Fame's Revenge

Chapter 8: Now

Liz

I was falling for Gavin.

A simple concept. One that should have made me happy. After all, I did want to find someone and fall in love with them, and he was already feeling something for me.

But I didn't feel happy as I pulled my legs to my chest. Thoughts of David and Gavin mingled in my mind and consumed me. The amount of guilt I felt for falling for someone besides David made me sick. I was still grieving my loss. How could Gavin go and make me feel things for him?

How could I let myself feel things for him?

I pressed my forehead to my knees and let all of my feelings wash over me.

Shay

The first day was harder than she thought it would be. She didn't really expect this level of physical labor, even though she knew very well what kind of job she was applying for. The only thing that made it hard was when she knew the manager was going to be keeping a close eye on her for the first week since, apparently, Liz had had trouble with the last couple of maids.

Well, maybe it was better this way. She could observe and get a feel for the layout, prepare her thoughts on her next steps.

As she went through her day, she made mental notes of where the bedroom was, the music room, the kitchen, and the office, which, she noted with a small degree of confusion, was attached to the music room, separated only by a curtain of lace. That wouldn't block much sound.

After what felt like much too long - though it was only about three hours - Shay was heading home with a time to come back the next day. She hoped she'd be able to actually move ahead with something then, but she was sure she wouldn't be able to. After all, the woman had told her she'd be glued to Shay's side for a week.

The only good part was that it calmed the voices inside of her head when she told them it would only be a week, and then four days, and then tomorrow.

Liz

It took a little while, but eventually I was able to stand and make my way into my bathroom. I looked at myself in the mirror and tried to find anything different on my face, but I looked like me. I looked like the girl that had fallen in love with David, and I looked like the girl who did the only thing I had promised myself I'd never do: fall for someone else.

David was special. How could I go and replace him? I didn't need a man to be happy, so why did having one make me happier? Nothing about my heart made sense to my head.

I ran a finger along my eyebrow and thought back to how Gavin had treated me when he first saw me and realized I'd been crying. He'd been kinder than anyone else I had in my life right then, and it was something I found that I craved, something I wanted - no, needed - in my life. I had a deep need to feel cared for, to feel loved, and I couldn't repress those feelings now that I knew I could still have them.

And wouldn't David want me to have that?

I sighed and pushed my hair back. I knew the answer to my own question without really needing to think much at all.

Of course he would. Of course he'd want me to feel loved, feel cared for. He'd want someone else to give that to me if he couldn't, as long as I felt that way. It was just something I needed to accept. And, in spite of myself, in spite of what my mind kept telling me, I would. I knew I would. How could I not at this point?

So that was it. I dropped my arm back to my side and got a good look at the girl who would be Gavin's girlfriend, if he'd have her.

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