Limited Hate

Chapter 7: The Aftermath

          I am released from the hospital the next day, and Simon comes to pick me up. Felix waits in the car while he comes out to speak to me.

     "Simon. . ." I begin, but he cuts me off.

     "You don't need to worry. I took care of everything, refunded everyone at the stadium and issued a public apology. No one seems to have a problem with what happened, some actually pity you. But just know that I do need you to fill out some paperwork." he says, flipping through the stack of paper in his hands.

     "What paperwork?" I ask, accepting the three sheets he hands me and skimming through them. "Oh."

     "Yeah. I think it would be best for you, don't you think?" he says, taking back the papers. "You can fully look through them later."

     "For six months?" I respond, biting my lip nervously. "Don't you think that's a little long?"

     "No, I don't, and I'm sure your fans don't either. Seeing their idol pass out on stage has earned you some sympathy. I think they'll understand," Simon sighs, beginning to walk back towards the car. "Everyone has to go on break every once in a while."

     "I suppose," I say, opening the car door. "Thank you for this."

     "It's my pleasure." Simon says, groaning as he plops into the driver's seat.

          The car starts and Felix and I sit quietly, awkward tension building up. This is the part of apologies that I hate the most; the aftermath. It's always awkward and no one wants to bring up the conversation that started it.

     "So, Aaliyah," Felix starts, coughing slightly. "Feeling better?"

     "Yeah. Thanks for asking." I say gently, thankful for his courage to talk first.

           I can't even bring myself to look at him, so I turn away and stare at the light gray sky. Winter in Las Vegas is so beautiful.

     "G-good to know." he stutters, also turning away from me. The tension brought by the silence begins to build up again, leaving us anxious and awkward.

          We arrive back at Delano Hotel, quickly making our way to the elevator. I try to close the door on Felix again, not because I am mad at him, but because I find it fun to do. I can't resist a smile as he catches the door and allows Simon to walk in first.

     The elevator ride is silent again, but I am not as tense as before when Felix was here. I have learned to relax around him, and not to have such high expectations for him. He is human after all, and we all have our limits before our bodies can no longer handle it. I learned it the hard way. I still feel weak and tired, and I'm going to for the next week and a half. It's going to take time for my body to heal, but I think I'm going to enjoy the next couple of weeks in Vegas.

          I didn't just come because my concert was here, I mainly came to vacation and enjoy myself. This was the final destination for my world tour, afterall, and I'm glad I chose to stay here for a while. I could stay here for as long as I want, but I don't think Felix would enjoy that. Simon grants us a goodbye before departing to his hotel room. Still tired, I walk over to my bed and fall face-first onto the pillow.

     "Seems like I've really been overworking myself, huh?" I mumble more to myself than Felix. I tilt my head slightly to the left and see him staring at me.

     "Yeah. . . please try to get as much rest as possible within these next few weeks, I don't want you fainting like that again," he says, taking a seat on my bed, his eyes still on me. "And don't overwork yourself."

          I chuckle and flip over onto my back, focusing on the ceiling lamp. No kidding.

     "Yeah, yeah, whatever," I say, pushing myself into a sitting position. "Thanks for the advice, Felix." I add genuinely, then smile at him. Not a fake, sarcastic one, but an actual, real smile, like the ones I display while performing.

          For a moment we stare at each other, not breaking eye contact, when I suddenly snap out of my trance and quickly head to the bathroom to take a shower.

     What the heck? I think, putting my clothes onto the counter next to the sink. Why was he looking at me like that? I take another look at my bed before closing the bathroom door, and see Felix in the same position, thinking hard about something.

          He shakes his head to clear his mind after a moment and walks over to the window, looking down at the beautiful scene of buildings below us. I close the door and start running the warm water.