Inked Chaos (6 page)

It only
takes moments, before I find myself down in a secluded area of the garden, away
from the crowds.  Mmm, I can still slightly hear the music in the background,
but it’s nice and peaceful here.

I find a
bench, and sit down closing my eyes.  Yep! I’ll be quite happy chilling out
here for a while, enjoying my drink and the evening, while I ponder on what to
do next.  Deep down, I know I’m going to have to go back to the party, bite the
bullet and say Hi.  After all, I’m an adult, time to act like one.  I’ll just
finish my drink and then I’ll head back.

“Hi” a deep voice says next
to me.

“Shit!” I exclaim jumping out of my skin
and spilling my drink, as I look up to find AJ standing next to me.  How did he
get so close, so quietly? Please tell me I didn’t doze off and he caught me.  No,
I definitely didn’t.  He must move like a cat, and to top it all, once again
he’s heard me say ‘shit’.  I sit up straight, trying to compose myself, as I
look up at him.

“Hi.” I answer with a shaky smile.  Okay,
my nerves are gaining the better of me.  I can feel my hands shaking, as I take
a deep breath and say, “take a seat,” gesturing to the bench beside me.

Oh boy! Does he look good? He’s wearing his
usual black jeans, with a black shirt, open at the collar and with the sleeves
rolled up.

“Thanks.” He says, sitting down next to me,
and I observe the amusement in his eyes. “Sorry, didn’t mean to make you jump.”
he grins, and my legs turn to water.  Yep, its official, I’m weak.  Especially
around that smile of his.

“I was just chilling out for a while.”
I say. “Giving my feet a break and catching my breath.  It’s been awesome, but
it’s been a long day and I’m starting to feel it.”

Okay, now I’m waffling
. 
For
crying out loud girl GET A GRIP!

“I know what you mean.  Although for a
minute there, I thought you were avoiding me?” he states with an amused smile.

I gape at him, and I just know my mouth is
hanging open with shock.  Well! He’s not backwards in coming forwards is he? I
decide to take the bull by the horns, confess, and get it over with.

“Oh alright! I confess, you got me.” I
reply. “I felt a little awkward and decided to escape.  Not too well as it
turns out.” I just know I’m blushing head to toe.

“That’s okay.  I don’t blame you.  After
what happened following the concert, I can understand your hesitancy.  I can’t
really go into it, but what happened couldn’t be helped.  I’d like to apologise
if you’ll let me?”

He seems sincere.  I can’t refuse his
apology, it will just make me look a bitch, and let’s face it, I don’t want to.
 

“Apology accepted.” I
reply with a tentative smile.

He smiles back at me,
and those dimples of his come out full force, taking my breath away.  

“I thought you were in New York.” I blurt
out frowning.

He bursts out laughing at me.  Oh hell!  Did
I just say that out loud?

“It got cancelled.” he smiles.

Yep!  Seems I did say that out loud.  Another
episode of my mouth working before my brain is up and running.

“Sorry, mouth
malfunction.” I groan. “My turn to apologise.”

“Accepted.  How about we start over? Hi, I’m
AJ pleased to meet you.” he says, holding out his hand for me to shake.  

“Hi, I’m Jorgi.” I reply with a smile.  I
take his hand and we shake.  The touch of his hand sending tingles all up my
arm.  Oh hell! I’m a goner.  I know it.  I don’t know why I’m fighting it.  I
think deep down I knew that this is how I’d be affected.  That’s why I’ve been
doing avoidance tactics.  Well, I can’t avoid him anymore.  

“So, how are you enjoying my hometown? Has
Jen been taking you out and about?”

“Well, I’ve only been here a few days, so I
haven’t seen much, but what I’ve seen so far I love.” 

“We’ll have to do something about that
then.  See what we can organise.” he suggests.

I don’t know how to answer that.  There’s
nothing more I’d like, than to be shown LA by him.  However, I don’t want to
put him out, and I certainly don’t want him to feel obligated to take me
anywhere.  So I opt for the safest option.

“That’s okay.  I know you must be busy, and
I really have to knuckle down and work on my writing.  So, I’m not sure when
I’ll have time to go out and about.”

He stares at me in silence with those piercing
blue eyes of his for so long, that I begin to feel uncomfortable.

Did I offend him?

I think I did.

I can see a muscle twitching in his jaw,
and just as I begin to have the courage to speak, he leans back on the bench
with a confident smile and states:

“Now, I think you just tried to say no.  So
I’m going to speak plainly, and we’ll get rid of all the drama in one go.  Yeah,
I fucked up after the concert.  That doesn’t mean I had changed my mind about
meeting you.  It means something happened that made that meeting impossible.  I
couldn’t fly back to the UK due to work commitments.  Yeah, I could have asked
Jen for your number, but I didn’t want to start anything over a telephone, with
you miles away.  That’s not how I play things.  I wanted to get to know you
then, and nothing has changed.  So how about cutting out the bull’ and you let
me show you LA.”

Oh fuck! Did he just say that? Yep, he did.
 I know I’m staring at him.  I also know I’m frowning, and I can feel that
self-preserving wall of mine slowly sliding upwards.

I don’t know what to say.  He obviously
doesn’t give a shit and says what he thinks, so maybe that’s my way to go too.  It’s
not in me to be so straight forward, so it takes all my courage to answer with
the one word question I want to ask.

“Why?” I whisper.

“Why?” he repeats,
raising an eyebrow questioningly.

“Why did you want to meet me? Why do you
want to waste your time showing me LA?” I ask, knowing that for some unknown
reason to myself, I almost sound angry.  

He leans towards me, resting his arms on
his knees and regards me quizzically, as if he’s trying to figure me out.

“I think the question should be, why I
wouldn’t? But to answer your question.  I wanted to meet you because there I
was, bored shitless, waiting for a car to take me to the sound check, when a
car came racing along with one of our songs at full volume.  I watched as the
girl sat in her car, obviously engrossed in her own world, listening until the
track finished, before climbing out of her car and taking my breath away.  She
had long red hair that shined like flames in the sunlight, and awesome legs.  To
top it off, when I spoke to her, her smile lit up her face, and was promptly
followed by the word shit!” he smiles. “I couldn’t get you out of my head.  So
when I saw you as I was entering the elevator, I decided I wanted to meet you.  Now
does that answer your question?”

Fuck! I’m screwed.  I don’t know what to say.
 I’ve never had to deal with someone as forthright as him before.  He doesn’t
hold anything back.

Even so, I still don’t understand, so again
I whisper, “Why?”

“Why?” He repeats. “Did you not hear a word
I just said? Why do you think I couldn’t be interested in meeting you, and why
do you sound so pissed off when I say I am?”  

He sounds like he’s the one becoming pissed
off.  My protective wall is almost to the top now.  Much more and it will slam
home.  Unfortunately, my anger gains the better of me and I snap.

“Yes, why? I’m not one of your perfect
bodied, stick thin models or actresses.  I’m not glamorous and beautiful or
famous.  I’m a boring everyday person who happens to like writing stories.  I’m
also, I hate to admit it, older than you.  So excuse me for wondering, why?”

As I proceed through my tirade, his eyes
narrow, and his mouth gets tighter.  By the time I finish, I can see he is
holding his anger in check.  Well!   I’ve said my piece.  I’ve given him a way
out, so he can back off and that will be the end of it.  He won’t have to
pretend to like me anymore to save face.

He stands up, runs his hand through his
hair in frustration, and glowers down at me.

“Damn it woman you have issues, so let’s go
through them one by one.” He bends down, places a hand either side of me on the
bench to fence me in, and leans in closer. “No, you’re not stick thin.  No,
you’re not a model or an actress.  You’re a writer.  Someone who creatively
puts the words together, to make the stories in the first place.  That also
makes you not boring.  As for your age, who gives a fuck? If I’m not bothered,
what does it matter?”

That’s it.  The minute he says I have
issues, my wall slams home with a bang, and my back straightens as I shut
myself down.  

“Please move away from me.” I whisper.

He remains where he is, watching me
intently.

“No we need to talk.” he
replies with a stern expression.

“You’ve said enough.” I reply.

He stays where he is.  I’ve had enough, I
place my hands on his chest and push, at the same time as I shout. “MOVE.”  

He stands back and moves away from me, so I
quickly take my opportunity to flee.  Standing up, I begin to briskly walk back
towards the house.

Well!  That truce didn’t last long.

“So, you’re going to run? We’re not going
to sort this out?” he shouts as I’m walking away.

I halt at the sound of his voice.  God this
is intense.  I don’t need this in my life.  I’ve already had too much drama and
upset.  Enough to last me a lifetime.  I take a deep breath, turn around, and
walk back to him.  He’s standing there with his hands on his hips, watching me
approach, with a guarded look in his eyes.  Stopping in front of him I let him
have it.

“You have no right talking to me like that.
 We’ve only just met and you don’t know me well enough to tell me I have
issues.  Hell! I’ve never met anyone like you.  What? You think that because of
who you are, you can say things without caring if you hurt the person you’re
talking to.  Well! Let me tell you Mr Hot Shot Rock Star, you need to take care
of people’s feelings when you decide to tell them what you think.  So yes, I’m
walking away from you.  I’m going to get myself a drink, and try to forget I
met you, and that this conversation ever happened.  I’d like to say it’s been a
blast meeting you, but I’m not a liar, so I’ll just say goodbye.” With that
parting shot, I turn around and head towards the bar.

“We’re not done.” he
shouts at my retreating back.

“Oh yes we are.” I mutter
to myself.

My feet can’t carry me away quickly enough.
 I head for the bar, order myself a large whiskey, then while I’m drinking it,
my eyes search the crowd for Jen.  I’m staying here tonight, so I’ll say
goodnight and disappear to my room. 

Spying Jen over the other side of the
garden with Razor, I down my drink, walk over and whisper in her ear that I’m
going to bed. With a surprised look, she says okay and glances behind me.  Following
her gaze, I spy AJ over the other side of the garden, drink in hand, watching me.
 

I look at Jen, as she raises an eyebrow
questioningly at me.  I shake my head, and mouth “not happening”, give her a
kiss on the cheek and walk towards the stairs.  Don’t ask me how, but I know
he’s watching me.  I resist the temptation to turn and look.  I just want to
reach my room, and lick my wounds.  AJ Lewis definitely fell off his pedestal
tonight.  I hope when he landed it was painful on his ass.

It’s been a couple of
days since the horrendous confrontation with AJ at the party.  At breakfast the
next morning, Jen had bombarded me with questions, and although I had wanted to
forget the whole incident and didn’t want to talk about it, that obviously
wasn’t going to happen.  So I’d told her all, and held my breath, waiting for
her reaction; which I knew was not going to be good.

“So basically, you did your usual trick;
took offence, shut yourself down and walked away.  Just like you’ve done with
every man since James.” She’d said.

Okay! So much for us
girls sticking together.

I’d leant towards her “Well thanks for the
support
friend.
 What do you mean ‘my usual trick’?”

“Oh come on Boo, admit it.  Every man
you’ve dated, you’ve found an excuse to slam up the wall.  Honestly, you have
never let anyone in long enough for you to know them or vice versa.  Now you’ve
done it to AJ.  He’s a good guy; which you’d have found out if you hadn’t taken
the hump.”

“I don’t know who you’re talking about, but
it’s not me.” I’d replied sourly.  

“Boo honey.  Please, this is me Jen.  Not
someone you think you can pull the wool over their eyes.  I know you, I was
there to help pick up the pieces after that shithead James crushed your world.  I’ve
watched you, systematically push away, every guy that has shown the slightest
interest in you since then.  I had hoped that AJ being who he is, you would let
down your barricade, and let yourself relax and lighten up a bit.”

Staring out of the window, I’d let my mind
wander back over the last few years of my life.  Jen was right.  I did concoct
some petty excuses to not see again every guy I’d dated.  Sometimes, I didn’t
even grasp what or why I was doing it.  That wall was so high, and so thick, I
wasn’t going to let anyone through it.  If I didn’t let them get close, they
couldn’t hurt me.  I’ve forced myself into a male free isolation zone, without even
noticing.  My nose started to sting, and my eyes filled with tears as the truth
had hit home.

“Hell Jen!  What have I done to myself? I
didn’t know I was doing it, honest.  I’m a mess, a lunatic.” I’d looked at Jen
to see her softly smiling at me

“At last, a breakthrough.” She’d whispered,
as she put her arms around me. “You’re not a lunatic sweetie.  You were just
subconsciously protecting yourself against being hurt again.  Now you recognise
that, you can move on; get your life back on track properly.”  

“Oh my God! Jen.  AJ! He must think I’m a
mad woman.  He’ll never speak to me again.  I totally lost it with him last
night.” I’d said as I covered my face with my hands to hide my embarrassment, groaning
out loud when I recalled the scene in the garden.  

“He’s cool.”

Raising my head, staggered I’d looked at
her. “He’s cool?” I’d repeated.

“Yeah.  After you left we
had a talk.”

“You had a talk?” I’d echoed “What do you
mean you had a talk?”

“I mean we had a talk, a chat, a conversation.
 You know, two people exchanging words.  A talk.”

“Okay, Miss Sarcasm.  What
did you talk about?” I’d questioned.

“Don’t stress out on me.  He said you’d had
words.  He was worried about you; that you’d been upset.  He also said, he
couldn’t believe you had such a low opinion of yourself, that you’d wonder why
he’d want to spend time with you.  I can’t believe you asked him that!” she
exclaimed “He said he understands, seeing as you’ve been hurt in the past.  So
he’s willing to go slow.”

“I can’t help it, I just asked the
question.  How was I supposed to know he’d get uptight about it? Hang on, what do
you mean ‘he understands I’ve been hurt in the past’?”

“He knows about James.”
Jen revealed.

“What! Jen for crying out loud, how could
you?” I’d asked, aghast.

“I didn’t tell him, Razor did, but before
you go off on one, I haven’t told Razor everything so AJ can’t know
everything.”

I’d looked to the ceiling and closed my
eyes “Please.  What did you tell Razor?” I’d pleaded.

“Don’t panic.  All he knows is that James
was a creep, and that you took the divorce hard.  He knows nothing about the
baby or the surgery.  He only knows about James, because he was asking me if
you were single.  I wouldn’t tell anyone about the baby Boo, you know that.” She’d
said sadly.

“Sorry, I know you wouldn’t.  It was just
my jerk reaction.  You’re my best friend; I know you’d never intentionally hurt
me, but Jen, I’ll never be able to face him again after the way things went
down last night.  Oh the humiliation!” I’d said putting my hands over my face.

“Don’t be daft.  He isn’t holding a grudge,
so why panic.  Just wait and see what happens; play things by ear.  He’s a busy
guy, so you probably won’t see him for a while anyway.  Talking of which, Razor
and I aren’t going to be around for a few days.  He has some business regarding
the band to deal with upstate, and I’m going with him.  It will only be for
three days, possibly less.  You’ll be alright won’t you? I’ll always have my
phone on me if you need me.”

“Sure, don’t worry about me.  I’ll take
advantage of you not being around and get cracking on the book.  I need to knuckle
down anyway.”

“Well if you need anything, just ring.  Even
if I can’t help, I can get hold of someone who can.  So don’t think you’re
stranded on your own.” She’d smiled.

Jen had left that afternoon, leaving me to
my own devices.  So I’ve spent my time swimming in the pool, and concentrating
on my book, which I’m pleased to say is almost completed.

I’m now lying in my bed watching the movie
The Notebook.  I’ve seen it many times, and it moves me to tears every time;
the way Noah is so devoted to Allie.  Loving her so much to remind her of their
love every day, and in the end, not being able to live without her.

My last conscious thought, is to wonder if
a love like that really does exist, before my eyes fall and I drift off to
sleep.

*****

I’m by a waterfall, listening to the sound
of the water as it splashes over the rocks, descending into a small trickling
stream below.  My eyes fly open, and I lie there momentarily disorientated,
still semi locked in my dream, until coming to my senses, and realising I can
still hear the water.

Swinging my legs out of bed, I place my
feet on the floor, only to immediately jerk them back up again.  The floor is
wet.  I reach over to the bedside lamp and switch it on, and glance down at the
floor unable to believe my eyes.  What was once polished wood, is now a small
lake.  Worse, there is water running down the wall at an alarming rate,
enlarging that lake by the minute.  Gingerly putting my feet to the floor so
that I won’t slip, I walk out into the hallway, discovering the same thing.  There
is obviously a leak in the apartment upstairs, and because Jen and Razor
arranged the rental of the apartment, I haven’t got the landlord or letting
agency emergency number.  I have no other choice than to phone Jen, and ask her
for a contact number.  

Heading back into my bedroom, I locate and
search in my bag for my mobile phone and dial Jens number, hoping that she’ll
forgive me for calling her in the middle of the night.  It rings out for a
while and just as I’m about to hang up Razor answers.

“Yeah Jorgi what’s up?”
he queries sleepily.

“Razor, I’m so sorry to have to ring at
this time of night, but is Jen there?”

“She’s sleeping babe.  What’s
up?”

“Have you got an emergency number for the
letting agent or landlord for the apartment? There’s a leak in the apartment
upstairs, and there is water running down into mine.”

“How bad is it?  Can it
wait ‘til the morning?”

“It’s pretty bad.  I’m not sure it should
wait, but I can if you want me to, I don’t mind.”

I feel bad enough already, having to call
them.  If I have to wait until morning, I will.  

“Tell me, where’s the
water?” he inquires.

“It’s running down the walls, and it’s all
over the bedroom floor, and the hallway.”

“Okay, don’t panic.  I’ll contact the owner
and someone will get to you to check it out.  Keep your phone with you, someone
will be there as soon as they can.  Whatever you do, don’t try to switch any
lights or electrics on.”

“Thanks Razor.” I whisper, turning off my
phone whilst casting a dubious eye towards the bedside lamp as I hang up.  How
stupid am I? I never even considered the electrics, automatically switching the
lamp on.  Do I now leave it or do I risk switching it off? I think, probably
stupidly, that it will be better to switch it off.  Reaching over, I quickly
flick the switch and jump back onto my bed, ready to sit it out in the dark, waiting
for my rescuers to arrive.  

*****

It feels like hours since I rang and spoke
to Razor, but according to my phone it has only been an hour.  I’ve just sat
here making plans, thinking that as the noise of the running water has gotten
worse, they probably won’t be able to fix it, and I’ll have to book into a
hotel.  I’ve snuggled under the covers trying to stay warm, but there’s just
something about the sound of running water, that’s making me have the shivers,
and I feel like a block of ice.

A loud knocking on the door startles me,
making me jump, and for a second I sit there, debating whether it’s safe to see
who it is.  I’m very conscious of the fact that it’s the middle of the night,
and I’m on my own.  I thought Razor would have rung to let me know someone was
on their way.

I obviously sit there a little too long, as
the pounding on the door resumes, but this time it’s accompanied by a shout of
my name.

Apprehensively moving towards the apartment
door I shout “Who is it?”

“AJ.” comes the reply in a voice I identify,
now that I’m standing closer to the door.

“Hold on.” I shout, and briefly lean my forehead
against the door and close my eyes.  Of all the people Razor could have called,
why did he have to call him? I’m standing in a puddle of water, wearing nothing
but my pyjamas, which consist of shorts and T-shirt, about to open the door to
AJ Lewis, ‘Rock God’.  I’d giggle if I didn’t feel humiliated by the fact.

I haven’t heard from, or seen him since
Jens party two days ago.  So I’m apprehensive as I unlock the door and open it
a fraction, just enough to make sure I’m not dreaming.  Unfortunately, I’m not;
it’s him alright and Tiny is with him.  Feeling nervous, I open the door and
try to make light of the situation with a joke.

“Hi.  Fancy a paddle?” I grin while
stamping my feet lightly to highlight the puddle of water.

“Shit Jorgi!  I’m sorry about this.  Let’s
get you out of here.  Have you got anything that’s dry that you can put on?” He
asks as he strides past me into the apartment, with Tiny in his wake.

“I think my clothes are okay, I just can’t
see anything in the dark.  If you hold on a minute I’ll see what I can find.” I
say.

“Here, take this.” he
says holding out a torch.  

With a smile I thank him,
take the torch and walk towards the

bedroom.

“Just grab something for now.” He shouts after
me. “Ross will grab all your stuff and bring it afterwards.  Let’s just get you
somewhere dry.”  

There is no way, I’m letting Tiny rummage
through my underwear to pack them.  Using the torch for guidance, I quickly
pull my suitcase from the top of the wardrobe, and toss it onto the bed.  Quickly
unzipping it, I don’t hesitate to start frantically throwing my clothes into
it, underwear first.  I don’t care that they aren’t folded neatly, needs must
at a time like this.  I then quickly pull on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt
over my pyjamas, and slide my feet into a pair of flip flops, whilst muttering
“appropriate” to myself giggling.

I can hear AJ and Ross talking somewhere in
the apartment, then footsteps as someone leaves.

Grabbing my handbag, I walk out of the
bedroom, carefully feeling my way with the help of the torch, in search of AJ;
who I find in the lounge.

“I’m ready.  If you could just drop me at a
hotel that would be great.” I inform him.

“Right.” he answers seemingly
sarcastically. “Ross has just gone to check the apartment upstairs.  As soon as
he’s back we can go.”

We both lapse into silence, and starting to
feel uncomfortable, I decide to woman up and apologise for my behaviour at the
party.

“AJ I’m sorr…….” I start
only to be interrupted.

“Don’t.  I’m
not discussing things now, with you freezing cold in the middle of the night. 
We’ll talk later.” Then turns towards the door as Tiny returns.

“Got in
boss, I turned the water off.  It should stop now.  I’ll get Frank onto it
first thing.” Tiny announces.

“Come
on.” says AJ as he grabs my hand, and all but drags me out of the apartment.

“My
suitcase!” I exclaim as I’m pulled towards two parked cars.  One a black Range
Rover, which he walks past and heads towards the other one, a low slung blue
sports car.  

“Ross
will bring it don’t worry.  Get in.” he says brusquely, opening the car door.

I look
from him to the car and back again, and seeing the muscle in his jaw tensing, I
decide not to argue and climb into the car.  As I sink down into the black
leather seat, he shuts the door and stops to talk to Tiny who has just come out
of the apartment building.

While
waiting for him to join me in the car, I fasten my seatbelt and take in my
surroundings.  I’ve never seen a car like this before, it’s so low to the
ground, and I just know I’ll probably have difficulty getting out of it.

My
thoughts are interrupted by AJ swinging into the car.  He immediately powers up
the engine, which reverberates around me as he pulls away into the traffic
lane.