"Thanks." Was all he said in return to her remark about the cab, and when the taxi arrived, he didn't open her door, nor remind her to wear a seatbelt. They pulled up to the building, and after riding seven floors up in silence, he unlocked the door to his office. "I have some work to do. Make yourself comfortable, and the car will be out of the shop this evening for a ride home."
"Um, thank you." Gwen said, sounding a bit odd. She wondered what she had done, or what had happened. Clearly something had, because he was acting completely different now.
Arthur sat down in the desk chair, feeling anything but comfortable. Before he knew what he was doing, pulled the picture frame from his desk, where it sat taunting him, into his hands. His fingers toyed with the locks on the back, and a print fell into his palms - Gabriella, his ex girlfriend of a year. Sometimes even that wasn't long enough, it seemed. Angry at himself, and her, and everything, Arthur ripped the picture down the middle, and let the halves of her pretty face float down into the trash can.
Gwen ended up running errands for various people for the rest of the day. But when she had bare moments to herself, her fingers ran up and down the scar on her arm and her eyes filled with worry. The prospect of seeing him again, of seeing Alex again...it scared her. Well, that was an understatement. But she knew she had to if she was ever going to figure this out.
Arthur spent all day in his office, even with the acute knowledge there was plenty of work to be done elsewhere. He placed the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on his door, and just...sat there. The young man found himself piecing together the two halves of the picture, then ripping it into smaller pieces. He was glad she was dead, wasn't she? No! How could Arthur be glad Gabby was dead? He had loved her, and given her everything she could have wanted. He'd give her his heart, and himself, and she'd thrown it away.
At the end of the day, Gwen waited outside of the building, arms crossed over her chest, looking anxious. She had to get home before Alex got there.
Arthur left the office, shutting and locking it behind him. He'd ripped and thrown out, and picked up too many pictures. He felt that his heart had been wrung inside and out. He didn't even speak to Gwen as they rode home in the Cadillac, and then pulled up at the hotel. Arthur remembered to open the door for her, and pushed the button the elevator, only wanting to get to his penthouse, and sleep away the nightmares of the day.
"Thanks. For today." He said quietly, rapidly pushing the button.
Gwen glanced at Arthur, "For what?" She asked, "I didn't really...do anything."
"Well, most of it." Arthur's eyes were still downcast, but he made sure to smile at her.
"You talked to me. Reached out. Made a friend when I didn't deserve it."
"I think everyone deserves a friend." Gwen replied quietly. She would have said more but the lift doors slid open. And there stood Alex. Gwen swore quietly under her breath, stepping out.
"You're late." Was the first thing he said to her. He was tall, and handsome, but with a mean look, "And look at this!" He pointed to Arthur, "You've already moved on!"
"Alex leave off." Gwen replied quietly, starting to walk towards her flat. He followed uncomfortably close behind her.
"No, no, really. I mean, we've been separated for what, a month? And you've already found yourself a new boy toy."
"I'll see you tomorrow Arthur." Gwen said over her shoulder as the lift doors slid shut, covering him from her view.
Shocked beyond belief, and without even being able to say his final word, Arthur lifted his hand in a weak wave, and waited for the elevator to continue on it's journey.
When he got home, he pulled out some water from the fridge, and put on some jeans and a t-shirt, collapsing in front of the television. After watching pointless things flash before his eyes, he grabbed a soccer ball, and and found himself heading down the elevator again.
Only Arthur didn't understand why his hand hovered above, and pressed the button for floor three. He groaned, and slammed the one that said "ground floor" afterwards. It was a useless stop, and a useless thought of what he could have had. Why floor three?
It beeped, and the door opened to a mechanical voice. "Door opening." No one was there, and it nearly closed again. "Door clo-" Arthur stepped out, because he heard voices. Moreover Gwen, and she was...yelling. It was none of his business, and he knew that, but he continued down the hall, anyway.
Gwen and Alex were in Gwen's apartment, and she had tried to keep quiet, she really had. But he was so terrible...
"Oh, that guy then? Who's he?" Alex yelled at her.
"None of your business!" Gwen yelled back, "You're not a part of my life anymore, and I don't have to tell you anything!"
He grabbed hold of her arm, pulling her close, "I think it is." He hissed.
She pulled away from him, backing up, "Get out." She said. He stared at her and she raised her voice, "Get out!" Without a word he turned, pulling open the door and storming out, past Arthur.
Arthur blinked, barely seeing the man before he was being elbowed in the chest, and pushed against the wall, in a rather rude way of exciting an apartment. He could have chosen to be angry, but recognizing the man from the elevator gave him an overwhelming curiosity.
Gwen stared at the floor, blinking back tears. She knew it had been a good idea to let him come here. Was she never going to be free of him?
Arthur's ball had dropped from his hand when Alex had barged into him. It gently rolled into the open door apartment, and landed with the part that he'd signed his name on facing upwards. The young man shook his head, covering his eyes, and turning to leave the ball. He'd had enough of the drama involving Guinevere. She was just a co-worker. An employee. Her personal life was non of his business.
'Unless you want to make it your business.' He thought, involuntarily, as he pushed for the elevator, for what seemed the hundredth time that day. Maybe he should just take the stairs.
Gwen looked up as the ball rolled into her room. A faint smile touched her lips and she went and picked it up, stepping into the hallway. "Arthur." She called in a sweet voice, "I think you left something." Embarrassment coloured her thoughts. God, he'd probably heard everything.
"It's not mine..." He called back in a singsongy voice, still waiting for the stubborn elevator. "Is this elevator...broken?"
"I can see your name on it." Gwen said, trying not to smile, "And from what you told me before...I'd guess it's yours anyway."
"It's still not mine." He was really about to go up the stairs. All. Four. Flights.
"You're a terrible liar." Gwen said, putting the ball down outside her flat door. "And I'm too tired for this."
Arthur's hands gently reached for it. "Take a nap. I'm going to play ball."
"Ah. So it is yours." Gwen said with a tired smile. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah...tomorrow." He said quietly, he'd almost left, but stopped mid stride. "Unless you...want to come?"
Gwen had a hand on the door knob when he asked the question. And she couldn't stop a smile from stretching across her face, "If you wouldn't mind the company." She said.
"Actually...I'd welcome-it." Arthur found himself saying. He blinked his blue eyes rapidly. Why was he so tired he was seeing Gabby? Something was wrong with him. He sighed, and opened the door to the stairs. "I think the elevator is...stuck."
Gwen couldn't help but smile. "I hope Alex is stuck in there all night." She muttered under her breath before walking towards the stairs.
He grinned in return. "Ready to play ball?"
"Oh, I'm so ready for the injuries." Gwen replied with a grin.
A confused brow met this comment. Gabby was a great soccer player. Trying to constantly remind himself it was Gwen, Arthur shrugged it aside. "Ah, well, here we go." He set the ball down on the soft grass, and passed it to her.
Gwen, still wearing her flipflops, kicked them off, and passed the ball back with the inside of her foot. Surprisingly, she managed to pass the ball in a straight line, which made her smile.
"Good! You still remember." He commented, passing it back again, lost in memories.
Arthur was tired, and confused, and still seeing Gabby's face somehow, but maybe that was just in his heart.
"Still remember?" Gwen repeated, looking confused. She didn't remember him teaching her anything.
"Nothing. Nevermind." Arthur rubbed his temples, and instinctively passed it again, without even looking. "I'm...tired."
Gwen stopped the ball with her foot, "That seems to be going around." She said, covering a yawn. Her mind was still caught up with Alex, and being with Arthur didn't seem to be helping her
By now he was convinced he was either sleeping, or about to be there. "I'm sorry, Gab-Gwen. I need to sleep. Catch you in the morning? Starbucks...at six?"
Arthur was mixing the two together, and waved as he headed up the stairs, murmuring to himself. "What the hell is wrong with me?"
"Sure..." Gwen said, her voice dying off. She watched him go before retrieving her shoes and walking slowly back to her apartment. She didn't know what to think anymore.
That night, her small frame trembled as nightmares washed through her mind. And she was terrified. So, so scared. So the next morning, as she got into the lift, dark circles showed beneath her eyes, and her face looked drawn, despite the smile she flashed Arthur.
Arthur was on the phone as she stepped into their elevator meeting place, and wasn't smiling. His voice was strained, and the conversation was obvious, almost as if she wasn't in the same room. "I know, Dad, but...I don't understand what's going on. Yes, I know you love me." There was a pause, and Arthur winced. "No, I don't need to go see your therapist! I don't care. I'm over Gabby." He hung up, and stuffed the phone into his pocket. Turning it off, he turned to Gwen. "Sorry, I didn't mean you to hear that."
Gwen shook her head, "It's fine." She said, "I'm sorry you had to hear...last night. I'm just..." She stopped, "Well, it doesn't really matter." She put her hands together, rocking on the balls of her feet. She was a bit more dressy today. A black, knee length skirt and a white blouse. Much more professional.
"I'm sorry you had to hear that-now." Arthur nodded, and then waited in the awkward silence as they were ushered down the building's many floors. "My father, he's convinced I'm...well, it doesn't matter."
"I understand how fathers are." Gwen said quickly. "Believe me, I do." Sadness coloured her tone but she didn't elaborate. It was none of his business. It was just something she had to deal with. Like everything else.
Arthur said nothing until they reached the building that day. "I'm sorry, Gwen. I've been acting rather inappropriate towards you. I was only tired last night, please ignore, " He cleared his throat, finding it difficult to go on for a moment. "what I said."
'And what I thought.' Arthur continued in his head. Gwen would never be Gabriella, and he knew that. Why was it he was so, familiarized by the way she said and did things, that it hurt? It reminded him of last years events so much. They were similar; Arthur couldn't deny himself that much. He shoved his hands into his pockets, and entered the office, beginning the work that had been left on the desk.
Gwen raised her eyebrows as Arthur explained himself, but didn't have time to reply before he had retreated into his office. "Oh." Was all she said quietly to herself. It was hard to explain but there was so much she wanted to say to him. That Alex scared her, and that she wanted to say something to Arthur to make everything seem...normal. And that in the short time Gwen had known Arthur, he seemed to make her feel...better. Not whole, but better.
Arthur appeared by Gwen's desk a few hours later, a little before lunch break would start, having an expression on his face that was mixed with curiosity and shyness.
"Are you still up for lunch today...Or am I too much of a traumatic person?"
He had to smile a bit at that, admitting that their toils yesterday had been rather interesting, if not adventurous.
Gwen looked up after she finished what she was typing, "As long as getting lost is not on the menu for today." She replied with a smile.
"I shall do my best." Arthur nodded with a slight chuckle. "Provided you will let me take you to my favourite restaurant. My treat."
Gwen stood."I suppose just this once." She said.
Arthur smiled, and handed her his arm. "Ready, my fair lady?"
Gwen accepted his arm with a smile, "Of course good sir." She said.
That night, Arthur lay on his bed, longing for sleep, but finding himself sleepless. After tossing, and turning for over an hour, he sat up, pulling the lamp cord. It was hopeless, Arthur decided, and went and sat at the computer. He'd taken a picture of Gwen at lunch today, and was editing it. Just looking at it made Arthur smile; she was peeking out shyly was a bunch of flowers on the table, and giggling. The young man's smile turned into a grin, and he continued working.
Suddenly, a loud knock came at the door, and Arthur sat up straight, closing the computer. Barely remembering, he pulled a bathrobe over his thin shirt, and opened the door.
Gwen hadn't be able to sleep. Well, she had, but for a maybe an hour. Then the nightmare had forced her to wake, demanding her attention. Because there was nothing she could do to escape him. Alex was there even in her dreams. She had woken suppressing a scream, trembling from head to toe. So, restless, she'd taken a blanket, wrapped it tightly around her shoulders, and wandered. And come to Arthur's flat. Where she stood now, still trembling, her hair a mess, looking completely terrified. "Sorry to disturb you." She said in a small voice.
"Guinevere." Arthur blinked, and leaned on the door frame, slightly confused as to why she'd shown up at his apartment...at 1 AM in the morning, no less. "Are you alright...you look..." He didn't quite finished, and gently led her inside. The living room was very clean, sleek, and modern. Housekeeping had been in that day, and Arthur now had a reason to be glad. Luxurious - in one word, his living quarters were that.
"Wow." Gwen said, looking around as she pulled the blanket more tightly around her shoulders, "Much nicer than mine." She was avoiding the subject.
"Much nicer than I need." He shrugged, and led her to a soft plush sofa, pulling a blanket from a closet for himself. "Go ahead and sit down."
"Thank you." Gwen said, sitting, "Sorry to...you know, disturb you like this. I was...alone I guess."
"Com'on." Arthur sat down beside her, curling up in his blanket, actually glad for the surprise company. He didn't get any often; his family just wasn't close. Besides for his father, that is, who was much closer than Arthur wanted. "You can tell me. I won't tell a soul."
She looked down, then back up at him, "Dark nights seem to reveal dark secrets." She said with a faint smile, "Even ones people don't want to remember."
Arthur nodded, feeling like there wasn't much else he could say. "Would you...like something to drink?"
"No, I just..." Gwen took a breath, "It was Alex." She said. "That's...that's the guy I was fighting with the other day. He doesn't seem to leave me alone, not matter when it is." Without thinking, her fingers found the scar on her arm.
"He did that, didn't he?" Arthur said slowly, feeling like he needed to watch his ground. "You know, you can call security, or lock your doors. You don't have to let him do this to you."
"He wasn't actually there." Gwen said, "And you can't lock out dreams no matter how hard you try." She flashed him a sad smile, tears shining in her eyes, "It's so hard to forget."
"I know the feeling." He slowly reached up, and caught one of the falling tears with a tissue he'd grabbed from the the nearby table. Arthur stood, and left for a moment, heading back to his room, and returning rather quickly, only to hold up a picture. It was time to talk. He hadn't even known her that long, but it felt like he had. "I still remember. And it happened a year ago."
"Who...who is that?" Gwen asked, wiping away her tears as she studied the picture of a beautiful young woman. Maybe...if he didn't push her, she would tell him her story on her own.
"Her name was Gabriella," He started out. "She committed suicide."
Gwen moved her eyes from the picture to his face. She didn't say anything. He would tell her in his own time.
"You're a lot like her, you know?" Arthur moved his glance from the picture to Gwen. "I kept getting you...it's complicated."
Gwen nodded. His reactions outside on the field. He had been seeing her, Gabriella. Not Gwen. It made sense now.
"I don't know why. I keep asking myself why." Arthur continued, shaking his head at the picture, and sounding bitter. "It must have me. I wasn't enough."
Gwen shook her head, "I'm sure whatever it was, it wasn't you." She said gently, "And you can't blame yourself."
"I've been trying." This time when he looked up, he was the one that had tears in his eyes, and he hated it. Crying in front of a girl he barely knew, but was so unnaturally attracted to. "All this time, to forget. But those three days were the worst I thought my life could get."
Gwen felt like she should talk. Just for the sake of telling him about her own problems. "I met Alex two years ago." She said in a quiet voice. "He seemed completely perfect...but then they always do." She paused, fingers running up and down the scar. "As time went on, we became closer. And then we were dating. But then he became possessive. He stopped letting me go anywhere, wouldn't let me see my friends, my family. So one day I tried to leave. He was practically keeping me prisoner. That's when he gave me this." She turned her arm to display the scar, long and ugly. "I almost bled to death. And that's when I knew I had to get out."
Arthur didn't reply for a long time, he felt he shouldn't - or maybe he couldn't. When he did, it was a simple and soft, "I'm so sorry. You deserve better."
Gwen smiled, "He keeps coming." She said, "Yesterday, I thought I would be able to handle him. Clearly I can't. And he's still there."
"Like I said," Arthur yawned, and blinked rapidly, trying to keep his eyes open. "You don't have to let him."
"I'm not trying to let him." She said. Gently, she tilted her head, resting it lightly on his shoulder as her eyelids fluttered. She was so exhausted.
That was a little awkard. Arthur tried not to frown at the memories that began to envelope him, and as sweetly as possible, remarked, "I have a guest room. If you'd feel better there, you're more than welcome to use it."
Gwen sighed, raising her head, "I should probably go back to mine." She said, "I just...needed to calm down."
"Really, if you'd feel safer here, you're welcome to the space." Arthur shrugged, and stood up, nodding to a door that led to a hallway. "Down the hall, three doors to the left." He didn't mention that having someone he barely knew sleep in his house was more than a little odd, feeling that she needed the shelter he was offering.
"No, really, it's fine." Gwen said, standing, "I just...needed someone to talk to I guess." She had truly calmed down now. She just needed someone to talk to every now and then.
"Well, you know where I am if you need me." Arthur yawned, barely able to keep his eyes open any more.
Gwen nodded, "Thank you." She said quietly, though for what she wasn't quite sure. She left, closing the door gently behind her before walking to the elevator.
"G'night." He didn't even bother to head to the bedroom, and simply shut the light, collapsing on the couch.