Heartbreak

On The Run- Part 6

michelleleighwrites 1 Comment

 

 

ontherunposter*** Read Part 5 HERE

Sage sits there in bed next to this man who has oddly become her everything in the last few days. A blank stare dresses her face. Caught between confusion and budding anger. Someone can’t actually fake feelings like that, can they? From the moment she locked eyes with Charlie while sitting in the back seat of his car, she felt a spark. The way he looked at her, the way he touched her, the way he protected her-it was everything Sage had ever wanted in a man, in a partner.

yesssss

Was Charlie just playing me this whole time, she thinks.

Was I just being completely delusional and irrational to think that a man would come along and want me for me? All of me? Even the bad stuff? Even the difficult stuff? Even the things I most regret? I should have known he was too good to be true, too good to be trusted.

Unsure which feeling will win in the end, Sage realizes there are two parts colliding within her. The part of her that wants this beautiful, kind, caring man to be allowed time to explain. And the part of her that wanted to flee and never look back. Putting as much distance as she possibly can between them.

Sage’s uncertainty beings to increase and the thought of fleeing becomes increasingly appealing.

She realizes she has no choice. She has to run. She needs to set off on her own.

If I’m going to leave, I need to do it now. Before he wakes up and before I look into those damn mesmerizingly blue eyes and change my mind, she thinks to herself as she sits uncomfortably in shock on the very edge of the bed, wanting to distance herself from Charlie and his betrayal.

Is it a betrayal, if the person who wronged you, is a stranger?

Sage rips off Charlie’s sweater as the business card falls to the floor, unnoticed. Slowly sneaking out of bed, she reaches for her bag of newly purchased thrift clothes. In a rush she flees to the bathroom to get dressed.

A few short minutes later Sage is already heading out the door. Wig, Hat, and Sunglasses in their rightful places.

Sage gives one last glance back at Charlie, with a heavy sigh she leaves, her heart a little heavier then before. Which should say a lot considering what she’s been through.

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The sun is setting and the night is creeping in. The air is cooler. As a breeze rustles in through the suite’s cracked window Charlie awakes in a daze. He reaches up rubbing his eyes to focus his vision.

He turns to where Sage once lay. Greeted with an empty space, his brow furrows.

“Sage?” he calls out sitting up amongst the cozy white sheets.

Charlie smiles as he stands up throwing on his jeans he begins to walk around the honeymoon suite.

“Hey Sexy, where’d you sneak off to?” he smirks looking around the suite, checking the different rooms.

“Sage?”

Charlie begins to worry when he doesn’t receive a response.

He begins to pace and look around for some kind of a sign as to what happened, or as to where Sage could have went. He walks into the bathroom and sees the bag of clothes on the floor, he rummages through it, noticing a few pieces were taken. He walks back to the bedroom, scanning the area for something. Anything. His eyes fall upon a tiny paper on floor near the side of the bed. Charlie’s eyes widen as he bends down to pick it up.

“Shit,” he says looking down at his business card.

Charlie throws on his shirt, jacket and his shoes and rushes out of the room.

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Sage realized quickly that the little money she had in her back pocket when she fled the scene of the crime, wasn’t enough to get her very far. She managed to put a bit of distance between she and Charlie by walking on foot. But not much. 20 some odd blocks away from the ritzy hotel and the fairy tale life she and Charlie had cooked up for themselves, was a not so ritzy, quite disheveled and rugged hometown bar.

Sage sits with a beer in hand. Her head spinning.

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Charlie rushes into the parking lot of the hotel and jumps into his car, quickly turning the key, the engine roars with a fury as he peels out onto the road. His goal- Find her. No excuses.

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Sage sits there, her mind racing. For the first time, in what has honestly felt like forever, she has something other than that horrific night to occupy her mind. Boy trouble. At the very least, Charlie’s betrayal was good for something.

The bartender walks over to where Sage sits hanging her head, staring down the barrel of her beer. Drowning her sorrows with the company of Bud. Bud Lite.

“Hey there gorgeous. Can I get you another?” The dark haired, dark eyed bartender says with a smirk leaning over the bar top.

Sage looks up at him.

The door to the bar opens, a bell over head rings.

Her expression flat, Sage answers rather fueled.

“You all just think that you can win over a woman with a small compliment on her looks and a winning smirk, don’t you?”

The bartender stands there slightly taken aback by her anger.

“No seriously, you men just think it’s that easy don’t you?”

The bartender begins to stumble on his words.

Just then Charlie comes into view as he watches Sage with fixed eyes. He sighs to himself. He can tell this isn’t going to be easy. Charlie walks up behind her and sits down on the stool next to her.

beers

“Don’t worry. I’ve got this. You’re free to go,” he says looking up at the bartender who shrugs in confusion and walks away.

“Hmm. Sounds like something a cop would say. Oh that’s right-” She says grilling him for a brief second and then continuing to ignore his existence as she takes another sip of her beer.

Charlie looks at her. Examining her face, her body language. Looking for a way to soften this situation.

Her eyes stare ahead, unwilling to look his way. A coldness he hasn’t seen yet. It saddens him. Her lips straight and void of a tell. Her hands clenched on her beer with anger as if it’s the only thing keeping her grounded.

Charlie sits there looking Sage over, his heart pounding. His hands wanting to touch her so badly.

He keeps his silence for a beat, not wanting to drive her a way, or make a scene in a public place.

He takes a deep breath and turns to her, finally mustering up the courage to speak.

“I woke up to an empty bed. Do you know how scared I was?”

“Oh. I’m sure. You poor baby, you’ve been through so much,” she says not even glancing his way.

“Sage-”

“You’re a cop. No I’m sorry, excuse me- a detective. A crime scene detective,” she says turning in her seat to look him right in the eyes. Her voice clear, her tone cold.

“I know you must feel betrayed, but if you just let me explain…”

“No. You have no idea what I feel, how I feel. I trusted you, against every instinct. I let you in. And you broke that trust so quickly-like it just didn’t matter to you.”

“I know that it seems like that- but it isn’t. Can we just go somewhere more private so that we can talk,” he says turning to face her too. “The last thing you need right now is an audience.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” she says standing up.

tension

“Please,” (he stands up next to her) “After everything we’ve been through together in such a short amount of time. Can you honestly believe there isn’t an explanation as to why I never mentioned I was a cop. Just, please, can we go somewhere to talk?”

Sage felt herself melting, his puppy dog, crystal blue eyes are drawing her in and being near Charlie somehow still made her feel safe in some bizarre way. Not wanting him to notice she was softening, Sage crosses her arms and rolls her eyes.

“Fine. We can talk. But just know, that I don’t trust you. You have 5 minutes, nothing more. And if you try anything I will scream my head off.”

Charlie narrows his eyes.

“Considering your current situation, I highly doubt you’d risk that.”

“Try me. Jail is looking pretty good right about now,” Sage says narrowing her eyes back at him and pursing her lips, her arms still folded across her chest; protecting herself.

Charlie’s heart takes a bit of a blow there with that last statement. Yet in that moment all he wanted to do was grab her in his arms and kiss her. Her sassy side was definitely something that was a trigger for him.

Charlie looks her over, his eyes focusing on her body before locking on her eyes.

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“Stop it.”

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“Stop what?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. Your 5 minutes are slowly ticking away…so…”

“Ok. Ok I’m sorry. You’re just so- beautiful.”

Sage looks at him, her face puzzled, yet angry.

She walks away toward the bathrooms, there’s an exit door in between the men and women’s room and she pushes through the door as Charlie follows her into the night.

bar fight

A dimly lit small yard comes into focus. A few tables and chairs are set up, but the area is empty.

Sage walks to the opposite side of the yard, needing to put that distance in between she and Charlie, facing away from him, she hears the bar door close and him walking closer. Being near him and having him look at her the way he is, is messing with her head. She needs to stay in control of this situation. She whips around coming face to face with him.

“So what was this?? What- were you watching me? Interrogating me? Investigating me? This whole time? Gathering evidence for your case? Are you waiting to make your move to just arrest me, or what? I mean I’m surprised you’ve let this go on for so long. Go as far as to commit to having sex with me? Was that just for kicks? A good old story to tell the fellas back at the office before you slap the handcuffs on me and haul me off to prison? I mean really what are you waiting for?” She says walking away from him yet again.

“No. That’s not what this was. It’s not what this is. It was more. So much more. And you’re not going to prison. I won’t let you.”

Sage looks at him angrily.

“Then what? What is this? Who are you?”

“I’m an ex detective. I left the force years ago. I didn’t agree with certain laws. There are some great cops out there, but being a cop in this world is about following the book. I’m more about trusting your instincts. I’m a bend the rules kind of guy. I believe in taking a deeper look. Crime and the reasons certain people have for committing them aren’t always black and white. I’ve seen some of the most heartbreaking cases go unjustified. I couldn’t stomach being apart of that anymore.”

“And I’m just supposed to just take your word for it.”

“Yes. Have I given you any reason not to?”

Sage glares over at him, knowing he’s got a point.

“Why would you want to help me? You come out of nowhere and you save me, than you drive me everywhere, pay for everything. Why?”

“That night we met, the night of the murder, when I saw you running from the scene, I saw the fear on your face. I’ve been trained to tell the difference between real fear and fear of being caught. I’ve been trained to notice the signs of a guilty person. And I could tell you were one of those cases that would go unjustified if I didn’t do something to help you. I needed to help you. I needed to make a difference. I’m so consumed by the cases I wasn’t able to change the outcome of.”

“Oh come on, you expect me to believe that you were just what-in the wrong place at the right time?”

“Yes. Some things are just meant to happen. Some people are meant to meet. Regardless of circumstance.”

Sage looks at him, her resolve softening as her cross fall to her sides. Charlie notices as a smirk hides between his glare.

“And as far as the sex. I wanted to. It’s as simple as that. I think you are sexy as hell and smart and kind and I wanted you. I wanted to be with you. To touch you. I wanted you in my arms and I wanted to be able to make you feel safe. There. There’s your ulterior motive.”

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Sage laughs sarcastically as she rolls her eyes. She looks at him her head still in a fog. She doesn’t know what to believe.

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“Come on. You can’t be serious here. This is all just one big story. One big cover. What are you waiting for? Why don’t you just radio one of your cop friends and slap the cuffs on me right now? Or do you have a pair of your own hiding somewhere?”

“No I don’t. I told you, that’s not going to happen. I mean- unless you want to use hand cuffs for a different reason, then I would be happy to track a pair down,” Charlie smirks as he arches an eyebrow, looking Sage over once again.

“Sex jokes? Really? I can’t believe you. I can’t believe you let things go that far between us.”

“Forgive me if I’m wrong, but I didn’t exactly have to twist your arm.”

“I didn’t know the whole truth.”

“You want to know what I think? I think you’re just scared. I think you are scared to admit that you actually felt something. You felt safe, taken care of. Maybe even loved.”

Sage’s eyes shoot up and lock with Charlie’s.

“You’re not naïve, even you know there’s a connection here. Just because, you can’t explain it doesn’t mean it’s not real.”

“I thought it was all in my head. But-”

“It’s not. It’s real,” Charlie says cupping her face, and looking into her eyes.

Sage looks up at Charlie as he searches her face for a lead.

Sage sighs, letting herself go, she reaches up and grabbing his neck she pulls him into a kiss.

kiss kiss

Charlie pulls her tightly against him, deepening the kiss.

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“Let me take you back to the hotel, please,” he whispers breathlessly as he looks into her eyes.

Sage looks up at him. Unsure of what to do.

“I um. I think it’s time- I go off on my own.”

Charlie looks at her, slightly dumbfounded.

“Why?”

“I just. I’ve imposed on you long enough.”

“You still can’t let yourself trust me, can you?”

“I want to. But I just can’t. And being around you, and feeling these feelings, it’s messing with my head. And I’m already messed up to begin with.”

“You’re not messed up. You’re just dealing with a lot. And I get it.”

“Thank you. For everything,” she says distancing herself and holding her hand out for him to shake.

Charlie looks down at her hand and taking it in his, he shakes it. As his hand meets hers, so do his eyes, and the spark is fueled again. He pulls her to him, kissing her yet again. Sage kisses him back for a beat, but then gently pushing him away, she looks up at him.

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“Bye Charlie,” she walks away from him and toward the door.

“So what, I’m just never going to see you again?”

“I don’t know,” she says smiling slightly.

Charlie sighs heavily looking at her.

“I can’t let that happen.”

“You don’t have a choice.”

“Sage please. Stay with me. Let me do this for you. Let me help you.”

Sage looks at him, her gaze on the floor, her mind confused. She doesn’t want to leave him, but she can’t trust him either.

“What did you do? What happened? Tell me and I can help you.”

Sage looks up at him, her wheels turning and her eyes narrowing.

“Oh so now you’re out right asking me?”

“Yes. I’ve tried to wait until you were ready to tell me. But if we continue to wait, time will run out. And then who knows where you’ll end up.”

“Jail. Maybe I should just turn myself in. I’m tired of running. I’m tired of looking over my shoulder every second. And most importantly I can’t trust you. I don’t. This is what you’ve been waiting on isn’t it? Information.”

“Sage?” Stop it.”

“You stop it. Stop playing this game with me. Stop trying to convince me that you actually give a damn about what happens to me. That you actually want me. You don’t. You’re just really good at playing the role. Did you minor in acting too?”

“I’m only trying to help you Sage, because well…I can’t seem to help myself.”

“Why?”

“I’ve dealt with enough cases to know that whatever reason you had for doing what you did was a good one. I could just tell by the guilt you’ve been wrestling with.”

“I killed someone.”

“Okay. Why? What happened?”

“Oh please stop acting like what I actually have to say matters.”

“It matters a whole hell of a lot. You matter. To me. Don’t you get that by now. Paint me a picture. Tell me what happened.”

“It was a domestic dispute.”

“You don’t have any bruises on your body.”

“Oh and you would know wouldn’t you?” she says with a laugh and yet another eye roll.

“Victims of domestic violence usually have years of evidence hidden on their bodies. All you have are a few perfectly placed beauty marks. (he looks up at her, his eyes looking her over, something that is obviously a favorite past time for him lately) That’ll be a strike against your story.”

Sage notices his glare and the tension building between them there in that moment.

“Who said it was my dispute?” she says fidgeting under his gaze and trying to keep the conversation going.

“Ah now we’re getting somewhere. Figures. I mean usually female victims of abuse flinch at any sign of physical male contact. You never did.”

“Stop, ok?”

“What-I’m just stating the facts.”

“No you’re flirting. You’re trying to paint a picture of all the feelings from last night. Fine. You want a replay? Here it goes. Yes we had sex. Yes it was amazing sex. But it can’t ever happen again.”

“You sure that’s what you want?”

“What I want doesn’t matter. I don’t need a physical relationship with you messing with my head right now.”

“Ok fair enough. What if I promise to keep my distance. We can even get separate rooms at the hotel. You can have your own space and I still get to keep an eye on you, and help you out. From a distance.”

Sage looks at him, confused.

“Why are you still trying to be nice to me? I’ve been nothing but a bitch to you today.”

“You’ve been through a lot, it’s understandable.”

 Sage looks at him, still puzzled by the grace of this man.

“So what really happened? It’s the only way I can help you.”

“I don’t want your help.”

Charlie grabs her hand.

“Go help some other damsel in distress.”

“You think I do this for everyone?”

“Oh so what I’m special.”

“Yes you are.”

Sage rolls her eyes.

“Oh please you expect me to just believe that you were driving by there that night by chance.”

“Lucky you,” Charlie says looking over at Sage, smirk in place.

Sage rolls her eyes yet again.

“If you want me to be honest with you, you have to do the same. Why were you there?”

“I heard the breaking news report on the radio and I happen to be in the area. I thought I would check things out. When I saw you running for your life. I knew you must have been involved and I had to help you. It’s not something I feel I can fully explain, just something I felt I had to do. Nice diversion by the way.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I know what you’re trying to do?”

“Do tell, detective.”

“You’re picking a fight with me. The kind that creates a vicious cycle. Because you’re hurt, which I get. But also because I think you still want me just as much as I want you. Which is also why you keep avoiding my eye contact and moving further and further away from me.”

“You got me. You figured me out detective. Do you want a gold star?”

“You’ll do just fine,” he says pulling her by the waist toward him.

“Charlie. Don’t.” she says pulling away from him.

“Come back with me. Please.”

Sage looks at him.

“Separate rooms,” she says agreeing.

Charlie smiles.

He steps back away from her, holding his hands up in surrender.

“Your wish is my command.”

Sage opens the back door and walks into the bar as Charlie follows, heading toward the car.

To Be Continued….

I hope you’re enjoying! Please feel free to leave a comment down below. 😀

-<3-

*I do not take credit for any images or gifs used in my edits or otherwise.*

 

On The Run- Part 5

michelleleighwrites 1 Comment

ontherunposter

***Read Part 4 HERE

This part is deemed a bit more mature.

Parental-advisory-explicit-lyrics

Due to Sexual Content

 

Sage looks around her motel room, as she grabs some food and drinks left over from the night before and throws them into a plastic bag. Despite its unlivable conditions; of mold, heating problems, shag carpet, and a mattress that feels like the springs are about to poke through any second, this gritty place has been her safe haven.

Her fear of leaving instantly strikes.

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She gets halted by the same familiar scream ringing in her ear.

“Help! Help me! Please.”

Sage is left still- in silence. The image of her looking at her own reflection in a modern sleek mirror, her hands and clothes covered in blood- flashes through her mind. Yet another vivid memory from that horrific night.

“What did you do?” a shaky female voice says as Sage turns toward it, her whole body shaking in fear and adrenaline.

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Sage’s heart begins to pound, as her face turns a pale shade.

Charlie appears in the motel doorway.

“Hey, you okay?”

Sage instantly breaks from her trance at the sound of his soothing and newly familiar voice. The effect this man has on her after such a short amount of time, both excites and frightens her.

She looks up at him, her eyes instantly locking onto his.

Charlie smirks her way.

“Yea, I um- I’m ok. I just um, I was just grabbing the extra snacks. Figured they shouldn’t go to waste, right? We may get hungry on the road.”

“Yea, sure.”

Sage bites her lip, and looks away trying to cover her fear.

Charlie notices and eyes her with a deeper look, but knowing it’s not his place to pry he let’s it slide.

“I’ll be in the car, you come out when you’re ready.”

“Ok, I’ll just be a minute,” Sage says with a faint smile.

Charlie smiles and starts to walk away, just as he’s about through the door, he turns back around.

“Oh, I forgot-I found these in the back of my car, thought it might help you disguise yourself until we can get you some clothes and a new hair style.”

Charlie hands her a baseball cap and a pair of sunglasses.

Sage sighs of relief, as she smiles up at him.

“Thank you. You are my lifesaver.”

Charlie smiles as he looks at her, his eyes look her over and land back where they started- in their usual intense glance with this mystery girl’s eyes.

Sage fidgets under his gaze.

“What?” she says looking down at herself. Clad in Charlie’s oversized t-shirt and flannel button down and sweatpants, Sage suddenly feels insecure.

charlie and sage

Charlie smiles and looks away.

“Nothing. I’ll be in the car,” He says walking off.

“Ok,” She says not knowing what to make of the tension between them.

Sage walks over to the motel mirror, she places the hat on, followed by the sunglasses and looks at her reflection.

“Who are you?” She whispers to herself.

With a sigh full of pain and dressed in fear, Sage grabs the bag of snacks and heads out of the motel room.

Sage looks out into the sunlight, the motel is vacant, no one in sight, and still she keeps her head down and walks swiftly to the car.

Charlie sees her and leans over unlocking the door.

Sage swiftly sits, closing the door quickly, she reaches for her seat belt.

“You got everything you need?” Charlie asks looking over at her.

“Yup. Didn’t really have much on me,” She says looking down at her hands as they shake.

Charlie reaches over and grabs her hands in his.

“We’re gonna get you through this. I know it’s scary but, you’re gonna be ok. I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise.”

Sage looks at him and instinctively entangles her hand into his, giving him a small smile.

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Her heart pounding, from the feeling of the physical contact.

Charlie smiles back and pulls his hand away to start the car.

“We should probably get some gas, just to be on the safe side. I don’t know how long we’ll be driving, before we make our next stop.”

“Yea sure. That sounds like a plan. In fact, maybe I can get to an ATM, so I can pull out some money.”

Charlie pulls out of the motel parking lot and onto the highway.

“No, stop worrying, I’ve got this. Besides pulling money out of your bank account could raise a red flag. It could lead to a trail and pin point your location. They know what you look like, if somehow you’re name gets known, that trail will be your worst nightmare.”

“Really? Funny I thought I was already living one.”

“Oh what you mean being on the run with a stranger? Am I really that bad of company?”

Sage looks over at him.

“No, not at all. You’re the only thing keeping me sane.”

Charlie looks over at her sympathetically.

After a few miles, Charlie pulls into a gas station.

“Stay in the car. Don’t talk to anyone. I’ll handle this. I’ll make it quick.”

Charlie gets out of the car.

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The sleek black car whizzes by- on the road once again, looking for a place to ransack for a new look, and a new identity.

Charlie points to an old thrift store.

“You wanna give that a shot?”

“Yea sure. I’m not in a position to be picky.”

Charlie makes a quick turn. Parking in front of the store.

Upon getting out of the car, Charlie walks over to Sage’s side.

He opens the door for her.

“Ok look, we have to be quick, grab a few things. In and out. You can’t risk anybody memorizing your face. Take a breath. You can do this. In and out. No eye contact, don’t talk to anybody. Follow my lead and you’ll be fine.”

Sage nods.

Charlie begins to walk toward the storefront as he reaches to grab the door knob, Sage instinctively reaches for his free hand, needing him close by.

Charlie looks at her and tightens his grip on her hand, giving her a small smile, letting her know he’s got her.

He leads Sage into the store.

They are instantly met with a fresh faced, helpful teen girl.

“Hi welcome to Dress Thrifty, how can I help you?”

Sage keeps her head down, ducking slightly behind Charlie’s shoulder.

“Um. No, we’re just browsing. Thanks,” He says flashing her a smile.

“Ok. Well happy hunting. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Sure.” Charlie says walking Sage down into the nearest aisle.

The two of them set into looking through the racks of clothes, pulling anything that looks like it would fit her.

Charlie glances over at Sage, he can tell she’s nervous. He comes up behind her.

“Breathe,” he whispers, “You’re doing great.”

Sage looks up at him with a small smile.

“Find anything good?” He asks, changing the subject.

“Yea. I think I’m good. Got all my bases covered,” She says holding her arms out- full of clothing, shoes, and such.

“Ok good. Should we head to check out?” Charlie asks.

“Yes.”

Charlie looks up and something catches his eye.

“Oh wait-one more thing,” He says walking over to a section full of wigs.

Sage follows, her face puzzled.

“Pick a few,” Charlie says looking at her.

“Um…Okay.”

Sage grabs a short brunette wig and a long red haired wig.

“Ok all set?”

“Guess so,” Sage says with a small laugh.

“Ok let’s go,” Charlie says putting his hand on the small of her back and leading her to the front of the store.

Sage feels chills run up her spine. She smiles internally.

At the counter Charlie turns to Sage to take everything from her arms.

The young teen begins to ring up the wigs first. She looks up at the two and laughs.

“Well, someone must not be able to make up his mind?”

“I’m sorry?” Charlie says confused.

“I’m just surprised you didn’t make her get a blonde one too?”

“I’m not sure I know what you’re getting at,” Charlie says continuing to be puzzled.

Sage pretends to look around at the items near the register, keeping her head down.

“Role play? My boyfriend and I do it all the time. I have to say he does like when I wear the blonde wig the best,” She laughs.

Sage can’t help but look up at this young freckle faced, red haired, teen, in shock.

“Oh. Um. Yea. No she’s actually a hair stylist. They’re for practice,” Charlie says making up an epic excuse on the fly.

“Oh. Whoops,” The girl laughs as she finishes ringing their items up.

Charlie, slightly red faced turns to Sage with wide eyes, Sage laughs slightly, as Charlie smiles at her.

“Hey babe, why don’t you go start the car up, I got this,” He says holding the keys out to Sage as she nods playing along.

“Sure, babe, um by the way grab me a diet coke,” She smiles leaning up and kissing his cheek.

Charlie smiles as Sage heads out of the store.

“You can add on the diet coke too,” He says taking money from his wallet.

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Sage sits in the car. She turns the radio on to silence her racing mind.

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Charlie exits the store and walking up to the back door, he opens it throwing the bags in. Then opening the front door, he joins Sage in the front seat.

“Could you believe that girl? What was she like 16?” Charlie says as he starts the car.

“I know. I was thoroughly uncomfortable.”

Charlie laughs, “I saw,” He says smiling over at her, as he hands her the diet coke.

“Thank you. So where to next?” she asks looking over at him.

“We drive, out of town. Put a good amount of miles in between you and the scene.”

“Ok.”

“No questions? No snarky comments?” Charlie says looking over at her with an arch forming in his eyebrow.

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“I am not- snarky,” Sage says with a gasp, hitting him in the shoulder playfully.

“You could be a little snarky.”

“No, I cannot.”

“Yes you can,” he says laughing harder, “Don’t worry, it’s kind of sexy,” Charlie says looking over at her, locking onto her stare.

The light changes and Charlie focuses back on the road as Sage looks out her window, trying to steady the butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

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Sage and Charlie have been driving for about a half an hour, and Sage looks over at Charlie.

“Could we maybe make a pit stop in a few?”

“Sure. You hungry?”

“Starving. I know I have the stuff from the vending machine, but I’m dying for some real food.”

“Ok good. Me too,” He says laughing.

Charlie sees a rest stop sign and pulls into the parking lot.

“We’ll get something to go?”

“Yea I think that’s best,” Sage says.

“You wanna just tell me what you want? I’ll go grab it.”

“Um. Ok. I’ll just have turkey, lettuce and mayo on a roll.”

“No fries? You mean to tell me you’re not a fries girl?”

“Oh I’m totally a fries girl, but you basically just bought me a new wardrobe so…the sandwich is more than enough.”

“Stop it. I don’t mind. In order for this to work, you’re going to have to let me take care of you.”

“I’m not very good at that.”

“Yea I’m getting that.”

They share a moment.

Sage looks away.

“I’ll be quick.”

Charlie gets out of the car and walks off toward the food court.

Sage sits quietly in the car. She looks around at her surroundings. She sees a sign for a restroom, and it sparks something.

“I should go while I can,” she says leaning into the back of the car she pulls out the long red wig and sets to fitting it on her head. She looks into the car mirror and fusses with t, sighing she throws her hat back on and locking both doors from the inside, before stepping out, she heads toward the rest room.

A few minutes later, she emerges as she walks toward the car, she sees Charlie pacing about.

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He appears to be nervous.

He spots her and sighs, walking swiftly over to her.

“Where’d you go?”

“I had to use the restroom. I figured I should go while I have the chance.”

“A little heads up would have been nice. I came back and you were done and I got worried that something happened to you.”

“Oh. I’m sorry. I guess I didn’t think.”

“No. You didn’t. Look I know that this is a weird situation, and you barely know me. But I am committed to helping you. So I need you to remember that you’re thinking for two now. We’re a team.”

“Ok. You’re right. I can do that. I’m sorry,” Sage says realizing how nervous Charlie had gotten. His cool calm and collective side was completely thrown.

“It’s ok. Just. Keep me in the loop, please.”

“I will. From now on, you are so in the loop,” She says smiling.

“Thank you,” Charlie says smirking “Let’s get outta here,” he says nodding toward the car.

Climbing into the car, Sage looks over at Charlie and he starts the engine and peels back onto the road.

“So are you a “don’t eat in my car” kinda guy?”

“Yes. Yes I am.”

Sage looks down and puts her sandwich back into its bag.

Charlie laughs.

“Sage. Are you kidding me? Does this car look like I keep it spotless? Go for it.”

Sage smiles and opens her sandwich and fries laying them on her lap.

She takes a fry and holds it up to Charlie’s lips for him to eat.

He looks over at her and smiles, as he bites it, not taking his hands off the wheel.

Sage smiles and resumes eating.

*************************************************************************

The two of them finally find a hotel about 2 hours away. As Charlie pulls into the driveway, Sage notices the grand gold statues and waterfalls throughout the walkway.

“Charlie. This place is going to be so expensive. We can’t stay here.”

“Yes we can. Don’t worry about it,” He says shutting off the car.

“What about me, I look like a bum, I am going to draw attention to myself, and I’ll stick out like a sore thumb.”

“It’ll be for two seconds at check in, I am sure I can make up some excuse. We’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

Sage and Charlie grab their bags and head toward the hotel.

They walk through the sliding doors and up to the counter. They are met with a very chirpy, smiley, overly eccentric young male.

“How can I help you on his fine day?”

“Well my uh, wife (he says pulling Sage by the waist into him) and I would like a room.”

Sage goes along with the role, as she wraps her arm around his back, laying her head on his shoulder not making eye contact with the concierge.

“The dotting wife role, is surprisingly easy to pull off,” she thinks to herself as being with Charlie somehow already feels natural.

“I could get used to this,” she thinks stroking Charlie’s back, as his back tightens up under her sudden touch.

“Ok perfect. Um if you can just supply a credit card. It is $2,000 a night, how long were you planning to stay?”

Sage’s head shoots up and before she can protest, Charlie hands over his credit card.

“We’re not exactly sure, we’re trying to recreate our honeymoon, it was kind of hysterically awful but slightly wonderful, hence the dirty clothes, yet smiling faces.”

“I knew there was an explanation,” He laughs.

“There always is,” Charlies says “Feel free to charge away for as long as we stay.”

“Oh ok. That is great.”

He punches in a few things at the computer and hands Charlie a hotel room key.

“Here is your key, you are in room 504, the honeymoon suite.

“Perfect,” Charlie says smiling as he takes the key.

“Do you need help with your bags?”

“Don’t have any, we lost our luggage on our honeymoon so…”

“Your dedication to realism astounds me, have a great time. This is such a romantic gesture, I could just die.”

Charlie laughs and walks off as he leads Sage toward the elevator.

The two step into the empty elevator, as they make it to the next floor a few people get on.

Two women get on at the third floor, and are in mid conversation.

One of them makes eye contact with Charlie, he looks away down at Sage, as she tightens her grip on his hand.

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“So did you see that thing on the news, about the murder in Wakefield? That’s only two hours from here. They say it was committed by a woman. Had a sketch of her on the news and everything.”

“Yea I did see that. Crazy world we live in.”

Charlie’s gaze sticks onto Sage, as he feels the fear run through her body, all her energy being focused on keeping her head down and tightening her grip on his hand.

The elevator reaches the 5th floor as Charlie pushes past the women he leads Sage to their room.

Opening the door, Sage rushes in, her heart pounding.

Charlie closes the door behind him, dropping their bags to the side as he follows Sage.

“Hey…”

“There’s a sketch out? I can’t do this. I can’t keep this up. I—”

She starts to breathe heavy and break into a sweat.

“Hey…hey….”

Unable to get through to her, Charlie cups her face and looks at her, directly into her eyes. He pulls her to him and kisses her.

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Sage wraps her arms around his neck instantaneously, kissing him back. The kiss deepens and goes on for much longer than Charlie thought or intended it to.

Charlie pulls away in need of some air. He looks at her.

“I’ve been wanting to do that since the moment I met you and got a look at these lips,” He says cupping her face as his thumb grazes her lower lip.

“Well that makes two of us,” Sage says her hands running over his chest as she leans up to meet his lips again. Cupping her face with both hands, Charlie then removes her hat and her wig and tosses it to the side.

“I’m glad we didn’t go for anything too permanent, you’re kind of perfect the way you are,” he says pulling her back to him as he kisses her again his hands tightening around her body, gripping her closer into him.

He looks down into her eyes, she smiles up at him and without hesitation she lifts her layers of shirts off, leaving her in her bra.

Charlie looks down at her and sighing nervously, he looks away, slightly flustered.

“Ok,” He laughs. “This is moving really fast, are you sure you want to-”

“I trust you,” Sage says looking at him, just before pulling him into another electrically charged kiss.

Charlie pulls her closer toward him as he reaches to remove his jacket.

bed

***********************************************************************

Moments later Sage and Charlie are tangled up in the silk white sheets, their clothes sprawled about, and their hands exploring new territory.

Charlie hovers above Sage and looks at her.

“You’re beautiful,” He says as he leans down and kisses her.

“Where did you come from?” She says cupping the back of his neck and starring into his eyes.

“I guess I was just in the right place at the right time,” He says continuing to kiss her as he works his way from her lips to her jaw line, her neck, her chest, her stomach and back to her lips again. Sage smiles against Charlie’s lips as she pulls him into her, her legs and arms wrap around his body. He smirks gripping her thighs he seals any left over space between them, as Sage squeals in happy laughter.

***********************************************************************

Sage awakes an hour or so later, her stomach growling. She looks over at the handsome, scantily covered stranger lying beside her and smiles. Not wanting to wake him he slides to the edge of the bed wrapped in part of the sheet, and grabs Charlie’s sweater to throw on.

Wrapping it around herself, she puts her hands into the pockets and feels something. She pulls out a business card. She proceeds to read it, not thinking anything of it-until the words hit her like a ton of bricks.

The card reads- Charlie Steinfeld. Detective. Crime Scene Investigator.

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Sage’s heart drops as she looks over at the man she has entrusted with her life, her mind and her body.

 

To Be Continued….

Welcome to Michelle Leigh Writes latest short story, series…I hope you’re enjoying! Please feel free to leave a comment down below. 😀

-<3-

*I do not take credit for any images or gifs used in my edits or otherwise.*

 

 

On The Run- Part 4

michelleleighwrites Leave a comment

ontherunposter

***Read Part 3 HERE

Sage hurriedly walks up to a small house with a white picket fence. The American Dream on display for all to see. Pushing the gate she proceeds to the door way. As she lifts her hand to ring the door bell, she hears a female voice screaming;    

“Help! Help me! Please.”

Followed by what one can only describe as an abnormally loud crash.

She rushes in, struck with fear, as the screaming intensifies.

Sage awakes from her nightmare, in a cold sweat, her heart pounding. The morning casts a slight ray of sun creeping through the dingy yellowed curtains. The sun serving as a daunting reminder that Sage has to endure yet another day of replaying the horrible incident she’s been running from.

As she grabs her head she tries to lie as still as possible. It continues pounding and her eyes feel heavy. It’s safe to say that Sage didn’t get that much sleep last night. She is haunted.

She scans the room in a blurry fog, as her eyes strive to focus.

Her motel room is in disarray and smells of old moth balls. Slowly she sits up in bed and makes her way to the bathroom splashing water on her face, she is soon greeted with a small knock on her motel room door.

She looks in her mirror at her reflection and sighs heavily.

She walks to the door, and figuring it is Charlie she reaches to open it, but upon hearing voices she halts.

“Excuse me officer?” She hears the familiar male voice of her recent companion.

Sage freezes ducking to the floor, avoiding windows.

“Hello Sir, is this your room?” the officer asks turning to face Charlie.

“Sure is.”

“Are you sharing it with anybody?”

“Nope just me. Can I help you with something?” Charlie asks calm and collectively.

“Why yes, we are looking for a possible suspect in a murder case.”

“A murder? Well Sir I am very sorry to hear that.”

“Aren’t we all. We have reason to believe we are looking for a female suspect, mid to late twenties, yay high (he says showing a height with his hand) dark hair; possibly brown or black, tanned complexion…. She was seen fleeing the scene late last night. Have you seen anyone matching that description come through here?”

Sage’s face fills with fear, her eyes widen, her heart begins to pound.

Who’s to say this guy can be trusted. He doesn’t owe me a thing? What if he gives me up right now, she thinks.

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“No Sir, I can’t say that I have. I haven’t seen much of anybody come through here,” Charlie answers filled with calm poise.

Sage sighs in relief, allowing her breathing to exist yet again. She stands up slowly and quietly and peeks out the peephole to see Charlie and the officer.

“What about the room over…vacant?”

“Um yea I think so. Heard a car on my way to the vending machine, might have ran into town.”

“And the hotel manager, he or she ever around?”

“Maybe mystery guest in room 7 needed a lift somewhere. The way I see it- if I worked here, I’d spend as little time as possible actually in this place. Kinda gives me the creeps. I’m just on a brief stop in between some construction work, looking to move on real soon.”

Charlie hands the officer what appears to be a business card.

The officer looks it over and nods.

“Well. Please excuse the interruption. You have a nice day now.”

Charlie nods and watches as the officer walks off.

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Sage looks on confused at how well Charlie handled that.

Charlie turns toward the door. Before he could knock, it opens for him, he walks in, finding Sage standing behind the door.

“You heard that?” he asks.

“Yea.” She says her eyes slighltly filling up.

“Are you okay?”

“They have a description. They know what I look like.”

“It appears so.”

“Oh my god. What am I gonna do? They’re too close now. It’s over. My life is over.”

“It doesn’t have to be over.”

Sage begins to let the tears fall freely. As her life and everything she’s ever dreamed of being slowly feels like it’s being ripped away from her.

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Her breathing becomes sporadic as she begins gasping for air.

“I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.” She says pacing the motel room floor in a state of panic. Hands shaking about.

Charlie looks on nervously rushing to her side.

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“Ok hey. Hey look at me. It’s ok. You’re gonna be ok. I’m gonna make sure of it. You’re just having a panic attack. It’s going to pass. Just look at me. Ok? Stay looking at me, right here,” he says points to his eyes.

“Ok, now breathe in and out with me. Ok? Slowly. Big, slow, deep breaths. Ok. You’re Ok.”

Charlie continues coaching Sage through her panic as he grips onto her shoulders to steady her, rubbing them as an occasional calming technique. Sage’s hands hold onto his inner arms in reciprocation.

She begins to calm down as her gaze continues to lock onto Charlie’s.

His face calm, and kind and somehow oddly peaceful.

“You okay?” Charlie says cupping her face.

Sage realizes her nails are digging into Charlie’s muscular arms, as she had felt she was holding onto him for dear life.

Her eyes gaze elsewhere, breaking her trance; a mixture of panic and attraction for this new found confidant.

“I’m sorry,” she says releasing him and backing away.

Charlie’s hands drop from her face in response. He can sense she’s pulling away.

“Don’t sweat it. It happens. Did it pass? Are you feeling better?”

“Yes. Thank you,” she says looking at him as her arms fold over her chest.

“Sure,” he says looking at her with that familiar hidden flirtation.

 

It isn’t blatantly obvious but there is something causing Sage’s heart to flutter and her stomach to flip in a way that she actually finds oddly satisfying.

“Look I know you’re scared. That was a close call. But at least now you have some beneficial information.”

“That they know what I look like.”

“Yea. But see the good news is you have an advantage- you’re not the only 20 something, brown eyed brunette with a tanned complexion.”

“I guess that’s true.”

“So with that being said- you know they know-so now you can change accordingly.”

“Meaning-what?” Sage says curiously.

“Alter your appearance,” He says casually.

Sage looks at him.

“That would require money and me leaving this motel. Two things of which I am not too sure about.”

“Well I have money and a car…it’s best we keep moving, get ahead of the investigaton while we can.”

“Why do I feel like you’ve been in this situation before?”

“Because in some way…I have.”

“You’ve been on the run before?”

“Not exactly.”

“Ok so-what then?”

“Let’s just say I watch a lot of cop and crime shows.”

“Sure. If that’s your story,” she smirks and laughs slightly, her eyes sparkingly in his direction.

Charlie looks over at her matching her flirtation with his glance and a chuckle.

“So what’s the plan? I dye my hair and get some new clothes and just keep running? Eventually they have to catch me.”

“Not if we do it right. But in order for you to allow me to help you- You have to trust me. So…do you?”

“Honestly?”

Charlie nods.

“I don’t know. What I do know is that you’ve saved my ass more than I can count in the last 24 hours.”

“It was my pleasure,” he says smirking.

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Sage blushes.

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“I think that if you’re willing to risk it to help me, I’d be a fool not to take it…but with that being said in full disclosure, knowing what you know now about what happened. Do you trust me?”

“Honestly?”

Sage nods.

“I don’t know either. But I want to. And that’s enough for me to want to help you.”

They exchange glances and an understanding.

Charlie turns to leave.

“I’m gonna go grab my stuff and start up the get away car,” he chuckles.

Sage laughs and then catches herself.

Her gaze drifting as the screaming rings in her ears yet again.

“Hey…look I don’t judge people. Something tells me you did what you had to do.”

“Why does it feel so bad then?” she says looking up at Charlie.

“Because that’s proof you’re a good person. Bad people can’t feel guilt. Because well, they simply just don’t care.”

Sage ponders his words as he leaves the room.

To Be Continued….

Welcome to Michelle Leigh Writes latest short story, series…I hope you’re enjoying! Please feel free to leave a comment down below. 😀

-<3-

*I do not take credit for any images or gifs used in my edits or otherwise.*

 

On The Run- Part 3

michelleleighwrites 4 Comments

ontherunposter

***Read Part 2 HERE

She walks into the bathroom, turning on the water in the sink, she throws her hands into the running water as the sink fills with red. Scrubbing and scrubbing away her sins, her pain. Attempting to calm her fears.

She wets her face and looks up into the mirror, her breath catching in her chest as she hears the screaming in her mind again.

“Help! Help me! Please.”

She is trapped in her mind for a second, a second that easily felt like an eternity. Finally shaking from the memory she exhales violently as she realizes she wasn’t breathing. Within seconds she rushes to the toilet and lifting the lid she throws up, hanging her head as she holds onto the sides of the toilet. Her body completely exhausted. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally. Drained.

Sinking to the floor, she pulls her knees to her chest, hugging them tightly, she tries to keep a steady breath.

*******************************************************************

The shower is turned on as she steps in, her pile of clothes are seen cast onto the cold tiled floor. The warm water kisses her skin as her body is engulfed by steam.

*******************************************************************

motel room

A little while later she is wrapped in a motel robe and is sitting on the edge of her bed. She stares blankly ahead, her mind still. Her daze focused. To any passerby, she would easily appear to be day dreaming, however, she’d tell you truthfully that she’s living in a still, dark nightmare. 

A knock is soon heard.

She jolts, looking around nervously.

Walking slowly toward the door she peaks through the peephole and sees her heroic stranger standing on the opposite side. She uncharacteristically sighs of relief.

Opening the door slightly, she peers out.

“Hey. I’m sorry to bother you. I had some old clothes in my trunk thought you could use them. And I figured you must be hungry, so I got you some things from the vending machine,” he says handing her a plastic bag.

She smiles slightly as she takes it from him.

“Thank you. So much. I’m starving… and freezing.”

He smiles, “Don’t mention it,” he says and turns to walk back to his room.

“Do you want to join me?” she asks, surprising even herself.

He turns and looks at her.

“Um, sure. If you’re comfortable with that? I can tell you are still a little bit shaken. I don’t want to pry.”

“No. That’s ok. I’d prefer the company.”

“Ok then,” he says as she steps aside to let him in.

*******************************************************************

The two strangers sit across from each other in silence. Food wrappers scattered across the room.

The young woman sits there fidgeting, she’s obviously uncomfortable in her current state of wearing baggy men’s clothes post blood bath.

“I should go,” the man says standing up.

“Please don’t,” she stands abruptly, causing the man to halt.

“I can tell you are afraid of me-of me being here with you. Why wouldn’t you be? You don’t know me.”

“I’m more afraid of you not being here.”

The man looks at her with a sensitive, yet understandably curious glance.

“The silence it’s deafening. I can’t shut my brain off, at least not for very long,” she says explaining.

“Ok well-I may be able to help you with that.”

They exchange a glance that feels like a sexually charged spark.

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Her face is instantly filtered in a red flush.

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“What do you suggest?” she says her eyes looking him over curiously.

The man reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a deck of cards.

“Gold fish?” he asks with a shrug and a sweet laugh.

She smiles and laughs. Her self-awareness recognizes how he brought on the first genuine laugh she’s been able to let out in the last 24 hours. This man. A complete stranger.

“Your laugh is something special,” he says his eyes burning into hers as if trying to read her soul.

“It’s rare is what it is,” she says holding onto his stare.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he says sincerely.

She responds with a tightened smile as her eyes drift to look away, their connection too intense to withstand any longer.

“What’s your name?” he asks his head cocking to the side as his eyes look her over wanting to take her whole being into account as if committing it to memory.

“Do you what a real one, or a fake one?” she asks with a slight flirtation in her voice.

“Real. I can handle it,” he says with a grin and a small chuckle.

“Sage.”

“Well Sage it’s nice to meet you, I’m Charlie,” he says extending his hand to her. As Sage reaches out and shakes Charlie’s hand her whole body relaxes. However oddly enough within the next few seconds after that first physical contact the butterflies within Sage’s stomach ignite and set free. Fluttering. And fear washes away in that moment.

“Nice to meet you too,” she says not wanting to let go.

“Should we play?” he says holding up the deck of cards with his free hand.

“Sure,” she says snapping out of her fantasy and letting his hand go free.

Charlie smirks as he makes his way  over to a small table. Sitting in a chair he starts to deal the cards. Sage walks over, and sits across from him. She notices a new feeling stirring inside her.

Could this guy be her ticket to escaping the horrific events she just endured? Or is her current state just making her imagine their intense connection.  

 

To Be Continued….

Welcome to Michelle Leigh Writes latest short story series…I hope you’re enjoying! Please feel free to leave a comment down below. 😀

-<3-

*I do not take credit for any images or gifs used in my edits or otherwise.*

 

 

 

On The Run- Part 2

michelleleighwrites 1 Comment

 ontherunposter

***Read Part 1 HERE

The black sleek car whizzes past vacant streets and store fronts kicking up a mist from the late afternoon rainfall.

The quiet streets eerie with a deep darkness.

Silence and stillness; a lethal combination.

The streets she’s known and walked millions of times before. The streets she called home, now so far from home, so far from safe. So far from normal.

Inside the car there is this deafening sound. A sound of strangeness and silence drenched in fear.

The air thick with concern.

“What the hell was I thinking?” she thinks.

The panic sets in. Her body breaking into a cold sweat.

Her heart begins to pound faster and faster by the second. Her whole body feels like it’s been scortched. Firey and hazy. Shaking, she finally gains the courage to look into the eyes of the mysterious stranger who just saved her ass, coincidentally. Or not? She wonders.

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As brown meets blue, there’s an electricity, that neither really understood in the moment, but will surely find out later on.

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She musters the courage to finally break the tension-

“Where are you taking me?” she says her voice raspy and barely above a whisper.

“Wherever you want to go,” he answers with complete ease.

“I don’t really have anywhere to go. At least not anywhere safe,” she looks down, feeling ashamed and lonely.

He looks at her through the rearview mirror again. Her eyes still searching. She’s visibily shaking and clearly frightened.

“I know a motel a little ways off the back highway, low traffic. I can take you there. You can lay low- until to figure out your next move.”

“Ok.”

“It’s ok. You’re gonna be ok.”

She looks up at him, and then away, obviously uncertain of her decision to trust a perfect stranger.

The car rolls into the parking lot of the old motel. The blue eyed man steps out of the car, he leans down to speak into the back window, “Stay here. I’ll check in, and be back for you in a few.”

She responds with a small fragile nod of the head.

He walks into the motel and disappears out of sight.

She sits in the back seat, caught in a daze, a trance. Her mind somewhere else entirely.

“Help! Help me! Please.” She hears in her mind, the only words she can vividly remember, from that night.

“Hey. Hey…your room is ready.” The handsome stranger opens the car door for her.

She snaps out of it, finally noticing him. Looking at him, obviously confused.

“What?” she says in a low perplexed tone.

“Your room is ready.”

“Oh. Thank you.” She says stepping out of the car and following him toward the room. See looks behind her as her eyes take in her surroundings.

Darkness. One or two scattered cars in the lot. Traffic pretty non existant on the highway at the late night hour. Flickering street lights, and a motel sign that looked like it was on it’s last hinge.

If a black cat walked across her path, it wouldn’t be a surprise.

She walks slowly behind the mysterious man. Her random hero. Or her next nightmare. Either way he’s her best bet right now. The future remains to be seen, she contemplates.

In her haze of fear and nervousness, she isn’t thinking like she normally would, reason and rationality are a blur and anything seemed safer than being where she started the night.

The handsome stranger unlocks her motel room door, and steps aside to let her in.

She staggers in, her mind finally starting to slow down at bit, her feet rooting themselves into the ground a little more, step by step.

The handsome stranger stands at the door way, looking at her.

“The woman at the front desk said the hot water is a little in and out in the mornings, she advised you shower at night.”

She nods.

“Here’s your key.” He says placing it on the dresser near the door.

Still standing on the other side of the door, as if respecting her imaginarily drawn boundries.

She reaches in her back pocket and pulls out some money.

“It’s not much, but it’s all I have,” she says extending it to him.

“That’s ok. Keep it.”

“No please take it-”

“No. Keep it,” he smiles, a smile that surprises this dark beauty on the run.

She looks at him and smiles slightly back, placing the money back in her pocket.

“Ok. Well- have a good night. I’ll be in the next room over, if you need anything,” he says turning to leave.

“Thank you,” she utters in a whisper. “I don’t know why you decided to help me, but thank you.”

“Sure.”

“Why did you decide to help me?” she finally asks the question she has thought since the minute his blue eyes met hers over the brim of that car window just a few short moments ago.

“Call it a gut feeling. I think there’s more to your story. I think there’s a very good explanation for that blood on your hands.”

She looks down, newly ashamed once again.

“I did something. Something bad.”

“We aren’t perfect. Everyone does bad things sometimes.”

“Not this bad.”

He nods, trying to read her face. She adverts her eyes from his.

He notices, but he feels for her, and wants to reach out and help her. Instead he resists and offers some words of advice.

“You should rinse that off, and chuck those clothes. Physical evidence isn’t exactly your friend.”

She looks away with a nod of understanding. The man turns to leave yet again, and the woman can’t help but express her wonder.

“You aren’t going to ask me what I did?”

“It’s none of my business. The way I see it, if I know, I can’t defend you. So let’s just keep things where they are for now.”

She looks at him in awe and confusion.

“Why would you defend me? You don’t even know me?”

“Like I said…gut feeling. If the burden gets to you, and you need to talk, I’m here. But I’m not gonna force you to tell me anything. You can come to me on your own time, or you don’t have to come to me at all.”

“Thank you. You’re very kind. I don’t know why you care. But I’m grateful.”

“Get some rest, maybe the morning will bring you some new perspective,” he says with a smile. He then walks away closing the door behind him.

She looks after him as her heart skips a beat, she wonders what it is she is actually feeling.

To Be Continued….

Welcome to Michelle Leigh Writes latest short story series…I hope you’re ready! 😀

-<3-

*I do not take credit for any images used in my edits or otherwise.*

 

Distant Shadows

michelleleighwrites Leave a comment

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 A young woman sits at a bar alone; not drinking.

A young guy walks in and sits down next to her, his face unreadable.

“Did you tell her?”

“Yea. Unfortunately.”

“How’d she take it?”

“To say she was less than thrilled would be an understatement.”

(sighs) “I’m sorry.”

“Yea… right.”

“I am. I never meant for this to happen.”

“Didn’t you? I mean this is what you wanted all along, isn’t it…me… all to yourself?”

(whispers) “No…not like this.” (louder) “I definitely did not want this; I’m not ready for it!”

“Well…it is what it is.”

“So… she ended it?”

(sarcastically) “No, we’re still together.”

“What I meant was… did she end it… completely, like there isn’t even a chance for you guys to work it out?”

“No- not a chance.”

“But-”

“You’re pregnant…I mean its bad enough I cheated on her in the first place, but now you’re actually pregnant- she wants a divorce. So yea…it’s over.”

“I don’t really care for your attitude right now. Nor do I understand it.”

(laughs) “You come out of nowhere and destroy my life, and you don’t like my attitude.”

“You know-your reality of this situation is hilarious. This isn’t only my fault. You’re not exactly innocent here. I didn’t know you were married when we were together all those nights. You made it pretty easy for me to assume you weren’t when you hid your ring. Also if I destroyed your life so much, then why couldn’t you leave me alone. Or did I imagine the incessant calling and texting me every free minute you got.”

“You never asked if I was married.”

“Wow…you are unbelievable. I don’t blame her for wanting to divorce you; you have no respect for her or me, you have no respect for anyone. You deserve whatever comes to you. I hope she bleeds you dry… takes you for every penny.”

“Now that’s no way to talk to the father of your child, now is it?”

“You may be my child’s biological father, but make no mistake I don’t need you, or your money.”

“I’d like to see you try and make it by on that teacher’s salary of yours.”

(laughs) “Plenty of women do it every day. Don’t you worry, I’ll be fine.”

The woman gets up to leave.

“Wait…”

“What?”

(tone softens) “Where can I reach you?”

“You can’t.”

“Please?”

“No. I’ve had enough of your games…you need to learn how to take responsibility for your actions, and grow the hell up. And I won’t be your test subject. I’m done.”

“What… so you’re just gonna raise this baby by yourself?”

“Don’t worry; I’ll take care of it.”

Woman exits bar, Guy orders a drink.

*I do not take credit for the image used.*

-<3-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Belated Love”

michelleleighwrites Leave a comment

BLOGGER’S NOTE: I have to apologize for being MIA this past week. I think this is the longest I’ve gone without posting in quite a while. But I am recently dealing with some changes in my life and it’s seriously taking over all of my mentality. So blogging has kind of taken a back seat, while I get acclimated. It’s not something I set out to let happen, but it just had to. And instead of getting mad at myself, I decided to just accept it and move onto giving you guys fun and new content. I have had this little story waiting to be posted for you guys since Valentines Day. It was supposed to go up last Sunday on Valentine’s Day but then things got crazy and I pushed it to Monday but then I got sick last week and posting just didn’t happen at all last week. And although that saddens my heart, I am human and sometimes in times of great stress and change, we need to give ourselves a mental/emotional break to just be. So I hope you are still with me, this short is finally ready to post so I present to you “Belated Love”- A short love story following  Melanie and Grayson’s journey to finding each other again.

Poster

Mel &amp; Grayson

********************************************************

Valentine’s Day 2015

Melanie walks hand in hand with her boyfriend Grayson as the city lights twinkle alongside them.

“Did you enjoy your dinner?” he asks smiling over at her.

“I really did… but the dessert was my favorite part.”

“Oh I could tell, I know how much you love your chocolate,” he smiles letting out a small laugh.

“And Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse for indulging with little- to no shame,” she replies, laughing.

“No shame. None. You- are perfect,” Grayson says stopping and turning to her. He takes her hands in his and pulls her toward him. “I love you. Happy Valentines Day.”

“I love you,” she says smiling brightly as Grayson kisses her.

Grayson and Melanie continue walking as they enter Central Park, the cold crisp air kissing their faces.

“Are you cold?” Grayson asks looking over at her.

“Just my hands. I forgot my gloves,” She says rolling her eyes at her own forgetfulness.

“Come here. Give me your hands.”

Melanie holds her hands out to him, he takes them in his and brings them to his lips as he breathes on them, trying to warm her up.

Melanie looks at him her eyes smiling with love.

“Thank you,” she says kissing him.

“My pleasure,” he smiles “Actually I should have a pair of gloves in my pockets somewhere. Here- let me, see, …”

Grayson begins checking his pockets. He pulls out a ring box and hands it to Melanie.

“Can you hold that a minute?”

Melanie’s eyes lock onto Grayson’s. Her face in complete shock.

Grayson continues to pretend to look for gloves.

“Oh whoops, guess I left my gloves at home too.”

He smiles looking at her, he begins to kneel down on his knee.

Melanie’s breath catches in her throat as she looks away in awe.

“Oh my god” she says, standing there- frozen.

Grayson takes the box from her hand and opens it revealing a large sparkling diamond ring.

“Mel, I love you so much. You and I are amazing together. I know that we may not always be on the same page about everything but you are the only person who I actually want to fight all my fights with. You amaze me every day, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

“Are you serious?” she asks as he slides the ring on her shaking hand.

“Well I didn’t buy this ring for nothing,” he laughs.

Melanie stares at the ring on her hand. Still in complete shock. Her body shivering for an entirely new reason. The winter cold has nothing on the shock of this moment. Her emotions are all over the place as Melanie tries to gain some stability.

“Hey…”

 Grayson stands up, cupping her face looking into her eyes.

“What do you say?” he asks.

Melanie looks up at Grayson and kisses him.

“Is that a yes?” Grayson says pulling away and looking up at her with a sweet laugh.

“Yes. Of course,” Melanie says smiling.

“I really caught you off guard, huh?” he says laughing.

“Well yea. I mean I really didn’t expect this, at all,” her voice stumbling.

“Well I mean, it can’t be that much of a surprise right? You know how much I love you,” he questions with concern on his face.

“Of course. Oh my god- of course. And I love you too, so much.”

Melanie cups Grayson’s face and kisses him, as he smiles brightly at her.

“I just didn’t think you were there yet,” she says.

“Really…well here we are,” he says kissing her again.

Melanie hugs him excitedly.

“Here we are,” she says with a nervous laugh.

*********************************************************

Valentine’s Day 2016

Melanie steps out of her shower into her fuzzy leopard printed slippers, as she wraps a beige fluffy towel around her body.

She wipes the mirror above her sink with her hand, revealing her reflection.

Her hair, wavy, and long, lay damply upon her shoulders. Her skin freshly washed and glowy.

She smiles and sets to brushing her teeth.

Upon rinsing, she hears her phone begin to ring and she rushes into her bedroom to grab it.

“Hello?”

“Hey girl,” her friend Kristin says.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“Nothing much just out picking up a few things for my singles girl’s night in valentines gala tonight. Are you coming, or did that cute guy Will finally ask you out?”

“He did! I’m getting ready as we speak.”

“Oh so exciting! Where’s he taking you?”

Melanie walks to her closet pulling out a dress and looking at it.

“I’m not exactly sure. He said he was going to take care of everything and that I should just be ready for 8.”

“Oh a man with a plan. Sounds like a keeper.”

“Ha. We’ll see. I’ve learned not to expect anything, since what happened with…well you know….”

“Oh yea. Well that was a complicated situation. I guess it pays to be cautious from here on out.”

“Yea. Any way I should get going so I can finish getting ready.”

“Yes. Enjoy. And if you find your date is a dud, you know where to find us,” Kristin says smiling.

Melanie laughs

“Ok, you got it. Thanks girl. Enjoy your night. Eat massive amounts for chocolate for me!”

“Done. See ya girl. ” Kristin laughs.

Melanie hangs up and starts pulling her outfit together.

*****************************************************

Grayson sits at his computer in a dimly lit living room. He sips his beer.

He scrolls through his Facebook feed as girls after girls post their Happy Valentine’s Day posts. Happy pictures of them and their boyfriends.

Grayson laughs with a snarky undertone. His eyes drift to a familiar name as he notices Kristin just posted a picture of her shopping car full of goodies. The caption reading…

Girls Night In Tonight…Um did I buy the whole store or what? We’ll miss you Mel Mel! #HappyValentinesDay

His face falls. His heart wills him to click Melanie’s name.

Her page pops up showing a smiley faced Melanie and Grayson’s breath catches in his throat.

He starts to look through her pictures as he sees what her life has been like without him.

“Dude get a grip, it’s over, it’s been over. You have to stop doing this to yourself,” Grayson says aloud as he buries his face in the hands.

*****************************************************

Melanie looks at herself in the mirror, she smiles and grabs her coat and purse and heads to her living room.

She checks her phone and sees that her date should be coming soon.

Melanie walks to her kitchen grabbing a box of chocolate with a small note on it reading “To Mel Belle, Love Dad.” She goes to sit on her couch when her apartment doorbell rings.

Smiling she walks over, opening the door.

Her face falls seeing the face of the man before her.

“Hey Mel,” he says sheepishly as he holds a bouquet of red roses and a heart shaped box of chocolates in his hand.

Melanie is speechless for a long moment.

“Grayson… What are you doing here?” She finally says.

“I know it’s been a while but I’ve been dying to talk to you. Do you have a minute?”

Melanie looks at him stunned.

“You do realize its Valentine’s Day, right?”

“Yes,” He smiles extending the gifts to her.

Melanie ignores the gesture.

“So what…you decided that I didn’t have any plans and that tonight out of all nights would be a good time to waltz back into my life. You must be joking.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t really think this through. I just- God you look beautiful,” he says, his eyes looking her over.

“What do you want Grayson?” Melanie says needing to change the subject quickly, her nerves building.

“Are you going somewhere?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“You have a date don’t you? Of course you do. I’m such and idiot,” he turns and starts to walk away.

Melanie sighs as her instincts scream for her to shut the door, but her heart just can’t.

“Grayson wait-” she calls after him.

He stops and turns, with a hopeful expression.

“You obviously came here for a reason. So I guess… I can spare you 5 minutes,” She says stepping aside and gesturing him to come in.

Grayson smiles brightly as he walks in, he hands her the roses and candy awkwardly as she takes them and closes the door behind them.

“I’ve really missed you,” Grayson says as he watches her place them on her end table.

Melanie looks at him.

“What… you don’t miss me…at all?” he says searching her eyes for answers.

“Grayson, you were the one who broke our engagement. What do you want from me?”

“I didn’t break our engagement. You gave the ring back.”

“Yes. I did. And I may have been the one to officially call things off but let’s be honest Grayson, you weren’t ready to be married. In many ways, you broke our engagement long before I did. I just said what you couldn’t say.”

“Mel. You’re wrong. You are just so completely wrong,” Grayson says with a huff and a stern yet sexy glare.

“Am I? Really? Because every time I brought up something wedding related you made light of it. It was like you couldn’t be bothered to plan it. Like you didn’t want to start building a life together. What does that tell me? That you’re not in it,” she says her arms crossing in front of her chest.

“I was in it. I was all in it. You just completely questioned my love for you based on the fact that I didn’t care what color the napkins were.”

“It wasn’t just that and you know it.”

“Then what else was it?”

“Things were just different. It was a feeling that I would get when I was with you. I could just feel how hesitant you were. You couldn’t be less interested in planning our wedding.”

“How hesitant I was? You sure you don’t mean how hesitant you were?”

“What does that mean?”

“Come on Mel. It was easy to blame me. To blame my lack of planning skills for the reason why we broke up. But let’s tell the truth here. Let’s be honest about who was the one that wasn’t ready to get married. Because I assure you it wasn’t me. My not caring about planning wasn’t meant to be an insult, I told you it was whatever you wanted. I know you, I know how important it was to have your perfect dream wedding. I didn’t care about the hype of it, all I cared about was marrying you. For me our wedding was just about you. As long as you were the one standing across from me in that church- I wouldn’t have cared what you wore, where we were, or who was there. I just wanted you. I wanted to marry you, because I loved you. I loved you so much. That’s what it was about for me. So please don’t say I wasn’t in it. And own up to the fact that you were the one who just wasn’t ready.”

“So that’s why you came here? To hash things out?”

“No. I don’t want to fight with you.”

“Then why are you here?”

“Because I miss you. Because I hate being away from you. Because I was so heart broken by your rejection that I just shut down and I didn’t fight for you. If you needed some kind of reassurance from me, I wish you would have just talked to me. I wish you would have confided in me about your doubts. Or was it just that you fell out of love with me completely? Because you never gave me an explanation you just left.”

“Is that what you think? That I didn’t love you?”

“I don’t know. I mean you seem to be recovering fine. Going on dates and smiling like nothing ever happened.”

“So you’ve been checking up on me?”

“Of course I have. What do you think? I’m not going to apologize for that. I love you. I’m always going to love you. I’m not going to stop checking in on you. So get used to it.”

Grayson walks swiftly over to Melanie and cupping her face he kisses her.

Melanie wraps her arms around his neck as she falls into his kiss.

“I shouldn’t be doing this. I have a date. He’s probably on his way.” Melanie says in between Grayson kissing her.

“You wouldn’t have let me kiss you, if you actually cared about this guy. What do you know him for like 2 minutes? I don’t care about this guy. I don’t want to know about you going out with this guy, or any guy for that matter.”

Grayson says continuing to kiss her throughout their conversation.

“Grayson…Grayson…stop,” she says pushing him away.

“Why do you fight this so much? I know that there are still feelings here. There always has been. Even if you continuously want to deny it,” He says looking at her slightly dazed.

“I don’t want to deny it. I just-sometimes, I can’t help sabotaging a good thing. And please you have to understand it was never about you. I love you. Of course I love you. But I – I got scared. Marriage is so official and I guess I was just worried that I would somehow mess it up in the long run so I ended it before you could.”

“I’m not buying it. You know how much I adore you. There was nothing you could do that would make me think any less of you, ever. You’re basically walking perfection to me.”

“That’s the problem, Grayson. I love you so much. But you leave no room for me to be human. Everything I do, you just accept. I’m not perfect. I shouldn’t be put up on a pedestal.”

“I’m sorry. I never knew that’s how you felt. Look I get that I can come on a bit strong. And maybe I’ve smothered you by loving you too much. But I can’t help if I think you’re amazing. I can’t help if everything about you turns me on. It’s the price you pay for being madly in love. For finding that person that you can’t see yourself living without. And maybe I’ve convinced myself that you feel as strongly for me as I do for you. There’s something deeper going on, that made you run away from me, something you felt you couldn’t trust me to understand. So if I’m not the guy for you, then find who is. And just be happy, because in the end that’s all I want for you.”

Melanie looks at him, as her eyes begin to fill up.

“I’m gonna go. Obviously I didn’t think this through. It’s just this day. It got me thinking-I mean not that I don’t constantly think about you- but especially today. I just had an intense urgency to see your face. I’m sorry if I ruined your night.”

Grayson heads for the door as he opens it to find a man standing there about to ring Melanie’s door bell, he’s holding pink roses and a stuffed bear.

Grayson hangs his head and then looks up.

The man seems confused.

“Don’t mind me. I was just leaving. But word of advice. She likes Red roses, not pink. And she hates stuffed animals, they creep her out. Chocolate is always a safe bet.”

Grayson walks past the guy as Melanie watches his retreating figure and smiles inside, remembering their time together.

“Am I early?”

“No. You’re right on time Will. Why don’t you come in? There are probably a few things we should talk about.”

Will nods and steps inside as she takes his flowers and bear he notices she sets them down next to a dozen red roses and chocolate.

***********************************************************

Grayson sits on a bench in Central Park. He stares straight ahead in a daze. He has a flashback of kissing Melanie from earlier that night. He can clearly remember her arms tightening around his neck, her lips kissing him back with intensity.

He sighs looking down.

***********************************************************

“Will, I’m sorry I changed our plans I just wasn’t in the mood for dealing with a crowd tonight.” Melanie says handing Will a glass of wine as they sit in her living room in front of the fire place.

“That’s ok. Does this have anything to do with the mysterious stranger leaving your apartment?”

“Yes. We have some loose ends we’re still trying to sort through.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Is it a matter of unresolved feelings?”

Melanie sighs.

“Hey it’s really ok. I mean you and I are totally at the early stages. I’d rather know now than fall for you and get my heart stomped on later.”

“His name is Grayson and he was my fiancé. I broke things off a few months ago and we never really had an honest conversation about what happened. We were both so torn we just went our separate ways.”

“Do you still want to be with him?”

“I don’t know if I can. It’s kind of complicated. I’m kind of complicated.”

The guys looks at Melanie and ponders, he leans in and kisses her without warning.

Melanie pulls away almost immediately.

“I’m sorry I just-”

“Say no more- I think you just found your answer. And with that said, I think I’m going to head out. Happy Valentine’s Day,” Will says standing up.

“Will I’m-”

“Please don’t apologize. Look I get it. Sometimes, you gotta kiss the wrong one to make you realize who the right one is.”

He leaves and Melanie touches her lips thinking.

The image of Grayson grabbing her and kissing her plays over in her mind.

Melanie rushes over to grab her coat and purse, as she opens her door, she sees Grayson standing there at her door yet again.

Melanie drops her stuff to the floor as they lock eyes.

Grayson as if reading her mind, grabs her into a kiss as they begin to walk backward into her apartment. He pushes the door closed behind them.

“I’m sorry I’m such a mess.” Melanie says kissing him again.

“You’re not a mess.” He says kissing her.

“I’m sorry for hurting you and making you think I didn’t love you.”

“I knew you still loved me. I’m perceptive like that.” He says kissing her.

“Well, then I’m sorry for-”

“Shhh.” He says continuing to kiss her.

“No but wait, we need to talk, I have to tell you-”

“We can talk later, I have other things in mind.”

“But I just think that we still have so much that wasn’t resolved we really should just sit and-”

“Baby listen to me,” he says cupping her face, “I love you. But you talk too much. Please shut up,” he laughs “so we can really get this reunion going,” he says unzipping her dress and pulling it down off her shoulders.

“Words can wait,” she says as she kisses him back and starts to unbutton his shirt.

************************************************************

Grayson and Melanie sit in front of the fireplace, drinking wine and eating chocolates.

Melanie is wearing Grayson’s white button down and Grayson is wrapped in a bunch of blankets.

Grayson feeds her a piece of chocolate. She bites it and kisses him.

He cups her face, deepening the kiss.

“I love you, I’ve missed you so much,” She whispers.

“Well I’m glad we’re on the same page,” he smiles kissing her. “So…where were you running off to when I came back?”

“To find you,” she kisses him.

“Hmm. And what happened to Will?” he asks tucking her hair behind her ear and kissing her softly.

“Well he could tell pretty quickly that my mind was otherwise occupied.”

“So he didn’t kiss you…or anything?” Grayson asks knowingly.

“Um…well…” Melanie squints, scrunching her face,  as she tries stalling.

“Of course he kissed you. How could he not.” Grayson cups her face as his thumb traces over her lips. He smirks and leans in, kissing her.

Melanie smiles against his lips, her hands covering his.

 “Just so you know the kiss didn’t even last 3 seconds. I think he knew he was just a distraction. He even said sometimes you have to kiss the wrong one to realize who the right one is. And when he kissed me the only thing I could think about was you, and how I’d rather be kissing you.”

Grayson smirks, stroking her cheek.

“So are you gonna marry me or what…because I mean if you need a little extra convincing, that can be arranged.” Grayson says looking into her eyes, as he kisses her.

“Although I’m not objecting to any of your ways of persuasion. Are you sure your not mad…about Will?”

“Will who?” Grayson smirks, pulling Melanie into a kiss.

“I’m serious.” Melanie says smiling and looking at him.

“Do I hate the idea of some other guy kissing you? Absolutely. But I’m not mad. Because at the end of the day, you’re here with me.”

“I think it’s safe to say that I am never letting you go again,” Melanie says kissing him as she pulls him closer to her.

“Ok great. So uh…answer my question,” he says smirking as his eyes sparkle looking at her.

“Um… question was that again?” she says playing coy.

“Marry. Me.” he says seriously, staring into her eyes.

“Yes.” she says grabbing his face and kissing him several times.

Grayson laughs.

“Can we just talk about how sexy you look in my shirt? Kinda makes me feel like you’re all mine.”

“Really? Cause I am. I always have been.”

Grayson kisses her.

“And hey if you play your cards right, I might just let you take it off me.”

Grayson’s eyebrows raise.

“Even better,” he say kissing her as he starts to unbutton the shirt.

Melanie wraps her hands around his neck as they fall back onto the floor, the fire flickering into the night.

kiss

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-<3-

*I do not take credit for any images, or gifs used in my edits or otherwise.*

BLOG UPDATE: I think posting three times a week has been difficult for me, which is probably why I haven’t been so successful in posting on Sundays . So I am going to go back to my usual schedule of Mondays & Thursday. I have a lot going on personally  (all good things) and changes happening, so some things are up in the air for me. Once I feel a little more settled I will try for a third posting day again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Letter of Heartbreak from Adele

michelleleighwrites 2 Comments

Sometimes I do this thing…Read and see if you can figure it out! 😉

adeleshell image

#AdeleShell

 

adeleshellimage3

 

Hello, it’s me. 

I miss you. I’ve been sitting in my Hometown Glory, Chasing Pavements trying to Make You Feel My Love.

Don’t You Remember? When We Were Young. How you were always my One And Only, My Remedy.

It feels like a Million Years Ago,  it saddens me you see.

Once upon a time, I Found a Boy one that would last, in love, a First Love, a gentleman.

If It Hadn’t Been For Love, I would have never been Hiding My Heart from you. Worried and scared to feel pain. I’d whisper to myself, He Won’t Go, he’d never leave. It’s okay.

Maybe I’m a Daydreamer. Maybe I’m Tired of feeling Crazy for You.

Rumour Has It, you’ve begun Turning Tables. All I Ask is that you keep an open mind, and consider the possibilities. Our love ain’t Water Under the Bridge, hold me like I’m more than just a friend.

Take It All, my Sweetest Devotion.

If it seems like something you cannot do, if you’re gonna let me down, let me down gently. I hope you have your memories.

Set Fire To The Rain watch it pour as I touch your face.

Give me a memory I can use.

To remind you of how I can no longer keep our Love in the Dark.

There is so much space between us.

But I’ll Be Waiting here patiently, singing you my Love Song.

We could have had it all, this I know.

But here I am, Rolling In The Deep upon the River Lea, I blame it on the River Lea.

All the memories.

I’ve saved the Best for Last to explain the Cold Shoulder, I’ve shown you in the past. I’ll share with you the worries the fears that turned into tears. The reasons that Melt My Heart to Stone.

My Same, my love, I wish to make things Right as Rain.

But we can’t go back, or so it seems. I pray for Someone Like You to walk into my world again, I bid you farewell with a kiss on the cheek.

As I courageously whisper Send My Love (To Your New Lover). Treat her better.

Love, Adele-Shell ❤

adeleshellimage2

#AdeleShell

 

Some Adele Inspired Selfies

[make-up , hair, and outfit]

#dontjudge 😉

 

Adele Make-Up Tips:

Create a somewhat “flawless” face, add bronzer & blush

Fill in your brows, brush them up

Winged dark black liner on lower and upper water line as well as several coats of mascara

Beige, nude, light brown eye shadows

Nude lipstick and gloss

Adele Hair Tips:

Use second day hair

Dry shampoo, mousse, & hairspray

Blow dry top center of head

Flip head over to blow dry

Tease crown

Flip head back over

Tousle with hands until you find desired look 

Adele Outfit Tips:

Black long sleeved shirt

Black furry/fuzzy vest

Faux Fur Scarf

*******************

How many Adele song titles did you catch? Can we just talk about how purely amazing 25 is…I’ve had it on repeat since I downloaded it!

*I take no credit for the few Adele song lyrics, many song titles, and Adele images used in my edits to create this Adele 19, 21, & 25 album song titles mash-up/lyrical poem/short story. Whatever you want to call it. Haha.*

*I do however, take credit for all selfies 😉 haha.*

-<3-

 

 

Dissect A Scene: The “Burzek” Breakup #ChicagoPD

michelleleighwrites Leave a comment

This past Wednesday’s episode 3×12 of Chicago PD entitled “Looking Out For Stateville” hit Burzek (Kim Burgess & Adam Ruzek) fans pretty hard with Kim making a surprisetumblr_nvikeoUUHL1sp3bh6o1_1280[1] ending to she and fiancé Adam’s recent engagement. I myself am a huge Burzek fan, I’ve lobbied for them since Season 1. And have really rallied behind their engagement, but this whole season has kept me weary. This scene was the last minute of the episode and it broke my heart, it has been on my mind all week and I have to speak on it!

Read this article [Spoilers involved!] to learn more about the growing frustration behind Burgess’ decision, along with Marina Squerciati’s commentary on her character’s choice.

As the engagement high seemed to fade, Burgess began wanting to make plans and move she and Adam’s life together forward. While, Adam began to play the avoidance game. This scene is the result of that hesitation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl2YGnzItGA

The Dissection:

This scene in it’s entirety is just over a minute long, and yet it will have a fierce impact on the dynamic of the show. It’s held in a simple location; the convenient location of the police station’s locker room. The same locker room they go about their daily work lives in, the same locker room Ruzek proposed to her in, the same locker room these two have shared many emotional yet comforting conversations in relation to heavy days on the job, the same locker room they’ve snuck away to share private kisses and sweet moments. It’s a scene all about dialogue and small looks and silences- it’s essentially nothing fancy. There are no guns, no car chases, no bad guys to take up our time. Just two people, getting their hearts broken.

The scene is basically a one sided dialogue as Kim gets to the realization that Adam is not ready to settle down.  Adam’s reactions are minor as he tries to make light of things and act like Kim’s words aren’t valid, wondering why she’s thinking this way. Although he doesn’t exactly tell her she’s wrong. He doesn’t fight for her in that moment, she tells him he’s off the hook and hands him back the engagement ring.

It isn’t until she does that and walks away, that we see how great of a loss this is for Adam, as he chokes out “Kim” after her retreating figure as his eyes stay glued to the ring in his hand. That right there broke my heart. I think the audience has been with Burgess this whole time, feeling her frustration with him. And although we support her decision, in that moment we all feel for Ruzek, because it’s evident that he does in fact love her, and he doesn’t want her to walk away from their relationship.

Marina Squerciati really shines in her vulnerability. You can tell it is taking all of Burgess’ strength to finally make this decision. And that is absolutely conveyed in Squerciati’s calm, rational, kind delivery. Kim Burgess loves Adam Ruzek, and her letting their relationship go is her understanding that maybe he’s just not in this, therefore preventing an even greater heartache in the future, if she waited it out. No woman wants to stay with a man who doesn’t actually put his plans for marriage into action. He did ask her. He knew it was soon, but he didn’t care. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

Patrick John Flueger plays these tough emotional scenes like a boss. Ruzek’s character has this appeasing nature. He’s constantly bringing the nervous and over thinking Burgess down back to earth. Burgess can kind of become like a scatter brain and rattle on and he’s got a flirtation and charm that just works. Although in his small contributions to the dialogue in this scene and his ducking behind the locker, you notice that he’s realizing he’s been in a state of avoiding moving his relationship forward. His subtle looks tell all. Yet to him, he didn’t see this coming.  

But I knew this break was coming. I didn’t know how it was going to happen, and I hoped that it wouldn’t but I felt something bad was bound to happen. I am however, happy that it was Burgess who ended it, because I think everyone (**cough**Platt**cough**) figured that because of Ruzek’s list of failed engagements, he’d be the one. I just hope these two can find their way back to each other, because they truly have a love that makes you root for them. And I truly hope they don’t try and have Sean Roman make a play for Burgess because he seemed to be very vocal about Ruzek’s resistance. I think Burgess and Roman are better off as partners. Besides Lindsay and Halstead are doing the whole partner/dating thing right now, and they’re doing it well. Let’s leave that to them.

I cannot wait for this week’s episode, it sounds pretty damn good!

I just hope that Ruzek fights for her!  Regardless this break up is going to cause major tension and it is going to be heart breaking but let’s face it, sexy. You know Ruzek is going to be throwing some longing stares, Burgess’ way. I have a feeling we are going to see a sign of Ruzek we haven’t really seen yet. Sure we see how much he loves her, but now we get to see him elevate that, because now he’s lost her. Now he has to grow up. And I’m also super eager to see how Burgess is going to handle working with him, should definitely be interesting.

Chicago PD airs Wednesdays on NBC @10 pm

LIVE TWEET WITH ME! (oh and the cast) 😉

@Shellbelle91

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*I do not take credit for any images or videos used.*

-<3-

 

 

 

Love Conflicted Soundtrack & Author’s Commentary

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BACK STORY: Over the past 8 months or so Love Conflicted has been featured on and off the michelle leigh writes blog. Its premiere date was May 11th 2015, and the consistent updates lasted through June 25th 2015. Then I took a massive hiatus from the series. I finally got my act together in the New Year and finished it this week, finishing my stories is incredibly important to me, far too many go unfinished. It was important for me to see this through. Seeing as how I slipped up on this week’s schedule, I figured I’d give you a rare Sunday post, I am thinking about adding Sundays to the schedule, so that will put me at a 3 times a week schedule. However, it is to still be determined, if I can actually commit to that, I don’t want to get ahead of myself. But I may do a trial run and see if it works out. As promised here is the Love Conflicted inspired “Soundtrack” and My Author’s Commentary.

DISCLAIMER: Love Conflicted is not a real motion picture nor does it have a soundtrack coming out. This is just me living in my fictional happy writer’s world. Where I pretend and where I run the show. Haha. Back in college whenever I would hand in a script or be working with already written material/feature film scenes, my professor would ask me who I would have play the characters, where would it take place, what location? And so I think that kind of stuck with me, because as I write this story series I want to include those aspects and give you a visual experience. Mysterious Attraction was my first shot at it, recently A Broken Heart For Christmas, and now also with Love Conflicted. Along the way there have been little one shots, or shorts including a few parts as I will. But that distinction is not always clear, I don’t always know how long a story is going to take to tell. As a kid I used to say “Make Pretend” all the time. Make Pretend you’re a princess who slays dragons. Make pretend you’re a ballerina who bull rides. Make pretend you’re writing a screenplay and you get to pick the actors, and release a soundtrack and commentary that people have been anxiously awaiting. The options could be endless. So let’s “Make Pretend.” Enjoy!

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OFFICAL FULL CAST PROMOTIONAL PHOTO RELEASED 😉

Official full cast photo movie poster

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**Love Conflicted** “Soundtrack”

Happy Listening!

ALBUM ARTWORK:

Love conflicted soundtrack

Track List

  1. “All In My Head”– Tori Kelly
  2. “I Know What You Did Last Summer”– Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello
  3. “Revival”– Selena Gomez
  4. “Call of the Wild”– Bethany Joy Lenz
  5. “Water Under the Bridge”– Adele
  6. “The Last Time”– Taylor Swift Ft. Gary Lightbody
  7. “Sad Beautiful Tragic”-Taylor Swift
  8. “Blindness”– Justin Timberlake
  9. “What A Good Woman Does”– Joy Williams
  10. “Until the Levee”– Joy Williams
  11. “Stitches”– Shawn Mendes
  12. “I’ll Show You”– Justin Bieber
  13. “Please”– Bethany Joy Lenz
  14. “Stealing”– Gavin Degraw
  15. “When I Was Your Man”– Bruno Mars
  16. “It Will Rain”– Bruno Mars
  17. “The One That Got Away”– The Civil Wars
  18. “Disarm”– The Civil Wars
  19. “I’m A Mess”– Ed Sheeran
  20. “I See Fire”– Ed Sheeran
  21. “Maybe”– Everly-(Bethany Joy Lenz & Amber Sweeney)
  22. “You Found Me”– The Fray
  23. “Leave You Alone”– Kris Allen
  24. “Wanted You More”– Lady Antebellum
  25. “Lesson Learned”– Ray LaMontagne

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Onto the next portion…My Love Conflicted *Author’s Commentary*

GENERAL NOTES:

This drama series was rooted in the love story between two unlikely souls. Maggie an elementary school teacher and Ricky an undercover “mobster” who thought he was working for an honorable CIA organization that turned out to be corrupt. Maggie and Ricky meet by chance and experience an instant spark. The bulk of their relationship is rooted in sub context. You don’t really see much of their love in current time. You experience it through the occasional flashback, through the stories they share about each other, and through the intense conversations they have when are reunited for brief periods of time. You get to see their life together through images on Maggie’s phone as well.

Lily and Ian are introduced gradually. I always feel that my mind automatically goes to a minimum of a 4 person cast. The love story is there, boy meets girl, boy falls for girl, boy gets girl, boy screws up, boy tries to win girl back. And in the mist of all that the story has to keep going…enter supporting characters Ian and Lily. They’re budding love story is just a happy coincidence. Their story is one of a lighter more sarcastic, sassy and fun tone. In contrast to Maggie and Ricky’s love story which is no heartbreaking and so dramatically driven. The “I can’t breathe without you” feel is heavy for those too. Yet Ian and Lily keep things light and let’s be honest they are most comedy you’ll get here. Lily has her one liners that zing, doesn’t she?

Also the story lines Mob nod must be a trend, huh? [See Mysterious Attraction] Ode to Sonny Corinthos and General Hospital.

THEMES:

There are consistent themes of Love, Friendship, Trust, Fear, Bravery, Finding yourself, Coming into your own skin, Independence, Guilt, and ultimately rebuilding and waking each other up to inspire a better way of life. That goes for all characters and all forms of the relationships between these 4 people.

DREAM CASTING:

When I sat down with the first scene, it was somewhat of a scene that resembled the first part, where there was this back and forth between Ricky and a female character. You could tell she was angry with him and there was a very good reason, one that he was trying to make light of and gloss over with charm and his belief in their love. His belief that love could somehow help them overcome the catastrophic bomb he just dropped on her. i.e.: that he’s essentially a hit man. But I never really knew who these character would become and getting to know them and writing their dialogue and choosing how they would handle things, that’s been the most fun.

Ricky and Maggie

Ricky: Jesse Lee Soffer (I think he and Lenz would be magic on screen together!)

Ricky faces the blow back from years of horrifying assignments. He finally realizes that what he’s been doing hasn’t been for the better of his country. As he comes to grips with that reality he is faced with trying to protect the woman he loves in the mist of trying to out his corrupt boss, Cobbs. Ricky is a good hearted man, but his job has trained him to perceive himself as a villain of sorts. We never meet Cobbs but we don’t have to. His threat is there, it’s real and evident in Ricky’s fear. He’s almost like this mysterious ghost that looms over them, and we never know if he’s actually going to make his move. I wanted the threat and the fear to be real, without having to have some big reveal or altercation with the actual threat himself. I wanted to sway away from the route Mysterious Attraction took, of kidnappings, and hostage situations. Although the dangers were very similar, the main altercation was ultimately Ricky’s arrest and his choosing to let Maggie go, completely breaking her heart and his own.

 Maggie: Bethany Joy Lenz (She is my QUEEN…I can’t even tell you!)

Maggie is that girl that is so kind and beautiful and so full of hope and light that you just expect no one to ever hurt her. That and the fact that she closes herself off from any kind of risk. Therefore insuring herself she won’t get hurt. She’s the girl that is completely unaware of how amazing she is, and is timid in her sexuality. Meeting Ricky who instantly uses his charm and wit to convince her to take a risk makes her feel alive. The fact that he looks at her in a way that she’s never been looked at before, does wonders for her too. But with all that being said, Maggie comes into her own as she slowly realizes everyone around her is trying to coddle her. She hates feeling like a victim and chooses to take her life in her own hands, going after what she wants.

candice-lily

Lily: Candice Accola-King

If you know my writing, you know the best friend is always the sassy one. [See: Demi Lovato as Roxy in Mysterious Attraction.] I don’t know what it is. But I just feel like the best friend has to be this loose cannon who just speaks the truth. In many way Lily serves as the audience’s perspective. You know when you’re watching a movie or TV show and someone is doing something so stupid you just scream at the TV. Yea, well that’s Lily. She states what should appear as the obvious to the others actors in the story.

meet ian

Ian: Nick Wechsler

Ian is a sweet, calm guy. The voice of reason. Although he too has been involved in these high-stake illegal activities, his self-awareness is much further along than Ricky’s. He knows how to separate himself from his corruption leader of a boss, and knows that his actions were a product of being coerced and trained for years. He also has had a bit more distance than Ricky, as Ricky was made a leader in the organization and felt the brunt of things toward the end, Ian was more of fixer of things, the driver, a tying up loose ends guy. Ian was the one who has been by Ricky’s side, the one who would sacrifice for the wellbeing of everyone. He’s heroic. But it’s a quiet heroism. You don’t realize how self-less he is right off the bat. He’s also got his own charm. His flirtation isn’t as blunt as Ricky’s when it comes to the ladies. He’s a quiet compliment-er, he observes Lily and her nature. He uses what he learns to draw her in and to connect with her. He genuinely speaks his mind and although he goes along with Lily’s sassy flirtation he is completely obvious about his intention to fall in love with her.

-The exclusion of voiceover, the implementation of inner thoughts-

This wasn’t consistent throughout the story. It started off with Maggie’s inner thoughts because she was dealing with a lot on her own, so we had to hear her thoughts. Once Lily was introduced those thoughts were reflected in the dialogue between those two characters as we experienced her pain through the things she confided in her friend.

-The Evolution of relationships-

Friendship-

“Laggie”

lily and maggie bffs

It’s evident that Lily and Maggie have been friends their whole lives. Lily is Maggie’s rock. She is the one to look out for her. Let’s face it she has no filter and will test anyone who tries to cause Maggie any pain.

“Rian”

ricky and ian bffs

Throughout the story we see Ricky deal with the consequences of his actions. We see him deal with having to suffer through causing Maggie so much pain. Ian is someone who is brought in to remain the calm, cool, collected person, he’s cool under pressure. He serves as the voice of reason and as Ricky’s eyes, when he can’t be there for Maggie. The one who is Ricky’s right hand man, and will sacrifice to help him in anyway. They have been partners forever, but their friendship is their first priority. They have each other’s backs, always.

Romantic-

“Illy”

ian and lily kiss

Ian passed Lily’s bluster…

When Lily and Ian meet it’s kind of a comedic moment. Rare for this series, but it serves as a breath of fresh air. We see Lily’s sassy nature at its best, and we see that even the most stoic of men can be instantly distracted by a beautiful and alluring woman. Lily is the way she is due to a recent heartbreak. Ian takes his time to court her, proving to her that he’s worth it. Lily’s calm and collected not to mention sassy nature is her defense mechanism. Ian gets to her, with his innocent yet somewhat obvious flirtations.

“Micky”

falling (2)

Took a while, but the love was always there

 

The main love story is set between Maggie and Ricky. Maggie lives a plain life, a routine life. A life of rules. Ricky follows his own set of rules. When their worlds collide, opposites attract and they find something in each other that compliments them as individuals. Things they have been looking for all along. Ricky instills adventure and confidence in Maggie’s life, showing her how amazing she is while trying to keep a light hearted sexy tone to their conversations. He’s definitely got a bit of a problem with telling her what to do, because he’s so afraid to lose her. His overprotective nature does cost him at times. While, Maggie instills belief, love and stability in Ricky’s life. Bringing a sense of realism to life, showing him that his criminal past isn’t what defines him. Ricky and Maggie have a back and forth that is evident. There is always a high level of tension, because they are always drawn to each other even though they both experience their reservations about being together. Regardless the love is always there.

-What I’ve learned about my writing, and need to work on for my next series and future projects-

TIPS:

*Write the series (or at least the bulk of it) in advance before posting.

Posting as I go makes it hard for me to stay motivated at times and makes it hard to remember where I left off. Which can cause continuity issues and timeline confusions.

*Keep note of the timeline and realize that not everyone can see it as clearly as you can.

This story has taken place over the course or nearly 1 ½-2 years. In real time we see about a year of it. But Maggie and Ricky have had an ongoing relationship for nearly 2 years. They were together for about 6 months before she found out about his job. 6 months he was able to hide and act like a normal boyfriend, but on the sly. Lily was the only one who truly knew they were an actual couple. To the outside world they seemed friendly. When Maggie finds out about Ricky’s job she pulls away. As Ricky begins to fight for her-coming full force to win her back. Maggie thinks she’s pregnant and worries Ricky’s lifestyle will cause her and her child pain. Their relationship moves quickly, as Ricky had revealed they said their “I love you’s” a week after dating. The separation/reuniting period is on and off for a while, and then after Ricky’s arrest, we jump 6 months ahead which allude to the growth these characters have made. In that time Ian and Lily have started their own romance and seem to be smitten with each other. Ricky spent his time getting well, and Maggie spent her time being in her own skin. Although the time apart was painful for both of them, they made it back to each other in the end, better than they were before, with a promising future ahead of them.

*Learn how to implement backstory better.

I feel like the little facts like Maggie’s a school teacher and Lily suffered a bad relationship could have been better thought out and more implemented throughout the story’s entirety. I need to be careful of that next time.

*Describe location, outfits, appearance more thoroughly, paint a picture for the audience. Where are they, what does it look like? Just because I see it, doesn’t mean you do.

*Learn to sus out the basis of the story before I post.

This can be hard because I often don’t know where the story will go. I may have a vague idea, but then as I’m writing the direction can change in an instant.

*Be more consistent and stick to a solid posting schedule.

I usually post on Mondays and Thursdays every week. For a while this series was all I featured on my blog, and then I kind of felt like I needed to regroup and give other categories on my blog some love. But then the series kind of took a really long break and it was hard to get back into, I just kept putting it off.

*Do research BEFORE you post.

With the crime/legal issues/mob story lines there are certain clauses and lingo and statures that go with that type of plotline. I feel like I didn’t know much about what the CIA does and that caused a problem as I wrote Ricky’s character. I would research as I went which I think that caused some inconsistencies and some weirdness. I did my best, hopefully it came across accurately enough.

*Don’t be afraid of sexual content and more explicit language. And don’t apologize.

I think this is a big one for me to learn. I find myself putting warnings and disclaimers before any chapters that contain more adult matters. Sex is a part of relationships and loving someone, and telling a love story. Cursing is part of heated conversation and gives a line a more dignified delivery. In this series, I definitely explored a more adult style of writing. I usually edit myself when it comes to love scenes, because I feel like it may be perceived as slutty or trashy, and I’m still trying to learn how to write an effective love scene. But I think with this series I’m breaking out of my shell slowly. I am 24, so I mean come on now, the things on TV and in the theaters now, would make my Maggie and Ricky measly shower sex scene seem like a Disney Channel movie.

*Write more like a script, then a novel.

This is something that I’ve noticed. I want the series to be read like a movie, and yet I’m writing and reading it like a short story. Formatting definitely needs work.

*Step up your editing images game, and use the slideslow option more often.

I don’t have image editing software on my computer. I actually found a way to edit images through Microsoft, but some edits come out SO BAD. Lol. Some come out pretty good. I’ve definitely gotten better since the Mysterious Attraction days, but I can only imagine the images I could create if I actually had Photoshop! Sometimes I’ll edit an image and it’ll come out pretty good and I will just get so excited. Seeing my characters come together like that makes it almost seem real. Oh just let me live. Let me dream! 😉 WordPress just added the slideshow option (or I just realized they had one) and it makes things so much neater, you can add captions and watch the story unfold like a mini movie. I love it!

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So there you have it guys, as this post goes up, we say Good Bye to this series, and plan for the next one. I’m excited! Thank you for reading, and congrats if you had the patience to stay tuned until the end! 😉

 

Love conflicted says good bye finished

Catch up on Love Conflicted HERE

*I do not take credit for any images used in my edits or otherwise.*

-<3-