Masked

20# Another Love

Song: Another Love- Tom Odell.
Ian
"I'll pick you up later." I cleared my throat as Tella poured coffee for Chantal and herself.
"I'll drive her home. Don't worry." Tella smiled.
"Okay." I said awkwardly as Chantal opened her mouth to say something but then closed it quickly.
Yesterday, I didn't join her inside and passed the whole night breaking wood, and today we totally ignored each other till I drove her here.
"Do you need anything?" I asked not looking at her.
"I want to talk to you in private." Tella replied.
"I'll wait outside."
"Okay." She nodded following me outside. "Just a minute and I'll be back. Take off your jacket and start with your coffee if you want." She smiled at Chantal who nodded not giving a vocal answer.

"Yes?" I turned to her once she closed the door.
"Are you okay?" She looked at me with concern.
Taking a deep breath, I looked the other way for a second before turning to her.
"I will be."
"Try not to think about it, okay? Focus on your work, and you can come over before going home if you want to talk."
"Alright. Thank you, Tella." I smiled faintly wrapping her in a hug.
"Drive safe."
"I will. goodbye." I pulled away walking with her to the door.
"Bye bye." She smiled.

"Man, we miss you." Jonathan chuckled giving me a hug.
"I do, too. Finally, I'm back." I smiled.
"C'mon, let's drink tea." He gestured for me to follow him.
"Where are the men?"
"There's a fire in an old factory."
"Ahuh." I nodded. "Should we join them?"
"Don't worry. Just sit down." He dismissed handing me a cup of tea.
"I miss it in here."
"Tell me, how's your hand?"
"It's better. It still looks awful but feels okay." I shrugged.
"It'll take just a bit and then it will look normal again." He ressured.
"Yeah, I know." I nodded. "How's Stepth?"
"We broke up." He shrugged.
"Man, she was pregnant. How could you leave her, now?" My eyes widened.
"I didn't." He shrugged taking a sip from his cup. "It was her choice. Out of the blue, she found out that I was a firefighter and that my job was too dangerous and that our baby will suffer."
"And he won't suffer without a father?" I furrowed my brows.
"That's what I'm tired of saying."
"No, John. I'll talk with her. You know that she was my bestfriend, and she'll listen."
"I won't humiliate myself by begging her."
"You won't beg her to stay, but your kid must grow with his father; you're still alive, and it's not her choice. It's your responsibility."
"I know. Let's wait for a bit, and then I'll talk to her again. Maybe then, she'll listen."
"Yeah." I sighed.
"What about you?"
"What?" I frowned.
"I heard that you were going out with that girl we saved."
"Uh yeah.. I don't know anything. It's very complicated."
"You don't wanna talk about it?"
"It's not like that. I just don't understand what we're doing, now. I can't understand her, and I think that it wasn't a story, really. I was fooled."
"Fooled?" He furrowed his brows.
"Or I was too stupid that I imagined things."
"I can't understand anything." He said slowly.
"I told you that I don't either." I cleared my throat picking up my phone as it started ringing. "Give me a minute." I excused myself getting up to answer.
"Hello, Wilson."
"Hey, Ian. I have some news."
"What is it?" I walked further from John to focus on Wilson's words.
"Miss Chantal was lying, Ian. Something is wrong, and they want to interrogate her again."
"What? How?"
"This is a top secret, okay? You can't tell her a single word. This time, she's not the victim, Ian. She may be the criminal."
"William, tell me what have you found. I must know as I'm living with her, okay?"
"I can't tell you anything, but I want to know of you felt that there was anything creepy."
"Everything is fucking creepy! I can't understand anything. If you need to ask her questions, you may ask Tella."
"Tella? Tella Brooklyn?"
"Yeah, she's Chantal's psychiatrist, now."
"Oh, okay."
"I still don't understand a single shit."
"You'll understand soon. Very soon." With that, he hung up leaving me bewildered more than ever.
The criminal? How? and if it's not Damon, then who is it?
This is serious.
What did you get yourself into, Ian?