And then she was gone...

Chapter 5

A week went on and Simon managed to stop drinking. Well, most of the time. He went to work regularly and routine kicked in. He was happy again, even though the hole she left in him was still there.

He saw her standing in the middle of the crowd from time to time but he knew that it was impossible. He decided to live and not waste any more of his time. He settled on staying single for the rest of his life but why not enjoy living?

That's what she would have wanted, isn't it? He walked down the streets of London when he saw an all too familiar face. Cheryl. He had known her for quite a while now but they had never been good friends.

Smilling, she headed towards him. He wanted to avoid her, not wanting to be asked how he's doing but it would have been rude to just avoid the conversation. She stopped in front of him and he pulled her in for a rather heartless hug.

"Hey Si. Long time no talk," she said and he wished to be at home. "Yeah, I was quite busy," he said and she just looked at him, sad and concerned. "I've heard about the accident. How are you doing?" she asked, brushing her hand over his arm.

"I'm doing alright. It's hard but the show must go on," he said and smiled sadly. Why did everybody feel the need to ask these stupid questions.  You could clearly see that he wasn't doing that good.

"We should spend more time with each other... Our past schedueles didn't allow us to meet up as often as I hoped," she said and he felt the need to disappear as soon as possible. The idea of not being alone made him stop and rethink his next move.

"Why don't you come with me and we'll spend the afternoon together," he said and they linked arms, walking towards his driver. She sat down next to him in the rather small car and they headed towards his house.

"So what have you been up to?" he asked, feeling comfortable.

"This and that. Nothing much to be honest. It's been a bit boring without X Factor and stuff," she said and knew that Alesha would hit him for the suggestion.

"Then why don't you join BGT? Paula will stay for two more auditions and then there'll be a spot free..." he said, feeling like he just betrayed Amanda. She would have hated him for doing that.

"Are you sure? I mean so short after... you know," she said and he could feel how uncomfortable it made her. "Yeah, I am sure. I won't get anyone as qualified as you in such a short time and you're free, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I am free but what do the others think about this. Dixon and I don't get along too well," she said and he didn't care. "They'll have to get used to it. I'm the boss and I make the decisions. I don't care what they want or who they don't like..." he said and felt like such an ass after they had been the best friends he could imagine.

"So how are you doing?" He asked and Cheryl just smiled like a school girl. "You know I met this guy and he's really nice. We've been on a few dates and he seems to like me as well."

He was relieved that she didn't seem to be interested in him and it made him relax a lot.

...

As soon as they arrived at his house, that used to be Amanda's, and got in he knew that something was wrong. Amandas perfume had been sprayed again and there was his sweater laying on the couch.

"I didn't know you like women perfume," Cheryl joked but Simon didn't feel like joking.

"I don't. You smell it too?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I?" She said confused and sat down on the couch, taking his sweater into her hands. She smelled at it and looked at it weirdly.

"Why does your sweater smell like it then?" She asked and shoved the sweater in his direction.

"I didn't," he says and takes it into his hands, smelling the familiar scent already.

"Then whose perfume is it, if it's not yours?" Cheryl asked and walked over to him, sensing that this meant nothing good.

"It's Amanda's. Look there have been strange things happening and I swear I haven't touched a drop of alcohol in more than a week. I'd remember if I had sprayed perfume on my sweater."

"But who does it then? I mean Amanda is dead so she can't be the person doing it," Cheryl said and realized how mean that sounded as soon as the words left her mouth.

"Look I know how hard it is to loose somebody you love. Are you really sure that you haven't been imagining things? That would be totally normal and I would be the last person to judge you."

"I am sure. Why does nobody believe me? I am so sure somebody does this and I wish it would be Amanda but I know it can't be her. I've accepted that but I just KNOW that there is somebody behind this'" he says and covers his face with his hands.

"I believe you," she says and he look at her surprised.

"You do?"

"Yes I do. And I'm going to help you find out who is behind this," she says and hugs him.

"Thank you. Would you mind staying here over night?" He asked, feeling better for the first time in weeks.