BROKEN (Sequel to Behind The Lights)

This Is Moving On

"Excuse me, Miss." A ladies voice calls me and I look up to see a waitress holding a plate of sliced creamy chocolate cake in it. "I was asked to send this over to you. It's from the gentlemen over there." She says, pointing to a random dude in sweat pants and a hoodie. I couldn't really see who it was and I wasn't about to accept food from a stranger. I've had my fair share of encounter with weird fans.

"Uh... No thank you, could you please take it back to him. I don't take food from strangers." I tell her.

"But miss...."

"Thank you... Cassey." I say, reading her name tag and dismissing her. She nods and walks back to the table opposite. I couldn't tell what she was saying to him. I mean, who the hell is this guy anyway. With his hoodie and everything, dude looked so suspicious.

I go back to looking at my phone before she comes back to me with a note on a napkin instead. I took the napkin from her and read the note that said

"So you don't like chocolate I see.
Maybe if you got to know me, you'd change your mind."

Eww! What the hell? Who is this guy? I decide to write back.

"No thank you. I'm good"

I pass her the napkin to take it back to him and she does just that. I go back to reading my email until someone shows up in front of me, pulling out the empty chair across from me and taking a seat. I look up to see the hooded guy. He had on a sleeveless hoodie jacket type thing so his biceps and tattoos were on display. He was clearly a chocolate dude and I got that from his little napkin message.

"Can I help you with something?" I question. Folding my arms and raising an eyebrow.

"You don't remember me do you?" He says and I sit up, frowning a little. I mean, he did look familiar but where do I know him from? "You ran out on me at the hospital in London and if I remember clearly, you told me "If it were meant to be, we'd meet again." He says, tapping his finger on his chin like he was recollecting his memory. I swear I stopped breathing for a second there. this was so weird. I mean, I do remember him but London, this is LA. Did he follow me here? I mean he has an American accent so he had to be from here. But what was he doing in London? And why would I say such a thing dammit.

"Hmm right... What are you doing here?" I ask him.

"Having coffee like everyone else." He says nonchalantly.

"No. I mean in LA. Are you stalking me or something?" I ask him.

"Maybe." He jokes

"Don't joke like that," I tell him sternly. After what happened with Jason, the whole stalking thing or even joking about it creeps me out.

"I'm sorry." He laughs. "I live out here in Malibu. Just a few blocks down." He says.

"Ah, and what do you do here," I ask, interrogating him. I'm a little too scared to talk to strangers. You never know who they could be. Thanks to Jason for making me this paranoid freak.

"Wow! So many questions and I don't even know your name yet." He says

"Tell me yours first," I say.

"Wow, you're really on the edge huh." He says, realizing I'm slightly creeped out. "I'm Andre Rane, an A'List and corporate attorney." He says, pulling out his wallet from the pocket of his sweat pants. "I own a firm here and have been an attorney for twelve years now." He says, handing me a name card. I take his name card and look at it. Taking in every information on it. It did seem pretty legit. But judging by his tattoos and the way he's dressed right now, nobody would have guessed.

"Hmmm.. Okay," I say placing the card on the table and leaning back into the chair with my arms folded. "So you work with celebrities huh? Anyone, I may know?" His job seemed interesting and I wanted some juice. Just for the fun of it.

"Uh-uh, you first." He says, leaning in.

"Fine, I'm Jessica Red. I'm an artist and a producer." I tell him and his eyes grow wide immediately.

"That makes so much sense. I thought you looked familiar. My niece Avery is a massive fan. The only place I've seen you is on the posters in her bedroom." He says and I begin laughing.

'That's adorable. How old is she.?"

"She turns 16 in a weeks time."

"That's nice," I say and he just looks at me smiling.

"Let me take you out on a date Jessica Red." He says.

"Man, I don't know. I don't think I'm at a place where I want to be dating anyone right now."

"Why not?" He asks. I didn't know what to say to that. Zac is why not I mean... Wait! He's right. why not? Zac's seeing someone else now. why shouldn't I?

"You know what? On second thought, Yes! I'll go on a date with you." I tell him and a wide smile spreads across his face. he had one of the whitest set of teeth I had ever seen on anyone. he was a really fine looking man.

"That's... Ah... that's great!" He says, lighting up like a kid. Guys are so funny, the minute they get what they want, they turn into this little boy.

"You have my number on there, text me and I'll call you." He says pointing to the name card he had given me. "And Jessica.....  I really hope I do hear from you," he says, getting up.

"You will," I tell him. He looks at me, smiles and leaves me.

So now I'm going on a date with a guy. This is moving on right. Moving on is what I should be doing. Then why do I feel sick to my stomach about all of this? Why do I feel suffocated instead of liberated? Why do I feel like I'm making the wrong decision?