, and told them they needed to send someone to her house, immediately.
Kristy, the girl who had answered assured me that she would have someone go over there and that she would call me back as soon as she had news.
As soon as I hung up with her I called Drake. He didn't answer.
"FUCK!" I cried, as the voicemail message came on.
"Drake," I said, after the tone. "Please call me immediately. Anthony's on his way here. I think he knows where we live."
I didn't know what to do. I hadn't gotten a car yet and I had no money for a taxi.
About a half hour later Drake called me back.
"Hey baby what's up?" he asked.
"You didn't get my voicemail?" I asked.
"No," he said. "I just saw you called and called you back. What's going on?"
I explained to him the phone call I had with Anthony and how I called the truck stop.
"Oh shit," he said. "I'll be home right away. Don't do anything and whatever you do, do NOT open the door for anyone."
"Okay," I said. "I'm so scared."
"I know baby," he said. "But I'll be home very soon. I love you."
"I love you, too," I said and hung up the phone. I sank back to the floor, and Zero, one of Drake's dogs came over and licked my face. I smiled and petted him.
My phone rang again, it was Kristy from the truck stop.
"Gemma," she said, when I answered.
"Yes?"
"I have bad news," she said. "CeCe is - she's dead. She was murdered in her apartment. The police say it looks like she's been dead for two days."
"Oh my God," I cried. "It's Anthony! Do they know its Anthony?"
"Yes we told them what you told us," she said. "They said CeCe's car is missing. They put out an APB for it because he probably stole it."
"He's on his way here," I cried. "He's not in Pennsylvania anymore! He's probably almost here!"
"Ms. Curtis?" I heard another voice come on the line.
"Yes?" I said.
"This is Detective Fisher from the PPD," he said.
"Detective Fisher," I said. "Anthony's not in Pennsylvania anymore. He called me about an hour ago. He said he's on his way to California. He's probably in CeCe's car."
I heard him say something to someone else, then returned to me.
"Ms. Curtis," he said. "I am having someone notify LAPD now. They will send an officer to your house. We will catch this guy, I promise you."
"I hope so," I said and thanked him.
After ending the call I buried my face in my hands. How could any of this be real? I had thought my life was supposed to be getting better? Now my best friend was dead and my ex was on his way here to do God knows what else.
Anthony was much bigger than Drake physically. Anthony could probably snap him in two. Drake wouldn't be able to take Anthony if he showed up here.