Ignite Me: Shards of Glass, Part One

by Mills, L. C.

  He laughed. “Not all men Miss Watson!”

  I became flustered by the way he said my name and had to rally my thoughts again.

  “It wasn't till I got right near that I realised that the girl was shaking! Things were said and I may have punched him in the face.” I shrugged and looked down at my right hand, it had swollen a little, my skull ring had dug into my middle finger and my other knuckles where grazed.

  He went silent. Then he stood up and walked over to one of the laptops and started tapping at the keys heavily. His face like thunder. His whole manner had changed, his body language was intense. I could virtually feel the atmosphere crackle.

  “And you're saying that girl was my sister?! Did she explain what hell she was doing out there?!” His voice was restrained but he couldn't keep the edge from it.

  I sighed. “Yeah, she said she asked him for a photo and he took her outside! Look, I don't know his name, but you'll know it's him! I bet this left a nasty mark!” I held my hand out. “I also think I've broken my finger!”

  He turned his head to look at me. “Why did you hit him?!”

  I wasn't sure if I wanted to share what he'd said about Sean. “Um, well he made some personal remarks about me and then tried to slap me, so I hit him! Plus prior to that when I pointed out she was a minor he didn't care, he simply said he was giving her what she wanted! Also, he offered to show me a good time!” I tutted and shook my head. “I guess I just saw red!” I rubbed my fingers wondering if I should go to the hospital.

  “If I show you the list of all the male guests here tonight do you think you would recognize him?!” He smiled and held out his hand for mine.

  I gave him a funny look, but held out my hand, wondering what he intended.

  He turned it over and then took off my ring and did something I'd not expected, he pulled my finger with quite some force. It made a satisfying pop as intense pain washed over me. I tried not to swear.

  Sweet mother of Jesus that hurt like fuck.

  “Jeez Cameron you could have warned me!” I bit my lip, tears pricked my eyes. It really had hurt. I tucked it under my left arm pit so he'd not try anything else.

  He smirked. “It was dislocated! Now all you'll have to do is go to the doctors and check it's not broke!”

  I narrowed my eyes at him giving him a dirty look, wondering quite where he got off acting so cold and clinical about everything. No wonder his sister had been worried about his reaction but I did want to help find the guy so I stepped forward.

  “If it helps his band is new and he spoke with a really deep London accent!” I moved so I stood next to him. He was scrolling through various photos of bands.

  “Thank you for stepping in, she's only just turned 14, she's really into alternative music and all that, but literally has no sense of danger!” He smiled at me, flashing his perfect white teeth, but his eyes remained cold.

  I grinned at him lopsidedly. Being this close to him was making me feel funny, his aftershave smelt really good. I shook the vision of me stood holding him against me as I ran my nose down his neck. As the laptop software scrolled I suddenly saw him flash by. “Stop!” I shouted it a little louder than I had meant.

  He turned his head and looked at me with a raised brow.

  “That was him! The dude with the huge stretched ears!”

  He clicked backwards and up popped his face. “And you’re sure that's him?!” He studied my face.

  I studied the screen. “Yes, I am sure it's him, Jamie Richardson he plays lead guitar for Viking Principle and the Lightning!”

  I thought back to when I'd been outside. That was him without a shadow of a doubt. I studied Cameron, his face was blank, unreadable.

  I shook my head. “What are you going to do when you find him?!” I guessed he'd sort him out somehow or another.

  He hit the print button, then turned his head. “Make him rue the day he took my little sister outside!” He licked his lips. “How bad was it?!” His face was still saying impassive, but I knew under that professional outlook he was raging.

  I picked my words carefully. “When I turned the corner, I saw him stoke his hand over her face. Then he tried to kiss her, but she just froze with fear! When I saw him touch her and she made it clear she wasn't okay that was when I stepped in!” I didn't know what else to say, as much as I was keen to see Jamie get what was coming to him, the look on Cameron's face actually scared me a little.

  “I think the less you know the better! Thank you for stepping in, not everybody would have done that!” He picked up the printed paper and folded it in half.

  It made sense not to tell me. The less I was involved the better. “There was no way I was walking away! I guess growing up around guys I just learnt to handle myself!” I shrugged. “I hope Georgia is okay! Look, I'm gonna head home now! My contact details are prolly on that!” I pointed to the laptop. “So if you need me, well, ring me or whatever! I'm going home to find some pain killers for my hand and to take my shoes off!” I smirked at him.

  He smiled at me. “Sure thing Evangeline and thank you again!” He walked towards the door and pulled it open for me. “You’re quite the pistol Miss Watson!” He winked at me.

  I didn't know how to react I just blushed. “It's been said before!” I muttered as I left the room.

  My feet carried me on auto pilot away. He had such a presence, I'd never met a man that held my attention like that before. It was strange. I got half way down the corridor and realised I'd left my ring behind. I chewed my lip wondering if I should just leave it, but it had sentimental value so I turned back around against my better judgement. By the time I got to the door, I’d walked out from, I could hear shouting. I stood and listened for a second wondering if I should just knock. I could see Cameron sat at the laptop on his phone, his back to the door.

  “I don't care how much it costs! Just arrange it!” There was a pause. “Well, I've sent you the photo but he'll have a nasty cut on his face from a skull ring!”

  He laughed. “Quite the pistol by all accounts! Think she might have broken her finger though! Hmm, yes, if he threatens to press charges, I'll give her an alibi, it's the least I can do! She didn't have to step in like that!”

  I bit my lip again and raised my left hand to knock at the door.

  “Find out as much as you can on that score! My curiosity had been peaked! Like how long and why... Boyfriends, exes the lot, she said all men were assholes, but it was something in her eyes that made me wonder! I'll be back before 1am I want as much Intel as you can get by then Jones and tell my sister I'm sorry!”

  I sighed and dropped my hand and walked away. I didn't know what he'd meant, but I didn't want him to know I'd been standing there. I could replace the ring. I left the venue and hopped into one of the private hire cabs that the awards show put on to make sure guests get home safe.

  “Where to miss?!” The taxi driver sounded bored. I didn't blame him half of the people here would be going to after parties, but my hand hurt and I wanted to go home.

  “Butlers Wharf apartments, please!” I was actually just looking forward to taking my shoes off and finding some pain killers my fingers had swollen up. I didn't regret it though. I'd do it all over again if I had too.

  “Sure thing! We have 4G super-fast Internet in the car if you need it!”

  I smiled. I didn't need to use the free Wi-Fi, but it was decent of him to offer.

  chapter 3

  A short time later I was walking through the main doors to my apartment complex. I was greeted by Harry one of the doormen.

  “Hello Miss Watson, a good evening was it?!” He smiled from the behind the desk.

  I laughed. “No, not really! Think I've broken my hand!” I held my hand up to show him.

  He pulled a face and winced. “Did you need a doctor?! I can get concierge to ring for you?!”

  I shook my head. “No need, it's still moving and it's late! It was dislocated, but someone f
ixed it!” I smiled as I headed for the lift.

  He nodded at me “Well, I'll have the names of the local private doctors sent up for you in the morning!”

  “Thank you Harry!” I called as I got into the lift.

  I was used to my own company, but I had nobody here. I sometimes wished that more of my so called friends actually cared but clearly they'd forgotten about me now I was gone. I walked out of the lift and over to my front door. There were two other apartments up to my level. We were at the top on level 6 which meant our apartments where the biggest with the most outside space.

  I unlocked the door and stepped in hitting the light switch. I loved it. It had everything I needed. It had three bedrooms, I'd taken the master bedroom, as it was the biggest. I'd left one as a guest come dressing room and the smallest I had turned into a craft room and music room. The main space was all black tiles and open space with a large central lounge room with an entertainment center. I shrugged my jacket off and hung it over the peg by the door and kicked my shoes off.

  “Oh, that's so good!” I flexed my toes on the cold slate tile flooring. It felt like heaven. I padded off to the kitchen and pulled open the fridge door and pulled out a bottle of water. I glanced at the food tempted to make a snack, but I just wanted to get some pain tablets for my hand so I pulled out an apple and stood and bit three large chucks of it off chewing it. It wasn't that I didn't eat but I didn't want heavy food before bed. I walked over to the cupboard nearest the sink and pulled it open. “I know you’re in here somewhere!”

  I muttered as I rummaged around. “Ah found you!” I pulled the packet of anti-inflammatory tablets out and scanned the back then popped two out and undid the top of the bottle, placing the tablets into my mouth I chugged down a good quarter of the bottle before pulling a face. “Well, they taste vile!” I'd developed a habit of talking to myself at home because when I'd first moved in I never really spoke and after a while you forget what it's like to speak outside of your own head.

  I walked through to the lounge and collapsed down onto the large leather sofa and swung my legs up so I was laying on it looking out of the window. London at night from my windows was beautiful. I pulled my phone from my pocket and unlocked it turning on the camera and took a photo. I was going for the artsy effect. You could just make out my feet with the view of the city behind them. I posted it on my favourite photo sharing app Instagram with the caption.

  My view beats your view!

  I quite liked seeing what the kids sent me in return. They'd say there's was better and I'd get to see some cool places. Mostly Sean's fans left me alone. Some of the older ones even sympathized with me. Plus, it showed my so called friends back in LA I wasn't falling apart over here.

  I grinned as I closed my eyes. I felt so tired. My eyelids were heavy now. I'd get up in a moment and go to bed. Any moment now.

  I groaned as I heard my phone go off next to me.

  “Does nobody ever check to see what time it is when they call me?!” I groaned, half asleep.

  I felt around for the bedside table and opened my eyes in a hurry when I didn't feel it where it should be. I sat bolt right up confused and a little disorientated. I arched my head back. I'd fallen asleep on the sofa.

  “Ah, my neck...” I rubbed my neck with my hand, trying to work the kink out. I looked out of the window, London was still buzzing it always was! This place never slept! I dragged myself from the sofa and made my way through to my bedroom, I shoved open the door, but didn't bother to put the light on. I stripped off and pulled on an oversized shirt and fell into bed, pulling my duvet up around me as I stretched my legs out. The coolness of the cotton sheets made me feel relaxed. I'd look at my phone later it could wait. My hand hurt like hell and I hoped by the next day it would be better and I'd not have to go and get it fixed because I had a massive issue with having to go and ask for help. Thanks to Cameron he'd fixed the main issue. My mind drifted back to him. How he'd been with me compared to how he'd been with his sister. It was strange. Then when I'd gone back to get my ring, what had he been planning?! Who was he wanting know all that Intel on?! Was it me?! It had to be but why?! I was intrigued by him, but I'd probably never see him again so I pushed it to the back of my mind and let sleep take me. At least this time I'd not wake up with a stiff neck.

  A week later and I had come around to fact I was clearly not going to see Cameron again, was I stupid to think he might actually have been talking about me last week when I went back to get my ring?! I sighed. Of course it was stupid, he was so far out of my league. I had however had a few random conversations with his Georgia on Twitter she’d followed me on there and had taken to talking to me almost daily, I had started by replying to all her tweets but then figured maybe it was a bit weird so I had cut the amount of reply’s down.

  I hadn’t been out much either other than to the Doctors, my hand was fine now, thankfully.

  The doorbells rang as I was just deciding I should get out of bed.

  “Go away!”

  I moaned petulantly as my doorbell rang. Nobody ever rang my door bell because all my mail was in a box down at the front desk, even deliveries went down there! Which in some ways was a pain in the ass, but in other ways was good.

  I rolled my eyes as it went off again. The chime went right through my head, making it thump.

  “Okay already! There had better be a fire!” I laughed as I hauled myself out of bed and made my way through the apartment. I didn't give much thought to what I was wearing. I was covered that's all that mattered.

  The light from the lounge made my eyes hurt as I walked to the large wooden door. I flipped the spy-hole cover up and saw Damon holding what looked the biggest bunch of flowers I'd ever seen. I liked Damon, we'd become fast friends when I'd moved in. He was one of the concierge staff! The building kinda came with them! It was all in what you paid for!

  I opened the door and stood back. “Damon they can't be for me! You shouldn't have!” I giggled. He had asked me out a few times and I'd said maybe, but he never gave up.

  Wow, he's really ramping it up.

  He gave an awkward cough. “Well, I didn't as it happens these were delivered just now! I figured I'd bring them up!”

  Oh well, that's embarrassing.

  “Oh, wow.” I didn't know what else to say. I was just staring at the roses.

  “So you gonna take'em or what!” He laughed and thrust them at me.

  I took them with both hands. “Sure sorry!” I smiled at him. He was cute, he had the most amazing blue eyes with black hair that just touched his collar.

  He quirked his eye brow up me. “So about that drink! We still doing that?!”

  I laughed. “You don't give up do you?!”

  He smiled a brilliant smile. “Nope! But seriously, we can go as friends! I just wanna show you some cool places!”

  I grinned. What was the harm?! “Okay! We will go! This week! When are you free?!”

  It was probably against the rules to be friends with him, but the rules were there to be broken.

  He smiled at me. “Seriously?! Oh well Friday evening is good for me! My mate’s band is playing at a pub in Camden! You'll love it! They are punk rock and it'd mean a lot to them and to me if you came to see their set, I can pick you up at like 7pm?!” He looked excited.

  “Well, I'll be here and ready to go!” It was nice to have a friend.

  “Awesome! I'll see you then! I'd better get back down!” He smiled as he walked back to the lift.

  I closed the door and walked into the kitchen clutching my roses.

  “Who the heck sent these?!” They looked expensive. I didn't count them, but there were at least 30.

  My heart beat a little faster as I pulled the card from inside the ribbon that had been tied on the box at the bottom. I opened the envelope and pulled out the card. It had neat scripted handwriting on it.

  Where do people learn to write that way?!

  I wondered as I spe
ed read it to work out who they were from. My heart skipped a beat as I read it again, this time out loud to let it sink in.

  “Dearest Evangeline, a token of my appreciation for helping my sister! I hope your hand is better now and I look forward to meeting your acquaintance in the near future! Cameron Ballard.”

  I grinned from ear to ear as I hugged myself and did a happy dance.

  It was to the point, but at the same time he must have cared to send me roses. I loved roses a lot. He'd made a good guess on that. Sending roses was an interesting choice though, but they really were beautiful. I didn’t care if it had taken him a week, he was probably very busy.

  I rummaged around under the kitchen unit and pulled out some vases I'd brought when I moved here. They were from the 60s and made from brightly coloured glass. All random shapes. I made myself busy undoing the packet and took the roses out and split them into the various vases. I was on cloud 9. It was stupid, but just those small words made me happier than I had been for ages! I danced around the apartment as I put the vases out. I pulled one of the roses out of the vase in my bedroom and grabbed my phone from my bedside table and unlocked it pressing the camera button and took a selfie with it. I didn't care that my hair looked like I'd just fallen out of bed. I smiled as I checked the photo as I posted it.

  Another like 30 of these came just now! I adore roses. #Love #roses #SoPretty #JustWokeUp

  I didn't say who they were from it was none of anyone's business.

  I wondered if Cameron would see it, I wondered if he even used social media I'd have to check later on. I placed the rose between two large books, I intended to press it and keep it.

  I wasn't sure what getting the roses meant because I had been convinced I would never see him again, yet he'd sent me roses and not just your normal size bunch either! This was more than Sean ever gave me in our whole relationship. Thinking of him reminded me to check my texts, so I sat myself down on the edge of the bed and scrolled to my texts. There was a few on there some reminders that I'd got business stuff to reply to, they could wait. They didn't own me. One was from my Dad asking how I was. I'd ring him later. The last one was from Sean.