Invisible String

Chapter 2 - Back to December

The knocking boomed through the apartment again.

"I know you're home. You never leave lights on when your out. Please let me in."

I got up as slow as I could, my feet not wanting to touch the cold floor. When they did, I cringed as chills electrified me. I tip-toed across the room without saying a word. I knew who it was already.

"Han, I haven't heard from you in months. I wanted to check-in. Make sure you're okay."

When I reached the door, my hand hesitated over the knob as I peeked through the peephole at a distorted view of him. He smiled like the Cheshire cat. I unlatched the hanging lock, then undid the deadbolt and opened the door.

Alex Lehane stood before me. So very average looking in a black V-neck shirt and ripped jeans with black work boots. His gelled hair stood somewhat straight while his hazel eyes stared at me, wider than usual. The tattoo sleeves that covered his arms made him stand out, but they also added to his appeal. He beamed his million-dollar smile at me, which was, in reality, worth much more than a million dollars. Oralbrite made a deal with him years back when his band, Jade, first started to take off. They'd been in the music business for over ten years and were more successful than ever at that time. I'd been keeping up on the entertainment news and heard over and over that their recent album, Barenaked, sold double-platinum. They'd won a multitude of awards for it. However, they hadn't won a Grammy since their initial breakout success ten years ago. It had bothered Alex all these years.

"What are you doing here?" I crossed my arms and shook my head at his shocked expression.

"What... happened to your hair?" he asked, reaching out to touch it.

"Don't start." I pushed his hand away.

"Hannah..." he said while reaching around my batting arms and touched it. I gave up and laid my useless weapons across my chest.

My hair was in complete disarray and much shorter than the last time he'd seen it. Previously, I'd had light reddish-blond hair that reached my tailbone, but I grew tired of the endless amount of work it required. So, one summer day, I chopped it all off. I'd maintained the short 'do and to date, it remained a short red-brown, medium-length pixie cut.

"It's all gone," he said, his fingers combing through it.

"I know."

My eyes darted away from his gaze and down at the floor instead. The floor wouldn't be shocked. No, the floor had known about my hair for months.

I peered back up at Alex and at that same moment, we both said, "Where have you been?" As if we were in each other's minds, we replied simultaneously, shocked, "Me?"

"I've been right here, Alex!"

I turned around and walked back over to the couch.

He shut and locked the door behind me. He kicked off his boots, then set them on my shoe rack. After, he followed me into the living room.

"Right where I've always been," I said as I fell into the couch's cushions.

He shook his head. "You've been MIA from red carpet events, even for your own movies and tv shows, which I know for a fact you were invited to." He tilted his head and grimaced. "Not to mention that every text I've sent you over the last six months has yet to receive a single reply. You've left me on read."

I turned away, staring out the window, and he sat beside me.

"What's going on with you, Hannah?" He asked, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me against him. With his free hand, he reached out for my chin and turned my face towards his. "Where are you?"