Have you ever thought about how food can look amazing when you are hungry, but look like a disgusting pile of mush when you no longer can stomach the idea of eating? Well the spaghetti in the bowl before me suddenly looked like a train wreck. A pile of mush that resembled blood and guts. It looked how I felt. Awful. I don't know. Aiden's words echoed through my bones.

His words shouldn't have surprised me, but they did. He had dated before. He had nearly been engaged before. It wasn't his fault that I was a freaking hobbit living in a hole in the ground, determined to stay in my own world. But now, someone had opened up the possibility to more. And suddenly being inside the hole in the ground alone felt... incomplete. The Hobbit example broke apart pretty fast when I realized Aiden would have to be Gandalf in that analogy.

"Summers," Aiden called. But I didn't look at him. Instead, I pretended that I was hungry and shoved a fork full of spaghetti into my mouth, unable to taste any of it. It took all of my concentration to look calm, unbothered as I chewed. I won't look at him. I won't look at him. I won't look at him. Just pretend this mushy mess is good and then, leave.

"Laliana." His use of my first name melted my resolve to ignore him.

I stared over the side of the museum, trying to find photographers. How far could I get before Aiden or photographers found me? "Yes?"

"I know you have questions—"

"They don't matter." My voice sounded numb.

"They do. And I promised to show you my artwork—"

I looked up at him. "It's fine Aiden."

I stood abruptly, my chair screeching loudly behind me. "I'm going to go. You don't have to share anything else. Or answer any more questions."

"But—"

I felt off-kilter as the next set of words fell from my mouth, surprising me. "I will tell Sanders we are canceling our contract—"

"Laliana." Aiden stood to his feet. "Hold on."

"It's fine Aiden," I said my voice surprisingly calm. "I know Sanders wanted us to kiss for the cameras but..." I paused running my fingers through my hair. "I don't want to kiss someone who doesn't want to kiss me."

I pushed in my chair. "Thank you for dinner."

I walked towards the roof door, Aiden one step behind me. I turned and shook my head. "I have six bodyguards waiting outside. And you aren't my bodyguard anymore."

...

Once I was clear of the roof, I bolted. My boots echoing loudly as I sprinted down the hall, itching to be away, far away. I spotted the front door, and moved faster, ready for fresh air and some privacy. I just had to get past the cameras.

"Laliana!" Aiden shouted behind me, startling me as his voice echoed loudly in the otherwise silent space. I was almost to the front door when he finally caught up, reaching for the handle a half a second before I could grab it.

Cameras were already flashing outside. Aiden's back was to the door, looking down at me with an unreadable expression. "Can..." He cleared his throat, looking frustrated. "I didn't... I didn't handle that right," he said, his voice hard to hear over the commotion happening outside as they watched us through the glass.

I stood up on my toes and leaned towards him. His eyes went wide, confused for a brief moment. I brought my lips up to his ear and whispered. "Thank you for keeping me safe." Then I placed my hand over his, removing it from the door.

"I should have done better," he whispered as I moved past him and out into the night.

I smiled at the cameras, trying my best not to let them see that I had just broken up with my fake boyfriend. Does that even count?

Moving past them, they turned their attention back to the front door, waiting for Aiden, but he was gone. I bolted around the corner and made my way back to the hotel. Sticking to the shadows, I prayed the paparazzi would get bored and leave me alone. It was only when I had made it another block that I realized... I didn't have any bodyguards with me.

I turned, scanning the shadows, waiting for one of them to move closer, to catch up. I froze. Where are they?

Suddenly afraid, I continued walking, moving faster. It was a short walk to the hotel. I should be okay. They are probably just in stealth mode.

I heard a sudden crash to my left, down a nearby alley. I gasped and bolted like a scared bunny. Nope. Not taking any chances! I would rather look crazy than be dead. I heard someone swear, and soon, footsteps pounded behind me as I ran down the empty street.

My hair whipped out behind me, my heart roared in protest at my second sprint of the night. Suddenly, a hand snaked around my wrist in a vice. It yanked me back, tugging so hard that I stumbled and I was pulled into an alleyway.

I was shoved against the wall with a crack, the breath leaving my lungs. Suddenly, a hand wrapped around my throat and a pair of familiar eyes met mine. I took in the burly man with curly brown hair. He had a long scar along the left side of his face.

"Hello Laliana Summers. Have you missed me?" asked the man from the premier as he stared at me, a wild grin on his face.

"No," I croaked. There was no point in lying. I refused to play nice or lie when I was going to die. I wouldn't cower.

His fingers were rough as they dug into my neck. He used his free hand to trail a pattern down the side of my cheek. "I've made it very clear that I wanted you to go out with Decklan."

"Can't... really do that if... he's a... no show." I managed between strained breaths.

His eyes narrowed. "Then you should have just sat there like a good girl that got stood up. Or better yet, you shouldn't have angered Carter. They are good friends you know. But..." He sighed, his grip growing tighter, cutting off all oxygen. I struggled against him, but he was too strong, his second arm coming down and locking against my chest and crushing me against the alley wall. "Then you bring in that... nobody."

The man tsked. "He's not good for your brand. He's no one. And you are... everything. I thought scaring his family would spook him but... he's back." Spots filled my vision. My head spun with panic. What is he talking about? What had this lunatic done? Was Aiden's mom okay? Is that why he left?

Tears pricked at my eyes. "Why?" was all I managed.

"Because you have to fix your story Laliana. But first, you need to be punished for disobeying me."

Something glistened in his hand. A knife. He raised it up towards my face, hovering it over my left cheek. "It's time to leave you another note. One that you'll always remember."

---

Do you prefer shorter chapters or longer chapters?