Chapter 21 - Michelle
I was lost in my thoughts, tuning out the music that was doing its best to give me a headache. The song was "Fucking Annoying" by DJ Squeelo and his merry gang of idiots. But during a respite in the music, probably so DJ Squeelo could snort a kilo, thoughts about where I was heading with Brent came to mind.
Could I have ended up like Emily, I wondered. If I had stayed with Small. If I lost myself in this lifestyle of the rich and famous. Who knows if I would ever find my way out again, to the real me. I knew Brent, as rich as he was now, wouldn't fit in this fake place. I found myself unwittingly thinking of him and realized how alone I was in this entire club packed wall to wall with people just wanting to be noticed by someone more famous than them.
I was bumping past people when suddenly someone grabbed my arm. I tried to take a few steps forward, thinking it was just a drunk person reaching out for balance, but the hand was firm.
"Excuse me," I said.
"No," the other voice said.
I turned around to see who was holding me and some drunk bro.
"You're looking real nice, girl," he said, still holding on to me.
"Let me go," I said.
The bro didn't let go, but he did loosen his grip.
"So what are you doing out here?" he asked.
The club goers continued to shuffle around us.
"None of your business," I replied.
"Feisty," he said. "I like it. I can see why guys have been eyeing you up, here. Especially those juicy tits you got there."
"Fuck off," I said, trying to whip my arm loose from him.
"You know," he said, "I'm glad I ran into you."
"Can't say I feel the same," I said, with a look of disgust.
"I can make some big plans for you," he said, raising his eyebrows, "if you help me out."
"I literally cannot think of something more repulsive than that," I said, frowning.
The bro looked at me with daggers in his eyes. I knew I touched a nerve.
He pulled my arm one the one hand and drew his other around my back. I was sickeningly close to him. He smelled completely like alcohol and my nose wriggled at the odor.
"I got a plan," he said, his breath forcing my face to turn away.
"Stuff your plan," I said.
I pushed back from him and got back some distance.
The bro belched and I could smell the alcohol from his rotten breath. He was as drunk as one can be and I almost felt sorry for him, were he not a disgusting pig.
The music suddenly silenced in my ears and I couldn't hear anything.
The bro jerked me towards him again.
"So what do you say, huh?" he said, wiping his mouth with his shirt. "Ready to be a rich bitch? It'll be easy. You just bounce those tits in front of me and I'll be yours."
I furrowed my brows in disgust and pushed the bro away, this time with two hands.
He took a step menacingly towards me and reached his grubby hand out again to grab me.
"Come here," he said, with venom.
I pushed him away but he started towards me and my heart raced. I called out for help but it was drowned out by the climaxing dance music. I saw his hand right before me and I closed my eyes.
And then there was a thwack, and another thwack, and then the sound bone smashing bone. I heard the bro groan and I opened my eyes.
Standing before me was Brent, and his fist was drawn back like the hammer in a gun, ready to unload another punch. The bro was toppled on the ground and rubbing his forehead.
"Don't you ever touch her again," Brent boomed, his voice cutting through the wall of sound.
The bro just groaned and shook his head back and forth.
"Fuck you," he said, unable to focus his eyes on Brent from the dizziness.
Brent moved to deliver another terrible blow to the bro but I pulled on Brent's arm to restrain him.
"No, Brent," I said. "It isn't worth it."
I could feel Brent's arm flexing, almost lifting me up from the ground with its power.
The bro got up slowly, wavering on the way up like a slinky, and gave a dirty look to Brent and me. He turned around and clutched his temple and disappeared into the crowd.
"Are you OK?" Brent asked me, his eyes still scanning the crowd for any dangers.
"Yes," I said.
"Let's get out of here," Brent said, grabbing my hand. He led me out of the club and while I was still mad at Brent, I was glad to be out of this place.
***
We were in the limo as it drove down the street and out of the club district. But the throbbing music of The Boulevard was replaced by a deafening silence between Brent and I. My arms were crossed and I was turned away from him, and we stayed like that for minutes.
"You could have been hurt there," Brent said.
I didn't say anything.
"That place isn't safe," he continued. "Something could have happened to you."
"What do you care?" I shot back. "I was just in your way before, because of your precious business meetings. Sorry I'm not some big shot executive who isn't worth your time."
"It's not like that, Michelle," Brent said.
"It isn't?" I said, with annoyance.
"I care what happens to you," he said.
"Only if it's not too inconvenient and fits your schedule, right? Gotta fit the busy schedule of Mr. CEO."
"No, Michelle," Brent said, and he reached his hand towards me. But I pushed it away.
"What were you doing in that club?" Brent asked.
"What does it matter?" I said. "It's not like I'm wasting your time if I'm there. You should be happy."
"I'm not happy worrying about you," Brent said, raising his voice. "It doesn't make me happy wondering if you're OK or if something's happening to you."
I turned away from him even more.
"I'm not some kid," I said, under my breath. "You don't control me like that."
We sat separately again as the limo continued to drive. I could feel the intense silence between us as my heart never let up, and I could hear Brent breathing in frustration. Well, be frustrated, because I was pretty damn frustrated myself, I thought.
"Leonard," Brent suddenly exclaimed, "stop the car."
The car stopped and I was stunned at Brent's behavior. What had made him act in such a way.
He got out of the limo and slammed his door shut. I heard his footsteps go around the limo and I saw him just outside my passenger side window. He swung the door open and pulled me out.
"Hey," I said, "what's the matter with you?"
Brent didn't say anything as he made sure I was safely out of the door's range before he closed it. He took my hide and walked me down the steps to the beach we had stopped in front of. Nobody was around because it was the night time, so the beach looked clear under the moon and beside the murmuring ocean.
We were standing on the beach side by side, not saying a word to each other. Finally Brent broke the silence.
"Michelle, I was really worried about you back there," he said, turning his body towards me.
"You didn't need to," I said quickly.
"No, I did. Because this time, I worried about losing you, for real. In the forest, that was tough, I'm not going to lie. And when we were younger, it hurt me like hell to leave. That was my mistake. But I didn't want to screw this up again. I didn't anything at all to happen to you. Because if something did, I don't know what I'd do. It'd kill me. It'd seriously kill me. And I realized how bad I fucked up in treating you like that, when I said I had those business meetings. That's not me. It was me these past years, but that's because you weren't here. The moment you arrived, that fake me had died. I remembered how I used to be when I saw you. That's what I want. I want you. I'm sorry I treated you like that. Not just the other day, but when we were younger, too. I didn't know a damn thing then. I want to make it work with you, Michelle. More than anything."
I swallowed hard.
I felt the tears starting to burst out of my eyes, slowly at first, and then into a full sob as my heart felt as if it were on fire and my stomach was upside. As the tide went in and out I felt the tears flow and flow as I turned and ran to Brent and wrapped my arms around him.
I held him as tightly as I could and he accepted me completely in his embrace. I pressed my face against his chest and felt my tears wet my face as he caressed me.
"Brent," I said, barely able to speak.
"Shh," Brent said, running his hands over my hair. "Shh, Michelle. You don't have to say anything. It's OK."
We stood there, holding each other as the tide gently went over the sand and back into the depths. I felt Brent's finger softly lift up my chin and we were looking up at the night sky together.
"We may not have been able to really enjoy the sunrise," Brent said.
"That's an understatement," I said, smiling.
"And not the sunset either," he continued, "but at least tonight we have the moon."
Brent kissed me softly and our lips moved in unison, slowly, delicately, savoring the moment. We were far away from the maddening crowd, and finally alone with ourselves, and it was all the company we ever needed.
We stood there together, enjoying the beauty of nature and of the moment, until I felt a yawn. I rubbed Brent's chest and gave it a kiss.
"Let's get you home," he said, rubbing my cheek. "It's been a long day."
He bent down to kiss me again and then led me back up the stairs by the hand to the limo.
***
I found myself being woken Brent rubbing my shoulder.
"We're here, Michelle," he said.
I rubbed my eyes. I could barely stay awake. I was having such a pleasant rest lying on Brent's lap.
"Do we have to go?" I said, sensing that I was about to fall asleep again.
"Well," he said, "we can't sleep in the limo all night."
"We can't?" I said, covering my mouth again as I yawned.
Brent lightly smacked my bum.
"Do I need to carry you?" he said, rubbing my lower back.
"Hmmmm, maybe," I said.
Brent rubbed my forehead and as I opened my eyes I saw his charming smile. He really could have been a model. Well he was - my model.
Brent got out of the limo and lowered his hand so he could help me out. Once on my feet, though, he immediately swooped his hands under my knees and my back and lifted me up effortlessly. It was so comfortable being held and protected like this, as I was gently rocked me while carrying me into the hotel.
We were passing the bar and I felt someone tap my hand.
"Ah, so you found your boyfriend you were telling me about," the voice said.
I opened my eyes and saw it was the elderly businessman who had spoken to me before Brent had taken me up on the plane.
"Yes," I said, smiling. "He found me."
Brent looked at the man and then down at me.
"It took some effort, but I got her," Brent said.
"Well," said the man, "good on you, son. She's definitely a keeper."
"That she is," Brent said, "That she is."
"Well, goodnight," I said, as Brent carried me away. The man waved at me and I waved back. I feel myself drifting off to sleep again in Brent's arms. The images of the day started appearing through my hazy imagination but they kept returning to Brent. It was all made better by him. He didn't even have to take me to my bed, I felt. It was so perfect right here and right now with him.