The next day..

After the conversation between myself and Zak yesterday, things just seemed off. I had woke up from my nap to a quieter more reserved Zak and no matter how much I tried to entice a conversation, he just seemed a million miles away.

It was now morning and things hadn't really changed, we woke up, had minimal conversation before having breakfast in almost complete silence.

I hated it.

Our vibe had gone, our energy of bouncing off each other had dissolved and I was beginning to think that maybe he is fed up of my company, that I had brought trouble to his door. I know I said I would stay another week, but I have considered going back to my own house, before I ruined whatever this was.

So whilst I still deliberated that idea, I kept quiet, read a book on his couch in the morning sun and tried not to be a nuisance.

"You all right?" Zak asks passing through the lounge, looking up from his phone.

I smile, pleased that he had started a conversation and not walked through... God I was becoming needy.

"Yes thanks." I reply, before taking in his clothes and hair. "Are you off to the museum today?"

"I am actually off to a meeting about the show."

"Important one?"

"Kinda. I think it's important for the people around me." He says, shaping up his hair.

"Fair enough."  I reply getting up off the couch and walking over to him. I can't help but smooth over the lapels of his jacket. "Drive safe."

"I will. Be good."

"I can never promise that."

He chuckles gives me a kiss before heading out, leaving me with my phone, thoughts and Gracie.

Maybe it's me, maybe it is all in my head? Maybe I'm overthinking things again?

Sighing, I flop down on the couch and stare at the door, like a dog desperate for it's owner to come back I end up picking up the book and putting my nose between the pages again.

When the book fails to distract me from my thoughts, I set it down and look around the house. Knowing I had a few hours to kill, I hop up and begin some housework. Cleaning clears the mind, or something like that.

From stripping the bed, to washing, pressing shirts, to playing with Gracie and dusting chess pieces.

Yes I am that bored.

After that, I am back on the couch, staring at the book as if it has become an imaginary friend, when I hear the front door open and close.

"Hey." Billy smiles.

"Hey Billy, whats up? How did your meeting go?"

"I'm good, what meeting?"

"The one about the show... The one Zak has gone to."

Billy looks at me confused "I don't.- We had a video call the other week with the network. There isn't one booked for today." He pulls his phone out and checks before frowning. "Nope, that's why I am here, me and Zak were going to shot some lead. I take it he isn't here then?"

I shake my head, realising that he has lied about where he is going. "Maybe I got it wrong? Maybe there is a meeting at the museum?"

"No, he wasn't going in today. Bacon isn't going in either as he is spending time with his son."

My stomach sinks a little but I nod "Must have misheard him then."

I know for a fact I didn't...

He lied and I don't know why. It's not like we are married and I have to know where he is to, I was just taking an interest in what he had planned for today. Apparently lying to me was on that list.

"Man that sucks.." Billy sighs rounding the couch to sit opposite me. "I really wanted to go and shoot some shit."

"You have a gun?"

"Yeah, Zak has the best ones though."

I tilt my head "He has guns, plural?"

Billy nods. "In the garage. You haven't seen the gun cabinet? The black box in his garage."

Curosity gets the better of me and I jump up. "Show me."

We both head through the kitchen and out the side door, leading into the garage, once we are inside, I begin looking around, until I see Billy move a large box aside revealing the cabinet.

"In here." He says tapping the metal case with his knuckle.

I walk over and pick up the padlock. "Do you know the combination?"

"Yeah, but I don't think we should get them out." He says.

"Killjoy... So Zak isn't here. Wanna go shooting with me instead?"

Billy looks at me, debating on the best way to say no, when I hit him with "Come on, we are both at a loose end and I'm bored of sitting in the house. It's actually sending me out of my mind.. Please?"

I can tell the second I've changed his mind as his eyes shift with surrender. "Let's go."

"Yes!" I hiss, pumping my fist. "Let me get my shoes!"

After a quick run around the house making sure it is all locked up, I leave Zak a note and stick it on the fridge before making sure Gracie was set up for whilst I was out.

"Be a good girl." I tell her before locking the door behind me and running down the drive to jump into Billy's SUV.

"Seatbelt." He says as soon as I'm in the seat. I click myself in and grin. "You ever shot a gun before?"

I look over "First time for everything. Right?"

-------------------------------------

Zak POV

Public place, that is where Mia wanted this...

So that is why I was stood in the park, like a freakin' idiot waiting for her to show up. With folded arms, I glare around the green trying to spot her, but when I fail to see her and checking my watch to see that she is also late, I decide to head off.

"Going somewhere?"

I turn and find her approaching with a coffee in her hand. "Didn't think you were going to show up."

"You wanted to meet."

Her eyes are full of challenge and I head back towards her as she sits at a picnic bench. She sets her bag on the table, watching as I sit opposite her. "I did."

"Why?"

Is it bad that I want to reach across the table and strangle the smirk off her face? That she is the reason Elle is so withdrawn at home right now?

"You've got an issue with me. You reported Elle missing. I had the police show up at my house, suspecting that I had abducted her."

Mia looks around, as if she is bored of the conversation, but I wasn't. I was fucking fuming with her.

"I don't know if you realise this, but I have a reputation, I am o-"

"Oh you have a reputation alright." She interrupts. "I read all there is to know about you. From past to present."

"I'm on TV, Mia. I have a reputation. But I don't care about that, that you rang the police and potentially highlighted me for some gossip rag online to write a shitty article. What I care about, is the ridiculous amount of stress you put Elle under."

Her bored expression snaps to agitated instantly, making me lift my chin. I wasn't here to back down and roll over. I was here to put this bitch in her place.

"You.." I point to her. "Put Elle under so much stress that day with Sophie and Ed, that she had a seizure. A big fucking one. You put her under so much pressure and upset that she collapsed, smashing her head off marble floor, do you know what that sounds like? The sound of a skull bouncing off the floor at a five foot drop, plus her weight? Because I do. It's imprinted... In here." I growl pointing to my own head.

Mia's eye twitches but she sits opposite me, without a word.

"I read everything, everything I could about Elle's condition. I watched videos and trawled through support pages. But nothing prepared me for when she hit the floor. I was almost physically sick hearing her head. But then she began fitting.." I say, pausing as the images flood back.

"Her poor body, struggling to cope with the electrical impulses her mind was firing. The struggling sound of her lungs, the blood seeping out of her mouth..." I take a breath.

"The tears she cried when she came around. The shame she felt when she realised that she lost control of her bladder... You. You caused that! For what? This fucking vendetta against me! A man you've never met before!" I snarl.

"I-Is she okay?" Mia asks.

"As if you fucking care." I bite. "And after a week, of watching her laugh, giggle, smile and relax, we have the police on my doorstep.. Bringing all that pressure back. She has gone back in this.. This shell that I've been coaxing her out of.  She thinks I'm at a meeting right now, with the channel. Already I am fucking lying to her because I want this over with."

"All about you, huh?"

I frown "How the fuck have you got that idea?"

"You read this, you read that, you heard this, you watched this, you have done this, you coaxed her, you lied. Continue, it's bound to be about you." She says.

Lord, give me strength...

"The reason and only reason I am here, is for Elle. I don't give a shit about me, but what you are doing to her? Is cruel. She turned her phone off to get away from you. But not before telling Henry, her boss, your boyfriend, that she was taking time out. So tell me, after all that, why the hell would you go to the police, waste their time and have them turn up asking questions?"

"I needed to know she was safe."

"She is if she hasn't got stress and all you are doing is overloading her with it!"

"And you know that how? You've spent a week with her, you don't know what she is capable of handling." Mia replies.

"I think I have a pretty good idea. So, let's get down to it. What is your problem with me?"

"What is right with you? That is a more suitable question."

"Well don't hold back." I tell her folding my arms.

Do you know what is difficult, sitting opposite someone and letting them drag you through the shit and grime that they have found. As Mia rattles off all my faults, I can't help but wonder what is fuelling her hate?

Was it Elle being happy? Was it because Elle wasn't completely focused on her? Was it Mia being jealous?

Unless.....

"You're a manipulative, cheating sack of shit!" She hisses.

"Manipulative.." I repeat.

"Yeah, you are."

"You know what I am finding really hard to swallow?" I ask. "Is how you claim to be such an incredible friend to Elle?"

"I am."

"Where the fuck were you when Cole was treating her like shit? Where were you when he broke her spirit, her soul, her energy? Where were you when she hated her body?"

"I was there!" She shouts back before lowering her voice. "I didn't know but she knew I was there for her."

"Were you?  Elle has told me everything about Cole. How you told her I was like him. It's what happens when you spend time with someone you trust and care about. You talk. A lot."

"You are like him."

"Am I? Do you know that or is that based off the shit-file you built on me? Let's be honest, you didn't see Cole for what he was. So how do you know you've got it right this time?"

Her eyes harden.

"Do you have it on you? I'd like to read it myself, if that's alright." I question.

"I don't. Are you that self absorbed that you want to read about your disgusting traits?" Mia asks me, trying to fuel my anger.

She wants me to channel it, maybe to lash out? To really unleash whatever she thinks I have in me. She probably has someone listening, waiting or watching for me to fuck up, to act out and maybe shout at her. This woman was clearly hell bent on fucking things up for me and Elle.

So, for that reason, I take the preverbal gloves off.

"Is it your bitterness that fuels you? The idea that Elle has someone else? That she is happy?"

"You don't know shit." She spits at me. I watch Mia's hand bunch up, her anger getting stronger.

"Is it because I was able to swoop down and whisk her off her feet? That Elle isn't falling for your bullshit anymore? That you can't push Ed on her? That you can't control every single aspect of her life?"

"I'm not the control freak." She growls.

"Or is it because you are so in love with her and she has failed to see it?"

Her face pales and I sit back.

Take that you bitch.

It takes a few seconds for Mia to gather her thoughts. But I know I've hit a homerun. This isn't about me, my past or what I'm suppose to be. It's about Elle. It's always been about Elle.

"Is this another manipulation technique?" She forces out, trying to remain this strong position in front of me, but I see through it.

"I'm all about the truth."

"Weird considering people call you a compulsive liar."

"They can call me whatever the fuck they want. I've had years of it, Mia. I'm used to it. But all you have done, is show Elle what an ugly human you've turned into."

"You don't know her like I know her. Elle is-"

"You don't have to tell me who Elle is." I interrupt her. "I might not have years of friendship with her. But I know her. I know that when she gets excited, she can't remain still. That when she enjoys food, she wiggles in her seat. That she loves baking and is fucking incredible at it. That her soul is pure and despite what Cole, you and Sophie subjected her to. That she still has faith in humankind. That she is forgiving and honest and loyal. That she loves crime documentaries as much as me, she hates liquorice, she prefers the left side of the bed, she prefers wearing my shirts because they have my cologne on, that she treats Gracie as her own, that she has spent this entire week with me, happier than ever and has had no sign of a seizure because her stress levels have been down to zero."

Mia's lip snarls slightly. But I am not done with her. Not yet.

"Elle, is an incredible woman and I'm lucky to be in her presence some days... I came here to sort this all out, to clear the air and deal with the problem between us. But I am not the problem, I never was. I was just caught up in your obsession with her."

"Fuck you." She growls at me.

"You are not Peach and she is not you Beck. You do not own her."

"References to You, from one psychopath to another, I guess.."

"What can I say? Elle likes watching it whilst curled up beside me. Her head, over my heart.." I say, getting up from the bench. "I would like to say it's been nice meeting you, but it's a fucking lie. I'm going to go back now, back to the most amazing woman I've met in a hell of a long time.... You know, who I am talking about."

Mia shoots out of her seat. "I will fucking end you!"

"Try me!" I growl back at her. "Do your worst. But remember, the problem isn't with me, it's you. What did you think would happen? Just out of curiosity? Were you going to get her a little tipsy? Tell her then and hope she felt the same way? Were you going to see how far you could go-"

"I'm not a fucking predator!" She shouts at me.

"No and neither am I!" I snap, slamming my hand against the bench. "A part of me feels sorry for you, it does. And then I remember, I hear the sound of Elle's skull, slamming into that marble and that small part of me, the sympathy, disintegrates. You may have looked out for her before, but you hurt her and crushed that beautiful soul.  I'm here now and it will not be happening again. So you better get used to having me around Mia, because I am not going anywhere."

I expected some screaming, maybe shouting and a storming off.

What I didn't expect was epic slap she delivers across my face... The pain is unimaginable, but instead of reaching across the table and strangling her, like I would love to do right now. I smile.

"I don't want your fucking pity." She seethes.

"Good because I'm all out. Now I'm leaving, to go home, where Elle is staying until she wants to go home, that's if she even wants to go home. If she doesn't, I've got space in my wardrobe, home and heart for her."

I don't wait for a response from Mia, I push off the bench and walk off, back to my car, whilst trying to stretch out my face which is burning hot.

Getting back into my car, I pull down the sun visor and check my reflection in the mirror, as I suspected, a huge fucking welt on my face.

Starting up the car, I pull out the parking lot and head back home. Driving slower than normal because I have a small bit of hope that this mark will go down and I won't have to explain it to Elle.

I know I'll eventually have to tell her what went down, preferably before Mia can twist it. I also know I will have to apologise for lying to her too.

Getting back home, I walk into a silent house.

"Hello?!" I call out, waiting for the rush of excitement that I'm always greeted with.

She isn't on the couch. Strange.

Walking into the kitchen, I find Gracie on her bed asleep.

"El?!" I call again.

I'm about to go looking for her when I spot the note..

- Pinocchio. I'm with Billy. There was no meeting today. El x-

Shit, she knows I lied...