Standing in your way

Chapter 20

"Where have you been all this time? Hmm?" she approaches Helena threateningly, pointing the roses at her

"What do you want? Leave now" she replies firmly, the woman starts laughing

"I've been waiting here for you for hours, and you show up now? What the fuck were you doing in there?" she points to the building behind us

Suddenly she notices my presence while I was standing there looking confused

"What about you? Who is she? Are you fucking anyone else yet?" this time she grabs the collar of Helena's shirt, at the sight of that action I lose patience

"Get your hands off her" I grabbed her wrist, Helena's face was terrified

"Don't tell me what to do," she replies angrily while looking at me and she quickly slaps Helena

"Get your fucking hands off her " I yank her away from Helena by the arm, nearly knocking her to the floor. I grab Helena's hand and hold her behind my body to protect her

"Leave immediately and never show up again" I tell her in a stern voice as I approach her, in the meantime she is sitting on the ground holding her wrist in one hand 

"You don't even know how to defend yourself without your little girlfriend, you're pathetic" she says directly to Helena who was behind me, I release her hand and approach the woman 

"Go away, immediately, don't ever show up again" I grab both wrists to hold her still, she releases a groan of pain 

"Fuck you" she spits out sourly, moves out of my grasp, gets up and walks away. I immediately turn to Helena to check on her, she has a hand on her cheek where she received the slap 

"Helena are you okay?" I approach, placing my hands on her arms, she jumps slightly, moving her head, her eyes are bright 

"She's gone, don't worry now" I hug her to comfort her, my hand behind her nape, her face against my chest while her hands grip my shirt 

"Sorry, I don't know what happened" 

"Don't apologize, it's not your fault, she's crazy obsessed with you" she releases a light laugh, I break away from the hug and look at her face 

"Thank you, truly" she thanks me, smiling as she wipes away the few tears that have fallen 

"Shall I take you home?" 

"Yes, thank you" she nods, we head towards my car 

"Wow, what an expensive car" her eyes widen as she opens the door, I laugh

"Do you like it?" I fasten my seat belt 

"Very much, I feel honored to get on it" she turns and laughs 

"Well know that it's not the first time" I start the engines while she passes a hand over her face 

"Right" I start driving towards her house wich I remember where it is . The ride is silent, not an embarrassing silence but a comfortable one.
 She's probably shaken from the attack earlier so I leave her alone without saying anything

"We're here" I turn to her as she unbuckles her belt

"Thank you" she smiles at me

"Are you afraid of being home alone?" she stops before getting out of the car

"Don't worry, I called a friend who will spend the night with me, you've already done enough, thanks" I nod, she closes the door and says goodbye to me

"see you tomorrow"

"See you tomorrow!" I wait until she enters the building, then I leave for home

----------------------------

I spent the night with Sarah, I was afraid of sleeping alone, you never know.

Last night Lydia wrote to me telling me that I should come to her house this morning. I thought it would be better in the evening but that's probably not the case

"Ready?" I ask Sarah as she ties her shoe

"Of course, I don't want to make you late" I roll my eyes laughing

"It's not a job interview eh"

"I know, but we're talking Lydia, so" we both burst out laughing as we leave the house.

My car is still at the mechanic's, we took it in last night, so Sarah will have to take me there and then I'll take an Uber back.

"Put the position" she hands me the phone with the navigator open, I type in the position and pass it back to her

"Anxious?" she asks me pointing to my hands, I look down and notice that I was playing with them without even realizing it, a tic I often have when I have anxiety

"A bit, you know the last time I was at his house it didn't end well" I exhale

"Don't worry, everything will be fine" she gives me a warm smile

"Let's hope so"

We remain silent for the rest of the trip, early in the morning we both don't really want to talk

"This one right?" points to Lydia's mansion

"Exactly, pull over here" I point to a space on the sidewalk, she stops and lets me get off

"Thanks for the ride and for spending the night with me, see you" I blow her a kiss with my hand

"You're welcome, bye and good luck!" she rolls up the window and drives off.

I turn to head to the front door when I notice it opening.
A woman comes out, maybe a little older than me, black hair and tall, she has a smile on her face. She turns to her car that was parked next to me and sees me

"Oh hi! You must be the novelist right?" she approaches smiling

"Not really a novice, I'm the new violinist" I correct her holding onto my bag, she raises an eyebrow leaning against her car

"Yeah whatever, Lydia told me about you, she doesn't seem to like you very much, you know" she lets out a little sarcastic laugh, is she kidding me?

"I don't care if she likes me or not, I only care about the orchestra" I reply rather acidly, I don't care how I answered her, this woman is getting on my nerves.Then why was she at Lydia's house at this time? Did she spend the night with her? Maybe it's her girlfriend

"Uuu sorry violinist" now she's really starting to piss me off

"Do you want to waste more of my time or can I go?" I put my hands on my hips

"What did you say?" she raises an eyebrow while looking at mer from head to toe

"I think you heard me well" 
"Be careful how you talk and who you talk to, I can tell Lydia to fire you any time, I know how to make her listen to me " she pushes me on the shoulder and gets into her car. I take a deep breath trying to understand what did she meant. I walk towards the door  

"Good morning" she opens the door after hearing the doorbell

"Good morning" I smile at her trying to calm down from the previous interaction with that woman

"Come, come in" she opens the door for me and moves to the side to let me in, I step into the house and am immediately greeted by the smell of pancakes

"What a delicious smell"

"Do you want some?" we walk towards the kitchen

"Oh no don't worry" I wave my hand

"Something to drink?"

"Uhm some water thanks" she nods and takes a glass

"How did you spend the night? Did something happen?" I'm surprised that she cares about me, what's going on? Yet before that woman said that she doesn't like me, maybe she's just making fun of me

"Everything is fine, fortunately nothing happened" she hands me the glass as she approaches me, I take it and sip some water

"And the car?" she leans on the counter behind her, I move away a little, pretending to put my bags on the ground

"To the mechanic" she nods

"Well, shall we begin then?"

"Yes" she motions for me to follow her, we go upstairs to a room I hadn't seen last time, how many rooms does this house have?

"Sit wherever you want" I choose a chair that is almost in the center of the room, it almost looks like her office.
She stands in front of me, tells me to start playing so I do, but my mind wanders to other thoughts.

If that woman is really her girlfriend, what do those interactions we had a short time ago mean? Am I just a game to her?

"Stop" she raises her hand in front of my face, I open my eyes stopping

"Your mind is elsewhere" she tells me

"Excuse me"

"No, tell me, is there something bothering you? To play you have to be calm and with your head on your shoulders" I lower my eyes

"Nothing, really" she exhales

"Okay, let's start again" I start playing again and therefore the thoughts also start again.

I continued trying to do my best for a good hour, then finally we left the room. I no longer like these meetings alone between the two of us

"I have to go" I tell her looking at my phone, my Uber will be waiting for me

"Already? Aren't you staying for lunch?" she asks me as she approaches, that woman's face appears before my eyes, "I know how to make her listen to me". I move away
"No, I can't" I walk towards the door while she stands there confused by my move

"Thanks for the lesson, see you later" I pull down the handle

"See you later I guess" she greets me disappointed, I quickly leave that house.

A feeling of nausea invades my stomach, what the fuck did she think she's  doing? Playing with two people? Especially with me, knowing my last story ended badly..

I head towards my Uber, as soon as I get in I give the address and open the chat with Sarah

"maybe Lydia is engaged"