Jemma

The evening air hits me as I leave the hotel. I want to get Wes a gift before we return home. I’ve already picked something out and if I hurry I can still get to the store before it closes at six.

I step lightly over a crack in the pavement. The interview aired last night to pretty much universal praise. Wes came across as much more believable than Vicky and Trent. How could he not? He’s so sincere and unassuming. I cross the street and find the shop I’m looking for. Cleo avoided any mention of the part of the interview where we walked out. I guess she’s hoping Infuse might agree to another interview one day if she keeps things professional.

The jacket is no longer hanging in the window. If everything has gone to plan, they’ve put it away for me. I push open the glass door and enter the cool interior of the store. The young attractive sales clerk smiles at me as I enter. I return his smile.

“Hi, I’m Jemma. I called earlier about the brown leather jacket you had in the window?”

“Ah, yes.” He reaches down under the counter and pulls out the jacket. My hands gently caress the soft supple leather. Wes will look amazing in it and I know he rarely spends any of his millions on himself.

“That will be $2,488. Cash or card?”

I’ve never spent this much on a piece of clothing before, but I want to get Wes something special. I take out my card and hand it to the clerk. He smiles as he processes my payment and hands me back my card. He slips the jacket into a bag.

“I’m sure your fiancée will love it.” He winks, “Wes is a lucky man.”

My mouth drops open. He knows who I am? “Uh…th..thanks,” I finally manage.

“Tell Wes and the band I’m right behind them.”

“Thank you, I will.”

“Best wishes for the wedding.”

I smile and hastily exit the store. I’m not used to this sort of attention, but I know it’s something I need to get used to. It will be worth it though. For Wes, there’s nothing that I wouldn’t go through to be with him. When you find the sort of love that will last a lifetime, you’ll do anything to protect it. I’m sure the press will bet bored with us pretty quickly anyway. We’re not exactly the party types that draw attention. I smile inwardly. Little do the public know how much fun we all have when the band gets together.

My shoe catches on a crack in the pavement and I stumble. My shopping bag falls to the ground. An arm steadies me.

“Thank–” My words of thanks die in my throat. That familiar slicked back hair, that greasy smile… Trent.

Trent steers me away from the busy street and down a small alleyway. “Jemma Jones, what a fortuitous meeting.”

I yank my arm, but Trent's grip is tight. He pulls me closer against his body. My stomach heaves as memories of the night he attacked me flood my mind. If I can break free I can probably make it back to the Hotel.

“Stop struggling darlin’, I just want to discuss a few things with you.”

“Well, I don’t. We have nothing to discuss.” I bite out the words. “Have you been following me?”

His sick smile tells me he has. “We have unfinished business.”

He pulls me past a large skip bin and pushes me roughly against the brick wall. There’s not much light down the alley and no doors or windows in sight. The perfect place to go unnoticed. He pins both my arms against the wall and I struggle against his iron grip.

“Stop struggling. I told you I just want to talk.”

I cease. I need him to relax his guard. “What do you want?” If he just loosens his hold for a moment, I can knee him in the crotch and make a run for the street.

“I saw your interview last night. If you think you can ruin my career and then just have your happily ever after with Wes, think again.” He spits out the word Wes and drops of spittle land on my face.

I turn my head away. “You ruined your own life when you attacked me.” I clench my teeth. I will not let this bully threaten me. “Or did you conveniently forget that part?”

“You wanted it. I saw the way you looked at me. You led me on with your smiles and glances.”

What the heck? “I never flirted with you at all. You’re delusional. You always made me uncomfortable. I tried to avoid being around you when I could.”

Trent leans in close, leering down at me. His hot breath sends a shiver of revulsion through me. “Liar! You groupies are all the same. Begging for it one minute and then going cold. You think Wes can satisfy you the way I can?”

“I love Wes. If I don’t get back to the hotel soon, you know he’ll come looking for me.”

“You think that little prick scares me?” He leers at me his top lip curled in a sneer. “I knew him when he was just a scared scrawny teenager looking for a break, and I helped him get it. If it wasn’t for me, he’d still be living in the gutter.”

This isn’t working. The more I rile him up, the harder he holds on to me. God, help me find the words I need. “Let’s just calm down and talk about this like adults. What is it you want from me?”

“I want my life back. You need to get Wes and Finn to line me up with another band.”

He’s totally delusional. Fear settles in my gut. How can I reason with Trent, when he’s insane? “Let me call Wes now. I’m sure we can make him see you deserve another chance. No one’s life has to be ruined here.”

“You think I’m stupid? If I let you call him, you’ll just make up stories again.”

“What do you want me to do then?” He still hasn’t loosened his grip for an instant. I’m going to have to try to kick him anyway. I bring my knee up between his legs. He grunts but his legs aren’t far enough apart for me to really hurt him.

His right had slaps my cheek. Hard. It throbs and tears sting my eyes.

“Help! Please, someone, he–” The words die in my throat as Trent holds up a shiny blade in front of my face.

“One more shout, and you won’t live to tell any tales.”

I gasp. I know he’s delusional, but I never thought he was capable of murder. His cold hard eyes show no compassion. Are they eyes of a killer? I freeze. He runs the blade of the knife softly against my cheek and down my neck.

A tear runs down my cheek and drops down onto my shirt.