Red Velvet

Chapter 6

This chapter is dedicated to Katie Bretton (katiecruz) because her romance writing is on point. 

RECAP- Shim has decided that she'll live with Pierce for the time being (not that she had many other options, but Pierce did a good job convincing her. He's sweet.) Mrs. Magby is his godmother but that fact won't be relevant until much later. This recap has been put together hastily, I don't know what this is.

SO the chapter 6 then, let's get started.....

But before....vote if you like Parker. Thanks xx.

6 missed calls.

I'm staring at the little pop up on my phone screen. Thankfully, Pierce had suggested I charge it last night in case I get an important call. He was right, I did get the calls, only I didn't have the minimum sense to remove my cell phone from silent mode.

I don't need to click on it to see who they are from. It can only be one person- Parker. He has also left a message. I put my phone to my ear and listen to it.

'Hello, Shimmer,' his frantic voice rings through my ear. 'Where are you? Call me when you get this message.'

I put the phone back down and shift nervously on the couch. I will have to call him back, he sounded terribly worried. I'm assuming that he knows about my 'house' situation, not the entire story of course, just the part where Jeffers throws me out.

I have to assure him that I'm okay before he goes marching straight to the sheriff's office. Knowing Parker, I'm pretty sure he is searching for me in the whole of River Crest right now. I take a deep breath. I'm not sure what to tell him, somehow I don't think he'll approve of me living with someone I barely know.

But the longer I sit here, the more worried he'll get. Delay is not an option.

Without thinking any more of it, I dial his number and wait for the bell.

One ring. Two ring. Thr- "Shimmer," his voice comes out as a sigh of relief.

"Hey...sorry I should've called you earlier," I apologize as warmly as I can, hoping that it will squeeze out a bit of his anxiousness.

"YOU SHOULD'VE CALLED ME EARLIER," he shouts but there are hardly any traces of anger behind it. If anything, he is concerned and I feel awful for not keeping him informed sooner.

"I know," I say calmly but underneath, I'm reeling to hear him say that it's okay, even though it's not.

"Shim, where are you and more importantly," he stresses on the last word. "Are you okay?"

"Yes I'm fine," I tell him. "Actually, never been better," I add as a little afterthought.

"What do you mean?" he is nonplussed. "I made a quick stop at your apartment about," he pauses, "half an hour ago. Turns out, it's not your apartment anymore."

"It's not, Jeffers told me to leave last night. He even took the liberty to pack up my bags," I say, disgruntled.

"He mentioned it and he did it very proudly. You would hardly ever come across people that...vile," even Parker doesn't hide the disdain in his tone.

"I wholeheartedly agree." I'm trying to drag this conversation and stall the one about Pierce. "But on the other side, I hadn't paid my rent," I say, pretending to be deep in thought.

"That still doesn't mean he'll tell you to leave in a storm. You cannot possibly justify that," he says heatedly.

"I'd be stupid if I say that I was expecting anything else out of Jeffers. Like you mentioned, he is vile."