Exit Stage Six: A Contemporary New Adult Romance Novella (3 page)

Pounding on my front door.

“London!”

I sighed and put the photo I’d just developed into the
fixer.

“Just a minute!” I shouted. I stood watching the timer click
down and the pounding resumed on my front door.

“London answer the door!” came the muffled shout.

“Just a minute more, God!” I shouted back.

I deemed it long enough that the picture wouldn’t spoil if
light pollution got to it from my opening the bathroom door. I ducked out
quickly and went for the front door as a fresh set of pounding started.

“What!?” I demanded jerking the door open with a glare. It
was matched by one from Evan.

“You left.” He scowled and I felt a twinge of guilt that was
quickly swamped by indignation. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly and
tried to get a grip. My patience firmly back in place I was calm when I spoke.

“I had things to do.” I said gently.

“Look, I uh…” He closed his eyes and palmed the back of his
neck.

“What is it Evan?” I asked and let my hand slide from my
door knob. I loosely crossed my arms.

“Nothing,” he said sourly, adding “Sorry I bothered you.” He
turned to go and my patience tucked tail and fled.

“Really!?” I demanded.

“What?” he looked over startled, half way down the stairs.

“I don’t know, how about ‘I’m sorry for crashing in your apartment
in a drunken fugue London,’ or better! ‘I’m sorry for being such a dick London,
I’m going through something right now…’ God! You’re acting like you’re entitled
or something. Like I’m beneath you and you can do whatever you want! I want to
be your friend, I’m trying to be your friend but I’m sorry Evan!” I threw up my
hands. I kept back what I wanted to finish saying, that he’d pissed me off, the
look on his face was sort of heart wrenching, I’d never seen a man look like
such a lost little boy before. My tone gentled.

“Look, I know what it’s like and it sucks but you can’t
treat me this way. I won’t stand for it.” I looked at him, a war of emotions
crossing his face, loss, anger, hurt, and finally a grim resignation settled
in. He opened his mouth to say something, closed it, and took off down the
stairs.

I sighed, the buzzer went off in my bathroom and I went back
in to finish my work, Evan’s words ringing in the back of my mind, the memory
of his breath, warm on the back of my neck…
“I lost my best friend... He
died.”
I knew what that was like, I really did and I wanted to help but
when it had happened to me, there wasn’t anything anyone could do to help. I’d
had to do it on my own. All anyone could do was just be there and not give up
on me.

Evan had been here for a few weeks by now and I couldn’t
ever remember anyone stopping by. Maybe he didn’t have anyone. I had a lot on
my plate, it was true, but I think this was something I could make time for.

Ugh, God.

I was such a sucker. I mean would I even be doing this if I
wasn’t attracted to him?

Yes.

It was who my father had raised me to be. I picked up my
camera and opened my front door, after all the photos I’d wanted to have prints
of had been developed I was still short for my project. That and I needed some
fresh air after all of the fumes. It had been a couple of hours since Evan had
been here and I thought for a moment, hand resting on my doorknob, about going
up to check on him… if he was even home. I decided against it.

When I opened my door I was halted by the sweet smell of
lilies. I looked down to see a big bouquet of them in a glass vase on my
doorstep. I softened a little, they had to be from Evan, who else would bring
me flowers? I picked up the white blooms and looked for a card, plucking it
from the plastic holder.

I’m sorry for being such a dick London. I’m going through
some shit right now. –Evan

I smiled. Okay. Mind changed, I sighed and went up, rapping
gently on his door after locking my own, leaving the lilies on my night table.

There was no answer.

That was okay. I went out to take my pictures feeling
marginally better.

Stage 3

Bargaining

It was the next week when I heard him on the stairs. He was
with someone, they were making a lot of noise as they staggered up the stairs,
laughing. I opened my front door as they were about to take the final flight up
to Evan’s door.

“Evan?” I spoke softly into the dark.

He turned, a trashy looking blonde woman against him, both
of them drunk, he blinked owlishly at me and I sighed inwardly. I’d kept
telling myself not to get my hopes up but somehow they’d crept up there any
way, now here they were crashing down around me.

“Evan?” the girl said and giggled like it was the funniest
thing she’d ever heard. If it walked like a drunk, talked like a drunk, it was
a drunk.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you, we’ll be quiet. Wouldn’t
want London Bridge to fall down.” He cracked up and wobbled on his feet, it did
not go unnoticed by me that the red lipstick smeared across the blonde girl’s
mouth was also smeared across his. I swallowed my bitter disappointment and
sighed.

“I don’t get it, why is that funny?” the girl asked.

“Because she’s London.” He waved his hand dismissively in my
direction and I retreated back into my apartment.

I closed the door on them and listened to them trudge up the
final set of stairs. I swallowed back the bite of tears and rolled my eyes. I
didn’t even know why it mattered to me. Evan was a big boy and could do whoever
he wanted. Disappointment tightened my throat.

I got ready for bed and turned on some classical music to
drown out the sounds coming from the apartment above me. I was a heavy sleeper,
so all I needed to do was get there. I heard a loud thump, some hysterical
laughter and then it got really quiet for a minute.

A cry. A moan. The sharp report of a hand connecting with
flesh.

“Oh yeah! Spank that ass baby!” she screamed.

Gross.

I turned up my classical a little louder and put one of my
pillows over my head to drown them out. I really didn’t want to know.

~*~

It was quiet. I woke with a start and didn’t know why I was
awake. I sat up and blinked. It was dark, really dark, the deepest part of night
that was four am by the clock on my bedside table. A shadow moved across my
window and I shrieked.

“Shh, London, it’s just me.” I blinked.

“You broke into my apartment!?” I cried.

“You left your window unlocked.” He said, and I stared at
the shadow open mouthed as he palmed the back of his neck.

“You mean
you
left my window unlocked when you used
the fire escape to break into your own apartment after you passed out in my
bed.” I crossed my arms suddenly angry at myself as much as him for not checking
the damned window.

“Yeah, that’s what I meant.” I could hear his smile but I
couldn’t see it, the light coming through the window behind him as it was.

“Evan what are you doing here?” I demanded tiredly, both
emotionally and physically at this point.

“I was wondering if I could sleep here, you know, next to
you like I did before.” He stood stock still, head bowed; hand still holding
the back of his neck. Waiting expectantly.

“What, the blonde not enough for you, figure you’d hit me up
too?” my tone was caustic but I couldn’t help it, the audacity of this man!

“I kicked her out.” He said sheepishly.

“Wow. Classy.” I said.

“No, not after,
before
we did anything.” He sad
impatiently, straightening. I snorted. He still sounded half drunk.

“Sounded like you did plenty to me.” I put on a high whiney
tone, “Oh yeah spank that ass baby!”

“You were listening?” he sounded equal parts indignant,
horrified and embarrassed.

“Evan, these walls are paper thin, wasn’t like I had a whole
lot of choice.” I felt my shoulders drop.

“I couldn’t do it.” he blurted out.

“Do what?” I asked growing impatient, I was seriously
contemplating figuring out a way to call the cops. I don’t know, maybe I was
naïve, but I never once felt threatened by Evan, not even with him standing in
my apartment uninvited at four in the morning.

“Her. I couldn’t do her.” He said and he sounded
uncomfortable so I pushed, I was feeling catty; what can I say?

“Why?” I asked.

“Why what?” he asked.

“Don’t play dumb Evan, why couldn’t you do her?” I asked
more softly, genuinely curious but half dreading his answer.

“Because she wasn’t you, and no matter how much I closed my
eyes and tried to pretend she was, I couldn’t.” I felt a little thrill course
through my veins at his words. Creepy? Yeah, but also incredibly… honest. He
turned and dropped down, sitting heavily on the edge of the foot of my bed.

There was a long moment of silence while I fought with
myself over what to do next. Finally I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d
been holding.

“Okay, come on.” I said, flinging back a triangle of covers
in invitation. It was official, I needed a name change from London Everleigh
Greene to London Doormat Greene because it really did fit so much better.

“Really?” he asked and he sounded like a lost little boy.

“On one condition.” I said trying to save myself from
feeling totally used.

“What?” he asked and it was eager apprehension that colored
his voice.

“You answer a few questions.” I answered softly, adding,
“About yourself.”

He stood and it seemed he was at war with himself, finally I
heard his leather jacket creak and fall to the floor.

I watched his silhouette pull his shirt over his head and go
for his belt.

“You had so better not be getting naked.” I said.

“No, just losing the jeans.” He said freezing in place.

“Okay.” I said finally.

He toed out of his boots and stepped out of his jeans,
stripped off his socks and came around the side of the bed, getting into it. I
turned to face him this time and he lay down facing me. I could see him now,
the spill of light from the unobscured window falling across his fine features,
turning his green eyes nearly translucent.

“Tell me about your friend.” I said softly.

“We grew up together, neighbors in a small town.” He
swallowed hard.

“And?” I prompted.

“We were best friends since kindergarten, we did everything
together… In high school we started a band. We were like brothers. D. was like
everything I wanted to be and then some, I had the words but he… he had the
voice and the knowhow and made it
flow
… It should have been me.” He said
the last brokenly, tears glittering barely suppressed. His shoulders shook and
he laid his arm across my body where my ribs dipped down before the swell of my
hip.

“I would give anything to take his place.” He said, voice
thick.

“It should have been me, he should still be here.” He shook,
and I sighed.

I smoothed the hair back from his forehead with a gentle
hand and he bent, forehead pressing to my chest above my breast. He buried his
face into my chest and sobbed. I ran my fingers through his hair and made
soothing noises.

“Shhh, go ahead and cry.” I told him.

“I’m here.” I said, “Just let it out.”

…and he did.

Sunlight streamed through the windows. I was going to either
be late to or miss class, but it was worth it to watch Evan sleep. I reached over
to the bedside table and picked up my digital. I wished I could capture this on
film but I would have to get up to get my AE-1, my Olympus was right there…

Evan lay on his stomach, half of his face buried in the
white cloud of my pillow, the other, slack with sleep, was just brutally
beautiful. His tattoos were bright against my white sheets where his shoulder
lay nearest me, the expanse of his back muscled without being over developed
was smooth and unmarked. His one arm, the one sleeve was his only tattoo that I
could see.

I smoothed his hair gently off of his eye, and arranged it
artfully along the side of his face, his long lashes a dark crescent above the
sharp jut of his cheekbone. I lined up the shot, adjusted the focus… God the
light was
perfect.
I snapped the picture. His green eye opened at the
sound of the shutter, his lips curling into a smile at the corner and before I
lost the opportunity I captured that as well.

“Really?” he asked sardonically.

“You owed me two.” I said softly and he groaned.
Cue
hangover misery.
I thought to myself.

“What time is it?” he asked.

“Eight-thirty.” I said softly.

“Don’t you have class?” he asked.

“Some things are more important.” I said truthfully.

“You’re too good.” He stated flatly and pushed himself up
and over, flopping onto his back. He stared at the ceiling for long moments.

“Don’t even think about it.” he said when I raised my
camera. I laughed.

“Why not?” I asked.

“You said I owed you two.” He said holding up two fingers,
“You got them.”

“You’ve been a dick more than two pictures worth.” I stated
dryly and he scowled.

“I know.” He said and looked at me.

“Why do you put up with my shit?” he asked.

“Why do you keep shoveling it in my direction?” I countered.

“I don’t know.” He said and he was frowning as he thought
about it.

“Me either.” I said softly and raised my eyebrows, though I
had an idea... It felt like Evan Lake was testing me.

He propped himself up on one elbow and winced. I went to
throw back the covers and get up but his hand shot out and grabbed my wrist to
stop me. Not hard, just there. Goosebumps swept up my arm from where he touched
me. I swallowed.

“Sorry. Give me a minute before you do that.” He said and
swiftly let me go.

“Uh, why?” I asked.

“It’s first thing in the morning and I’m a guy.” He stated
dryly.

“Oh.” I said frowning and then it dawned on me, “Oh!” he
laughed.

“I like you L.B.” he said. I scowled.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.

“What that I like you?” he asked giving a luxurious stretch.

“No, L.B.”

“London Bridge.” He said and I frowned. He smiled.

“Not sure I like that.” I said.

“Noted.” He looked me over, really looked.

“What?” I asked.

“I know we didn’t but first thing in the morning, with your
hair all like that, you’ve got that freshly fucked look.” He said calmly. I
felt my eyebrows go up.

“Come again?” I said.

“That’s my fucked up way of telling you that you look
beautiful.” He said and cleared his throat. I felt myself color.

“Oh. Thank you.” I said.

“One day when I’m not so fucked up in the head, I’m going
to.” He said and got up. I frowned at his retreating back as he headed for my
bathroom.

“Going to what?” I asked, heart in my throat.

“Kiss you at the very least.” He said and I blinked as he
shut the bathroom door behind him.

Well Hell.

I pressed my thighs together around the sudden warmth at
their apex. I had mixed feelings over what he’d just said and unfortunately no
map with which to navigate through the tangle.

I got out of bed and when he emerged from the bathroom had
it neatly made. He silently moved around the small space getting dressed. I got
him a glass of water, handed him two aspirin and started the coffee.

I didn’t know what to say so I didn’t say anything…