Chapter 14: A Stranger

Laura's POV:

Losing to Jaxon took a certain toll on me. It reminded me how weak and helpless, I was.

Gwen tried to cheer me up, but I didn't need that.

I needed to be alone. To get some fresh air, everywhere felt suffocating.

I wrapped myself in a black fur jacket, a black beanie and my dark shades, then walked out of the house. My car key in hand.

Brian tried to stop me, but thought better on it, and just let me slip out of the house. Into the car and out to the bustling street, with no destination in mind.

A black SUV appeared in my rear mirror, following closely behind me. I knew at once that Brian had contacted the guards.

Being a famous singer also had it's downsides. You couldn't just step into any place without attracting attention, and causing a buzz.

I parked in front of a hipster coffee shop, secretly thanking Brian for the extra security. Although I had put all efforts to avoid any form of recognitions.

Ryan had complained how much the bloggers had caused a ruckus with the court stuff—

Anger surged through my veins, clawing my insides at the thought of the court's decision.

I didn't ever want to think about it, if I could help it.

I didn't.

I sniffed in the tears. Pushed the door and stepped into the shop. I took in the deep blue and pale pink tiles of the shop, the people in flashy blazers and thickframed glasses and women in trendy petticoats.

The breeziness of their lives, they looked so grounded— like they had the virtue of gravity working in their favor. Unlike me.

Tied to nothing, except my little Ria…and Gwen. I had nothing, I just floated through life.

I joined the queue, waiting. No one recognized me—it was just Alright.

I wasn't ready to hand out any autographs or fake any smile.

I was tired of the fake smiles too.

The queue was dragging— that too, was fine with me. I just stood there.

There was a row of flat-screened TV plastered above the counter. One had the menu, the other was playing a show.

I wasn't really inclined in that angle. Showbiz programs was like junk food, so beautifully wrapped and a total waste of time.

The volume was quite high, and my eyes drifted up despite my best efforts.

A bunch of millennials were swivelling on Neon chairs in their cubicle-style, ultra futuristic office, the floor-to-ceiling window behind them.

They were speaking so animatedly that I lost interested immediately and looked away, focusing on the queue.

Someone tapped me gently on the shoulder.

I turned around to see who it was.

“Hi” A young man in a polo shirt and impeccably styled hair greeted, with a wide grin plastered on his face.

“Hey.” I mouthed back, taking in his appearance.

“You don't look like someone who frequents this kind of place.” He said.

“What kind of place?” I arched my brow at him.

He chuckled softly. “I mean here. This coffee shop.”

“Is there a particular set of people that are expected to be seen here?” I asked again. Already hating his pestering.

“No. No, don't get me wrong.” He waved his hand— Even smiling more brazenly. His eyes twinkling with laughter.

“Or do you happen to keep a register of people who come her?” I snapped.

I had a gut feeling, he was just one of those regular men that pestered every decent girl they set eyes on.

And today, I wasn't ready for any of those silly men.

I secretly thanked Brian again, for sending the guards after me. If he tried anything silly, I would make them drag him outside to unleash all the anger I was bottling up inside me.

My eyes hardened, as I casually bided my time. Waiting for him to try anything funny.

“Oh, no— I don't mean it that way.” He quickly said, on seeing my expression.

“I happen to frequent this place a lot and it's quite rare to see a gorgeous lady like you here.”

Guess I was right. He was one of them.

“So do you stay in the neighborhood?”

“No.” I snapped and turned my back on him. Decisively ignoring him. The queue moved.

“I'm Williams.” He chirped from behind me.

“Right. Williams.” I repeated. Paying him no further attention.

I didn't want anyone intruding my space right now.

I wanted to be alone.

Was it that hard to be alone?

The person in front of me, stepped away—and it was my turn. I stood in front of the counter. Slipped a few cents to the Attendant and left with my coffee.

I found an empty seat at the extreme end of the shop and sat there. Sipping the hot coffee and enjoying the fume wash over me.

The liquid burned hard on my tongue and my throat.

I winced. A little.

And tried to nurse the soreness that had spread from my tongue, to my throat— to my entire body.

“Hey.” A figure slipped into the seat in front of me without waiting for my invitation.

Why couldn't I get some privacy.

I looked up.

The young man from earlier..

What was his name again.

“ What are you doing here?” I asked, frowning.

“You didn't get to tell me your name.” He said, chugging the coffee down his throat.

Huh?

I studied him for a whole minute, undecided.

“Okay.” I finally voiced out. “ I'm Laura.”

“You look…” He peered at me closely, searching for the right word.

“What?” I asked.

“A little depressed and sober.” He answered, clutching his coffee cup till it creaked.

I pulled my lower lip into my mouth with my teeth while feeling the dull pain in my chest intensify.

“I'll take that for a ‘yes’ then.” He muttered, his hands strolling across the table to stroke mine.

And I allowed him do it.

Not rough. Not even gentle.

Just caressing it like that and holding it in place.

I looked up at him, feeling unusually safe with this stranger.

That I couldn't even remember his name.

“What was your name again?” I asked, holding his gaze.

Maybe he wasn't bad. I had probably overreacted.

“Williams.” He reminded, offering a gentle man smile, and softly squeezed my hand.

I smiled back.

“There's a club just round the block.” He began.

My smile froze.

Guess I was wrong.

I pulled back my hand quickly, like someone that had just been stung by a poisonous venom.

“Don’t get me wrong.” He said quickly. “ I just want to help you forget about those things bothering you.”

He looked in to my eyes and said softly.

“Even if it's just for tonight— I want you to be happy and let loose everything.”

My eyes were forming clouds behind my dark shades already. I sniffed softly.

“You can just have fun and be happy.”

Happy?

What did that even mean. It sounded like a distant memory that I had even forgotten how to access. Like a word plugged out from someone's passive vocab.

It felt unfamiliar.

What did it mean to be happy?

I had fame, a child I dotted on. A friend that offered me everything and I was contented with that.

But not happy.

“You deserve to be happy.” His voice tore through my thoughts.

Till I even started to believe, I could be really happy.

Even if it's just for a night.

I can be happy.

I smiled into his face and the words came out before I could stop myself. “Okay.”

“Drink up then.” He said. “You're in for a long, long night Laura.”