life as the offspring of greatness prt 2

I went outside of the private hospital and found a bench to sit at. I put my head in my hands and sighed. My mind was mixed up; it felt like it had been through a blender.
Before I went back inside I called Julius.

‘Where are you I have been worried sick’ he said

‘I'm back at home’ I told him

‘Well thanks for letting us know…’

‘My Mom isn’t well, she is in hospital’

‘Why what’s happened?’ he asked

‘She has cancer, its spread; she is on her last legs’ I told him

‘No way, you never told me she had cancer’

‘I only just found out a few weeks ago, she old me it would be all gone by the

time we got back from vacation’

‘I'm so sorry, is there anything you want me to do?’ he asked

‘Yeah, please keep this to yourself; I don’t want anyone knowing yet’

‘That’s not a problem’ he said

‘I have to go now, ill call you later’

I went back inside the hospital and returned to Moms side she was sleeping. Richard got me and Courtney a coffee. It was the first thing I had drunk since getting off the plane and it made me feel hungry.
Over the next few days she stayed the same and then on the Sunday she perked up.

‘I thought I was a goner there for a Moment’ she smiled.

‘Me too’ I said

‘You have been crying, your eyes are red raw’

‘Well you have been talking crazy since I got here’ I told her

‘I ruined your holiday huh’

‘No, you never, Jimmy ruined it for me’

‘How come’

‘well he invited us all to a concert in London and then when we met up

backstage he acted like I have never been to a stupid concert before’ I told her.

‘I had enough and got out of there, I was suppose to meet his parents too’

‘Wow, is it that serious?’ she said

‘No, not at all but he kept on at me’

‘If he thinks his concerts are crazy he has obviously never seen the pick lips’

‘I know! And there wasn’t many special effects either, a few flares and glitter

not much’

‘Jeez I'm glad you hot footed it out of there’

‘Me too. Anyway i’ve never really liked London the weather was crap, as usual’

‘Me either’

‘So what did the doctor say to you?’ I asked

‘I can’t remember’

‘Well are you on the mend’

‘I think so, what was I talking about anyway?’ she asked

‘I can’t remember now’ I lied.

‘Where is Courtney?’

‘She had to take Richard to the airport, he is going to New York, she said she

will be by as soon as’ I said

‘Has she been taking care of you?’ she asked

‘Yeah, she has been cool, she stayed over the passed few days, i’ve been going

out of my mind’ I said

‘I'm sorry’

‘Its not your fault is it, we just have to get you better, I don’t want to have to

plan another funeral in the same year as the last’

‘Talking of funerals, if the worst does happen, I want to be buried next tour

dad’ she said

‘Ok’ I smiled

‘Or when I eventually die, I want to be buried next to him’

‘No problem’ I said

‘And I want pink lily’s’

‘Ok’ I said

‘Anyway, have you thought anymore about what collage you will be going to?’

‘No, I think I may take a year off, with all that’s going on I haven’t had time to

think and I still don’t know what I'm going to do’

‘Are you still serious about taking up acting?’

‘Yeah, I would like to’

‘well you already have your foot on the ladder, I told you after those two

movies you made that after you graduated you could carry on doing it if you

want’

‘Well who knows’

‘I will give you a little bit of advice, don’t sleep with anyone for a job, do it for

fun, that’s what my mother said to me, and also never do one of those parts

you know you’re gonna get stuck with for life, I have never got rid of that

Carrie Jones bitch, she is always coming back to haunt me’ she said with a

little laugh.

A few weeks later Mom was well enough to come home.
I was glad I hated her being in the hospital because it had came out in the media and everyone thought she was dying but she wasn’t. She had to carry on with her chemo for a few more months and she also had to have a hysterectomy. But it was certainly gone in her bowel.

I hadn’t spoken or heard of Jimmy since that night in London Julius said he was pretty mad, if not disappointed that I didn’t wait around for him. The first public appearance Mom had made was 8 weeks after leaving hospital at the academy awards. She looked beautiful. We went together that night. She was up for one award, best actress for a movie she worked on 2 years ago. She didn’t think she would win, I had never seen the movie but I knew she was up against a tough lot.

To my surprise and her own she actually one it! I was so proud of her. She walked up to collect her award with such elegance, she has had a lot of practice, and this is her 4th one. I nearly cried, to think of all that she has been through and you just wouldn’t guess if you didn’t already know.

‘I would like to thank everybody who worked on this production with me, it

was such a great experience, to the director Michael, and he did a great job.

But I want to dedicate this award to someone who means the world to me, who

has been to hell and back with me, she has always let me know when I'm not in

the real world and she has been my rock through these past months, I really

don’t know what I would do without her. My daughter Abby, this one is yours.

Also I would like to thank my dearest friend Courtney who has also been a

tower of strength to me. I also would like to dedicate this to every single

woman in this world who has had to deal and overcome some of the things

which I have encountered, I didn’t know what it was like to be brave until I

meet some of you, I didn’t know what it was like to live until I had met some of

you, you are truly amazing’


At the after party I had a chance meeting with Jimmy.

‘I want to talk to you’ he said

‘Right now, I…’

‘Yes right now, you have made me look like a fool in front of my band, I

thought we had something special’

‘I told you we didn’t have anything special Jimmy, it was just lust’

‘Why did you ditch me that night?’ he demanded

‘Because you treated me like a groupie, someone who has never been

backstage before. Believe me Jimmy, I have been to some of the most

memorable concerts in the world, yours wasn’t anything special, you

embarrassed me in front of my friends’

‘I didn’t treat you like a groupie at all’

‘you made me feel like I didn’t know what the hell went on at a concert, Jimmy

I toured with my dad for years, I know what goes on at these things, my dad

took me to every concert by every legend in this lifetime, yours was crap, 5

men dancing around half naked is not my idea of a good night’

‘You let me down; my parents thought they were going to meet you’

‘I am sorry about that’

‘What did you do instead?’

‘I went to a club’ I said

‘Did you pick up someone, because I know someone who is running there

mouth all over London that he slept with you that night’ he told me

‘even if I did what’s it got to do with you, we are not a couple, I'm free to go

with anyone I like, I told you, there is a lot of men I want to sleep with before I

settle down, I don’t know why we are having this conversation’

‘Man, I could have fallen for you big time’ he said

‘is that supposed to make me feel bad, Jimmy I get this all the time, every man

I fuck thinks that they can own me, I'm sorry I hurt you, if I have, that wasn’t

my intention, I thought you knew where you stood’

‘Well I guess I never, and as for slagging off the show, I'm telling you know

Abby, you will regret that’

‘Will I’

‘Yeah you will. I have slept with thousands of girls and I never once felt an

ounce of what I felt for you’

‘oh Jimmy give it up already, I don’t care that you have slept with thousands of

girls’ I told him ‘which I doubt very much that its true, I don’t care that you

had feelings for me, I really don’t, just get over it, it was fun while it lasted but

its over’

‘I will be around long after you’ he smiled

‘Wow, I just want to fuck your brains out now’ I said sarcastically

‘Me to, where can we go’

‘Jimmy, I don’t want to sound modest, but I think I could have any guy in this

room, I really do, I could fuck each member of your band knowing that they

knew you loved me, they wouldn’t even feel bad, now given the competition in

this room, do you really think I would waste my time on you?’

‘Is he bothering you’ Julius said

‘No’ I told Julius who had put his arm around me

‘Oh here is the fag hag that told me that you fucked off that night’

‘Don’t be so disrespectful Jimmy this is my best friend’

‘I don’t give a fuck who she is’

‘Come on lets go Julius’ I said ‘he isn’t worth shit’

‘You can’t fuck with me Abby’

‘Really’

‘Yeah, I would like to see you try’

‘Ok, it’s on’ I said

‘You don’t know people, you don’t know shit’

‘Richard Smithson’ I said

‘You don’t know him, your lying’

‘Isn’t he the main man over at RGY records?’ Julius asked

‘Yes he is, he also happens to be my godfather, you are fucked Jimmy’

‘You’re lying’

‘Hollywood is a small town remember Jimmy’

‘Fuck you’

A few days later I cried to Richard about Jimmy telling him what had
happened. And his band became 4, Jimmy was kicked. The band said he was unreliable but I knew the truth, its dog eat dog in Hollywood. He started to send me abusive messages. But Richard sorted that out for me to.

Richard managed my dad for years that’s how he and Courtney met, even before I was born. They can’t have kids of there own so they tend too treat me like there own, even more so now dads gone, Richard more so. He and dad we really good friends and I guess he feels like he has to look out for me even more now dads gone. Which is good, because I don’t really have many older men to look up to?

On the day Mom got her test results back from her doctor we went out for a fantastic meal, on a boat. I was so relieved that she had finally got the all clear, Mom, Courtney, Richard and I had a private floor booked on the Rosaleone boat. We were waited on all night but some very hot waiters. Richard announced he was taking us all on holiday to Hawaii, because after this year we all deserved one.
He wouldn’t be joining us straight away but he would a few days after. He even booked us a private jet. Hawaii was fantastic, the resort was so private and comfortable, I spent most of the day sunbathing, taking spas having facial and massages and most of the evening partying, Courtney is well known for her partying reputation. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and Mom did too.

A few weeks later Mom surprised me by going out again, she even started to see Michael again. I was pleased about that. I did like Michael. I couldn’t help to think about what Mom was saying to me when I saw her for the first time in hospital though.

Although Mom was getting over some serious stuff, she had never looked better. She was so elegant and glamorous.

After the summer Courtney was working on a movie in New York. The girl who was supposed to play the part of her daughter had broken her leg, so she got me an audition and I got the part! It meant moving to New York for 8 weeks, but I didn’t mind.
Mom has an apartment right by central park on 85th street. It’s nothing like our house in Copley road but it’s nice.

I left for New York in the middle of December and it was freezing cold! I had a few days to settle in before shooting started. And I wouldn’t be needed everyday because I wasn’t the main character. I hooked up with Louis as soon as I got there because he goes to collage there. He took me out to dinner that night.

‘I'm really pleased I have someone I know up here’ I told him

‘Well, I'm sure glad you came, were gonna have a ball, you can hang out with

me and my friends whenever you like’

‘Great I don’t know anyone up here, So where is your apartment?’ I asked him

‘I'm on 85th too, but I share an apartment with some guys from collage, but

they are pretty cool’

‘That’s nice’ I said. ‘So what are you actually studying in collage, Julius said

something about music’

‘Classical music, piano and guitar’ he said

‘Wow, really?’

‘You sound surprised’ he laughed

‘I am, every time I came over your house it was always hip hop blaring out

from your room’

‘yeah I love hip hop, I love all different types of music but I picked classical

up really quick, remember my mother played piano before she died’

‘Oh yeah’ I said. ‘I would love to hear you play Louis’

‘Sure you can’ he said. ‘Did Julius say he would be coming up to visit you?’

‘He said he might before he goes jetting off to Africa’ I said

‘I can’t believe he is going to be an aid worker for a year, he is braver than I

thought’

‘Yeah he really is’

After our meal we went back to my apartment for a drink.

‘This is a pretty nice place you have here’

‘It’s my mothers, but yeah it’s nice, I only have beer to drink, I haven’t been

shopping yet, it’s an empty kitchen’

‘Beer would be fine’ he smiled.

When he left he said he would pick me up in the morning and take me to the

supermarket as he needed to go too. He was really cool. I felt really
comfortable with him; nothing could ever happen because he had a girlfriend
Amanda.

We made a day of the grocery shopping and he took me sightseeing, i’ve seen
it all before but he looked like he really wanted to do it so I said yes. We had a
fun day, although it was freezing cold.

Mom called that night and said she will be able to come and visit at Christmas. I was happy about that because I missed her already.

On the first day of filming the first thing I had to do was get my hair cut and dyed. It was cut to about 5 inches below my shoulders so I didn’t have that much taken off. But it was bright blonde with black streaks. It did look pretty cool.

I shot a few scenes with my on screen dad, Nick Coleman.  He was very nice we had gone through the scenes while I was having my hair done. We were there all day and evening; I had to cancel dinner with Louis. Although Courtney cooked me dinner and left it in my apartment, I was so pleased because I was so hungry. I thanked her when we met for breakfast in the morning, at 5:30.

‘That’s ok; I was only looking out for you’

‘It was a lovely casserole’ I smiled. ‘Have you heard from Richard?’

‘Yeah we spoke earlier; he will be flying here tomorrow’

‘Wow that’s so cool’

‘I know I can’t wait to see him’

‘I bet you can’t’ I said

‘Do you wanna have dinner with me tonight? Depending on when we get out of

here’ she asked

‘Sure I haven’t got any plans’

‘Great, if we get out here early enough we could catch a show on Broadway’

‘Oh I would love to do that’ I said excitedly.

‘Great, I will have my assistant look what’s on’

‘I haven’t got an assistant’ I said

‘What, well anything you want just ask mine’ she said

‘Cool thanks’

We didn’t have to work over Christmas or New Year. Mom and Michael came on the 23rd of December.

‘I'm so pleased to see you!’ Mom said putting her arms around me.

‘Me to’ I smiled

‘Hi Abby’ Michael said

‘Hi Michael’ I said and we had an awkward hug.

Michael was driving us to his home in the Hampton’s New Jersey. I wasn’t to happy about it but Mom wanted to so I said nothing. But I did wanna be around Courtney and Richard during Christmas. His house was right by the ocean and it was freezing. I didn’t feel very much at home or relaxed the whole time.

Luckily I had brought my laptop so I wasn’t totally alone from the outside world. Michael’s daughters Alegra and Cindy came late Christmas Eve. Alegra is 25 and Cindy is 23 so both older than I am. We went out for dinner. I felt pretty emotional all evening. I so wished dad could be here with me and Mom. We wouldn’t be stuck at Michael’s house then.

Early Christmas morning I stood out looking at the sea wrapped in my dressing gown. It was snowing lightly. Mom come out and put her arm around me.

‘You’re up early’

‘I couldn’t sleep’ I told her

‘Why don’t you come inside and ill make you some tea’

‘Ok’ I followed her into the kitchen. I could see through to the den and there

were lots of presents for everyone. I didn’t want any presents.

‘You look really down honey’

‘I feel it Mom’

‘Your dad?’ she asked

‘Yes’

‘He wouldn’t want you to be upset today honey, you know how much he loved

Christmas’

‘Mom I feel awful, I just wanna go home’

She gave me a cuddle. ‘We can’t go home honey’

‘I know’ I said putting my head on her shoulder.

‘Oh Abby, I wanna help you so much but I don’t know what to do at all, I

really don’t’

‘Just don’t you go dying on me as well, because I would just die too Mom’

‘I know honey, I know just what you’re going through, I lost both of my parents

within months of each other, and I was devastated’

‘So you know what I'm going through’

‘No, I wanna say yes but I wasn’t as close to my father as you were to yours’

‘Oh Mom, maybe you’re right, maybe I do need to talk to someone a

professional’

‘Ill see what I can do Abby, I'm sorry honey if I could take away your pain I

would in a second’


Opening presents with people you hardly know isn’t very nice. Mom had got me loads of presents which were nice but I didn’t feel up to being all happy. After lunch Mom said she would driving me back to 85th street. I jumped at the offer I felt I was ruining everyone else’s Christmas and I just wanted to be alone.

Once arriving at the apartment I thanked Mom for dropping me off.

‘When will I see you again Mom’

‘I'm not leaving you, I'm staying here too’ she said

‘What about Michael’

‘What about him, I can’t leave you here, you are so down you could end up

topping yourself and I don’t want that on my conscience! Beside I can’t stand

those girls they are so spoiled, so I'm glad to get away too’

‘They are very spoilt’ I said as I lit the fire. It was freezing.

‘How about we open a nice bottle of wine and watch a movie’

‘That sounds great’ I said. ‘Thanks Mom’

‘No problem’

A few days later Mom left as did Richard. My part in the movie was nearly coming to an end. As much as I missed home I decided to stay and keep Courtney Company. I knew she found it terribly lonely on her own.

We celebrated the New Year in Times Square. It was something I had never done before but it was really cool. I was partying out with Louis and his friends. His girlfriend Amanda had gone back home to Alabama for Christmas and New Year. And we ended up kissing when the ball dropped. Not just a new years eve peck either, a full on French kiss.

‘Happy new year’ he shouted over the crowd

‘You too’ I said back.

He took my hand and we watched the firework display. We walked all the way back home to my apartment still holding hands.

‘Well this is me’ I said. ‘You can come in if you like’

‘Ok sure’ he said

When we got up to the apartment I opened us a bottle of white wine.

‘When are you going back to Los Angeles?’ he asked

‘I'm here for one more week’ I said. ‘Courtney and I are travelling back

together on the 6th’ I told him.

‘Ok’ he said with a little smile.

‘When does Amanda come back?’

‘Not until the 21st’

‘You must be missing her like crazy’

‘No not really, it’s nice to get a Moment of clarity’

‘What do you mean?’ I asked him

‘Well, she is rather suffocating, can’t do this can’t do that, you know?’

‘Yeah I know’ I said

‘When she gets back I think I will call it a day with her’

‘Aw, that’s a shame I can tell she is really in love with you Louis’

‘Yeah she may well be but is it fair that I have to put up with her just because

she is in love with me, what about what I want’

‘I guess you’re right’ I said. ‘Do it gently though’

‘I will’ he smiled. ‘I'm gonna put some music on if that’s ok’

‘Sure go ahead’

He went over to the stereo and put the radio on. It was a quite romantic song.

‘Do you want to dance’ he asked extending his hand

‘Sure’ I said

He held me close to him and we had a very romantic dance my head led on his shoulder and I felt really comfortable. And we carried on dancing into the next song.

‘You’re nice to hold’ he said

‘It’s nice to be held’ I smiled and he held me a little tighter.

‘I have this horrible feeling that I'm finding this a little too nice’ he told me.

‘I know, you have a girlfriend’

‘I'm not worried about her. I really like you and you’re gonna be gone soon’

‘Well we can still see each other when you come back home and I love New

York so I will be back’ I said

‘I don’t mean in a friend way, yeah you’re a great friend but…’

‘This is why I don’t have very many guy friends’ I told him. ‘It starts off good

and then they start wondering what its like to touch me, to kiss me and fuck

me’

‘Has this happened a lot has it?’

‘More than you would think, I have so many gay friends hardly any straight

male friends why?’

‘Well Abby, you are very hot not just a little bit hot I mean off the scale hot

hotter than hot…’

‘Ok I get it’ I said and I sat on the sofa.

‘Hey you wanna gatecrash Courtney and Richards party upstairs, I bet it’s

really cool’ I said

‘Sure’ he smiled.

We went upstairs and the party was very lively everybody seemed to be having a good time and everyone seemed quite merry. There were loads of people I recognised there.

‘Abby, I'm glad you decided to come up here’ Richard said

‘Me too’ I smiled and we said happy New Year and we had a hug.

‘Richard this is Louis’ I said

‘Louis Walters right’ Richard said

‘Yeah’ Louis said surprised

‘Classical musician, i’ve heard of you’

I left them chatting for a Moment and found Courtney.

‘It’s my lovely god daughter’ she said, she was very tipsy

‘Hi’ I said and we had a cuddle.

‘You ok’ she asked

‘Yeah I'm cool, are you ok?’

‘Yeah I'm ok, I'm glad you’re here, what was it like in Times Square?’

‘Amazing’ I said. ‘We had a great time’

‘Do you want something to eat’ she asked

‘No, I'm fine thank you; I might just go and call my Mom’

‘Sure go into my bedroom’

I called Mom on her cell phone.

‘Happy new year sweetie’

‘Same to you Mom’

‘What did you do?’

‘Well Louis and I went to Times Square and now we are at Courtney’s’

‘I wish I was there too’ she smiled

‘Hey Mom, when it hit midnight Louis and I had a kiss’

‘Ok’ she said

‘Not like a peck either, more than that’ I told her

‘Doesn’t he have a girlfriend?’

‘Yeah he does, I think he wants a bit more what should I do, he wants to split

up with his girlfriend when she gets back here’

‘that’s bullshit, he is just saying that so that you’ll sleep with him, how would

you feel if you were his girlfriend and you found out he had slept with someone

else’

‘Pretty shitty’ I said

‘Exactly, don’t go there honey’ she said. ‘There are plenty of single guys
around’

‘Ok, thanks Mom’ I said

‘No problem’

‘So what are you doing tonight?’ I asked her

‘Well I'm staying home tonight’

‘How come’

‘I didn’t get invited anywhere, only kidding I just want to chill out by myself,

start the new ear quietly and hope it continues’ she laughed

‘Oh Mom, next year will be better for both of us, I promise’

‘Yes it will’

‘Anyway I'm gonna get back to the party’

‘Ok honey, I love you’

‘I love you too Mom’


The next day I woke up in the spare room in Courtney’s apartment. I went out
to the kitchen where breakfast was being served.

‘I'm flying home this afternoon if you wanna catch a ride’ Richard said

‘Thanks but I'm waiting on Courtney’ I told him

‘You really don’t have to wait for me honey’ she said

‘No it’s ok, I don’t mind, beside who will you have fun with if I go?’ I smiled

‘That’s true’

For a few minutes I Imagined I was in a real family, Richard being my dad and Courtney being my Mom and it felt nice. It felt nice to sit at a table with this couple who were so unbelievably in love. It felt nice to imagine myself as there child. I scolded myself after. I shouldn’t think like that at all.

I avoided Louis for the rest of my trip. I did like him and I knew I couldn’t trust myself with him and besides Mom was right I didn’t want to hurt Amanda although I knew she despised me.


Once I returned home I started looking for my own apartment. I enjoyed the feeling of being alone. I found myself a great condo in west Beverly Hills. The rent was pretty steep at $8,590 a month but I liked it, it was huge and had 24 hour security. It wasn’t furnished but Mom helped me decorate it.

‘Perhaps we should think about emptying your dad’s house out’ she said as we

were watching the workmen lift in some of the furniture.

‘Ok’ I said. ‘Let’s go there today’

‘Really, today’

‘Yeah why not’ I said. ‘I still have a key’

We finally got to dads house around 7 in the evening. I felt a little weird just being in the driveway. I hadn’t been here since he died and that was only to get him his favourite suit to wear at his funeral.

‘I know this is way overdue Mom but I feel really weird being here’

‘Me too’ she said.

Dad’s house was pristine clean. He might have been crazy but he wasn’t dirty.

‘I really don’t know what we should do with this stuff’ I said

‘Well, we can give it to charity’ she said

‘Yeah’

‘You had better take what you want to keep’

‘I only want one thing’ I said picking up his infamous flag with an English flag

on it.

‘He got that the day you were born’

‘No he never’ I said with a laugh

‘Seriously look on the back at the top; it has the date carved into it’

‘Oh yeah, so it does’ I smiled

I looked around the house. There were lots of things that held memories for dad.

‘Mom can I just give you this house, I don’t know what to do with any of the

stuff, I don’t really want to get rid of it, it hurts too much’

‘Ok, I will take this house off of your hands’

‘Oh thank you’ I said I picked up the guitar stand. ‘I'm gonna go back to my

apartment, ill call you later yeah’

‘Ok, well I'm gonna stay here for a while’

‘Ok Mom, thanks for coming shopping with me today’

‘No problem honey’

I went back to my apartment and set up my computer. I had some boxes still to unpack but it was mainly clothes. I got ready to go out. I met up with some friends at the Frida a Mexican restaurant and then we went to Roxy in west sunset.

I looked twice before my jaw nearly hit the floor.

‘Louis!’ I said shocked

‘Abby’ he said with a smile. ‘How are you?’

‘I'm great, how are you’ I asked

‘I'm good’

‘What are you doing here?’ I asked him

‘Well my grandmother died and I'm back for the funeral’

‘I'm sorry to hear that, is Julius here too?’ I asked him

‘No, he is due back tomorrow. I'm here with a couple of my school buddies

would you like to join us, ill get you a drink’

‘Sure ok, I will just tell them wear I will be’

‘Ok what are you drinking?’

‘Ill have a jackhammer’

‘A cocktail girl huh’

‘Yep’

I told my friends that I would be with Louis for a while.

‘So how have you been’ I asked

‘Well, I split up with Amanda when she got back’

‘How did she take it?’

‘Not well, I'm an asshole, but I'm glad were over. That’s it for me, how have

you been’

‘well, I have my own apartment now, living in new York on my own like that, I

really enjoyed it, so I'm renting a place in west Beverly hills’

‘Wow, I bet that is expensive’

‘Well it wasn’t cheap; I only moved in today, I had to wait a while to get some

furniture and stuff’

‘Cool’

We talked for most of the night. I invited a few people back to my apartment. And one by one they all left just leaving me and Louis.

‘This is a really nice place’ he said. ‘Is that your father’s guitar’ he asked

‘Yeah it is’ I smiled

‘Can I hold it?’

‘Sure go ahead’

I watched him pick it up and his face lit up.

‘Wow’ he said. ‘This is the best feeling’

‘Play it if you like’ I said

‘Oh no, I just couldn’t’ he said and he put it back on the stand. ‘I think you

should get that thing insured’

‘Yeah’ I said

‘Ok, I'm gonna get going’

‘Are you sure’

‘I'm pretty sure, its 5 in the morning’

‘I didn’t realise it was that late’ I laughed. ‘You can stay over if you like’

‘Really’ he said

‘Yeah why not we are friends aren’t we?’

‘Sure ok’

We stayed in the same bed but we didn’t do anything just slept. In the morning he brought me in a cup of coffee.

‘You looked really sweet this morning asleep’ he smiled

‘Hey how about I get dressed and we go out for breakfast’ I said

‘Yeah sounds cool to me’

We went to the Beverly Hills café. We ate breakfast together. It was pretty cool.

‘What are you doing tonight?’ he asked

‘Probably the same as last night’

‘Can I take you out for dinner, or can I come over and cook you dinner’

‘Yeah ok, come over, what are you gonna cook me’

‘Wait and see’

I dropped him home and then I went shopping for some groceries. I had
nothing in the kitchen. After I got home I went and picked sally up from collage as her car was in the shop. We went shopping for a while. She told me she had split up with Alex a week ago because he had caught her cheating on him! I was really surprised as I didn’t think she would do anything like that. She had started seeing this drummer named Damien. He was German and in a German punk band.
I felt happy for her and she wanted me to meet him sometime this week. I Said I would but I would probably be with Julius for a lot of the week it was his grandmother’s funeral tomorrow afternoon. And he would be back tonight at some point.

After I got back around 6 I was amazed to find my Mom and Louis in my apartment.

‘Hey what are you both doing here?’ I asked

‘Well I brought you some groceries, but it seems Louis has already beat me to

it’ Mom smiled

‘Louis is going to cook me dinner tonight’ I said to her

‘Your more than welcome to join, there is plenty of food’ Louis said

‘No, I have other engagements but thanks for the offer’ she smiled. ‘Anyway, I

only dropped in to drop these off’

‘You don’t have to go Mom’ I said

‘No, I have a date’ she said

‘Wow who with?’

‘That’s for me to know and for you to find out baby’ she smiled

‘Ok ill just ask Courtney’

‘What time do you want me to pick you up tomorrow?’

‘What for?’

‘Its Courtney’s birthday’

‘Oh my god I totally forgot!’ I said. ‘What time are we eating?’

‘6 ish’ she said

‘Ok well call me before you come and get me’

‘I will do honey’

After she left I asked Louis who had got here first him or her.

‘I got here first, I brought you some groceries because you had nothing and she brought you some groceries because you had nothing’ he laughed. ‘I like

your Mom she is cool’

‘How long have you been here together?’

‘About 20 minutes’

‘I am gonna take a bath’ I said

‘I'm glad you said that because I already ran you a bath’ he smiled

‘Really’

‘Yeah, I'm gonna start cooking, you go and relax, take your time’

‘Ok’

The bathroom was filled with scented candles and the bath was full up with bubbles and smelled lovely. I took on my clothes and slipped in.

‘Is it safe to come in? I have a glass of wine for you’

‘Sure yeah come in’

He came in and handed me a glass of wine.

‘You really didn’t have to do any of this’ I told him

‘I wanted to’ he said

‘Its very nice I really appreciate it, it’s very sweet’

‘No problem’ he smiled

After my very long bath I dressed up really nice for him. He made a really
nice meal of sticky chicken and vegetable rice. After that we watched a movie.

‘I’ve had a great night’ I said

‘Me too’ he said

‘Cool, when do you go back to New York’

‘Over the weekend’ he said

‘Oh’ I said I didn’t really want him to go. But at least we still had 5 days

together.

He poured me another glass of wine.

‘How about I put some music on and we have a dance’

‘Sure’

And it was just like we were in New York at New Year and we were Dancing in the den. I really wanted him more than anything but I held back. I could tell he wanted me too. Weather he was to shy to make a move I don’t know but we didn’t kiss or anything he just held me. When we finished dancing we sat down and simply talked. He was great to talk to. We talked about all sorts of things. His grandmother, his family, my dad and life in general. I felt comfortable with him.

When Julius returned I flung my arms around him. I went out to dinner with Courtney for her birthday but all I could think about was Louis. I didn’t see them until the day after there grandmother’s funeral. And I would only see him for 1 evening as he was flying back to Africa the next day. THe 3 of us went out for dinner and then back to my place where we watched TV and drank some of Louis’s blinding cocktails. I had lunch with there family before Louis and I drove Julius to the airport.

‘I guess I will see you in the summer’ Julius said putting his arm around me.

‘You will’

‘Ill hopefully be back by then’

‘Cool’ I said

‘You look great by the way; you’ve done something different with your hair

haven’t you’

‘Yeah, I told you I had it changed in New York’

‘It looks great’

‘Thanks’

‘Come on bro, they are calling your flight, you had better go save the kids’

‘I will’ he smiled.

They had a brotherly hug and Julius said into Louis’s ear ‘don’t fuck my

friend, she is a diamond, to good for you’

But I don’t think I was supposed to hear that.

‘I know’ he said. ‘Now get out of here, ill see you soon’

‘What are we gonna do today?’ I asked Louis on the way from the airport. I let

him drive my car.

‘Well, what would you like to do?’

‘I don’t know, it’s a nice day maybe we could go to my Moms and sunbathe by

the pool’

‘What’s wrong with the pool at yours?’

‘I don’t know those people who use it, I don’t want them seeing me half naked,

what will the neighbours think’

‘You’re funny’

We went to my Moms house and messed around in her pool but she wasn’t there. I knew she had gone somewhere with Courtney to view a house Courtney was thinking of buying in Malibu. Courtney likes buying houses doing them out and selling them on or renting them out.

I noticed that there were some new people living where Jimmy used to live next door and a guy I recognised but didn’t know his name popped his head over the wall.

‘Hey guys’ he said

‘Hey’ I said

‘I'm your new neighbour Taylor’ he said

‘We don’t live here this is my Moms house’ told him.

‘I recognise you’ he said.

I introduced myself to him and he recognised who I was and acknowledged who my parents were. He was an actor. We invited him and his girlfriend Angel over. His girlfriend was a singer but was about to leave for a tour with her band.

Taylor was hot. He asked for my number before he left and I gave it to him.

I drove Louis to the airport on Sunday morning. I sat in the departure lounge with him.

‘I don’t want you to go’ I said. ‘Who will spoil me like you have?’

‘I bet there are plenty of guys lining up to’ he smiled.

He put his arm around me and I cuddled into him.

‘When are you coming up to new York’ he asked

‘I don’t know, I guess I could come whenever really’

‘Come up soon’

‘When will you be back in L.A again?’ I asked him

‘Well probably not until august’ he said

‘That’s ages away’ I said

‘Only a few months’

‘They are calling your flight’ I said

We both stood up.

‘I'm gonna miss you’ he said and we hugged.

‘Me too’ I said

We had a long kiss on the lips and then he left.

‘I miss you already Abby!’ he shouted across the floor which made me giggle.
Back at my apartment it was quiet.

There was a t-shirt hanging on the back of the couch that he had left there. It smelled of him.
I called Mom because I was bored.

‘What are you up to’ I asked

‘I'm just having lunch with a guy called Ethan’

‘Oh I'm sorry I just wanted to see if you would like to hang out’


‘I'm afraid I can’t today sweetie’

‘That’s ok Mom, I understand’

‘Tomorrow I can, we could spend the whole day together’

‘Ok sounds good Mom ill come over tomorrow’

After I got off of the phone to her I called Courtney.

‘Do you wanna hang out with me’ I asked her

‘Sure I can what do you want to do’

‘Well I have to furnish my spare bedroom you could help me do that’

‘I would love to help with that’ she said excitedly.

‘Great, you haven’t seen my apartment yet have you’

‘No, you have been shacked up all week with that Louis all week your Mom

said’

‘Yeah we have been hanging out all week but he has gone back to New York

today’ I said

‘Well I know where it is I will come over in a little bit’

‘Ok cool, see you in a while’

Courtney and I went to the mall. We brought things for the spare room. We

had lunch at a road diner.

‘So what’s going on with you and Louis?’ she asked

‘Nothing’ I said. ‘We really are just friends’ I told her.

‘He is cute’

‘Yeah he is cute’ I smiled

I went out with Taylor that evening we hit a few clubs on sunset strip before going back to his house. We started kissing and we had sex in his bedroom. I didn’t even spare a thought for his girlfriend. As we were having sex I Imagined I was making love to Louis. It was a nice fantasy. I decided to go to New York as soon as I could. Maybe I could catch a ride with Richard because he is always going to and from New York. I got home in the early hours of Monday morning. I wore the t-shirt Louis left to bed. I text him and told him I missed him and I went to sleep.

The next day I called Richard to ask him when he was flying to new York he told me Wednesday evening I asked if I could go with him and he said that was fine, he would look forward to the company.

Mom wanted to take me out to dinner to meet Ethan a guy she was dating on Wednesday I agreed but told her I Richard would be picking me up at 9 because I was going to new York.
‘What are you going there for?’ she asked

‘I'm going to visit Louis’ I said

‘Really is that a good idea’

‘Why would you think it’s a bad idea?’ I asked

‘Well doesn’t he have a girlfriend?’

‘No he doesn’t anymore’ I said

‘Oh yeah I remember him telling me now’

‘Yeah so Richard will pick me up at 9; i’ve already dropped off my suitcase’

‘Ok well we will pick you up at 6’

‘Ok, what’s this guy like anyway’

‘He is really sweet’ she said.

Mom came to pick me up at 6 o’clock she came into the apartment because I
wanted to show Mom what Courtney and I had done with the spare room.

‘Wow honey it looks really nice here’ she said

‘You can stay in here when you stay over’ I said

‘Great’ she said. ‘Hey daddy’s guitar looks good there’

‘Louis brought me the glass box for it to go in’ I said

‘That was nice of him’ she said with a confused smile. ‘Are you together?’ she

asked

‘No’ I said

‘Ok’ she said.

We got to the resturant a little late.

‘Abs this is Ethan’

‘Hi’ I said shaking his hand

‘I’ve heard so much about you’ he smiled

‘All good I hope’

‘Yes, all good’

Ethan was a retired tennis player. He was 52. He seemed pretty nice.

‘You should give me a game of tennis one day’ I told him

‘I would love too are you any good’

‘She is good she was on the school team you went all the way to state didn’t you

honey’

‘When I was 15’ I said

‘That’s pretty good’ he said

Richard showed up early so he ended up having a drink with us before we left.

‘This is my god father Richard’ I told him. ‘Richard this is Ethan’

‘Nice to meet you’ they said and shook hands. While they talked Mom asked

what was going on between Louis and me.

‘Nothing’ I said

‘Have you slept with him?’

‘No’ I said. ‘I just really miss him, that’s why I'm going to see him’

‘Does he know you’re heading up there?’

‘No I thought I would surprise him’

‘Richard look after my baby in New York wont you, I worry about her’ she

said

‘I certainly will’ he told her and he winked at me.

‘Mom I will be fine’