Red Velvet

Chapter 14

This chapter is dedicated to Claudia ( claudiaoverhere) because- wait a sec- do I even need a reason? I mean have you read her stories? Flawless.

RECAP- Shim has agreed to join Pierce and the boys i.e. be a part of their band. Also, I hope you remember that creepy call she received. I know, I am bad at recaps. 

Let's continue, shall we? 

Pierce returns home, looking more elevated than I have ever seen him.

"I brought dinner," he announces and places two brown bags on the centre table along with an expensive looking bottle of champagne.

I look at it, then look at him and raise an eye brow.

"Certain occasions call for a celebration," he announces as an explanation.

I clear my throat. "And to what occasion do we owe this celebration to?"

"The expansion of Next Door Promise," he quips.

"Next Door Promise?"

"My band, or hold up; now it's our band!" he exclaims enthusiastically.

"Gee!" I clap my hands and receive a wounding glare.

"I was hoping for a little better response. I'm so glad Pierce, I can't wait to perform Pierce ," he mumbles.

"Ah, I'm sorry, I'm just a little distracted."

"Distracted?"

Yes, distracted by the anonymous phone call that I received in the late afternoon. But it could also be a silly prank by some bored youngsters or just a misplaced contact. I'll never know because the person on the other side didn't utter a word.

I don't even know whether it was a man or woman. I cringe at the thought of the caller being a woman and then cringe some more for my cringing.

Most likely, it was a stupid prank but who would pull it on Pierce? Definitely none of the guys from the band. Nevertheless, it barely makes a difference. Even if I tell him about the call, he wouldn't know who called him, so it's completely pointless...right?

I take a deep breath. Why am I convincing myself to hide something so trivial from him? I trust Pierce with all my heart and he has earned it but I certainly don't trust unidentified callers, especially callers who refuse to identify themselves.

Or it could simply be a network problem.

I take a deep breath again.

"Shim?" I look up to meet a pair of remotely alarmed eyes swimming in oasis of confusion.

"Yes?" I try to muster a reassuring smile but settle with a nod instead which must've looked awfully suspicious but I'm at a point of no return now.

"Penny for your thoughts?" I eye the coin held between his fingers and shake my head.

"No penny."

"It's just a phrase," he slips the coin back in his pocket.

"It's not a big deal," I gather the words abruptly.

"You look perturbed."

"I'm not," I protest.

"You appear to be," he states.

"I...I don't drink!" I blurt when my eyes land on the champagne bottle resting on the table. It was the first thought that my mind came on an abrupt halt.