I sighed as I took my phone. I called Helena.
*German spoken *
'Hello,' Helena said.
'Hey Helena, it's me, Lina.'
I heard a relieved sigh. ' Lina! I'm so glad you landed safely.'
'Thanks. Can I come tonight?' I asked.
'Always, are you coming alone?' 'Probably,' I mumbled.
'What's wrong?' she asked concerned.
'Nothing,' I said. 'Okay...' she answered. 'You're in the news.'
'What?' 'They saw you at the airport. They say you faked everything. They called you an attention whore.'
'An attention whore,' I mumbled. To quiet because Helena haven't heard me.
'Lina? Are you still there?'
'Yeah, yeah... I just want... I need a moment, I'm sorry. Can I call you later?'
'Yeah, sure. Take all the time you need, darling,' she said.
'Thank you.' I put the phone away and run towards Thomas' door, slowl knocking on it.
'Door's open,' he shouted.
I walked in and a cloud of smoke came towards me. 'Are you... smoking?'
'Who cares?' he answered.
I moaned and walked over to the couch where Thomas was on. I moved his legs aside and plopped down on the couch. 'Forget the smoking stuff, I want to go home.' Thomas put his cigarette in the overflowing ashtray that was on a table next to the couch and sat up. He clasped his hands together and gave me a worried look. 'Why the hell would you want to go home. You're here less than a day. Is it what just happe...'
I cut him off. 'No, Thomas. That's not the reason. I just want to get out of this country. Right now!' I stood up but Thomas grabbed my wrist. 'Why do you want to leave?' His breath smelled of cigarettes and I pulled my wrist from his grip. 'Do you remember what I promised? I will protect you. Whatever happens, I'm here for you.' His British accent grew stronger with every word he said. 'That's what friends are for. Just stay here.'
His dark brown eyes sparkled in the dim light. He looked angry, but also helping. He cared about me. I smiled and nodded softly. 'Thank you, Thomas.'
He also smiled. 'Let's call Helena,' he said when the mailbox flapped. He walked to the door and came back with a newspaper. 'Lina the attention whore?' He read, his eyes filled with anger. 'Who the hell does this!' He shouted. 'Damn, this makes no sense. We must speak to the author of the newspaper. Today,' he said firmly. He grabbed his coat and the keys to a car he had rented. I ran after him. I ran to my room and grabbed my coat, than I ran after Thomas and got into his car. 'These journalists think they can do anything. Bunch of idiots,' muttered Thomas when he put the key in the ignition. I gripped both armrests when Thomas stepped on the accelerator like crazy.
'Thomas, calm down,' I said when he almost jumped out of the turn. 'Does not matter, we're here already,' said Thomas. He flung the door open and jumped out. He walked to the door of a big building. My eyes followed the high walls of the building, until they reached the roof. In large letters was written on "Berliner Zeitung". I swallowed and walked into the building. Thomas was already shouting at a woman behind the counter.
'Thomas,' I whispered. I grabbed his shoulder and gently pushed him aside. I put my hands on the counter and looked at the startled woman right in her eyes. The woman started to laugh when she recognized me. I gave her a warning look and pointed to Thomas. She abruptly stopped laughing and looked at me seriously. 'We want to speak to the author of the paper of today. Now,' I said.
She nodded quickly and called someone. She wrote something on a piece of paper and gave it to us. With a lousy English accent she translated for Thomas what was written on it.
He nodded, still angry, and walked with me to the stairs. Third floor, room 3.27. I knocked on the door. An elderly man opened the door. He smiles. 'Aah, Lina. I wrote yesterday about you.'
I gave him a deadly stare.
'If looks could kill,' muttered Thomas. 'Luckily not. Name's Armin,' the man said, holding out his hand to Thomas. He also had a terrible accent.
'Thomas,' Thomas hissed as he shook Armins hand.
'It looks like you guys do not come here to praise me on my article,' said Armin smiling. 'You know exactly what we have come for,' shouted Thomas as he hit his hands on the desk of Armin. His coffee spilled on his work.
'Take it easy, kid,' said Armin smiling while wiping clean his desk.
'Kid?' Thomas shouted angry. 'I'll just watch what I say if I were you, otherwise ends up that pretty little head of yours sooner than planned in the grave.' I pushed him away quickly. 'Stop following me,' I said. 'Stop taking pictures of me and stop publishing weird stuff about me. I'm here to make things right.'
'Or else?' Armin said.
'Or else I'll go to the police. Give me my privacy.'
Armin laughed. 'No one will leave you alone Lina, you've faked a death. No one appreciates it. You live in Germany will be a hell.'
Thomas stepped forward and pointed to Armin's face. 'You're lucky you speak German and I can't understand you, otherwise I would have already sold a beating.'
'You dare. watch out, you're only making it worse for your girlfriend.'
'She's not my girlfriend, we're just friends.' Armin made a pout and looked at me. 'How sad. Rejected.'
Thomas suddenly ran forward and hit him in the jaw. 'Thomas!' I shouted angrily. Armin looked at us with his hand on his jaw and continued talking in German. 'Violent boyfriend.'
'He's not my boyfriend,' I shouted angrily. 'And he's not violent. You're the one who's wrong. Stop placing those things about me!' I jumped out of my chair and strode from the room with Thomas on my heels.
'You will regret what you have done, Thomas,' Armin shouted.
'I don't give a fuck,' he replied.
