Warning this chapter mentions drug abuse and physical abuse. Also some innuendo.

****

Ana

***

A few weeks have passed since Pedro and I have arrived in Canada for him to begin filming the second part of The Last Of Us.

Mostly things are going pretty decent. On occasion, Pedro and I have some...disagreements. Usually about what's going to take place when we return to LA. Pedro, naturally, doesn't want to make any concrete plans concerning our relationship. Which puts me on edge at times.

I can't help but think that maybe Pedro still has his doubts about if he and I will stay together. I still have my own doubts but I decide to keep my concerns inside.

***

I'd gotten some photo shoots lined up in Vancouver, just as Pedro had thought I might. I was actually glad to be working, as sitting around on set, watching Pedro, Bella and the others battle fake zombies, tends to get boring after a while.

As I'm dressing in the black leather dress, I hear my phone buzz and figure it must be Pedro, asking when I'll be finished. I take a quick peek but it's not Pedro. It's Isla.

"Hey!" I exclaim, pleased to hear from her. Its been a while since we've spoken. "I'd love to chat but I'm about to start a photo shoot."

"So you're still in Canada?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well...you and Pedro haven't exactly been batting a hundred since you started dating again."

"Thanks ever so much for your confidence!" I snap. Isla chuckles.

"Don't mention it. I'll let you get to your photo shoot and call me back when you get a minute."

"I will. Thanks for calling."

"Of course, chica."

****

"Guess who called me earlier?" I'm reclining in Pedro's trailer with him during his lunch break. Bella was in here for a few minutes but got called out by their agent for a quick phone interview.

"That devil woman, whom you refer to as your friend?"

I give Pedro a Look and he just smiles charmingly. I shake my head and eat some crackers.

"It was Isla. Don't be an ass."

"What did she want?" Pedro is eating his cheesy burrito. "To tempt you away?"

"We didn't talk much. I was about to begin the photo shoot. I'll call her back here in a minute."

"I suppose she thought you'd already be on the next flight home?"

"Well...she kinda hinted at that."

Pedro reaches over, taking my hand and I smile. I give his fingers a tender squeeze.

"Of course not," I say. "We're still making this work." Pedro nods, raising my hand to his sexy lips, brushing them against my fingers. I release a moan.

"Careful, chica," Pedro warns. "Don't start something you can't finish."

"That's easier said than done with you, my beautiful Pedrito." Pedro sets his food aside, gathering me on his arms and kisses me passionately. I smile, tracing a finger around his face. He chuckles and I finger his dimples.

"I'd love nothing more than to have my way with you right now." I kiss Pedro, loving how that feels.

"Go on," I murmur. "I won't tell."

"Think we have enough time?"

"If you hurry, we do." Pedro starts to unbutton his pants as I slide mine down. Pedro hooks one of his fingers into the waistband of my panties and I squirm impatiently.

Suddenly there's a knock on the door and we both scramble to pull our pants up.

"Pedro? Ana? Can I come back in?" It's Bella.

"Sure." Pedro winks at me and I burst into giggles as Bella comes in, looking baffled by my laughter.

"Everything all right in here?" Bella perches on a chair and smirks.

"Perfect, Bellie," Pedro repiles, returning to his burrito.

"How'd your interview go?" I ask, snuggling against Pedro's side.

"It was good enough," Bella answers. My phone suddenly trills and I figure it was Isla again. I grab it, looking at the screen.

"Hey," I answer. "Sorry I hadn't gotten back with you."

"Never mind that." Isla sounds breathless and immediately I'm picking up some bad vibes.

"What is it?"

"Kellan," Isla repiles. I put the phone on speaker. I want Pedro to hear this.

"What he's saying this time?" I demand.

"That Pedro and you aren't really dating because well, you paid him."

"What?" Pedro drops his food, looking thoroughly pissed off. "That's bullshit! No one is going to believe that!"

"They could." Isla sounds weary and I feel hot tears pricking at my eyes. God, why can't Kellan just fall off a cliff and leave me the hell alone?

"Do I need to come back there?" My voice sounds all wobbly and weak.

"Absolutely not!" Pedro is on his feet in seconds, shaking his head. Bella stands, trying to calm him down.

"Pedro, I'm afraid that Ana might need to come back. Just for a few days, so she can get things sorted out," Isla says.

"This is exactly what that asshole wants!" Pedro is furious and I hate knowing that I'm the one who's causing his distress.

"He just wants to back Ana into a corner and continue manipulating her! Someone needs to stop him!"

"Oh, Pedro!" I burst into tears and Pedro stops his ridiculous rant as he drops down beside me, tugging me into his strong arms. I sob against him. Bella sits down on the other side of me, putting her head on my shoulder. It only makes me cry harder.

"Ana, I really think you need to come back," Isla says softly. I struggle to control my tears.

"I..I will," I manage to say. "I'll be on the next flight to New York. I'll call you with the details when I know them."

"All right, honey. I'll talk to you later. I love you."

"Thanks, Isla. I love you too." I click off the call as I cling to Pedro's body, drawing as much strength as I can from him.

****

A few months ago:

"Shut up, bitch!" Kellan is hovering over me as I huddle on the floor, quaking in fear. He'd come home, high and drunk. I'd thought it wouldn't matter but now, I'm discovering I was wrong.

He'd immediately started screaming at me, hitting me whenever I got close enough. I finally just stayed on the floor, waiting out his temper tantrum.

Kellan lifted his right leg, swinging into straight into my lower abdomen and I cried out in pain as it connected. He spit on me and then, muttering to himself, he stalked away, locking himself in the master bathroom.

I lay there for several minutes, tears streaming down my cheeks and told myself that this had to stop. I slowly got to my feet and went into the bedroom and begin packing up my stuff.

I heard the shower running and figured that I maybe had fifteen or twenty minutes before Kellan emerged from there. As I packed, I called Isla, telling her what was happening. She said she'd be right there.

Just as Isla arrived, Kellan emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his middle. He wore this idiotic grin on his face, meaning that the drugs had finally kicked in. I remember thinking, "Too bad he hadn't drowned himself in the shower."

"Hey, sweetheart," he says to me. "Where you going?"

"It's over, Kellan," I snap. "We're through." I head out the door and Isla flips Kellan off.

"You'll be sorry!" Kellan shouts as we leave. "Just you wait, Ana, I'll make your life a living hell!"

"Go ahead. I don't give a shit."

****

"I really don't think this is such a good idea." Pedro and Bella had accompanied me to the airport.

"Pedro, this is something I have to do," I say. "Kellan needs to be put his place."

"At what cost?" Pedro grabs my hand, kissing it. He's crying. I gently kiss him as I tug my hand free.

"Don't worry about me. Isla has my back. So does my agent." I kiss Pedro one last time and give Bella a hug.

"Come back as soon as you can." Pedro is still crying and it's breaking my heart.

"I promise. 'Bye." I hurry over to get in line to board the plane. I try to remain calm. Yet calm is the last thing I feel. I only hope I can get Kellan to back off. Otherwise things are going to get really bad. And not just for me. But Pedro as well.