ELARA~
"Album of the Year. Obsidian Awards." That got my attention. I sat up properly now.
"You're... joking." I said in utter disbelief.
"I don't joke about things I don't care about." I stared at her then with the row of my eyes got up. You don't have to air out your mind every freaking time.
"Voting opened already." She added. I came to a halt. That can't be possible, I was drowning in public opinion and still got nominated, I could only imagine how biased the votes would be.
"With everything going on?" I asked barely audible.
Isla looked away. She was still standing by the door and I could tell she didn't want to be here. It always felt that way from day one.
After she asked about Angela's case, she'd leave. Then she stopped talking about it. She would come with snacks everyday pick out hers and focus on her Ipad with headphones on.
Clearly avoiding my entire existence.
When she wasn't looking I glanced at her, tried to figure out what kind of person she was and when she finally looked at me, it felt different, strange. Like she was trying to dissect me or even so, tear into my mind to see what she felt was the truth to her.
I finally spoke about Angela and she didn't believe me. The one time she wasn't formal with my name was when I fell into that pool.
Then came the off days, when she'd compliment, take me out of this cell, talk to me, even so draw me.
I had thought some walls had finally lowered and maybe we could talk like people. I scoffed.
Who was I kidding, she only got more strange. Disappearing for two days, reappearing injured only to find out I was the reason.
Finally talking to me, cracked a joke even only to be formal again with my name. She then comes up to my room, keeps a very obvious distance. I offer to sing then forget the tone of my entire verse two when I catch her staring again.
My mind wasn't just foggy, it was in ruins. At one hand was Chris suing me, the other was the reopened case, my dad who I hadn't reached out to since before this whole drama.
And then there was Isla Matthews who I wasn't sure liked me as a person or if I was even worthy enough for her to hate.
She muttered something. "Talking to me?" I asked, she turned towards me our eyes meeting for a brief moment.
"Want to spend the night?" I asked suddenly to get her reaction.
What?" Her brow rose slightly, what would she think of me. God, that was dumb.
"Never mind, it's nothing." I walked into the closet, picking up a cloth I screamed into it.
"Do you want me to?" I was halfway to completely dying when the question came.
I poked out my head surprise written all over my face, she seemed surprised too.
"The company would be nice" I said barely audible, she was quiet and staring again.
"I'll think about it" she was out before I could call it a bluff. The door shut close and I let out the breath I didn't know I'd been holding. I walked out of of the closet and picked the papers I had laid out.
I changed out of my clothes and walked into the bathroom. The thought that she wasn't going to come crossed my mind and for some reason it annoyed me.
---
I was blow drying my hair when I heard a knock on the door. I was sure I had misheard but then it came again.
"Come in" I answered watching from the mirror. The door knob moved then stopped. The door then opened slightly and Isla walked in.
I turned off the blow dryer and turned around. "You... actually came" I only hoped the friendly version of herself was in front of me now.
"You sound…" she leaned on the door with crossed hands. "Surprised"
"I am" I got up and took in where she decided to stand, of course there was that distance again. My eyes traveled down her body to her feet. Seeing her outside of the suits she normally wore made her look less commanding and more human.
She had her hair down too which was a plus.
"When are you leaving? You said you were only spending a night"
"It seems you do not want me around"
"It's not that" I chuckled and looked at the bed "I just want to know when I'll be all alone again"
"I'm always around" she said "I literally come everyday." I looked at her "Well except for…"
"And what difference does it make?" I was getting angry at the fucking distance, I sat on the bed backing her.
"What do you mean?" she questioned.
"Do not mind me I am just.." I breathed out "It's nothing" I laid on the bed and covered the duvet. I could tell she was staring. When she had nothing to say she always stared.
"You know you should really start buying alcohol" I said changing the topic.
"Alcohol?"
"When you do not want to think, it's the best remedy"
"No lies there" she said. It was quiet again and then I heard her move from the door, I could hear her footsteps get close until it stopped and a second later, I felt her weight at the other end of the bed.
"Can I?" she asked. I nodded and she laid down. "Do you not have any friends, acquaintances?"
Friends? I was only ever close to Angela back in high school and college. And after her death socializing wasn't on my mind anymore.
"I wish I had, it's hard making friends after college who aren't after you for the connection"
She chuckled "And your life before now?"
I laid face up "Studios, events, games, shopping, travelling" I chuckled "That was practically it" I looked at her and met her eyes and one small detail caught my attention, her eye colour were different.
"You wear contacts?"
"I'm practically blind without them" she answered. I waved my hand in front of her and she grabbed it, moving it from her view.
"Practically, doesn't mean completely"
She held my gaze, it felt almost like that time in the pool. I looked away first and redrew my hand.
"What about you, how was your life before I entered the picture?" she heaved a sigh.
"It's always been work Ms. Jones. I'm always traveling" she chuckled and I snapped my head towards her. "My best friend practically said I live in airports".
Best friend?. She didn't look like the kind to use such names for a person.
I didn't want to ask further questions, wasn't sure it was even worth knowing anything about her. This must be because she was hit, talking to me that is.
I turned fully towards her now and she swallowed. A reaction I hadn't expected. Suddenly a thought formed in my head and I sat up.
"Sit up" I said crossing my legs.
"Why?"
"I'm bored"
"And that concerns me how?" This woman, I slammed my hand on my forehead and gave myself about ten seconds to calm down.
"What is it now, praying?"
"Can you just fucking sit up, is that so hard?" I questioned pissed. She didn't have to make everything difficult.
"So what?, you're saying I'm boring"
"You've always been, if you felt that little adventure to go eat food changed that, then you're wrong."
I took a breather, she closed her eyes for a second or two then opened them and sat up.
"Fine, I'm sitting what now, does this ease your boredom"
Fuck her switch up was insane.
"I thought about an exercise I did back in drama class a while back and..."
"And?"
"You know what fuck you, and your attitude, you're freaking annoying"
I was halfway up when she grabbed my arm.
You're not leaving like that." I froze then slowly turned back to her.
"There's something seriously wrong with you," I said, trying to pull free. "Let go."
"You better sit back down, I didn't get up to this position for you to leave like this"
Her grip tightened slightly, that pissed me off more.
"I said let go."
"Sit down." The audacity.
I pulled harder this time, but she held on, her expression unchanged. Like this was nothing. Like I wasn't even trying.
"You're hurting me" I snapped and something flickered in her eyes.
"I'm sorry" she said and my breath hitched, I had stopped struggling and just stared.
Her eyes widened slowly, and for a second, neither of us moved.
Then her grip loosened too suddenly. I wasn't expecting it. My balance shifted and just like that I slipped.
"Shit..."
I went down, hitting the floor with a dull thud. Pain shot up my side instantly. I sucked in a breath, staring at the ceiling.
Just great. I turned my head slightly just enough to watch her get off the bed and out the door. The door clicked shut and I swallowed.
Must be my ears cause she'd never... Did Isla Matthews just apologize.