---- Author's Note ----
I'm sooooo sorry it has been way too long since my last update. I've recently re-watched most of the 7 series and have started reading fics again so felt inspired to finish what I started. Since it has been such a long time I have actually lost my original story and have had to rewrite some bits and pieces, so it might feel like it is going in a different direction but the outcome will still be the same. I promise.
I've also managed to type up chapter 9 and will post tomorrow / tonight depending on where you are in the world. So this small chapter is just a taster to ease you back into the story.
As always please read & Review, but mostly enjoy!
PGx
Chapter 8
---- An Apartment Downtown ----
He woke early next morning to find only the cold sheets where she had been. Rubbing his head he tried to remember what had happened the night before, it had all happened so fast it was a blur, although he did remember that thanks to his friends things had gotten wilder as the night went on.
Swinging his feet off the bed grabbing last night's discarded t-shirt and slipped it over his head. He walked to the door in search of her but the apartment was still. He wandered to the kitchen poured a glass of water and headed through to the lounge, the TV was off and her things were gone. He couldn't believe she had left without saying goodbye.
Turning back to the bedroom he put his glass down by the pile of books on the nightstand picked up the headache pills and his cell. He checked the screen for some kind of message that everything was alright but the screen was blank. He flicked through his numbers until he found her name, his finger hovered over the call button for a few seconds but instead of calling he dropped the phone onto the covers below and flopped back onto the bed with a sigh.
Why do you always have to fuck it up? he said out loud to himself in frustration as rubbed his forehead trying to figure out a way to fix things. First though he needed to take care of this headache, swallowing the pills he grabbed a pillow and placed it over his eyes to block out the light. He lay there for a few minutes his mind wandering before drifting back off to sleep.
---- Rory's Apartment ----
Rory had gotten home at about 5.30 that morning after walking the 9 blocks from Phil's apartment in a complete daze. Trying to clear her mind she headed for the shower. Peeling off her clothes she felt physically sick thinking about his hands on her. She turned the water on and sat in the bath with the shower raining down on her, the water trickling down from her hair and mixing with her tears as it ran down her face.
Finally when the tears stopped Rory stepped out of the shower wrapped her hair in a towel and herself in a fluffy robe. She walked to the kitchen switched on the coffee maker and sat down at the dinning table. Looking at her cell she picked it up and dialled.
"Hey Duncan, it's Rory." she said putting on a cheery voice.
"Rory, hi how are you, how was the launch?" Duncan asked.
Rory felt a lurch in her stomach as he asked the question remembering what else had happened the night before. "Oh it was great." she lied. "That's kind of the reason I'm calling, I thought I would get a head start and type up my review of the book from home today, I could do without the office distractions while I work on my first assignment. Can you let everyone know for me?"
"Sure I don't blame you a day without Bobby sounds like heaven to me." He laughed.
"Well…" Rory started.
"So I know you want to keep away from the distractions, but do you want to hear some office gossip?" Duncan teased.
Rory could feel her heart beating a little bit faster. "Uh ok." She answered unsure, praying that nobody had found out about the night before.
"Well we got in this morning and there was no Phil, apparently he has been called to one of the syndicates to sort out a little staffing issue and he's taken Ting! Nudge, nudge, wink, wink…" Duncan paused dramatically waiting for Rory's reaction.
"Oh, well that's, um, I'm sure she'll be great. I better go start my review otherwise I'll never get it finished." She forced a laugh.
"Yeah, I better go too Bobby just got back with the coffee and I think she has some more news. See you tomorrow?" he asked sounding hopeful.
"Yeah definitely. Speak to you later." She placed the phone on the table and made her way to the coffee pot picking up the biggest mug she had.
After pouring herself a large coffee and grabbing a bag of chips she made her way through to the living room switched on the TV and slouched on to the couch. Her thoughts drifted back to the opening last night and the book launch. She cringed when she thought about how she had acted so childish, pretending she had never met him before, and smiled when she remembered his reading. She missed having someone read out loud to her, having him reading out loud to her. As the thoughts of lying under the tree reading together floated around in her head Rory finally slipped off to sleep.
A couple of hours later Rory woke up panicked as an alarm was sounding around her, she was so disoriented from the sleep it took her a few seconds to realise that the sound was actually coming from the TV set. Switching it off she looked over to her desk, sighing he finally decided it was time to start work on the review. She walked over picked up her notes and tape recorder and sat down in front of the laptop ready to see if there was anything she could actually use from the night before.
