Hey guys! Sorry this one took so long to be uploaded. Well, there it is. And thanks for all those reviews.
Nigel woke to a desperate knock on his door.
"Coming!"
Andy knew she didn't have anyone else she could turn to. Lily was out of the city and Doug knew about Miranda and she was the last subject Andy wanted to talk about.
Nigel fumbled with the door's locks and opened the door. When he saw Andy, she could tell that he was shocked.
"Six? What's happened?"
Andy fidgeted. "Um… I'm kinda homeless. I just need a place to sleep for tonight."
Nigel let her enter the apartment, but wasn't so convinced. "So, care to tell?"
"I know I owe you an explanation, but it's two in the morning, I just need some time to sleep. I'll tell everything in the morning."
"Please tell me you weren't running from police."
Andy actually laughed. "No, I'm not." She paused. "I'm just running from the devil."
"Okaaaay…" He looked around. "You can sleep in the couch, I don't have a guestroom, sorry."
"It's okay. Better than… Never mind."
"You need something else?"
"No, thanks. You've already done enough for me."
"Okay then. Sleep well. Thank goodness tomorrow, oops, today is Sunday, I don't need to put a foot at Elias-Clarke."
"I don't have to work either, breakfast is on me."
"Done." He clasped his hands together and smiled. "Good night."
"Good night, Nigel, and thanks again."
"You will thank me soon, when you tell me what happened."
Andy woke up about eight in the morning, felling a little dizzy, because she forgot to eat, of course. Nigel was nowhere to be seen, so she went to the bathroom with her necessities and brushed her teeth and combed her hair. Her eyes were a little less red, but she knew she was a mess, even if it didn't reflect on her face.
"You are a mess."
"Yeah, I know."
"Here," He handed her a big mug of coffee. "I was in the kitchen; I guess you didn't really pay attention."
"Sorry." She sipped. "Good morning, by the way."
Nigel smiled. They sat on the couch. Newspapers were on the center table and Andy took the Times. Just to open Page Six and cry like a baby again.
"Andy, please tell me what's wrong."
"Oh my God, it's in the papers already!"
"What?"
"Miranda and Paul."
"What?! No," Nigel took a look at the photo and read.
Someone apparently melted the Ice Queen. See that? A real smile. Gee, I have to tell you that I'm happy for her. The gentleman is no one else than Paul Schultz, the new CEO of Elias-Clarke, and can we say that makes him Miranda's boss? A bluebird told us that the couple went upstairs and La Priestly left the party just before midnight. More "evidence" in page 7.
"Oh my goodness! What the hell?"
"I can't believe this!" Andy was so angry; she didn't realize she was telling Nigel everything. "I believed her; she said I was the only one!"
"Hey-"
"She said I was the only that mattered,"
"Andy-"
Andy took the newspaper from Nigel. "Selfish bitch I hate you! I hate you!"
"Andy!"
She began to cry. "I hate her, Nigel. I hate loving her! I hate me!" She covered her eyes with her hands, trying to hide the tears that insisted to fall. "I want to die!"
"Wait, you and… Miranda?"
Andy just nodded.
"Jesus, Andy, what the hell were you thinking? How long?"
"I wasn't thinking. Really. Well…" Andy cringed. "Two years?"
"What the-"
"No, don't. I just came here because you didn't know anything about it and I don't want to talk about her right now. I'm done."
"No, you're not. But I'll leave it."
Andy smiled a little. "Thanks." Then she remembered something. "Shit!"
"What?"
"My things are in the townhouse. I just picked up some clothes. My laptop and notepad are there. Well, at least I have-"
A ring.
"-my cellphone." She glanced at the screen and froze. "Miranda."
Nigel picked the mugs up and left, mouthing "good luck".
"Hello."
Miranda felt a ping in her belly. "Hello, Andrea."
"What you want?"
"Where are you?"
"Doesn't matter. Look, I need to come over. Um… my laptop is there and I'll need it. The other things-"
"Andrea, please come back." Miranda cut her off.
"-I'll pick up later. Or I'll send someone to pick."
Miranda closed her eyes. She wanted Andrea back home. No. Not wanted, needed. Right now. Although they had things they needed to talk about. "Please, we need to talk."
"Don't worry, Miranda. You don't need explain anything, Page Six already did."
"So you saw."
"And the whole of New York. I guess Mr Schultz won't like to know that you had a mistress."
"Is that you think you are to me?"
"No, I really think I'm nothing right now. I'm hurt, humiliated, disappointed." She could hear Andrea trying to not cry. This was like a knife in her heart. "You're killing me, Miranda."
This time, Miranda couldn't control her own tears. "Andrea, darling. Please come back."
"Tell me the truth, for once. I think I deserve it."
"I want to talk about this very thing with you, but not by phone. We can meet in anywhere, if you don't want to come to the townhouse. Just, please. Let me explain."
"I saw you two, going upstairs. I saw it. Let's just get over this."
"Andrea." Miranda knew she needed to do this. "Yes, we kissed." She heard a cry in the other end of the phone. "But that was all. I realized that I didn't want anyone else. I don't need anyone else."
"Yes, now you don't need. You already have your position at the board. You just use everyone to please you. When I was a good use in bed, I was there. Paul had a good use at Elias-Clarke. First to get rid of Irv, now to get you your new position. What else do you need? How many people you are going to use to get what you want?"
Nobody had hurt her so much like Andrea did in this moment. "No Andrea, I never used you, please. Two years, Andrea. Two years were nothing to you?"
"No Miranda. These two years were the best years of my life. A pity they were just an illusion."
"Andrea, I'm begging you. Please, don't leave me."
"Two years, Miranda. Two years hiding. Two years seeing you in the dark of the night. Two years being your dirty little secret."
"No, Andrea-"
"Goodbye, Miranda."
"Everybody knows about us." She said to nobody because Andrea had already hung up. "And I don't want hide my love for you anymore."
"Nigel, are you sure?"
"Yes, I am. You need be distracted. See, so many people to chat, to dance and to-"
"No."
"Whatever. I'm going to do all these things."
Andy smiled. "Go on. I'll be there."
"Seriously Andy. At least, get something to drink."
"Okay, now leave me alone."
"Okay, young lady."
Nigel vanished from in front of her in seconds and Andy asked for a vodka. Getting drunk, good riddance. Not that she would really get drunk. Not on a Sunday. But it was a party and you should have some fun, even if you are with a big heartache.
Andy had a few drinks and felt a little high. Time to stop. She strolled around the dance floor and stopped in a quieter place, almost near the entrance of the bathroom.
"Andy!"
She squinted and tried to recognize the person who was approaching with open arms.
The next second, her arms were full of Serena.
Pacing in her living room, Miranda was thinking back and forth about the text she'd received some minutes ago.
She is in The 230 Rooftop Bar with me. Come over.
N.
Miranda didn't need to think twice about who sent the text and who she was. She just needed to think what she would do if she spotted Andrea in the dance floor. Everybody knows about them, maybe they could dance-
Her cellphone rang again.
If you are thinking about coming or not, stop thinking and come now. She won't leave alone, I can guarantee it.
Miranda jumped. She knew Andrea loved her and she was sure as hell she was in love with the journalist, but she also knew that Andrea and alcohol wasn't a good combination. She went upstairs and changed her clothes. She put the blue shirt that Andrea loved (and this was her second from the same line, because Andrea ripped the first) and the black Chanel skirt. This one was a gift from her lover, on their first anniversary. She fixed her makeup, perfume and put the black Prada pumps. These were brand new.
What better way to debut the shoes than kicking some ass?
Serena leaded the way to the bar and they sat down. Andy, this time, just asked for a Coke, but Serena asked for two Martinis and put half of one glass in Andy's Coke.
"That way is better."
Andy just smiled. "I've already had enough; I don't want to get drunk."
"Don't worry, this isn't too strong, it's mostly coke."
"So, what have you been doing lately?"
"Still at Runway, but I like what I do. I'm running the Beauty Department." Serena said, with a bright smile. "This is really great. You still at Times?"
"Yeah. Thank God I stopped covering the Sport section after the accident."
"Oh, I heard about it. How long were you unconscious?"
"Two days. Mostly because I was sedated. I broke a shoulder, but they didn't know if the damage was really dangerous, it was very close to my lung."
"Wow. I'm glad it wasn't." She paused and sipped her drink. "You know, I'm really glad to see you again."
"Me too." Andy smiled, shyly.
They kept talking about their jobs but, to Andy's relief, Serena avoided the 'Miranda' subject. She wasn't sure why, but she didn't waste any time thinking about it. She was just grateful.
About half an hour later, they both were on the dance floor, flowing with the song. Andy had her eyes closed, arms in the air. Serena looked at her and put a hand on her hip. Andy opened her eyes, but smiled at Serena, who tightened her grip.
The next song was a love song, but Serena didn't let her go, so she threw her arm around the blonde's neck. They smiled to each other and Serena pulled her close. They started moving again. The journalist rested her head on the other woman's shoulder and inhaled her perfume. It was sweet.
"Andy." She breathed.
Andy looked up. Serena was serious, but her green eyes were dark. Andy recognize instantly. Lust.
"Yes."
And then they kissed.
Miranda parked a block before the club. She spotted the club about five minutes after parking and entered. The place was for young people mostly, but she needed to find Andrea, so she hadn't the time to start feeling out of place. She saw Nigel with a couple, but neither were her lover. She went further, next to the bar, and then she saw Andrea and another woman, dancing. The song changed and she felt a cold air in her belly when they didn't part. Instead, the other woman pulled Andrea closer. Angry ran in her blood, moving her on.
No, don't you dare touch my Andrea.
Too late.
"Andrea."
Andy glanced at her side.
A very angry Miranda, with tears in her eyes, was standing next to them.
And now I need to know is this real love
Or is it just madness keeping us afloat?
When I look back and all the crazy fights we had
Like some kind of madness was taking control
TBC
You know, Madness is the song that I listened more since The 2nd Law was launched. See you soon!