Prompt# 299 - Commit- Where Thoughts Dwell - Tekia - Original

[tekia.livejournal.com]

Title: Where Thoughts Dwell
Fandom: Original
Prompt: Commit
Warnings: None
Rating: PG
Summary: Billie wakes up with no memories of how she ended up in the lap of luxury. Cont.
Their time at the police station was filled with long periods of waiting, shifting on uncomfortable chairs, and then more waiting in a different room on different uncomfortable chairs. Richard stayed with her as much as he could. Every few people that passed by stopped to chat with him or request an autograph. He was quick with his smile and freely gave out his favor, but didn’t stray too far from Billie’s side. She was grateful.
He promised to wait for her while she gave a short statement. She felt her face heat into a beat red flush as she confessed to the officer that she had no firm grasp of what had happened the night before. She had been set up on a blind date by her friend’s husband, so she didn’t know much about the man aside from his name.
She gave them Jess and Mike’s name and number and they promised a call to follow up.
Then they let her go and she suddenly felt as if the whole world had forgotten her. She stood in the middle of the rush of people, alone and frightened. The police officers were all busy with work, and civilians were moving around her with a purpose.
Something tight in her chest forced her to bite her lip lease she let out the sob building in the back of her throat. Just like that, she was back in high school when she had no friends and no purpose in life.
Someone bumped her shoulder and she jumped in her skin. She quickly grabbed her purse from the chair and pushed her way out of the station, seeing only the door and escape.
She wanted to go home. She wanted to go back to where she knew her place in the world. A shop girl that was good at her job with a cat that needed her to feed him. A hand on her shoulder stopped her mad rush from the building and then Richard Starter was there, one arm around her shoulders as she gasped for breath in his shirt.
“Shh,” he was saying, voice low as he carefully maneuvered them out of the open door and toward a bench surrounded with bright green bushes. Hidden from sight.
They sat and he offered her a napkin from the restaurant. She wiped her eyes, hating that she was crying at all. She blew her nose and finally gained the courage to look up at him. His hand was still heavy on her back, soothing as his palm rubbed over her shoulder blades.
“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.
He grinned. “Don’t be.” He leaned forward as if to confess a secret. “Helen and I had a bet on how long you would hold out.”
That shocked a laugh out of her and she looked back toward the police station. “I’m a fish out of water here.” She shook her head. “I need to go home.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
She turned to give him a confused look. “Why?”
“Because you’ve only been here, what three days? Los Angeles is a great place, and I insist you see more of it.” He stood. “Come on, let’s get you back to the hotel. Get some rest and things will look better with fresh eyes.”
She accepted his offered hand and stood with him. He once again led her to the car and held the door open for her.
She gave him the address of the hotel and they drove in silence as Billie tried to not focus on how much last night had upset her carefully constructed emotional balance.
From childhood on, she had always been easily upset and emotional. Throughout her high school career, she had learned to bottle up her emotions and strived for a happy medium. She had found it, and now it was all messed up.
What had she been thinking? The status quo had been just right, before she had come out here.
“You said that this was a vacation; what have you done here?”
She jerked back to the present and blinked startled eyes. How could she have forgotten that she was in a car with a world famous movie star? She licked her lips. “We went out to eat the night before last, and the day before that was when I arrived.”
He arched a black brow over his sunglasses. “Then they sent you out on a date?”
Billie felt her lips twist. “Apparently, Jess feels it’s her duty to get me a boyfriend. She’s happy in love, and so the rest of the world needs to get married as well.”
He smiled and switched lanes. “It’s like a plague,” he said, a chuckle in his voice. “This your hotel?”
She confirmed that it was and he carefully maneuvered his very nice, very expensive car into the small parking lot and parked next to the main office. Before she could remove her seat belt, he was out of the car and coming around to open the door for her once again. She smiled because he was offering her that megawatt smile that seemed to always make things better.
“Like I said,” he said as he walked her to her room, “Rest up and don’t let this scare you away.” He shrugged and leaned against the doorframe. “Else he wins.”
She smiled. That was so cliché. She nodded. “All right. Thank you. Thank you so much and tell Helen thank you too.”
He patted her shoulder and shoved away from the wall. “Take care, Billie Carter.”
She turned to watch him go. “Yeah, you too. Thanks again.”
He waved his hand over his shoulder and then disappeared around a corner. She opened her door and kicked off her shoes as soon as she entered the room. Suddenly all the life and vivid moments were gone and she was exhausted. She sat heavily on the bed and stared at the wall, bemoaning her state once again.
She scrubbed a hand over her face and groaned.
On the bright side, she had met Richard Starter, sex symbol and acting god. She grinned a bit wildly and flopped back on the bed.
She knew she was going to have to call Jess at some point, and she still really needed to shower, but for the moment, Richard was right. She needed more sleep. She curled up on the bed and pulled the comforter around her.
Right, sleep.
*_*_*
She woke up just as the sun was setting, thus shining though her hotel room window and began glaring into her eyes. She groaned and sat up after a small struggle with the blankets. With a yawn, she made her way to the bathroom. After washing her hands, she stared at herself in the mirror. She still had a bit of make-up from the night before smearing her face, and the make-up that Helen had applied was wearing off.
She looked terrible.
Shedding the dress from the night before, finally, she stepped into the shower and felt the warm water relax the aches and pains still present throughout her body.
Fresh and with her headache finally retreating, she emerged and dressed in her pajama pants and finally plugged in her cell. It turned on and beeped angrily at her. There were several missed calls from Jess, and no less than ten texts.
She sat on the bed, her wet hair hanging over one shoulder and pressed the call button. She put it to her ear just as Jess answered.
“Billie! Where have you been?”
“I’m sorry. I came home and fell asleep.”
“Josh said you left him and picked up a guy at the bar.”
Dumbfounded, Billie was speechless for a second before anger flushed her face. “Did he? How well do you know him?”
“He works with Mike. He’s been around a few times for parties and dinners. He’s a real nice guy, Billie.”
“He drugged me.”
“What!?” Even over the phone, she could hear the shocked, incredulous tone in her voice. “Are you okay? I’m heading over.”
“No, Jess, don’t. I just want to sleep.”
“What? Are you sure. No, this is my fault! I’m coming over.”
Billie shook her head. “Please, just let me sleep. Everything is taken care of, and it’s over.”
“Billie,” Jess groaned, and Billie could just see Jess sitting at her kitchen table, head in her hand. “I just want you to be happy. I’m so sorry this happened.”
“No more blind dates.”
“No more blind dates,” she agreed. “Billie, I really do want you happy. You’ve always been alone. It’s my greatest wish for you to find someone to be with.”
“It’s not easy for me, Jess. I just can’t open up like you to someone. I’m too much of a coward. I’m too afraid.”
“Oh, Billie.”
“Let me sleep, Jess. I’ll call you in the morning.”
“All right, promise me!”
Billie laughed. “Of course. Good night.”
“Good night, love.”
Billie clicked the phone off and tossed it aside. The cord jerked and it flopped closer than she meant and she shook her head before tossing herself back on the bed. She was going to regret it later, going to sleep with her hair still wet and not ironed, but she’d deal with it in the morning.
Taking to Jess had taken a weight off her shoulders she hadn’t realized was weighing her down. Jess hadn’t known what a creep that Josh guy was; she had been fooled just like Billie had been. Jess was still her friend, and that nearly broke her heart, knowing that she had doubted her for a moment when Jess had so quickly believed her over Josh’s lies.
Sleep snuck over her and before she knew it, her phone was beeping its seven AM alarm in her ear. She slapped a hand over it, the motion more muscle memory than thought as she turned it off for another ten minutes.
When the next alarm went off, she sat up and held a hand to her grumbling stomach. She was going to have to get dressed and iron her hair before she could go down to the café for breakfast, and she really wasn’t looking forward to it.
Instead of calling Jess, she texted her that she was awake and taking the time to groom herself properly before she faced the world at large. While she loved Jess like a sister, Jess this early in the morning just might be too much for her.
She dressed in her favorite jeans and top, spending an extra moment in the mirror to admire how they flattered her figure before she tackled her hair, the wild rats’ nest it was.
When her hair lay in straight lines and framed her face, she smiled and called herself well groomed. She pocketed her phone and slung her purse over her shoulder and headed down to catch a bite to eat. While waiting for her order to arrive, she called Jess and arranged to meet her that night for dinner.
She collected a few flyers for attractions and events in the area before she headed back to her room. She had just heated up a mug of tea in the microwave when there was a knock on the door. She groaned and stood.
Trust Jess to come running to her after she had told her that she wanted to be alone. She set her tea aside and opened the door. She gaped at Helen Starter standing there, neat heels that matched her blouse, perfect hair and make-up and large sunglasses on hiding her eyes, but nothing could hide the brilliant smile she was aiming at Billie.
“So, I thought I might do some shopping. My best friend Sue is busy planning for her gala tonight and so can’t go with me, but I really don’t want to go alone.” She reached out a hand and rested her fingers on Billie’s forearm. “Don’t make me go alone.”
Billie opened her mouth twice before she could make a sound and what came out wasn’t even a word. She held up a hand and twisted her fingers in the air, confused as to what was happening.
Helen gave her a little shove. “Go get your shoes and purse and let’s go. I have a driver waiting.”
“I-I.” She didn’t know what to say. Helen grinned.
“Come on!” She stepped into the room and quickly found Billie’s heels still lying where she tossed them the day before. Given no choice, Billie picked up her purse, pulled her shoes on and followed Helen down the hall and to the waiting black car with the driver standing next to the open door.
Helen ushered her in and Billie scooted over on the leather seat to the far side. Once the car was moving, Helen pulled off her sunglasses and glanced at Billie out the corner of her eye. “Relax, I don’t have any ulterior motives. It’s just shopping.”
“I’m not- That is, I don’t have much money to spend.” What little she had already spent was burning the lining of her stomach.
Helen waved her hand. “Money’s not an object.”
Billie waved her hand and then shook her head. “Oh, no, I can’t accept that.”
Helen made a face. “Of course you can. I don’t accept no for an answer.” She patted Billie’s hands. “You’ll get used to it. Richard did.”
Billie couldn’t hold back a startled laugh. She covered her mouth with her hand and glanced away.
“I thought that for the gala tonight I would get a new little black dress. Richard likes little black dresses. Miles, stop here and come back in three hours to pick us up.” When the car stopped, Helen opened the door herself and beckoned for Billie to follow her.
Billie gave herself up to Helen’s whirlwind shopping. They visited every shop and Helen begged Billie to try on each dress and blouse and cute shoes and pants that caught her eye. Helen only tried on a few dresses before she settled on a cute A-line dress with a small flare around the hem.
Billie tried to fend off the many items Helen wanted to buy for her, but couldn’t resist a summer dress in pale purple that stopped just above her knees and tipped off her shoulders. They were standing outside a shoe store pointing at the heels in the window when Helen confessed.
“I lied earlier.”
Billie turned to Helen, startled. She was getting used to being startled around the woman. “About what?”
“I did have an ulterior motive to asking you to come out shopping today.”
“And here I thought you just couldn’t stand the sight of my department store clothes.”
Helen laughed. “Sure, that too, but really, I want you to come to the gala tonight.”
Billie felt the blood drain from her face. “What? No, I couldn’t. I can’t!”
“Why not? Oh, please, come to the gala. I’ll make Greg escort you, and you can brush shoulders with some of the most famous people in Las Angeles.”
Helen had unleashed the highest level of puppy dog eyes on Billie that had Billie biting her lip and shifting from foot to foot. “I already committed my night to Jess and Mike. She’s worried about me and feeling guilty for setting me up with … him.”
Helen gave her a defeated look. “Surely not all night? The gala doesn’t start until ten. There’s a movie premiere beforehand, so if you have dinner early, you’ll have enough time to join us.”
“I’m not getting out of this, am I?”
“I never accept no for an answer.”
Billie laughed and turned on her heel, watching the pleased victory curve Helen’s lips. “Of course.”
She bumped into a man’s shoulder, but it really felt more like a rock wall. She stumbled back, dropping her shopping bag and nearly losing her balance. His quick reflexes caught her, one hand on her hip, the other on her shoulder.
“I’m so sorry!” Billie said, face once more flushing a bright red. She tried to step out of his grasp, but he held on a moment more.
“No, it’s quite all right,” he said, and Billie nearly froze. She knew that voice. Her head snapped up and she could feel her jaw drop. Quickly, she snapped her mouth shut with a click of her teeth and forced a smile. He was staring intently at her, his eyes as bright a blue as they had been in the movies. His mouth moved silently a moment before he quite visibly forced out, “Hi.”
Billie shot Helen a look. The other woman was standing with one fist propped on her hip, sunglasses hiding the laughter that Billie just knew was shining in her eyes. “Jeremy,” Helen greeted.
Jeremy Moss was a golden boy of film. He had dark blonde hair and big baby blue eyes and a fit body. He was every teenage girl’s dream date and middle aged woman’s fantasy. He had been very fair in his last movie, but his natural hair was much darker. Billie preferred him as a fair blond.
He smiled wide at Helen. “Helen! How are you?” His eyes turned toward Billie a moment before he forced them away from her and reached to embrace Helen. Over his shoulder, Helen winked at Billie.
Her face had to be tomato red. Her cheeks felt sun burnt.
Jeremy pulled away from Helen. “Introduce me to your friend.”
One fine brow rose above her glasses. “Should I? I don’t think I like that look in your eye.”
He grinned and turned toward Billie once again. Billie held out her hand. “Billie Carter.” He accepted her handshake with a warm smile.
“Jeremy Moss.”
“Yes, I know who you are.”
He hadn’t released her hand right away, and Billie carefully pried herself free. He released her hand as soon as she applied pressure, but his eyes were boring into her own, holding her captive. She felt Helen come up next to her.
“Really, Jeremy. You’re coming on kinda strong.”
He came to himself them, jerking his eyes to Helen, then back to Billie. “I’m sorry, it’s just, you’re really small.”
Billie narrowed her eyes. While she was very short, she wasn’t ashamed of it. And he was a giant. She folded her arms over her chest. He grinned and reached down to pick up her two bags. He offered them to her and she took them from him with probably a bit more force than the action called for.
“Thanks.”
His grin never left his face and he gestured vaguely with his hand. “I think you’re small enough I could just pick you up and carry you around with no effort.”
Helen chuckled under her breath. Billie nodded. “Right. Try it and I’ll kick you in your shin.”
He laughed and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I like you.”
The smile slipped from her face and she glanced at Helen. Helen took her silent plea and she put her arm around Billie’s waist. “Jeremy, we have a schedule to keep, so we’ll see you tonight at the Premiere Gala.”
Jeremy’s face was full of pleasure. “I look forward to it.”