Haunted

Three days later and I was still at Isabelle’s. I’d been on the internet looking for a new place but there was nothing I could afford that wasn’t a complete wreck. I’d had several more nightmares about Ryan, but didn’t tell anyone. Xander and Isabelle were always so happy and I felt like I was bringing them down. I didn’t want to follow them like a shadow, boring them to death. Several times, I offered to go and stay in a hotel or rent somewhere but Isabelle refused. ‘I have the room so you might as well use it,’ is what she always said.

That afternoon, I was watching a movie with Isabelle when my phone rang. Out of habit, I picked up the phone, only realising it would be Liam after I’d answered and it was too late.
“Danni, where have you been? Why haven’t you answered any of my calls?”
“I’ve been busy. Anyway, we’re over.”
“Come on, you and I both know you’re lying.”
“I’m serious now.”
“Okay, well you think that, but when you see sense, give me a call and I’ll come and get you.”
“You’ll be waiting a long time,” I teased. He hung up.
“Are you okay?” Isabelle asked.
“Same crap, different day,” I muttered, forcing a laugh. She gave me a hug.
“Don’t let him get to you. He doesn’t know where you are so he can’t hurt you.” I smiled half-heartedly.
“You want some lunch?” I asked.
“I’ll do it.”
“No it’s fine, you’ve done enough running round after me. Toasties or baguettes or pasta?”
“Can I have a tuna baguette please?”
“Sure,” I smiled, disappearing to the kitchen.

“So what’s the deal with Xander and Leven?” I asked as we sat and ate our lunch.
“God knows, they’re been on and off like a light pretty much since the Hunger Games. Leven wants to go public with their relationship but Xander thinks it’s best to keep quiet. Like I said the other day, he wouldn’t know what he wanted if it was given to him on a plate. Xander often sees other girls. Leven doesn’t like that so that’s usually why they break up.”
“What do you mean, ‘other girls’?”
“You know what Xander’s like. He goes clubbing a lot and meets up with other girls. I’m not sure if anything happens but he’s an idiot like that: he sees a pretty girl and can’t keep his hands off her.” My mind flashed back to our kiss. After everything that had happened, I wanted a simple relationship. Maybe Xander and I weren’t destined for each other. I had to admit though, there was something strangely enticing about him. Despite the fact he was a bit of a player, he was one of the sweetest people I had ever met. He always made me feel special, but from the sounds of things, I wasn’t the only one. I may have been ‘his girl’ but I was one of many.

The next day, I had to work. I quickly stopped at Ryan’s grave to drop him so flowers, silently telling him everything that had happened. My mind was up and down like a yoyo – one minute I was madly in love with Xander, the next I felt like an idiot for falling for such a player. Surely the fact he kissed me the day we met was proof enough of that. Isabelle said he didn’t know what he wanted, and I knew that feeling far too well. Shit, I had ten minutes to get to work.

Xander’s POV
Kill me now. Could I feel any worse? I’d just been on the phone with Isabelle, only to be told that when Danni left Liam, she came to mine but I was with Leven. The one time Danni really needed me and I was too busy to give her a thought. Some friend I am. Not only that, she obviously knows I have a girlfriend now and, quite rightly, she’ll hate me for not telling her. I’m not even sure why. I guess I felt like I was rubbing it in. Hey Danni, I know your boyfriend’s an abusive little bastard who deserves to die but just to let you know, I have a girlfriend who I’ve been with for a couple of years now. As if on cue, my phone rang and oh look, it just happened to be Danni. As I said, kill me now.

Danni’s POV
As I sat in the hospital’s cafeteria with the usual group of workmates, I couldn’t help but feel like a spare part. They’d all asked about my head and I’d told them I’d tripped, although I wasn’t sure if they believed me. I missed Liam but I wanted Xander. Fuck, what was I saying? Xander had a girlfriend…kind of and I had a fiancé…maybe. I picked up my phone and without being sure what I was doing, I dialled Xander’s number.
“Hi,” I said, getting up from the table.
“Hey baby, how are you?” My heart started racing as I desperately fought with my emotions, not wanting the entire hospital to see me blushing.
“I’m okay, you?”
“Yeah, I’m glad you called actually. Do you wanna do something tomorrow?”
“What were you thinking?”
“I’m recording my album for a few hours but you can come. Afterwards, we could get some coffee or watch a movie maybe, it’s up to you.” I smiled at the thought of spending a whole day with him.
“Coffee sounds good.”
“Great, I’ll pick you up at eleven?”
“Sure.”
“Have fun at work then and I’ll see you tomorrow."
“Okay, bye,” I muttered, hanging up the phone. Despite being mega excited, I couldn’t help but feel like this was wrong. I’d never particularly liked Leven; something about her rubbed me the wrong way. Nevertheless, it was strange that he was taking me rather than her. Another thing I found strange was that he’d never introduced us – or even told me about her for that matter. I was so caught up in Xander’s charming ways and good looks, I hadn’t once thought that he wasn’t as innocent as he seems.