Status: Work In Progress
Big Black Car
The Club
Ch. 10
“Good morning, everyone!” Katie said. “We have a new intern joining us this week, and she’s one of my best friends. Can you say a big hello to Miss Annik?”
“HELLO MISS ANNIK!” Fifty kids screamed back. Annik grinned and waved back. Katie patted her on the back and began to give out instructions for the day. Annik looked around at all of the children, a diverse mixture of black, white, and Hispanic, each with a look of anticipation on his or her face. Except one.
Annik walked around to the back, where a chubby Hispanic boy sat with tears in his eyes. She took the seat beside him on the floor.
“Hey.”
“Hi.”
“What’s your name?”
“Ric.”
“Well, Ric, what’s wrong? Surely you aren’t bored already!” She smiled at him. Katie had finished her instructions, and the room had erupted into noise and movement.
“I just moved here, and I don’t have any friends.”
“You know what?” She looked him in the eyes. “I just moved here, too, and I could always use a friend. Wanna play a game?”
He nodded. Annik jumped up and tapped him on the shoulder. “You’re it!” He looked at her for a second, mouth slightly open, before scrambling up and chasing after her.
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Annik threw herself into the armchair in their apartment.
“I am exhausted.”
Katie laughed and poured them both some lemonade. “That’s part of the fun! Congratulations on your first full week. Took you long enough to have one.” She winked and handed her a drink.
Annik gave her a small smile. Had it really only been a week ago that she had woken up in Adam’s arms? Katie had given her another rest day, where she had spent ten hours lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. She couldn’t bring herself to move, or to think about anything that wasn’t Adam.
Work had been a welcome change. She felt like a real person again.
“You were great with Ric this week,” Katie smiled as she plopped on the couch. “I was worried about how he would adjust, but you really got him engaged. Nice work.”
Annik smiled a real smile this time. “He is adorable. I love all of them already.” Katie sat up. “So now that you’re better… want to tell me why your were upset the other night?”
Annik looked down. “It’s nothing… I just, um, met a guy, but I forgot to get his number.” It was technically true. Katie raised her eyebrows. “Does your cousin know him? Maybe she could find out for you?”
“Yeah, I’ll have to ask her.” Annik fidgeted and hoped Katie wouldn’t ask any more questions she didn’t know how to answer. But Katie was standing up, checking her phone. “Hey, we’re all going out tonight! My friend is working at this new club not far from here and says she can get us in. You coming?”
“I’m not sure,” Annik said. “I’m pretty tired.” She thought of her empty room, her empty bed and cringed a little.
“C’mon, it’ll be fun!” Katie was already rummaging through her closet for an outfit, her voice muffled. “Plus, my friend said they’ve seen a ton of celebs so far, and I know how much you want to see a Kardashian.”
Annik’s heart lurched as she thought of Adam. Would he be there? Did she want him to be?
Of course she did.
“Yeah, I’ll go.” She rubbed her eyes and looked at the ceiling.
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Music pounded into Annik’s ears as she held the wall at Circa, LA’s hottest new club. Katie and some of the interns had practically had to drag Annik from the apartment, but not before dressing her up in a sequined body con that Annik was currently pulling down to cover more of her legs.
A waiter walked by her and winked, “Don’t hide your assets, chica.” She forced a smile and laced her hands together, wishing she was wearing sweatpants. Rationally, Annik knew that the guy was trying to be charming, and he was probably innocent. That didn’t stop her from dropping her gaze to the floor and taking a few deep breaths to calm any mounting anxiety. Just then, Katie arrived, holding two drinks, one of which she offered to Annik.
“Isn’t this great? Aren’t you having the best timeeee?” She grinned and stumbled a little, sloshing some of her martini onto the club floor. Annik took a sip of her drink and shook her head, smirking at her friend, “It seems like you are.”
“Oh I totally am. I just danced with a guy who looked like—oh my god! Annik, look who’s here!” Katie’s eyes were wide and she had already pulled out her phone to snap a picture. Annik turned, expecting Kloe or Kortney.
“Adam Levine is here. No way. God I love L.A.”
Annik nearly dropped her drink. There he was. Looking just as good as he had when she had first met him. He was wearing dark jeans and a black Henley and was currently being swarmed by pretty girls and paparazzi. He smiled graciously at them and continued to move through the crowd, his hand entwined with a tall, blonde girl who looked like a super model.
“He’s with Anne Vyalitsyna! I had no idea they’d gotten back together. Personally, I think he’d be better off…” Katie continued to her commentary, but Annik had tuned her out. She shrunk back against the wall, wanting to remain out of his line of sight. Of course he had a girlfriend. I knew there wasn’t anything real with us. Flashes of mornings in his bed ran through her head, and she could feel her face flushing. I’m so stupid. He was probably with her this whole time.
“Annik? Are you okay? You look a little flushed. Got the hots for Adam Levine?” Katie nudged her playfully. Annik shook her head, then threw back the drink in her hand. Adam had led Anne up the stairs to the prime tables with a view of the dance floor.
He was soon out of sight.
“Let’s get more drinks.”
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Anne Vyalitsyna sat in Adam Levine’s lap, laughing hysterically at something he had said. They were sitting with a few of her model friends. He wished Blake were here and had considered inviting him, but he didn’t want to hear the disappointment in Blake’s voice at his life choices.
After Blake’s pep talk at IHOP, Adam had searched everywhere for Annik, but nothing turned up. He’d even gone so far as to cruise around USC’s dorms, but he couldn’t remember which one was Annik’s and knew if he got out to ask he would be overwhelmed with paparazzi.
A quick cure for his sorrow was a text from Anne, who said she wanted “to catch up like old times.” Adam knew what that meant, but after a few shots of tequila (okay…more than few), the idea hadn’t seemed so unappealing. She had taken him to a new club, where he had proceeded to have a few more drinks. Now, he was feeling more than buzzed and had started to caress Anne’s waist.
Anne smiled and batted his hand away. “Not here, baby. I’m with my friends. In a little while we’ll go some place more private.” She winked at him, and he felt a little but of disgust at himself even as he started to get a little hard. She adjusted her body in his lap, and he barely held in a groan. When the bartender came around, he took two more shots, and the group toasted to some mundane thing as they all took another drink.
“Let’s dance,” Adam whispered into Anne’s ear, but she scowled back at him. “I don’t want to go down there with all those dirty B-listers. Plus you know they’ll just swarm you again and ask for autographs.”
“It’s nearly 2 a.m. The paps are gone, and it looks like a good crowd. Come on, babe.”
When she didn’t move, Adam felt anger rise up in his chest at her snobbery. He stood up abruptly, nearly knocking Anne to the floor. “I’m going to get us more drinks.” Anne quickly disguised her shock and took his chair.
As Adam made his way through the busy top floor, he felt the alcohol swirling in his stomach. He felt a little light-headed. It was a welcome change from the endless sadness of the past week. He grabbed a drink, chugged it, and then slowly made his way down to the packed floor. Easily masked by the dancing crowd, Adam saw a girl near the middle with long blond waves dancing with a smarmy looking guy with a mustache. She reminded him of Annik. Annik with her ocean blue eyes and her lips… he snapped himself out of the trance. The guy was groping her, and he noticed her trying to get her distance. Well, he could fix that.
He approached the two and swiftly guided the girl away, her back still to him. “I’ll take it from here, man.” The guy backed off when he recognized who Adam was, and the girl didn’t turn around, instead muttering a breathy, “Thank you.” Nelly’s “Remix to Ignition” began blasting from the speakers.
He brushed the girl’s hair to one side of her neck and affixed his hands to her hips. “Dance with me instead.” She moved back against him and he caressed her middle, enjoying the feel of her body wrapped in his. He gently turned her around, and then wondered if the alcohol was making him hallucinate.
“Annik?”
“Adam?”
“What are youuuu doing hereee?” Adam yelled above the club, hands still on Annik’s hips.
Annik noticed his dilated eyes and the slur of his words. He was very drunk. “I, um, came with some friends from work—.” He cut her off and moved his hands to her shoulders. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere! I can’t believe you’re here! This is, fuck, what’s that word they use when something’s meant to be?”
“Fate?”
“YES. Fate! Because I love you and we should be together I swear and I’ll never hurt you like those guys and god, I missed you.” He moved his head down and captured her lips in a bruising kiss. Annik pushed against him, feeling too warm because of the drinks and his words; it was too much. “Adam, stop. Stop, you’re hurting me.” At these words he pulled away from her, and she could see the sadness in his eyes. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry I don’t know what I’m doing. I think I’ve had too much, I think…I think I’m going to be sick.”
Annik followed him as he ran to the back of the club and then vomited all over the sidewalk. A bouncer had followed them out. “Shall I call Mr. Levine’s drive, madam?” Annik nodded and thanked him. When he went back inside, Annik rubbed Adam’s back as he continued to dry heave. When he was finished, he sat miserably on the curb. Annik sat beside him, an arm around his waist to keep him upright. “You’re okay, Adam. Have some water.” He shook his head, but Annik held the cup to his lips and tilted the water inside. He drank thirstily and finished the cup just as the car arrived.
She helped Adam into the car, feeling overwhelmed and unsure about her next move. But as he settled in the car, he grabbed her hand. “Don’t leave me, please, Annik, please don’t leave again.”
So she texted Katie and said she’d felt sick and had gone to her cousin’s for the night, and then slid into the leather seats. Adam laid his head in her lap and fell asleep, and she willed herself not to cry because no matter what happened with Adam in the future, it would inevitably lead to pain. She was already in too deep with him to come out of this unscathed.
“Good morning, everyone!” Katie said. “We have a new intern joining us this week, and she’s one of my best friends. Can you say a big hello to Miss Annik?”
“HELLO MISS ANNIK!” Fifty kids screamed back. Annik grinned and waved back. Katie patted her on the back and began to give out instructions for the day. Annik looked around at all of the children, a diverse mixture of black, white, and Hispanic, each with a look of anticipation on his or her face. Except one.
Annik walked around to the back, where a chubby Hispanic boy sat with tears in his eyes. She took the seat beside him on the floor.
“Hey.”
“Hi.”
“What’s your name?”
“Ric.”
“Well, Ric, what’s wrong? Surely you aren’t bored already!” She smiled at him. Katie had finished her instructions, and the room had erupted into noise and movement.
“I just moved here, and I don’t have any friends.”
“You know what?” She looked him in the eyes. “I just moved here, too, and I could always use a friend. Wanna play a game?”
He nodded. Annik jumped up and tapped him on the shoulder. “You’re it!” He looked at her for a second, mouth slightly open, before scrambling up and chasing after her.
------------------------------
Annik threw herself into the armchair in their apartment.
“I am exhausted.”
Katie laughed and poured them both some lemonade. “That’s part of the fun! Congratulations on your first full week. Took you long enough to have one.” She winked and handed her a drink.
Annik gave her a small smile. Had it really only been a week ago that she had woken up in Adam’s arms? Katie had given her another rest day, where she had spent ten hours lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. She couldn’t bring herself to move, or to think about anything that wasn’t Adam.
Work had been a welcome change. She felt like a real person again.
“You were great with Ric this week,” Katie smiled as she plopped on the couch. “I was worried about how he would adjust, but you really got him engaged. Nice work.”
Annik smiled a real smile this time. “He is adorable. I love all of them already.” Katie sat up. “So now that you’re better… want to tell me why your were upset the other night?”
Annik looked down. “It’s nothing… I just, um, met a guy, but I forgot to get his number.” It was technically true. Katie raised her eyebrows. “Does your cousin know him? Maybe she could find out for you?”
“Yeah, I’ll have to ask her.” Annik fidgeted and hoped Katie wouldn’t ask any more questions she didn’t know how to answer. But Katie was standing up, checking her phone. “Hey, we’re all going out tonight! My friend is working at this new club not far from here and says she can get us in. You coming?”
“I’m not sure,” Annik said. “I’m pretty tired.” She thought of her empty room, her empty bed and cringed a little.
“C’mon, it’ll be fun!” Katie was already rummaging through her closet for an outfit, her voice muffled. “Plus, my friend said they’ve seen a ton of celebs so far, and I know how much you want to see a Kardashian.”
Annik’s heart lurched as she thought of Adam. Would he be there? Did she want him to be?
Of course she did.
“Yeah, I’ll go.” She rubbed her eyes and looked at the ceiling.
---------------------------
Music pounded into Annik’s ears as she held the wall at Circa, LA’s hottest new club. Katie and some of the interns had practically had to drag Annik from the apartment, but not before dressing her up in a sequined body con that Annik was currently pulling down to cover more of her legs.
A waiter walked by her and winked, “Don’t hide your assets, chica.” She forced a smile and laced her hands together, wishing she was wearing sweatpants. Rationally, Annik knew that the guy was trying to be charming, and he was probably innocent. That didn’t stop her from dropping her gaze to the floor and taking a few deep breaths to calm any mounting anxiety. Just then, Katie arrived, holding two drinks, one of which she offered to Annik.
“Isn’t this great? Aren’t you having the best timeeee?” She grinned and stumbled a little, sloshing some of her martini onto the club floor. Annik took a sip of her drink and shook her head, smirking at her friend, “It seems like you are.”
“Oh I totally am. I just danced with a guy who looked like—oh my god! Annik, look who’s here!” Katie’s eyes were wide and she had already pulled out her phone to snap a picture. Annik turned, expecting Kloe or Kortney.
“Adam Levine is here. No way. God I love L.A.”
Annik nearly dropped her drink. There he was. Looking just as good as he had when she had first met him. He was wearing dark jeans and a black Henley and was currently being swarmed by pretty girls and paparazzi. He smiled graciously at them and continued to move through the crowd, his hand entwined with a tall, blonde girl who looked like a super model.
“He’s with Anne Vyalitsyna! I had no idea they’d gotten back together. Personally, I think he’d be better off…” Katie continued to her commentary, but Annik had tuned her out. She shrunk back against the wall, wanting to remain out of his line of sight. Of course he had a girlfriend. I knew there wasn’t anything real with us. Flashes of mornings in his bed ran through her head, and she could feel her face flushing. I’m so stupid. He was probably with her this whole time.
“Annik? Are you okay? You look a little flushed. Got the hots for Adam Levine?” Katie nudged her playfully. Annik shook her head, then threw back the drink in her hand. Adam had led Anne up the stairs to the prime tables with a view of the dance floor.
He was soon out of sight.
“Let’s get more drinks.”
---------------------------
Anne Vyalitsyna sat in Adam Levine’s lap, laughing hysterically at something he had said. They were sitting with a few of her model friends. He wished Blake were here and had considered inviting him, but he didn’t want to hear the disappointment in Blake’s voice at his life choices.
After Blake’s pep talk at IHOP, Adam had searched everywhere for Annik, but nothing turned up. He’d even gone so far as to cruise around USC’s dorms, but he couldn’t remember which one was Annik’s and knew if he got out to ask he would be overwhelmed with paparazzi.
A quick cure for his sorrow was a text from Anne, who said she wanted “to catch up like old times.” Adam knew what that meant, but after a few shots of tequila (okay…more than few), the idea hadn’t seemed so unappealing. She had taken him to a new club, where he had proceeded to have a few more drinks. Now, he was feeling more than buzzed and had started to caress Anne’s waist.
Anne smiled and batted his hand away. “Not here, baby. I’m with my friends. In a little while we’ll go some place more private.” She winked at him, and he felt a little but of disgust at himself even as he started to get a little hard. She adjusted her body in his lap, and he barely held in a groan. When the bartender came around, he took two more shots, and the group toasted to some mundane thing as they all took another drink.
“Let’s dance,” Adam whispered into Anne’s ear, but she scowled back at him. “I don’t want to go down there with all those dirty B-listers. Plus you know they’ll just swarm you again and ask for autographs.”
“It’s nearly 2 a.m. The paps are gone, and it looks like a good crowd. Come on, babe.”
When she didn’t move, Adam felt anger rise up in his chest at her snobbery. He stood up abruptly, nearly knocking Anne to the floor. “I’m going to get us more drinks.” Anne quickly disguised her shock and took his chair.
As Adam made his way through the busy top floor, he felt the alcohol swirling in his stomach. He felt a little light-headed. It was a welcome change from the endless sadness of the past week. He grabbed a drink, chugged it, and then slowly made his way down to the packed floor. Easily masked by the dancing crowd, Adam saw a girl near the middle with long blond waves dancing with a smarmy looking guy with a mustache. She reminded him of Annik. Annik with her ocean blue eyes and her lips… he snapped himself out of the trance. The guy was groping her, and he noticed her trying to get her distance. Well, he could fix that.
He approached the two and swiftly guided the girl away, her back still to him. “I’ll take it from here, man.” The guy backed off when he recognized who Adam was, and the girl didn’t turn around, instead muttering a breathy, “Thank you.” Nelly’s “Remix to Ignition” began blasting from the speakers.
He brushed the girl’s hair to one side of her neck and affixed his hands to her hips. “Dance with me instead.” She moved back against him and he caressed her middle, enjoying the feel of her body wrapped in his. He gently turned her around, and then wondered if the alcohol was making him hallucinate.
“Annik?”
“Adam?”
“What are youuuu doing hereee?” Adam yelled above the club, hands still on Annik’s hips.
Annik noticed his dilated eyes and the slur of his words. He was very drunk. “I, um, came with some friends from work—.” He cut her off and moved his hands to her shoulders. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere! I can’t believe you’re here! This is, fuck, what’s that word they use when something’s meant to be?”
“Fate?”
“YES. Fate! Because I love you and we should be together I swear and I’ll never hurt you like those guys and god, I missed you.” He moved his head down and captured her lips in a bruising kiss. Annik pushed against him, feeling too warm because of the drinks and his words; it was too much. “Adam, stop. Stop, you’re hurting me.” At these words he pulled away from her, and she could see the sadness in his eyes. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry I don’t know what I’m doing. I think I’ve had too much, I think…I think I’m going to be sick.”
Annik followed him as he ran to the back of the club and then vomited all over the sidewalk. A bouncer had followed them out. “Shall I call Mr. Levine’s drive, madam?” Annik nodded and thanked him. When he went back inside, Annik rubbed Adam’s back as he continued to dry heave. When he was finished, he sat miserably on the curb. Annik sat beside him, an arm around his waist to keep him upright. “You’re okay, Adam. Have some water.” He shook his head, but Annik held the cup to his lips and tilted the water inside. He drank thirstily and finished the cup just as the car arrived.
She helped Adam into the car, feeling overwhelmed and unsure about her next move. But as he settled in the car, he grabbed her hand. “Don’t leave me, please, Annik, please don’t leave again.”
So she texted Katie and said she’d felt sick and had gone to her cousin’s for the night, and then slid into the leather seats. Adam laid his head in her lap and fell asleep, and she willed herself not to cry because no matter what happened with Adam in the future, it would inevitably lead to pain. She was already in too deep with him to come out of this unscathed.
♠ ♠ ♠
Hey guys! Thanks to you few who are still reading this! I apologize that chapters are so few and far between. In the words of Lana Del Rey, "My muse is fickle." (Side note: Any LDR fans out there? I'm so pumped for her new album.) Anyway...tell me what you think!