With a sip out of his extra-large coffee, Hiram walked up the few steps at the entrance of the lecture building. At the far end of the hallway, Trisha spotted him and quickened her steps to him. One glance at his face and she could tell he had hardly gotten any sleep. "Didn't sleep?" She started.
"More like couldn't." He replied taking another sip.
"Everything okay?" Her voice had suddenly changed.
"Yeah, yeah everything's fine."
"Why couldn't you sleep?"
"I got home late, tried to-" She didn't let him finish.
"From that bar in Malibu, right?" She didn't give him the chance to reply. "Hiram there a ton of bars in Los Angeles, why on earth would you go all the way to Malibu to that shitty bar? It's because of that bartender girl isn't it?!" She snapped.
"Trisha, I don't have to explain why I do the things I do to you!" He honestly didn't mean to sound rude, but that's exactly how it came out.
That caught her completely off-guard, she needed a second to pick herself up. "You know what? You're right Hiram, you don't need to explain anything to me." With a soft sigh, she turned and walked away, almost bumping into Artemis.
"Easy there!" Artemis cautioned but was completely ignored. "What's her deal?" She asked turning to Hiram.
He didn't reply, just shrugged as he pushed one of the double doors to their lecture theatre. He motioned to her to go first.
"Thank you." She mouthed walking in.
Later at lunch, Rob, Artemis and Hiram met at the café they always did and sat on their usual table. On the other side of the room sat Trisha.
"Everything okay with you two?" Rob asked looking at Hiram then at Trisha's direction.
"I don't know Rob, we exchanged a few words in the morning but that's pretty much it." Hiram responded taking a bit of his burger.
On her table, Trisha sat with her best friend, Miley.
"Would you believe he drives all the way to Malibu just to hang out with some dumbass bartender?" There was so much bitterness in her voice, so much rage.
"That's pathetic." Miley commented.
"I know right! I can't believe that's who he wants to replace me with." Trisha went on. "I mean, who gives up all this for some bartend?"
Miley just shrugged and went on with her meal.
-*-
Hiram brought his car to a stop outside the bar on the parking space closest to the entrance, alighted and walked in.
Inside, he pushed his was to his usual stool and to his disappointment, he found it occupied. He opted for the next available one. Klara saw him from the far end of the counter and gave him a smile. He gave a small wave and turned to his phone.
A while later, a very familiar voice called to him. He looked up and met her eyes but she quickly broke the eye contact. Somewhat still embarrassed from the happenings of the previous night. And Hiram was completely aware of this.
After the exchange of their normal pleasantries, he made his order.
"A shot of tequila."
She froze and he noticed. "Don't ask." He warned with a long sigh.
She poured him a shot, and watched him pick up the small glass and empty the contents in his mouth.
"Now, something less strong." He requested sliding the shot glass to her.
"Coming right up." She told him and stepped away to make his drink. She filled a glass with ice cubes to which she added some limoncello, then a few pieces of basil leaves followed by soda. She stole a glance from him as she stirred the ingredients together. He was busy on his phone. She couldn't help but wonder if the happenings of the previous night were going to come up. She garnished the drink with a slice of lemon and a sprig of basil.
"A Lemon Basil Spritzer for you." She said to him with a faint smile, resting the drink in front of him.
"Thank you." He told her putting his phone away.
She turned to walk away but turned back to him. "Hiram," she called softly. "About yesterday, I'm sorry you had to see that."
He didn't reply immediately. He looked at her for a second, shifted his gaze to his glass which he tapped on before looking back at her. "You have nothing to apologize for Ammika." H e reassured her. "If anything, I should be the one to apologize. I shouldn't have stood there in the dark like a creep."
She laughed. "Yeah, that was pretty creepy." She agreed.
"I'll try not to extend my welcome next time." He went on, picking up the glass.
"Nonsense, you are free to stay as long as you please." She encouraged him.
I dread creeping you and your boyfrie-" She cut in.
"Don't worry about that. He won't be coming around anymore."
That caught him by surprise. "May I ask why? I hope it's not because of me."
"Not at all. I just explained to him that I don't entirely appreciate him dropping in to my place of work like that. He understood and promised not." She explained.
He didn't say anything, just gave her a slight nod and watched her walk to serve other customers.
She smiled as she walked away. That had gone much better than she thought it would. She didn't really know how he would react to it but this was not among her guesses.
An hour passed with him on that stool, sipping slowly on his drink. Ammika came back and found him buried on his phone, there was an expression on his face that she couldn't quite make out. " Everything okay?" She inquired.
"Yeah, yeah…umm it's just Trisha" He answered.
She remembered that name. "Your ex?" As she spoke, she felt a sharp tightness on her throat.
"Yeah, her." He confirmed.
"Everything okay?" She asked, surprised that whatever was going on with her had changed his mood like that.
"Story for another day." He stood from the stool and placed money next to the glass. "Thanks for the drink Ammie, and have a goodnight." He told her picking his phone.
She didn't hear anything he said after "Ammie". Had that just happened? Had he just called her that? She seemed to have fallen into a trance and Hiram had to snap his fingers to bring her back.
"Umm, sorry about that. Goodnight to you too Hiram." She finished with a smile and watched him walk away.
-*-
"You're up early." Hiram's mom said to him as she joined the dining table.
"Good morning to you to mom." He replied with a soft laugh looking up from his MacBook. "Got to finish up on some report." He added pushing the Mac aside.
"Well don't let me interrupt." Carol told him pouring herself some orange juice.
Callie joined them a few minutes later and their dad later on, finishing up on his tie. "How are we doing this morning?" He greeted pulling a chair next to his wife.
His wife and daughter replied but Hiram was too engrossed in his Mac to even notice his father's arrival.
"Huh?" He spoke looking up after Callie tapped him. "Good morning dad?"
"To you too. What has you that absorbed?"
"Just some school work."
"Can it wait? It has been a while since we all sat on the same table and shared a meal." His dad told him in a soft yet firm voice.
"You know what?" Callie started, quite excited. "We should have a small getaway. Clear all our schedules for the day and go somewhere, spend the day together."
"That doesn't sound too bad," Her father agreed turning to his wife who gave a nod in agreement.
"I have a place in mind." Hiram said with a smile. "Sonoma."
It was Carol who replied to him. "That's a nice idea. Visited the place as a little girl, it's a beautiful serene place."
"Sonoma it is." Darius affirmed.
After breakfast, Hiram disappeared into his father's home office to work on his report.
A soft knock on the door drew his attention. "Aren't you the focused student?" Callie teased walking in.
"Shut up!" He returned with a laugh. "I'm chasing a deadline."
"Maybe if you reduced you late night trips to Malibu, you would have completed it by now." She went on.
"Ouch!" He cried. "Harsh."
"Anyway, I wanted to know how you're doing." She sat on the desk looking at him.
"What do you mean?"
"The photo she posted yesterday." She explained. "And the reception it's getting online."
Hiram knew what she was talking about. He had seen the photo while still at the bar the previous night. In the photo, Trisha was making out with a guy in some club with his hand under her top. Many of his followers and Trisha's had lots to say about it. Neither him nor Trisha had made the news of their breakup public so that sort of reaction didn't really shock him.
"I'm doing okay Cal." He told her.
"Really? Is that why you haven't said anything about it?"
"What's there for me to say? Whatever she does and whoever she does it with is none of my business."
"Whatever you say dear brother." she said with a sigh as she stood from the desk and walked to the door.
"Hey," Hiram called and she turned. "I have a red carpet." He announced casually.
"What?" She laughed softly walking back.
"You heard me. L.A Today are launching their new lifestyle magazine and wish that I make an appearance."
"And this is important to me because…?" She drawled.
"Guess who else will be there?" He taunted.
"Shock me." She mocked.
"Victoria Lane." He said looking straight into her eyes.
Her jaw dropped. "You're lying!"
He showed her the email and watched as her eyes widened. He knew how much his sister liked her. Obsessed even.
At only twenty-five, Victoria Lane had already made a name for herself in the film industry. Lead actress in quite a number of best-selling Tv shows and movies.
"Would you mind being my date?" He requested.
She was silent for a while. "You better not be messing with-"
"I'm being serious Cal." He interrupted her. "I know how much you adore her. Just come with me. Plus, it's not like I have anyone to take." He added.
"Yes!" She was almost shouting. "Of course, yes!"
He smiled seeing how much it meant to her. "It's this coming Friday at the Beverly hills hotel."
"Thank you Hiram." She finished with a wide grin. He gave a slight nod and watched her walk out before leaning to the Mac.