January 25, 2000
Audrey grabbed a bottle of muscle relaxants from the table beside the couch she was currently residing on and popped two of the tablets in her mouth, chewing them despite the disgusting chalky taste, she didn't care as long as they went to work fast.
She laid there for a few moments until she felt the tension begin to leave her body, then grabbed the phone and dialed the number that had become so farmiliar to her in the past few weeks.
"Hello?" She couldn't help but grin tiredly as she heard that farmiliar smooth voice.
"I'm home," she said, skipping any introduction -there was no need for one- and following the simple statement with a heavy sigh.
"You don't sound particularly happy about it. How come you're home so early anyways?" Justin asked, immediately concerned.
"Well I'm home early because your management is really antsy to get good copies of the prints they've chosen, so I had to come back here because my darkroom is the only place that has the equipment I need. And no, I'm not particularly happy about it. I just endured a 9-hour flight squashed next to an extremely large man who took up half of my already-too-small economy seat. The flight was delayed in taking off, and by the time I reached the airport, the airbus I had reserved a seat on left without me. So I had to wait an hour and a half for the next one. And of course, I arrive home to my empty apartment to find all my plants dead and the small amount of food in my fridge gone moldy. No, Timberlake, I am not particularly happy."
"Why don't you try and get some sleep?"
"I've tried!" she wailed. "But I'm so damn tense that I can't fall asleep! I laid in bed for an hour before giving up and calling you."
"Are you in bed now?" Justin asked.
"Let's not turn this into a digital getdown," Audrey snickered, remembering one of the tracks from the promo copy of the album their management had given her.
"Ha ha, very funny. Just answer the question."
"No, I'm on the couch in the living room," she informed him.
"Well go get in bed," he ordered gently.
"You're starting to weird me out," Audrey began.
"Would you stop being so difficult? Just do it!"
"Geez, Timberlake, I never thought you were the type of guy who had to pressure a girl to get her into bed," she teased him as she followed his instructions, moving from her living room to the cool darkness of her bedroom. Without bothering to turn on the lights, she laid down in the bed that she had so recently abandoned and pulled the covers up around her snugly. "Okay, I'm in it. Now what?"
"Now close your eyes."
Audrey sighed, but did as he asked.
"I'm hoping this will help you sleep," he whispered, then began singing softly.
"I opened the curtains wide
The sun caught your face, made you light up the bedroom
Feeling all soft inside
You smile with that beautiful smile
Like a cloud of blossoms falling
Innit such a gorgeous morning
Hold your breath and reach for the blue
Like a cloud of blossoms falling
Thought I'd reached the end this morning
Like a cloud of blossoms falling, falling for you
I turned on the radio
It was something I vaguely remembered from way back
When life was a bit more slow
I think I can say things are better now
Like a cloud of blossoms falling
Innit such a gorgeous morning
Hold your breath and reach for the blue
Like a cloud of blossoms falling
Thought I'd reached the end this morning
Like a cloud of blossoms falling, falling for you
I should say I love you
I want to, I want to
I should say I love you
I want to, I want to
I climbed back in by your side
I was still tired, no reason to get up
Cuddled you from behind
Closing my eyes and I fell asleep"
By the time Justin finished the song, she was fast asleep
* * *
"Audrey?" Justin whispered softly. No response.
Damn, I'm good, he thought to himself with a grin. He placed his phone on the floor beside him, reluctant to turn it off because the dialtone in her ear might wake her. I'll have to send her some money for that monumental phone bill she's going to have.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Say Cheese