Haleigh tried to sleep... she thought perhaps that with the recent developments in her psychological and emotional growth that she might be able to drift off.... but she was still a severe insomniac and if she DID sleep, her own vivid dreams were fraught with confused and jumbled imagery.
She rose before long before dawn after failing to fall asleep at ALL tonight.... it was just as well.... her mind was still RACING with the discussion she'd had with Alycia and the file she'd pored over after the meet. She made her way around her loft in the dark with no problem whatsoever, as she slowly gravitated to the OTHER situation that occupied her mind: Cameron. Namely, his recent disappearance... AGAIN. This time, she didn't know whether she should be angry or worried.... so she settled for a little bit of both. In the past week or so since the breast cancer event, Haleigh had searched his suite at the Parthenon, his old haunts, and places that were significant to him in the past.... all to no avail. Lately she just checked up on the surveillance in those places and any reported sightings.... again, like every previous morning, today there was nothing except frustration.
Haleigh paced her apartment for a while.... so long, in fact, that the sun began to rise... she stepped out onto the terrace and watched it rise over the bay, immersed in thought, emitting a deep sigh. She hated feeling this way.... like there was nothing more she could do.... especially since just about EVERYONE knew exactly how she felt about Cameron-- probably even better than she knew herself. That was a primary catalyst for her total commitment to helping Sharon.... and a big reason for wanting to run off with Alycia into the heart of possible danger. In her experience, if she could help solve somebody else's problems, she could move her own to the back burner and possibly forget about them awhile. Of course.... the mission with Alycia was on standby as well.... Haleigh awaited a message from the former DA and until then, had nothing to distract herself with. She fed the dogs, straightened here and there in her apartment.... busy work, basically. She'd already read and destroyed the file Alycia'd given her.... now she was experiencing time alone that she would normally spend.... with Zach. She thought somberly. There was no way to ignore it... disapprove of his behavior or not, and though Haleigh still felt the sting of betrayal.... she had LOVED Zach.... and she missed him.
"I sure know how to pick the men in my life, don't I?"
She asked the dogs. The male dog lifted his head from eating and whined, prompting Haleigh to chuckle and pat him gently.
"Not you, Echo.... not you."
Haleigh sighed, staring out the window again, slightly disgruntled... before she quickly picked up the phone and dialed a familiar number. The male voice sounded slightly groggy. Haleigh managed to sound as casual and pleased as possible.
>>Cross.
"Christopher."
>>[brightening]Haleigh? Well.... I'll be damned.
"So.... how've you been? How is..... what's her name... that new girl you started seeing?"
>>[chuckling] I'm fine.... I wouldn't know about her though.... it didn't work out... we haven't seen each other in weeks.
"Mmm... shame. So, how'd you like to meet for sex?"
>>[pause] I thought you were going to suggest breakfast.
"Why bother, we both know what we'll be there for. We can eat afterwards if you like."
>>Oh, I'd like.
"Great. You've heard about my place in the Hamptons?"
>>Who hasn't?
"Meet me there in thirty."
>>I'll be there in twenty.
Haleigh closed her cell with a self satisfied smirk and went to go get dressed.
"Mommy's going to go get cheered up."
******************************************
"I feel much better."
Haleigh says, laying on her stomach, propping herself up on her elbows and lighting a cigarrette. Chris sits up, then props a couple of pillows between himself and the headboard. They both lay comfortably nude on a fully made bed, and he nods as he reaches for a cigarrette of his own.
Chris:"You're welcome. Light mine?"
She obliges, and for a second they smoke in silence perforated by satisfied but heavy sighs.
"You do know that this is purely recreational, right Cross?"
Chris: "Hmm? Oh, of course. that's fine by me......[pause] I read about your breakup in the paper. Stupid fool... I never understood a man that couldn't be happy with just one woman.... dont let it get to you.... a woman like you.... if you couldn't keep him.... well.... no one could."
Haleigh smiled softly, getting up and pulling on a silk robe, gesturing for him to follow her into the kitchen where breakfast was already prepared. "You always did have the just right thing to say. Come on.... I had the help make us something to eat while we were busy. Don't worry about me.... I'm fine. I know what you mean.... While I've always understood the need for SOME to be unrestrained by monogamy... I don't get why he would do something like that and not TELL me. He was right... our relationship, at the time in question, was not an exclusive one.... but he still kept it from me."
Chris, while sitting down at the breakfast bar:"Doesn't make any sense.... if he didnt think he was doing anything wrong.... why did he think he had to hide it?"
Haleigh laid down their plates and joined him. "I dunno.... he said it was complicated."
Chris:"Isn't it always?"
Haleigh smiled.... for a while, they ate and caught up, like old friends might, keeping topics light and jovial. Neither of them seemed concerned with starting something up again.... both were just happy for the company and the comfort. Haleigh's phone rang and she let it go to voicemail....she already knew it was Alycia. She mentally sent a text message to each of the other members of the six, telling them she needed to meet with them to discuss something and that it would be brief. Her and Chris wrapped up their 'rendezvous' and parted ways.... and Haleigh, upon scanning Illustra and finding both Alison and Morgan there, sent a transmission to the PA system.
"Hate to interrupt a reunion ladies. Morgan, welcome back. Alison, i'm certain you know what this is about.... I'd like to brief the others.... I'll be home shortly."
>>