THE RULES OF FAME

Chapter 3 - Fallout

Nessa Louvier

I took a deep breath. I feel as if the breach between Peyton and me has grown into an abyss. I am preparing to leave, and we haven't been able to have a serious conversation about what will happen to us. It has been a cancellation after another. A quick call here and there, and this is becoming so stressful and unsustainable that I felt the need to take the bull by its horns.

After several weeks of this, and a lot of consideration, I have decided to pay him a visit to the studio. As they say, if Mohammed doesn't come to the mountain, let the mountain go to Mohammed. I paced my room, half of my clothes were already in suitcases, my flight had been scheduled, I was leaving, and I couldn't leave in a relationship limbo. It was not fair for either of us.

I decided to wear a simple outfit; the conversation we must have can't wait, and whatever the fallout of this is, it won't be pretty. At the minimum, it will be painful. I love him, and I know he loves me. We have made promises of a future together, but right now, how things have developed and the way my life is shifting, that future seems like a distant dream, a dream that is bound to end when we wake up to the reality of life.

I took a deep breath, grabbed my cross-body purse, and my keys. "Mom, I am going out," I said to my mother. She walked out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on an apron.

"Alone?" She looked at me, and I nodded.

"Yes, I am meeting Peyton at his studio. He has a little break, and I really want to catch up with him." I gave my mother my Oscar-winning smile. I didn't want to worry her. She and Daddy loved Peyton; they have seen how we love each other, and even if she suspects something is off, she will never intrude or say something negative about him. That's how much my family likes him.

"Say hi to Peyton, and tell him we have missed him at family dinners," Mom said, and I nodded.

"Will do..." I waved at her and she smiled. Her smile didn't reach her eyes; she was prudent but not dumb. I knew she could tell something was off.

I made my way out of the building and headed to the subway. Peyton's studio was two stops from my building. I got on the train and sat on a seat. It was mildly busy, so I could easily find a spot. My heart thumped. I didn't want to have this conversation, but it was necessary, and I couldn't put this off, because I had already purchased my plane ticket. A week from now, I would be landing in London, and I had no idea when I would be back.

The train finally stopped, and I exited at my station. I made my way out to the street. Crossed the pedestrian crosswalk and entered the tall, shiny building where Peyton's studio was located. I showed my ID at the front desk, and the receptionist analyzed my information.

"Do you have an appointment?" she asked. Did I? No, I didn't, but there was no reason for her to deny me access.

"No, I don't, but I am here to see Peyton Bell," I said confidently.

"He is busy," she said, and I took a deep breath.

"I understand, but can you please tell him that Nessa is here?" I said, and she huffed.

"If you are here to drop a demo, leave it in the dropbox," she pointed at a funny-looking mailbox.

I am not here to leave a demo... I need to see Peyton..." I pressed.

"Nessa?" I heard a voice, and I looked over at the receptionist.

"Eddie," I smiled, and he looked at the woman at the desk.

"Come here..." Eddie greeted me, and the woman huffed.

"Jossie, why did you keep her in here?" Eddie asked,

"Mr. Muse... she didn't have an appointment," the receptionist, named Jossie, answered.

"She doesn't need an appointment. "Don’t you have a permanent access list?" Eddie asked, and she gulped down.

"She didn't." Jossie began, but Eddie was not having it.

"Didn't the last name give it away? She is Thomas's sister, Peyton's girlfriend," Eddie said, and Jossie quickly retrieved a list, and the name on top was mine. She squirmed in her chair, yeah! You messed up, pretentious b***h.

"Come, Peyton is in the studio..." Eddie said, "Leon is coming, too..." Eddie said, and I smiled.

"How is Collette doing?" I asked, and he smirked.

"Great... I think she is hanging out with Elisa..." He sighed, and I smiled.

Eddie married Colette in Paris a couple of months ago, and it was the most romantic wedding I have ever attended.

"Is Peyton working with Leon?" I asked, and he shook his head.

"No, Shanty is in the studio," Eddie said casually, and I took a look at my outfit. I should have worn something a bit cuter.

Eddie knocked on a soundproof door, and he peeked his head in. "Pey, I have a surprise..." He opened the door widely, and Peyton looked behind Eddie.

"Nessa?" Peyton mumbled and then pressed a button, interrupting Shanty.

"I need a break, everybody takes ten," he said, and stood up.

"Is everything alright?" he asked, his eyes frantically searching me, as if he was assessing my well-being.

"Yeah, I guess," I mumbled the last part.

"Come here..." he said, and suddenly he pulled me into his chest.

"Sorry for interrupting..." I mumbled, and he chuckled.

"This is the best interruption of my life, a much-welcomed one too..." he said tenderly.

"Let's..." he was saying when a fuming Shanty walked into the cabin.

"Why are you suddenly taking a break?" she glared at me, and Peyton sighed.

"Because you said you wanted to record two songs that became fourteen, and I have been working non-stop, meeting your requirements and deadlines..." Peyton said, and she rolled her eyes.

"I only work with people who show commitment." Shanty glared at me again. What's the deal with her?

"Yeah, the keyword of that sentence is not commitment, but people... I need a break," Peyton said, and pulled me out of the cabin with him.

He walked down the corridor with me in tow, opened a door, and then pulled me into the room with him. "Here, this is my office," he said, and I smiled. The place was hip, and so him, that even with my eyes closed, I could tell it was his.

He stood before me and tilted my face up. Slowly, tenderly, he kissed me. "I've missed you," he said, and I bit my lower lip. Tears immediately welled in my eyes.

He looked at me, and he cupped my cheek. "I am so sorry, Nessa..." he pecked my lips again.

"Peyton, we need to talk," I said, and he closed his eyes. I could tell he had just realized that whatever I came to do was not something pleasant.

"Are you here to break up with me?" Peyton said, taking a step back.

"We haven't had the opportunity to talk properly for almost a month," I said, and he took a deep breath.

"A month ago, I got an acceptance letter. I was admitted into the London Royal Academy of the Arts..." I said, and he smiled.

"Peyton, I am leaving," I said, tears rolling down my cheeks, and he looked at me, confused. "Congratulations," he said, "I am so proud of you. Why didn't you tell me sooner? We would have celebrated..." he quickly said, and I took a deep breath. His intentions were sweet, but were just that.

"Peyton, I am leaving," I said, tears rolling down my cheeks, and he looked at me, confused.

"In a week, I'll be in London, and I have no idea when or if I will be back..." I said, and he took two steps away from me and then turned around.

"I wish you the best, Nessa. I guess this is the end for us, right? That's what you came to tell me?" he said, and I took a deep breath.

"I'll always love you, Peyton..." I mumbled,

"Leave," he said, and my heart broke into a thousand pieces.

"Pey..." I mumbled.

"Go, Nessa... be happy," he said. I couldn't move. I wanted to say much more, and since I was unable to leave, he simply, without looking at me, exited his office, leaving me there, alone, and feeling devastated.