18Petrol, Money and Mr Perfect
Chapter Five:
By: itsVKEE
"And I guess I've always loved you Mon." He said in a low, seductive tone.
I stepped back, unable to back away from him. Lucky for him he had cornered me against the bench top, so I was stuck.
"Stop it. Just stop." I said tightening my grasp on my clutch, attempting to push him away.
"She'll never know. I've seen the way you look at me Mon, don't try to deny it. You need me." He purred as he leant down capturing my lips.
I shot up, startled from my obscure dream and awoke breathless. Shifting around my bed spread I searched for my phone to read the time.
Sliding out of bed and shaking out my doona I pulled the curtains wide open and yawned. I watched slowly as the day slowly began for everyone else, just as it had for me. Shuffling into the kitchen, I drowsily turned on the coffee machine. While I waited for my coffee to brew, I looked around at the apartment. Magazines and clothes strewn in the corner, piles of books scattered around every single flat surface, and an assortment of cutlery, dishes and bottles placed in some sort of haphazard fashion. I really needed to clean this place up; but first things first – Coffee.
Waiting for my morning coffee, I pulled on a T-shirt and changed out of my sweats into some denim shorts. Slowly shuffling back around my apartment, now more awake, I stacked up random dishes and bowls into the dishwasher. An hour had finally passed and the apartment was spotlessly clean. Okay so maybe spotless was a bit of a stretch, but it was cleaner than it was before.
By then Paige had decided to make her grand entrance taking a gulp of my coffee as well.
"Morning!" she smiled.
"You're awfully cheery this morning."
"Yeah," she said with a goofy grin. "Darren bought us tickets to an opera."
"But he hates-"
"That's the best part! Has he finally realised that it's not so bad. I mean come on, what's the worst that could happen?"
I chuckled taking a sip of my hot coffee, pretending to see no fault, when really, mentally I was screaming disaster.
"So what's the haps for today? I asked.
"Hmm... I don't know," she shrugged "What do you say, about a girl's day. It'll be just you and me. Huh?"
"Yeah, just let me shower." I smiled as I finished the rest of my coffee.
"We'll leave at eleven okay?"
I nodded and walked past her towards my bedroom. Grabbing a fresh pair of skinny jeans and some sort of tank top I set off for the bathroom; that was until my phone erupted into fits of vibrating rotations on my bedside table. I sighed and staggered over to my bed, tripping over a pair of shoes. Picking up my phone I checked the caller ID. Austin Harper.
I frowned. Why was Austin calling me on a Sunday morning? There was only one way to find out.
"What do you want?"
"Good morning to you too my dearest; I have something for you."
"What? Why?"
"Just because," He said with an obvious grin.
"If you're trying to be chivalrous stop it, because clearly chivalry is dead."
"Oh come on Monica! You can't honestly believe that."
"I do and nothing can change my mind." I said with a smirk.
"Fine I guess then you won't want my-"
"Whatever it is, I don't want it."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because it's from you." I deadpanned.
"I'm glad you have so much faith in me. Be ready in ten minutes. Or I'll be forced to drag you from your apartment."
"Austin. I'm going out with Paige now. Sorry you don't get a chance to snoop around my luxurious apartment."
He paused. "Then let me take you."
I laughed out loud. Was this guy serious? I mean sure maybe we had put our differences aside, and maybe kissed once or twice, but that didn't mean that we were connected at the hip.
"What's so funny?"
"You do not want to go out with Paige."
"And why's that?"
"Hello? Where have you been for the past, forever!?" I laughed "Paige means serious shopping."
"So?" he shrugged.
"Are you giving in so easily?"
"Maybe; maybe not. Who knows?" he said softly. "Be ready in ten."
"No. Paige and I are leaving at eleven."
"Whatever Princess," he said with an obvious smirk.
"I told you I'm not going with you." I said hanging up and tossing my phone on my bed.
After I had showered I slipped into my jeans and top and quickly dried my hair. With Paige bashing down my bedroom door I knew she was ready to go. I sighed and slipped on a pair of heels. With the added grumble of recognition I picked up my purse and opened my bedroom door.
"Please tell me why there's a man leaning oh so contently on our front door." Paige said staring at me in disgust.
I gulped and prayed for it not to be Austin. "I can explain. I think."
I trailed behind Paige til we reached the front door I looked over Paige's shoulder to find Austin still standing were Paige had described him.
"I told you I'd be here in ten." He grinned.
"I told you not to come. Austin just please go away." I said rolling my eyes.
Paige raised her eyebrow and glared at him.
"I can take a hint you know." Austin laughed.
"It wasn't a hint. Just leave." I sighed.
"Give me one good reason and I'll leave." He smirked.
"I don't think she needs to give you a reason. And besides I'm here. So go." I looked up to find Daniel standing right behind Austin.
"Who the hell are you?" Austin smirked.
"No one you need to know," Daniel said stepping over Austin's leaning leg and walking in to our apartment. "So, bye now."
Daniel's voice oozed with startling authority, so much so that even I was a slightly scared when I looked at him.
"Oh so you're playing the boyfriend card huh?" Austin laughed "Great Mon, keep doing it."
"What?" I laughed. "Boyfriend card?"
"The 'I-have-a-fucking-boyfriend' card. Jesus Christ Mon. Don't you lie to me. Don't you fucking lie to me!"
"Austin, just go okay? Now's not the time." Paige looked at him hoping he'd understand, but his scathing eyes poured into mine and I cringed, instinctively leaning into Daniel's chest.
"I hope you're happy. Whore." Austin sneered as he turned and left our apartment furious.
I gulped and stared at the now empty hall way and wondered whether or not to apologise. If it weren't for Daniel and Paige, I wouldn't have known what to do with him. If it weren't for Daniel and Paige, Austin and I wouldn't be in this mess. If it weren't for Daniel and Paige, I'd still be telling him to leave. But if it weren't for Daniel and Paige, he'd still be here pestering us all like a smothering swarm of bugs.
It wasn't til I felt someone's hand on my shoulder that I realised that I had been starring off into space. I turned around to find Daniel looking down at me, almost happy at the fact that there wasn't some persistent pestering nuisance lingering in our apartment.
"Are you okay?" Daniel smiled pulling me into a light warm hug.
"Yeah, I guess so. Thanks for that." I smiled, wriggling myself free from his embrace. "How did you get here anyway?"
"Chauffer."
"What I mean is; why are you here? I thought you were leaving town to go back to LA."
"I was, I just left something here and I needed to come back and get it."
"Did you find it yet?"
"Yeah, I just need to take it with me."
"Well what is it?"
"You."