 |
 |
|
| E-mail this page to a friend | Tell me when this page is updated |
| ANOTHER JOURNEY BY TIMA |
CHAPTERS 101 - 106 |
PREVIOUSLY...
After slowly opening the door, she looks at him for another long moment before stepping out of their room, into the cool early morning air, and gently closes the door behind her.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
chapter 101:
[Tea quickly walks to Todd's car and gets in. She digs into her purse, looking for her cell phone. She hopes Todd's paranoia didn't cause him to remove it during one of his searching expeditions. She's relieved when she finds it and even more relieved when it works. She really needs to make this call right now.
Tea turns the car's overhead light on as she punches in the numbers she knows by heart. She shuts the light off as she anxiously waits for her call to go through.
Finally, her call is answered.]
Tea: Hola. (pause -- as she listens to the other person speaking) Yes, it's me. (pause) I know it's late...or early, actually. Did I wake you? (pause) I know and I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you by disappearing like that. (pause) I'm fine. (pause) I promise you, I'm fine. (pause) No, I'm not being forced to call you as part of his plot to eliminate suspicion. I know I should have called days ago, but... (pause) He didn't hurt me. He didn't force me. (pause) I know what it probably looked like to some people. You know me, though. You know I wanted to go with him. (pause) I know. (pause) I do know that. Believe me, even Todd thinks I'm insane for wanting to be with him. (pause) Yes, I think he knows. (pause) I haven't said those exact words yet but I think he knows what my feelings are. (pause) Because he doesn't want me to say it out loud. (pause) He has his reasons. (pause) I understand them. I'm not so sure it would be a good idea for me to tell him right now anyway. (pause) Well, there's a chance this may not work out. (pause) I promise you, he hasn't hurt me. He's been pretty great, actually...most of the time. (pause) You don't have to worry so much about me. (pause) I don't know when I'll come back. It might be soon. This might not last much longer. (pause) No, not because of him...because of me. There may be extenuating circumstances. There's also the same problem that I've always had. (pause) I wish you were here, too. I could use one of your hugs right now. Although, Todd actually...well, he sort of...I guess he comforted me. (pause) I'm not kidding. Tonight was really horrible...some of it anyway. (pause) It wasn't his fault. He didn't cause me pain, not in the way you're thinking. It does hurt, though. It hurts so much. He did put aside his own distaste for emotional moments and he really did help me through tonight. I guess it's last night now, right? (pause) I swear, he really did help me. He was very sweet and very gentle. It felt so good. I let myself feel it, too. (pause) I did. It felt great...sort of. I knew it was a mistake but I let myself believe in it. That's the problem. I woke up a few minutes ago and I looked at him and for a moment I was relieved. He didn't go away in the night while I slept. He was right there where he had been when he helped me fall asleep. I'm so scared right now. These feelings are too much. I can't do this. (pause) I know you believe that but I don't...I can't. How can I trust these feelings? How can I allow myself to fall into that trap? How can I...
[Tea has been looking at the mirror just outside the car's side window. Through the mirror, she sees Todd open their motel room door.]
Tea (into her phone): I have to go. Todd just woke up. I was hoping this call could be a secret. (pause) I know secrets damage relationships. I really have to hang up. I'll call you tomorrow. (pause) Later today, yes, that's what I meant. I'm sorry I called so early.
[Todd yanks the car door open. Tea speaks quickly into her phone, hoping to end her conversation before any yelling starts.]
Tea: I love you, too. Adios.
[Tea hangs up. Todd pulls firmly on her arm, pulling her out of the car.]
Todd: Get your stuff together and get the hell out of my life and stay out this time. No more second chances.
Tea: Todd, let me explain.
Todd: The same way you explained earlier and tried to sucker me in again? Do you really think I'm that much of an idiot?
Tea: Todd...
Todd: If you love your damn boyfriend so much, go and be with him. Stop playing games with me.
Tea: I'm not playing games with you.
Todd: Like hell you're not.
Tea: I'm not. Can't you just trust me?
Todd: Trust you? Are you kidding? You expect me to believe that you came out here looking for gum and thought you'd see if you could get a local weather report as long as you were up?
Tea: No, of course not.
Todd: That's right. Whoever the hell it was is someone who gave you a good boinking because you were telling him how much you love him. Was it some guy you picked up earlier tonight? Were you making arrangements for him to meet you here so you could get another backseat quickie in before we hit the road this morning?
[Tea offers him her cell phone.]
Tea: Take it. Hit the re-dial button. Confirm your horrible suspicions about what a slut I am. Go on! Take the damn phone! I'd push the button for you but I know you wouldn't believe it then. After all, sluts can't be trusted, can they?
Todd: Delgado...
Tea: Do it, Todd, or I swear...
Todd: What?
Tea: Never mind. I'm so tired of this. I'll get my things.
[Tea quickly walks back to their motel room. Todd had left the door open so she storms right in. She tosses her phone down on the bed as she goes into the bathroom to gather her things from in there.
A moment later she hears Todd's voice in the bedroom.]
Todd (into Tea's phone): Granny Delgado, is that you? Do you remember me?
[Tea's grandmother starts yelling at Todd is Spanish. He chuckles. Tea enters the bedroom and almost smiles at the pleased look on his face.]
Todd: You do remember me. I'm so touched.
[Mrs. Delgado continues to yell at Todd. He doesn't understand a word she's saying but he does enjoy how ticked off she sounds.]
Todd: Yeah...yeah...yeah I know how much you've missed your favorite grandson-in-law.
[Mrs. Delgado speaks to him for a few words in English and then goes back to berating him in Spanish.]
Todd: Aw, come on, you know it's not just because I'm the only one.
[Todd allows Mrs. Delgado to continue yelling at him a little longer.]
Todd: Hey, you know, for an old broad you've really got a good set of balls on you.
[Mrs. Delgado's voice rises even louder. Even Tea can hear the increase through the phone. Todd laughs at the reaction he's getting from Tea's grandmother.
Tea quickly steps closer to Todd and pulls the phone out of his hand.
She immediately begins speaking in Spanish, trying to calm her grandmother down. Her grandmother is threatening to tell Tea's FBI agent brother that Tea was kidnapped so he'll use his resources to find Tea and arrest Todd.
Todd, meanwhile, is enjoying the show as he watches Tea's animated side of their conversation. The only downside for him is that he doesn't understand most of what Tea is saying.
Minutes later, Tea finally has her grandmother calmed down enough that she promises not to call Del, although, she insists that she will if she doesn't continue to hear from Tea on a regular basis.
An exhausted Tea finally ends her conversation with her grandmother and calmly walks to her purse and places her cell phone inside. She turns toward Todd, takes a deep breath and begins yelling at him.]
Tea: What the hell was that?
Todd: Don't you dare put this on me.
Tea: Who should I put this on? If it wasn't you then who was it who upset my grandmother so much she was ready to send Del after us?
Todd: Oh, come on, she wasn't that upset.
Tea: You may not know my grandmother very well but she does not appreciate it when someone calls her early in the morning and tells her that she has a good set of balls.
Todd: I would have said a hell of a lot worse if I had known what the hell she was saying to me. You know, it was really insensitive of her to say all that stuff in Spanish. At least if it had been in English it could have been a fair fight.
Tea: You wouldn't know a fair fight if it jumped up and bit you in the balls.
Todd: Hey, leave my balls out of this. This is all your fault anyway.
Tea: Oh, it is, is it? When exactly did I insult your grandmother and scare her to death, thinking that I would hurt you, huh? When?
Todd: That's what she thinks? Just because I said she had balls? She's way too sensitive. Tell her not to start fights with me anymore if it's going to freak her out so much because what I said to her was as tame as I get. You know, I was trying really hard not to lose it with her for your sake. If I had really been angry at her...
Tea: We'd be surrounded by FBI agents before the hour was up.
Todd: Was she really threatening you with that?
Tea: She's worried Todd.
Todd: She's just like everyone else.
Tea: Actually, she isn't.
Todd: Don't bother lying to me. I know what she thinks of me.
Tea: She hates the acts you've committed, or been accused of committing. Who would want someone they care about to...
Todd: Get hooked up with a monster like me?
Tea: She knows there's more to you than just your past. She knows that I see more. She's willing to give you a chance but you have to treat her with respect. Please, for my sake, don't ever speak to her like that again.
Todd: This is all your fault, you know.
Tea: How?
Todd: You were the one who was sneaking out in the middle of the night, trying to make me jealous by pretending you were doing the phone sex thing with one of your boyfriends.
Tea: I made you think that?
Todd: Yeah.
Tea: I made you paranoid?
Todd: No, I was built that way but you knew what I would think.
Tea: I was hoping you wouldn't know.
Todd: I know everything.
[Tea looks away and whispers.]
Tea: Not everything.
Todd: What?
Tea: Nothing. Let's go to bed and get some sleep, okay? It's late and I'm exhausted.
Todd: I know more than you think I know.
Tea: Like what?
Todd: Nothing. Never mind.
[Todd bounces onto the bed. Tea smiles slightly as she walks around to the side of the bed, lifts the covers and gets in.]
Tea: Maybe someday I'll tell you, Todd...whether you want me to or not.
[Todd watches her settle in under the covers. He thinks about what she was referring to. He considers telling her that he heard her say in her sleep that she loves him but he decides against it. He's had enough emotional moments for one night.
Since she doesn't feel like getting up and retrieving her pillow that Todd threw across the room earlier, she pulls the one remaining pillow on the bed out from under his head so she can share it with him.]
Todd: Delgado? The light's still on.
Tea: I don't feel like moving, Todd. Let's just leave it on.
[Todd turns on his side and presses himself against her as he reaches across her and turns the light off. When he returns to his side of the bed, he yanks the covers out from under himself and gets under them. Not liking the heavy feeling of blankets on top of him, he tosses the top layers onto Tea and just covers with one sheet.
Tea smiles as she turns toward him and snuggles against his body.]
chapter 102:
[As she snuggles up to him, Tea tries to caress Todd's feet with her own but doesn't encounter the sensation she was hoping for.]
Tea: I thought you weren't wearing shoes to bed anymore.
Todd: I had them on earlier because of you. What were you doing walking around out there with your bare feet anyway? What if you had stepped on something and hurt yourself?
Tea: That's very sweet that you worry about me.
Todd: I'm not worried about you. I'm worried about me. If you get one scratch on you, that grandmother of yours is gonna put a hit out on me.
Tea: I never should have told you about that.
Todd: It's not like I didn't already know that your brother carried a gun...and a grudge.
Tea: I'll protect you.
Todd: Are you going to throw yourself in front of the bullets your brother will be shooting at me the next time he sees me?
Tea: Del won't be shooting at you. He likes you.
Todd: Oh, yeah, I could tell that we were buddies when he tossed me in jail...twice. Or, that time he told me he'd kill me if I hurt you.
Tea: He wouldn't hurt you because he knows it would hurt me.
Todd: Well, what about your other brothers?
Tea: They haven't been a part of my life in so long I don't know if they'd even care.
Todd: You want to talk about that?
Tea (surprised): Do you?
Todd: Hell, no. I hate talk. I don't want to talk about anything except how lousy my education was.
Tea: It's late, we need to sleep, and you want to talk about education?
Todd: Those Spanish classes I took really sucked. I couldn't understand anything that old lady was screaming at me. She could have been really insulting me, comparing me to my nephew, or something, and I wouldn't even know it.
Tea: So, you also didn't understand the things I said to my grandmother while I was trying to calm her down?
Todd: No, all of that I understood.
Tea: What did I say?
Todd: I thought you were tired and didn't want to talk anymore.
Tea: Well, I guess I don't have to go out to the car to keep my conversations private, do I?
[Several minutes pass quietly.]
Todd: You know it really does suck. Unless people have the decency to only greet each other and say that they like yellow bananas, I won't know what the hell anyone's talking about. What's the point of teaching a language if they don't teach you the important stuff?
Tea: Stuff that would allow you to eavesdrop on my conversations?
Todd: Exactly.
Tea: Could we just go to sleep right now, Todd. You can complain about this more tomorrow while we're driving.
Todd: Fine.
[Several minutes of silence pass...]
Todd: Hola. Como se llama usted? Me llamo Todd. Como estas? Muy bien, gracias. How the hell is any of that garbage more useful than knowing what people are saying when they're telling you off?
Tea: You think your teacher should have taught you all the good swear words?
Todd: Absolutely. You could teach me, right?
Tea: Believe me, if you get me angry enough...
Todd: That's just it. I need to know now so if I hear them later on, I'll know that you're really ticked.
Tea: Believe me, when I'm ticked, you'll know it. Besides, I bet you already heard a few good ones from my grandmother.
Todd: Our grandmother swears?
Tea: Our grandmother? And, yes, when she's angry enough she has been known to. You do seem to know how to put her in that mood better than just about anyone else.
Todd: I've hardly had any conversations with her in all the years we've been together...apart...together...apart...together...
Tea: But most of the times you have spoken to her, you haven't exactly been polite.
Todd: She should respect that.
Tea: She should?
Todd: Why would she want someone who just kisses up to her and says what she wants to hear. At least I'm honest.
Tea: A little too honest sometimes.
Todd: I don't think so.
[There's silence again as Todd continues to run some of the Spanish phrases he recalls through his head.]
Todd: De donde es usted? Soy de Chicago. Y tu?
Tea: Manhattan.
Todd: Cual es el origen de tu familia?
Tea: Puerto Rico.
Todd: Se dice Puerto Rico es muy bonito.
Tea: You know plenty of Spanish.
Todd: Didn't do me a bit of good when your grandmother was talking dirty to me.
Tea: Tell me what else you remember.
Todd: Spanish stuff?
Tea: Si.
Todd: Why?
Tea: It will give me an idea of where to start your Spanish lessons from.
Todd: You're gonna teach me?
Tea: We do have those long car rides.
Todd: And, you'll teach me the good words, right?
Tea: Profanity?
Todd: You need to teach me so I don't accidentally say a bad word the next time I talk to your lovely grandmother.
Tea: I'm sure you'd just accidentally...
Todd: Would I do that?
Tea: Within the first minute, I'm betting. You know, I could teach you some sexual words.
Todd: To say to your grandmother?
Tea: No...to me.
Todd: How would that be useful?
Tea: You could learn Spanish and we could flirt at the same time.
Todd: I don't really need to learn Spanish, I suppose.
Tea: I could teach you how to say things to me that I've always wanted to hear from you.
Todd: Wouldn't that be like cheating?
Tea: Tell me what else you remember.
Todd: I don't know. Lots of bits and pieces, I guess.
Tea: Like what?
Todd: No se la respuesta. No entiendo. No comprendo. No tengo idea.
Tea: Were those you're favorites?
Todd: I did seem to say them a lot. That and -- mas despacio, por favor.
Tea: Learning a new language can be difficult but we could make it fun, Todd.
Todd: Fun, huh?
Tea: I have to tell you, though, my Spanish and the Spanish you learned in school will be different.
Todd: Good! I didn't like that Spanish anyway.
Tea: Mine would be less formal and with a Puerto Rican slant.
Todd: You just don't want me to embarrass you when we go to Puerto Rico, right?
Tea: Are we going?
Todd: We could.
[Todd suddenly tosses aside the sheet covering him, removes himself from under Tea's embrace and jumps off the bed.]
Tea: Where are you going?
Todd: I'm getting that map book of yours.
Tea: Why?
Todd: I want you to show me where you're from.
Tea: You know where I'm from. You don't need me to point out Manhattan for you, do you?
Todd: I meant in Puerto Rico.
[Todd gets back on the bed and positions himself next to Tea again.]
Todd: Turn the light on.
Tea: Todd, Puerto Rico isn't in that atlas.
Todd: Yeah, it is. I saw it. Turn the light on.
Tea: You turn it on.
Todd: Tea...
Tea: Todd...
[Todd places the atlas to the side and leans his body over hers as he turns the light on. He realizes that his shirt is still unbuttoned when he feels Tea's hand on his stomach.]
chapter 103:
[Todd continues to hover over Tea as her hand between their bodies touches his stomach.]
Todd: Don't you think it's kind of late for that?
Tea: It's never too late for...
Todd: Cut it out, Delgado. I don't think I could handle you bursting into tears on me again.
[Todd returns to his side of the bed and sits up with his back against the headboard. Tea copies his position. Todd becomes uncomfortable as he notices that Tea is quiet...too quiet. He's convinced that he hurt her feelings. To make it up to her, he stretches his arm out along the headboard so it's lightly touching her shoulders. Tea is stunned but very pleased. She turns slightly and snuggles against him again.
Todd feels uncomfortable. He knows that things are getting too comfy and he doesn't like it. He hated it when Tea was hurting earlier but that was easier to deal with than this.]
Tea: Are you sure Puerto Rico is in this atlas? It doesn't list it on the cover.
Todd: You think I'd lie about that?
Tea: Men have lied about less to cop a feel.
Todd: You think that's what I'm doing?
Tea: Why else would you put your arm around me?
Todd: Right. You caught me. I guess I'll take my arm back now.
[Tea quickly grabs his hand and keeps his arm in place.]
Tea: I thought there was something you wanted to feel.
Todd: Don't you ever think about anything else?
Tea: Of course I do, but we haven't progressed that far yet. Besides, at least this won't make me cry.
Todd: Everything makes you cry.
Tea: Not really but this is a highly emotional time for me right now.
Todd: Hormones, huh?
Tea: Do you really want to get back into that discussion right now?
Todd: No. So, you think if I put my hand there, it will keep you from getting all weepy?
Tea: We could try it.
Todd: I don't know. I tried it when we were at that stupid movie and everything went to hell.
Tea: Show me where you saw Puerto Rico in this atlas and I'll show you where my family is from and we'll let your hand land were it may.
[Todd places the large atlas on both their laps and flips through it with his one free hand.
Tea tries to subtly position herself better in case Todd does decide to feel her up again. Todd notices but pretends not to as he finds the page that has a small map of Puerto Rico on it.]
Todd: Are you going to apologize now?
Tea: For what?
Todd: Thinking I was lying.
Tea: I didn't think you were lying. I just didn't know there was a map of Puerto Rico in this atlas. If your feelings are hurt, though, I might be able to find a way to make it up to you.
Todd: I thought you were going to show me where your family's from.
Tea: Right.
[For several minutes Tea points out on the map where her parents and grandparents were from and some of the towns that she knows she still has relatives in.]
Todd: So, if we went, would you want to see these relatives of yours?
Tea: That would be the polite thing to do.
Todd: I guess that explains why I don't want to do it.
Tea: We could go somewhere else. We could find a place where no one knows us.
Todd: In Puerto Rico?
Tea: That is where we're talking about, right?
Todd: I don't know. Sometimes you change the subject and don't tell me. I thought maybe you wanted to go somewhere else now.
Tea: Actually, I think I'd like going to Puerto Rico with you.
Todd: Really?
Tea: I have wanted to go there for a long time.
Todd: You want to see those places your mom told you about?
[Tea is surprised that he would remember their conversation from days earlier. In her experience, most men don't pay enough attention to recall the details of anything more important than a sports score.]
Tea: I don't know.
Todd: I know I'm not the same as your mom. You could go with your grandmother instead. I could give you some money.
Tea: Maybe we could both go with my grandmother.
Todd: Oh, sure. She'd probably find a way to shove me out of the plane. She'd get away with it, too, because she's an old broad and no one would suspect her and everyone hates me anyway.
Tea: Everyone does not hate you. I don't hate you and neither does my grandmother. If you'd just talk to her sometime instead of trying to get a reaction out of her, I think you might actually like her.
Todd: We'll see about that.
Tea: Do you really want to do this? I could call her in the morning and discuss it with her.
Todd: It already is morning. It's getting light out.
Tea: It is?
[Tea turns toward the window and notices through the exposed window above the small curtain that it is beginning to get light out.]
Tea: Todd we haven't even slept yet.
Todd: You slept earlier. Remember, before you snuck out trying to keep secrets from me. Why were you secretly calling your grandmother anyway?
Tea: Let's get some sleep.
[Tea turns off the light, grabs the atlas and tosses it on the ground by the bed. She lays down, facing him, with her head on the pillow and closes her eyes.]
Todd: That's my pillow.
Tea: You threw mine on the floor during the heat of passion so we're sharing this one. Unless, you'd prefer that I use you as my pillow.
Todd: You're not going to try to start something again, are you?
Tea: I'm too exhausted right now, Todd.
Todd: So, that getting felt up idea...
Tea: When we wake up. Before we start driving for the day. Or, you could...while we're driving. That might be fun.
Todd: Yeah, I'm sure all the people watching it would get a thrill out of it, too.
Tea: Who would see us? We always seem to be on deserted roads.
Todd: So you gave up on that stupid idea that we had to take a major road through the mountains?
Tea: No, I just forgot about it in my sleep deprived state. So, we'll be taking the freeway today?
Todd: If you insist on being such a wimp about crossing a little mountain range.
Tea: I could drive if it's a problem for you.
Todd: You've done enough driving. Or, did you forget that you stole my car last night?
Tea: I borrowed it...briefly.
Todd: You were gone for hours.
Tea: Todd?
Todd: What?
Tea: I'm exhausted. Unless you want to spend another night in this motel room, could we get some sleep now before we have to check out?
Todd: Fine. I want my pillow back.
Tea: Fine.
[Tea lifts herself off the pillow. Todd grabs it and shoves it under his head. Tea waits until he's settled himself and then snuggles up next to him again.]
Todd: Delgado?
Tea: Todd, just let me sleep.
Todd: Fine. I'll just ask my question and you can fall asleep and think about it before you answer me when you wake up.
Tea: What is it?
Todd: How come earlier doing this stuff was so difficult for you and now you're all over me again?
Tea: Well...
Todd: Nope. You can't answer me now, remember? Stop yacking and let me sleep.
[Todd closes his eyes and tries to fall asleep. Tea stays awake and considers his question.]
chapter 104:
[As Tea awakens, she moves her hand slightly and feels Todd's stomach. She quickly opens her eyes as she recalls falling asleep against Todd, his shirt still unbuttoned.
Tea enjoys the feeling of being against him, even though her neck is sore from the position it's been in for the last few hours. She slowly moves her head off of Todd and looks up at his slumbering face. She smiles at how beautiful he is.
Her hand lightly caresses his stomach, enjoying the feeling of being able to touch his skin. After a few minutes, she moves her hand up his body and begins playing with the hair on his chest. She likes the way it feels against her fingers as she recalls how pleasurable it was the night before when that hair was tickling her as she kissed his chest.
Tea knows that Todd will wake up soon if she continues caressing his skin. Since he has to wake up soon anyway so they can return to the road, she takes a chance and hopes that Todd will be okay with how she intends to awaken him.
Todd grunts in his sleep as her head returns to his chest, her lips pressed against his skin. For several minutes she kisses his chest, even taking a chance and kissing one of his nipples, before moving lower.
Tea notices a difference in his breathing as she moves further down his stomach with her kisses. When her tongue stretches across his skin just beneath the top of his jeans, his body jumps suddenly and his hand enters her hair.
For a moment, Tea's uncertain of whether Todd is about to put an end to what she's doing or encourage her to continue.
With his hand still on the back of her head but giving her no clue what he wants her to do, she kisses him again. His hand moves noticeably but Tea is still uncertain what it means until she kisses him again and feels the movement of his hand again. As she realizes that he's caressing her head, she continues kissing him, flicking her tongue out occasionally, enjoying the reaction of his body.
Several minutes later, the phone rings, disappointing both of them. Todd leans toward Tea's side of the bed to answer it. Tea uses the opportunity to place her body in a more comfortable position.
Todd gruffly speaks to the person who so rudely interrupted what they were both immensely enjoying. When he hangs up and returns to laying on his back, Tea returns to kissing his stomach.]
Todd: Tea? That was...
[Tea's tongue flicks underneath the top of his jeans again.]
Todd: Uh, Tea...
[Tea knows their activity is about to end even though she knows they both were enjoying it. She quickly kisses up his stomach and chest and presses against him as she kisses him on the mouth. Their tongues instantly entangle, as Tea caresses Todd through his open shirt.
After a long, pleasurable kiss, Tea pulls her mouth away from his, as his hand on her back, holding her to him, let's her know that he wants more.]
Tea: Who was on the phone?
Todd: What phone?
Tea: That phone call that just put an end to what we were doing...or, more specifically, what I was doing to you.
Todd: Oh, that. Just the owner...manager...whatever, saying we have to get the hell out or pay for another night.
Tea: And, since you were enjoying yourself so much you opted for another night, right?
Todd: I said we'd be gone in a few minutes.
Tea: I don't have time for a shower?
Todd: I think I need one more than you do right now.
[Tea looks down his body toward the front of his jeans. Todd places his hand on her face and brings her gaze back to his eyes.]
Todd: You have to be careful.
Tea: About what?
Todd: When I have nightmares and people touch me...
Tea: You didn't look like you were having a nightmare. I wanted to wake you up in a way that would feel good.
Todd: You succeeded.
Tea: Really?
Todd: You don't believe that?
Tea: I don't believe you're admitting it.
Todd: It was okay.
Tea: Just okay? Call whomever that was back and book us for another night. I'm going to give you more than okay, Manning.
Todd: I'm not ticked at you for sneaking up on me like that. I let you go as far as you did. Let's not blow this, okay?
Tea: What if that's what I want?
[Todd realizes that Tea read a different meaning into his words. He knows what she's suggesting. He already feels his body's response to waking up to Tea kissing and caressing him, but the thought, and image, of Tea...
Todd quickly pulls away from Tea and jumps off the bed.]
Todd: I'm using the bathroom first. Get everything together so we can be out of here in a few minutes.
Tea: Are you sure you'll be ready in a few minutes? Are you sure you won't need more time to...uh...take care of things in there?
Todd: Delgado, you need to back off right now.
Tea: If we both enjoy it and we both want it, why do we need to back off?
Todd: Last night you were pretty messed up there for a while. I didn't push you. I didn't force...
Tea: You were wonderful last night. I want to repay you.
Todd: Then get our stuff together so we can get out of here.
Tea: You would enjoy it, Todd.
Todd: Why won't you back off?
Tea: I don't understand why you want to. Why don't you want me to make you feel good? I could make you feel really good, Todd.
Todd: You really have to ask why I'm not exposing myself right now and offering...
Tea: I would accept that offer, Todd.
Todd: Delgado...
[Todd stops speaking for a moment and looks at her. He knows what she's offering. He knows that it would feel good. He knows that right now his body is screaming out for a release after denying himself that pleasure for too long. He also knows that this isn't the right place or time. He doesn't have any idea how to tell her that when they move to that level of intimacy he wants it to be somewhere better than this dump. He wants their intimacy to be better than it can be in this place, in this moment. He doesn't want her to feel like it's just a quickie in a cheap motel. She deserves better than that. He doesn't know how to express what he desires for her so he doesn't saying anything more about it.]
Todd: Get our stuff together.
[Tea watches as Todd quickly enters the bathroom and closes the door, leaving her alone, and lonely, in the bedroom.]
chapter 105:
[Back on the road again, neither speaks. Each thinks the other person is the one refusing to speak. Tea is the first to crack from the strain of the silence.]
Tea: Fine. I'm sorry, Todd. We can forget all about it, okay? I hate it when you refuse to talk to me.
Todd: What are you talking about, Delgado?
Tea: Good, you're speaking to me again. What's a safe topic this morning?
Todd: How about what the hell you're talking about? You're the one who's been giving me the silent treatment ever since...
Tea: Me? You're the one who hasn't spoken since you rejected me back in that motel room.
Todd: Rejected you? Because I turned down a...well, a...whatever.
Tea: What did you think I was offering you?
Todd: How the hell should I know. You were the one doing the offering. By the way, this is an example of a topic that isn't even remotely safe.
Tea: Now, I'm curious.
Todd: That's never been good.
Tea: Seriously, were you thinking...
Todd: I'm thinking you really need to not say whatever you're thinking of saying about whatever you think I was thinking.
Tea: What?
Todd: So, you've said before that it's okay if we have time to ourselves once in a while, right?
Tea: Sure, if you need it.
Todd: So, the next town we come to, you'll go your way, I'll go mine and we'll see each other in a few days?
Tea: I don't think so.
Todd: By then you'll have forgotten all about anything that happened this morning.
Tea: But, it didn't actually happen, so don't you want me to forget the part that didn't happen?
Todd: I want you to forget every single thing that will make me want to end this trip.
Tea: And a blow job is one of those things?
[Tea watches Todd's face carefully. She knows from the hardening of his facial features that she went too far. She isn't surprised when he pulls into a truck stop a few minutes later.
As he pulls into a parking space and stops, Tea silently gets out of the car and uses her key to open the trunk. Todd is completely confused about what happened, what she's doing, why she's doing it. When Tea closes the trunk and walks toward the building carrying one of his duffel bags, he watches her until she disappears into the building.
Several minutes later, Tea is sitting at a small table in the most deserted part of the dining area, staring into a coffee cup when someone slides into the seat across from her. She's about to tell the loser to get lost when she looks up and sees Todd sitting across from her, casually munching on a large cinnamon roll and licking the icing off his fingers.]
Todd: If you're going to get something to eat you better hurry up. We're not stopping again until we get where we're going.
Tea: Where is that?
Todd: We're spending the night in Butt, Montana.
Tea: Butt? Do you mean, Butte?
Todd: Whatever. It's too bad we're not going to the northeast. They have a place up there called Four Butts.
Tea: Buttes.
Todd: Come on, Tea, you know the people that live there probably have to hear butt jokes all the time.
Tea: Well, they certainly would if they were talking to you.
Todd: That's what they get for living in a place called Four Butts...or that Bear Butt one.
[Tea smiles at Todd's laughter.]
Tea: So, what does this mean? And, please, no more talk about butts.
Todd: Don't you mean buttes?
[Todd notices, and enjoys, the smile on Tea's face as she takes a sip of her coffee.]
Todd: Do you want to stay somewhere else tonight? We could drive to Idaho but I thought you wanted to stop early tonight.
Tea: How far is Butte?
Todd: Probably four or five hours.
Tea: It would certainly still be early when we get there.
Todd: That would be good, though.
Tea: It would?
Todd: Yeah, I was thinking, with all the driving we've been doing we should probably have the car checked out.
Tea: Would we be staying there longer than one night?
Todd: Why would we need to do that?
Tea: Well, you might not find a mechanic who could look at the car right away.
Todd: We're not having anything major done. Besides, if you toss enough money at people they do whatever you want, whenever you want it.
Tea: Right.
Todd: Don't you dare get mad at me again. I wasn't referring to you.
Tea: I wasn't thinking you were...until now.
Todd: Why do I keep trying to put up with you?
Tea: You...put up with me? What about me putting up with you?
Todd: You're the one with the major mood swings.
Tea: Me? Mood swings? And, you think your moods are static?
Todd: Yeah...I'm always in a bad mood.
Tea: There are moments, Todd...
Todd: You just think there are. In reality my mood is lousy all the time.
Tea (lowering her voice): What about when we're making love?
Todd: I'll let you know when it happens.
Tea: When?
[There is silence for several moments. Tea reaches out for a piece of his roll. He slowly pulls it out of her reach, allowing her to take a small portion of it.]
Tea: Don't you think we already have?
Todd: What are you talking about now?
Tea: Don't you think we've made love?
Todd: Well, I don't know what you were doing before I woke up this morning.
Tea: I wouldn't do anything when you're not awake, Todd.
Todd: I seem to recall waking up to somebody doing something this morning.
Tea: Did that upset you?
Todd: Not as much as your insisting on talking about it now is upsetting me.
Tea: I won't do it again, if it bothered you.
Todd: I already told you that you need to be careful.
Tea: I will. I did keep it above your pants, like you requested last night.
[Todd gives her a knowing look.]
Tea: Okay, so my tongue may have slipped a little.
[There's silence again for several moments as Todd finishes his roll and Tea sips her coffee.]
Tea: I'm sorry about what I said in the car.
Todd: You didn't say anything in the car.
Tea: Todd...
Todd: Tea, you didn't say anything in the car. You didn't make any kind of offer in the motel room. Nothing happened.
[Tea knows that Todd wants to ignore what happened but she doesn't know if she can do that. She leans back, exhausted. Not only does she have to spend exorbitant amounts of time trying to figure Todd out but she needs even more time to figure herself out. With other men, she could hide from herself but for some reason with Todd that isn't as easy.]
Todd: Forget about it, Tea.
Tea: What?
Todd: Trying to figure it all out.
Tea: How did you know?
Todd: I know everything, remember?
Tea: I really don't understand, Todd.
Todd: You just freaked out. Last night, stuff happened.
Tea: I enjoyed what we did last night.
Todd: I'm not talking about, you know, the physical stuff. It's the other stuff that freaked you out this morning.
[Tea stares into her coffee cup, not comfortable with eye contact right now.]
Todd: I have experience here, so trust me. When it starts to hit too close, you have to make it all go away. You have to make that person go away because you can't have someone around who gets that close and makes you freak out like that.
Tea: I don't know.
Todd: I do.
Tea: Why are you telling me this?
Todd: It's not exactly a secret, is it? It's pretty clear what's going on with you.
Tea: It is?
Todd: I know how you feel.
Tea: Because you've felt it, too?
Todd: That's not what I mean.
Tea: What do you mean?
Todd: Remember, yesterday morning when you woke up from that nightmare?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: You were talking in your sleep. I know how you feel.
Tea: I don't understand.
Todd: You said stuff.
Tea: What did I say?
Todd: Just stuff. So, everything's okay now, right? You're done pretending you're going to ditch me again?
Tea: I never really wanted to leave you. I thought you wanted me to leave...after what I did...after what I said.
Todd: If you left, who would I argue with?
Tea: I'm sure you could find plenty of other people to pick fights with.
Todd: Well, who would laugh at my brilliant jokes?
Tea: Your brilliant butt jokes?
Todd: Whose butt would I touch?
[Tea is surprised at what Todd just said. Todd's a bit surprised himself that his brain allowed him to say it without spontaneously combusting.]
Tea: I'm sure you could find other women...
Todd: Nah. I don't feel like going through the hassle of having to train anyone new.
Tea: How long is the training process? Because, you still baffle me most of the time, Todd.
Todd: Good.
[For several minutes, they're quiet. This quiet, though, is more comfortable than earlier.]
Tea: Tell me what I said during my nightmare.
Todd: It's no big deal.
[Todd pauses for a moment and looks into Tea's eyes with an expression on his face that gives no hint to Tea about what he's feeling.]
Todd: You just said that you love me but you don't believe that I ever loved you.
[Todd immediately stands up and walks out of the truck stop.]
to be continued...
