I.N.K.E.D

Chapter Three:

When I handed Kaleb chapter one and the rough outline for the rest of my new story, I was expecting to be the smug one. However I’d forgotten the fact that it was Kaleb who suggested I go to the meeting in the first place so I was confused when he too has a smug grin plastered on his face. 

"Well," he said, placing the roughly printed manuscript down on the coffee table, "I think you owe me a thank you."

I took a sip of my coffee and raised an eyebrow at him, "How? I don't remember you spending all night writing that."

"No, but I do remember me being the one who forced you to go to the meeting. Without me, there would be no manuscript." I suppose he had a point so I said nothing else, I just carried on drinking my coffee, waiting for him to suggest what we do with the idea next. "So, can I ask, if you're basing this on your perfect love story, why does Cooper come with so much trouble?"

"Well..." I paused for thought, I wasn't exactly sure why but when I’d run the idea of trouble following him around it just seemed to fit. It wasn't good or bad but it was right. "I guess I don't believe true love is ever easy."

Kaleb smiled and scratched his balding head, "So is that what this is? A perfect love story?" 

"No," I said, "because when I was writing it I knew that an average woman's perfect love story wouldn't involve all the life threatening dangers and trust issues. In a 'perfect' love story they would meet, go on a date, fall in love, get married and have kids all within the year. In a real love story there is always trouble and sometimes even love isn't strong enough to hold on."

There was silence has he thought over my words and re-read the rough manuscript. I didn't interrupt; he needed to understand the concept before he could publish it. "Okay so I’ve re-read it," he said, after what felt like forever, "and I like it but you forgot to write an actual plot summary and you're missing huge chunks of description and scenes. Can you do the Summary of the first few chapters for me?" 

"Now?" I asked. Kaleb nodded and got out a pen to scribble with. I centered my mind and thought of Coopers face, it wasn't hard and the moment he appeared the words started flowing easy. "So Amy is a novelist,"

"Like you?" He interrupted. 

"Yes. Exactly like me." 

"Okay..." He mumbled as he jotted it down. "Go on?" 

"She's going through a bit of personal turmoil and then, just on another normal day, she gets a knock at the door only to be greeted by a man she's never seen before in her life. He's tall, well built and has an English accent but she cant really see his face because he's got a hoodie on. There’s a dog at his feet." I paused to give Kaleb a moment to catch up, I just wanted to carry on speaking though, and these ideas were coming so naturally.

"He's completely out of breath and begs her for a place to stay. Of course Amy is terrified, this man looks like trouble and now he's trying to force his way into her home. She's about to say no when his knee's start to buckle and she notices there’s blood seeping through his clothes." 

"Ohhh now it’s getting interesting," said Kaleb who was now grinning at me.

I smiled back before continuing. "So after making an array of stupid excuses she lets him in. He collapses on her sofa and she goes to call an ambulance when he stops her and says that no once can know he's here. Panic starts to get in and she leaves him in the front room so she can clear her head and a few moments later she comes to the decision that she has to kick him out - she doesn't want to risk her life. But, when she comes to tell him that he's fallen asleep and his hood has slipped off. He's the most beautiful thing she's seen and her resolve crumbles. From that p-" 

A squeal interrupted me and before I’d even had time to lift my head a crowd of over excited women had appeared next to me. "Oh wow, you're Amy May aren't you?" 

I glanced over at Kaleb who shrugged his shoulders, he told me to always give time to the fans, regardless of where I was. Paparazzi are a different issue but fans must always come first. Don't get me wrong, I was by no means 'world famous' like Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt but I did have a steadily growing fan base. "Yes." I said, smiling at them.