AN: Hey! so this chapter gets a little dark, as everything starts to unravel for Ivy. I've got a strong sense of where this story is going so I hope you keep reading. Enjoy!
So much for a quiet movie night. Karen's phone had been ringing non-stop for the past couple of hours. Various media sites and newspapers eager for a comment, or friends calling and texting to ask what on earth was going on. Karen had spoken to her manager, Janet, soon after her call from Ivy, and her advice was, considering that nothing was going on with her and Jimmy, to release a statement from the pair of them, setting the story straight.
"Why do I have to even explain myself?" Karen had implored. "It's just so much rubbish. I'd rather just say nothing. People can think what they like."
"The trouble is Karen, looking at those photos people are going to think something is going on. It's crap for you I know, but it's just the way it is."
"Okay okay, I'll speak to Jimmy!"
She immediately called Jimmy who seemed more amused by the furore than anything else.
"People are seriously interested in this?"
"Apparently so!" sighed Karen.
"Well, I do owe you" laughed Jimmy "I'll ring Janet and sort this, okay? You don't need to worry about it."
"Thank you Jimmy!"
"You realise I'm doing this more because I'm terrified of Ivy!" he joked before hanging up.
Karen couldn't help but smile. Truth was though, knowing Ivy as she did, she'd be working herself into a state over the photos right now, especially with people like Bobby and Jessica stirring the pot and loving every second of it. She didn't want to go to the party and cause a scene, especially after Ivy had told her to stay away, but she also needed to know Ivy was okay. She picked up the phone to try her girlfriend again.
"If I'd have known that this was my reward Miss Lynn, I'd have invested sooner" teased Sebastian, as he pulled Ivy on top of him and began kissing down her neck, running his hands freely down her curves. "You really are ravishing!"
"Well I aim to please" smiled Ivy, as he reached her mouth, their lips locking hungrily. Ivy had lost all control of herself as the alcohol inside her and her paranoia took over her, and the kiss was rough and hard.
"I always had you down for a being a minx Ivy" Sebastian groaned in between their kisses. "What would that sweet girlfriend of yours say if she could see this now" he grinned wickedly.
Just the mention of Karen had the effect of stirring Ivy to her senses. What the hell was she doing?! This was Karen, whose soft, tender kisses were the complete opposite of the Sebastian's predatory kisses. The girl who loved her. Who she loved equally. Why was she trying to punish her? For what?!
"Sebastian" Ivy gasped, as the enormity of her actions began to hit her. "Stop, please. I can't do this."
"Oh I think you can" he grinned, as his hand made its way up her bare thigh and under her dress, and he flipped her over so he was now on top of her.
"Sebastian!" pleaded Ivy! pushing at his chest. "I mean it. I'm sorry."
"Come on! I know you want this. Why else would you bring me here." He kissed her hungrily again, causing Ivy to turn away in an attempt to get him off her.
"Sebastian, I'm serious!" Ivy said, panic starting to set in. "Will you just let go of me!" she said forcefully, managing to push him off her, as she tried to get up off the bed towards the locked door.
"Where do you think you're going Miss Lynn? No one likes a prick tease. Do you even know who I am?" he said angrily, as he grabbed her and pulled her back onto the bed, putting his hand over her mouth as she began to call out. "You need to remember on which side your bread is buttered. Without me 'Bombshell' would be nothing. Be a good girl now. Eileen promised me you'd be very attentive."
Ivy was panicking as Sebastian pinned her to the bed, and began to forcefully pull up her dress. Tears started to fill her eyes as she realised the mess she was in, and that it was all her own doing. She was using all her force to get away but he was too strong. She couldn't believe this was happening. All because of her own stupidity. She closed her eyes, as if it would somehow shut out the nightmare in the middle of. Just then, somewhere in the background, she could hear the muffled tones of Karen's ringtone ringing from her bag. She was so close to her, but never had she been further away.
"Ivy just pick up the phone, please!" yelled Karen in frustration, but to no avail. It was now 2am and she'd been trying Ivy's phone all night. She'd just rung Tom who told her that Ivy had left hours ago. Then where the heck was she, and why hadn't she come home?! She threw on some clothes and made her way out into the chill night. She didn't know where she was going to go, but figured the best bet was to start at Tom's and head towards the nearest bar. She was just about to hail a cab when she saw a familiar sight walking slowly towards her down the sidewalk, relief overcoming her.
"Ivy!" she yelled, running over to her girlfriend. "Oh my god thank god you're okay. I was starting to panic" she gasped, enveloping a non-respondent Ivy in a vice like hug. Her relief soon turned to anger, however. Anger that Ivy could be so unfeeling.
"Where the heck have you been Ivy?! I've been ringing you all night! It's not okay to just disappear like that okay? Tom said you'd left hours ago. You couldn't even give me one phone call, to let me know you were alright?!" She gripped Ivy's shoulders and pulled back from the hug to look at her girlfriend, her anger dissipating slightly when she saw Ivy's face start to crumple.
"I'm sorry" Ivy whispered, her words barely audible. "I'm so sorry Karen. I've ruined everything!"
"What? Hey, come on" Karen said, pulling Ivy into another hug. "You haven't ruined everything! But you can't keep doing this Ivy. Come on" she added, her face softening, as she broke apart to take Ivy's hand. "Let's go inside, get you sorted, and talk about this."
Once inside Karen led Ivy to the sofa, sitting down gently next to her. "Ivy, I don't blame you for seeing those pictures and immediately thinking the worst. But how many times do I have to tell you. I love you. There's no one else. For better or worse we're in this together right? I just, Ivy, you have to stop doing this. Doubting me ... and doubting yourself ... Ivy?" she implored.
Ivy looked at her hands, unable to look Karen in the eyes. Those puppy dog eyes that would never suspect Ivy of anything despite her having every reason to from past experience.
"Why do you love me?" she asked quietly.
"What?" laughed Karen gently.
"I mean it. Why do you love me? I could never love me after ... after ... after what I did."
"Look at me Ivy" implored Karen, taking Ivy's hand, lifting Ivy's chin up to to her face. "That Ivy. That's not the Ivy I fell in love with. This is the Ivy I'm in love with. Someone who is kind, fun, honest. Brutally honest sometimes. She's someone who isn't perfect, but then I'm not either. I've never felt more alive than I do when I'm with you ... even though you're going to make me turn grey through worry before I turn 30" she joked. "Are we okay? I'm not going to explain myself over those pictures again Ivy, because there's nothing to explain, but if you can't in any way trust me after all this time, then ..."
"I trust you" whispered Ivy, forcing a smile, as tears formed in her eyes again. "I'm so sorry for everything."
"Ivy?" said Karen, her voice full of concern. "Has something happened sweetheart. And I don't mean about the pictures!" she smiled. "Because whatever it is, you can tell me."
Ivy looked at Karen, and good feel herself starting to shake.
"No" she whispered. "Everything's fine Karen" she smiled.
"Okay" smiled Karen, as she gently rubbed Ivy's cheek with her thumb, moving in to kiss Ivy gently on the lips.
"Umm, I think I'm going to have a shower" Ivy said as, startling Karen with her sudden movement, as she quickly bolted from the sofa before their lips could touch, and made her way towards the bathroom.
"Ivy!" Karen called after her, but she didn't respond. She was in a daze as she slowly undressed, and made her way into the shower. She turned the nozzle hotter and hotter until it was almost burning her, but she didn't care. Anything to wash away the mess. She didn't know what to do. How could she tell Karen the truth when she didn't even know the truth herself. She did this to herself didn't she? The combination of heat of the water and her emotions made her collapse as she slumped to the floor, her body wracked by silent sobs. She couldn't lose Karen, she couldn't, but she couldn't tell her either. Why would Karen ever want to go out with someone so filthy. So damaged. She'd ruined everything.