Hard Habit to Break

Chapter 20

 They were in a charming, upscale village that felt like it had no business existing in the bustling chaos that was L.A. Cobblestoned streets lined with trees made Tori feel like she had entered another world entirely. A world she could never certainly afford. From the neighborhood to the variety of shops, it all made her feel like an imposter, just hoping no one noticed that she didn't actually belong here.

The houses were incredible to look at. Arched doorways and decorative wrought-iron railings with perfectly manicured lawns that she was sure the owners of the home had not tended to themselves. No. The whole area was giving off an upscale vibe. A vibe of our poolboy comes on Wednesdays and the gardener on Fridays. A vibe of ladies sitting around on patios surrounded by perfectly maintained plants, gossiping about who was having an affair with who, while enjoying glasses of expensive wine that probably cost more than what Tori made in a month.

Eddie had informed them all this morning that he had the whole day planned. After breakfast, coffee, and showers, they had all piled into three cars with no idea where they were headed. He had seemed so excited but she'd yet to figure out why they were in some ritzy neighborhood called Larchmont Village.

"It's just up here," he announced, leading the group up the street toward an area that was full of shops and restaurants. Maybe he was taking them to lunch, some place that he found that was his favorite or something.

"Wow, this is like...where the really rich people live, right?" Max whispered in her ear. "I mean, what the hell do you think these people do for a living?"

"Doctors, lawyers, heads of corporations, investment bankers, probably some actors or musicians, too," Dustin answered.

"So, definitely not managing the local grocery store?" teased Robin.

Steve snorted, "Or working security at the mall."

"I really highly doubt any of them are tending bar," Tori agreed.

"There could be journalists here," Nancy offered. "I mean, Connie Chung level journalists. Definitely not working at the Hawkins Post."

"Sorry, babe," Jonathan said, "don't think we're affording anything in this neighborhood anytime in this lifetime."

Nancy wrapped her arms around his waist, "Don't need to. I am perfectly happy with our little three bedroom house in Hawkins. I don't need anything more than you to make me happy."

Tori's eyes immediately found Eddie, trailing up ahead, chatting with Mike, Will, and Lucas about meeting David Bowie. And yeah, that was incredible. Tori would give her right arm to meet David Bowie. She'd loved Labyrinth. Jareth the Goblin King was a sight to behold and Bowie himself, just an absolute goddamn genius.

But that wasn't what was on her mind right now. What was on her mind was the fact that a small life like that, a little house in Hawkins, just the two of them, would never be enough for him. And that was okay. It didn't have to be a little house in Hawkins. But would she truly ever be enough for him? Would she be able to keep him happy? Or would he forever be seeking more? Be seeking better? Be seeking greater than what she could offer?

He said he wanted her. He said he still loved her. And she believed he did. Or she believed he thought he did anyway. Maybe it was just him trying to hold on to something that had once felt right. But whether he meant it or not, did it even matter? Could she even trust him? Whether he remembered doing it or not, he'd woken up unclothed in bed with some chick. Could she trust him not to do that again? Or would being with her get stale? Would the temptation of the new and shiny be too much for him for him to deny?

Could she take the plunge? Jump off the cliff into the icy water trusting that he would be waiting for her with a raft? Or would he keep her afloat for a few months before he just let her drown? Would he let her sink into the depths until she ran out of oxygen? Left to lie on the bottom of the ocean, just a body, there to rot and decay?