And I still come back to you
Part two: The dog and the promise
As you can imagine, after her scene in the studio Amanda had run in the only place where she could feel at her ease, and in a certain way, even safe: the Love Dungeon. It had been her mother's refuge for a long time, and now – like an inheritance – it was hers. (Of course, she didn't know that by the time the place had become a refuge for the half of Mode's staff: she believed that besides her only Marc and Christina knew it, but the first had lead there Wilhemina to recover Bradford's will, and the second had shown it to other two people, her husband and Betty – and Stuart had seen every comfort of the secret chamber.)
But if she went there crying, a result would come: without any care, Amanda used to dash herself in the stairs, and so she was almost always noticed by Christina, whose Closet opened to the (former) secret chamber of the Sommers.
Even that time it happened, and before the girl realized that maybe it could be safer closing the door, Christina had entered, providing to close it.
She made sure Christina was alone, then returned to the corner where she had squatted down. Halston was near her, stopping its daily rounds of the territory to lap an arm o a leg of its owner as a sign of pity.
"I don't wanna seem annoying, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at your desk, pretending to receive deliverymen and models?"
"I don't wanna seem annoying, don't you see?" Her red eyes left no much to imagination. Next her, a huge number of wrappers of sweets. Of chocolates. Of donuts. And what remained of a bagel.
"Ok, you're crying.. and you have tried to give you a heartache for an excess of cholesterol. What's happened this time, have you discovered that your long lost daddy is actually a dangerous serial killer?"
"Yeah, sure, even if.." (Christina frown) "Well, at least I would have found it. By the way, he's not." She stopped talking for a while, stroked Halston, took a better seat. "You should know what's happened in the studio.."
"Actually, I haven't." Christina first appeared puzzled, but then shouted out "Oh my God, have you done something to Betty? Look, Scottish could be very nasty, if they're angry!"
"No, bunnies' queen is ok. I've just spilt some hot coffee on Cliff's shirt."
"Who, the photographer? The one who is so nice, and gives models sweets? Oh Amanda, you can't spill coffee on all the people who don't behave as crazy bitches! Wait… and you're crying for this? For a routine act?"
"No!" Amanda raised her eyes, then looked at Halston, and looked again at Christina. "It's just.. He's come, awfully happy, and he's started to talk about last night and so on .. I couldn't resist anymore. I miss him, damn!" And began again to cry plentifully.
"Who, Cliff?"
"No!" Amanda answered again, this time with an irritated tone. In the meantime Halston was staring at Christina, with a look of blame. (Kind of.)
"Ok, he isn't. But what is his role in this mess? Let's think.. he's a photographer.. but I saw him in front of Wilhemina's office… with a lunch box… and he was chatting with Marc.. and before leaving Marc has dragged him in a corner.. he has kissed him, then Marc left… He – has – kissed! Cliff dates Marc! So, if the boy you miss isn't Cliff.. he must be Marc!"
Despite she was right, Amanda didn't say anything. Only Halston did her the honor of an approve cry.
"Have you idea of what that means for me? No more gossip, no more thefts in the Closet (Christina threw a look of deep indignation) – ehi, why do you look at me in that way, you knew it, don't you?"
"Go on…"
".. and no more mocking Betty, or mocking her accountant, or mocking you (another bad look) and above all…" She stopped, and she looked again at her doggy "Above all, he has told me that I wasn't alone, because I had got you. He has told that he would help me to find my father."
"And now?"
"Now he isn't here." And she was alone once again. But she didn't say it loudly, she just took up Halston, and started stroking it again. Maybe it would remain next her. Or maybe neither it. (But how could serve, a dog?)