Seperation - Part 1

Chapter 7    Separation

Part 1

One day. Two days. Alone. Third day. Work was inevitable. Preparing for the upcoming “I am still music tour” was now critical, rehearsals were to begin within days. The past few days were hell. This new experience was not one she was happy to welcome into her life. Sleeping with a ghost, sitting in a memory filled bedroom, trying to get over the longing and be prepared for work; hoping he still thought about her the way she did about him. Rolling out of bed and shuffling through the dull, void room she forced the horrid thoughts and memories to the back of her mind, sliding into the shower, slowly but surely starting her day.

As she drove to the skyscraper, she paid no attention to the road that shimmered wetly in the new day sun. More than anything she hoped to see Safaree, praying he’d show up. Calling him was out of the question. As if he’d want to talk or see her. She wondered if this was really it, was he gone for good. In the past no matter how furious she’d made him he’d never left, or ignored her. This was something else entirely. Something she feared and hated with a passion. Lost in so many different ways, left in the darkness without her guide. Even now in this semi-crowed conference room, she was alone surrounded by no one who interested her. His absence had never been so loud.

Hours passed while cooled discussion floated about the room, but she heard nothing. Her shriveled, gasping heart ached to be back in synch with Safaree’s. Clustered groups of suits began evacuating the board room. A lone hand cradled Nicki’s shoulder.

“You okay baby girl?” It was James. She’d never noticed he was ever in the room, or anyone else for that matter. Keeping any emotion from leaking through her eyes she answered.

“Yeah, I’ll be out in a minute. Checking my messages.”

Alright. See you in a few days lady.” He kissed her hand before exiting the room. “This tour will be one for the books.” He called getting into the elevator.

Two voicemails lingered in her phone. She dared not get her hopes up. Only minor disappointment swept her when both were from Drake. Not much of a surprise there. She hesitantly played the first message.

Silence for the first two minutes. “Nicki, I need to talk to you. I got you something. I am truly sorry.”

His constant apologies only made things worse. After all it wasn’t his entire fault why things resulted this way. She had to take partial blame. Allowing him to hold her in such ways, allowing him to kiss her putting forth minimum effort to stop him, letting him advance time and time again. She was almost ready to accept the fact that maybe she was confused. Drake could possibly have her in some ways. Otherwise why would she let these things go on, the answer was still undecided.

Second message. “Come outside”

They were sent over an hour ago. Suspiciously, she fidgeted in the elevator, shuffling out into the marble lobby. She scanned the perimeter until Drake came into view at the far end of the lobby holding a pink rose.

Her stomach coiled as memories of the day Safaree proposed played like a movie. He’d showered her with roses of all colors; especially pink that being her favorite color. Drake was looking around; searching. His gaze didn’t focus on her face until she was nearly in front of him. One of the men she was in this dilemma with showed up to see her. His eyes lit up. The morning sun stretched through the large glass doors lighting half of her strained features. Scrutinizing her reaction to the flower he lowered it behind his back.

“Good Morning” He chimed, hoping she’d forgiven him and if not that he could make peace.

“What are you doing here?”

“I have a surprise for you, if you’d like to have it.”

“Don’t you think you’ve dished out enough surprises?”

He sighed, while she rubbed her temples. Being rude to him was a chore. Something she did though it hurt to. He didn’t look back to her, but at his feet.

“What is it Drake?”

He smiled victoriously. “You have to wait and see. Did you drive?”

“Yes, how else would I have gotten here.” It wasn’t a question. Guilt washed over him. It was his fault she had to do everything by herself now. Any normal she would have driven with SB and left with him.

“Look Nicki, I’m really am sorry, It’s just…I love you too.” Silence. “Anyway you don’t have to come if you don’t want to. I’m just trying to fix things.”

“I know you are”

Drake held his arm out, half grudgingly she wound hers through his. He lead her to the BMW she’d bought Safaree about a year ago. The slim valet man through Drake the keys. He opened the driver door for Nicki, sliding the key into the ignition.

“Follow me” He blurted scurrying over his perfectly engineered car. Pulling out he drove slowly past Nicki, smiling to himself when she pulled out behind him. Anxiety pulsed through her veins. Where was he leading her? What was he planning? How was this encounter going to play out? If it wasn’t for the guilt and sympathy she would have strayed off. But in spite of everything a small part of her wanted to go with him. The BMW freely followed the lush car ahead through LA. Pulling up to an unfamiliar condo complex that seemed to be somewhat leaning. The hot beams ricocheted off of every window of the building intensely lighting up the ground beneath. 

“Nicki? You getting out?” Drake asked tapping on the slightly tinted window. Her body responded before her mind, head turning unconsciously in his direction. When her mind refocused on reality, the car was already off keys in one hand while the other was pulling on the handle. She nearly stumbled from the car. Drake’s hands caught her, pulling her gently up and out onto the rocky street.

“You okay?” Concern radiated through his words. She just gave him a look. Accepting that was all he was going to get; he wrapped his arm around hers. He led the way through the lobby, into the elevator and down the fifteenth floor hallway. Everything was a blur without “his” identical heartbeat urging hers on. Her heart was lost, blindly and desperately searching for its match. This new thudding beat was unrecognized; a stranger’s. Her blood pulsed as the vital organ pushed harder to locate its life source.

Drake gestured toward the now open door, she dragged herself inside. Irrevocably ignorant to Nicki’s withheld body language; Drake smiled out the door, anxious to see where this day would take him. He would put her heart back together, wanting her to forget about all the bad.  It would be him that she craved, as he craved her. The door closed shutting the outside world out, and holding a new world safe inside.

~TBC~

You think you know. But you have NO idea ;)