Speechless Turns /H.S./

7. Studio eight

My hands hectically tossed the contents of the bag as I tried to get through to the buzzing phone. Shredded mint papers annoyingly rustled between my fingers. I would be lying if I would say that the conversation with Harry didn't scare me. After he left I headed straight to the downtown, not looking back, thoughts sophisticating my mind.

-"Hello?"- I finally found the phone. My fingers cramped around the device as someone would be targeting to steal it from me. I've never felt my nerves tensing up this way.

-" Sophie! How are you?" - I felt such a relief hearing Julia's voice.

I cleared my throat- " Hey... I just wanted to call you. We need to talk." - the last sentence came out almost like a weak whisper. I wanted to seem fearless in front of Harry, but in all honesty, I was terrified of Dave. Now , knowing the backstory, his cold eyes were imprinted in my mind in a whole new level.

-" Yeah, sure! We can meet up..." - Julia replied - "...umhh, is everything ok?"

-" I need to talk to you." - I quietly stated and sat down on the wooden bench. Huge palm tree threw a light grey shadow, swiftly lingering in the hot air.

-" Ok, listen. Do you know where the record shop is?"

I pressed my index finger against my right temple- "You mean the one on the corner? Next to the Dolores street? Rockaway Records?"

We passed that store the day before and Harry told me that most of his records were from that exact place.

-" Yes! Girl, you are getting your ways around here impressively quick!"- Julia laughed.

-" Ok. I'll be there in 20 minutes." - I stated.

I nervously looked around before leaving the pleasing spot. It seemed like Dave is glooming on me from every corner. Without Harry by my side I felt naked and exposed. I felt as the paranoia kicked in slowly but surely, letting me flinch from remembering the acidity and causticity in Dave's voice. My fear was reaching a point of irrationality. The worrying part was the doubt of whether it was irrational or not.

I saw Julia inside the record shop through my own reflection in the window. As soon as she spotted me, she hectically waved her hand in the air, inviting me inside.

-"Hey..."- I slowly approached her. The warmth of her smile lighted up the whole room.

-" Hey, love! Come here- let's sit down"- she guided me towards the small coffee table and pulled an old, squeaky chair. The sorrowful sound made couple of heads turn- " Sorry..."- Julia whispered and squeezed her eyes - " Sebi, can you please get us something to drink?" - she politely asked the guy who seemed to be working as a cashier and waiter.

We sat down. My hands unintentionally nibbled the corner of the tablecloth, eyes pinned to the surface of the glossy menu card.

-"What's up?" - Julia clearly noticed my tension.

My fingers crumpled the tablecloth in a tighter grip than before- " Can you tell me something more about Dave?" - few shivers went down my spine as his name awkwardly stumbled over my lips.

The warmth of Julia's smile was gone. She looked around the buzzing shop before turning back to me - "What did he do?"

-"No, no - nothing, I just wanted to know... Harry told me..."- my words collided with the confusion of my scared mind.

-"... I knew it!"- Julia interrupted my rambling - "Me and James, we were talking about this yesterday..."- she mumbled - "How much do you know?"

-" I don't know. I guess everything?"- each word came out leaving a sharp burn in my chest -"Julia, all of it- it's true?"