Free Fall by Unknown

Laura had gotten the flats she wanted plus about five hundred dollars worth of lace, silk and satin at a posh lingerie store. Altogether a very productive excursion. Nina was happy to see that Laura wasn’t one of those shoppers who lingered, window shopped and took forever to make decisions. Like Nina, she knew exactly what she wanted and went straight for it.
    "Try the seafood salad. It’s so fresh and crisp and the homemade dressing is wonderful!" Laura suggested while they perused the menu.
    "Sounds good," Nina agreed. She was enjoying herself with Laura. For someone so lovely and poised she was unaffected, unpretentious and good company.
    "So, really. How long are you planning on staying here?" Laura asked.
    "I’m not sure. I’ve only been here a few days. I thought I would play it by ear."
    "If you do stay longer are you going to look for a job?"
    "I get the feeling you have plans for me and Joseph. Are you hinting that you want me to stay here and make a life in LA?"
    "I think you guys make a good couple and frankly, Joseph needs a girl like you to whip him into shape, settle him down. I could put out some feelers and get you a job at one of the exclusive hotel lounges in Beverly Hills."
    "Um, No. But thank you. I will only work in a bar at my bar. If I stay here I will probably use the time to work on my book."
    "You’re a writer? Why didn’t you say so?"
    "Because I don’t consider that my profession, really. Just more of a hobby. And I haven’t touched the novel in two years, I’ve been procrastinating. Now would be the perfect time to bring it back up and try to finish it. I use to work as a technical writer. I haven’t been a waitress all my life, you know."
    "What’s the story about?"
    "It’s a post-apocalyptic romance."
    Laura started laughing and said, "My favorite genre! Let me guess. There’s a shortage of women and children and a tyrant who controls the reproductive processes of everyone?"
    "Right," Nina grimaced. Laura had just nailed the premise of her novel.
    "If you do stay, and you do finish the novel we can help you get it published, you know."
    "Alright, alright! Slow down, sister." Nina held up her hands. "No more!" Their salads were set down they both set to with gusto.
     
     
    A few weeks after Nina came to LA, Joseph was weaving through traffic on his way home when a number he didn’t recognize appeared on the display of his cell phone. He pressed the talk button and said, "Yes?" into the phone.
    "Hi Joseph," Karen breathed into the phone. She had called from a different number so he would answer when she called.
    Damn it! Joseph felt heat burn up into his face. Why wouldn't she leave him alone? She called him every other day like clockwork. It was always the same. She missed him. She talked about all the times they had together, and although he knew she was trying not to talk about her film premier, she managed to slip it in every time. The film would not premier in less than a year’s time. It might not even premier at all. Things could happen in post-production to nix the whole project. Did she really think they would be together then?
    He'd stopped answering her calls and then came the voice mail messages, which he deleted without listening to. Now she had snuck up on him and he started seriously thinking of changing his number.
    "Karen."
    "How are you, honey?"
    "What do you want? Are you turning into a stalker now? I don’t want to talk to you! I’m in love." Furiously he pushed the end button and tossed the phone onto the seat beside him.
    Jesus! She made him so angry he wanted to throttle her. Now she’ll tell everyone what he had just said, mocking him to their mutual friends and acquaintances. He could just hear her simpering voice now. 'Joseph says he’s in love, we’ve got to set up an intervention'.
    Evil, manipulative bitch! What did he ever see in her? The two years they spent together seemed like they never happened, like a long ago, forgotten memory in his mind.