Glitterdust (Completed)

41. Retreat

As soon as Megan finishes her sentence, I turn my back on the waiting journalists. No one has to see the fear in my eyes. My fingers tighten around my phone.

I'm quiet for a couple of seconds while millions of thoughts twirl through my mind. There's something wrong with Dan... What could have happened to him? It must be serious. Megan wouldn't have sent me all those messages if nothing serious was going on. Was he involved in an accident? Did he die? This is not happening. This can't be happening. I just won the tournament. I should be happy, celebrating my victory, but it seems all hollow now.

"Elise?" Megan's voice isn't hysteric, nor filled with hidden tears. She doesn't sound like she is choking on the fear of bringing me the message of death, but I know that Megan is an expert in hiding her true feelings. I think she's trying to stay calm and trying not to upset me.

"I'm still here." I take a deep breath, and I'm trying to find the courage to ask the question that will end my ignorant bliss. "What happened? Did he... is he dead?"

"No, he's not dead." I can hear the hesitation in Megan's voice. Although I feel some relief, I still don't know what is going on.

"This is so awkward, I don't know how to tell you this," she begins.

"Just break it to me." I convince myself that I can handle whatever Megan has to say.

Encouraged by my words she blurts out: "Dan is cheating on you."

It's hard to describe what I feel after her disclosure. I can barely stifle a chuckle in my throat, because this is simply crazy. "How do you know that, Megan? Do you have any proof?"

Megan starts blabbering about her favorite gossip website and she sends me a link. Last night an article appeared with the charming title "Dream couple back together?". The pictures are more revealing. Dan is the main subject. Dan and a girl, who hides her face in his neck. On some pictures they appear to be kissing. I know how deceitful pictures can be, but I still feel a pang of anger. Who is this chick groping my boyfriend?

And then I recognize her. It's Sasha, the pushy blonde from the premiere. Sasha, the ex girl friend. Sasha, the girl Dan never wanted to talk about.

But I can't believe that Dan is cheating on me. Ever since I've been dating Dan, stories like this one appeared in the media, and they were false. Every single time. The story about Dan and Kate, his niece, was a perfect example. Reporters don't have a clue of what is going on. They see him talking to an attractive female and they draw their conclusions, just to fill their websites or their magazines. It feels like those reporters sometimes spin stories from thin air. There must be a reasonable explanation for those pictures.

"I think they're old pictures, Megan. I recognize the girl. Dan told me they used to date." It seems logical to me.

I hear Megan sigh again. "You see those shoes she's wearing? Those are from this season's collection and their relation ended two years ago." She sounds like she's lecturing a toddler about how to recognize animal farms.

"Maybe it's not what it looks like. Those journalists know how to manipulate a picture." I'm not sure who I try to convince, Megan or myself.

Megan makes a soft disagreeing sound. "I don't know Eli, they don't seem photoshopped. No weird shadows or missing arms, or any of the random signs of a manipulated picture."

"When is the last time you talked to him?" Megan says after a short pause. "I mean, these pictures are all over the web, didn't he call you to give you an explanation or to reassure you that nothing's wrong?"

"No." That's the only word I'm able to say. I don't want to think of Dan as a cheater, I just can't. We were happy, we were practically living together. But the thought of our last conversation keeps haunting me. He seemed so disconnected and cold that during that phone call. It is clear to me that I need to talk to him first, before I make any rash decision or accuse him of anything.

While I'm battling with myself, I feel a hand on my shoulder. It's Al who gives me the sign it's time to finish the phone call. The press conference is about to begin. I give him a nod and I want to say my goodbyes to Megan, but before I can end our conversation she isn't done yet.

"When does your flight arrive? I can come and pick you up. You shouldn't be alone right now."

I want to tell her not to bother, that the journalists are probably wrong, but on the other hand, I haven't seen Megan since I moved. We talked every week on the phone, we sent each other messages, but that's not the same as seeing each other in person. An truth to be told, I missed her presence. Although I like my new friends, Pat and Tyler, it's not the same. Megan has known me since forever, she knows everything there is to know about me. So I give my flight information to Megan who has one last piece of advice for me.

"Whatever you do, Elise, don't call him. If he has nothing to hide, he will call you." She sounds all motherly and protective.

I smile when she says those words. This is typically Megan. She might be a bit crazy now and then, but whenever I need her she's there for me.

There's not much time to contemplate about the whole situation. The journalists have filled up the lobby and they are waiting eagerly for the press conference. Later I will have some interviews with the most important journalists known in the gaming community.

There's no time to check how I look and I hope that I look like your average tournament winner. When I ask Al, he tells me I look fine and I take his word for it. I take place in the chair in front of the crowd. One of the organizers introduces me and then it's time for the journalists to ask their questions.

It's warm in the lobby and soon sweat starts pouring over my back. It must be the lights, all focused on me. Of course there are the obvious questions. How does it feel to be back, did I expect to win, how did I prepare for the tournament, what kind of strategy do I like best, just the regular things one might ask. Soon I start to feel at comfort, the answers feel less forced and I even start to make jokes.

"Where's your boyfriend?"

I stare at the journalist who asked me the question. The realization creeps in that everyone in front of me must have seen the pictures. As Megan said, they are all over the internet. I don't know what to answer. Of course I can act like I'm oblivious of the uproar, but lets face it, I'm the worst actress ever and the whole audience will know that I'm lying.

"No comment." As soon as I speak the words I know I made a mistake.

Within the blink of an eye the comfortable atmosphere is gone. The journalists look like a pack of wolves who smelled blood. Their questions are a hail of bullets, going straight for their target. My victory isn't the object of their question anymore. Now they're only interested in my relationship and that's the last thing I want to talk about.

Helplessly I look at Al. He doesn't say a word, but his whole demeanor says enough. I see the confusion in his eyes. Maybe not everyone heard the rumors about Dan.

I feel helpless and I plea to him with my eyes. It takes him a couple of seconds and then he calls the press conference. He places one of his hands on my shoulder and with a tight grip he leads me out of the lobby, away from the prying eyes, away from the never ending stream of questions.

Away from my humiliation.

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