“I’m posting it up to Twitter now, is that ok with your parents you think?” Halo asked.
“Yes! They told me not to bother you with a picture, since you suggested it should be fine!”
Halo uploaded the picture with a tweet introducing her new friend, Clarissa in Australia, “There you go!” She showed her the tweet on her phone.
“Oh my God! Thank you Halo, thank you! You are the best!” Clarissa gushed.
“Thank you too!” Halo reached over, gave the girl a gentle hug and got the same back.
Clarissa got up as if she was walking on air and with a wave to JJ, she padded off to her smiling parents at the end of the long line of lounge chairs.
“Good job at hiding that bruise on your hand.” JJ whispered and saw Halo give her a wry look of acknowledgement.
“Is there any news?” Halo asked as she gingerly settled back onto the lounge chair.
“A lot… you ready?” JJ said quietly as she decided to pass on speaking about her concerns. “Mr. Stoner is charged with our equivalent of four counts of attempted sexual assault, four counts of battery, two counts of assault, lewd behavior and indecent exposure. They threw everything at him they could think of—“
“Holy hell! He really is screwed! Figuratively and eventually literally too!” Halo let out an evil little chuckle with a smile, “So, how did you find out?” Halo asked.
“Thomas emailed me a little while ago!” JJ replied, “There’s more. If convicted on all counts he is facing 12 to 22 years in that crappy prison. More than likely, he will plead out and get four to six years. The judge refused to grant bail, word is the governor stepped in. Speaking of Governor Uteli, I sent your regrets for tonight’s get together, he replied with hope you are getting the care you need and he would still like to introduce you to his wife, your schedule permitting. And his office will assist you with whatever you need.”
“Oh hell, I forgot all about that! Thank you for covering me.”
“Just doing my job! Ok, Deacon is itching to start filming something. Joel texted me that a storm is brewing around Vanuatu and that it may threaten filming in Pago at the end of the week. He really wants to get moving and asks if we can all leave Sunday after Xander lands.”
Halo sighed, “Fine. I guess I will be meeting Mystery man on the plane… hey before you leave here would you please send Thomas and Joseph a bonus, from me—personally? Send it snail mail so it will get there after we leave.”
JJ pulled out her iPad and made a note, “I’ll do that today.”
“By the way, is Joel helping Stoner out legally?”
“Uh, I don’t think so. Thomas said he has a court appointed attorney. So want me to schedule Thomas and Joseph or only have one of them at a time?”
“Oh keep them both, we won’t need them but I’m sure they can use the work.” Halo saw JJ nod and make a notation.
The waiter made himself known with a tray of wonderful smelling food and placed it gently over Halo’s lap, “Anything else Miss?”
“Everything looks wonderful, thank you!” Halo gave the waiter a smile and quickly unwrapped her silverware from the red cloth napkin and began in on her lunch.
“Hey, there are some boutiques shops close by, wanna do some shopping after lunch? I’d like to find a dress for tonight.” JJ asked.
Halo nodded with her mouth full, swallowed and dabbed at her lips with her napkin, “Hell yes!” She laughed thinking the distraction with shopping should help. She returned her attention to her meal with a gusto.
When lunch was done and her plates were cleared, Halo signed for their meals and left a nice tip for the starry-eyed waiter. They gathered their belonging and headed for the elevator. Passing Clarissa and her parents she waved to them and received a round of smiles and thank you’s from them all.
They spent the rest of the afternoon shopping in the myriad number of boutique shops surrounding the hotel. JJ picked up a sexy above the knee, black cocktail dress and new pumps for her rendezvous with Doug tonight. Halo found a slinky red dress that she had no reason to buy except for JJ saying it looked fabulous on her. She bought a pair of red Ferragamo five inch peep toe pumps to go with the dress, more so to make JJ feel good about shopping. The last stop was at a hat shop where Halo really went crazy buying three sunhats to add to her collection. Then it was back to the hotel and help JJ get ready.
At the hotel, JJ went and showered while Halo secretly ordered the hotels champagne package to be delivered to JJ’s room when they were out to dinner.
JJ came walking into Halo’s room with a towel around her body and another around her hair, “Ready for the heavy construction to begin?” JJ laughed.
“What? Come on, JJ don’t joke like that!” Halo motioned her friend over to the bathroom where Halo had laid out all their makeup, “You know there is a salon next door, want me to call them and see if they can send someone up?”
“No way, we will be back filming in the sand and dirt soon. It would be a waste.”
“You sure?” Halo asked with an arched blonde eyebrow.
“Yes, I’m sure. Besides, you are good at this. You know what is weird… I’m kinda getting nervous!” JJ giggled.
“Your call!” Halo said and patted the seat for JJ to sit down on the chair, with her back to the bathroom mirror Halo pulled out the hair dryer and switched it on.
“Now you can look!” Halo smiled. JJ stood up and faced the mirror.
“Oh, wow! You did an awesome job!”
“Girl, you look so sexy! Doug is going to take one look at you and skip right to dessert!” Halo covered her mouth and laughed.
JJ laughed along with Halo and retorted, “Hopefully we can get in a few desserts!”
“Oh you naughty girl!” Halo grabbed JJ’s hand and squeezed it, “I do hope you get all your just desserts, JJ. Just try and not break anything in there tonight!”
JJ laughed and looked in the mirror, did a pirouette, liking how Halo had done her shoulder length hair in an up do with her eyes done in dark sultry colors, “Wow, I love how you did my eyes…”
“I’m glad it worked! So, I will make sure my TV is on and my headphones too. You two have fun!”
“Hey now, we aren’t that loud… I thought you were kidding earlier?”
“Like two cats in heat!” Halo giggled and made a caterwaul sound at her friend.
“No… really? Oh shit.” JJ said and watched as Halo nodded slowly at her, “I’ll try and keep it down.”
“The hell you will! You had better go for it with a gusto! Sadie’s back in Pago has awfully thin walls!” Halo joked and watched her friends cheeks turn pink, “I’m sorry JJ, I couldn’t resist! You know I love you! I know you are going to have a great time.”
JJ reached over and gently hugged her friend, “Halo, you really are the best. I wish we could find a good guy for you too.”
Halo looked at their reflection in the mirror with JJ hugging her, “I think the good ones are already taken…” She sighed.
A knock came at Halo’s door and JJ let Halo go, “Do I look ok? No nose boogies or anything hanging out?” JJ asked in a quiet hush.
“You look hot! I’ll let Doug in, go get your things and make your entrance!” Halo suggested and JJ quickly headed off back to her room.
Halo limped to the door and opened it to a smiling Doug. He stood at Halo’s door with a bunch of red roses in his hand, his boyishly attractive face happy and smiling. His shoulder length blonde wavy hair was parted at the side and brushed back; his blue eyes sparkled as he greeted Halo, “Well hello boss!” He said happily, as Halo stepped back to let him in.
“Hello Doug! Woo! I like the suit. There is something about a man in a dark suit and a white dress shirt! You look great!” Halo said as Doug stepped in, “JJ will be right out.”
Doug came in and stood by the table as Halo shut the door behind them. He turned to her with a concerned look and in a quiet voice spoke to her, “Thank you for everything, Halo. Uh, we are all wor
ried about you. No one wants to bother you, but I gotta ask… are you ok?”
Halo patted Doug’s arm, “I’m fine, sore as hell, but fine Doug. Thanks for asking and you are welcome.”
Doug took a long look at her face deciding she was on the level, “Ok. Well, if you need anything you just let me know.” He leaned close to Halo and whispered, “I am so nervous…”
Halo smiled and leaned in with a whisper, “Just remember to breathe.” She brushed off some lint from his jacket and straightened his shirt collar, “You’ll be fine, Doug.” She patted his shoulder and stepped away with a smile. She gestured to the connecting door, “Here is your sexy lady now!” Halo watched Doug’s nervous expression fall away to one of love then to surprise as JJ sauntered over.
“Oh wow. JJ you, you look so sexy… and gorgeous!” Doug stammered and held out the bouquet of roses to his love.
“Oh Doug! Thank you!” JJ said accepting the flowers, “Talk about sexy! Boy, look at you all dressed up! I like the look!” JJ said as she eyed her man up and down then came up and kissed him gently on his lips.
Doug turn red-faced, “Well someone called and said I should get dressed up.” He glanced at Halo, who looked off at the ceiling playing it coy.
Halo glanced at them watching her and laughed, “Ok you two, go have some fun!” Halo gave them both a gentle push towards the door.
Doug opened the door and JJ turned to Halo, “Thanks, girlfriend. See you in the morning!”
“Go! While the night is still young!” Halo said smiling as they both waved to her from the hallway. Halo watched as Doug put his arm around JJ and pulled her close to him as they waited for the elevator. She softly closed the door and locked it.
Going over to the bed she stripped off her dress and got into a pair of black yoga shorts and matching top. She picked up her phone and settled onto the big king bed. Checking her emails, she saw there was one from Chuck’s parents telling her how well he was doing at the hospital. She quickly took a selfie with her smiling big and emailed it to Chuck with her love and encouragements.
Scanning through the end of her thousands of pictures she came across her picture taken with Robbie Montclaire and remembered that she forgot to send it to her parents. The thought of her mother sent a warmth through her. She knew she needed to call her and let her know what happened. She checked the time and saw that it would be around midnight, yesterday in LA. She sighed and felt a pit forming in her tummy; she did not want to wake her mother but really wanted to talk to her about what happened. With a sigh, she decided that she would explain everything in an email and call her from Pago Pago.
After she sent off her mother’s email, she wrote an abridged version and sent it off to Paul Nader, her manager. Paul was a PR wizard and could spin gossip and insinuations like no other, he would probably have the world believing she was a martial arts master and had been holding women’s self-defense classes forever.
Halo plugged her phone into its charger and reached for her meds. She downed two ibuprofen and her muscle relaxer. Using her remote, she found a movie she had not seen and ordered it. She propped her pillows up against the tall black leather headboard and settled in to watch the animated film, ‘Epic’.
Half way through the film, she had settled into bed with a leg over one pillow and cuddled up to the other. With half closed, heavy eyes, she managed to make it to the end. When the credits began rolling, she was already fast asleep.
Halo sensed a man was moving close to her, she could feel his presence near her but she could not make out his face due to the darkness. He seemed eerily familiar, but did not know who he was. In a jolt of panic, she wondered if he was there to hurt her. She desperately tried to look around and realized she was not at home. With her panic growing, she began flailing around in the dusky atmosphere trying desperately to see. A feeling of dread grabbed hold of her as she fought to see. She tried to scream but she it felt like her lungs had lost all the air with which to scream with. Fear gripped her mind and she had no idea where she was or why it was getting darker. She gasped hard for air but her lungs failed to fill, she tried to reach up to her throat to quell the fire burning there, but her hands felt lifeless.
Full panic set in as she realized she was dying. Her heart was hammering so hard she could hear the rush of blood in her ears. Suddenly she made out hands coming towards her, they were not JJ’s… they were a man’s hands. Unable to move or scream she knew this was the end. Terrified, she screamed at herself to push the looming hands away, but her arms would not obey and she remained paralyzed.
With a suddenness she could breathe again, she took in huge gulps of air and someone was pushing away whatever was blocking her view, and then she saw… a pair of deep green eyes smiling at her. She felt them look past her defenses and down into her heart and soul. Shocked, she looked to see who it was and saw soft full lips smiling at her. Time skidded to a stop and began moving so slow that it seemed like hours passed as she looked up into those eyes then a surreal feeling overcame her. It started in her tummy and spread to her heart then throughout her entire body, it was a warmth and a calm she could not even begin to describe with words… she had never felt anything like it, or had she?
A huge crash sounded out and startled her, the familiar eyes were wrenched away and she followed them with her own and watched in horror as they began falling into an inky blackness that stunk of fear and dread. She panicked as the green eyes looked so sadly back at her; red tears began streaming from them as they slowly began fading away from her in the consuming darkness. She knew what she had to do, with a scream she jumped into the abyss after him. She began falling faster, and faster. She saw his hand and she reached for it then suddenly he snatched it away from her and disappeared forever…
Halo sat up with a scream on her lips as she gasped in huge gulps of air and clutched at her hammering heart. “Oh my God!” She hoarsely groaned, “It was just a dream, oh fuck!’ She panted, willing her heart to beat normally in her chest. She reached for her bottle of water and took huge sips through her breathless panting. She looked around the room and realized it was still dark, she checked her phone and saw it was 3:14 AM.
She swung her feet off the bed and onto the floor and got a jolt of pain from her injured foot. She ignored it and continued to the bathroom. After she was done, she sat on the toilet playing the dream repeatedly in her mind. She knew to whom those green eyes belonged to: her Mystery man. She finally got up and went to the sink to wash her hands, she looked at her pale visage in the mirror, “Where the hell do I know you from?” She looked deep into her own blue eyes in the mirror, but the answer was not forth coming.
She rinsed off her face and as she was patting herself dry, a stab of panic hit her, “Oh hell!” She ran over to her phone, and sat down hard on the bed, jarring her back. It reminded her of its injury with a dagger of pain. She winced and did her best to ignore it and called up her browser and searched for local news, desperately hoping her actor was ok. She quickly read the trending news and found no accounts of a missing plane. She sighed a breath of relief and set her phone down, her panic dissipating. If something happened to the guy, it would be her fault she decided and checked the news once again to make sure.
Satisfied after browsing numerous news outlets she set her phone down and leaned back onto the soft headboard thinking about her dream. It was certainly intense, and one she would talk to her mother about for sure. She made a mental note to do so when she got to Pago. The thought of hearing her mother’s soothing all-knowing voice brought some peace to her heart. Why would she dream of Xander Kostinos? With a shake of her head, she grabbed the TV remote from the nightstand then a thought formed: It must be the meds and the stress of yesterday making its appearance.
She nodded to herself, for the meds being the reason and ordered up another movie knowing sleep was not going to be happening.
“Hey sleepyhead, wakey, wakey!” Halo slowly opened one eye and saw her friend smiling at her, she looke
d around and saw the sun streaming in through the gauzy window shears.
“Go away. You are too happy this morning, I didn’t get much sleep.” Halo slowly sat up and covering her mouth as she yawned.
“Oh no! Did we make too much noise? For real?” JJ asked concerned.
“Holy hell! I thought the Aussie Olympic gymnastics team was holding tryouts in there, damn! What the hell were you doing in there last night?” Halo deadpanned.
“Oh my God, I am so sorry…” JJ covered her mouth with both hands.
“You know when it got bad? It was when I heard the ongoing commentary and the cheering crowds calling out for scores of ten!” Halo could not hold it in and started laughing but continued, “When the peanut selling guy started hawking his nuts, that’s when I gave up!” JJ grabbed a pillow and smacked Halo in the face. Halo kept laughing, “I tried to order his nuts but you guys were too damn loud, he couldn’t hear me over the moaning! I kept yelling: I want your nuts!”
JJ smiled and chuckled, “I think it’s you who is nuts, girl!” JJ sat down next to Halo as she wiped tears from her eyes.
“Well, did you have fun last night?” Halo asked with a wry smile.
“We did and thank you for the champagne and food; it um… came in handy.” JJ blushed a bit then held up her left hand so Halo could see.
Halo’s smile widened as she saw the small sparkling diamond engagement ring on JJ’s ring finger. She wrapped her arms around JJ and hugged her tightly, “Congratulations! I’m so happy for you both!” Halo squealed as tears of joy began forming in her eyes.
JJ hugged her back and laughed, “You knew didn’t you?”
Halo pulled back and wiped her tears, “Well… Doug mentioned it was going to be a special night when I spoke with him… I just offered some advice.”
JJ held Halo’s hand with a smile and tears in her eyes, “And bought him his suit… he thanks you as do I for everything!”
“I love you guys! It’s the least I can do…” They both hugged again.
Forever and a Day Page 23