Eighteen

John had asked her to tell him his name, he wanted to know what he looked like, where he lived. But she wouldn't tell him, she didn't want her problem to bother his work. It wasn't fair for him. Little did she know, it was weighing on his mind either way.

Lucas was constantly on the phone, he hired a private investigator to track down Patrick Evans. Sandy being with John was the nail to the coffin for him, but nothing had changed. No matter how bad he wanted it to change. He spent that night drowned in booze, alone in his luxurious villa, drank the night away. He woke up on his bathroom floor, numbed by his broken heart.

He tried to go out and be with friends. All he could think about was how John Brady took his heart by the hand and went away with it. He had lost his smile, he kept going back to the bottles. Every woman he saw, he wanted her to be Sandy. It's true what she said, he could be with many other women if he chose to. So he did, he took her home, and another, and another.

They warmed his bed, but none of them was Sandy. It shamed him, he was using all these women to forget someone that his heart refuse to give up on. All the while, he couldn't stop his head from imagining what John Brady was doing with her body, touching her, kissing her, God forbid, making love to her.

**********

She went to her mother's house the next day. She wanted to be with Kevin. She stayed there for two days. She told her mom what happened as subtle as she could so she wouldn't worry. But it was unavoidable, she worry.

She told her about John, it worry her too. Sandy was not a little girl anymore, she can take care of herself. But Kevin ... he needed his mom to be safe, he needed to be safe.

"Maybe it's best I go to my sister's house for awhile ... I can't go about my day knowing that bastard is out there," her mom said.

They discussed it for awhile and agreed that it might be the safest option for the time being. Sandy helped them pack and took them to the airport. Her aunt lives in Bluebridge, a quiet small town far away from Bhorma. Kevin was reluctant to leave, he wanted to be with his mom all the time. The reason why she didn't let him live with her at the cottage was the same reason why he had to leave for awhile.

"I'll let you know if there's any news," she told her mom.

They hugged for a long time. "Be safe ... call the police if you have to, please, honey," she stroked her daughter's hair.

"It's gonna be okay, mom, I promise."

She held Kevin as long as she could. His cry shook the ground beneath her feet, but she had to stay strong for him too. She held her tears until they boarded the plane, she broke down in her car. She couldn't believe after all those years, she still haven't woken up from the nightmare.

**********

John had finished wrapping up at the set, it was the crew's night out before they move to another location. They were all going to a bar to loosen up. John asked her to come along, it was the first time they would go together as a couple.

They arrived at the bar at around eleven. The crew were already there. She dressed up a little bit, even though it was a casual bar. She wanted to look nicer in John's social gathering.

He held her hand from the moment they stepped out of the car. A lot of people were there, they were all cheering for him. Suddenly it hit her, she was with a very big celebrity that people knew and admire.

His fans were constantly asking for pictures and autographs, he was always polite and welcoming. He held her hand tight, and they started to ask questions, "Are you his girlfriend?" "Who are you with, John?" and she shied away from the crowd and the flashlights. It couldn't be more uncomfortable for her.

The film crew wasn't much of a help, they were as surprised as the public was. John had never had a girlfriend during a shoot, they were all smiling at her like they had a lot to say. She was still figuring out how they feel for each other and people have already making assumptions about them.

"John ... I think I need to go to the bathroom ... I'll meet you inside," she whispered to him, he was still caught up by his fans. The bodyguards made way for her, then continued to guard him from the mob.

She took a deep breath after freshening up in the bathroom, and walked out of the door. She didn't know what to expect when she agreed to dive into his world. Just when she thought the night couldn't get any more awkward, she saw Lucas canoodling with a mystery woman by the dance floor.

She took a stool by the bar, ordered her first drink, hoping to stay invisible for the night and enjoy her drinks. In less than ten minutes, Lucas wobbled down her way. He looked like he'd been drinking the entire day.

"I thought I'd imagined you into life," he took a stool next to her.

"Hey, Lucas, enjoying your night?" she was referring to the woman he left on the dance floor.

He turned to look at the woman and waved at her, she didn't take it nicely.

"You don't look so good," she commented.

"No ... not as good as John Brady, I suppose," he was bitter. "Is he here?"

"He's outside."

He looked annoyed and drank his whiskey, "I've been trying to drown that image for days ... I think I've killed you in my mind every night with women after women ... after women ... just to find out that no matter how many times you tell me that you don't want to be with me ... it doesn't change the fact that I still want to be with you ... how fucked up is that?" he finished his glass and asked for a refill.

"You're drunk, Lucas," Sandy told him nicely.

"And then!!" he laughed sarcastically, pointed his index finger up, "I found out about John Brady!! John Fucking Brady!!" he looked her deep in the eyes, his eyes darkened. "Really?" he shook his head and clenched his jaw.

"I don't know what to say ... it wasn't intentional."

His stare could cut through her soul, anything that came out of her mouth just made it harder for him to control whatever he was feeling inside. He touched her face gently, "He's going to break your heart, Sandy ... you know that, right?"

Sandy pushed his hand away, "You're drunk, you need to go home," she was annoyed by his comment.

"Go home to what? So I can fuck girls and pretend that they're you?" he chugged on his whiskey.

"You've had enough of those, you'll be saying things you'll regret later."

John walked in on them, he saw the intense conversation as he was entering the bar. "Lucas? Good to see you here, man," he greeted with a smile.

"John! How is it going?" They shook and bumped shoulders. But Lucas immediately excuse himself and went across the room.

"What was he saying to you? It looked pretty serious," John asked as he placed an order.

"Nothing, he was just drunk," she said.

"Is he going to be okay?" John was genuinely concerned.

"Yeah, he'll be fine," she assured him, even though she wasn't sure about that either.

John kissed her on the lips, and took her to join him and his crew. All the while, Lucas was watching them from the corners of the room.