Motivation of Memories: The Second Book of the Labors of Love Series

Cars & Conversations

Genevieve's POV

I gather my things and begin the walk to the motel. The police will be done with my place tonight and the cleaners come in the morning. Tomorrow after filming I'll be able to go home. I unlock the door and toss my bag to the side. Slipping off my shoes, I enter the space. The carpet is an odd reddish brown and the curtains a sickly yellow and green. Just one more night and we can go home.

I'm not happy to be staying here but I had no choice with my car acting the way it has. I was driving through Minneapolis looking for a hotel when it stopped. I had it towed to the mechanic who told me the part they need wouldn't be in until Friday. So I hopped in the bus and headed back towards the filming house and entered the first motel I saw.

I turn in the tv and flip through the channels hoping to feel a little better about my situation but of course there's no cable. I sigh digging through the drawer full of restaurant menus pulling out anything that might sound good. After a few minutes of picking through the pile I decided on Chinese and call to place my order. I pay the driver and tip them well before retreating back into my artificial safe haven.

When I wake up the next day my body is stiff. My joints are screaming and all of my muscles feel tight. I shower carefully hoping the hot water will ease the pain but am still left with a large amount of discomfort. I lie back down covered in nothing but a towel and pray the pain subsides before I need to walk to work. I take deep breaths feeling the tightness in my back and abdomen with every breath. Slowly, I reach for the phone and dial the number on the card on my nightstand.

"Hello? Yes, hello! I need your help. I'm staying in a shitty motel and the bed has ruined my back. I can barely move! Will you take me and my luggage to work? I have to be out by noon and I have to be on set by 10 it has to come with me. We can take it to my apartment. The police are gone. Sure, I can be ready by 9:15. It's the Super 8 on 7th Street. Yea. Yea, by the book shop. Okay, I'll see you then."

An hour goes by and there's a knock on the door. I open it and smile seeing his friendly face again.

"You go wait in the car. I'll bring down the bags."

"Thank you, Ronnie." I hobble out the door and down the stairs. At the front desk, I return my key and buy a pack of gum before heading to the SUV. Shortly after climbing inside, Ronnie arrives with my various suitcases and bags. He hands me my duffel bag before storing the rest in the trunk and joining me in the car. He smiles at me and I offer one in return though my is short lived. A twinge in my neck erases my smile earning a chuckle from Ronnie.

"That bad, huh?"

"So bad but it was all I could afford." We talk like this back and forth for a while until we arrive at my apartment.

"Where do you want me to put everything?"

"Put it all in my work room and lock the door." I hand him the key and watch as he carries the bags inside.

"All done." He says getting back in the car and handing me my key.

"Ronnie?"

"Yes, Miss Genevieve?"

"Does it look as bad as I think it does?"

"Probably not. The cops called this morning. The only things he broke of yours were a couple of trophies. Your work room was locked so it was untouched. He spray painted the walls and broke a window but that's an easy fix."

"The complex is gonna repaint the apartment and hired cleaners to remove all the glass. They offered to put me in a different unit too. I'll probably just stay somewhere while they paint."

"You talked to the police? They said they'd call. They called this morning. Tyson was arrested a couple days ago. They found him strung out in an alley with friends. Once he had come down he confessed to everything. I decided not to press charges but move forward with the restraining order. The complex is suing for property damage and something else."

"Glad it all worked out." I sit there for a moment wondering if I should ask him what's really on my mind. He looks at me when I open my mouth to speak but I decide against it.

A car slowly rolls up to us stopping on the passenger's side.

"I was wondering where you went this morning." I look out Ronnie's window and see Prince's car. The height difference between the cars makes it impossible to see him so I sit back and look out the other window. The two men talk cordially, not that I was listening.

"Genevieve", Prince starts gently, "I know you don't want to talk to me but will you at least let me drive you to work?" I look over and see him leaning into the car.

"Help me down, please." He rushes to my side of the car, opening my door. He takes my hand gently, holding tight as I step down and out of the SUV. I grab my bag before thanking Ronnie and getting in Prince's car.

"You feeling okay?" He asks gently.

"Very stiff from the motel. Couldn't move much this morning. That's why I called him."

"Why aren't you driving?"

"My car is in the shop. I don't get it back until tomorrow."

"I can... take you home after filming today and take you to get you car tomorrow if you'd like."

"I would like that. Thank you." I look over at him and he seems shaken up. His normally laid back demeanor is gone. He's anxious, holding the wheel at 10 and 2. His eyes only leave the road for brief moments and only to look at me.

"Pull over." Without another thought he pulls into the nearest parking lot and stops the car. "You're practically shaking and you look like you haven't slept in days. Please tell me what's wrong."

"I-I upset you. I-I-I hurt you and...  and I never wanted to. I never meant to. I just... when you left I was so worried about you. No one knew where you went or if you were coming back. How could I sleep not knowing if you were okay? Especially since I had a part in it. You've never stopped talking to me before. I thought-" I put my finger to his lips then wrap my arms around him. His arms snake around my waist and we share a warm embrace. An embrace of new understanding of friendship and love. I rub his back and allow his head to rest on my shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Genevieve. I never want to hurt you again."

"I wish I could blame this all on you but it isn't your fault. I'm fighting an internal battle. I left because I needed to work through it. I couldn't talk to you because I knew you couldn't help but I never meant to make you think it was your doing."

"Don't leave me, Genevieve. I'd be lost without you."

"I won't runaway again and if I have to leave I'll at least tell you why but I need you to know this is still not something I can talk to you about."

"I don't care. Just don't leave."