Then There Was You

XVI

Both Henry and Erica came back that night.
We ordered room service, sat in the tiny living room and watched terrible movies all night.
When they thought I wasn't looking, they'd both look at me carefully, trying to work out if I was really alright. I suspected they thought I might have some PTSD but I honestly felt fine.
As long as I didn't look at my bruises for too long. I didn't like the memories that came to mind at the sight of them.

It seemed like Henry was purposely keeping his distance. He sat in the single armchair, forcing Erica to sit next to me on the couch. He was trying very hard to seem causal and friendly. It made me question if this morning even happened. No, not even my imagination is that good. There's no way I could have imagined the way his lips felt on my ankle, or the way his eyes burned into mine.
It definitely happened.

It only took a few days for the bruises on my arms to fade enough for the make up artists to be able to cover them. And I was thrown right back into shooting scenes. My ankle was still troublesome. Forcing me to stop every hour to sit. It halted filming considerably, but everyone was extremely patient and understanding. I hated feeling like I was a bother. So I made sure that my acting was perfect. I never missed a line.

My scenes with Henry were emotionally and physically charged as ever. But our relationship off screen was strictly casual. He still came to see me every night, but never alone. And he didn't touch me again. His expression was always careful and guarded around me now. But our friendship blossomed all the same. Wherever I went, he and Erica were sure to be close by. We were quite the trio.
The days passed by happily this way and blended into weeks. I hadn't heard from James since our fight. I wasn't sure where we stood as a couple anymore. Thinking about him always left me feeling drained and lost, so I kept him out my mind as much as possible.

Two weeks had passed and Erica's time was over. She was leaving our trio.
I didn't know how I was going to manage without her. She'd become my rock and my closest companion.
It wasn't a shock that half the cast came to see her off outside the hotel. Henry stood next to me as I hugged my friend fiercely for the last time. "I'm going to miss you so much," my throat feels horribly tight and I need to swallow back my tears.
"Me too," Erica says, as she pulls out of my embrace and holds me at arms length. Her brown eyes look warmly into mine. I'm going to miss her so much.
"Please have fun! Just think of the sleepovers we'll have in London when this is over," she says excitedly, "and I can come visit you in Scotland. Meet Jackie and that handsome boyfriend of yours."
I think Henry's body tenses next to me, but I can't be sure. I look up at him, but his expression is unreadable, guarding whatever he might be feeling.

Suddenly, our trios down to two. The dynamic of our friendship is about to take another turn.
And it isn't what I expect.
Henry comes over as he usually would that night. But his mood is off. He barely looks at me the whole night. Doesn't sit next to me on the couch, even though I hint- and not very subtly- that I would like him to. But he ignores me. When he does eventually talk to me, his voice is short, like he's annoyed at having to speak. I'm completely blown away at the unexpected change in him. I don't even have the chance to ask him what's going on. He leaves quickly, not even staying the hour.
I'm hurt. I don't understand what I've done for him to act this way.

In a vain attempt to salvage our friendship and make him like me again, I dress nice and put on make up. I try and keep my mood light, upbeat and fun as possible. But this only makes him worse. The visits become less and less frequent, and he never looks me in the eye longer than absolutely necessary.
I've passed the stage of being hurt. I'm frustrated and angry. I fully intend on confronting him tonight. We can't go on this way. Our friendship, our strange chemistry and our work relationship all rides on tonight. I have to play this very carefully. Either way, this ends tonight.