22 - Tom

I'd been a little hurt when Eliza left the party without even a goodbye but knew it was probably for the best. Judging by the way Elsa and Sophie glared at me the rest of the evening whatever they'd talked about while they were alone wasn't to my favor. They were supposed to be my friends and yet they were taking her side; it didn't seem fair.

Waking up alone had been the worst. I'd reached for her and been confused when she hadn't been there, and then the day before had come crashing back. I'd been tempted to call her but talked myself out of it; she'd got what she'd wanted from me, she probably wouldn't have even taken my call anyway.

I had the television on in the living room while I packed simply to drown out the silence Eliza's absence made. If she'd have only been able to admit what she'd done we might've been able to work things out but it wouldn't do me any good to sit here and wonder about the 'what if's.

My cell phone starts ringing and I pull it out of my pocket, cursing myself when the disappointment of it not being Eliza hit me.

"Hey Mikey. What's up?"

Mikey had been my agent for several years now and he rarely called me out of the blue.

"Hey Tom. I was calling to make sure we were on the same page about this Millie issue. We want to have the pictures taken down correct? We can try to sue but I doubt it's worth it, sounds like she's already lost more than we could get now."

"What Millie issue?" I ask, completely confused. "What pictures?"

Had I missed other pictures while dealing with Eliza's betrayal? That didn't seem likely but with as distracted as I'd been with Eliza anything was likely.

"The pictures of you in Eliza's bed. I assumed when her agent called me yesterday with the information for Millie in case you wanted to press charges..."

"Who the hell is Millie?"

"The person who took and released the pictures of you in bed? Eliza fired her yesterday when she saw her in the pictures. I assumed you two had already talked about it?" He says after a moment, clearly as confused as I was.

"I didn't see anyone else in the pictures. How did she know this Millie girl took them?"

"She didn't tell you? Here I'll text you the pictures, look at the reflection in the lamp."

My phone chimes, signaling a new text. Opening it I zoom in on the lamp and sure enough there is a woman, clearly not Eliza, taking the picture. It didn't make sense. Had Mikey said that Eliza had fired the woman for it? Why was I just now finding out about this?

"When did you say Eliza showed you this?" I ask, putting the phone back to my ear.

"Her agent called shortly before the wrap party. I didn't call you til now figuring she'd already told you. Did you not know?"

"No. You're going to get them taken down?"

"Yes sir. Did you want to try and press any charges on the woman? Her agent sent me the woman's information in case you did."

"No, just get them taken down. Thank you." I hang up and stare at it for a minute, processing what I'd just been told.

Most importantly, Eliza wasn't behind the pictures like I'd assumed. Most worrisome, Eliza had made sure it was taken care of despite the things I'd said to her. She let me continue thinking she'd betrayed me. Why would she do that though? Why not just tell me herself? Replaying our last conversation in my head I start to feel sick. I think she had tried to tell me but I hadn't given her the chance.

Forgoing packing I dial Eliza's number, it rings twice and then gets sent to voicemail. Sitting down on the edge of the bed I try again. This time it goes immediately to voicemail. Cursing I hang up. Throwing the rest of my things in my bags quickly I text Gerald to tell him I'd be down in a minute. If she wouldn't take my calls I'd just go see her.

Gerald loads my bags as I climb in; he'd looked at me funny when I told him we were going to Eliza's shop but didn't say anything; apparently he was upset with me as well. We drove in silence to the shop and I was opening the door before the car came to a complete stop outside the shop.

"Hey Katy, is she upstairs?" I ask after I look around and don't see her, heading towards the door to the apartment.

"She's not here." She replies stiffly, crossing her arms over her chest glaring at me.

"Oh. Do you know when she'll be back? I need to talk to her and she's not answering her phone."

"She's not coming back for a while. And no I don't know where she went so don't bother asking."

Katy had never been hostile with me before. She'd barely spoken to me at all but she'd always been friendly at least.

"What do you mean?" I ask coming to stand at the counter opposite Katy.

"I mean she got on a plane and left. I don't know where she went or how long she'll be gone. She apparently needs to get away for a while."

I thank her, even though she hadn't helped, and walk numbly back out to the car. Gerald was looking straight forward, hands gripping the wheel so tight his knuckles were white.

"You knew she wasn't here didn't you?" I ask.

He pulls away from the curb and glares at me in the rearview mirror.

"I did. I'm the one who took her to the airport after the party. I'd kick your ass for whatever you did to screw things up but she asked me not to."

I couldn't help the laugh that popped out though it certainly wasn't out of humor. She'd really still been looking out for me even after everything I'd said and accused her of; first with Millie and second with Gerald and more than likely Elsa and Sophie as well.

"Don't suppose you know where she went?" I ask miserably.

"Can't say that I do."

I'd expected as much, if she hadn't told her best friend where she was going it didn't make sense that she'd tell my driver. She might've continued looking out for me but it seemed like she didn't want me to be able to find her. Surely she knew I'd find out the truth from Mikey and I'd try to apologize.

"I really messed this up didn't I?"

"Yes you did."