Love Does Not Exist - Chapter 3.
All right, so. The number of reviews I didn't get for chapter three really bothered me. I know people are reading it. 53 people have read CH3 so far. So I decided to rewrite it, topless and listening to 'What's in my bag' videos on YouTube.
So yeah, please R&R. I love reading all your wonderful comments and ideas.
Riley's POV. Piper's True Colours.
Previously.
"That does sound pretty crazy, man. Anyway, this is Piper," I told my Private Investigator friend, indicating to her. The smile she gave him in response didn't reach her eyes like it did when she smiled at me. I briefly wondered what that was all about. She didn't seem right at all. Did she have a thing with strangers?
"Pleasure. While I'm here though, I may as well ask. Have either of you seen this girl? Her name is Rosemarie Hathaway."
Lucas speaking knocked me out of my thoughts pretty fast. I took the last sip of my drink and set the glass to the corner of the table so it was out of the way of Lucas' files. There were loads of photos of the missing girls spread out, so much that it pretty much covered the majority of the table. I have to admit that she was definitely good looking; long brown hair flowed down her back naturally in some photos and in others her hair was tied up as she was donned training gear.
"Is she a gymnast or something?" I asked him, flicking my eyes back up to my friends face. Lucas shook his head.
"Not exactly. This girl is highly skilled in combat training and could take down just about anyone without even flinching," he responded, nodding at the bar tender when he brought a drink and a bowl of nuts to the table and took my empty glass away. I had no idea he'd even ordered anything. Guess that shows you the extent of my attention to detail.
"She sounds pretty badass," Piper squeaked. Lucas and I looked over at her.
"Are you all right?" Lucas asked her. She suddenly looked really pale as she took in the photos of the missing girl. Piper nodded her head.
"I think I'm going to quickly use the bathroom and get going. It's been a long day," she told us. Lucas, who was now absorbed back in his files, dismissed her pretty fast, guess he didn't really care. I nodded at her, wondering what the heck was up with her sudden turn around. She got up and bolted to the ladies' toilets. After a little bit, I made my way after her.
"Piper? Are you sure you're all right?" I asked. Through the door, I could hear the unmistakable sounds of her being sick. Her reply came after a second, after a few groans of clear disapproval of her current state, before the sound of the toilet flushing filled my ears.
"I ate too much," she called. I looked at the door as if I could see her though it. Who was she kidding? She only ate like three Doritos, I had the rest.
"I don't really believe that," I replied, not even trying to hide what I was thinking. She replied with a sob. Confusion filled me once again. What the hell?
I pushed my way into the bathroom and saw Piper sitting on a closed toilet seat. She stood as soon as she saw me, wiped her face on the back of her hand and washed her hands.
"So, thanks for this afternoon. It was nice," she said indifferently. I frowned at her. Why the hell were girls so hard to read? I didn't have time to debate with myself, though, as she was making her way out of the door. Without thinking, I grabbed her wrist and pulled her back into the bathroom. She retaliated by throwing a punch at my cheek. I swore loudly.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" I asked her. Rage took over every inch of her body and she started shaking because of it. I swallowed and chose my next words carefully.
"Want to tell me exactly what is going on?" Her composure broke and she burst into tears again.
"I knew I shouldn't have stayed! See what happens when you get comfortable?" she cried in-between hiccoughs. Everything clicked as soon as she finished her sentence.
"Your name isn't Piper, is it?"
Rose's POV.
I regretted saying anything as soon as the words poured out of my mouth. He was the only person in this God forsaken place and now what was I going to do? I wasn't Moroi so I couldn't compel him into forgetting about me. GOD DAMN IT! Why did I have to say anything? I held the bridge of my nose and thought about what I was going to do now. I took a deep calming breath and finally looked up at him.
"Who are you running from and why?" he asked me softly. I looked around and remembered where we were.
"Not here," I told him and took hold of his hand and led him from the bar. I felt every negative feeling there was running though me as if it was my blood.
"Mother fucker," I breathed. Where could I take him? I thought about inviting him back to my motel room but quickly dismissed it. I didn't want him know where I was living, and not because it was in a motel.
"Piper?" Riley asked. I turned to him, feeling an idea come to mind.
"Are we able to go to your place?" This is my last resort. If he wasn't able to have me at his place then I will have to knock him out and make a run for it; there was no way I was going to chance anyone overhearing this. Straight away, he nodded. I wasn't sure if I was relived or not. I didn't particularly want to tell him my life story. I hated thinking about it let along talking about. I sighed loudly.
"Let's go, then."
So, a short while later, we were back at Riley's place. It was massive. I quickly realised that this guy was pretty well off. His house was decorated really nicely and he owned more Apple products that I could count on one hand. I wouldn't be surprised if he told me that he had a maid.
After he brought out drinks for us, I gave him a quick run-down of my passed and why I left home, kind of keeping things vague. I didn't want to go into too much detail about Dimitri and stuff. He didn't push for any more details, not that I would have told him any more, anyway.
We hadn't been at Riley's long before he told me that he wanted to come with me. I wasn't too keen in the idea at all. I tried my hardest to get him to change his mind, but he wouldn't budge, so I caved and let him construct a 'getaway' plan of sorts.
After a quick discussion, it was decided that Riley would give me his phone and car. I didn't really want to do it but he pointed out that he was 'well off' once again, and so he was able to buy another phone and we made a deal that he would drive once he met back up with me in three days, that he would drive from then on out. Sure it wasn't really a Rose-like deal, but I was desperate and hell, I hadn't been Rose for nearly three years so beggars can't be choosy.
He took the fingerprint scanner lock off his phone and handed it and it's charger to me. I thanked him and he also gave me his car keys, informing me that it was a Holden Commodore sv6. I internally rolled my eyes. Of course he drives a 30 thousand dollar car.
Before I left to head back to my place to pack, he gave me food to keep in the car. I smiled as he did so, because it wasn't something I would have thought about until I got hungry, not that I even ate a lot these days.
I'd packed quickly and stuffed my suitcase and sketching backpack into the boot of Riley's car beside the bag of food. I sighed, now it was time to check out of the second place I'd ever called home and quit both my jobs.
It may seem weird, but I was actually going to miss my bosses. Both were awesome and loud, I got on with the both of them really well and oddly, they felt like my parents. Bec was laid back and supportive, and Tim, who owned the bar, was positive and funny. Leaving them was going to be hard, which is exactly why I pushed people away for so long.
I literally shed some tears as I left the little town I'd come to love. Hopefully, I'll be able to come back here one day.
Riley's POV.
Piper was probably on her way out of town, and that thought saddened me a little bit, but I knew I would be seeing her again in about a week, so I shouldn't be dwelling on missing her and being sad.
I tried, but I couldn't exactly shake her from my thoughts as I made my way to the Apple store to replace my phone. Was she feeling sad? Happy? Lost? Was she thinking about me? Missing me like I was her? Was she keen to see me again? I groaned internally. What was it about her that had me feeling so hung up? I couldn't place it, but I had the feeling that I wasn't the only person who was effected like this by her.
In no time at all, I found myself thinking about a future with her, like an actual future; as a couple! In my thoughts/fantasy, we had a house, shared a bedroom and owned a turtle. The house was nice, not over the top like my current place, which I did actually own and would probably sell, but modern and simple. The yard had few trees and a couple of rose bushes as you walked into the gate. I smiled at the thought. It sounded lovely, but I didn't think I would tell Piper about it. She'd probably laugh at me.
Was I crazy to think like this about a girl I barely knew? Probably, but I couldn't help it. I wanted to get to know her, all of her. I wanted to be someone to her, especially now I knew she didn't really have anyone left. It pained me think of something so heartbreaking happening to her that she felt the need to leave her home. She didn't go into too much detail about what exactly had happened, and I did not push her to tell me any more than she felt comfortable with sharing. If she ever told me, it would be because she wanted me to know. Until that happened though, I was just happy merely being in her presence.
I sighed when I came back within sight of the bar Lucas was last at. I had to now somehow persuade him into the opposite direction of where Piper was heading, needless to say that he'd realized who she was by the way she reacted to seeing her old photos because PI's are highly trained in body language. She was shit scared of him and whatever was waiting for her when and if he'd ever catch her. That fact alone made me what to do all I could to help steer him clear of her.
As long as she was happy being on the run from her past, I was happy running with her. I think I love this girl already and I wanted to be with her at all times.
A/N: There we have it. A 'better' chapter three, I guess. Please tell me what you think guys, good or bad. I can handle critisism, believe me.
150 people read the last chapter, so if even 5 of you review, it would made my entire month. Which is saying something becaue it my first annivesary with my partner this month. Love you all.