Chapter 21
When I wake up in the morning Michael is on his phone no doubt talking to Adrian. I hear his words speak so fast that I can’t keep up. I sit up on the bed and reach into my pocket and take out my phone. I see that there are several unanswered texts, from Adrian,
Alanna are you ok?
Alanna are you ok?
Alanna why are you not replying?
Alanna please text me back.
Sorry Adrian I was sleeping I have just woke up I am fine. Adrian quickly replies
Don’t do that to me again I was out my mind with worry. I won’t Adrian were you just on the phone to Michael?
Yes I was giving him the details of the safe house I have bought for you.
What safe house?
Alanna it’s not safe for you to stay in college right now so I must ask you to take a break from it.
I can’t I have finals coming up I really need to pass them Adrian if I am going to graduate on time.
Alanna this is your life we are talking about I really can’t have you staying in that college with your life at risk.
But Adrian all my friends are here I need to graduate this year. Alanna I will talk to the board and make sure that you still get to graduate on time.
Adrian it’s not about that I am sure I could convince them myself but I want the whole college experience I want to be here with my friends and I can’t even bare to think of what my family would say.
Yes and I want you to live and have them but if you stay there then it’s not going to happen.
Alanna I am not asking you!
So you are telling me?
Yes it’s not a case of would you like to its that you have to. Adrian I don’t know what will I tell everyone?
You can tell them whatever you want.
Adrian I hate lying to everyone and I am really beginning to think that Sophie knows something is wrong.
Alanna I know it’s hard but it has to be done.
Ok I will have to pack then.
I really hate to do this to you but I am just so protective of you that I can’t think of you being hurt in any way.
Adrian will I be alone?
No Michael will be with you and I have security that will stay with you at all times.
So I have to stay with Michael?
Yes is that a problem?
No but it’s a little strange I am surprised that you are ok with this?
I am not ok with it but it’s your safety that I care about most. And I know that he won’t let anything happen to you he loves you so it would be the last thing he would want.
Adrian I need you to know that I love you and that nothing will ever happen with me and Michael.
I know that.
As long as you do I don’t want anything to go wrong for us. As long as I can keep you alive that’s all that I want.
I have to somehow come to terms with all this. And I have to think of what I will say to everyone. I can’t tell them the truth I couldn’t deal with everyone knowing there is no way my family could handle something like this. They would make me go straight to the police and that doesn’t even bare thinking about. I see that Michael has already started to pack so I think that maybe I should be doing the same. As I go over to the door Michael rushes over and grabs me by the arm. “Where are you going?” “I am going to pack is that ok?” “Wait till I am done I will take you” “Michael my room is two doors down I think I can manage” “no alanna” “Michael it’s just there” “are you going to make this difficult for me?” “no but I also need time to talk to Sophie and I can’t do that with you there” “Adrian will go nuts If he finds out that I have left you again” “then he doesn’t have to know I won’t tell him” Michael looks frustrated with me but he opens the door and walks me along to my room “I will be back in five minutes to check on you” “thanks” I say giving him a smile. I open the door and I see Sophie there with her boyfriend Dan “there is the stop out” Sophie’s says as she sits on Dan’s lap. “Sophie I need to talk to you” Sophie senses the urge in my voice and asks Dan to give us a moment. “What’s up?” “I am leaving college for a while” “why?” “I just need some time to relax its all getting a bit much for me and after the turn I had the other day I just don’t feel all that into it right now” “but finals are coming up you need to pass them if you are to graduate” “I know and hopefully I can carry on but I need away from here” “alanna what’s going on?” “Nothing I just feel stressed with all the pressure I need time away” “in other words what you really need is time away in London” I don’t really like Sophie’s tone she is being a little over the top about all this and I know that she was going to bring up Adrian. “Sophie don’t start” “it’s true I knew you were stupid in love with him but come on I never thought you were stupid enough to throw your life away like this for him” “Sophie are you listening to yourself? I am doing this for me I need to get away I can’t deal with all the petty dramas” “no alanna that’s not the reason” “then what is it then Sophie?” “that guy is controlling you and you can’t even see it” “no he’s not this has nothing to do with Adrian” even though I am telling Sophie lies I can’t help but feel annoyed with her why does she hate Adrian so much? She doesn’t even know him. “alanna don’t give me that I saw you with him the other night it’s like you are scared of him or something if he moves you move and I tried I really did I even told you that I was wrong about him but I wasn’t I don’t like him alanna” “I know you don’t and Sophie I think that you are just jealous and I don’t want to talk to you any more about this ok?” “Jealous you really think that low of me?” “Yes Sophie I do no one would go on about someone so much if they weren’t jealous” “alanna I don’t know who you are anymore it’s like he has you under a spell and I really think that you should wake up and see that he is not what he seems and break free while you still can” hearing Sophie’s words are playing hard on my mind this is my best friend and I am arguing with her something that I never used to do I can’t be in this room right now I have a funny feeling that Sophie and I will never be friends as long as I am with Adrian. But I can’t see myself without him I really don’t want to think about choosing between them. Because I know that if I have to then my friendship would be over because I would choose Adrian every time. There is no way I could live my life not with him. He completes me and I can’t see the bad in him. I know that everyday my life is in danger and I know that it wouldn’t be if I weren’t with him. But It’s like I don’t care I get a buzz from knowing that he would do anything to protect me. It’s as if I am the trees and he is the wind that blows through them.
I pack a suitcase consisting of mainly jeans and t shirts I guess I will be just hanging around some house all day so there is no need for anything fancy. When Michael comes to the door to look for me I can see Sophie out the corner of my eye she is rolling her eyes at me and shaking her head. Normally I would just ask her what her problem is but I don’t want to get started with her again. I don’t even look at her when I walk out I just close the door behind me and don’t look back. Michael and I walk down the hallway and into the office. I go in to see the head master before I leave. “Miss Hart please do come in I have been waiting for you” I walk over and take a seat at the front of Mrs. Henderson’s desk. She is a lady in her early 50’s with light auburn hair. She is also the kind of lady that you could tell was pretty in her day. The headmaster and I didn’t really get off to the best starts here at Columbia but now it looks like things have changed. “I understand that you want to take some time out” “yes I feel that college is a little too much for me right now however I do still want to graduate on time” “yes finals are coming up and I feel that if you want to graduate then you will have to sit them however giving how you feel and I know you had a little scare health wise the other day I have no choice but to let you have a break from college life however you must keep on studying” “Yes absolutely it’s not the work that’s getting on top of
me it’s the college life that I need a break from” “tell me about it I feel like I need a vacation every time I go home” “thanks Mrs. Henderson you don’t know how much I appreciate you understanding” “you make sure and thank that boyfriend of yours for the donation he gave us” “boyfriend?” “Mr. Black he gave us a large donation and in return he wanted your break from college to be overlooked when it’s time for graduation you have a good one there don’t let him go” I smile and get up to leave the office I turn back round to the headmaster and say “thanks again” she smiles and I walk out the door. When I do I see Michael standing waiting for me holding my suitcase and his own bags he looks so bored standing there I almost feel sorry for him. He must miss his family and the last thing he probably feels like doing is to stay in a house with me. Michael and I step out onto the cold street and there is a black escalade waiting to take us to the house. Michael hands over the bags and the address of where we are going. I never stopped to think of that I could be going anywhere I didn’t know what to expect. “Michael where is this house?” “Soho” “do you think that Adrian is over reacting to all this?” “No I don’t he knows that these people are serious in there threats” “who are they?” “alanna don’t start with all the questions I have no answers you have to ask Adrian” “he doesn’t tell me anything” “he told you about his childhood didn’t he?” “Yes but just parts about how abusive his mom was” “did he tell you about David?” “yes he said that David was an evil man he told me that he made him take drugs and he used to beat him” “alanna maybe there is something in that which is the answer to your questions” “is it David that’s after me?” “No David is dead” “dead? What happened?” “Talk to Adrian” I know that Michael wants to tell me more I can see it on his face. But I don’t want to push him we have just started to talk nicely to one another and I don’t want to ruin it. I feel the car come to a stop and Michael quickly opens the door and we are in soho alright. The very place that I have always loved. The building in which we staying is white and oversized. The first thing I notice when I walk in is the two huge security guards that stand either side of the door. Michael tells me to wait by over by them as he walks over to the girl that is sitting in a reception box. She smiles at him and stares deep into his eyes she hands over the key and Michael waves me on. As I follow him into the elevator I feel weird like I am doing something wrong. Like I shouldn’t be here but I know that I have to. The condo that we have been giving is right on the top floor and I am led to believe that it’s the largest one in the whole building. Michael opens the front door and I gasp in amazement the condo is gorgeous and so oversized I walk in and I am still in surprise as to how lovely it is. It’s designed in crisp white finishing’s with black furniture. There is a massive TV on the wall and a huge fireplace. The kitchen is massive and is modern designed. Michael leads me into one of the bedrooms and places my suitcase on the bed. “I will be in the living room if you need me” I smile at him and he closes the door behind him. I hear a text on my phone I have a new message from Adrian,
Alanna have you settled ok?
Yes the condo is lovely.
I’m glad you like it I left something for in the closet of the main bedroom.
What is it?
Go have a look.
I walk over to the closet and open the door I see that it is full of clothes New dresses and handbags of every kind there are loads of new shoes in boxes and bags full of new jeans and sweat suits. There is also a small tiffany bag sitting on one of the shelves I go over and open it to find a diamond necklace in the shape of the letter A.
Adrian you didn’t have to buy me all that
I wanted to do you like everything?
Yes everything is great.
I have got you a personal shopper and she will go out and get you anything you want all you have to do is ask ok?
Ok, but Adrian I really just wish that I had you here. I know is Michael treating you ok?
Yes he is been fine so far I feel guilty for putting this on him. Don’t be its not your fault.
Adrian when are you going to tell me the truth about everything?
Soon I promise, before I forget there will be two body guards in the house all the time one will stay outside the door and the other will be inside ok?
Ok I guess I better get used to all this how long do you think I will have to stay here?
Three Thousand Miles To You Page 15
