Bring Me Closer

Closer: Part 6

CHAPTER TWELVE

I walk slowly down the narrowing hallway. My head is pounding from all that crying and I'm dreading seeing the face that caused it all. As I turn the corner, I force a smile to my face and greet everyone. And there. I look passed him and take my seat.
"You're on the cover," Rhandi whispers, placing People Magazine in front of me.
"West's Mystery Girl." I quote. "Tasteful." I don't even bother reading the article.
The entire breakfast continues to be sufficiently awkward as Mike and I avoid eye contact with each other. I can't take it anymore. My head is pounding, I look sick because of the crying.
"Is it alright if I head back to the room, I have a massive headache that I'd like to sleep on. I'll be down in time for the press conference." I whisper to Duke.
"You don't look well, please." He approves. "Take the day, but I'll need you tonight to partner with Mike on the scout tonight." I close my eyes tightly. He isn't. "I presume you and him can work together to find West exactly what we need. Mike has told me of your exquisite taste and was delighted when I told him you'd be joining him tonight." Was he?
"Sure thing, Mr. West. See you soon." I slide my chair back. "If you'll excuse me," I announce to the table. Mike eyes me and I try not to notice.
Great, now I have a night to look forward to.

Once I've settled in the room, I call Marilla.
"So, you wait until now to tell your best friend that you're in LA? Real nice." She complains. Not now, Em, I need you.
"I know, I'm sorry." I sigh running my hands through my hair.
"You sound awful, what's wrong?" She asks.
"It's just, a lot." Talking really makes not crying a lot harder. "I, I care about him so much." I try and speak through my sobs. "And, he won't talk to me. We've been fighting. I, I broke it off with him the other day and it's just, he went ballistic. So, we yelled, and I thought I was done. And he kept trying to tell me something, but he just couldn't say it. So he quit on me. Now I want him, and he quit on me. He should be the one crying, he should be the one begging for me. I did nothing wrong." I cry with my eyes closed. I know I'm being vague, but a best friend should know.
"Charlie, it's all going to be okay. I know it seems bad right now, but you know if it's meant to be, it will be. Okay?" And a best friend always knows.
"Okay. I just want to forget about all of it, I never cry over guys. Never." I wipe my face.
"Well, this ones special." She says.
"Thanks for being there." I sniff.
"Always." She answers. I exhale deeply, wiping my eyes.
"Well, I'm going to go sleep on this headache now. I have a long night ahead of me. Duke partnered Mike and I to go club scouting."
"You better do anything that drop dead gorgeous, rich, angel tells you." She jokes.
I chuckle, "Yeah yeah, he's already made a few passes."
"What?" She gasps. "Like what? Tell me, now."
"Like the staring, the making me fall into his lap on the plane. just to name a few." I laugh.
"Wow." She says. "And, oh! I meant to tell you, I saw you on E last night. You're becoming a little star." I was on E?
"Really? What were they saying?"
"Michael Kapur's Dream Girl and West Records Mystery Girl. I was just happy to see you. And, you and Mike looked good together." I try not to respond. "But yeah, I'm at your house now, we all watched the awards last night."
"Really? How cool and supportive." I'm glad to hear that.
"Drew and I were talking, why don't you really follow your dreams and sing for West? I know he'll sign you because I know you're talented. Anyway, no pressure." She says.
"We'll see. But, I'm gonna go now, I'll see you when we get back, hopefully that won't be long."
"Love you,"
"Love you too." I hang up and lay on the bed. Looking at the screen of my phone, I set the alarm to wake me up in a few hours.

I'm walking slowly in a hallway. I hear her screaming. "No!" As I walk further. I see her, on the floor. She's bleeding. On her face, her nose, and mouth. A man stands. He's big. He's holding money. "That's not yours!" I yell. He pushes me down hard into the wall. "No!" She yells. Her voice fades as my close.

I struggle to breathe. I can't open my eyes. I can't breathe. I grip the sheets of the bed. My body is jerking.
"Charlie!" My eyes pop open. I'm breathing heavy and I'm sweating. Mike is here, he looks worried. He's holding my body and wiping my sweat.
"You weren't breathing." He panics. "Thank God I came in here. What if I hadn't come?" He rambles.
My breathing is calmed. "It's okay, I'm okay." I answer. He stares into my eyes, holding my body against his tightly.
"Are you sure?" He asks. I nod. "Do you need anything?" He asks. I take a while to answer.
My eyes are locked on his hoping they'll answer for me. "You," I whisper.
Without warning, he kisses my lips. Ripping off my t-shirt and his, I dig my nails into his body. He sucks my neck. I can't wait anymore. I pull his shorts down and he pulls down mine.
His warmth glides into me causing my insides to erupt. I love this feeling. He hammers into me and his eyes are covered in something dark, something I like. I've gotta forget that dream. I have to forget. He squeezes me and he slams inside harder, and harder eveytime. I almost scream. "Ugh!" I moan. "Come on, harder."
He obliges. He bites his lip and goes even harder, "Oh, oh, oh!" I yell. This feels so good, better than ever.
"Like that?" He asks. I nod, biting my lip in return.
"Come here." I demand. I kiss him and bite his bottom lip.
"I'm about to," He says about to pull out. No. I stop him. "It's okay," I say almost breathless. Just like that, he pours into me like I've never felt before. He collapses on top of me, kissing me everywhere. Nothing can replace this feeling.