Part of Your World:A Chris Evans FanFiction

25.

  As Gaby and Richard's relationship progressed over the next month, I saw less and less of her. I would see her at work on occasion, and I would force myself to go to the role playing group, because I knew she'd be there with Richard. Apart from that, we mostly just spoke on the phone. It felt like I'd lost both my best friends in the course of less than two months. It became a regular feature for me not to actually interact with people in person at all over the weekends. I'd either go to Joshua Tree and work, or stay at home watching Chris' old movies on a loop. I was just - alone.

I ended up going to a doctor about how I was feeling. It just felt like I was constantly circling the drain. He put me on some anti-depressants. I took them twice, hated how foggy they made me feel and stopped taking them. Instead I just started working out all the time. I probably spent 3 hours in Chris' home gym a day. I would run into work and home. Something that took an hour and a half each way. When I did I'd practice my free running, mostly around the steps and strange concrete structures around the University. This of course attracted dumb boys who wanted to out parkour me. I didn't really care. It was like their jeers and sexual innuendo proved I was actually worth something. I also started buying pot from one of them. I mostly used it to help me sleep, I didn't get any enjoyment from it.

Towards the end of term, Gaby approached me about coming over and working on the exams for our classes together. I was so excited. A reason we could hang out without Richard there. We agreed she'd come around to my place on Saturday, and we could do some work, and then maybe just hang. Play Mario Kart or something. She seemed as excited as I was.

Saturday arrived. I was buzzing. I'd over catered for snacks, which I put out on the back patio. Gaby arrived at ten in the morning. She wasn't alone. I was devastated.

"Hey, Emmy." Gaby greeted my at the door with a huge hug. "Richard wanted to tag along. I told him it would just be boring, but he insisted. I hope you don't mind."

"No, that's fine. The more the merrier." I said trying to sound enthusiastic. "Hi, Richard, come in."

I led them both through the house and down stairs.

"Nice place, Emily. Do you live here alone?" Richard asked. The words sounded accusatory.

"Sort of." I answered, as we stepped out on the patio. I don't know why I didn't just say no. That it was my boyfriend's house. I didn't want to talk to him about Chris. Not with fucking Richard. I wanted Richard to think I was an actual threat to him. That I was a lesbian, and I only wanted her.

We sat down around the table, Gaby and I opening our laptops and pulling out piles of paper work.

"How can you afford it? You have the same job as Gaby. Gaby lives in a small flat with room mates. Gaby, did you let them screw you over on your contract?"

I actually felt myself soften a little hearing him be worried about her like that.

"I don't live in that flat because I can't afford bigger." Gaby said. "I like living with those guys."

"Then we'll be talking about that later." Richard seethed and all good will left me. "You couldn't afford this though."

Gaby laughed. "No, I couldn't afford this."

"Then how are you doing it, Emily?"

I rolled my eyes. "I'm fucking my landlord. It's tough, but you know, while he's pounding away I just keep the thought of my three bedroom, three bath in the Hollywood Hills in my head."

Gaby laughed, and put a hand on Richard's arm like she was soothing him. "She lives here with her boyfriend."

"Well, where is he?"

I ran my finger over my throat implying I'd killed him.

Gaby looked at me like I was hurting her. I suddenly felt so guilty. Maybe Gaby didn't want him here either. He was definitely a control freak. Was me acting like this going to have consequences for her later on? Did she need my help?

"Sorry." I said. "He's out of town filming a movie."

"He just leaves you here alone?" Richard asked. Not like he was sad for me or worried. More like he couldn't believe someone would trust me to be alone. Like I was a child. Or maybe just waiting to be left alone so I could fuck all the things.

"Yes?" I answered making the word a question.

Richard went to say something else, but Gaby cut in. "We have a lot of work to do, sweetie. So we better get on with it. You wanna go hop in the hot tub or something?"

"Nah, I'll just play WoW. Can I get your WiFi password?"

I opened my phone and switched it to display the WiFi password and handed it to him. Then Gaby and I got to work.

It became long and boring. Anytime Gaby and I veered off topic, Richard would turn and glare at us. At about half past eleven I heard my phone ring, but I couldn't figure out where it was straight away. I then noticed Richard was holding it.

"Err ... can I have that?" I asked him. He threw it to me and I answered.

"Hey, babe." It was Chris.

"Hi!" I said a little too enthusiastically. "Today isn't a calling day."

"I know, I'm just in my trailer, and I've been naked on set all morning. Kind of made me wish I was with you."

"I have Gaby here."

"Oh man." Chris groaned. "I'm happy to hear that though. I hate how lonely you've been lately. Are you having fun?"

"Not really."

"Richard there too?"

"You guessed it."

"Be nice, Emily." Chris said sternly.

I sighed. "I'm trying. I better go. Skype tomorrow?"

"You got it. Love you."

"Love you too."

Gaby ended up leaving as soon as work was done. She seemed so sad. We had planned to work on out cosplay ideas for our trip to San Diego Comic Con in July. I started wondering if Richard would even let her go. Something was not right with that guy at all. I hoped that Gaby wasn't going to get hurt. I just wanted to help her, but I felt helpless about it. I had no idea at all what I could do to make her see him for what he was, or to help her get away from him if she didn't want to.

I went into the gym. I really needed to hit something.