09 | je t'aime trop tôt

Annie's head pounded. The swell of the music resounded throughout her entire body, shaking out through the tips of her fingertips in what felt like tiny electrical currents. It was buzzing in waves. Drifting in one ear, out the other.

She was floating. Building up momentum as she bounced up and down with the crowd. It was hazy, lights flashing red and purple. She shook her head, hair falling around her. It was hot. She was sweaty, face flushed. Sally was beside her.

They linked hands and bumped hip to hip as they moved.

"Happy?" Sally grinned.

Annie looked at her. Sally's blonde hair was coloured a shade of blue. She nodded her head, swaying.

"Amazing!"

The music thundered, beat after beat. Like thunder. Annie shut her eyes, letting it wash over her, felt it rumble through her entire body. Her feet were sore, but she didn't care. This was how she let go - late night underground raves. The dark swallowed up everybody - there was no prejudice here. It was freedom. Away from the house, something secret.

The beat changed. It became furious. Sally removed her hand, rolling her fingers into fists and pounding them into the air. Annie began to bounce, left and right, shoulders rolling forwards and back.

She was smiling. A way to shake loose. She could dance for hours, sometimes all night. As she moved, she became breathless, heart racing. She bumped into Sally, accidentally smacking her arm. Sally grinned at her. Annie grinned back. Sally's hair had turned a shade of red.

"I need the toilet," Sally yelled.

"What?"

Sally leant in closer. "I need the toilet! You'll be okay?"

Annie gave her a thumbs up.

"I'll be five minutes!" Sally yelled, motioning with her hand.

Annie nodded. She watched as Sally pushed her way through the crowd until she disappeared. Annie felt her heart racing. Her knees ached. She continued dancing, feeling her limbs loosen as she moved. The beat changed again. The crowd pushed up behind her. Cheers floated into the air, lost as the music drowned them out. Just as quickly, a hand touched the small of her back.

Annie's eyes shot open. She spun around. Blood pounded in her ears.

A young couple behind her were dancing, hands slightly outstretched. They were laughing at one another, eyes locked, unaware. Annie blinked, half-frozen, her feet still moving. She turned back around, slightly dazed.

Ten minutes later, she found herself dancing in the middle, having being pushed away from the front by the pulsating crowd. She rubbed the back of her neck, as a shiver licked down her spine. The swirling lights became hazy as smoke rose into the air as the music changed again. The beat was slower, the synth waves long and slow. An electric current rang out into the air, charging it.

Annie shut her eyes, rolling her head back, smiling. She ran a hand over her face, fingers tracing down the bridge of her nose, the curves of her jaw until she ran a fingertip over her bottom lip. Her breath quickened as she dropped her shoulders and lolled her head to the side.

She was almost there. She could feel it. Her knees had stopped aching although her feet were pounding against the floor. She shook her head, her hair fanning around her face. Her skin felt clammy, cheeks burning. Her body was relaxed. She felt like she was dancing on a cloud, lifting higher towards oblivion. Drifting further.

A hand grabbed her elbow.

Annie jerked to a halt. She looked to the side, wide-eyed and breathless.

It was Sally.

"I got us some drinks!" Sally yelled, shoving a small plastic cup into her hand.

Annie looked down at it. "What is it?"

"Gin and tonic! It's mainly gin though, I had to convince the bar guy!"

Annie blinked. She looked up at Sally. Annie's heart was pounding rapidly in her chest. She had been brought back down and could feel every ache and pain in her body. Annie frowned. She was disappointed.

Sally grabbed her free hand. "Follow me!"

Annie was dragged through the crowd, almost stumbling over her feet, which felt like lead. She looked at the music dwellers - their faces flushed, eyes shut, and wished Sally would let go of her hand.

The air became less stuffy as the crowd thinned as Sally led her to the outside area of the venue. It was in an old warehouse, refurbished into a sprawling two level club on the fringe of the city. The door to the outside was open, revealing a concrete garden with open fire pits.

The air was cool and pricked her skin.

"You know, when you said that you weren't working tomorrow I was so happy," Sally rambled, "I can finally dig your brain for answers about it."

They sat down on two wooden crates. Annie sighed and leant forwards, resting one hand on her knee. She looked at the plastic cup in her hand and swirled the liquid around.

"About what?" Annie asked, voice soft.

Sally sipped her drink. "About your job, silly. You haven't told me who the actors are or the director, or even what it's about."

"Hm," Annie sounded. "Haven't I?"

"No."

Annie smiled. "Sorry, Sal. It's a secret."

Sally hummed into her cup. "Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"But it's been almost a week, and you've met someone and still haven't told me!"

Annie tapped her fingers on her knee to the beat of the music from inside.

"It's been a week?" Annie asked, surprised.

"Yeah," Sally affirmed. "Who is he?"

"It's a secret," Annie muttered. The liquid in her cup sloshed onto her fingers. It was ice cold. A shock of reality. The word decades popped up inside her head. Tom, Annie thought.

Stay away from those Hollywood bozos, her mother's voice implored. Annie shook her head.

Sally whined. "You're so unfair. Not even one little detail?"

Annie hummed and grinned. "I suppose one wouldn't hurt..."

Sally leant forwards. "Oh my goodness, okay. Okay! So tell me, is he handsome? Young? Hot? I bet he's hot."

Annie laughed. She sipped on the drink. The gin curled down her spine, the voices and worries forgotten.

"Yes, he is."

"And what is he like? Nice? Intelligent? Charming?"

"All of those things," Annie replied.

Sally leant back. "Duh, if he's famous."

Annie giggled.

"What's the thing you like the most about him?"

Annie blinked. Sally looked at her, expectant. She felt her cheeks flush.

"Uh," she sounded, low. "I don't know."

Sally scoffed. "What do you mean you don't know?"

Annie tugged her bottom lip between her teeth. She could hear Tom's laugh echoing in her ears, bright and cheery and very boyish as he tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. She smiled to herself, thinking of his cornflower blue eyes full of mirth. Golden skin, blonde hair. His hands. Large and worn, calloused. Masculine. A sculptor.

Annie sighed. She shook her head. It felt heavy and was spinning.

"I can't," she muttered.

"Yes, you can. Spit it out, I know you want to."

"Fine," Annie huffed. "His eyes."

Sally burst out with laughter. "You're such a romantic."

"Why what would you have said?"

"Anything but that," Sally proclaimed. She slapped her hand against her chest, taking a sip out of her cup. "I'll spare you the details, but sure. Eyes are nice. Have you checked out his ass?"

Annie coughed. Her face flushed and rubbed the back of her neck. Her hair had stuck to it and felt wet.

"I don't know..." she mumbled. "I can't remember-"

"Do it. Next time you see him. Do it." Sally said. She gulped down the gin in her cup and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "Trust me, it works every time. You'll get what I mean."

"What works every time?"

"I need another drink," Sally proclaimed. She stood up with a slight wobble. "Stay right here."

Annie watched Sally bound back into the warehouse where the lights were flickering between green and purple. She sighed, taking a sip from the plastic cup. The gin slid down her throat, warm and delicious.

It had been a week. A full week of sitting beside Tom every morning and afternoon in his car. Watching him drive, listening to his laugh. Everyday spent on the set, walking behind Stephanie to the beat of her clicking stilettos. Catching Tom in the distance in costume. Watching him watching her as he waved.

Annie blushed and shivered at the thought of his stare, the hand on the small of her back. She felt herself smile and watched the liquid spin around in the cup.

"Hey,"

Annie looked up, startled.

A woman was standing opposite her, dressed in high-waisted mauve coloured trousers and a sheer black top. She was smiling, red lipstick smudged on the corners, a fringe hitting the top of her eyebrows. Annie stared, mouth agape, looking away as she noticed the woman's breasts bounce as she stepped closer.

"How's your night been?"

"Fine, thanks." Annie replied, voice small. She looked down at her cup.

"Cool, I'm Lara."

"Annie."

"Nice to meet you," Lara said, voice sweet. "I saw you earlier, on the floor."

"Huh?" Annie sounded. She looked up. Lara stared down at her, smiling.

"On the dance floor. You were great."

"Oh," Annie blinked. She smiled nervously. "Thanks."

"You must be new around here," Lara sat on the crate that Sally had occupied. Annie stared.

"I'm staying with my friend for a while."

"Cool."

Lara leant forwards, resting her elbows on her knees. "You know, if you want, I can drop you and your friend some special stuff if you'd like."

Annie laughed. "Oh no, thanks. I'm fine. Well, we're fine. I don't do that sort of stuff."

Lara's smile widened. "You're too sweet."

Annie scratched her nose.

"Maybe next time? I saw your friend disrupt you. It was cruel."

"Ah, did you? Annie laughed nervously. "Yeah, it was cruel, wasn't it?"

"Dead cruel. If you change your mind, let me know, yeah? I can help." Lara said. "But you seem to know your stuff on the floor, I like that." She stood up and stretched out her arms above her head. "I'll see you around, Annie. Don't bust a hip."

Annie laughed. "I'll try not too. Thanks."

Lara walked away, smiling as she ran her fingers through her fringe. Annie watched, the long-limbed girl, as she rejoined a group in the corner of the concrete outside area. They were all smoking. Lara lit up a cigarette. She laughed along with a man, bleached shaggy hair.

"Who the fuck was that?"

Annie turned her head.

Sally sat down, another plastic cup in her hand. "Was she trying to chat you up or something?"

Annie frowned. "I don't know, but she offered us drugs."

"Oh my god," Sally leant forward. "Did you get any?"

Annie shook her head. "No way, Sal. We don't need them."

Sally gave her a pointed look. "Remember when you were all about that in Sydney? It was crazy I couldn't beli-"

"I'm not like that anymore," Annie cut in, firm. "That was a long time ago."

"Sorry," Sally apologised. "I'm drinking too much."

Annie smiled. "A new thing?"

"Unfortunately," Sally sighed. "I don't mean to, but it's every time I go out. I can't help it. Takes away the lacklustre of my days because I can't even land a job." Sally sobbed loudly. She buried her face into her hands. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to cry. I'm such a mess."

Annie shuffled over to her. She wrapped her arms around Sally.

"Hey, I'm here and I've got you, alright? We're here, together."

"But you've got a job!" Sally whimpered, burying her face into Annie's chest. "I'm a failure!"

"No you are not," Annie said. "I believe in you. It takes time, like you said. This city is full of opportunities and I'm going to help you. I promise."

Sally lifted her head. Her mascara was slightly smudged. "You promise?"

"Promise."

Sally sniffed. "Fuck, I'm sorry. It's just so overwhelming sometimes."

"I understand."

"I just feel so happy for you, I wish I was as lucky as you."

"You are, Sal. You are so lucky."

Sally sat up straight. "Okay, maybe I am a little bit lucky," she said, smiling.

Annie laughed.

"Oh!" Sally sounded. She dug into her small purse and pulled out her phone. "I totally forgot to tell you this before I became a drunken mess." She tapped her fingers on her phone, eyebrows furrowing as she blinked as the passcode flashed incorrect. Once in, Sally stuck her tongue out as she scrolled through her messages.

"Remember Tatiana?"

"Sure," Annie replied.

"Well she's invited us to a screening of her movie on Saturday night."

Annie's eyes widened. "Really? The odd one she complained about?"

"Yeah, the really fucking odd one, but it would be such a great networking opportunity for me, like there would be loads of contacts there, like producers and actors. But I couldn't do it alone without you..."

"I'll come," Annie said.

Sally's face lit up. "You will?"

"Absolutely."

"It starts at eight, you'll have finished work by then?"

"Sure, I think so. I've been getting back at five-thirty most days."

"Why are you working on Saturday anyway? It's weird, but they give you the Friday off."

Annie shrugged. "I think there's a few scenes they want to test or reshoot, I don't really know."

Sally grinned. "And more time spent with this mysterious man?"

Annie blushed and playfully shoved Sally's shoulder.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Saturday morning arrived and Annie was up and waiting on the street. She was leaning slightly on her left foot, putting more weight on it as her right foot was tender. Until the early hours of the morning, Sally and her had danced until the sun was shining gold.

Annie looked to her right as the sound of a car approached. The same black Tesla appeared on the crest of the hill. She felt a smile creep onto her face. She could see Tom in the drivers seat, ray-bans on, already grinning at her.

As usual, she stepped onto the edge of the curb and waited until the car slowed to a halt. Annie opened the door.

"Morning," she greeted.

"Mornin'," Tom replied. "Had a good day off yesterday?"

"Sure," she said with a smile, sliding down onto the seat. "If you count spending the whole day recovering."

Tom chuckled. "Big night out?"

Annie nodded. "You could call it that." She leant back in the seat and rested her head against the headrest. The Tesla was smooth along the road as Tom drove it back down the hill. The radio hummed low through the speakers.

She glanced at him. He was focused on the road. The shape of his sunglasses suited the squareness of his jaw.

"How was yours?"

"Oh," he sounded. "I didn't get the day off. I was called back in. A shame really."

She nodded. "That is a shame. You weren't expecting it?"

"I anticipated it, for sure but I don't mind. Had to be done, you know?"

"Hm," Annie responded. "Was Stephanie there?"

Tom chuckled. "Nah, you two were lucky. I'm glad you had it off. Yesterday was a killer."

"Was it that boring?"

Tom grinned. "Sure was without you."

Annie smiled, ears growing hot. She rubbed her arm.

"You know," Annie began, voice soft.

"Yeah?" Tom sounded. He looked over at her.

Annie couldn't see his eyes through the dark shade of the lenses. She didn't know where he was looking.

"Uh," she fumbled.

Tom smiled. "Go on," he encouraged, one hand on the wheel.

She looked out to the road ahead. "It's been a week," she began, "since you first picked me up for the job."

"Oh, wow," Tom exclaimed, eyebrows raised. "A week already? Really?"

"Yeah," she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.

"It sure feels longer than that," Tom grinned. "I can't believe it."

Annie laughed. "Am I that good of company?"

"Sure," he replied, tone cheerful. "Best start and end to my days."

Her face flushed. "Surely not," she replied, "I can't stand my own self sometimes."

"Neither can I. But I like spending time with you," Tom said.

Annie stared at him. She was thankful now she couldn't see his eyes. If she could, she thought she would melt into the leather seat.

"What?" He asked, laughing. "Is that a bad thing?"

"Huh?" Annie sounded. She blinked. "What?"

"You're staring as if I'm a strange alien creature," Tom joked.

"Maybe you are," she quipped back.

"For liking spending time with you?"

"No, because your skin is purple."

He laughed. It was melodious. Annie smiled, covering her mouth as she laughed.

"Shit," Tom exclaimed, grinning as he shook his head.

"Sorry," she apologised, smiling. "I couldn't help it."

He chuckled. Annie looked out of the window. Outside, the sky was coloured a dark blue due to the tinted window.

"I like spending time with you too," Annie said, quietly. She looked back at Tom. She saw his face soften.

He turned and gave her a lopsided grin. "Good, because I was thinking we should grab some food later. Maybe early tonight? If you're up for it."

Annie blushed. Her heart was pounding fast in her chest. "So I could spend some more time with you?"

"Well, I'd get to spend more time with you too," Tom replied.

Annie smiled. Her palms were sweaty as the blood rushed to her cheeks.

"Sure," she answered. "I'd like that." Annie frowned. "But I can't do tonight."

"Oh," Tom sounded, tone low. "Got plans?"

"Yeah. I promised my friend I'd go to a film screening with her. A friend of hers is in it."

"Huh," he replied, eyebrows raised. "That's funny."

"What is?" Annie asked. She rubbed her arm.

Tom tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. Annie watched the movement, almost mesmerised.

"Oh, nothing," he answered with a smile. "I've got a film screening on too later tonight."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"That's cool."

Tom hummed as he turned the steering wheel. They came to a halt at a red light.

"What's the film you're going to see?"

Annie pursed her lips. "I'm not sure actually. I never found out. What's yours?"

"I'm not in it," Tom answered, "but I helped produce it. It's called Ocean Shores. It premiers soon actually."

Annie smiled. "I didn't know you produced things."

"I have many talents," he grinned, "but our dinner plans have been revised." He combed his fingers through the strands of his hair. "Does Sunday work for you instead?"

"Should be fine," Annie replied, heart pounding.

Tom glanced at her, smiling. "Perfect."

_______________________________________

a/n

Sorry for such a slow update!! Life has been so hectic lately. We got a new puppy two weeks ago and it's been absolutely crazy!! So much work but love it all the same!

What did you think of this chapter? Tom has finally asked Annie for dinner... date? Hell yeah!!  Next chapter will be up quicker than this last one I promise. There are more things to come too.. I can't wait for you to read what happens next!