Silent Treatment

by Jackie Williams

  Antonio frowned.

  “You made some kind of agreement with this Daniel? To do what precisely?”

  She sighed, Antonio still wasn’t listening.

  “I don’t know, I never agreed to anything but it must be something to do with not contacting him until his three years are up. What else could it be? It’s partly why I want to go away for the next year. I can’t stay here after my A levels just hoping he’s going to turn up. He’s obviously made some kind of commitment to the team that he can’t break. He’s very loyal like that.”

  Antonio rubbed his temples.

  “You young people are so complicated these days. I’m so glad I just stick to dancing. It’s so much easier than trying to figure out relationships. Look, I’m going back in. I’m not going to hold you to these events Carrie, but you should think seriously before giving them up. They would look excellent on your C.V.”

  Carrie shrugged.

  “Milana’s world tour is going to look excellent on my C.V. too Antonio. I’d really rather not do these football things if I don’t have to.”

  Antonio nodded realizing that she had already made her decision.

  “Okay, fine, do what you like. I won’t force you to do any of them if you don’t feel like it.” He turned back to the studio and wandered inside.

  Carrie walked along the pavement towards her home. She shivered as the cold air chilled her through her tracksuit. She felt almost angry with Lisa for not warning her that the teams were coming. She was going to have to pull her up on it when they next spoke. It wasn’t fair that she found out things like this through a third party.

  She quickened her step as it began to drizzle, not wanting to get soaked through. Her mind was turning over and over at the thoughts of missing Daniel on purpose, but then she felt it must be the right thing to do. He could choose to speak to her any time, but Lisa had taken to calling her when Daniel would be at college or football anyway, so there was no opportunity of even seeing him accidentally.

  She played around with different scenarios in her head of meeting him at Wembley, accidentally on purpose. They were all stilted and completely ridiculous and none of them likely to work when he was going back to Atlanta immediately afterwards anyway.

  The rain grew heavier, and she pulled her hoodie tighter round her neck as she thought of how awful it would be if she met him and he ignored her completely. She could even see, in her mind’s eye, the dreaded Jennifer Crane gloating at her and writing another horrible article for the newspapers. Her breath choked up in her throat and she ran for home. It was only when she was past half way that she remembered that she had forgotten to pick up her pay packet.

  She couldn’t leave Daniel a message that night. She just couldn’t think of anything to say.

  Chapter Ten

  Rome, October 2009

  “Are you sure about this Carrie? This is scarier than I thought it would be. It’s not at all like driving at home.” Jessica braced her hands on the dashboard as Carrie negotiated the tiny car through the furious stream of traffic encircling the Colosseum.

  “It’s brilliant! You just have to hoot a lot. That’s what all Italians do. We’ll be fine!” Carrie yelled enthusiastically as she pushed her hand to the middle of the steering wheel and grinned at the satisfying parp that made other drivers stare at them.

  Jessica covered her eyes as a lorry carrying wildly swaying wooden boxes filled with vegetables, came uncomfortably close to their left-hand side. Carrie shook her fist at the driver, but he just blew the girls kisses and blasted forwards in a cloud of hot dust.

  “They’re all raving mad!” Jessica shrieked. “Next time you hire a car, make sure it comes with a roof at the very least. If we get to the show tonight in one piece it’ll be a miracle.” Jessica choked on the fumes belching out of the back of the disappearing lorry and then braved another glance at the road before she covered her eyes again.

  Carrie laughed at her friend.

  “Where’s your sense of adventure Jess. This is our last day here and we haven’t seen a single bit of the city. All we’ve seen is Milana wriggling her generous backside about for the last six months. I wanted to see a bit of culture.” She flung her arm towards the huge Roman ruins they were passing at that very moment. “I mean, how can we have been in Rome for five days and not seen the Colosseum yet?” She let her eyes wander over the ancient structure. “Even you have to admit that this is a much better view than Milana’s bum, and the driving! Whoa! This is great fun. Can’t think why I haven’t done it before. I passed my test way back in March, but I haven’t driven much since.”

  Jessica let out a small shriek as another car swerved to within inches of them.

  “Now you tell me. I thought you passed when you were seventeen. You said you took driving lessons then.”

  Carrie nodded as she overtook a bus full of school children. The youngsters all waved out of the windows at them and Carrie waved wildly back as they sped past.

  “I did, but I failed miserably the first time round. I took a crash course of lessons while the rest of my old crew were doing the cheer team gig for the American footballers. Don’t you remember? We had just started rehearsals for this tour. I bought a car soon afterwards, but didn’t get much practice what with all the rehearsals for this gig. It’s still parked in my parent’s driveway. I’m really enjoying the driving now though. I’m so glad I persuaded the hire company to make special arrangements as I’m under twenty one.”

  “Oh goody! I am so glad too.” Jessica sounded deeply sarcastic. “Remind me to catch a bus next time you want to see the sights or go shopping.”

  Carrie pulled a face as she swept her hair out of her eyes.

  “Oh come on Jess! We haven’t had any fun at all this tour. I haven’t even had time to celebrate passing all my A levels and I’ve not spent a penny of my money on anything for me. It all goes on travelling costs and eating out. I’ve really scrimped for this little outing. Don’t put a damper on the only afternoon we have free for another week.” Carrie suddenly swerved into a parking space and came to a grinding halt.

  Jess leapt out of the car, clearly relieved that they had stopped at last.

  “We had better get shopping quickly then. We have to be back by six at the latest. I don’t want Milana going off at us like she did at Dave and Lance. Dave was nearly in tears.”

  Carrie laughed, locked the car and headed for the nearest shoe shop.

  “He’s such a sweetie, but so sensitive. Dancing for Milana is fantastic, but she should learn to keep her mouth shut sometimes. It doesn’t help having the whole of her dance team upset just because of bad traffic. It wasn’t like they were late for her set…Wow! Those look heels!” She pointed at some frighteningly high heeled, bright red shoes. “They’d be perfect for the after show party!”

  Jess peered at the tiny label beneath them and gasped.

  “Four hundred and twenty Euros! We’ll have them in all three colours shall we?” Sarcasm dripped from Jess’s tongue. “And then we’ll break our ankles trying to walk in them. Come on Carrie, even if it is our last night in Rome, you’d have to be mad to spend more than a week’s wages on them, let’s get off the main drag and into the real world.”

  Carrie looked back wistfully at the beautiful shoes as Jess pulled her into a side street. They wandered in and out of trendy boutiques and past wonderful looking chocolate shops. Carrie bought a tiny, but exquisite evening bag and Jess treated herself to a fine lace blouse. They stopped at stall selling beautiful cashmere pashminas and chose one each then they sat outside a small coffee shop and drank fluffy chocolate and marshmallow topped cappuccinos. They strolled by an alternative route back towards the car and walked down a narrow street full of electrical retailers and camera shops.

  Carrie wasn’t looking in any of the windows by now, but just as they were about to cross an intersecting side street she caught sight of the opposite television shop. Her mouth fell open in shock.

  Daniel Lewis w
as on every screen. He laughed as a female interviewer asked him a question. Then he shook his head and opened his hands expressively as if to prove a point.

  Ignoring a hooting car Carrie lunged across the street and into the shop. She ran to the nearest screen and stared at Daniel.

  He was definitely wider than when she had last seen him, possibly even taller too going by how tiny the interviewer looked. His face was tanned but his blue eyes seemed a little dull. His lips curved gently as he spoke and she could see the shadow of dark stubble on his upper lip and chin, but Carrie couldn’t hear his words as the sound was turned right down.

  “Can you turn up the sound please?” She turned and asked the salesman. He immediately came over and adjusted the sound by touching the screen.

  “Ah, English no? You have a place here that you want to furnish? I can show you the latest models in the audio department too. If you like the sound we can offer…”

  Carrie held her finger up as she tried to listen to Daniel. He was smiling good naturedly at the interviewer again. And then she heard his familiar deep voice for the first time in over two years.

  “No Lorraine, I’m sorry but I told you I won’t answer any questions about my private life. It’s far too dull for anyone to be interested in it. Please don’t ask me anymore on the subject.” He waved his hands dismissively at her.

  The camera panned to the woman. She ran the tip of her tongue across her glossy lips and brushed her cheek with her fingertips. Carrie almost laughed at her flirting. The woman adjusted the hem of her skirt pretending to remove invisible fluff. Then she blinked very slowly and deliberately, her eyelashes quivering.

  “Okay Daniel, if you insist. Can I ask if you are over the injury that kept you away from the U.K. earlier this year? I hear that a lot of your fans in England were very disappointed that you didn’t make it over.” Her American drawl dripped from her pouty lips. It looked as if she was almost about to drool. Carrie rolled her eyes and hoped someone in the studio had a tissue handy for when her saliva hit the floor.

  Carrie took a breath as Daniel nodded, his dark hair flopping slightly over his forehead. She hadn’t known that he was injured. Lisa had said nothing about it to her. She frowned as she listened again.

  Daniel pushed the hair back from his forehead.

  “I’m fine. Thank you for asking. I was terribly disappointed about missing the tour of course. I was looking forward to going home for a spell, but even I couldn’t magic away a torn hamstring. I was out of the team for several weeks due to it and the only blessing was that I could catch up on my university work. My team mate Paul managed to make it back though so the fans were probably happy enough. The hamstring is fully healed now and this season is going well, so I don’t expect to have any more problems.” His voice was as soft as Carrie remembered and her heart began to thump wildly.

  The interviewer leaned forwards and looked as though she was about to run her fingertips along Daniel’s thigh just to make sure it really was recovered, but then she lifted her hand and ran her fingers through her own hair instead.

  Carrie frowned this time. Couldn’t they stop her being quite so obvious? The woman looked as though she was about to launch herself at Daniel.

  Carrie blew out a frustrated breath as the woman tucked her hair behind her ear and rolled her pen between her fingers.

  “And when you finish your course here, what will you do then? It’s only another six months away. Will we be able to tempt you to stay over here? It’s been said that you’ve made over thirty million dollars in the last two years, what with advertising contracts and sports endorsements.” She looked at him for confirmation, but he didn’t move a muscle. “Maybe another thirty million dollar contract will do it? I hear that’s the amount being discussed.” She was leaning forwards again, moving her knees slightly nearer to Daniel’s. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and Carrie noticed that their knees were once again at a respectable distance from each other. Daniel’s eyes suddenly became cold, his voice a little distant.

  “I only applied for a student visa. I didn’t come over here expecting to make a fortune. It just happened that way, so whatever the offer on the table, I’ll still have to go back home at the end of my course. I am putting managers in the two sports injury clinics so that they will be able to carry on without me here all the time, though of course I would love to come back on occasions.” There was a tiny wrinkle in his brow.

  Lorraine came back with a follow up question as she shifted forwards yet again, her knee nearly brushing his.

  “So we won’t be losing you entirely then. And are you pleased with the way that your thesis has been published early? It’s unusual that it’s been passed so quickly and that you have been allowed to act upon its recommendations. I understand that the clinics have full waiting lists.”

  Daniel slanted himself sideways and sat as far back in his chair as possible.

  “I’m happy enough with them, but I was hoping to set them up as a preventative exercise class rather than treatment centres. If we can stop the damage occurring through the correct exercise in the first place, then these terrible injuries might never happen. I’m hoping to set up a chain of classes back home in the U.K. so I’ll be a little preoccupied for a while after I get back, and then I will have to apply for a visa all over again.”

  The woman positively fluttered her lashes at him now.

  “But I’m sure, what with all the business you are bringing to the city of Atlanta, that if you wanted it, you could be granted an extension to your current visa. Can we tell the viewers that you are going to apply for U. S. citizenship? After all, you will have been here for nearly three years, it’s about time you called Atlanta your home.” She sounded as though she was going to get down on her knees and beg him to stay. Carrie held her breath, waiting for Daniel’s reply. He smiled widely at the woman.

  “It’s a bit early for a decision of that importance, but you can tell your viewers whatever you like, doesn’t mean that I’m going to agree to any of it.” He shut his mouth firmly as the interviewer looked taken aback for an instant and then Daniel turned his head away from her. He pressed his huge hands onto the chair’s armrests and moved as if to stand up. The camera panned round to the woman only.

  “Well there you have it. Another straight answer from the world famous Daniel Lewis.”

  Her fixed smile wavered for an instant as she glanced to her side, obviously unhappy about the way the interview had ended, and then she shuffled some papers around in front of her. She cleared her throat slightly and then looked back up into the camera and went onto the next item.

  Carrie stood back from the screen. The assistant moved forwards again.

  “Yes, as you can hear, the sound quality is excellent. It’s the same with all the…”

  Carrie ignored the assistant, turned quickly and left the shop. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She had missed all the football in the spring, just in case she bumped into Daniel when he didn’t want to see her and it turned out that he hadn’t come over anyway. She couldn’t believe Lisa hadn’t told her that he was injured. They had called each other nearly every day and she had gone on and on about how much she was missing both Paul and Daniel. It didn’t make sense.

  And a thirty million dollar contract on top of what he had already earned. Sixty million in all! Carrie’s mind boggled at the amount. It was incredible. There was no way he was going to turn it down if offered. Her shoulders slumped and she barely heard Jess waffling on beside her.

  “He’s absolutely gorgeous isn’t he? I adore him and completely understand why you wanted to see him. He’s so tall and beyond handsome. Six foot six and completely ripped! I don’t think that television had good colour though. His eyes didn’t look as blue as they should be, but all that dark, hair. Mmmmm, Fabulous! Makes you want to run your fingers right through it and I could get my hands on his pecs anytime. Phwarrr!” Jessica rolled her eyes as she prattled on, swinging her carrier bag as they wa
lked.

  Carrie mused at her side and cut in when Jessica eventually took a breath.

  “I think he looks tired. Or maybe you’re right and the colour wasn’t right on the television. His eyes are definitely brighter, more sapphire like in real life. When we were together two years ago they seemed a lot more intense. He looks good though, and I think he may actually have grown even taller. The climate obviously suits him.”

  Jess had stopped in the middle of the pavement and Carrie looked back at her.

  “You were with Daniel Lewis! Carrie Denton, you’re a complete shocker! Why didn’t you tell me this before? You’ve been holding out on me. Come on, I want to know all the gory details.” She demanded loudly as other shoppers stared at her.

  Carrie shrugged and carried on walking down the street as Jess caught up with her.

  “There aren’t any gory details, more’s the pity. I’ve known him for years, since I was about six. We were neighbours and used to walk to school together, but I only realized that I really liked him when I hit fifteen. Way too late of course! Fool!” She muttered under her breath. “But then on the last day of our exams I dislocated my shoulder and he put it back in for me. He spent the next few days giving me physio so I could get back to full strength and we sort of spent the summer together, in between the dancing. He even came and saw me dance at a couple of gigs. For a while I thought there might be the chance of something between us, but whenever I thought he was going to kiss me or tell me how he felt, he always backed off. I still don’t know why because I was way too shy to ask him, but it was obvious that he liked me as a friend.” She sighed deeply and then shrugged again. “Anyway, if it wasn’t for him and his fantastic physio, I wouldn’t be dancing now.”