Chapter 16

- I'm not sure which...

-THIS!- Portia shouted.

James walked up to her and looked where she was pointing.

-Again? You've seen it over a hundred times. -he exaggerated.

-But I want that one.

-But you've already seen it.....

-I thought Portia would choose, didn't you said she would choose? - said Luna.

-She's already seen it - James repeated. Portia looked at him angrily.

- You always watch scary shows, and I never tell you anything- Portia challenged.

-Scary? - Luna asked.

- Criminal cases. -James answered seriously as he watched the movies.

-Oh, good.

-Well, do you choose that one? - he asked looking at his daughter. She nodded.

Rose appeared through a doorway carrying a large pot of popcorn, set it on the small table in the living room, and then hurried out. Within seconds, she returned.

-You like lemon soda, don't you? - James asked, looking at Luna.

-Oh yes, of course. - she smiled. James didn't smile back. He just looked back to where he was before.

-Okay, honey, I'm going to go lie down, if you need anything, call me. - Rose said, smiling.

- Get some rest, Ro. We'll be fine- she smiled.

Rose nodded smiling.

-Good night.

Rose left the living room and then Portia sat down in the big armchair in front of the TV, she took the glass in her hands. James put the movie on it and then sat down. He took control and sat on Portia's left side, Luna sat on the right side.

-Okay, ready? - she asked.

Portia nodded.

Fifteen minutes in, the little girl laughed out loud at every little thing the stars did, ate popcorn in giant bites, and James and Luna only cracked small smiles every now and then. Luna, though a few chuckles did slip out. James, on the other hand, couldn't help but be distracted by his phone.

Luna's eyes were fixed on the screen, she had seen this movie two or three times, and always found it entertaining. James, on the other hand, didn't seem to give a damn about the movie, maybe all the times Portia had seen it had made him tired.

Before the movie was over, Portia fell asleep with her glass in her hands. Noticing this, Luna pulled a blanket over her.

James rolled over.

-Great, I'll put on another movie, do you mind? - he asked seriously.

-Of course not. I'll take Portia to her bed.

-Do you want me to take her? - he asked. Luna shook her head. She took Portia in her arms, and carried her to her room.

Meanwhile, James put on his movie. He had been acting weird during the week and planned to make amends with Luna. In a matter of a few minutes, she appeared through the door and quickly sat down on the couch.

-Have you seen one? - he asked. Luna nodded.

-Of course, it's great.

-I know, it is. - he replied and drank from his (again full) glass.

As the movie started, it wasn't too long before they both got into the story. It was amazing what those actors could do, everything seemed so real, those fights, everything.

Luna saw a resemblance between the main character and James. The main character goes in search of his daughter, and he doesn't stop until he finds her. No matter who he kills, or how much money he spends, he just wanted his daughter. And that reminded him of him. His love for Portia, and all he would do for her.

She turned to look at him slyly. He wasn't watching the movie, just staring at a fixed point in the nothingness.

-Is something wrong? - she asked.

-No, no. - he answered coldly.

- Am I supposed to believe you? - she asked just as coldly. James turned to look at her.

-You should.

-Well, you're not helping that.

- What?

-Why didn't you tell me Samuel called you? -she asked coldly and seriously.

- Where did you get that from?

- He called me yesterday. Sure, I told him to go to hell. But it bothers me that you didn't tell me you talked to him.

James sighed nervously.

- What did he say?

- The usual, to stop ignoring him...and to stay away from you. It's not right, James, you should have told me about that phone call.

-And why did he call me? How does he know you're here with me?

-I don't know. - she answered and leaned back on the sofa. He turned to look at her.

-Well, he's out of his mind.

-That's why you were so weird with me?

- No, it wasn't the reason. I wish it was - he lied - but... can I tell you something?

Luna looked at him carefully. She hadn't forgotten the violent phone call she'd overheard.

- Yes, of course.

- Well, a few years ago...my life was quite different from the one I have today. I wasn't the best of influences and I could say I made too many mistakes. It wasn't a good time in my life, Luna. In those years, I had a group of friends; Adam, Luke and Angelica. We argued over something stupid, unimportant, and we did something terrible.

-How?

- Let's just say... we stole something.

- Something like what?

James watched her carefully. Luna watched him cautiously, waiting to hear what he wanted.

- Something valuable, from someone important. And not all of us survived that. It wasn't strictly anyone's fault, but...things got out of control and whatever killed him was supposed to kill me.