"Are we done for the day?"

It was already 10. 00 p.m. and Eric wondered where did all the time go by. It has been 3 days since Joanna found out about Roy's affair and the fact that Tara knew. Betrayal hit her like a hot lava, because it came from the people she counted closest to her heart. And she chose to keep mum.

It was again her choice. A stupid choice. Still, a choice she made knowingly, driven by the fear of being alone.

No big show down happened between Tara and Joanna as far as Eric knew. Joanna, went back to her home, her head held down.

But he was hopeful. Joanna must have been sweet and naive but she had her spine intact. She valued her self respect more than anything and Eric believed in his girl.

"Yup. We are done."
Sara cheerfully replied and asked
"Clara ma'am had come again asking for you. Seems like she was upset that you were avoiding her."

"Sara, what have I told you?"

"To not entertain Clara ma'am anymore."

"Exactly! No Clara or Clara talks in this building. Dispersed!"

Eric got up and Clara noticed that he was actually singing, faintly!

"I was enchanted to meet you......."

She cleaned her ears one more time.

She was now convinced. Its simply auditory hallucination.

She had never seen this man let alone sing, be in a good mood.

"I'm wonderstuck, blushing all the way home...."

Boy got no chill!

"Woah! Its raining.... How are you going home? Do you want me to drop you?"

Sara didn't stay furthur. She took few steps backwards and ran away. His good mood scared her even more!

******************************

"I hope she is okay!"

Eric couldn't stop worrying. After clocking out from work, though it was drizzling, he had gone to Dandelion Corner.

Why?

Simply, because he was hungry.

Did he know it was about time they close for the day? Absolutely!

He just.... Wanted to make excuses to see her.

But all he got was disappointment.
Apparently, Joanna was still taking some time off and her colleague Janet was not that impressed with the mention of her name.

Once he left the restaurant empty stomach, it started raining cats and dogs.

He just wanted to get home, eat something Mimi must have kept in the fridge and sleep, but spotted someone right outside the gate of his house.

Looks like....... Joanna?

She was standing, letting the rain drench her and soak her clothes, without any expressions.

He rolled down the car window to confirm if it really was her.

"Joanna? What are you doing? You will get sick!"

Eric promptly got out of his car with an umbrella and his security Pete came running with another umbrella.

Eric took Joanna in it and glared at Pete.

"No...no...Sir! I told her so many times to wait inside but there was no one else in the house....so.....also madam said she would wait here...."

He nodded and Pete understood all he need to do now is to open the gate and take the keys.

Eric grabbed Joanna's hand and she hesitated when he took steps forward.

"What? Its raining, Joanna. Come inside"

"I.....What will I do now, Eric! I know...." She was panting

"I know I am being shameless....but...."
She held her own chest....trying to breath somehow

"You....I can't think of anyone else..... I am going crazy! Eric..... I.... I can't sleep at all! I haven't slept for 4 days!"

Now he knew why she was letting the rain shower on her. Those tears....

If someone is crying in the rain, how do you see the tears?

But her face was just so pale. Just like how the clouds dulled the moonlight, her face was not glowing like it did always. It was just so full with pain.

And it hurt his heart too.

He was too happy thinking that now Roy had lost.
But it was Jo who lost.

Truth didn't make things easy for her. She lost a friend, she lost the man who could have been a part of her life and now.....the only person she could think of was her first love.

Eric grabbed her by shoulders and said

"Forget everything. I will fix everything. No matter what it is, I will take care of it. First, lets get warm and then we will sleep...  You need to rest"

*****************
"Here, have some tea. Chamomille is good to calm you down"

She thanked and took few sips.

Eric couldn't stop his eyes from marveling at her.

Her hair wet, she was wearing a white shirt of his and one of Dianna's old pants, her face was clean and clear, with eyes swollen due to all that crying. She sniffed up the snort and was sneezing now. Yet, she looked like she did in his dreams... Pure and innocent.

"See....the rain made you sick"

"Its fine..... I am sorry, Eric. I shouldn't have come here"

"What happened today?"

Joanna took a deep breath and said
"I will only bore you. Its...... Its...."

"Its my probem, not yours? Seriously? Come on, Joanna! After all we have been through? You can tell me anything."

"Its just..... I haven't felt like this before"

He leaned forwards to hear her clearly.

"Like how?"

Her face went disgusted and detested

"Like this..... This strong rage..... I just.... I thought I will be cool and just deal with it calmly. This strong feeling of hatred.... Like abhor! It is not doing me any good...... I can't even breathe...."

"Like how you felt about me?"

"Oh, please Eric. I was angry with you and I felt like a joke..... But this ain't it.... I am feeling vengeful and its not nice.... I am only hurting myself"

"You have to confront them both. Bottled feelings will only make things worse"

"You know, I want to make them pay...... But I don't know how.... They are both successful than me..... They have people who care about them.... And only I am left..... Alone! I couldn't even stand up for myself when Tara and he...."

She tried to swallow her words.

"He? What? What did they ask you?"

He sat closer and asked again

"Leave no detail out, Joanna....Tell me"

She took another deep breath and said

"They asked if I slept with you to get Roy out. Its...... I know its..... It was humiliating! He called me a slut, Eric!"

Eric's eyes changed the moment she mentioned it.

"Its late.....I should leave...... I just didn't know where else to go to, you know..... I am so sorry"

She got up and walked out with her bag, that was still wet.

Eric didn't move from where he was till she left the house.

He could hear her steps receding away and his heart.....it kept pumping and thudding.......

'Don't let her go..... Don't let her go....... Don't let her go back to them.....'

Before she opened the gate, he found momentum....

He ran upto her but found another person outside the gate.

"I knew it! You were with him!"

Roy? And he wasn't alone. Tara and Ben was with him.

"What are you doing here?" Eric could see Joanna from back and it was clear that she was intimidated.

"You are not even denying! Just.. You are such a whore!"
That was Tara, her best friend!

"Seriously, Joanna! Just because a richer man came into your life, you ditched Roy? The man who stood by you when your parents died?"

"Its not...." Joanna couldn't even complete her words.

"I should have known......just what all did you do with him for 5 days in this house? Even your so called Uncle was okay with this! Its his money, right? Clara was right! Once a leech always a leech!" Tara's words hurt Joanna more than Roy's did.

Eric felt enraged and responsible.

It was he who dragged her here and now her character is being questioned.

But unlike Joanna who felt crumbled like a piece of paper, Eric becomes vengeful and he does take action.
He is a go getter, who doesn't hesitate.

And this was his girl, who was being ridiculed.

"Oh, hey! Hi guys!"

Eric walked out with a smile and grabbed Joanna by her wrist.

Tara, Roy and Ben.

All 3 glared at him with rage.

Smiling at the ones who hate you - the ultimate way to make their blood not just boil but vapourise and it hardly takes any effort.

Joanna was ashamed that Eric heard all of it.

But, he leaned forwards and whispered in her ears

"Use me, Jo! Just use me!"

His eyes locked in hers and he saw her eyes getting flooded with tears.

He took that as a yes.

"What are you guys doing here?"
He pulled her closer, and held her by the waist, carefully, with gentleness.

"You.... " Tara couldn't complete her words.

"You betrayed me for him? He who left you for his convenience?"

"Ya. Sorry Roy" Joanna replied.

"I like that look in your face by the way, Roy." Eric smirked. Tara and Ben had to pull Roy back or else he would have gone to that jail again.

"Why? Jo..... Just why!" Roy asked one last time.

Joanna hesitated.

"I..." She took a moment before completing her words

"I love him..... I always did"

Eric wanted to believe it. Even if its a lie to piss Roy off, he wanted to believe it. She is forbidden, but still....

Somewhere in his heart.......

Joanna wiped a tear from her eye and continued

"Sorry that I used you as a distraction. I hope you can forgive me Roy. I guess thats it for you and me. You guys can leave. I am staying here, with Eric tonight"

She grabbed Eric's hand and went inside, leaving Roy, Tara and Ben speechless.

"Wow! She really did a number on you, Roy! Suits you well! I shouldn't say this but, you kind of deserved it."

Tara left with Ben, and Roy was left fuming outside that gate, till Pete asked him to get lost

**********************