Red Velvet

Chapter 13

This chapter is dedicated to isabelleronin because Chasing Red is a beautiful story and is getting published! Congrats to the author <3

RECAP- Shimmer left her job at Life360 and Lorenzo didn't seem happy about. He mentioned something about a Julia and nobody knows who that is and idk what this recap is so let's just start with this chapter and I sincerely hope that you remember the previous one :)

XXX

I browse through my phone for the umpteenth time looking for nothing in particular. The local news stories flash on my screen but ignore them, not wanting to see any article with the mention of Trevor and the 'state compensation' that he is going to receive.

But does the announcement of a compensation means that he recognized his shooter? That he recognized Kevin Barker?

The thought sends chills sliding down my spine and I find myself worrying about him, once again.

Turning off my phone, I pad towards the kitchen. Food will be a better distraction, I hope, even though I'm not hungry. I decide to reheat some leftover spaghetti from the morning but the thought of setting the house on fire dissuades me from doing so.

Cold spaghetti will have to do.

I shove a forkful in my mouth and chew until the taste seeps out of it.

I had thought of calling Parker, first thing when I reached home. The little chat I had with Lorenzo had made even little sense but I considered it again.

It sounded too personal for a telephonic conversation, so I put it off until I meet him which will have to be soon. My life has become a twisted labyrinth of doubts and questions. Every person I've come to know appears to have a vast shadow behind them and I'm desperately longing for light.

The silence of the house is eerie and I can't take it any longer so I ring up Pierce.

He answers on the fifth bell.

"Is everything okay Shimmer?"

Well, that is one way to start a conversation.

"Yeah, of course. Why would you ask that?"

"Nothing um...you've never called me before."

"Yeah, I...," I don't know why I called either- the house is too lonely? "I quit my job," I blurt out.

"You did what?" he sounds surprised, or is it amused?

"I thought you wanted me to, I don't want to impose but-,"

"Shimmer, Shimmer, Shimmer," I can almost hear him smiling through the phone. "This is amazing. I'm just a little surprised because I didn't think you would do it especially you know," he takes a measured pause, "after what happened in the morning. I'm sorry for acting that way."

Oh, if only he knew. What happened in the morning is the reason why I was able to convince myself to leave work at Life360. I certainly can not tell him that, my real reason.

"Yeah, I thought about what you said," I grit my teeth. "And you were right, I never liked working there. To be honest, it was too monotonous for me."

"That's all right Shim, I guess I always knew. I'm just disappointed that the idea didn't struck me before. I mean that night in the greenhouse, I followed your voice because it was magical."

I cough up a laugh, "Uh-huh? It had nothing with you thinking that I'm a crazy stalker, there to murder you?"

"Certainly not murder, I was going more along the lines of, let's see- sexual harassment."