Almost Everything

Chapter 22

"Whatever you think is going on, it's finished. Finished okay." I shouted at her. We have been arguing for hours now. I'm sure people have complained about the noise disturbance by now. I don't even know why I'm still arguing with her.

"Finished? You expect me to believe that?" She screamed back at me.

"Yes Arielle finished!"

"Do you still love her?" She asked calmly.

"What?"

"I know you love her. But do you still love her?" She looked at me expecting an answer. One I didn't have. One I didn't want to have to admit. She was loosing her patience now. "It's a simple question Alex! Do you still love her?"

"I can't imagine a day I won't." I screamed at her.

"Then what the hell are we doing here Alex? Why am I spending half of my time flying half way across the world fighting for a relationship that is clearly one sided?"

"Because I'm a dick that's why. Because I pulled you into this so called relationship so I could get what I want. And I'm sorry."

"No. You don't get to do that. The reason why I spend my life on a plane is because" and then her voice changed. She was angry so angry. And now she was hurting. The tears falling uncontrollably. "I love you. And I will spend everyday trying to make you love me to. And I know that deep down you care for me to. And it will just take awhile for that love to flourish. But it will. Someday. I promise you." She cupped my face. Stroking my face. I couldn't even look at her in the eye. I know that there is something there for her. I feel something. But I don't know what.

"I....I..." I tried but nothing came out. She cut me off before I got the chance to try again.

" Isn't it fucking terrifying that no matter how many promises they made, no matter how long you have been together, someone can just get up and walk out of your life without a second thought and you have to carry on like normal because the world doesn't stop for any of us. So here's my question: when you loose the most important person to you in the whole entire universe, where is all the love- love you never knew you were capable of - where is it supposed to go? So you can't. Please don't leave. No one had ever stuck with me for so long before."

"Right here. That is where I am staying. And I'm not leaving. I promise." I took a step forward and pulled her into my arms. Holding her close. This is my life now. Her. And I have to learn to get used to that and I'm sure in time I will.

_/\_/\/\_

I walked into Olivia's office. I was early of course. Traffic wasn't as bad as I had expected. She has called a whole band meeting so it must be serious. The door was open. She has her back to me, facing the big window behind her desk. Overlooking the London City. She loved that view. I notice the pink roses on her desk.

"He doesn't know the difference between roses and peonies. Nice touch."

"How do you know there from him?" She asked. She didn't move. She stayed exactly where she was.

"I just know. I also know that peonies are your favourite flowers. And I thought he would know that by now."

"Roses and peonies can be easily mistaken Alex."

"Yeah well I know that I would make the effort to know the difference."

"Don't compare yourself to him."

"What, am I not good enough to?"

"That's not what I said."

"No but you still haven't turned around to look at me." At this point she turned around to face me. She wore her glasses today. She must of woken up with a headache. She only ever wears her glasses when she had a headache.

"Happy?" She sarcastically smiles at me.

"Very." I smiled back. "How's the headache?"

"Fine. How was the late night drinking last night?" She must be able to see how tired I am. But she is right. I did stay up last night drinking. I stay up all night drinking every night.

"Brilliant." I retorted. She shook her head at me.

"What?"

"This. Is this how it's going to be from now on?"

"Like what?"

"Dry sarcasm, witty answers, low blow insults that are beneath both of us and insulting our intelligence."

"You're right. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too. We should just keep things professional from now on, I think that would be best."

I laughed. At that. Us professional? "Olivia Grant you did not just say that. Us professional? That is like asking the stars not to shine in the night sky." I walked over so I was standing in front of her.

"This is true. But we have to try."

"Arielle, well I, we have decided to give it a go. An honest true relationship. No secrets or lies."

"I'm happy for you. Really happy." She smiled. She did look genuinely please for me. Or maybe she's just got better at lying to me?

"So what's this band meeting about?"

"Well seen as the other boys are late as per usual. I might as well tell you. I think that recording this next album in LA would make a big difference. A new scene, different people, you never know it could meant to a different sound?"

"I think that would benefit this album very well. I think that it is a great idea. When did you think of this?"

"Ermm I didn't. Louis did actually. He's got a job offer over there for the next 10 months and he wants me to go with him."

"So you thought that moving the whole band to support your new boyfriends career choice would be best? Best for who? You? Me? Him? Or your relationship?"

"Alex, I don't see what the big problem is? Your producer pitched this idea months ago. What and because it's coming from someone else it's a bad idea?"

"No... It's just..."

"It's the fact it came from him isn't it?!She threw at me. Cutting me off from my sentence.

"No." I fired back.

"Then what?" Her tone sharp and annoyed.

"I dunno, it's not up to me is it? There are 3 others to consider here."

"Yeah well, I pitched it to them first and they all thought it was a great idea." She spoke to me. Like she knew she was going to win this fight.

"Well that's just brilliant isn't it. We should go out to dinner to celebrate." And that's when this conversation turned into a fight of firing back responses back as quickly as possible. Not caring what was said in them.

"Brilliant idea."

"Great. Everyone tonight. Your boyfriend to."

"He would be delighted to come."

"See you at seven." And with that I marched out the door. Leaving the building. Leaving the band meeting. Because that right now was not the Olivia that I know. She was different. We were different. We don't do that to each other.

// I know this doesn't look like it but this is a big step for the story. I feel like it's finally going in the right direction and things are finally beginning to happen. Please let me know what you think.! Also I was thinking about Miles and Olivia's best friend Cara of having a thing?? Suggestions welcome :)\\