An unexpected meeting

Chapter 3

Hi everyone! Sorry it has taken me so long to update, I’ve been very busy. Hopefully I should be able to make up for it and add another chapter in the next few days. Note: This chapter is quite heavy and has a trigger warning for depression, death and cutting. The next one should be much more pleasant though so I hope it won’t put you off. Enjoy :) and thanks for comments and votes xo

                                             Chapter 3

The apartment where I’m staying is small and sparsely furnished with only the bare necessities for comfortable living. It was all I could afford and I was barely scraping by. An unexpected job offer as a receptionist in one of the leading legal firms had been a blessing for my situation, but the hours were long and the pay wasn’t enough on its own, so I also worked shifts at a small café to help pay the bills. 

Working at the firm was depressing – I was almost always harassed by the men and didn’t fit in with the immaculately groomed and conceited women. I exhale slowly and close my eyes, trying to calm down. I don’t know what I was doing here….I didn’t have anyone. That isn’t true. You have Aidan, and you can’t let him down. An annoying voice in my head whispered. My younger brother needs me. All we have left is each other. Ever since….No! Not now, not tonight. I am barely holding myself together. I hear a jingling from outside the door and muster a bright smile, hoping my despair doesn’t show through. The door opens and there stands a young replica of my father. Aidan had inherited almost everything from our dad. He was tall and lanky (a family trait) with baby blue eyes which were striking against his black hair. He gave me a small smile in return as he places his bag against the couch. At fourteen years old, he seemed to have aged a decade in the last three months, and I hated that. He shouldn’t have to deal with the problems we were facing, and I wished things were different. I was hardly able to afford food and rent after paying for his school and books. It was tragic that circumstances had forced me into the role of a parent rather than that of an older sister. Neither of us was comfortable with the way things are now.

‘How was your day?’ I ask with forced cheerfulness, and he briefly looks up before answering. ‘It was alright, managed to pass that history exam and got an A- on my maths assignment’. I mumble praise and he smiles, but we’re both simply going through the motions. After a quiet dinner he excuses himself and shuffles into his room. I clear up before doing the same. Collapsing on my bed, I reach over and check my phone. A new message appears and a small smile lights my face as I recognise the number – Benedict. We’d had a few light conversations since that unexpected meeting two weeks ago, and I was really grateful for his company. After a long day at work, we would let off steam by complaining to the other person – him about his inconvenient schedule and unwanted attention from fans and paparazzi, and me about the sexist men who made working at the firm difficult. He still didn’t know about my second job at the café. I was ashamed and didn’t want him to know how much I struggled every day to make ends meet. It wasn’t that I thought he would judge me, but we were in such completely different situations. I didn’t want his or anyone’s pity.

How was your day? I hope those men left you alone. Benedict.

I snort in amusement at that, knowing such hopes were in vain. They never leave me alone, but that isn’t even the worst part of what my life has become. Benedict doesn’t know about the accident though. He doesn’t know much about me at all. He has no idea that my parents and older sister had died overseas and left me to take care of my younger brother without support of any kind. And he has no idea about my depression and the resulting issues. I don’t ever want him to find out, because I value his companionship. I know he’s too old to be anything more than friends and I’ve resigned myself to that. But in such a short time he’s managed to help me simply by being a sympathetic ear and I don’t want to lose that.

It was alright I suppose. Of course not - I seem to be impossible for them to resist =P Elena.

I make light of the situation instead of causing him to worry. It works, as it always does.

Only alright? Yes I suppose you must be…speaking of which, would you be interested in having lunch with me tomorrow? Perhaps this time we can manage a normal conversation without either party being insulted ;) Benedict.

I lie there and go over his message two, three times before it sinks in. He’s asking me out to lunch? Just as friends, nothing more. He’s sixteen years older than you for god’s sake, and a famous actor! I check the day and feel a rush of disappointment. Even though it’s a Saturday I’m working at the café that morning and all through lunch.

I’m actually busy tomorrow, how about Sunday? Elena.

No problem. Sunday works just as well. I can pick you up around 11 and drop you back home sometime after 1? Benedict.

I sit up and go over it all in my head. I don’t want him to know about my situation, and I certainly don’t want Aidan to find out about my contact with Benedict Cumberbatch. Making a quick decision, I type out my reply and then put my phone on charge so it won’t die during my shift tomorrow. After that I wait another fifteen minutes or so for his answer.

Actually I need to do a few things that morning, so I can just meet you wherever it is you want to have lunch? Text me the details and I’ll see you then. I’d better get some rest, and so should you Mr Cumberbatch! It’s been a long day. Sleep well. Elena.  

Okay then, does 11 outside “Chef Bourbon’s” sound reasonable to you? It has indeed…goodnight and sweet dreams Elena. I shall talk to you on the morrow. Benedict.

I smile as I read through his words. He really is lovely, not arrogant or selfish at all. It’s easy to see why he is so popular with us normal people. A true gentleman….I find myself looking forward to Sunday, but at the same time I’m also nervous. Hopefully I can get through this lunch without embarrassing myself. I doze off for an hour or so before waking in a cold sweat. No no no! not tonight….please. But the dreams come anyway, and with them the thoughts and feelings I try so hard to supress. They won’t leave and I suffocate under their weight. I reach out blindly for the only relief I know, all the while hating myself for what I have to do. Red stains the sheets as I finally fall asleep.

A/N: “Chef Bourbon’s” is made up, along with any other places mentioned. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and sorry again for any triggers.