*See Chapter 4 for warning*
That next morning Micky woke up to the sound of Elaine's alarm and she was still curled up on the couch. "Sweetie, are you going to go to work today?" he asked.
"No, call my boss will you please? I threw up four times in the night." Elaine replied.
"You did? Why didn't you wake me?" he asked.
"I didn't need your help," she replied.
"Where is your boss' number?" he asked.
"In my phone on the table. Bring it to me and I'll dial the number." she replied.
He brought her cell phone to her and she dialed the number. She let out a breath as the phone rang and rang, and the machine finally answered.
"Doug, this is Elaine. I ate at that Minns China Palace last night that Andrea recommended to me and I got horrible food poisoning. They put a worm in my food. I have been vomiting all night and do not feel able to come in today. I can make my time up tomorrow coming in for a few hours if it is not okay, since I am leaving for your cabin on Sunday. Call me when you get this message. Thanks, Elaine. I am at home by the way. Thank you and I am sorry I have to miss work. You know that I hate doing that."
Elaine hung up the phone, put it on her coffee table, and told Micky, "You go to work today and don't worry about me."
"But Elaine, I will worry about you all day." he replied.
"You stop by after work and see me, but call first to make sure I'm awake. If, by some chance I'm asleep, go to the Business Office and tell them you are my boyfriend and tried to get a hold of me and couldn't, and you're worried about me. They will let you in. They do it for my neighbor's boyfriend all the time." she replied.
"But, technically, I'm not your boyfriend, Elaine." Micky said.
"I understand that, but they won't let anyone in unless they are a boyfriend, girlfriend, or family member. They have very strict rules around here." she replied.
"Okay, well you call me at work if you need anything. I will keep my cell phone on medium so I can hear it ring. Ok?" he asked.
"Fine, call me before you leave work to make sure I'm awake. Have a good day, Micky."
"Thanks and try to feel better, Elaine." he replied.
"I will, thank you." she said as he left her place and drove back to his apartment to shower, dress, eat a quick breakfast, and then leave for work. He had ten lessons to give that day and knew it would be a long one, so he definitely needed fuel in his system.
~~~~~~~~~~~
On Friday's, the music shop closes at 11pm and Micky was getting ready for his 9pm appointment when his phone rang. "Hello," he said.
"Micky, this is Elaine. I'm awake now if you can come over."
"Actually, I'm still at work Elaine. I have another two hours left yet." he replied. "My 9pm lesson should be here shortly."
"Oh," she said. "Um I didn't know you worked such late hours."
"Yes, my lessons all vary different days. I had ten of them today and I have already done 8 of them. I have two more yet tonight...one at 9 and one at 10." he replied.
"Well, the Business Office is already closed. I do not really feel comfortable leaving my door unlocked. Maybe you should just go home for the night and stop over in the morning." she said.
"Does anyone else have a key, Elaine?" he asked.
"Um not any that would be awake late at night," Elaine replied.
"Can you take a nap and wake up when I call?" he asked.
"Um, I don't know if I'll hear the phone, Micky. When I'm super tired, I sleep through everything." she replied.
Micky saw his 9pm appointment walk in the door and said, "Elaine, I will try to phone you when I'm finished here at 11pm, ok? I have to go now unfortunately."
Elaine swallowed a few times, "Okay," she said and hung up the phone and collapsed back against the pillows.
Those last two hours were the longest hours of Micky's life. He needed to check on her. On his way back to her apartment, he tried to call her and she did not answer. He kept trying repeatedly until he finally got a hold of her. "Hello." she said very groggy.
"I'm in your parking lot, I'll be right in." Micky said.
"Oh okay," she breathed out swinging her arms up trying to lift herself up off the couch.
He walked to her door and gently knocked. She opened the door and fell into his arms.
"Elaine, good grief, you can't even walk." Micky said picking her up and closing her door.
"Did you try to eat today?" he asked.
"No," she replied.
"Did you have anything to drink?" he asked.
"No, I just threw up four times this morning and then it finally stopped." she replied.
"Your face is bright white, Elaine. Is that from the anemia?" he asked concerned.
"Yes," she replied. "My pills are on the counter, but I can't eat anything, so I didn't want to take them."
"You lie down and rest, Elaine. I will see what I can come up with that might be able to stay settled in your tummy." he said.
Elaine said, "Woosh!", then her head hit the pillow, and she collapsed unconscious again.
He said to God, "Dear God, please help me to find something that will stay settled in her tummy. She is so pale and sickly looking. I am so worried about dehydration. I pray this in your precious son Jesus' name. Amen."
He opened her fridge and she did not have much food in there. He opened her cabinets and they were practically bare. When he could not find anything he felt would be suitable for her, he turned off the main lights, crawled into his bed, and fell asleep too. He figured since she was already passed out, it might as well wait until morning.
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When Elaine woke up to her alarm Saturday morning, she quickly went into her bedroom to grab her clothes, shower, and then get ready for work. She was going to go in for a few hours to makeup for her being sick yesterday. She woke Micky up, "Micky, wake up sweetie." she said.
He rolled over onto his back and looked at her. "You're dressed?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm going into work for the morning." she replied.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
"Me? I'm fine." she replied. "Although, I hate to do this to you, but you're going to have to go back to your apartment now so I can lock up."
"I won't steal anything, Elaine. I hope you know that." he said.
"I realize that Micky. But I'm still building the trust issue with you and I'm a little shaky about leaving you alone in here yet." she replied.
"Well!" he said standing up. "I would have no problem trusting you at my place. I don't understand what the big deal is." he said in a hurtful tone towards her.
"I'm so sorry Micky. The last thing in the world I want to do today is fight with you. But I need to build that trust with you yet." she replied.
"And yet you invite me to a cabin in another state with you, by yourself, and you don't trust me?" Micky spat.
"Micky, please don't do this today. We will talk about it tonight when I return home." she replied.
"Uh, no we won't talk about it tonight, Elaine." Micky said walking out the door slamming it behind him.
Elaine took a huge deep breath, wiped the tears from her eyes, and walked out of the apartment to her car.
She saw him as she turned on the street they shared. She waved at him, rolled down the window, and said, "I'm sorry. Please don't be mad."
He ignored her and kept walking back to his apartment.
That day at work was the utmost worst day for Elaine. Her heart kept aching inside for what she had done to Micky, especially after everything he has done for her. She had her work finished by noon, and she tried to call him on her break, but the phone was busy all morning long. She knew he had taken it off the hook; and, when she tried to call his cell phone, it went straight to voicemail. He had shut it off for the day.
When her boss came out to tell her to have a nice vacation, he found her crying at her desk. "Elaine, what's wrong?" he asked.
"Oh nothing, just personal stuff Doug." she replied.
"You still want that trip, right?" he asked.
"Yes, please. That was such a beautiful generous offer for you to give me and I am so appreciative. I am looking very forward to it." she replied.
"Okay, well I just picked up your airline tickets and here they are. Here is your rental car receipt and you will pick it up at the airport when you arrive in Colorado. Here is some money for food. I know I said the fridge would be stocked full, but my daughter called and she had forgot to shop when she spent the weekend there last weekend with her boyfriend. She did put clean, fresh sheets on the beds and I know she kept the place very neat, because she is an absolute neat freak. No need to worry there." he said. "And here is my phone number at home if you need to get a hold of me about anything."
"Thank you Doug," she said. "I really appreciate your kindness."
"You're welcome. I hope you and your friend have a good time." he said.
"Thanks, me too." Elaine said hesitantly.
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When she arrived back to her apartment that early afternoon, she checked the messages on her answering machine and there were none. She checked her cell phone and there were none. She tried to call Micky again and it was still busy, and he was not picking up his cell phone.
She went into her bedroom, pulled out her black leggings with her pink floral shirt and went into the bathroom to shower, shave, and get dressed. She was going to go to the park and just relax for the afternoon before she spent time packing that night.
While she was at the park, she looked up to the sky and asked, "God, why do things always have to go wrong when I talk?"
She closed her eyes and prayed for forgiveness from God and Micky for her being so harsh to him.
She looked around to see if she saw him running on the bike path and she did not. She felt so bad and wanted to talk to him. She stood up and did some warm-up stretches because she would run with him if she saw him that day since her ankle was much better.
After her warm-ups, she looked around and still did not see him. She thought to herself, "Well I'll just go for my own run then." She stretched her legs and ankles out and then started to run down the bike path at a slow and steady pace.
She ran for about two miles and then stopped to catch her breath. As she was walking around in circles, she looked across the park to a swing set. There she saw something she would have rather not seen. She walked over to what she was looking at and said, "I've been trying to call you."
"Yeah?" the person said. "Well I've been unavailable as you can see."
"Yeah I see that." she replied.
"This is one of my students that I am giving lessons too," she heard him respond.
"That's really nice." she said.
"Yeah we finished with lessons and now I'm on lunch." he replied.
"Your phone is off the hook at home." she said.
"Yeah, I know. It's meant to be that way today." he replied.
"I see." she said looking at him with the blonde bombshell sitting next to him on the swing.
"Anything I can help you with?" he asked.
"Um no, that won't be necessary," she replied and then took off running back to her car.
"Micky, that was not nice at all," the woman said.
"Yeah well, she wasn't nice to me this morning." he replied.
"And that's the woman that invited you on the trip?" she asked.
"Yeah," he replied.
"You need to go and find her to apologize, Micky. She looked like we were having an affair or something." the woman replied.
"Nope, I've got to get back to work now. Inez, pleasure instructing you again today." he said.
"Thanks for sharing your lunch with me, but you really need to go talk with her." she said.
"I can't right now," Micky replied.
"Well then at least try to call her to explain. She looked very, very hurt Micky." she explained.
"It will be okay." he said. "Have a good week with Kevin next week."
"Oh joy, he's always in such a hurry." she replied. "I hope she still let's you go on the trip, Micky. She looked really hurt."
"It will be okay Inez. I'm not worried." he replied.
"Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you, Micky. Remember the bible says that very clearly." Inez told him.
"I know," he replied. "I'll talk to her, don't worry."
"I hope so and soon Micky. She looked like she was crying." she replied.
"Did she?" Micky asked. "I didn't notice."
"Yes, she did, Micky. And if she thinks you're cheating on her with another woman, that trust you and her are trying to build has just been shattered in five minutes." she said walking back down to her car.
"Thanks Inez. Great lesson today." he said.
"Thanks, go to her, Micky. Now, before it's too late." she said.
Micky left Inez and went running back down to his car. He saw Elaine driving out of the parking lot and quickly tried to call her but her phone was shut off. He called and left a message on her home phone apologizing for his behavior and reassuring her that Inez was just a student, nothing more.
That early evening when he got off work, he tried to call her again, there was no answer, and her cell phone went straight to voicemail. He walked over to her apartment and knocked on the door.
"Can I help you?" a woman said opening the door.
"Is Elaine here?" he asked.
"I'm sorry, and who are you please?" the woman asked.
"I'm Micky. Her neighbor across the street and friend." he replied.
"Just a moment please," the woman said closing the door.
Micky's heart was racing hoping to see Elaine to apologize.
The woman opened the door again and said, "You can come in for a minute, but she's with a client and you will have to wait in the bathroom until she's finished, due to confidentiality rules."
Micky walked in and the lady led him to the bathroom and closed the door. Micky did not look to see who was there, as he knew it was confidential. He had to use the bathroom anyway, so he turned on the fan so he would drown out any outside noise.
A half hour later, there was a knock on the bathroom door, Micky opened it, and he was looking at Elaine.
"Hey," he said in a very soft and gentle voice.
"Hi. Sorry about that they sent me someone at the last minute before I leave tomorrow." she said. "I got your message."
He walked out of the bathroom and tried to hug her, but she backed away from him saying, "Please don't touch me or come close to me."
She walked over to her couch, sat down, and put her head down on the pillow. He walked over to her and said, "I am so sorry I hurt your feelings today, Elaine. I was just mad that you did not trust me enough to stay here while you went to work. And yes, she was only a student that I had lunch with today. Nothing more."
He sat down on the floor in front of her and said, "Please talk to me."
"I'm sorry I invited you on this trip tomorrow." she said. "Had I known our friendship would be so short-lived, I never would have."
She rolled over onto her other side with her back facing him and said, "Please go now. You've said what you need to."
"Elaine, please don't do this to me," Micky said trying to touch her hair and she flinched him away from her.
"I told you not to touch me," she said sternly.
"I'm sorry," he said back to her backing away.
"Please go," she said not looking at him again.
Micky did as he was told and left her apartment gently closing the door behind him. He felt his heart aching at the thought that he just ruined a perfectly good friendship. He walked back to his apartment, checked his computer to see if his program was finished downloading and logged offline. He looked at the clock and it was already 7pm. He held his heart because it was aching so badly. He closed his eyes, prayed, and prayed until he fell asleep.
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That next morning, Micky arrived at Church early and sat in the back. When the service started and Elaine was not there, he became very concerned. After the service was over with, he tried to call her and got the machine. He walked down to the Sunday School Classroom and the kids were screaming, "We want Miss Neese. We want Miss Neese."
There was a tall blonde lady standing there trying to reassure them, "She has left on vacation children and won't be back until next Sunday. You have to deal with me today."
The kids screamed and screamed in horror, "No, someone stole our Miss Neese." Micky's heart ached listening to them screaming. Elaine did not want to miss their class at all.
"Look, this is her lesson plan for today." the lady showed them and they saw her handwriting. "She wants you all to color in the coloring books she bought for you all, ok? That's what we will do the entire hour besides having a snack and drink, ok children?"
"They all screamed and cried, "Miss Neese, Miss Neese" and the lady looked so overwhelmed she didn't know what to do.
Just then, Elaine walked through the doors and said, "I'm here little ones, I'm here. Please don't give Lanie a hard time." Elaine was in tears as she approached them. They all came screaming, "Miss Neese!" She put her arms around all her little ones and gave them hugs and kisses. "Lanie, would you at least stay and help me?" Elaine asked.
"Yes, I will. I am sorry you had to come back, Elaine. But they were screaming." she said.
"It's okay, I heard them in the parking lot. I have never left them before since I arrived here."
They all sat on her lap and she let them color while sitting on the floor. They hugged her and gave her kisses.
Micky walked up to the edge of the class and Jay Jay said, "Icky. Icky."
Elaine looked up and saw Micky standing there picking up Jay Jay. "He remembered you," she said to him.
"Yes, he did." Micky replied.
"Lanie this is my neighbor, Micky." Elaine said to her.
"Nice to meet you, Micky." Lanie replied.
Micky did not like that, he was introduced as a 'neighbor' now instead of a 'friend.' But he had to deal with it.
"Icky, Icky, Miss Neese is here." Jay Jay said giving Micky a hug.
"If you want to sit down and color with him, you can, Micky. I would get up to greet you, but the kids won't let me leave their sight." Elaine said.
"It's okay." he replied sitting down on the floor with Jay Jay. "Icky likes Miss Neese." Jay Jay told the class and smiled.
Joshua said, "Miss Neese only likes us, don't you Miss Neese?" he asked.
"I like everyone, Joshua." Elaine replied.
Natalie walked over, gave Elaine a kiss, and said, "Thank you for coming back to us Miss Nelson. We love you."
"Awww Natalie, I love you all too," Elaine said giving her a hug and kiss. She had tears in her eyes.
When it became treat time, Elaine said, "Children, I have to help Lanie get the treats and drinks. Let me up now please." They all moved off her and let her stand up. Her pants were all wrinkled, but she did not care. She helped them all get animal crackers and punch for treats.
She thanked Lanie for staying with her and apologized for their behavior towards her. "I've never left them before." she said.
"I can tell. Wow, I would hate to think of how they might be if you were gone for more than a week. At least you can fly out tonight." Lanie said.
"Yeah, it's all good. I will be back next Saturday instead of Sunday. That was my original plans anyway." Elaine replied.
"I hope you have a good time," Lanie said giving her friend a hug.
"Thanks, Lanie. Me too." Elaine replied.
Jay Jay stood up and said, "Icky likes Miss Neese everyone."
Everyone looked at Micky and he blushed. Then they looked at Elaine and she smiled and said, "Jay Jay, that's enough of that. Icky and I are just neighbors."
Jay Jay said, "Oh just bors. Sorry Miss Neese."
"It's okay Jay Jay." Elaine replied.
Lanie asked Elaine, "Is he just a neighbor or is he a friend too?"
"For right now, he's just a neighbor. But we're working on a friendship." she replied.
"That's good, he seems to like you a lot or he wouldn't have blushed at Jay Jay's comment." Lanie said.
"Okay children, give me your plates and cups. We're going to have a prayer session before class is over with." Elaine said.
"Love you Miss Neese" they all called out.
"I love you too everyone," she replied.
Everyone sat around the table and held hands. They prayed for a blessed week and then the parents arrived to get the kids. Elaine told the parents, "I'm going to Colorado on vacation tonight, but I plan to be back by next Sunday; so, hopefully, we won't have to get a substitute."
"I hope not, they will scream in horror. They hate anyone but you." Nancy said.
"Thank you, Nancy. That is nice to know. I love them all so very much." Elaine replied.
"Have fun on your vacation. You deserve it." Nancy said.
Jay Jay walked over to her and pulled on her pants. "Yes Mr. Jay Jay, what is it?" she said.
"Icky likes you Miss Neese. He's just shy." Jay Jay said smiling at her.
"Okay Jay Jay, you're a little talky today, aren't you?" Nancy said to her son. "He's learning new words from my husband talking on the phone to him at lunch. He better not learn any naughty words or my husband will sleep at a hotel." Nancy said laughing.
"Have a good week everyone. I love you all." she said blowing kisses to them.
Lanie cleaned up the room with Micky's help and then they stood there. "Well Miss Elaine, have yourself a wonderful time in Colorado. Do not worry about the kids, they will be fine. Enjoy your much needed rest."
"Thank you Lanie, I plan on it. I'm going to sleep most of it I think." she replied.
"That's good, sleep is very important." Lanie replied. "See you next week."
"Thanks again for trying to console them today. I'm sorry they gave you such a hard time." she said.
"It's okay, they love their teacher." Lanie said waving goodbye to her and Micky.
Elaine grabbed her duffle bags and said, "Have a good day Micky," and walked off out of the church before he could say anything.
He walked out to his car and stood there looking around. She had already left the parking lot. "Well, I guess I'm not welcomed on the trip any longer," he said to himself getting inside his car and blowing out a breath of frustration. "Dolenz, you are so stupid." he said repeatedly to himself.
When he got back to his apartment, he went inside, sat in the chair, and stared at the answering machine. The light was blinking so he listened to the message.
"Hello Micky, this is Elaine. Just to let you know my girlfriend Samantha has next week off and she's going to fly out to meet me, so you won't need to be bothered taking the time off of work. Thanks anyway, and I am sorry for the inconvenience to you and your workplace. Have a good week. Bye, Elaine."
He sat there in a daze. He could not believe it. He was looking so forward to spending the week with her in Colorado and now, suddenly, 'poof' he was not going to. An hour later, he heard a 'knock' on his door and he went to open it. He saw the person standing there and said, "Elaine, what a nice surprise. Come in please."
"Hey," she said. "Um I supposed you've already heard my message, haven't you?" she asked.
"Yeah, I have and I am so sorry about everything that has happened between us these past few days. I really wanted to go to Colorado with you."
Elaine sat on the couch and just stared at him.
"What time does your flight leave?" he asked.
"Not till 8pm tonight," she replied. I'm in the process of packing at the apartment since I didn't do it last night because I was so upset."
"There was nothing going on between me and Inez. I wish I could make you understand that." he said.
"I do understand it Micky. That's not what I have a problem with." she said.
"Well what is it that you have a problem with then, please tell me." he said.
"I have a problem with you because you were trying to 'force' your way to stay at my apartment while I was going to be gone. We were trying to build a trust between each other Micky. And I don't like people trying to 'force' me into things I do not feel comfortable with." she said. "And those things you said to be were very hurtful to me, especially since I have been trying to be better in trusting you with personal things about my life. But after those comments the other day, I don't want to trust you again and I don't feel comfortable being around you."
"I'm sorry, Elaine. Is there any way I can make it right between us again?" he asked.
"No, not right now Micky there's not. Even me coming over here to talk to you today was a big stretch for me." she replied.
"I'm so sorry, Elaine. I wish I could do something to make up for it." he said.
"I told you from the beginning I am a very private, private person Micky. I am new to this town and I do not trust hardly anyone at all, especially people I just meet in the park a few weeks ago. I let you into my home for breakfast, lunch, dinner, watching movies. I even let you stay at my home overnight. And yes, I was very comfortable with you during that time. However, I do not feel that way anymore and I don't know if I could ever trust you again to be quite honest." she said.
"I wish I could take back those words Elaine. I wish I could so much. I loved how our friendship was blossoming." Micky said.
"I did too, Micky. But I cannot and I will not be around anyone who tries to 'force' things on me, especially something so private as letting someone alone in your own home while you were at work for four hours. I don't even allow my mother in my own home unattended, Micky." she said.
He sat there looking at her and he could see the pain in her eyes. "I'm sorry I hurt you, Elaine. I really am." he said.
"I'm going away this week Micky. And yes, my message was the truth. Samantha is going to meet me out there. And I will consult with her and the Lord about what I should do with this situation because as of right now, I can no longer be friends with someone I do not trust. And I am sorry if that hurts your feelings but I speak the truth. Maybe I will have a better answer about how we should correct this when I return home. But I do not want to hear from you anymore and I would prefer if you stayed out of my Sunday School Class. I do not care if you attend my Church, just stay out of my class. I hope you will follow my advice and respect my wishes and privacy."
"Is that all?" he said with his heart melting and breaking in two.
"Yes, that's all." Elaine said standing up to her feet and walking to the door. "Now you don't have to take off of work and you can still teach your lessons." she said opening the door, walking out of it, and closing it behind her.
Micky sat in the chair and felt his chest tightening up as if he was going to have an asthma attack. He got his inhaler, took four puffs, relaxed back in the chair, and just focused his attention on his breathing. Although he would have rather died at that moment in time. His best friendship in the world just caved in on him and now he had no one. Tears started to come out of his eyes even though he tried so hard to keep them from coming.
Chapter 4
Chapter 6
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