Battle ground

Elio´s POV As every Monday I wake up and get ready, I have always been a morning guy so I went out for a run, did some weights, got dressed and ready for the day, as I’m getting on my computer to work, I get a text from a private number: They found you, get out of there immediately. A gas bomb drops from the window and a loud noise comes from the door, they´re trying to knock it down. I have a secret compartment with an emergency bag full of clothes, passport, money and a gun. There is a secret door behind the fridge that leads to a hidden passage that goes under the building; I have to be fast, where am I gonna go now? I get out of the secret passage that has an exit four blocks away from the building; there are at least 7 black vans and people running confused by the situation. As I´m walking away I get a call from my friend Paris: -Hey handsome, I see that you got out of there -Ha ha ha, they were really close this time, how did they find me this time anyways? -When you decided to be a momma’s boy, your mom´s phone wasn´t safe anymore and they listened when you called to let her know about the money you transferred to their account -She was worried and knowing her she would have thought that it was a mistake and wouldn’t use the money -Yeah, you´re right, but you could have asked me, I love your mom -I know, but I wanted to talk to her -Ok big boy, listen, I got you a car, nothing fancy so you can stay on low profile, it’s in front of the art gallery and the keys are under the seat, I left a bag on the trunk with everything you might need, I can get you 2 weeks so we can find a nice place -Awesome, tonight I can stay on the cabin, is that safe? -Yes, I led them north so you´re fine for now, I’ll let you know the new location tomorrow -Ok I´m by the gallery, I’ll talk to you tomorrow -Hmmm… can´t wait As I’m getting closer to the car, a girl comes out from the gallery and bumps into me spilling her coffee all over my shirt and dropping her painting supplies on the ground. -Oh gosh, I´m so sorry I wasn’t looking She is very good looking, very white skin with big brown eyes and barely using make up, she has long black hair and it´s wearing a loose green dress with a black leather jacket, then two girls come out and help her pick up her stuff but they are wearing the same outfit, white blouse and black skirt with high heels. -Oh my gosh, Tessa, are you ok? Tessa…that´s a pretty name for a pretty girl, anyways, I have to leave to a safer place; I take the bag with the things I picked up and place it close to her since this girls are already helping her, I´ll better leave while they are distracted -No, I´m a mess today and I spilled my coffee all over him She nods on my direction as I stand up next to the car taking my shirt of and getting a clean one from the bag that I had, both girls look at me with wide eyes -Oh…uhm…do you…need anything? -No thanks I respond and get in the car driving off, when I look in the mirror the 3 of them are getting into the gallery again -That went well Now I´ll have to wait for Paris to call me, I bet the cabin is a mess but that´s safer anyways. Tessa´s POV -I hope you get the pieces on time Tessa! I´m not joking and this is the last time I´m helping you with Xander, you know how he gets when you leave thing for the last minute -Yes, I’ll have them on time, I’m only 2 pieces short and I still have 2 weeks left, breathe Lyra -2 weeks and that´s it young lady Lyra is like a cool aunt and ever since I got an offer at the gallery she has supported me all the time with Xander, he´s the owner, very strict about art pieces, deadlines and getting results, he is a very mysterious guy but he is the guy with the money so I don’t ask any questions. I´m not getting the inspiration that I need at the studio so I´m taking my stuff and looking for another place to work, to be honest I haven´t even started the collection but I won´t tell Lyra that or she will lose it; I have like 5 bucks in my purse, my landlord gave me a last warning about being behind for 5 months now, thank you. I think I might be the one losing it and Xander sent me a very brief text of his expectations: I don´t like surprises but, I like results. Be on time. I´ve seen him like 5 times but he is not a very chatty person, he only answers with a dry YES, NO, and when he is finished he only makes this annoying gesture with his hand so you can leave the room. Lyra always defends him, and I´m pretty sure that there´s something going on, but when you ask her, she always changes the subject or answers with sarcasm to avoid any interrogatory; that´s fine I like messing with her and see her blush whenever Xander is in the room and who wouldn´t? He has this interesting mysterious tough guy vibe, his hair is all grey but he might be forty-ish, I don´t know but he is very good looking and it´s always wearing black suits, shirts or any kind of fancy black clothing and yet he never looks the same. Anyways, I´m getting out of here before anyone notices that I don’t have any work done and I really need some fresh air; things are not going well right now and I need the money or I will end up on the streets. -Bye guys! See you in 2 weeks I take a couple of bags with art supplies and a couple of canvases; my hands are full but I need to get to the car so Lyra doesn´t notice that I took money from the safe in case I “run out of supplies” and have to get back. Ok, so that´s everything I can carry, Oh and my coffee. As soon as I get out, I bump into a guy and spill my coffee all over him. -Oh gosh, I´m so sorry I wasn’t looking Well, hello there… I see you big guy, he´s like 6´7 tanned skin and he definitely works out, look at those arms, he is wearing black joggers and a black shirt. He starts helping me pick up my things and Xander´s minions come out to help -Oh my gosh, Tessa, are you ok? Jeez, that gosh thing is catchy and I said it to this guy, I must have sounded really dumb and I blame the minions, I have to stop hanging around with them or I´ll start wearing a white blouse and a black tiny skirt. -No, I´m a mess today and I spilled my coffee all over him I nod towards him to show the minions that I messed up and when I look up, he´s by his car now and getting his shirt off, and didn´t I tell you? That guy probably spends 90 percent of the time at the gym; the minions started drooling on my supplies. -Oh…uhm…do you…need anything? -No thanks Ok… someone is on a mood today, it´s probably not his day either; he drives off and I hear Milo´s annoying voice on the inside -Tessie, sweetie, the painting from the man with the hat was sold yesterday, do you want cash or do you prefer a check -Cash is fine sweetie I hate it when he calls me Tessie and he knows it but either way he makes a fake smile and turns to the reception to get my money; I can´t believe how much I hate this guy, he´s Xander´s and Lyra´s assistant but he is so annoying, me and the minions get inside but I´m still carrying all the bags in one hand. -Here it is Tessie, let´s hope for better luck on the remaining pieces of the collection He hands me the money and leans on the front desk while making a face like if he felt pity for me -Fingers crossed Millievanillie I turn around and If looks could kill, I wouldn´t be alive right now; I know how much he hates being called other than Milo but I don´t care, now I need to focus on getting the inspiration to make 20 art pieces in 2 weeks. As I’m getting out I found a military necklace, US ARMY Elio D.M. and 2 charms, one it’s a star and the other one is a half-moon; Hum… I wonder if it´s from the hottie that I bumped into, he probably dropped it when he changed his shirt, I’m going to keep it; I could wear it with my outfit and who knows, I can probably see that guy again I better get working now, I´ll go to my mom´s, she is out on vacations but she won´t mind, and I can paint on the garden without any of the city noises to distract me. Well… here we go; my life is so boring right now, I could use some drama or action to get inspired… I need some spark to spice things up Mom´s house is so perfect, I called her on my way here and she is totally fine with it; oh, bless my mom for getting such a perfect cabin on the woods, she has nothing to bother her and neighbors are like a mile away; I get my bags and supplies to settle and the view from the living room is breathtaking, I can feel the inspiration already coming. While I’m getting my stuff settled I start feeling hungry, I should go to the coffee shop that I saw on my way here. ---------- As I get into the coffee house I can see that it´s only like 4 people in there, what if it´s not good? But I get the delicious smell of coffee and I´m hungry, a lady comes where I´m standing: -Hello, welcome to Nana´s coffee house, what can I… She stops and stares at my chest where the necklace that I found before is, she stutters but finally decides to ask -Where did you…how did you end up with that necklace? Her eyes get watery and her hands are a little shaky -Oh, I found it on the street today, but I kept it hoping to find the owner She tries to calm down and I take a look to the tag, I wonder if she knows the owner? She gets her phone out of her pocket and excuses herself out. Now I´m feeling like a thief, I´ll wait for her to come back so I can ask her, she might know who this belongs to, if she does, maybe she thought I stole it; she walks in and looks way better now, she gives me a little smile -I´m sorry for that honey, it´s just that it’s my son´s necklace and he doesn´t take it off for anything, me and his father gave those charms so he knew that even if he was away, we were under the same moon and stars and that he would be with us all the time, after his dad passed away he hasn´t take off that necklace. When I saw you the only thing I could think is: why is she wearing it? Did something happen to him? Did he got married and didn’t tell me? She laughs at the last option and I blush a little. -Here it is mam’ I honestly was hoping to find the owner, that´s all -Keep it for now honey, if I keep it I would probably lose it but, I asked my son and he said he would be in contact to get it back, if you have a card or a phone to reach you back it would be great -Sure, here´s my card -Thank you honey, now tell me, what can I get you, it´s on the house She winks and gets behind the counter. -I´ll get a Panini and a chocolate cake to go, but I´m definitely paying for it -Alright, alright, but the next one is on the house I leave the coffee house and I can´t help thinking on that lady and I wonder, how long could it be since she last saw her son, I´m grateful that I can see my mom more often since I got in the gallery, even after the mess of relationship that I had with Adrian, anyway, tomorrow is a new day. ---------- Next day early morning, it’s 8 am and I take a cup of coffee to wake up and start setting everything in the garden to get some inspiration, I take my phone from my bag and I have 2 unread messages. · Mom: Tess, did you get home well? Please, don’t burn the place down while I´m not home, I´ll call you later so we can catch up, seems that I might stay here for another month, love you baby. My mom works for a museum as an archeologist, they found some valuable pieces in Egypt but apparently it´s a huge discovery and the fact of her staying away for longer than expected I kind of saw it coming; the other message it´s from a private number. · Unknown: Seems like you have something that belongs to me, would you mind if we meet today so I can get it back? Oh shook! What should I answer? What if I tell him to come here? No, no, no, I don’t know the guy; I could tell him to go to his mom´s coffee, a public place just to be precautious; there´s something about the way he looks, walks and talks that has me intrigued; I answer trying to sound casual and not like I´m wishing that it is him the guy I´ll be meeting later. · Tessa: Sure thing, I´ll meet you at Nana´s, what time is better for you? He answers almost immediately. · Unknown: 5 would be fine, see you soon. Ok, that’s in a long time from now, this is unexpected but I feel like a teenager again, all excited to meet this guy and unexpectedly I feel a little inspired, I take the 4 little canvases and start doing a sequence that flows quite fast and I finished in a couple of hours, that´s a personal record. After I finish the canvases, my eyes are closed and I´m laying down on the grass, getting all the nature noises, the sound of the air hitting the trees, the birds, a cricket on the distance and in this peaceful time I get a little inspired so I take my camera out from my bag and started taking some photos and then I had an idea. After taking some awesome shots I finally decided to call Lyra, the phone rings a couple of times and a deep familiar voice answers: -What a pleasure to hear from you babe -Adrian? -Did you miss me? -Why do you have your mom´s phone? -She is out with Xander and left it at the gallery, but I´m here for you baby, tell me what´s up? -It’s none of your business; can you tell her to call me back? -With one condition -What do you want? -Tell me…What are you wearing? -What the…GROW UP ADRIAN! Tell your mom that I called I hang up but I had to admit, he still has something that when I hear his voice, still gets me. To be honest we didn´t had a closure because of how things happened. I got back early to the apartment from art school and the door was unlocked, it was weird because nobody was supposed to be home but there were clothes on the floor and my heart started beating so fast, I walked to our bedroom and I found them, Adrian and the girl that supposedly went to the gallery to buy some art pieces was on top of him, his eyes went wide open when he saw me and pushed the girl to the side so fast that he almost threw her out of the bed, I ran out ad fast as I can and all I could hear was him running behind me. -Tess, baby, it´s nothing I swear, TESSA GET BACK HERE! He only got some pants on and was barefoot, he pulled my arm and tried to hug me so I wouldn´t leave. I pushed him away and he gave me that sad puppy face but I knew he didn´t regret anything, the thing is that I wasn’t even sad, I was angry at me for believing that he would change, I was so mad that I punched him in the face making his nose bleed, he stumbled holding to the wall -F**K YOU ADRIAN! I DON’T WANT TO SEE YOU NEVER IN MY LIFE -Tess baby, let me explain you, it´s not what you think I ran to my car and driving away as fast as I could and I could see Adrian begging me to stop but I flipped him off while driving away; he called me every day but I ignored him and he left me so many messages on my voicemail and eventually it was full, after 3 weeks that he didn’t give up on calling me, I waited outside of the building until he left so I could take my stuff out, when I got in, everything was in its place like if anything happened, but when I got to our bedroom it looked like he threw all the stuff around, there were broken glasses on the floor from our portraits and everything from the closet was thrown on the floor; I took all of my stuff out in a couple of suitcases, I had to make 3 trips to get everything inside of my car; when I got the last bag I heard him on the phone at the door getting his keys to open, I ran to the fire scape stairs, when I was getting down, he realized that the door wasn´t locked and started yelling: -Tessa, babe, are you here? I tried to get down faster when I saw him peek through the window to the staircase -TESSA, WAIT! He ran out of the apartment trying to reach me but I was already at the sidewalk running to my car, I know that if he catches me he is going to convince me to stay and that´s the problem with us, he always claims that he is not ok and I end up forgiving him, it's like if he was broken and I insist to fix him but that is not up to me, he is broken and it will break me if I stay with him. He runs out of the building but I drive off just as 3 weeks ago when I found him. A month later Xander reached out through his assistant to ask me if I wanted to do collaboration with them, I had a 5 piece collection that was bought for a higher price and after leaving Adrian I needed the money for the new place where I was staying. When I got to the gallery I talked to Lyra and explained what happened between us; of course she believed me, after all, everyone knows Adrian and her mother knows best; I agreed to collaborate with the condition of never talk or see him which they agreed. One day while I was talking to a client Adrian entered and threatened me to make a scene unless I talked to him. We went to Lyra´s office to get some privacy. -What do you want? -I missed you too babe -You got some balls; after what you did -That´s what I´m trying to explain, she meant nothing, you know I love to gamble and I owed this woman a lot of money, after negotiating she offered me if I would pay her with… -Hold on, you said that she was a buying some art pieces -No, I didn't -You are such a bad liar; you expect me to believe that bulls**t? -It´s the truth babe, I didn’t had the money and she accepted a different payment method, don´t you see it? I did it for us -Us? It was your fault, your bet and you decided to use our savings for your stupid games; I obviously never came across your head when you did that, otherwise you would´ve never hurt me, but you never loved me, I was just a way to keep your mom shut so she didn’t bother you about settling and being serious for once in your pathetic life -Tessa, baby, I love you, I never felt like this in my life, if I didn’t care I wouldn´t be here asking you to forgive me, please baby give me another chance, I promise I won´t let you down -I forgive you but I won´t forget; I listened what you had to say but now I´m the one to ask you to stop calling me, you had your chance and you preferred to “pay debts”, we are done and this time is definitively, please, leave me alone I leave the room feeling good because I stood up for myself; Adrian stormed out of the office getting out of the gallery and I went back with the clients like nothing happened. After we talked it passed several months until I bumped into him at the gallery, after all he is Lyra´s son and Xander treats him like a son, we only say hi and every now and then we have little talks, about the weather, how I´ve been, stuff like that and sometimes he tries to flirt like he did when we met. I hope he won´t forget to tell his mom that I called, I want to ask her if I can change some of the pieces for photographs but I would need to get her approval so Xander gives me the green light. It´s 4:30 and I have to get going to the coffee house, I’ll take the camera in case I find something interesting on my way there. Nana´s coffee house is full so I decide to wait in the car taking some photos of the sunset when I get a text. · Unknown: I´m here, where are you? · Tessa: The place was full, I´m at the bridge taking some photos. · Unknown: Ok, I´ll meet you there. · Tessa: I´m the girl with the camera ;) I was trying to focus on some perspective from the lake, the bridge and the oaks with their orange leaves when I hear a deep voice behind me. -Tessa, right? I turn around still holding the camera on my eyes and it´s him, just as I remember, but the light gave him a different look, my hear started pounding so hard and there I was, like a teenager, I accidentally press the button and took him a couple of pictures, little did I know that our lives are about to change from now.