We left Melissa's house, me in a daze and Margaret, I don't know what she is but I'm the designated driver - figuratively of course but you get what I'm saying. She's doing the drinking and I'm keeping an eye on her. Yay me... Aren't I nice, the best friend you wish you can have.
"Three years... three years of my life, I gave to that bastard and he acts like he doesn't know me. After all he put me through!" This has been going on since we got here. Miraculously, it doesn't seem like the alcohol is working tonight - nope - it's getting her worked up more.
"How is it fair! I'm like this and he can act like he doesn't remember me... that's right, to him, I wasn't Margaret but an outlet for his perversions." More, more...
"You were right, I have to destroy him or else his shadow will follow me for the rest of my life."
For the record, that's not what I said but who'll believe my words...I don't believe in returning evil with evil. I'm lying but who cares, the point is I didn't mean it like that - I was merely telling her to protect herself.
I repeat, this mess has nothing to do with me. I don't want to have anything with it especially since it seems like there's more to why she didn't get him arrested. Who knows what deals were done behind the scenes. I don't want to be a part of it.
Damn it all to hell. Friendship my foot. Why am I trying to be nice by jumping in these muddy waters?
"Yes, I have the same pictures as him. Tell me Trent, what did you have in mind? I'll comply, I'll do whatever you tell me to. I want to drag him to hell, even if I go down there with him."
She's lost it... but frankly her lost self is exactly what I need. It's better than her having feelings for him or being soft hearted, I can work with her rage and hatred. Not that being bitter is going to get her back but... I'm not choosy, I'll take what I can get.
"How can he boldly ask who I am. And you are? Inhumane pig. He's scum. I hate him. I hate him."
Pigs aren't inhumane...all pink and meaty... I'm just saying. As you can see, I don't know what to do with myself - how to go about comforting her... Back then, it was an emergency and I wasn't alone, her parents were with me.
"Why is he even back? How can he be back? We had an agreement! He thinks I'm weak, that's it...He thinks I won't do anything to him... I'll show him. Trent, you have to help me."
She's losing it. They had an agreement but wants me to meddle? Yeah, she's lost it.
The hell with it. Why, why am I taking on a mess that has nothing to do with me? I'm not a vigilante. Sigh. Margaret is my friend after all...
"Send the pictures to me, I'll handle everything. Let's let him enjoy himself for these three days, then we'll make our move."
Because I'm already caught up in this mess and if I don't do anything to get myself out of it, I'll be like her...losing my marbles slowly but surely.
Then, I have to leave her alone for the next three days and get everything ready. I love her, I really do but what she's feeling can be contagious... I'm not lying, especially to someone who's been there before. It's a vicious cycle, one I've vowed to get myself out of. Why else would I try so hard to stay away from my parents?
I take my phone out to make a call I thought I would make for a completely different reason,
"Hello." I hear that smooth voice and...all is right in the world.
"Hey Fin. Trent here..." Not like he didn't save my number but, I'm nervous...
"Can you take me in for three days?" Not weird, not weird at all...Not like this isn't something normal people do - call someone they barely know to take them in - not at all, normal people do it all the time.
"Oh, just three days?" If you don't mind, you can take me in forever - but I can't say that - normal people would never say that.
"Yep, just three days. I'm in a pickle but it'll be over soon." That's a lie but he doesn't need to know that...
With that out of the way, I'm left with facing a not-getting-drunk-complaining Margaret. I have to get her home...
"Alright, you've had enough."
"True. I've had enough. I've had enough of Mark." That's not what I meant...at all.
"Let's go home."
I take us home, put Margaret to bed when we get there and write a note to let her know I'll be out for three days. Specifically instruct her not to go looking for Mark and not to worry.
Once I've packed everything I'm going to need, I leave to Fin's house. I don't know why but Fin makes me feel safe, there's something about him that screams dependable and that's a feeling I've rarely felt. Maybe Melissa is right, I'm needy and tend to cling to people I'm not supposed to cling to.
I'm not pathetic...am I?
"You're here." Who cares about not being pathetic...I get to be welcomed into Fin's home... handsome otherworldly Fin. I'll be pathetic all my life if it means I get to see him, touch him, be his... I'm getting ahead of myself but what to do... He is so, so tempting.
"Yes, thank you again. I swear I'm not a slob and you'll barely notice I'm here."
I deserve an award, I can lie with a straight face. Me, not a slob? My housekeeper probably has a different opinion, I have a different opinion but I'm pitching myself here, along with my stellar looks...Fin, we're meant to be is all that's left for me to say. Damn, the man is good looking.
"I'm happy to have you here." I can't smile any wider. See, I just knew he's eyeing me too - whether that eyeing is good or not, I don't know but I can't be bothered to care now, I'm happy we're on the same page.
"Now you can't accuse me of stalking." Funny, real funny. He's so calculative, I have be on my toes around him or I'll be lost.
"How long are you going to be in York?" I can't win against him, it's better to change the topic.
"I'm not sure yet." And he said he wasn't stalking me...
Anyway, as much as I would like to cling to him and never let go, I have important matters to handle at present and multitasking is not my strong suit.
After I'm settled in, I get on with things to do. First thing first, to splice the pictures and make them seem like the guy in the pictures is with different women and I have options, they took a lot of pictures - lots of pictures. Yuck... What was Margaret thinking?
For this job, my right hand man is the best to go to.
"Chris, I've sent you an email with all the details on what to do." I told him on the phone.
Chris is...well Chris. He's the guy in charge of my artwork and getting me work. At first it was just my artwork but soon expanded to any work I needed help with, I'm not to blame for that... he's greedy.
"Make sure his face is clear, the women's faces don't need to be but they have to appear different, the difference shouldn't be far off though and when it's done, I want him to be all over the web."
That's right, I'm going to take his threat and make it the biggest thorn on his side. I want to see what he'll have to say then...
Mark Thompson, threatening me... The guts on him. He and I aren't familiar with one another and he can blatantly lie - in front of my face at that - that I'm after him. Prick...
The game or whatever is going on with him and Margaret...he should've kept it just between them. He wants me after him, doesn't he? I'll be so after him, it'll all be what he thinks about.
He really shouldn't have involved me...
"What did the guy do to you?" Chris asked me.
What did he do to me? I guess nothing much... I'm just standing up for Margaret. Aww, how nice of me - right?
"Make sure they don't release them all at once. Gradually, make it seem like a movement. Start tomorrow too, only three days later should it be breaking news. Or else, forget your yearly bonus. It's that important."
I know I have nothing to worry about, with his income on the line, he will do his outmost best or better than that. Chris is a moneygrabber.
With preparations done, instructions given - all I'm left with is...make my presence known in this house. I'm putting it nicely - I want to seduce Fin and don't want to appear like I'm trying to seduce Fun...
Any suggestions?