Chapter 5: Under Pressure

Rays of sunlight sweeping in through the slats of my blinds woke me early the next morning. I lay there for a moment, trying to find my bearings. Then the memory of the events of the previous night hit me like a truck and I shot up off the couch. It must have been a dream. It couldn't have happened… But I was wearing the same clothes; my story was sticking out from under my laptop, papers scrunched from rough handling; my phone was blinking madly. Jane had left five messages, the last two bordered on hysterical. I looked at the clock on my microwave. It was only 7:30 and we had left the bar at what, one, two AM? My mind was reeling. I wanted a shower, a real night's rest, and a hole to hide in. Oh god, what if Jane really had called the police?

I picked up the phone and hit redial. The phone barely made it through half a ring when a panic-stricken voice broke over the line saying, "Evie? Is that you? Are you alright?"

"Yah, I'm fine…really, you didn't call the police did you?"

"No," she paused as if ashamed, "I wanted to when you didn't pick up the phone, but then I figured who would believe me?"

"Jane – it's ok! It's not like they would have been able to help anyways!"

"I was so scared…are you sure you're alright? What happened?"

Now it was my turn to pause. "Can we talk about it later? I need a shower and some more sleep. I'm so sorry I didn't call you last night."

"Don't worry about it, but we are talking later today."

There was no arguing with that tone. "Later, right, I'll call you."

I hung up and slumped back down on the couch. I didn't need this. Any of it. But then, who would? So now he could get in and out of my apartment as he pleased. Just peachy. I was no longer safe in my own home. So much for staying in at nights to avoid him. My mind was so caught up with the trespassing that the kiss barely registered on the freak-out scale. So I did what I always do when I'm stressed. I turned my stereo up as loud as it could go, neighbors be damned, and I got in the shower.

I knew there was no point in attempting more sleep. I'd never be able to get my mind to shut up long enough for me to slip out of consciousness again. I finished getting dressed and sat back down on the couch. I fished my latest story out from under my laptop and smoothed the pages as best I could. Leaving my work out like this wouldn't be possible anymore. Now I was angry. The words "stupid bastard" formed in my mind; it was good, being angry meant not being as afraid. He could kiss my ass; I'd be ready for him if he thought he was just going to show up in my home again invading my space, my privacy…my personal bubble. I began to wish he was there in front of me right now – I'd show him. I wondered how one went about getting a stake. Then again, dispatching of an international superstar (vampire or no) was not going to make me very popular. I couldn't do this by myself. I threw all my papers together in a messy pile on the table and headed for Jane's.

Jane looked like a bigger wreck than I did. I don't think she had slept at all last night. I made tea and we sat on her living room floor like we used to back in college. When I told her what happened she nearly dropped her cup.

"He did WHAT?"

"You heard me, I'm not repeating it."

"I can't believe it."

I wasn't sure whether to be offended or agree. Ok, so I hadn't been on a date in a while, but was it really that hard to believe that someone would want to kiss me? Fleeting thoughts, erased when I returned to rationality. All that was beside the point; there were more pressing matters at hand.

Two cups of tea and an hour later. "Evie, you and I both know that you can't," Jane paused uncomfortably looking for the right words, "you know…get rid of him…"

All I could do was sigh.

"What about a restraining order?" she offered hopefully.

"Come on, Jane, honestly."

"Yah, you're right."

"Ugh…" I put my head in my hands, "What am I going to do?"

"I don't know, Evie, I wish I could help."

"Well enough of this, " I stood up taking both our cups to the sink, "I guess I should get busy finding a desk. One with drawers that lock."

Jane gave me a reassuring look; "At least you have your priorities in order."

"Ha, ha."