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| ANOTHER JOURNEY BY TIMA |
CHAPTERS 156 - 160 |
PREVIOUSLY...
Woman: Look, I'm not into being insulted. If you're looking for that, find someone else. If you just want to have the most incredible sex of your life then let's get to it before my beer buzz wears off.
Todd: I'm not interested, okay? So, just get your hands off of me before I remove them for you.
Woman: Great! Another loser I wasted ten minutes of my life on.
[The woman walks away looking for someone else to pleasure her this evening.
Todd continues looking around inside the bar for a minute and then quickly goes outside, in search of Tea.]
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chapter 156:
[Todd is frantic as he searches for Tea in the bar's parking lot. He knows that he just screwed everything up with her but he doesn't know why. He just knows that he has to find her and he has to fix things.
Finally, as he's searching another row of cars, Todd hears her crying and follows her sobs to where she's crouched down between two cars.
He approaches her, his heart breaking at the sight of the pain he caused her.]
Todd: Tea...
[Tea looks up at him, startled, anger quickly filling her eyes.]
Tea: Get away from me, you pathetic bastard.
Todd: Tea, give me a chance to explain.
Tea: Where's your bimbo, huh? You don't want to keep her waiting, she might find another dick she likes better.
Todd: Delgado, just stop, okay?
Tea: If you're hoping I'll come and watch your bump and grind session, you can forget it. I don't get a sexual charge out of humiliation...unlike you.
Todd: Okay, you're a little ticked at me.
Tea: A little?
Todd: It's okay. We both had our moment to hurt each other and now we can go back to...
Tea (interrupting): Back to what? You don't want me. I don't excite you sexually.
Todd: Sure, you do. You know that. I was just saying stuff in there to tick you off. You know that, too.
[Tea stands up in front of him with a defiant expression on her face.]
Tea: Do you know what I know, Todd? Do you want to know the secret I know?
Todd: Sure, tell me your secret, Delgado.
Tea: I'm late.
Todd: For what?
Tea: For my period, you idiot.
Todd: Your... No. That's not true. Your...your thing...isn't supposed to come yet.
Tea: Wrong! The deadline passed.
Todd: When?
Tea: Why do you care? Go back in there, find a bimbo, or two, to spend your night screwing your brains out with because I'm through.
[Tea turns to walk away. Todd grabs her arm and turns her back towards him.]
Todd (angrily): You tell me when. Right now!
Tea: Two days ago.
Todd: Two...? You told me you'd tell me if it didn't happen.
Tea: I'm telling you now. Good-bye, Todd. I knew this was going to end tonight but I had no idea you would make the end quite so memorable.
Todd: You...
[Todd continues to hold onto Tea's arm as he looks at her with disgust.]
Todd: You're just like all of them, aren't you? My father was right. You should never trust a whore because they'll never tell you the truth.
Tea: Is that what I am? A whore?
Todd: Yeah, but you're a lousy whore. You were never able to get me off, were you? That slut I was just with was able to do in minutes what you couldn't do in years.
Tea: You want me to get you off, is that what you're saying? You want me to finally truly be your whore?
[Tea kneels down in front of him and opens his pants, pulling his penis out. She quickly places it in her mouth. Neither enjoys the experience through their anger. Todd removes himself from her mouth and steps back.]
Tea: Is that not the way you want your whore? You want your whore with her legs spread for you, is that it?
[Tea lays on the ground and pulls her panties off.]
Tea: Come on, Todd. Make me your whore. End this relationship showing me what you really think of me.
[Todd kneels down between her spread legs.]
Todd (speaking softly): I could do it, Delgado. I could make you bleed.
[Tears again come to Tea's eyes as she watches the tears forming in his.]
Todd: I don't want to make you bleed, Tea. I don't want to.
[Tea slowly sits up and rises to her knees. As unthinkable as it was just a few moments earlier, she moves closer to him and hugs him. He doesn't hug her back but he doesn't push her away, either.
Neither is certain what to do next. They both just crossed the line with each other and they both know it. They don't know if they can be with each other anymore. But, neither is ready to truly walk away, either.
After several moments, they hear the noise of people leaving the bar. Tea ends her embrace of him as they both stand up. For several moments they stand near each other not knowing what to say. Todd finally walks away without speaking.
Tea isn't certain if he expects her to follow him. She's not certain if she should, even if that is what he does want.
Finally, she decides to follow her heart instead of her head. She still doesn't know if she'll be leaving with him, or if he would even want her to, but she does know that she has to make sure that he's okay.
She finds him leaning his back against his car, his head down.]
Tea (speaking softly): Todd?
[Todd quickly looks up in her direction. He can only handle a moment of eye contact before he has to look away. He hates himself more right now than he has in a long time.]
Tea: Are you okay? I think you've had a lot to drink. I could drive you back to the resort, or somewhere else. I'm not trying to invite myself back into your life, I promise. I just want to make sure that you're safe tonight.
Todd: Why? Why do you give a damn anymore?
Tea: Because I do.
Todd: I treated you like dirt, Tea.
Tea: Yeah, you did. And, I...
Todd: Don't. This was all my fault.
Tea: I could have made some different choices, too.
[Todd finally looks at her again. The pain in his eyes hurts her to look at so she looks away.]
Todd: You shouldn't look at me. I'm garbage. I'm slime. I'm...what the hell is worse than slime? I hate it when I can't think of the words when I'm trying to explain stuff to you.
Tea: It's okay. Just let me drive you somewhere safe.
Todd: Safe? There's nowhere safe. There's no such thing as safe. You should have figured that out by now.
[Todd suddenly turns his body towards her and steps closer to her.]
Todd: Delgado, I don't want you to ever apologize to me again. Okay? Promise me that you won't take any of the blame for any of this tonight. This is all my fault. I'm the one that screwed this up, not you.
Tea: Todd, I...
Todd: I don't want you to be like her.
Tea: Like who?
[Todd turns away from Tea and faces the car, leaning his head on his hands as they rest against the roof of the car.]
Tea: Who don't you want me to be like?
[Tea tries to gently touch his back but he quickly pulls away, finding her affection for him to be too painful right now.]
Todd: You're not like her. You're nothing like her. I don't want you to ever be anything like her. You have to get away from me so you'll never be like her.
Tea: Like your mother?
[Todd's head snaps up, his eyes locking on hers, answering her question without the necessity of words.]
Tea: What would she have done in this moment?
Todd: She would have taken the blame.
Tea: I'm not taking the blame.
Todd: Good.
Tea: I'll take responsibility for my own actions but not for yours.
Todd: No. You can't take any of the blame.
Tea: Your mother would have taken all of the blame?
Todd: Yeah, of course. He wouldn't have given her a choice. She would have had to take the blame. She would have told him over and over again that it was all her fault, that he was right, that she was a slut for letting those guys flirt with her, that she caused his anger, that it's her fault that he hurt her. She would take the blame and she would beg him to forgive her. He would rape her and she would beg him to forgive her. You can't ever be like that. You have to promise me that you'll never be like that.
[Tea moves a little closer to Todd.]
Tea (speaking softly): You didn't rape me. You didn't hurt me like that.
Todd: I could have.
Tea: You didn't.
Todd: Were you scared?
Tea: No.
Todd: You should have been.
Tea: Because you wanted to?
Todd: No. Because, it was me that was angry at you.
Tea: Did you want to hurt me like that?
[Todd looks away before answering.]
Todd: No.
Tea: Why are you looking away? That's not something to be ashamed of.
Todd: To my father it would be.
Tea: Well, your father isn't here. It's just us, Todd.
Todd: We shouldn't do this out here. We could get in the car. Unless, you're too scared.
Tea: I'm not scared, but you really shouldn't drive right now.
Todd: I'm fine.
Tea: I don't think you are. I don't want to chance your getting arrested. I don't think jail is where you should be tonight.
Todd: Where should I be? Huh? Hell? That's really the only place I've ever belonged.
Tea: We'll go back to the resort. We'll get some sleep. We'll talk about this more in the morning.
Todd: You're going to do it, aren't you? You're going to be just like her.
Tea: No, I'm not. If you ever raped me, I can guarantee that I wouldn't be begging you to forgive me. You'd be begging me for your life.
Todd: If I ever did that to you, I wouldn't want you to give me the chance. I'd want you to kill me.
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chapter 157:
Tea: This isn't the time, or the place, to talk about any of this. Let's go somewhere else, okay? We could go back to the resort. If you don't want to share a room tonight, we don't have to. I do think that we should talk again, though, before we end this. I don't want our last moment together to be tonight, not like this.
Todd: Isn't this the perfect way to end it?
Tea: I don't think so.
Todd: But, you do want it over?
Tea: This isn't the moment that either of us should make that decision in.
Todd: Why not? You saw who I am. That wasn't even me at my worst. But, you saw enough, right? You shouldn't have to put up with scum like me anymore. You deserve better.
Tea: Let's go. Get in the car...on the passenger side. I'm driving.
Todd: What would people think?
Tea: That you got drunk and your wife is driving you home.
Todd: You're not my wife. You're lucky you're not my wife anymore.
Tea: That's one more thing for us to debate tomorrow when you're sober.
Todd: What's wrong with you? Why aren't you leaving?
Tea: Because I don't want to. Now, let's just get back to that resort before you pass out. Okay?
Todd: I haven't had that much to drink.
Tea: You've had enough. Now, no more arguing. I'm driving so just accept that and get in the car.
Todd: You're a really bossy lady.
Tea: Well, I learned from a really bossy man I was formerly married to.
Todd: A real creep, huh?
[Todd doesn't wait for Tea's response, he walks around the car and gets in on the passenger side as Tea also enters the car.
As they drive towards the resort, Todd stares out the side window, watching the scenery speed by. He thinks about the events of this evening. He thinks about his father. He thinks about his mother. His mind plays for him some of the violent scenes he remembers witnessing when he was young.
As they near the resort, Todd feels overwhelmed with the need to vomit. Whether it's from the excessive amounts of food and alcohol he consumed in a short period of time, or what happened with Tea, or what he's remembering from his past, doesn't matter. He just knows that he needs to throw up and it needs to be soon.]
Todd: Stop the car.
Tea: We're almost there.
Todd (raising his voice): Stop the car.
[Tea stops the car by the side of the road. Todd only lasts a couple of steps outside the car before the vomit rises and forces its way out of his body.
Tea exits the car, worried about him, but stays at a distance, not wanting to embarrass him and not wanting to be brought to vomit herself by the sight.
She waits until Todd has stopped vomiting and he turns toward the car before approaching him.]
Todd: Get away from me.
Tea: I just want to...
Todd: You just want to make it all okay, right? You want to take care of me. You want to clean up the puke.
Tea: I'm not cleaning that up.
Todd: Good.
Tea: If you got any on yourself, though...
Todd: I knew it. You're trying to do it.
Tea: What?
Todd: Don't, okay? Just don't. You'll end up like me.
Tea: I don't understand. If I help you right now, why is that a bad thing?
Todd: You don't get it, do you?
Tea: Obviously not.
Todd: That was my job.
Tea: What was?
Todd: Taking care of her.
Tea: Who?
[Todd doesn't answer. He doesn't need to as Tea realizes what he's referring to.]
Tea: You feel better now, right? Let's get back in the car. We're almost there.
Todd: I remember so much. I try to forget. I try to shove those thoughts away but they never go away. They never leave. They're always there. Always haunting me...taunting me... Did you know that I figured out that girls bleed...you know...down there...because of her?
Tea: Well, that's normal. Children often learn about reproduction from their parents...or in my case...grandparents.
Todd: Normal?
[Todd laughs in a way that makes Tea extremely uncomfortable.]
Todd: I don't think it's normal the way I learned it. I don't think that most of what I learned was normal. Unless, it's normal for a guy to suck on his wife's tit in front of his kid. Oh, don't look at me like you're shocked. That's normal, right? He was just teaching his son about reproduction and how to treat a lady, right? Normal? Maybe you had normal. I had Peter Manning.
Tea: Let's go, okay?
Todd: That really happened. He really did that to her in front of me.
Tea: I know.
Todd: That's not the way most guys remember getting their first view of a tit, is it?
Tea: No.
Todd: We were just sitting at breakfast one morning. She was wearing a robe, with a nightgown underneath. He just grabs her and pulls the robe open and yanks down the top of her nightgown. I think he bit her, too. She made this noise like he had hurt her. When he let go of her, she just ran out of the room. He laughed his ass off. He thought it was so funny how humiliated she was. He liked that. He liked humiliating her. He liked making her feel horrible about herself. He got off on it. Do you want more?
Tea: You don't have to tell me anything that you don't want to. You don't owe me that.
Todd: I owe you a lot more, especially after tonight.
Tea: We can talk about what happened tonight tomorrow. We don't have to talk about any of this tonight.
Todd: My shrink thinks I should talk to you about it.
Tea (surprised): Your what?
Todd: Did I forget to mention that?
Tea: Yes. When? Where? Who? For how long?
Todd: You've got a lot of questions, Delgado and, despite what you think, I'm not drunk, so I'm not really ready to answer them.
Tea: Are you ready to go back to the resort now?
Todd: So I can get drunk?
Tea: That wasn't what I had in mind.
Todd: That's what I had in mind. That's all that I want. I just want to drink until I can't think anymore, until I can't feel anymore. That part I learned from my mother.
Tea: She drank?
Todd: Only until she passed out.
Tea: Well, living with your father, I suppose...
Todd: You understand why she was a lush? Do you think you'll end up being one too because of me?
Tea: Hasn't your shrink explained to you that you don't have to be like your father and I don't have to be like your mother?
Todd: But, you already are. You take the blame for stuff like she did. You're scared of me like she was of him.
Tea: I'm not scared of you.
Todd: Not even a little?
Tea: I'm more scared for you than of you.
Todd: Well, that's really stupid.
Tea: Maybe it is, but that's the truth right now.
Todd: Why?
Tea: Why am I scared for you?
Todd: Why don't you care enough about yourself to be scared for yourself. It's like you care more about me than you do about you.
Tea: Maybe I do.
Todd: You want to meet my shrink? You seem to have some issues.
Tea: I would love to meet your shrink. When's your next appointment?
Todd: Nice try, Delgado.
Tea: Come on. No more talking. We're getting back into the car now.
Todd: I'm not the one who wanted to do all this talking to begin with. I hate talking. You're the one who never stops with the questions.
Tea: Whatever you say, Todd. Now, get in the car.
Todd: I'm driving.
Tea: Todd...
Todd: You're not a guy so you can't understand this, but I can't have people seeing my wife driving me around. I just threw up the little bit of booze that was in my belly so you can't pretend I'm drunk anymore. And, we're almost there. You can see that ugly building from here.
Tea: I don't know.
Todd: I promise, I won't even swerve around just to tease you. And, I won't try to hit the parking attendants this time.
Tea: Well, if it would save the parking attendants from having to fear for their lives.
Todd: Good. Now, give me the keys you swiped while you were hugging me back there.
Tea: You knew about that?
Todd: Either that or that bimbo swiped them while she was...
Tea (interrupting): Let's not discuss that, okay?
[Tea returns his keys to him and they safely make their way back to the resort.]
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chapter 158:
[As they enter the resort, Todd and Tea walk through the lobby together. It isn't until they reach the elevator and its doors open that Todd reveals his plans to Tea.]
Todd: I'm going for a walk.
Tea: Okay, if you want to, we could...
Todd: Not we...me.
Tea: Todd, you shouldn't be alone right now.
Todd: Don't worry. I can't blow my head off. I don't have a gun.
Tea: Don't joke about that.
Todd: Who's joking?
Tea: That's it. You're not spending the night alone.
Todd: I won't do anything, Tea, I promise.
Tea: Just come upstairs with me. I won't talk to you. I won't touch you. We'll just sleep.
Todd: I won't try to drown myself. I won't try to get hit by a car.
Tea: If you come to the room, you could call your therapist. You could have a long session over the phone.
Todd: Are you trying to make me suicidal?
[Todd reaches out his hand to hers and lightly holds it.]
Todd: I'm kidding, Delgado. Don't be so freaked.
Tea: Just come upstairs.
Todd: I promise, you haven't seen the last of me. I won't get myself killed and I won't take off on you. I just need some time alone.
Tea: I can't...
Todd: Yeah, you can. You can trust me.
[Todd moves closer to her on the elevator while still keeping his foot against the elevator door to keep it from closing.]
Todd: If I hadn't just puked, I'd kiss you right now to show you that I'm not lying to you.
Tea: I'll never see you again.
[Todd brings his hand to her face and wipes at a stream of tears that is running down her cheek.]
Todd: You will. You'll see me again. I'll be there when you wake up.
[Tea brings her body to his and buries her face in his shirt. She knows that she can't force him to go to their room with her. She wants to stay with him, to make sure that he's okay, to keep him from being swallowed up by his own pain. She knows that she can't do it, though. He won't allow her to help him through this moment.
Todd has trouble controlling his own feelings as he feels her pain and concern for him. It amazes him more than it ever has that she can still care so much about him, that she can continue to love him this deeply, after everything that has happened between them tonight and everything that has happened in the past, between them and before they even met. If he didn't know that she was real, he would think that she was a figment of his twisted imagination, because no one could possibly love him as much as he feels her loving him in this moment.
Todd lets go of the hand that he's been holding and places both of his hands on the sides of her face and gently pulls her head away from his body. He looks into her eyes that are flowing with tear as tears form in his own eyes.]
Todd: I swear, Tea...I swear...
[He smiles sadly, causing her pain to increase even more at the sadness in his eyes.]
Todd: I can't swear that I'll be okay. I don't think I'll ever be okay. But, I swear, I'll be there when you wake up. You don't have to have nightmares about not being able to find me, because I'll be right there with you, I promise.
Tea: Todd...
Todd (interrupting): I need to be alone. I just need...
[Todd looks away from her gaze, trying to keep his own tears from falling.]
Tea: You promise?
Todd: Yeah, I promise.
[Todd strokes her hair and looks into her eyes as he smiles slightly.]
Todd: If this were the last moment, I would kiss you good-bye. But, I just puked, so I'm not kissing you, so this can't be the last moment.
Tea: I'm counting on you, Todd. If you disappear again, or if something happens to you...
Todd: Nothing will happen.
Tea: ...I'll regret this moment. I'll blame myself for letting you go in this moment. So, you have to come through for me.
Todd: I will. You'll see. This is one time that you'll be making the right choice in trusting me.
[Tea brings her body to his again and hugs him tightly. Her instincts tell her not to let him go but she knows that she doesn't have a choice.
Todd brings his arms around her, holding onto her just as tightly, needing this moment with her even as he knows that he needs to get away from her, for her own good.
After several moments, Tea pulls out of his embrace and steps backwards, further into the elevator. Todd steps back and releases the elevator door. They silently stare at each other until the doors finally close between them.
Moments later, Tea returns to their suite. She walks through it and enters the bedroom. She feels like she's in a trance as she changes her clothes and prepares for bed.
She doesn't go to bed, though. She doesn't feel like climbing into the large bed alone. Instead, she goes into the suite's other room and sits down. For several minutes she does nothing as she tries to bring her emotions under control. When she feels prepared, she picks up the phone and places a call to the only person, besides Todd, that she wants to communicate with right now.
She feels guilty for calling her grandmother so late at night again but she knows that she can't be alone right now.
Her resolve to keep her emotions under control dissolves the instant she hears her grandmother groggily answering her call. Immediately, Tea bursts into tears.
Tea can't speak but her grandmother recognizes the sobbing on the other end of the line as her granddaughter with her heart obviously breaking again. She internally curses Todd Manning for putting Tea through what is clearly intense heartache, yet again.
When Tea is finally able to bring herself under control enough to speak, she refuses to reveal too much detail about what happened. This frustrates her grandmother who wants to know what her former grandson-in-law did this time, but she doesn't push Tea to reveal any more than she's comfortable with.
Speaking with her grandmother does help calm Tea, but she still worries about Todd, as she waits, and hopes, that he will fulfill his promise to her and return to their suite soon.]
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chapter 159:
[After a very lengthy conversation, Tea finally ends her phone conversation with her grandmother. Even though she wants to continue talking to, and receiving comfort from, her grandmother, she knows how late it is and reluctantly ends their phone call, assuring her concerned grandmother that she's fine now and intends to go right to bed.
Tea does go to bed. She lies awake in the large comfortable bed, wishing she knew where Todd was so she could go to him, even if he doesn't want her with him. She would even secretly watch him from a distance, if she could. Tea smiles for a moment, understanding how Todd could take comfort from being near the people he cares for even if he's just in the shadows and not out in the open interacting with them.
As she continues to lie awake, she doesn't know how much time has passed since she went to bed but she does know that sleep won't be coming to her tonight, at least not easily.
She finally decides that she'll spend some time on the balcony, looking out at the darkened grounds of the resort. Even though she probably wouldn't be able to see Todd in the dark, if he's even out there, she thinks she might feel better just thinking that it's possible that he's out there, near her. And, if he happens to look up and see her, and take comfort from her presence right now, that would be even better.
Just as Tea reaches the door to the balcony, the phone rings, startling her. She quickly rushes back towards the bed, to the phone on the nightstand.]
Tea: Hello?
Man: Mrs. Manning?
Tea: Yes, I'm Mrs. Manning. Is something wrong with my husband?
Man: I'm one of the bartenders in the nightclub. We're trying to close up and your husband is refusing to leave. We need you to come downstairs and retrieve him.
Tea: Okay.
Bartender: We've tried many times to convince him to leave on his own but he just becomes belligerent. If you're not able to convince him to leave, we'll have to call the police. I'm very sorry. This isn't how we prefer to handle situations with our guests, but your husband...
Tea (interrupting): I completely understand. I'll be right down.
[Tea hangs up, quickly changes her clothing and rushes downstairs. She finds the bar and is practically running as she enters it.
She doesn't see Todd as she looks around the room. She looks towards the bar area and follows the direction of the gesture from one of the bartenders.
She finds Todd at a table hidden behind a pillar from view of most of the club.]
Tea: Todd?
Todd: What the hell are you doing here?
Tea: I received a phone call.
Todd: And, you just had to track me down and tell me about it?
Tea: They're trying to close up. You need to leave now.
Todd: I ordered a drink. It hasn't come yet.
Tea: It won't be coming. They're closed. They won't be serving you anymore tonight. From the looks of you, I'd say they already served you plenty.
Todd: I am not drunk.
Tea: You can try to convince me of that upstairs. We need to leave right now.
Todd: Not until I get my drink.
Tea: If you don't leave, they'll call the police.
Todd: I'll report them for discrimination.
Tea: Discrimination?
Todd: Yeah, they won't serve me because they're prejudiced.
Tea: Against what?
Todd: People they think are drunk. They're mistaken. I'm not drunk.
Tea: You've had a lot to drink...
Todd: So? Just because a guy has more than a few drinks, they think they can cut him off? I'm not going to put up with this injustice. I'm protesting. This is a sit-in. I'm sitting right here until I get another drink.
Tea: Todd...
Todd: I'm fighting for the rights of all the people who can drink a ton of booze without getting drunk.
Tea: You'll have to stage your sit-in upstairs.
Todd: How would that help the cause?
Tea: It would help keep you out of jail, Todd.
Todd: I'm not afraid to go to jail for what I believe in. I would go to jail to fight for your rights. I'd go to jail so no one could ever make you feel bad because of the way they look at you, or treat you.
Tea: That's sweet, but...
Todd: Sweet...you're sweet. I don't deserve sweet. Starr's sweet. I don't deserve her, either.
Tea: You're wrong. Come upstairs and we'll talk more about this.
Todd: Talk? I don't want to talk. I hate talk. Talk sucks. You won't catch me talking and talking. I'm not one of those idiots who can't shut up when they get some booze into them. You'll never catch me yacking it up just because I've got booze in my belly. That will never be me. No way. I'm not that kind of guy.
Tea (amused): I didn't used to think you were.
Todd: Well, I'm not. Never will be. I guarantee it. I will never be that kind of guy. If you're here hoping that I'll suddenly turn into one of those yapping idiots, you wasted your time coming down here. I am not now, and I never will be, someone who talks incessantly just because they've had a lot to drink. That's not me. I'm not drunk, but even if I were, I still wouldn't be talking and talking and talking.
Tea: Querido, we need to leave right now, okay?
Todd: Querido? What does that mean again? Is that like calling someone honey, or sweetheart, or snookums?
Tea: Snookums?
Todd: Or, is that the Spanish word for idiot?
Tea: Well, since I don't think you're an idiot...
Todd (interrupting): Delgado?
Tea: Yes?
Todd: You're really pretty. Do I tell you that every day? Because you should hear that every day. Because you are. You're really pretty. You've got great hair. And, you've got eyes.
Tea: I'm glad you noticed.
Todd: Let me finish.
Tea: Sorry. Go ahead.
Todd: Where?
Tea: Up to our room. Come on.
[Tea steps closer to him and places her hands on his arm, trying to encourage him to stand up.]
Todd: You've got great hands, too.
[Todd grabs one of her hands with his own.]
Todd: Especially this hand. This is the one you had in my shorts. I love this hand.
Tea: You do?
Todd: It felt really great on my cock.
Tea (shocked): Todd!
Todd: Oh, right. You probably don't like that word. Your hand felt really great on my penis, Tea.
Tea: I'm glad. Let's go.
[Todd finally stands up next to her. He immediately places one of his hands on her butt.]
Todd: You've got a great ass. And, your tongue is the best tongue I've ever done tongue stuff with.
Tea: We're going to start walking now, okay?
[Tea begins to walk and pulls a barely cooperating Todd along with her.]
Todd: You've got great legs, too. You've got great everything. Did you know that?
Tea: No, I didn't.
[They enter the area of the club where the bartenders are anxiously waiting, relieve to see that Tea is finally removing Todd so they don't have to stay later and continue to deal with him.]
Todd: Did I mention how great your nipples feel in my mouth?
Tea: No, you didn't.
[Tea is embarrassed, knowing that the bartenders can definitely hear Todd, who is making no effort to lower his voice as he names off the parts of her body that he likes.]
Todd: Delgado, your nipples are incredible. Do you enjoy it when I suck on your nipples?
Tea: Todd, we should really save the rest of this conversation for when we're alone.
Todd: Are you ashamed of your nipples? You shouldn't be, they're incredible.
Tea: Thank you.
Todd: No, thank you.
[Tea can't control her smile as she continues to lead Todd through the resort toward the elevator as he continues to loudly discuss her body parts with her.
She has seen him drink many times before, but she has never seen him this way. She wasn't expecting it. She was more prepared for the belligerent guy that the bartender had mentioned on the phone. She wonders if perhaps he crossed a threshold as he continued drinking that placed him where he is now.
It crosses her mind, though, that perhaps Todd is doing this on purpose. Maybe he's wanted to say these things to her before but held back and is now hiding behind the alcohol as a way to express what he normally doesn't feel comfortable expressing. The only problem with this theory is that she can't imagine him wanting others to hear his descriptions of her body parts.
Regardless of the reason for his current behavior, Tea decides to enjoy it since this version of Todd is easier to deal with than the angry, belligerent man.]
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chapter 160:
[When they finally enter their suite, Tea is relieved, until Todd pulls away from her and immediately heads for the bar area.]
Tea: Todd, no more, okay? You've had enough.
Todd: Not nearly. I'm still awake, aren't I?
Tea: You don't need to drink until you pass out.
Todd: You have something against recreational passing out?
Tea: I'm sure if you get into bed you'll be out quickly anyway. You don't need to drink anymore.
Todd: That's what you think.
[Todd guzzles a large portion of the bottle of beer in his hand. Half the contents of the bottle, though, end up running down his chin and soaking the front of his shirt.]
Tea: Why are you doing this?
Todd: Because it tastes great.
Tea: I don't imagine anything will be tasting very good to you tomorrow.
Todd: Tomorrow? Who the hell cares about tomorrow? Tomorrow is just a day full of misery that hasn't happened yet.
Tea: I care about tomorrow.
Todd: Because tomorrow you're ditching me and going back to your boyfriend, the real love of your life?
Tea: The real love of my life is a drunken mess in front of me.
Todd: R.J.'s here? Where?
Tea: You, Todd...you are the love of my life.
Todd: Since when?
Tea: Since I fell in love with you. It's late, let's go to bed.
Todd: I can't screw you, you're knocked up.
Tea: Is that why you got drunk?
Todd: How many times do I have to tell you that I am not drunk?
[Todd has been slumped against the bar, but now he grabs another bottle of beer and moves over to one of the chairs and plops his body down.
Tea quickly approaches him as he's having difficulty opening the bottle. She grabs it away from him.]
Todd: Good. You've got a strong grip. Open that for me.
Tea: No more, Todd. I'm calling downstairs and having someone come and remove the rest of the alcohol from this room.
Todd: You wouldn't.
Tea: It's either that or I throw it all over the balcony.
Todd: You're really cruel sometimes.
Tea: You many not care right now, but there is a limit to how much alcohol you can safely put into your body.
Todd: I am not drunk.
Tea: Yes, you are. I don't want you drinking so much that you end up dead and I have to explain to Starr why her daddy will never be coming back.
Todd (yelling angrily): You shut the hell up about Starr.
Tea: We'll make a deal. I won't mention Starr and you won't drink anymore tonight.
Todd: I'll agree to half that deal. Give me back my bottle.
[Tea walks over to the phone and calls down to the front desk. Todd tries to get out of his chair and stop her, but is too slow and Tea is able to quickly tell the person on the phone to send up a staff member.]
Todd: You're gonna embarrass me, Delgado.
Tea: You've done that just fine on your own tonight.
Todd: What did those booze pushers tell you?
Tea: Nothing, except that you were belligerent when they tried to convince you to leave.
Todd: They were belligerent when they wouldn't give me more booze.
Tea: I don't understand, Todd. A few minutes ago you were happily describing my body parts and appeared to be glad to be near me, now you're being an...
Todd: Ass?
Tea: I was thinking of a different word, but, yes, that's how you're acting. What happened? What changed so suddenly?
[There is a knock on the door. Todd goes into the bedroom, not feeling like being in the room while Tea humiliates him.
The resort worker quickly removes all of the alcohol from the room as Tea also give an order that room service is not to send any alcohol to their room for the rest of the night.
When the worker leaves, Tea goes into the bedroom. She doesn't find Todd but she does see him out on the balcony. As she approaches him, she notices him spitting over the railing.]
Tea: That's disgusting.
Todd: There's no one down there...unfortunately. Is the booze gone?
Tea: Yes, the booze is gone.
Todd: Did you have fun lying to that person about me being drunk?
Tea: I didn't say why I wanted the alcohol removed.
Todd: They know. Everybody will know. Todd Manning is a lush, just like...
[Todd stops talking and walks back into their suite. Tea follows him. Todd notices her following him and as he reaches the bathroom, he turns toward her.]
Todd: I drank a lot of booze tonight, Delgado.
Tea: I know.
Todd: When a guy drinks a lot of booze, it's got to come back out again, right?
Tea: Of course.
Todd: Well, unless you plan to watch, you'll have to stop following me.
Tea: I'm surprised you didn't already do that over the balcony railing.
Todd: I hadn't thought of that.
[Todd walks back toward the balcony.]
Tea: Todd, I was kidding.
[Todd stops near Tea and looks into her eyes.]
Todd: Do you want to see him, Tea?
Tea: I don't understand. Who?
Todd: Him. You know, my one-eyed friend.
Tea: Todd...
Todd: If you need time to think before you answer, you have as long as it takes me to empty myself.
[Todd turns back toward the bathroom and leaves the room for several minutes. When he returns, Tea has clean clothing laid out on the bed for him.]
Todd: What did you decide, Delgado?
Tea: That you need to change your clothes, especially your shirt. I don't think I could sleep if it smells like I'm sleeping next to a keg.
Todd: Bad college memories?
Tea: I was too busy studying to...
Todd (interrupting): You were one of those geeks in the library?
Tea: Well, it was better than wasting my time with drunken, obnoxious, horny jerks at frat parties.
[Tea immediately regrets her words.]
Tea: I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought that up.
Todd: It happened. Is that why you're scared of him.
Tea: Your one-eyed friend?
Todd: He's hurt people. He was pretty good at it, too. I'm not bragging. That's just how it was.
Tea: I know.
[Todd sits down on the edge of the bed and surprises Tea as he opens his pants and lowers them, along with his underwear, to the floor. He lies back on the bed with his legs hanging over the side. Tea is stunned. She doesn't know what she should do. She knows that Todd would not likely do this if he wasn't drunk, but she doesn't want to give him any reason to convince himself that she really is scared of his penis. She waits to see what else he'll say or do.
He surprises her again when his hand reaches down and grabs his penis.]
Todd: This guy, he scared every girl who ever saw him. Look at him. He looks scary, right? You think he's ugly and scary, don't you?
[Tea hesitates for a moment, still not believing that Todd is exposing himself to her and asking her to look at his penis.]
Todd: I thought so. It's okay. I understand.
Tea: I'm not scared of him.
Todd: Sure you are.
Tea: I'm not.
Todd: Then touch him. Prove you're not scared.
Tea: Is this some twisted attempt to get me to masturbate you?
Todd: You think I want you to master my bait?
Tea: I don't feel like playing word games with you right now.
Todd: You don't seem to feel like touching him either, now that you've seen him.
Tea: Tomorrow, when you're sober, if you're still interested, I'll touch you wherever you want me to.
Todd: You have a better shot at it now.
Tea: You're drunk, Todd.
Todd: Yeah, I am.
Tea: You're admitting it?
Todd: If it will get you to touch him, I'll admit to anything.
Tea: Not like this, Todd.
Todd: Then tell me how. Tell me what I have to do to get into your pants tonight.
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