Our New Neighbor
This is a story about Ellen and Portia meeting their new neighbor.
Having not long moved to the area themselves, only a few months, they embark on a terrible event that results in meeting them.
Will this unlikely friendship between the three/four of them continue?
It starts slowly with the usual mundane lives (mundane? Not to us surely!) of Ellen and Portia's work schedules, and horrible event, then they finally meet this new neighbor.
Words in "ITALICS" are thoughts, sounds, actions, narrative.
Words in "BOLD" are speaking, character narrative.
Words in *_* indicate a noise (or lack of)
Normal narrative of the story is in normal text
Hope you enjoy!
...
"Beep Beep"
*Sound of groaning*
...
"Beep Beep"
*More groaning*
...
"Beep Beep"
"Oh for fuck sake!"
...
"Beep Beep"
"Ellen!"
*nothing*
...
"Beep Beep"
"Ellen!"
*nothing*
...
"Beep Beep"
"ELLEN!"
...
"Hmmm?"
"Beep Beep"
...
"Ellen the alarm, turn it off!"
"Beep Beep"
...
"ELLEN!"
*Beep Beep*
...
"GOD! why the fuck did I put that blasted alarm on your side, when I know you are impossible to wake up?! ... ELLEN!"
A hand pokes out from under a crisp white pillow and lazily reaches over to hit the off button of the alarm that is making her wife turn into the spawn of Satan.
.
"Fuck sake Portia! It's only an alarm, you could have come and turned it off!"
"Yes but I haven't got to get up early today, so I wanted a lie in" Portia said, matter of factly
.
Ellen turned over and frowned at the woman who has been in her life for 9 years
.
"Well sor-ry for spoiling your beauty sleep" Ellen said, smiling, as she poked Portia on the nose.
"So you should be" Portia said as she batted Ellen's hand away.
.
It was days like these that they cherished together as they were both working hard and hardly spent any time together
.
"Well I'd better get up and get to the studio... " Ellen said as she attempted to get out of bed.
"Oh you've got ages until you have to be their baby. Stay in bed with me a little longer" replied Portia as her hand snaked over and grabbed Ellen's pajama top and pulled her back in.
.
Ellen slumped backwards on the bed and was embraced in tight arms around her torso as her wife made her intentions known that she wanted her to stay
.
"Honey I haven't got time for this, I need to get in the shower and find some clothes and get to work." Ellen said in between kisses
"I could always phone Mary and tell her your unwell" Portia said with a glint in her eye as she held onto her wife, not wanting her to leave
"Baby, we did that a couple of weeks ago, and spent the day in bed. We can't do that again" Ellen said as she kissed her wife once more before making an escape.
"Ooohhhhh Elleeeeen!" Portia said in a whiny tone, as the short blonde haired woman got up and walked away from where she once laid in her arms.
.
Ellen turned on the shower and then stood at the doorway of their en-suite, looking at her partner in bed.
.
"Why don't you come join me in the shower and then come in with me to watch the show. That way you can be with me all day and I can take you out to lunch"
.
The blonde woman contemplated this gesture, and then a beaming smile spread across her face as she leapt out of the white linen bed covers and darted towards the bathroom.
*Oooft!*
Portia threw her arms around Ellens neck
.
"I take that as a yes then" Ellen said, trying to steady herself as Portia pushed her backwards further into the bathroom
.
Ellen held out her hand and Portia took it and lead her into the shower. Their intimate moment reminded Ellen that today was going to be a good day. A very good day indeed!
The silver Porsche, with its top down, made its way down the highway, from Monetcito down to Los Angeles, stopping only shortly at the Sweet Lady Jane bakery, downtown, where Portia wanted to buy a cake for her mother, as it was her birthday in two days.
"Portia baby hurry up, we are late already!" Ellen said loudly out the window as Portia got out of the car and made her way around it towards the bakery.
.
Ellen was indeed 15 minutes late by now, as they took too long in the shower and now here they were making a stop at their favorite bakery
.
"I will explain to Mary ok? Just shush and I'll be out in a minute!" Portia said as she opened the bakery door and Ellen slumped in her seat and pulled out her shades from the glove compartment.
.
The convertible sports car had its top down and Ellen could feel the cool breeze cutting through the warm LA air as she waited
.
Ellen loved living in LA but had decided to move out to Monetcito a few months back to have some peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Portia loved their new home as she had more room for her beloved paintings and sculptures and their pool was absolutely divine. Ellen loved the vastness of the property but loved the fact they were secluded enough that no one even know who lived there.
.
Ellen sat there waiting for her wife's return, eyes closed and looking up at the sky. It turned darker as clouds came over and Ellen decided to put the top back up on the car as it looked like it would rain.
.
"Strange weather" Ellen mumbled to herself as the top rose over her
*The sound of a bell as the bakery door opened*
"Right. I've got it!" Said Portia as she made her way, slowly to the car, white box in hand and a small bag hanging from the other.
"What do you mean you've got it? Portia I didn't think you were buying one today. I though you were only looking! Jesus now get in the car!" Ellen shouted as she started the car
"Open the door please Baby so I can get in, I don't want to put this cake down" Portia said
.
Ellen huffed as she undone her seat belt and lent over to open the passenger door
.
Carefully Portia balanced the cake box and bag as she bent down and rested her bum on the car seat. Then she slowly swung her legs in and rested the box and bag on her knees before carefully closing the door and reaching for her seat belt.
Ellen watched her, making a silent laugh as she revved her foot against the gas pedal, making Portia jump a little and then received a small whack on her right arm.
.
*whack*
.
"Ow Portiaaaa"
.
Portia laughed and sighed in relief
.
"Phew, made it!" Portia said as she looked at Ellen.
"Ok can we... Or should I say I... go to work now?" Ellen said as she rubbed her arm.
"Yes you may" Portia replied as she patted the place on Ellen's arm that received the whack.
"Thankyou" said Ellen as the Porsche rolled back out of the bakery courtyard and on towards the studios.
.
They arrived at the studio and parked in Ellen's designated space and got out.
.
"I think you should take that to my office and put it in the fridge Porsh, you don't want to be sat in the studio holding it all day" Ellen said as Portia handed her the purchases she made at the bakery. Portia got out the car and took back the box and bag from Ellen
"Yeah... God this weather, it's turning cold...Um have you seen my cell phone?" Portia said as she walked through the door of the lobby, Ellen was holding the door open with her foot for her.
"Um no I haven't, you don't need it though do you?" Ellen said as she let the door go and followed Portia to her office.
.
Portia then frowned at Ellen and she knew full well that Portia couldn't live without her phone
.
"Yes I do need it Ellen, what if the director phones me urgently and they need me to go to the set and film something." Portia said a she entered the office
"But he's given you the day off Portia, surely he won't ring you" Ellen said as she dropped her keys on her desk and opened the fridge so that Portia could put the cake inside.
"Yes but he may need me for something, you never know. Besides, Andy Lassner calls you on your days off and you go in" Portia said as she closed the fridge door, straightened up her cardigan as it has slipped down one shoulder whilst carrying the cake, and sat down on the arm of the sofa.
"That's different..." Ellen began to explain
"How is it?" Portia interrupted as there came a knock on the door
"It just is ok?... Oh hey Andy! Sorry we are late, the wife had to stop off at the bakery and get a cake for Portia's mother... What's up?" Ellen said as Andy entered the office.
"I've been trying to find you! I thought you'd be in your dressing room! We've got to get on with rehearsing for the show... oh hey Portia!" He said with his trademark Ellen show cap on and his headset.
"Hey Andy. Ok baby you go and I will drive back home and get my phone. I will see you later ok" Portia said as she grabbed her purse and followed Ellen and Andy to the corridor.
"Ok sweetheart, hurry back coz I will miss you, but don't drive to fast in my car, ok?" Ellen said as she pulled Portia in for a kiss
"I won't! See you later Andy!" Portia said as she waved their direction as she headed for the entrance lobby
.
Portia got in the silver Porsche and drove back to their house to fetch her phone.
Ellen and Andy went into the studio to rehearse.
Neither of them knew the events that were about to enfold
Portia approached the intersection and turned on the radio. The rain was splashing harshly against the windscreen and Portia had to slow down as the rain caused low visibility.
"news just in, a category 3 hurricane has just been spotted heading towards the coast of Los Angeles. Residents are told to beware and to stay indoors until it subsides. More news on the hurricane when we know. Stay tuned"
"Oh no! I'd better get home safe soon," Portia said out loud as she looked out to see that cars upon cars were travelling along the same road as her.
.
Portia decided to text Ellen and tell her she wouldn't be back. The traffic was near enough at a standstill so she reached over to the passenger seat next to her and got out her phone from her purse.
.
*no signal*
.
"Oh great!" Portia said as the queue of traffic started moving slowly.
.
She put her phone in her lap and continued on her journey home.
.
Meanwhile Ellen was busy practicing her dance moves down the aisle when Mary came over and waved her hands at the DJ to stop the music
"Hey Ellen, sorry. Um just to inform everyone that there is real bad weather out there, and it's believed a category 3 hurricane is on its way through LA right now so I think we will be here for the duration." Mary said as the staff and crew listened in disbelief.
"Wait, Portia is driving back home Mary!" Ellen said and started to panic
"Oh man if I had known earlier, I only looked on the news just a second ago. I'm sorry Ellen, go phone her NOW!"
.
Ellen rushed over to Andy and Mary's desk to fetch her phone and quickly dialed Portia's number
.
"There's no answer! Oh damn!" Ellen said as she turned to Mary
.
by now all the staff and crew were all stood on the stage and looking at their cell phones
.
"Shit what am I gonna do?" Ellen said as Mary suggested there may be no signal where Portia is.
"She will be ok Ellen. She will probably call you on the house phone when she gets in" Mary said as she comforted Ellen, and rubbed her shoulder.
"No I need to go find her, what if she gets caught up in it. I need to go find her." Ellen said as she made her way out of the studio.
.
Ellen decided to go out to the car lot and find her, and in her grief she forgot that Portia had taken the car
.
Andy ran after her and quickly found her looking out at the heavy rain
"Hey Ellen, you haven't got the car, she will be ok I promise. Look just come inside"
"I need to get to her Andy!" Ellen said as she was getting wet. A crack of thunder erupted and Ellen shivered from the coldness.
"I know El, but you can't go. It's a hurricane and I'm sure she will find somewhere to stop and find shelter ok"
.
Andy grabbed Ellen and bought her inside. She was bewildered by the fact that Portia wasn't answering her phone, she felt her wife wasn't safe. Ellen started blaming herself for being late and Portia forgetting her phone.
Taking Ellen back inside and into her dressing room, Andy summoned a towel and tried to dry her shoulders. He sat her down on the sofa and called for Mary to come in and persuade Ellen to stay there until it was safe to go home.
.
Portia wasn't making much progress in trying to get home. She still had no signal and the radio station wasn't updating any news of the storm.
By now a thunderstorm was brewing far behind in the hills and Portia was so scared of being in it that she decided to take a u-turn and try a different route.
She made her way to her brother's house which was 5 or so miles away. It was nearer to go back to the studio but the traffic was so far back she had no time to sit and wait.
On her way to her brother Michael's house she realised that he would probably be at work and Casey would have the kids at home. She hurried along the highway wanting to get there and call Ellen to let her know she was safe.
As she arrived down the driveway she noticed the all the lights were off and nobody was home.
.
*shit*
.
Portia looked at the house the though the rain covered windscreen.
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*ah I remember Mom used to keep a key under the front mat when we were young. I wonder if Michael does that?*
.
Portia got out the car and ran over to have a look but there was nothing.
.
*damn*
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She was soaked from walking that short distance and decided to look through the window just to be sure no one was in.
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*No sign of anyone*
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She ran back to the car and got in.
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*well at least I've got somewhere to sit I guess* Portia thought, although she was terrified at the thought of riding out a hurricane in a sports car.
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By now the staff and crew at the Warner Bros studio were all watching the local news channel on their TV screens on the stage floor. Ellen came out and joined them, sitting among the writers and producers trying to stay calm as Portia still hadn't called to say she was safe.
