Not long after Lance decided he’d had enough of the party as well. He got Big E to come with him and the two of them left as quickly and quietly as possible. When they got to the hotel Lance signed autographs for the waiting fans and took as many pictures as were necessary. After the last one he rushed to an elevator that was about to close. He clamped his hand on the door and pushed it back. To his ultimate surprise, there stood Sophie.
“Where have you been all this time?” He asked startled, looking at his watch.
“Nowhere in particular.” She said coolly.
“But you left like, half an hour ago.” He looked at her now and saw that her lipstick was faded and showed the tender pink skin of her lips. A strong minty odor hung in the air as well.
“It’s amazing how well you subtract.” Sophie quipped as the doors opened again, admitting another hotel guest. Luckily it was an older man who didn’t recognize Lance. Lance had to shift over closer to Sophie to give the stranger room and Sophie jerked away. He heard a clink, like glass knocking together, and he looked to the side quickly afraid he’s broken something. All he saw was Sophie’s bag.
When the older gentleman got off Sophie made a point of moving to the opposite side of the elevator car. She held her bag close to her body and glared at the door in front of her. Lance wanted to say something but he couldn’t think of what to say. Suddenly an idea came to him.
“How’s your elbow?” He asked softly.
“Never better.”
“You’re going with JC to pick up Bobbie?”
“You heard him ask me to.”
“I know, I was just making conversation.”
“How’s it working out for you?” She asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Not too well.” Lance snorted at his own lame joke. He noticed that Sophie didn’t seem very amused. He shifted uncomfortably and cursed whoever built the stupid elevator. It went so slow. “This elevator takes forever.”
“Time flies when you’re having fun.”
“So that would mean….” Lance trailed off, hoping she’d at least say two sentences to him.
“I trust that you can figure it out.”
“Thank you for your confidence.”
“Confidence that you’re more intelligent than a lap dog? No problem. But you realize my world will just shatter the next time I see you drinking out of a toilet.” Her voice was flat and emotionless; Lance was stunned. He stood there, unable to think. He had been nothing but nice, and she’d almost been nice to him in the hallway, but now she was rigid.
“Um, I’ve never seen you carry a bag before.” He finally said.
“Ok.” She shrugged. There was another long pause and Lance had had just about enough.
“Can you please talk to me Sophie?”
“I am talking to you.” She replied angrily, turning to finally face him. “I’m talking and if you hadn’t noticed I don’t particularly enjoy it. Now, I don’t know what your problem is….”
“MY problem?” He interrupted. “You’re the one with the problem. I go out of my way to be nice to you.”
“And I go out of my way to avoid you, but that doesn’t seem to work either now does it? Now, I don’t know what your problem is, but I don’t see why you can’t just leave me alone. What have I ever done to you? Why can’t we just ignore each other and go on our merry little ways?”
“Besides being rude to me all the time, you haven’t done anything to me. But, I can’t ignore you Sophie. I’m sorry, but I can’t. It’s not how I operate.”
“Well then I guess you’ll have to settle with things the way they are.”
“So you just go on being a bitch?”
“It’s a nice system. Wouldn’t you agree? Oh wait, you wouldn’t.” Sophie smiled, but it looked more like a grimace than anything.
“Why do you hate me?”
“I don’t hate you. I have no reason to hate you.” She said, almost to herself.
“Then why are you acting like this?” Lance raised his voice, his emotions getting the better of him. Sophie suddenly hit the next floor’s button and the elevator slowed. When the doors opened she looked at Lance, the ice of her glare gave him chills.
“Because you’re always after me.” She hissed and jumped out of the car before the doors shut. Once again, Lance heard the clink of glass, but this time he ignored it. Maybe he was a little hard on her. “No!” He said aloud. “There’s no reason for her to ignore me or treat me like shit, she said so herself.” The doors opened and he walked down the hall to his room. “I’ve got to find out what’s going on with her.”