by Desiree King
"What if I need more help?"
"Oh trust me you will. I'll text you my number, do not tell her you have it. I've gotta go, Joey's walking over." She hung up, leaving Victor in stunned silence.
It was 5:30 pm when there was a knock at my door. I sat on the bed, not wanting to be there for some reason, when he came in. I got up and walked awkwardly over to the closet before I called out, "Come in."
"Hey…How's the room?"
"It's great." I smiled as he walked in and seemed to wander the room.
"I thought you might be getting hungry, thought we'd go get something for dinner. What do you think?"
"What are we getting?"
"That's up to you."
"Okay…that sounds good." I smiled as he circled close to my bed where my notebook sat open to my shopping list.
"You need some stuff? We'll do that too while we're out." He smiled, scooping my notebook up.
"No that's okay…I'll go…later." I stammered.
"It's fine…So let's say street clothes for dinner so we at least know what to wear." He laughed dropping the notebook back on the bed. "20 minutes!" He called over his shoulder as he walked out the door closing it behind him. I never got ready so fast in my life I brushed my hair out and quickly rolled the ends of my hair in rollers and put on natural looking make-up. I changed clothes a half a dozen times before I decided on this cute little black crochet dress. It was flappers style with straight lines and cap sleeves. I also wore black heeled sandals and a locket that Jacob had given me years ago. I tucked my wallet and cell phone into a tiny leather backpack purse and ripped the rollers out of my hair, brushing it out with my fingers just as he knocked again.
"Come in!" I shouted from my bathroom, I walked out to find him standing in my room wearing blue jeans and a tight black shirt. He had boots and his jewelry back on including his wallet chain, and a belt with a heavy belt buckle made to look like brass knuckles.
"Wow…I'm shocked." He laughed.
"What?" I asked walking over to my bed. I could smell his skin. Somehow I knew that clean smell, almost like the forest after it rains, or maybe the ocean, I was not sure, I could not lock it down, was his skin.
"I expected to have to wait another half hour at least…I'm amazed." He smiled and sat down on my bed right beside my purse.
"Well don't always expect it!" I smiled down at him. I froze instantly I could see myself climbing into his lap with his arms around my waist as if I'd done it for real.
"What?" Victor smiled he noticed my reaction to the thought.
"Nothing…" I shook my head almost like I was trying to clear my eyes and grabbed my bag. "You ready?"
"Yeah." He looked concerned but got to his feet and led me down to the car.
We got back in the plain black Mercedes and headed back into the city.
"Let's get the shopping done first you mind?" Victor asked.
"No that's fine." I answered staring out my window.
"Where do you need to go?"
"You can just drop me at a grocery store or something, I can get what I need there."
"I'm offering a paid shopping trip and you want only what you need? Come on….How about the mall."
"Vic…I don't…"
"We're doing this to have fun come on let me make up for earlier." He interrupted.
"Fine…" I gave. 'I'll make you change your mind' I thought to myself.
"Hey…we can get your wardrobe for the job." Victor smiled.
"Lead the way." I laughed.
Within twenty mintues we were walking through the mall. We walked into this little gothic/rocker store. We were just sweeping through the racks when I found the cutest skirt, made of black lace and pink and black plaid. It also had a matching halter vest with a lace tie up the front. I pulled it out of the racks and Victor walked up behind me.
"Try it on…" He said reaching for the hangers.
"What? Why?" I scrambled.
"And I want to see it," he said pushing me toward the dressing room.
"Whatever." I shrugged and got dressed in the outfit. We did this so easily that within an hour I completely forgot about the awkwardness and it felt like shopping with my family or friends not like being forced to shop by a boss for lack of a better way to describe the situation. We were looking for another interesting looking store to spend Victor's money in.
"What about some shoes?" Victor asked.
"Clothes first…shoes are easy." I laughed.
"Duh! What was I thinking?" He said sarcastically. "Here! Come on!" He grabbed my arm and pulled me toward this cheap looking store, but I knew better. This was one of those stores where the amount of skin showing directly coincides with the extreme amounts of money needed to make the purchase.
"What? Why…I can't wear this stuff!" I was fighting his grip.
"Humor me!" Victor laughed, and I let him pull me along.
"Fine…" I said walking in of my own accord. We split and were scouring the racks when we met in the middle of the store. I had a dress I thought would be great on me and Victor had a pant jump suit. "Isn't that a little disco-tastic?" I asked.
"Can the attitude and get in the dressing room." He snapped and thrust the black Lycra into my arms. I put on the dress first, it was exactly what I wanted it to be, a black halter with a V-neck that sank below the bra line and a sexy wrap style skirt. I loved it. I walked out of the dressing room and when Victor spun around, that sexy little lopsided smile appeared.
"Looks great…get it!" He smiled.
"Great! Let's go!" I was already getting back into the dressing room.
"I still wanna see the other one." Victor demanded.
"Fine." I said getting dressed in his choice. The Lycra fit like silky skin. It had a boot cut leg and open back with criss- crossing laces that formed the spaghetti straps which attached to the square neck line. I spun around in front of the mirror and was amazed that I looked like the siren I was. I pulled the tie out of my hair and shook it around me, 'my god, he is a genius,' I thought to myself.
"Are you coming out?" Victor asked.
"Yes." I smiled slipping my heels back on and stepping from the tiny room. Vic's jaw hit the ground. I almost heard the crack of bone hitting floor.
"That's it! Your stage clothes." He nodded. "Go change we'll find shoes and then get some food." Victor seemed uncomfortable.
"Okay…But, later you will explain why you're so good at this," I laughed, getting back in the dressing room. We quickly got moving after paying the girl at the counter who shamelessly flirted with him completely ignoring me. We went into a shoe store and I bought several different pairs of heels.
"What else?" Victor asked.
"Well if I'm gonna dance in that outfit, I need to grab a few things from here," I said pointing to the pink and black covered store.
"Alright…" He said and followed me in. He was fearless. I browsed, then started grabbing stuff and headed for the dressing room. "Hey Alex…I'll be right back." Victor called through the door.
"Okay," I called back, but I knew he was already walking away. I was finished trying stuff on, made my choices, and headed to the counter. Victor walked up just in time to hand the woman his credit card.
"What do you want for dinner?," he asked as we were walking back to the car.
"I'm thinking we grab chinese and go back to the house and watch TV."
"You're reading my mind!" He flashed that smile again.
We sat up late into the night eating take out and finishing a great bottle of wine while watching TV, flipping channels often. We talked about so many things, we were quickly becoming the best of friends.
I felt warmth on my skin. I was laying on my side when I finally gave in to waking up; I was so comfortable, I took a deep breath that tasted of salt water but smelled like forest after downpour. I snuggled closer into his chest…
That's when I woke up the rest of the way, rolled to get away, and fell off the couch. I hit the floor hard!
; "Ow!" I squeaked when he opened his eyes lazily stretching out on the couch.
"Good morning." He smiled. His clothes were rumpled and twisted around his body.
"What…the hell?" I stammered.
"What?"
"Did we…um…" I was so confused. 'God, what was the last thing I remember.' I thought to myself.
"No! We must have fallen asleep on the couch." Victor laughed.
"How did we end up like…?" I trailed off.
"You're the one who laid down with me like that." He argued.
"I did not…I…" I snarled.
"You're a forgetful drunk!" He shot back, "You don't remember! Good to know." I got to my feet as he growled at me. As I stormed out of the room he continued," Oh and FYI…if we had sex last night you'd know!"
I was in my room with the door locked having a panic attack. I closed my eyes, trying to calm down, and remembered the smell of his skin. I felt calmer almost instantly. I leaned against the door of my bedroom in silence breathing hard listening to the thoughts racing through my mind. What the hell? What does this mean? How did he react when I snuggled up into his arms? Was he happy about it? Was he mad? Did he like holding me while we slept? How does he do these things to me? I feel like a different person I'm with him.
Back in the living room Victor sat up. "Smooth move Vic!" He said to himself looking for his cell phone. Finally he found it and called his secret weapon, Jenny.
"Hello…" Her voice was bright and happy.
"I fucked up!"
"Wow…How in the hell did you screw up shopping?!" She exclaimed.
"The shopping was fine, dinner was fine, we ate Chinese, we drank some wine, we watched TV and fell asleep. Then this morning she freaked out!"
"Wait…fell asleep how?" She asked suspiciously.
"We did not have sex!" Victor pronouced each word very carefully. "Why do all women jump to that conclusion?" Victor was clearly frustrated.
"Then why…oh damnit I'll call you back." Jenny snapped and then hung up. Victor got up and headed into his room to get dressed for the day while he waited for Jenny to call back, but also from his room he could hear my side of the conversation I was having with her.
In my room it took me a few deep breaths before I was calm enough to call Jenny without having hysterics, but finally I dialed her number.
"Hi," Jenny answered she sounded annoyed as she answered.
"OH MY GOD! You would never believe…" I started. I told her what happened only with more detail then Victor used.
"But, all you did was sleep?" Jenny clarified.
"In his arms…it has context." I scrambled.
"Only if you make it that way take a breath…It's no big deal, you said it yourself you slept great."
"Oh and boy is he full of himself…you'd know it." I imitated him more to myself then Jenny.
"What?" She asked laughing at my impersonation no doubt.
"What? That's what he told me when I was retreating."
"What'd he say?"
"If we had sex last night you'd know it." I imitated him again and giggled. "You know you're right…It's no big deal…like sharing a bed with your brother."
"Don't say brother…say friend." Jenny said seriously.
"Why?"
"Just trust me, down the road you'll thank me for not letting you describe it that way."
"Whatever…"
"So what is going on today?"
"I get to meet the rest of the band today at 1:30 for lunch, then photo shoot and beginning the music video for 'badass'." I counted the itinerary off on my fingers then spied a look at the alarm clock.
"Cool…Send me…"
"Holy shit!" I exclaimed cutting her off.
"What?"
"It's 11:30! I have to go! Talk to you later!" I spoke running to start the shower.
"Okay bye!" She answered then I hung up and set about getting ready. Almost instantly Jenny called Victor back, the conversation with Alex had proven to Jenny that she was going to have to clue Victor in on some of Alex's past so he would not think she is crazy.
"Alright…what do I do?" Victor asked answering his cell phone.
"I've come to a decision; I'm going to have to tell you a little bit about our past to help you understand her." Jenny was choosing her words very carefully. "What all has she told you about her past, like the last couple of years or so?"
"Not a lot really."
"Okay well I met Alex and Lynn in school and at the time I was a model with a manager. My manager was a sick man and Jacob and Alex saved me from him but not before he sank his claws into her. He kidnapped her, he raped her, he beat her then she killed him. Ever since I have worked very hard to get her back, she still has times where we wonder if she will ever really recover. She was okay for a little while but it usually comes back. She's changed though, since she met you…I'm not sure how, but you are helping her to finish healing. I think until she finds the right guy anything sexual will mess with her. Even if you don't think it's a big deal, anything intimate this early will drive her over the line."
"I…" Victor was dumbfounded.
"It's a lot and I'm sure you don't want to deal with all this but please just give it time it'll get better.
"But, okay I don't get it. She was fine in the photo shoot?"
"That was work, you weren't alone."
"Okay…so…what do you…?" Victor was still in shock.
"She's better now. And more so convinced that what happened was nothing…I know you will think this is nuts but I think you should try to recreate it as often as possible."
"You're kidding right?"
"No…she never sleeps well and she said it was the best sleep she's had in years. I think something about you makes her feel safe. Be her friend and it will all work out."
"Okay…got any suggestions on how to do that."
"Keep up what you're doing it's working. Oh I almost forgot…As far as Alex knows I didn't tell you anything. She is clearly keeping stuff about her past from you but don't pry she'll tell you when she's ready."
"Okay. I'll make all this up to you soon. Thank you!"
"No, thank you…you're giving me my best friend back…she's never been this lively." Jenny laughed then hung up.
We were right on time. At 12:45 we got into the yellow 1987 Corvette convertible and headed to a quiet little burger restaurant. We walked in and the place was crowded with people but Victor led me through the rooms to what looked to be a private party room. When we walked in two men and a boy sat at the red leather booth. We joined them.
"Alex this is Mike." He said pointing to the older man on the left. He was a kind looking man covered in tattoos like Victor with shorter black hair and brown eyes.
"It's great to meet you." He smiled.
"You're very sweet." I smiled light heartedly.
"This is David and his son Devon."
"Well, let me tell you those pictures did nothing for you." David reached out and shook my hand.
"Where's Johnny?" Victor asked.
"Oh, Peg dropped the boys off about an hour ago. He went to get them." David laughed.
"Well let's order something." Victor sat behind me, sandwiching me between Mike and himself. It was not long before a tall skinny man I knew instantly to be Johnny walked in with two little boys. They were the cutest little boys I ever seen, they looked just like their father.
"Yo! Dudes you couldn't wait for us?"
"I'm starving…" Victor snapped back as the two boys started to become what I suspected they acted like all the time hyper happy children. "Alex! Johnny!" Victor said pointing to him then turned to the first boy. "That's Brandon and this is Jason." Victor picked Jason up and held him on the table top. "Hey little man!" The boys could not have been older than three years old.
"Finally, I've heard a lot about you Johnny." I smiled reaching across the table.
"It's all true…I promise…" Johnny smiled suggestively.
"Oh I'm not that impressed."
I scoffed playfully.
"I see why Vic is so obs-…" Johnny laughed when Victor interrupted him.
"How's Peg?"
"She's fine." Johnny answered picking Brandon up and holding the boy in his lap.
Lunch was very fun we sat and ate burgers and fries, just hanging out like old friends talking and listening to Victor teach Johnny's kids bad habits and words.
Victor's studio was not far. That's where we were shooting most of the pictures, in fact all of them except the guy's, which were going to be shot on location on sunset. We were all in the office trying to talk out the shots we were doing today. Jesse, the photographer from before was there too. The kids were with Devon in the next room coloring.
"When do you have time to do the local shots?" Jesse asked taking notes in a memo book.
"In the morning." Victor answered.
"What are we shooting now?"
"You're gonna shoot the shots we planned last week then the guys are gonna go ahead to the video at lot 34 and I'll shoot the set ups for Alex's." Victor answered. "Is make-up and wardrobe here?"
"Yes and setup." Jesse answered and Victor got to his feet.
"Alright let's get moving." Victor smiled and the other three guys headed through a door at the back of the room, followed quietly by Jesse, Victor, and I. For this photo shoot my make-up and clothes were pretty simple. I was dressed in a black and red supermini with a top that was built more like a corset then a top, and angel wings. Victor described it as the true fallen angel. It would be the same outfit for the video later in addition to the pink and black outfit Victor brought yesterday. This would be a quick wardrobe and make-up but a long shoot. When I was done I wrapped myself in a robe and went out into the studio. Sitting on a white back drop was a large throne. Mike was sitting in the chair with the other three posed around him. I stood back and watched, enjoying watching them, you could tell they had been doing this for a while. But even more importantly, Victor looked amazing. He wore black leather pants with boots and there were several straps and chains hanging from the belt with the huge belt buckle. His shirt was black button down, halfway open with a black pinstripe duster jacket. I could not take my eyes off him.
"All done Vic." Jesse said taking the camera from around his neck.