Make Believe (18 page)

“Yeah, you do, but I can’t. He’s supposed to my friend and yet again he wanted something that was mine.”

“Please, Elliott, don’t do anything stupid. He’s really not worth it.”

“I need to think, Jess. Alone. I’ll take you home.”

“But what about the party?”

“Screw it.”

***

Elliott collects our coats and we head to the front of the club. He places his arm on the small of my back but I feel the tension between us. He guides us through the door where the photographers are still waiting.

They all start shouting his name but he ignores them. We wait in silence for the car to be collected.

Someone shouts “Elliott”.

We turn and Hudson’s standing behind us, blood all down the front of his shirt.

I look at Elliott and his expression has changed - his eyes dark, his breathing rapid and his fists clenched.

He turns and strides towards Hudson.

“You fucking attacked her?” he shouts whilst squaring up to him, pushing him.

“What shit has she been feeding you now?”  He looks me up and down whilst regaining his balance.

“Fucking get rid of her, Elliott. She’ll be selling her story as soon as you piss her off. Then you’ll be back whinging at me at me to sort it out. If only you used your brain when picking bitches to fuck.”

Elliott starts pulling at his shirt collar again. His face is so red. He pushes Hudson again, harder this time, and Hudson stumbles backwards.

The paparazzi are going crazy taking photos.

I grab Elliott’s arm. “I’m not lying, you know that don’t you?” I defend.

“Shut the fuck up, you little whore” Hudson shouts, standing up straight again.  Elliott this time sees red and punches him hard in the face. Hudson trips backwards but somehow manages not to fall over. Elliott turns his back on Hudson and shouts at me.

“Where the fuck is the car?”   Hudson moves closer to Elliott.

“She begged me to touch her, Elliott. It was me saying no, you know what a prick-tease she is. She’s playing us off against each other. You can see that. She knows what you can do for her.”

“I wouldn’t beg you for anything, Hudson. You fucking repulse me!” I scream, lunging towards him trying to hit him. Elliott pulls me towards him and stands between the two of us.

Hudson doesn’t stop taunting him.

“She said I was more of a man than you’ll ever be, and the stuff she begged me to do to her, you wouldn’t believe it, she’s a dirty little whore. Thank God you now know what she’s like.”

Elliott turns back to Hudson and confronts him. “Don’t give you me your bullshit, Hudson, she wouldn’t look at you twice.”

“In fact, Elliott, she did!”

Elliott looks at me and shakes his head. I’m scared what he’s going to do. I try and pull him back but he won’t move.

“Dirty fucking whore,” Hudson spits at me as I try to pull Elliott away again.

Elliott takes a step backwards and, without any noticeable movement, he lifts his fist through the air and hits Hudson straight in the face again while the other hand swings into his stomach. Hudson bends in time with the blow. When he stands up again, he heads towards Elliott with his arms flailing, hitting Elliott straight in the mouth. Elliott’s so much bigger than Hudson but the damage he’s done to his lip is horrific. Elliott grabs him by his shirt and swings him towards the paparazzi managing at the same time to hit him again but this time his punch is so forceful he knocks Hudson to the ground. The cameras flash as he does. They can’t believe what’s happening. The car pulls up and Simon immediately jumps out noticing Hudson on the floor.

“Everything OK, Elliott?”  he asks concerned.

Hudson starts trying to get up whilst holding his head.

“No, it fucking not, Simon. Keep that fucker away from me, you sort him out.” He points at Hudson.

Hudson looks up.

“You’ll regret this, Elliott, picking that bitch over me,”  he threatens.

Elliott ignores him.

“I think we should go,” I whisper to Elliott.

He just glares at me in that what-the-fuck-have-you-done way.

“We need a cab,” he says whilst grabbing my hand, and we start to walk to find one.

The cab ride home is very quiet. I try and make conversation with him but it’s no good, he’s shut down.

“I’m home, Elliot,.” my voice brings him back to reality. “Do you want to come in?” I really want him to say yes.

“No, I’m good, babe. I’ve got lots of things to sort out.” He sounds like my Elliott again.

“I’m so sorry I’ve screwed everything up for you. I never meant for you to get hurt,” I gush.

“I know you didn’t. It’s not your fault, Jess.”  He sounds so unconvincing.

“What will you do now?”

“I’m not sure, find a new agent, I guess? But Hudson won’t let it lie though, he’ll want his revenge. I just need to be one step ahead of him.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“I know, Jess, you’ve said that. I’m not pissed at you but you should have told me sooner, that’s all. I really got to go, babe.”

I smile and lean to give him a kiss, but he turns and gives me his cheek.

“Bye.”

“Bye.”

I stand and wave goodbye whilst watching the cab drive away.

That’s one goodbye I don’t ever want to have again. My poor Elliott, what have I done? I’ve just created yet another huge problem for him and I won’t be here for the fall out of it. Tomorrow is one thing I could really do without, going home for my dad’s so-called funeral is the last thing I need. Luckily, work approved the whole leave thing on special grounds.  And to top this whole mess off, Elliott doesn’t even know I’m going home. I guess the best way to tell him now is in an email, at least that way I get to explain it better.

The light shines through my bedroom curtains waking me, and I’m reminded of what happened yesterday. I look at the time 7:00 a.m. Shit, I’m going to be late for my flight. I thrash around my room throwing clothes into my suitcase whilst getting dressed. I’m impressed that I can multi-task. Oh God, I haven’t sent Elliott that email. I snatch my laptop out of the suitcase, open it and start tapping away.

To
: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

To Elliott,

I’m so sorry I’ve caused you so much trouble. I need to go home for a few days, nothing to do with this, it’s just family troubles. I wanted to tell you today but with everything that’s happened, it slipped my mind.

I hope you’re OK with this.

I can’t apologise enough for screwing up your perfect life. And I will understand if you don’t want to see me again. That’s not what I want at all but I understand. Take care of yourself and thank you for the last few weeks. My life will never be the same again.

I will miss you so much.

All my love,

Jess xxxxx

“Jess, your cab’s here!” I hear Mia call.

I push the Send button and wonder how he is this morning. I hear Mia call again and I grab my suitcase and head down stairs.

“Thank you, Mia, take care. Look after Elliott now you’ve been upgraded to senior makeup artist,” I tease.

“He’s in good hands, don’t you worry. I hope it all goes well at home and it’s not too awkward. Will you be seeing Henry?”

“Oh God, I hope not.” I smile, kissing her on the cheek.

Chapter 13

I head towards Arrivals at Heathrow Airport, constantly glancing around the crowds hoping to see a friendly face. Mum said she would organise for someone to get me.

It takes a few moments before I eventually recognise a face. My heart drops, not him already. I’m not prepared for him right now.

“Hey Jess-bear.” Henry waves.

“Hello, Henry,” I sigh. “I should have guessed it would have been you,” I say as he kisses me on both cheeks.

“I’m sorry if you’re disappointed it’s me,” he relinquishes.

God, I’m such a bitch.

“I don’t mean it like that. I’m really tired. It’s been a very long flight. Are you dropping me at mine?”

“No, your mum asked if I could take you straight down to her. The funeral’s set for tomorrow,” he replies whilst taking my case from me.

“Oh right, well if you don’t mind, but you can always drop me at the train station. I could catch the train instead of you having to miss work, I know how important it is to you.”

“Stop it, Jessica. I want to drive you down, it’s the least I can do.”

Oh my God, sitting in a car with Henry for over two hours, what a nightmare. Why now does he want to talk? I can’t handle this; I mean it was less than twenty-four hours ago that I was making love with Elliott. What the hell am I doing? I decide to be the bigger person and be gracious about it.

“Thank you for dropping me down, Henry, it’s very kind of you.”

Henry just stands there and looks at me.

“You are so sarcastic, Jessica. If you’d rather I didn’t drive you, please say. The last thing I want is to upset you.”

“Oh Henry, it’s not that. It’s just a lot’s happened since I left. We have so much to talk about and I’m not sure now is the right time. After my twelve-hour flight I’m feeling jet lagged anyway and I can’t handle this conversation now. The only reason I’m here is for tomorrow and that’s going to be as tough as hell anyway and that’s what I need to focus on.

“I realise things have changed between us, Jessica - and you’re with someone new. As much as that hurts me, I realise you have no time for me but your mother has personally asked me if I could be there to support you and I have accepted.  Please don’t interfere with that,” he snaps.

How does Henry do that? He makes you feel guilty and shit all at the same time.

I follow him to his BMW in silence.  I really don’t want to do this.

He opens the car door for me. His manners never falter.

“Thank you.”

I climb in the car. There is a bunch of flowers on my seat.

“They’re for you, Jess. A welcome back gesture.” He smiles.

“Thank you, Henry, it’s a lovely thought.” The guilt engulfs me. I turn to look out the window as the tears well in my eyes.

We start heading towards the M3 south.

The silence is deafening.

“Can I put some music on?” I whisper.

“Yes, of course. You know where the CDs are.”

I fumble through them and decide on Snow Patrol. I feel it’s very apt for our situation. As I put the CD in, Henry notices the watch.

“New watch, Jessica?”

I smile. “Yep.” I want to avoid this conversation at all costs.

“Let’s have a better look,”  he asks, grabbing my wrist.

“A Rolex, very nice, with a diamond crested face.  It must be worth an absolute fortune. Where did you get it?” his tone infuriated.

“Umm, it was a gift.”

“A gift from him?”

“Yes, Henry, it’s a gift from Elliott,” I snap, acknowledging the elephant in the room.

“You’ve changed, Jessica. I thought you were more sophisticated than that.”

He’s looking for a fight.

“I’m still the same, Henry, maybe a little wiser but still the same. It was a very thoughtful gift from Elliott, especially after my attack.”

“How the hell am I supposed to compete with that, Jessica? I don’t have millions to throw around. I thought that the fact that I’m in love with you would have been enough.”

“Oh Henry, please not now.  It’s been a nightmare few days. I don’t need this,” I plead.

He acknowledges the upset in my voice and stops the conversation instantly.  My phone beeps.

I reach for it from my back pocket, hoping it’s Elliott.  Henry glances over to see.

It’s from my mum. Why hasn’t he texted or emailed me. I sent him that email fifteen hours ago. I knew he would have been asleep when I sent it, but I’m sure he would have seen it by now. This is such bad timing. I should be there with him, supporting him when he needs it the most.

The music plays gently in the background and I eventually feel myself relaxing more, the motion of the car makes my eyelids heavy and I start to drift to sleep.

“Jess-bear, we’re here,” Henry whispers but his words still startle me. I was having such a nice dream about Elliott.

I peer through my half open eyes - I instantly recognise my childhood home with its square bay windows and it’s black front door. It looks a bit more worn than I remembered and I always thought that it seemed huge, but after being in LA where they make stupidly big houses it seems normal size now.

Henry opens the car door for me and I immediately see my mum standing at the front door waiting.

“Hello, my darling,” She says as she throws her arms around my neck.