Ghost from the past (18+)

#Twelve: In which she has to face the music.

'I need to feed the press something, Lexi! They're a bunch of sharks out for blood. And guess what, honey? You just cut yourself out in the open water.'

I sigh heavily and continue pacing through the living room, which I've been doing for the past hour listening to her bantering. She's right. I scowl, grinding my teeth together as I walk over to one of the blinds by the side of the room. With one finger I slide it to the side and peek through the corner, making sure I stay out of sight as I groan to Delphine.

'Yeah, yeah I know... They've been holed up at the gate waiting to get another frikkin' scoop.'

'What else did you expect?! At least tell me they haven't noticed him inside?'

'No! For fuck's sake, after I found out I immediately told him to stay inside and not go near the windows. He wasn't happy about it but considering the circumstances, he understands that it's no option whatsoever.'

'At least he isn't a complete and utter moron.'

'Delphine!'

'Don't you dare Delphine me! What were the two of you thinking?! I need to know what happened exactly. You've been putting this conversation off for over an hour and I want an answer, now. You can't keep me in the dark Lexi. I'm your manager. I have to solve this mess, so I need to know what the hell I'm working with here!'

She's right, again. I grimace walking away from the window toward the couch. Not that she gave me much room to speak in between her verbal lashing... As I plop down my eyes fall on Matt's jacket, still laying on the ground near my feet. Even if she's my manager I can't tell her everything, I just can't. I think, considering what to tell her and what not when she screeches through the phone.

'Lexi answer me, goddammit!'

'Fuck, yes! I know this seems bad but ...shit!'

I swear, dragging a hand through my hair. Shit, shit, shit! Delphine heaves a sigh as well, obviously as frustrated as I am only for different reasons. I bend over, picking up the heavy black leather jacket and grasping it tightly between my fingers. How am I going to get out of this? Huddled back on the couch I draw my knees up, placing Matt's jacket on my legs as I mutter.

'Listen, I'll give you the gist of it but you gotta understand this has to stay between us. No one can know!'

'Fine, whatever, just tell me something.'

My fingertips skim over the aged leather as my eyes stare into oblivion. Something, anything. I think repeating Delphine's words in my head as I take a sharp breath starting with the basics.

'...I got hammered.'

'You don't drink.'

She states flatly, her voice filled with disdain. Not for a second believing the words coming out of my mouth. Not that I blame her. She knows me for more than three years and she's never seen me drinking, ever. I never told her why I usually don't drink, but she knows whenever someone would offer me a drink I would always decline. I signed with her agency as soon as I graduated a little while after Matt left for Vegas. She doesn't know anything. We both stay silent for another minute while I try to gather my thoughts. Eventually, I speak up a little hesitantly.