Vertigo

©Sweet-Kisses™

~*~

A.J. stood out on the sidewalk, folding his jacket around him to protect his body from the cool wind. He ran his fingers through his short hair and glanced at his watch. He watched all the people walk past him in a hurry, all seemed to be dressed in suits, looking like clones.  He shook his head slightly. It was no wonder why he never wanted to become one of the 'people'. He always had to stand out, to stand up and go his own way.

Which was why he was about to stage a confrontation with someone who had been like a father figure, for so long.

It made him sad, it made him angry, it made him frustrated about the situation he was witnessing, that no one else could see. It had been difficult for him to keep himself quiet, but now that wasn't going to happen. He had been quiet for too long.

He then saw Kevin walk out of the building, dark coat and clothes on, a cigarette in his hand. A.J. shook his head again as he watched Kevin fish in his pockets for a lighter. He thought now was as good a time as any to step in. "Need a light?"

Kevin froze in his place for several moments. Slowly, he turned around and he was greeted with A.J.'s dark, enraged eyes. "Allow me to - "

"What?" A.J. snapped, stepping closer to Kevin. He didn't care if Kevin was taller, stronger than him. He knew Kevin was never one to use his physical strength against anyone. "Allow you to be the biggest fucking hypocrite in the world? You harped on forever when you quit about how bad it was and how better you were than me. Now, look. You're a fucking hypocrite, Kevin."

Kevin narrowed his eyes. "I've got no idea where all this is coming from. Care to explain?"

"You don't know where all this is from?" A.J. almost laughed at what he was about to reveal. "Let's start with your hotel room. Last night. With Lyra. Yeah, let's start with that. Then maybe we'll discuss what happened in your bathroom and then when you were out on - "

"Alright!" Kevin's heart began to pound. "A.J., you know Andrew asked me to - "

"Don't fucking patronize me!" A.J. shouted. So loudly, in fact, that people walking by actually stopped and then moved quickly away. "I was there last night, in your room. I saw everything. Everything! I saw everything you did to her, and what she..." He closed his eyes momentarily. "Makes me sick," he murmured.

Kevin's face was ashen. "How did you...how the hell did you get in there?"

"How I got in there, it doesn't matter. But I'm telling you, it disgusts me. From the moment the two of you walked in, I saw it all. How could you do that to her? Do you realize who she is, how old she is? You're fucking married!"

Kevin knew he had to confess. In order to salvage a least a tiny fraction of his identity, he had to. He didn't want to, but he had no choice. "A.J., Kristin's left me. She's gone. I'm about to file for divorce."

A.J. was about to yell back a retort, until he fully understand what Kevin had said. He narrowed his eyes, weighing up the truth of Kevin's words. He couldn't believe him, not now. He took a step closer to Kevin. "Don't you dare even try and dig yourself out of the hole you're in. Don't fucking lie to me anymore, I'm not going to put up with it!"

Kevin tried his best to remain cool, to assume his composure. "It's the truth, A.J. Where did you think I disappeared to? I went to see her. Only she didn't fucking turn up did she? No, she didn't! When Lyra started staying with me, I hadn't seen Kristin in two months. Now, it's been longer. Want to hear the truth of my so-called perfect life? There you go, A.J. It's there, as fucked up as it is. Happy now that I'm exposed?"

"You have no idea," A.J. replied, nodding. "She's barely seventeen, Kevin, and I can tell you that from what I saw last night, you're about to lose everything. And you know what else? I'm glad and secretly, I think you are, too."

Kevin quickly reached out and grabbed A.J. by the arm. "You're not going to tell Andrew, are you? I've supported you through everything, A.J. Everything! This is how you repay me? You've got a lot of nerve to stand there and call me a hypocrite. I've seen you slink girls barely older than Lyra into your room."

"They haven't been our manager's sister and I'm not married," A.J. hissed, shoving Kevin away. "Don't try and polish that halo, Kevin. You screwed up, you screwed Lyra and now you're about to be screwed. Throw Lyra out and confess to Andrew."

"Is that a threat?" 

"A friendly warning."

Kevin paused for a moment. "And if not?"

"Then I will."

~**~

When Kevin had been told that Andrew had wanted to talk privately, he had nearly thrown up on the spot.

He hadn't been able to think of anything but the confrontation with A.J. A.J. was right, he knew he had to say something, in order to make the situation somewhat better than if he didn't. But he didn't know which would do him better: to lie or to tell the truth. He was so confused, and it hadn't been the first time, either.

Now, sitting in front of Andrew, his manager, Lyra's brother, he felt the need to rush to the bathroom.

Without saying a word, Andrew threw an open magazine onto the coffee table. Kevin looked down and saw himself, with Lyra in New York. Someone had taken the pictures and constructed a story to go along with it. He barely glanced at the article, but his eyes scanned the words "married", "celebrity" and "high school."

"Well?" Andrew questioned. 

"Well what?" Kevin said, "It's me and Lyra, walking in New York from my apartment building. So what?"

Andrew cleared his throat and linked his fingers together. "Well, the "so what" insinuates that you're having an affair with this girl who's..." He glanced at the article. "Not even out of high school. My sister."

Kevin waited for him to continue. When he didn't, Kevin shrugged. "And what?"

"Is it true?" Andrew asked bluntly. "I'm giving you this opportunity to tell me, in confidence. Is it?"

Kevin's heart raced. He still battered the right and wrong in his head but when he finally spoke, it didn't shock him. "No," he whispered.

Andrew nodded slowly, lowering his head as he did. "I have no choice. Again, this will go to conference."

"Again?" Kevin said. "But why? It's utter crap! I would never...never..."

"Yeah, I know," Andrew said simply. "You would never do that. Too bad. This is something you will do."

~***~

Lyra sat on a white fluffy towel in the bathroom of Kevin's room, her legs curled up to her chest. She glanced at her watch. It was nearly dawn.

She had thrown up again.

Lyra looked toward the bathroom vanity and her eyes caught sight of her toothbrush. She thought that was a good place to start.

Once finished, she quietly closed the bathroom door behind her and walked toward the bed she had been sharing with Kevin. He was asleep, breathing rhythmically, his body wrapped in the white sheets. She stared at his profile while he slept. She had noticed that he had begun to be possessive of her. She didn't know why.

Tears welled in her eyes when the enormity of the situation hit her.

She had been playing a game that she really hadn't been ready to play.

Lyra closed her eyes and a single tear trickled down her cheek. She brushed it away quickly and moved toward the bed. Without too much movement, she curled up next to Kevin. Just being that close to him made her sob quietly. Instantly, Kevin woke up and leaned over her. She felt his fingertips gently wiping away the tears that dripped down her cheeks.

Kevin then began to kiss her softly, and Lyra didn't refuse.

~****~