Welcome to Gaia! ::

One of a series of fanfics I've written. The date in the subject is when the story is set


Brian's voice was talking to my answering machine as I walked into my dorm room. I grinned and grabbed the cordless of my desk. “What’s up?” The answering machine stopped taping.

“What are you doing this weekend?”

'Thinking about how to get rid of your girlfriend,' I thought dryly. “Studying for finals and finishing my research paper for English. Why?” I hoped he was calling to tell me he was coming for a visit before the show he was in left on tour. I needed a break from the insanity of studying for finals.

“They moved up the departure date for the ‘Joseph’ tour. We ship out Sunday. Come see me off.”

All plans of getting work done flew out the window. “Do you really think I'd pass up the chance to see my best friend one last time before he's gone for two years? Are you coming to get me or do I need to grab a bus to the City?"

“I'll pick you up. Felicity will take you back.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Lovely. Four hours in a car with his beloved girlfriend, who would probably view me with suspicion the whole time I was down in the City. No woman in her right mind would be stupid enough not to be suspicious of me; I’d been his best friend for six years. I’d be suspicious of me. I made a mental note to be on my best behavior. Maybe I’d survive the trip home.

“Oh, just to warn you, the whole cast is going out Saturday night, and the guy who plays Joseph tries to get with anything in a skirt.”

“And? This has to do with me…how?” Guys like that always left me alone. I wasn’t flashy enough for them.

“He’ll make a pain of himself, trust me.”

“What’s his name, so I can run the other way if he starts asking me what I’m doing after the party?” The chances of a horndog bothering me were slim, but if it made Bri feel better to think he was protecting me from clear and present danger, I'd humor him.

“Kyle. Trust me, you’ll know exactly who I’m talking about when you get here. I’ve already told him that if I find out he tried anything with you, I’d personally remove his reason for existence.”

I laughed. “You didn’t!”

“I did, and I would.”

“I think I can handle myself." As a veterinary technology major, I'd learned more than a few ways to get rid of obnoxious guys. "Who says I’d tell you, anyway?”

“What? You wouldn’t tell your best friend in the entire universe if a guy tried to get into your shorts?”

“Of course I’d tell Elisa about that!”

“Ha ha. What time are you done with class on Friday?”

“About 1. Do you remember the flagpoles in front of the library?” He said he did. "Meet me there." He said he'd see me then, and hung up. As I replaced the phone in the base, I wondered if this Kyle could be as bad as advertised.

The next three days dragged by slower than molasses in January, but one p.m. on Friday finally came and I heard Brian's Blue Bomber before I saw it. I laughed under my breath; the thing was rust on wheels and needed desperately to be junked. Three years ago, Brian had promised his parents that he’d get a new car before January. Foolishly, we’d thought he meant January 1996.

“You’re a road hazard,” I said as I got into the car.

The car lurched forward when Brian put it into 'Drive'. “When I want your opinion, I’ll give it to you. Have a good day?”

“It went. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate research papers?”

“Just a few times," he said dryly. "I thought you were handing in the one you did senior year.”

“I am, but I still hate them." I sank back against the seat and sighed. "Thank God I don’t have to actually write one; I think I’d have gone nuts.”

He played the World’s Smallest Violin for me. “Some day, you’ll have to eat your words, and write a research paper on a topic you hate.”

“Yeah. Like advertising.”

“The prof was going to make you do a paper on advertising? I thought you said he told the class you all could pick your own topics.”

“He did, but after spending three hours in the lounge today and being forced to watch infomercials because that’s what the peeps by the TV wanted, I think I’d scream if I had to actually spend time on that kind of thing.”

“I see.”

The drive from Delhi down to the City was four glorious hours of having Brian all to myself, a rare treat in the past several years, with each of us attending different schools. I'd hoped when I left for college last August that we'd see more of each other, since I'd be much closer to Julliard, where Brian was going, but we'd both been so busy with school and our lives we didn’t see each other again until he swung through Delhi to pick me up on his own way home from the City for the break between semesters. I would’ve caught a ride with him back to school for the spring semester but my parents insisted on driving me. Something about wanting to see the Delhi area in the winter. I’d told them to picture lots of hills covered with snow and naked trees and that I’d rather ride with Brian, but they’d been unmoved so I’d had to endure several hours of my mom trying to pry details about college life out of me. She finally got the message to leave me alone when she asked, in an annoyingly coy tone, if I’d met anyone and I told her my lesbian lover, Jill, would be living with me that semester and that we planned to go to Vermont after finals to get a civil union.

“Did I ever tell you what I said to my mom when she asked me if I’d ‘met anyone special’ when they brought me back in January?” I asked, looking over at Brian.

“If you did, I forgot.”

I grinned and told him. “When she told me to be serious,” I continued when he’d stopped laughing, “I said, with a straight face, I was.”
Brian glanced over at me. “So why didn’t I get to meet this Jill?”

“What, and risk you stealing her away?”

“Good point.” He laughed again. “I can’t believe you said that to her.”

“Where have you been?” I teased. “I’m full of witty retorts like that.”

“So, have you?”

“Have I what?”

“Met anyone.” He glanced at me again.

I looked at him like he was nuts. “No, but it wouldn’t matter even if there was a guy on campus I liked. They’re all drunk, attached, or pining away after the natural beauties, a group to which I do not belong.”

“Don’t put yourself down like that. You look better than most of the girls I’ve seen at your school.”

“Thanks. I think.” Brian was blinded by friendship, so I didn’t take him too seriously, and if he thought I was good-looking, why wasn’t I the one he was dating?

“You’re too hard on yourself, Laurel. Believe it or not, there are people who think you’re gorgeous.”

I laughed. “Thanks for trying to make me feel better, but I
know I’m not. Guys don’t see me as someone they want to date; they see me as the one to talk to when they want to date a friend. I know I’m nothing special, which is fine. If any guy ever likes me, it’ll be for who I am, not what I look like.”

“The guy who ends up falling for you will fall for you because of you are and what you look like.”

“So says the guy who’s dating someone else,” I said dryly and felt myself pale a moment later when I realized what I’d said. ‘Open mouth, insert foot,’ I thought irritably. ‘I really need to work on thinking before speaking.’ I was so cooked if he got any idea I had a thing for him. Of course, that’s what would happen because it was exactly what I didn’t want so Murphy’s Law would guarantee this turned into a ride from Hell.

“That doesn’t mean I’m blind, Laurel.”

“Very true.” I restrained myself from audibly sighing with relief he’d totally missed the actual meaning. “I don’t know if other guys share your view that fat and plain with boring, straight brown hair is good-looking, though.”

“You are not fat. Why do you insist on thinking you are?”

“Because I am? I’m overweight and hardly have an hourglass figure.”

He rolled his eyes. “You’re not that overweight. What, ten pounds over what the doctor says you should weigh?”

“I wish it were that little.”

“Fifteen, then.”

“Closer.”

“Whatever. You only have one chin. You are not fat.”

“My figure is lousy.”

“Your figure is fine.”

I smirked slightly. “What would Felicity say if she heard you saying that?”

“She’d be agreeing with me. You are not fat and you are not plain. You’d look much better if you got smaller glasses and wore some makeup.”

“So you admit I’m not good looking without makeup.”

“That is not what I said!” Frustration was evident in his voice. “You have very nice eyes and you’d look even better if you wore a bit of makeup to bring them out more. You should do something with your hair besides always wearing it in a ponytail, too.”

“Right,” I said skeptically. “I’m in scrubs most days or down on the farm. There’s no one to impress other than the cows and the cats, so why should I waste my time in the morning doing my hair and putting on makeup?”

“Because you walk around on campus and there are lots of guys around who will notice you? For someone who’s so hung up on the fact she never has a date, you’re not doing anything to get yourself noticed.”

“I am not going to paint myself up and trick myself out just to get a guy’s attention. I don’t want some guy who only asks me out because of what I look like.”

Brian sighed and shook his head slightly. “Laurel, I’m not saying to put on layers and layers of makeup and wear tight, revealing clothes. I’m telling you how to accent and play up your features so guys will notice you and see how gorgeous you are. Felicity is naturally beautiful, too, and just a little bit of mascara and eyeliner makes her look fabulous.”

‘Of course Miss Wonderful would come up,’ I thought bitterly. Of course he’d tell me to do whatever it was she did. The way he talked about her, you’d think the sun shone out of her butt and she could walk on water. Felicity, the gorgeous Latina he’d met freshman year in a music theory class. Eyes like pools of melted chocolate, hair as black as deepest night which shone glossy in the sunlight. Her smile was dazzling, her manners impeccable, her temperament sweet enough to charm birds from the trees and so very, very patient. That wasn’t exactly what he’d said, but it didn’t take a genius to figure out that’s what he thought. Of course she’d be the standard to which he’d compare every other woman and the one he thought every other female should be like. I’d have been thrilled if she suddenly began to sport a mustache or was caught dancing on a table after a bit too much cervesa, or something equally embarrassing. No one was as wonderful as he made Felicity out to be and he was long overdue for finding that out.

“I’ll think about it,” I finally said. I didn’t know when, exactly, I’d actually give consideration to his idea but I would. Maybe. At some point. Not now, though.

Felicity, who was nearly as pretty as Brian made her out to be, was at his apartment, watching TV, when we arrived. I forced myself to smile and greet her politely, instead of telling her I was better for Brian than she was and if she knew what was good for her, she’d bugger off and leave me to my Happy Ever After.

“It’s wonderful to finally meet you,” she said softly, standing up. “Brian has told me so much about you.”

“He has?” I shot him a questioning glance. “Did he mention Marching Band?”

“Only that you were in it together for several years, and had lots of fun. Can I get you anything to drink?”

“What is there?” She rattled off a list of drinks. “Coke sounds good.” I should be the one knowing what was in his fridge. I bit back my
jealously. Maybe I’d find a reason to hate her later. Or, even better, a reason that Brian should break it off with her.

A flash of light by her left hand caught my eye. I did a double take, and saw a diamond ring. I tried not to start bawling. This weekend was going to blow. “What time are we leaving?”

“In about an hour,” Brian said. “I thought we’d all go get dinner, then head over to the Dew Drop Inn.”

“The Dew Drop Inn? Sounds like a seedy gin joint.”

“Not terribly seedy,” he said dryly. “Just looks that way.”

“I’ll take your word for it. If you’ll excuse me, I need to go change. Not that my scrubs” --which I still had on from lab-- “aren’t comfortable, but jeans might look better for the bar scene.” I heard Brian stifle a laugh as I headed towards the bathroom.

Fifteen minutes later, I emerged, ready for a night out. A little makeup, my contacts, and a black velour shirt did wonders to erase all traces of my life as a vet sci geek. For kicks, I’d decided to leave my hair down tonight. Elisa always said guys found long hair sexy, and since mine was finally down below my shoulder blades, I decided to test her theory out.

Brian looked up from the TV when I came back into the main area. “You look nice. I told you a little make-up wouldn’t hurt.”

“Thanks, and I never said I didn’t wear any make-up, only that I don’t bother for classes.” I sat down next to him. “What’s on?”

“Not much. Just baseball.”

“Who’s winning?”

Felicity, who sat across the room in the recliner, laughed. “The wrong team.”

“Which would be…?” Couldn’t she and her ring go play in traffic or something?

“Michigan State,” she said.

“I’m not into sports.” I sat back. “Since when do you watch it, Bri?”

“Since Felicity got me hooked on University of Michigan baseball.”

“I see.” She was corrupting him. “They’re playing right now?”

“The ones in the white.”

Oddly, I found myself getting into the game, even jumping up and yelling when two U of M players managed to make it home before the Spartans could get the ball to the catcher.

With two minutes left in the game, Brian announced that if we didn’t leave now, we’d be late. “Two more minutes!” Felicity and I cried in tandem. “Just two minutes!”

“Okay; I’ll blame y’all if we’re late.”

“Shut up and sit down,” I snapped. “You’re in front of the TV.”

Two minutes later, our beloved Wolverines scored a home run, adding further insult to injury in their total trouncing of the Spartans. “Hoo-yeah!” I crowed as we walked down the hall. “What a game!”

The Dew Drop Inn, situated on the outskirts of Newark, exuded an aura of restrained trashiness. It was a gin joint, no doubt, but it was lit with more than a few dim lights stuck way up in the rafters, and most of the patrons looked like NYC’s middle management winding down from a long day of mowing lawns and carpooling the kids to soccer games. And they served Zima, a sure mark their image of grunge was only fingernail deep.

“We’re early,” I chided Brian as we sat down at the bar to wait for everyone else. “I thought we were going to be the last ones here.”

“When I want your opinion--"

“I’ll give it to you,” I finished, grinning. “Buy me a drink, and I’ll shut up.”

He gave me the Evil Eye as he turned to the bartender and ordered three Cokes.

“What, nothing stronger?”

“For you, maybe in two years. Pardon me for a moment; I need to use the facilities.”

I stared at the bottles lined up along the back wall, trying to figure out what to say to Felicity.

“Watch my purse?” she said. “I need to use the bathroom.”

“Sure.” That was easy. Too easy. But who was complaining? I leaned on the bar and let my mind wander off to think up a new plot twist for the story I was writing. I needed something to shake up Olivia’s life. Maybe news that--

A man sat down next to me and asked for the time. “I don’t have my watch; sorry,” I said. The bartender delivered my Coke, and I tried not to stare at the paragon of male perfection seated next to me. Light brown hair, perfectly styled. Chocolate brown eyes added to the total effect of looks on loan from God. And his body…I tried to pick my jaw up off the floor. Obviously the product of regular workouts.

“Have we met before?” he asked.

“No, I don’t think so.” Which was really too bad. Delhi could use some more natural beauty.

“We must have; I never forget a face.” He smiled. “You play Reuben’s wife, don’t you? Can I get you a drink?” He placed a hand over mine, and I thought I was going to hit the ceiling.

“I’m not in Joseph.” Why hadn’t Brian told me about this guy? I would have had him set us up. “I am visiting a friend in the show, though. Brian Bettridge?”

A brief look of amusement flickered across his face, but was gone almost immediately. “Yes. He plays Pharaoh, right?”

“I’m surprised you don’t remember, Kyle.” Brian was back. “I see you met Laurel.”

The guy nodded, and I tried not to die from shame. So much for being able to handle myself. “Felicity went to the bathroom,” I said flatly.

Brian sat down next to me. “Have the drinks-thank you,” he said to the bartender, who dropped off the other two Cokes. Perfect timing. I took a long swallow of mine so I wouldn’t have to talk. After all my brave talk, I’d almost fallen sucker to Kyle, moving in for the kill. Brian was right; he’d pick up anything with breasts. Obviously thought through his lower brain, and I’d eaten it right up. I stood up. “I’ll be right back.” I made tracks to the ladies’ room.

Felicity was just finishing up at the sink when I walked in. “What happened?” she asked.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re bright red.”

“Oh.” I splashed cold water on my face. “I met Kyle.”

“What did he say?”

“He asked me for the time, confused me for someone in the show, and offered to buy me a drink. Then Brian showed up.”

“Oh. And he embarrassed you?”

“No. Kyle seemed to think it was funny when Bri told him who I was.”

“Why so red, then?” I could tell she was trying not to laugh.

“Because I was eating it right up.” Why was I telling her this? She was the reason I’d been miserable for years.

“Don’t beat yourself up. He tried to chat me up with that line about needing the time and didn’t he know me from somewhere. Had me totally convinced he was a nice guy until I accepted his offer to dance, and he tried to turn it into some kind butt-grabbing thing.”

I shrugged. “He’ll leave me well enough alone now, I suppose.”

“Don’t count on it; he’ll just wait until Brian’s out of earshot and try again.”

“Really?”

“Don’t worry. Stick with me, and he’ll wish he’d never hit on you.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

We headed back out to the bar, and found that most of the cast had arrived while we were in the bathroom. I was duly introduced around as Brian’s friend, the future vet tech.

“You do surgery?” Heather, whom I’d been told played Ruben’s wife, asked.

“Not legally.” I studied the tall blonde, and wondered how long Kyle thought he could have gotten away with his little scam. “Though there is one guy here tonight I’d love to slice into.” Oh, did I say that out loud?

She followed my eyes and laughed. “Wouldn’t we all?” So I wasn’t the only one who loathed him. Interesting. “Where do you know Brian from?”

“We went to school together. We met in community theatre six years ago.”

“What show?”

“Sound of Music. I was having trouble with the dancing, and he offered to help. Failed miserably,” I said dryly. “Oh, hello, Kyle.”

The Smooth Operator had oozed up, smiling like a used car salesman. “Enjoying yourself?” he asked me.

“Yes.” Now go away and leave me alone.

He moved closer. “You doing anything later?”

I tried not to gape at him. Did cockiness kill brain cells? Must be. “Going home.”

“I can give you a ride.”

“Already have one.”

“You sure? A bunch of us are going out afterwards to a club, and-”

Heather spoke up. “Go away, Harling. She’s not interested.”

“I think she can speak for herself.” He turned back to me. “Like I was saying, a bunch of us are going to a club later, and I could take you home when we leave.”

“No, thanks. I’m not 21; they wouldn’t let me in.”

“Not to worry. I know the bouncer.”

“I don’t drink.”

“Not a problem.”

“I’d rather just go back with Brian.”

“You sure? It’s going to be a-”

Heather cut in again. “Are you still using that line? I suppose you already confused her with a member of the cast. Which one of us was it, Kyle? Rayenne?” She pointed to a curvy brunette at the bar. “Or Georgia?” She nodded at the redhead by the jukebox.

I got into the game. “Actually, he said I looked like Ruben’s wife,” I told her, trying not to smirk.

Heather’s reaction was priceless. Her jaw kind of dropped for a moment as she considered my words, then uttered a short, but potent, adjective. “Harling, you’re an egotistical p***k. Your mother should have done the world a favor, and told the doctor to take a little extra.”

He ignored her. “Let me know if you want to go out later, Laurel.”

“Not with you.” I turned my back to him. “So, Heather, how long have you been in theatre?”

Kyle took the message, and oozed off to find another source of fresh meat.

I rolled my eyes. “Is he always like that?”

“Unfortunately. You want something to drink?”

“Sure. Coke.” I’d left my glass at the bar, and it was probably gone by now.

“I’ll be right back.” She vanished in to the crowd, and a moment later Felicity emerged, carrying a glass.

“Here’s your soda.”

I laughed. “Heather just left to get me one. But thanks.” I finished it quickly. “Kyle just tried to get me to go clubbing with him.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “After the threat Brian laid on him?”

“Yeah. But Heather and I managed to bust him down.” I told her what happened. She laughed when she heard Heather’s doctor comment.

“I wish I’d thought of that.”

“Me, too. He slunk off after I told him I wasn’t interested and stopped paying attention to him. If he comes back, I’m going to sic Brian on him.”

“Excellent idea. The cast and crew just got huge platters of appetizers, so come on over and scarf until you bust.”

“I think I’ll take you up on that.”

Two huge platters covered in hot wings, onion rings, steak fries, nachos, and mozzarella sticks sat on the table, looking like a gift from heaven. “Looks great,” I said as I grabbed filled a plate with a sampling of everything. “Brian, we have to talk. You will not believe how dense Kyle is. He wouldn’t--”

“He bothered you again?”

“Yeah, but Heather told him off, and when he couldn’t get me to succumb to his charms, he slithered off.” I stuffed a ring in my mouth. “So, relax. But if he comes around again, you can maim him for me, okay?”

“With pleasure.” He stabbed a fry into the dipping sauce, slamming it against the bottom of the dish.

A whole bunch of people crammed into the booth, emptying both platters in a matter of minutes. The conversation swirled around their departure the next morning, all the significant others that would be left waiting, and all the fun they were going to have on the road living out of a suitcase and eating restaurant food.

“It’ll go fast,” I offered. “Before you know it, you’ll be two years older and so sick of a tour bus that you’ll never set foot on one again.”

“At least it has a VCR,” Georgia said dryly. “So we can watch the same videos a million times.”

“Isn’t that the truth?” Kyle sat down next to me and grabbed the last hot wing, leaning across so that his hand brushed my chest. I bit back the urge to smack him. I would have thought it was an accident, except for the look he shot me as he sat back with a plate of appetizers. “One good thing, though. We’ll be in a new city every weekend, so there’s no shortage of women for Saturday night.” A chorus of remarks from the men erupted, some celebrating the one-night stands they’d have, others, there with significant others, swearing eternal fidelity to the women by their sides.

Georgia set her beer down. “You think you boys are the only ones who are going to make the most of the fresh faces?”

“Slut on the prowl,” Kyle muttered.

Georgia leaned across the table. “Care to repeat that?” The man who was next to her sat ramrod straight and turned beet red. I thought he was going to lunge across the table and choke Kyle, but he stayed where he was.

“No.”

“Good. I’d hate to have to beat you senseless for being a hypocrite.”

“Excuse me?”

“If I’m a slut, then what are you?” Silence. “What’s the term for a man who sleeps with any woman who’ll spread her legs for him?” Silence. “I wasn’t talking about myself, Harling. I am happily married, have been for five years, and the only man I’ve been with in that time is my husband. You, on the other hand, are notorious for the long list of women you sleep with each month and you weren’t here even two minutes before hitting on the first woman you saw.” She nodded at me and I felt myself turn red as hoots of laughter erupted. “If you want to talk about a ‘slut on the prowl’, go look in the mirror.” She turned to me and stuck out her hand across the table. “Sorry to embarrass you. I’m Georgia. This is Ned, my better half,” she said, nudging the doughy-faced man next to her. “Nice to meet you.” Ned echoed her.

“No problem. I’m Laurel. I’m here with Brian.” We shook hands. “What part are you?”

“Narrator. I have to pretend to like the lead idiot.” She rolled her eyes. “They can’t pay you enough for that. But Brian’s a joy to work with. A real prince among men.”

“That he is.”

“It’s hard to believe it’s his first show. He acts like he’s been doing professional theatre for years. How long have you known him?”

“Since junior high.”

“Any juicy stories you want to share?” She winked at me. “Something I can pass around to take a shine off the glowing perfection?”

I grinned. “How long do you have?”

“All night.”

“Good. We’re going to be here for a while.” He’d kill me later for talking about Marching Band, but it wasn’t anything too terrible; just stories about pranks we'd pulled. I’d give him a heads up later so he wouldn’t be too surprised when people started asking him about it.

Dinner arrived a few minutes later, putting a temporary end to the storytelling. It was too bad the Dew Drop Inn was so far from home. They had the best burgers and fries I’d ever had the pleasure of tasting.

Later, after the food had settled, people started drifting to the dance floor, where a band was playing covers of popular songs. “Want to dance?” Kyle asked.

“No.” I stood up. “If you’ll excuse me.” He slid out. “Thanks.” I headed over to the first unclaimed guy I could find. “Would you like to dance?

“Sure.”

During a break, I went back to the table to suck down more of my Coke. Kyle was still there, looking mad at the world. “Could you hand me my glass?” I asked. Silently, he handed it to me. “Thanks.”

Brian walked up. “Having a good time?”

“Yeah.”

“Want to dance?”

“Sure.” Finally, I had him to myself. I took a quick swallow and followed Brian out onto the dance floor.

When he put his arms around me, I thought I was going to die and go to Heaven right there on the spot. I wanted so badly to tell him how I felt, that I loved him and to give me a chance, but fear of being rejected clogged my throat, and I clung to him, wishing the song could last forever, but knowing that it wouldn’t. Six years of being friends, and I was going to lose him. Didn’t know when, but I’d lose him. Felicity would take over, and I’d be shoved aside, and he’d probably forget I existed. I sighed and blinked back tears.

“So, what do you think of Felicity?” Brian asked, sounding excited.

“She’s very nice,” I choked out. “I saw the ring. Congratulations.” I hoped God wouldn’t strike me down later for lying through my teeth.

“She’s wonderful.” I could hear the grin in his voice. “I met her last year, and….” He trailed off. “I love her. She’s everything I’ve been looking for. I was hoping you’d like her.”

I swallowed hard. “Yeah, and you’ll probably forget about me,” I said lightly.

“Never!” he argued. “I’ll never forget about you.” He pulled me off to the side of the dance floor and put a finger under my chin, lifting my face. “You’re upset,” he said when he saw the tears in my eyes. I shrugged. “I love her, but she’s not going to replace you. Not totally. Things are going to change, but our friendship isn’t going to go away just because I’m getting married.”

“I’m fine.”

“Don’t lie,” he said softly. “You’re too easy to read.”

“Sorry. But I am glad you’ve found someone great.” Even if it wasn’t me…

“I’m glad you think so.” He hugged me. “You can never be replaced; who am I supposed to go out riding my Hog with? Felicity hates it.”

Good. One thing she wasn’t going to steal away from me. I hugged him back. “Too bad you’re leaving so soon, or we could go out again.”

He laughed softly. “Yeah, we would. And we’d rent VeggieTales and sing along at the top of our lungs and eat popcorn with butter and sugar and drink lots of coffee.” Our parents thought we were strange for liking popcorn with sugar, but it was the European thing, and we thought it was cool. And coffee…after ushering the traveling Broadway shows, we'd drank enough of the wonderful stuff to make Juan Valdez a very rich man.

“We’ll have to do that when I come to visit you on tour.”

“We will.” He hugged me again. “We should get back. People are probably going to start talking about what we’re doing over here.”

I backed away self-consciously. “And we can’t have that.” I didn’t feel like giving his fiancée any reason to maul me.

Back at the table, Brian immediately claimed Felicity for a dance, leaving me standing by the booth, feeling like a gawky fool.

“Penny for your thoughts?” I startled at the sound and looked in the direction of the voice. It was Kyle, coming from the direction of the bathrooms. He stopped in front of me.

“It’s more like five cents with inflation,” I said dryly. Did that man never go away?

He laughed, sat down next to me, and let his arm rest on the back of the booth close enough to my shoulders that I felt him running his fingers over my shirt. “You have a sense of humor. I like that.” It was everything I could do not to kick him in the shins.

“I want to be alone,” I said coldly.

“Alone?” He looked genuinely baffled by the concept.

“Yes. Alone. As in by myself.” The urge to kick in his shins grew.

“Oh, come on.” He gave me an incredulous look and ran a finger across the back of my neck, sending shudders down my spine. “Sure you don’t want to dance?”

I stared at him for a moment, wondering how to get this creep off my tail. And then, I knew. “Why not? Just pardon me for a moment.”

“Of course.” He smiled at me, thinking his evening was made with the Forbidden Catch. I tried not to laugh as I walked towards the DJ.

In between songs, I signaled to him. “Do you have ‘Kiss The Girl’ by Little Texas?”

She thought for a moment. “I’ll check.” A moment later, she was back. “We have it. You want it?”

“Yes. When?”

“Two songs?”

I smiled. “Excellent.” Georgia and the girls were going to love this. I walked over to the table where she was sitting with some of the cast and shared, in a low voice, what I was planning.

The table exploded with laughed. “Can we watch?” Heather asked. “Please?” Beside her, one of the women glowered silently. I made a mental note to never wear magenta with blond hair. It seemed vaguely wrong.

“Of course. Two songs. It’s fast, so I don’t have to suffer his hands.”

Georgia laughed. “So you think.”

I paused and smiled. “Oh, I think he’ll be suffering more than me when I get done with him.”

Georgia laughed. “You plan to take credit for this?”

“Of course. Just be there to watch.”

The table, minus one, grinned. “With bells on,” Heather said, sounding smug. I walked back to the bar.

“The band said it would be two songs,” I said nonchalantly, trying not to grin.

“That long?” Kyle feigned being upset.

“Yeah. Sorry. I’ll meet you out there? I want to go see what time Bri’s leaving.”

“You sit down at all?” he asked lightly.

“Only for food,” I shot back. “I promise to be there for the dance.” Before he could hold me down (and cop another feel), I made tracks over to Brian.

“I’m going to embarrass Kyle,” I told him under my breath as I leaned against the wall. “In front of the ladies of the cast.”

His eyes got wary. “You aren’t.”

“I am.” I stared back. “He’s hit on me all night, tried cop a feel, and refused to back off. I’m going to take care of it,” I said quickly when I saw the expression on his face. “Don’t beat him down. It’s not worth it. I’ll never see him again.”

“He needs a lesson.”

“It’s not your fight,” I reminded him. “If he doesn’t get a clue, then you can handle him.” Bri nodded grudgingly. “What time are we leaving?”

“In about an hour.”

“Sounds good. I must get back to Kyle so he doesn’t think something’s up.”

He smiled dryly. “And we can’t have him missing you, can we? You mind if I talk to him for a moment?”

“Be nice.”

“I will. I will! Relax. Just give us a minute, and then you’re welcome to him.”

I watched Brian walk across the room, lean on the bar, and say something to Kyle that made Kyle laugh. Brian said something else, and Kyle sobered long enough to nod and hold out his hand. Bri shook it and came back. “He’s all yours.”

“What did you say?”

“Just guy talk.”

“Right.” I walked back, not sure what threat Bri had laid down. But whatever it was, it had made Kyle downright friendly, much to my annoyance. Keeping his hands off me was next to impossible. That he was practically drooling to get me into bed was obvious, and it was all I could do not to slap him. Thank God our song was next.

“We’re up,” I said glibly. “Ready to go?”

“Of course.” He smiled at me in a way that made my skin crawl and put an arm over my shoulder. I reminded myself this would soon be over. Very soon.

And the humiliation began. I was gratified to see all the ladies, including the blonde in magenta, lined up on the edge. Bri and Felicity were near them. And they were all watching us. I forced myself not to shudder when Kyle let his hands settle on my bum and pulled me much too close.

“My offer to go out later is still open,” he said.

“I’ll think about it.” Okay, I thought about it. Still ‘no’. “I’ve never met anyone like you before.”

“All you’ve known is boys.” I murmured something non-committal. “They don’t know how to treat a woman right.”

“So true.”

“Come out with me later. Brian says you’ve never been to the City before. I’ll show you around, give you a taste of what life here is like.”

“And show me how a woman should be treated.” I tried to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. Hey, if he thought I was a stupid rube, far be it from me to shatter the illusion just yet.

“Of course.” He moved one hand off my bum and placed it under my chin. Tipping my head up so I was looking at him, he said, “You have gorgeous eyes.”

The next thing I was aware of, he was kissing me. For a long moment, I lost the ability to think clearly. Good gravy, he was a good kisser. ‘Such a pity he’s an a**’, I thought when my mind cleared.

I pulled away. “There’s something you need to know,” I said softly.

“What?” he asked indulgently.

“You’re an a**,” I hissed as I moved back a step and slapped him. Hard. “You’ve been trying to cop a feel all night, you refuse to leave me alone, and you think that because I’m young, I don’t know what a real man is. I do, and you don’t fit the description.” I walked away quickly, head high, as he staggered off to the side of the dance floor, hand over his now livid red cheek.

I didn’t see anything of Kyle after that. Praise Jesus above. I celebrated with Georgia and Heather and Renee, and the girl in the magenta shirt glared holes through me when I raised my glass in a toast to the removal of annoying vermin. I briefly considered telling her to go comfort him if it bothered her that much, but opted to keep my mouth shut. No doubt she’d do it later anyway.

When it was so early it was late, Brian interrupted my discussion with Renee about making it in theatre to tell me it was time to leave.

“Five more minutes,” I said.

“Now. Unless you want to ride home with Mari.” He gestured to the blonde in the magenta shirt.

I shuddered. “I’ll be out in a sec.” I turned to Renee, said my goodbyes, and trotted after Brian, who was busy helping Felicity into her jacket. I watched the scene with morbid jealousy.

Back at Bri’s apartment, I grabbed my backpack, which was doubling as a suitcase, and headed into the bathroom to change for bed. I smiled to myself. I was spending the night (albeit in the spare room), and she wasn’t. HA! A perverse sense of triumph flooded over me.

When I emerged from the bathroom, it was just in time to see them kiss. I bit my lip and retreated into the shadows, vulgar phrases running through my mind and tears fighting to break loose. Lovely. Just what I didn’t want to see. I covered my mouth with my hands to silence the sobs I felt welling up in my throat.

I stood there, against the wall, sobbing for several minutes before I could pull myself together enough to go into the bathroom, wash my face, and think of a good excuse for why my eyes were red and puffy. I’d been out late. The dust at the bar had gotten to me.

I slunk into the extra room and closed the door behind myself. The rest of the weekend stretched ahead of me like a barren wasteland of endless torture. I’d have to deal with him and her and all that mushy stuff the whole time. I made a face as I took off my glasses and laid down on the cot he had set up for me. Maybe if it was me and him, it would be different, but the whole thing with the two of them made me want to wretch and tell them to get a room.

I sighed. “God,” I said, “get me through this weekend. I’m ready to scream, and I’m going to kill someone if I don’t bust out of this nightmare soon. Help me.” I closed my eyes and let exhaustion drag me into a dreamless sleep.

The next morning, I awoke to the sound of the phone ringing. I laid there for a moment, then decided now was as good a time as any to haul my carcass out of bed, so I pushed myself into a sitting position, put on my glasses, and kicked back the covers.

Out in the living area, Bri was drinking a cup of coffee. “Hey, hey,” he said, smiling when he saw me. “I thought you’d still be sleeping.”

“The phone woke me up.” I yawned.

“That was Felicity. She wants to do lunch today. You game?”

I made a face. “I was hoping to spend some time with just you before you deserted me for two years.”

He chuckled. “Nice way of putting it. But I wanted to see her, too, before I left.”

I bit my tongue before I told him that if he didn’t want me around, he shouldn’t have dragged me down here. “As you wish.”

“But just lunch. The rest of the day is yours.”

I shrugged. “Whatever.”

“Is something wrong?” he asked, setting down his mug and coming over to where I stood. “You sound upset.”

“I wanted to spend time with you, alone, and…I can’t do that when she’s around. And you’re all about spending time with her.” I looked down at the floor. “I’m sure you already told her we’d do lunch today, and you have it all set up, and asking me was just a formality.”

“No, I didn’t.” He forced me to look at him. “I said I’d get back to her. And if you really want time with me, that’s fine. But she also means a lot to me, and knowing I’m not going to see her for two years hurts. A lot. You can’t blame me for wanting that.”

“No,” I admitted. I knew exactly how he felt. “But…whatever. If it’s what you want, then we’ll do it.”

He grinned. “Thank you.” He pulled me into a hug. “I appreciate it.” He hurried off to call her, totally missing the expression of pain and loathing that crossed my face. I turned and ran back into the bedroom to get dressed.

The clock told me it was nine, so Bri and I had a few hours together before we had to go meet up with Miss Perfect. I made a face. If I had my way, we’d eat at a fast food place.

When I came out of the spare room, Bri was playing with his key ring. “Want to go riding?”

“You have your bike down here?”

“No, a friend of mine has one in Jersey, and he lets me use it. Figured we could go for a spin. You game?”

I grinned. “Do you even need to ask? Let’s go!”

By the time we got the bike on the road, Bri and I only had an hour to go riding. But at least it was an hour. And he promised we’d come back later in the day. Perfect.

Flying down the Turnpike at well over 65mph, clinging to Brian, the wind screaming around my borrowed helmet, Bri’s ‘extra’ leather jacket fitting me like a glove, I was right at home. Just me and him and being passed by cars that were mere feet away. I got off on the thrill and inherent danger.

“Enjoying yourself?” he yelled back to me.

“Definitely! This rocks!” I clung to him tighter.

When Bri and I got back into the City, and met up with Felicity, we had road grit clinging to every single inch of our clothing, and our shoes were almost black. The helmets we carried bore mute testimony to how many bugs we would have eaten if we hadn’t had plastic in front of our faces.

“Where have you been?” Felicity asked, sounding concerned, as we walked inside the family-style place she’d chosen near Central Park.

“Out on a Hog,” I said excitedly. “And we’re going out again later.”

Her face fell. “Later?” She looked at Brian. “I thought we were going to do something.”

“Oh, man!” He slapped his forehead. “I totally forgot!” He
looked at me. “Do you mind-“

“If you promised, you promised.” My heart was heavy, and I felt a lump grow in my throat. “Why don’t you two do lunch? I’m going to go back to the apartment. Bri, give me your keys.” I held out my hand.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. “You sick?”

“Yeah.” I wrapped my hand around the keys he gave me. “I’ll see you later.” I turned and walked out, so mad I could spit.

Back at the apartment, I cried and raged at the wall, screaming at the top of my voice. He was out there, with her, and I was here. Alone. Blowing my entire weekend alone. I thought he’d wanted to see me, but I was wrong. He just wanted to have me here so he could assuage his conscience that he wasn’t ignoring me. Whatever. If he was going to be the rest of the night with her, I was going to go out. I grabbed my purse, headed for the door, and realized I had no idea how to find my way around the City, or where anything was, and I’d probably just end up getting robbed blind anyway. I trudged back to the futon, grabbed the remote, and slouched down while I channel surfed.

Hours later, someone knocked on the door. “Who is it?” I yelled.

“It’s Brian!”

“Oh, okay.” I undid the locks and opened the door. “Welcome back.”

“You do anything this afternoon?”

“I watched TV,” I said flatly, returning to the futon.

“For five hours?”

“What else was I supposed to do?” I asked archly. “I don’t know anyone here, besides you, and I don’t know my way around. I’d end up getting lost and robbed. So I stayed here.”

He sat down next to me. “I’m so sorry. I thought you’d go out or something.”

I snorted. “Fear not. Tomorrow, when you’re out with her, I’ll make sure to take myself down to South Street Seaport.”

“What makes you think I’d spend tomorrow with Felicity?”

“Because only a blind moron would miss the fact she’s the one you’d prefer to be with.” I switched channels. “The next time you drag me away from my homework and projects for a weekend, it better be for something other than sitting around your apartment while you’re off cavorting with the darling love of your life.”

He pulled the remote out of my hand. “For the record, I didn’t expect you to be sitting around the apartment today. I thought you’d be along for whatever was going on.”

I looked over at him, my expression neutral. “Brian, did it ever cross your mind that maybe, with you taking off for two years, I might want more than an hour of your time? I understand I take second to her now, but…I came down here for the weekend, and you’re off with her most of the time. And I’m not expecting tomorrow to be any different.” I looked out the windows blankly.

“You’re not the only one who I need to consider anymore,” he shot back. “It’s not all about you anymore; I can’t devote my attention to you 110% like I used to.”

“Okay, so how about just 50%? Is that too much to ask?” I glared at him, stony-faced. “Brian, I was very much looking forward to going riding with you this afternoon, and you just ‘boom’ dropped that because…”

“Because I’d already promised her we’d do something today. And I told her that I was spending tomorrow with you.”

“Yeah, all two hours before you leave. And you were all about HER last night; I had to deal with Mr. Grabby Hands all by myself.”

“You said you wanted to,” he reminded me.

“Yeah, I forgot. Big Brother on patrol,” I said sarcastically. “Nothing like feeling as if you’re the annoying little sister who’s in the way to really make your weekend.”

“What is your problem?” he asked. “You’ve never acted like this before.”

“I’ve never had to share you before,” I said. “And I’ve never felt as if I have to take out the competition to get five minutes of your time.”

“You need to chill. Just…chill.” He sighed. “I don’t want to leave with you mad at me. That would just stink.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t want to leave it that way, either.” I shrugged. “Promise we’ll get some time tomorrow?”

He was quiet for a moment. “Let’s go out tonight.”

“But what about church in the morning?”

“What about it? God’s not going to send us to Hell if we miss it. And this is a special occasion. I’m leaving for two years tomorrow.” He stood up and grabbed my hands. “Come riding.”

“Felicity will walk all over you if you fold and try to placate her every time she’s upset.”

“You were the one complaining about not getting to spend enough time with me, I offer to do exactly what you wanted, and you’re still complaining. Bad PMS this month?”

I glared at him. “Don’t even go there. Don’t treat me like a child, offering me a cookie to distract me because I’m upset.”

“I’m not,” he said tersely. “I thought it would be fun to go riding before I leave for two years. If you want to stay here and pout, that’s your choice. I’m going riding.”

I suddenly felt very stupid. “Sorry. Yes, I’d love to go riding.”