Breaking Point (Drew Ashley 1) (3 page)

I went straight to my room when we got home and looked at the deep purple Hervé Léger dress I'd bought for tomorrow. I fingered the soft fabric wistfully, while my vision experienced another bout of blurriness. I'd never been the kind of girl to buckle under pressure. I was strong enough to handle this. I could handle Travis.

I removed the white multi-photo frame I'd bought for Wanda and her fiancé, Simon, from the top shelf of my wardrobe. There were nine heart-shaped frames, each containing a sample photo of a couple staring into each other's eyes, or kissing, or in some other romantic pose.

I exhaled slowly, placing the photo frame back on the shelf. My ears had started roaring now. I was going to have a vision. It was probably just a few minutes away. I tried to focus on positive thoughts as my headache intensified.

I got that feeling of helplessness that I always felt when this happened. I just hoped it wasn't going to be something horrific or about weird creatures.

I lay down on my bed and whispered a prayer even as I felt my mind clouding over with the fog that usually accompanied a really bad vision. It was like something was being forced over my mind, without my consent, and I had no power to reject it.

The roaring sound increased a few decibels and gave me that feeling of rushing at high speed toward something before, in an instant, there was some sort of collision between the physical and the mental, the natural and the imagination, and everything became deathly calm. One minute I felt like I was losing consciousness, slipping away from life and reality, the next I was catapulted into a sphere that seemed more real. I sensed things in dimensions that I didn't understand. My vision, no longer blurred, became eerily lucid.

In a vision, everything was always bolder and brighter than real life. The clarity with which I witnessed things was disturbing. I observed the scene unfolding before me with resignation. I had to watch it whether I wanted to or not. Closing my eyes did nothing to shut it out, and if I opened my eyes, it just sat on top of my natural sight.

There was a computer—a hi-tech, top-of-the-range-type laptop with a small but extremely high resolution screen. The distance between us closed slowly until I was directly before it, so close it seemed I could touch it. Travis' name was on the screen in what looked like blood. The letters of his name were slightly distorted because the blood was starting to run.

My head thumped painfully. I didn't want to see this.

I noted that I could smell some sort of perfume. Not with my physical sense of smell. I perceived the smell on another level that I didn't bother to rationalise. I'd never been able to figure out what level I was sensing things on in a vision.

Somebody started crying loud, agonised sobs, and calling Travis' name. It was his mother. She sounded pretty frantic. She was calling his name over and over.

In an instant the scene disappeared, as though it was a TV and had been switched off by whoever or whatever.

I lay there breathless. This had been a short one, thankfully, but I still felt like I'd run ten miles uphill. I was exhausted.

My headache was gone, the roaring sound was gone, all the smells and sounds from the vision were gone, leaving me feeling emotionally drained.

Destiny shouted from the kitchen, asking if I wanted anything to eat. I yelled back that I didn't. It was amazing how easy it was to hide, to keep a secret, to make people think you're normal when you're not. Nobody knew about my visions—not even my parents, not even Travis, who I'd lived with for years. I always knew whenever one was coming, and I got myself somewhere alone so that nobody had to witness it.

I'd had enough of them over the years to know that they were usually just pretty random and grotesque. They'd been more positive and a lot less frequent since I got saved, but I just wished they would stop altogether. I had no idea what purpose they served——apart from frightening me.

I got out of bed and wrapped Wanda's photo frame in heart-covered wrapping paper. My hands were shaking. What on earth did that stupid vision mean? From experience, I knew that the best way to cope was to go about my business like nothing had happened. I wasn't giving these visions power over me.

I finished wrapping the photo frame, then switched on my computer. I had ten thousand words to write between now and next week Friday.

Chapter 2

The best revenge was success. I really believed that. But just how did I look successful in front of Travis if I was attending his sister's dinner party with Jazz instead of a real date? A date that looked like Kale Marshall perhaps, or maybe even like that American hottie.

I ran my hair brush through my hair one last time, wondering why was I even thinking such pathetic thoughts? There was no need for revenge because it wasn't like I wanted Travis back, anyway.

I studied my reflection, added a little more blush to my cheeks, and then wriggled into my dress.

"Looking good," Destiny called, passing my room with a tub of popcorn. I'd never known anyone who ate as much junk food as she did.

Jazz got to the house at half six. My mouth dropped when she breezed into my room, looking like she'd stepped off the pages of
Cosmopolitan
. Jazz was an embodiment of vibrant autumn colours with her mildly browned caramel skin, huge almond-shaped eyes, and thick mane of curly, russet-brown hair. One of those annoying natural beauties.

"What are you staring at?" she snapped.

"You. I've never seen you look so nice."

"Thanks. I thought I'd make an effort." She raked her hands through her hair, self-consciously.

Destiny chuckled behind her. "You need to take me to the salon that scrubbed you up like that."

"You went to a salon?" I asked Jazz. Jazz was one of those girls who considered wearing colourless lip gloss an effort. I couldn't believe she'd gone to a salon to have her makeup done.

"Yes. I was going to ask you to come, but I know you're good at doing makeup yourself." Jazz looked me over. "You look gorgeous, Drew. Travis is going to eat his heart out."

"I don't want him to eat his heart out. I don't even want him to speak to me."

"Okay. Well, are you ready? We're running late."

"Yes, I'll just put on my earrings."

"You can do that in the car," Jazz said.

I slipped my earrings into my silver clutch bag, and grabbed Wanda's gift.

Destiny followed us to the door. "Now I wish I was going, too," she grumbled. "Don't have too much fun without me. Sniff your drinks before you drink them."

"We will," Jazz said cheerfully. She sashayed out of the door, oozing with a sexy confidence that I wished I had. Never mind her prim virginal façade, Jazz knew she was gorgeous. She was exactly the kind of person I needed tonight, which was why I'd invited her instead of Destiny. Although someone like Kale would've been great.

Travis' face flashed before my eyes and I felt the slight beginnings of a headache start up around my eyes as I followed Jazz to her car. It wasn't a vision headache. It was the result of staring at my computer screen. I'd done nothing else since yesterday. I wanted to rub my eyes, but my freshly applied mascara stopped me.

I slipped into the passenger's side of Jazz's car resignedly. At least the weather was nice again today. I knew that there was going to be an outdoor drinks reception before the dinner, so it'd probably be a pretty nice evening. If I could stomach the sight of Travis without keeling over, that was.

***

"I wonder how long this drinks reception is," Jazz said, setting her empty drink glass on the tray of a passing waiter.

I opened my bag and removed the programme I'd received in the post. "An hour," I supplied. "So there's not long left."

Jazz took the programme and flipped through it. "Wow, it's so formal."

"Travis' mum and dad are pretty formal people. His mum loves things like this." The Oxford City Country Club was a pretty grand location——perfect for flaunting your wealth. The lush green lawn was over-flowing with immaculately dressed wealthy guests, each one's designer perfume vying for prominence.

I didn't look around because I didn't want to see Travis until I absolutely had to. I'd already spotted his mother mingling among the guests. I'd rather not see her either, to be quite honest. She'd always been convinced that I was just a leech, regardless of the fact that Travis and I had been together before he made it big in football. She was probably happy about our break up.

She paraded around the room regally on her husband's arm, the queen of ostentation. I rolled my eyes.

"If you roll your eyes at Carol Haywood one more time, you'll deserve whatever she does to you," Jazz scolded.

A tall man with a ponytail walked past. He glanced at me, and continued on his way, then glanced again. I sipped my virgin cocktail uncomfortably, the jasmine in it tingling my tongue. "Is it just me, or is everyone looking at me?"

"If they're looking, it's because you're stunning," Jazz replied offhandedly. She really didn't understand how hard it was for me to be here.

"They probably all know every last detail about my breakup with Travis."

"Drew, not everyone reads The Sun," Jazz said exasperatedly. "Some people actually have lives and don't care what footballers and their girlfriends are doing."

I sipped again, still feeling self-conscious. Maybe I should have turned down Wanda's invitation.

The screech of a microphone sliced through the tranquillity, causing grimaces and looks of horror.
Carol Haywood won't like that
, I thought gleefully. I looked toward the patio where a DJ was playing low classical music. I almost dropped my glass when I saw Travis standing there in a smart tux. I remembered my vision last night and felt prickly all over.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Travis' voice boomed around the lawn. "I welcome you to the engagement dinner of the beautiful Miss Wanda Haywood, and the lucky Mr Simon Vogel."

Everyone cheered and Wanda and Simon stepped onto the patio, hand in hand, smiling. Wanda was wearing a one-shouldered ivory gown.

Jazz nodded approvingly. "She looks lovely."

"She does." My gaze shifted back to Travis. My life had revolved around him since I was eighteen, so the breakup still had me slightly off-kilter. Six years was a long time.

"Remember, he's not worth it," Jazz reminded me. "Especially after what he did."

I nodded. That was true. And I didn't want him back, anyway. I was actually glad to be free from his clutches. "Thanks for coming with me tonight, Jazz."

Simon took the microphone and said a few words of thanks to everyone for coming, then asked the DJ to get rid of the classical music and play something that would make people want to dance. Everyone cheered again although Carol Haywood didn't look too pleased as the air filled with pop music, which I must admit didn't quite gel with the surroundings.

Wanda and Simon started working their way around the guests. Wanda was all poise and composure, just like her mother. Dinner was announced before they got to me and Jazz. I heaved a sigh of relief as I followed Jazz across the lawn. That was one less awkward conversation to deal with tonight.

"Hurry!" Jazz said, looking over her shoulder. "Let's get in there and get a good seat so that we don't have to wait forever to get served."

"The seating arrangement has already been set," I told her, hopping up the steps to the patio.

"You're kidding me."

"I'm not. Carol Haywood thinks she's royalty."

We entered the function room and I felt overwhelmed by the décor. It was set up like an actual wedding was taking place. I eyed the cream chair coverings and silver bows as we walked to our seats. It was all ludicrous!

As the room filled up, I tried to pretend I was somewhere else. Somewhere happy, where I didn't feel like a total reject. I thought of Kale and his lame attempt to get me to have pizza with him and his friends. That made me smile.

I looked up as Brea Weller walked past and sat at the next table. Our eyes met. She gave me an odd look before she focused on the man sitting next to her and started talking him.

"What a nasty piece of work," Jazz whispered. "Who's she?"

"Lee Haywood's girlfriend. You know Lee? Travis' cousin?" Come to think of it, I hadn't seen Lee tonight yet.

"Is she the one that presents the Sports News on Sports24?" Jazz asked.

"That's the one."

I looked towards the door, wondering when everyone was going to pipe down and let dinner begin. I was looking forward to the food. It was the only part of this shindig that wasn't going to be an utter waste of time.

My eyes met Travis' mum's as she entered the room. I smiled, although I felt like just looking away.

She came over to our table reluctantly; too refined to outright ignore me like I was sure she would love to do. "Hello, Drew," she said, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "It's been a while. How are you?"

I smiled brightly. "I'm great, Carol. This is a great dinner party you've put together."

"Thank you. I'm glad you think so." She removed her hand from my shoulder. "In case I don't see you again tonight, take care."