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| LAST CHANCE BY TIMA |
CHAPTERS 51 - 60 |
PREVIOUSLY...
Tea kisses Todd's neck before settling her head on his shoulder again. Tea's emotions are heightened when she feels Todd's hand softly rest on top of her hand on his stomach. She stops talking and just enjoys the closeness. She doesn't feel like she needs to tell him that she loves him right now...to say the words. She's certain that he knows and she feels certain that he loves her too. For now the words aren't necessary.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
chapter 51:
[Tea and Todd stay in the same position for several minutes. The sense of panic that initially began to grip Todd fades in Tea's calming presence. The urge to leave, to protect Tea from himself, is still there but the love that he feels for Tea and the love that he feels from her is too strong for Todd to walk away from.
Todd kicks off his shoes. Tea removes her arms from around him as he stands up. As Todd undoes his pants he steps on the toe of each sock and lifts his leg to pull his socks off. His pants fall to the floor followed immediately by his underwear.
Todd has a tremendous urge to turn off the light but he remembers that Tea wanted the light to stay on and he thinks about her standing bare in front of him even though he knows it wasn't easy for her given that painful incident from their past when she had bared herself to him and then ended up naked in the hallway. He wants to do this, to bare himself to Tea, to return the trust that she's shown in him. He just wishes he could do it with his eyes closed. He reminds himself that Tea saw him when they were intimate in the laundry room and she didn't laugh or make fun of him so he knows that she wouldn't do that now.
Todd starts to feel another anxiety attack threatening. He quickly sits back down on the side of the bed and closes his eyes and concentrates on keeping his breathing steady.
Tea senses Todd's anxiety increasing again and returns her body to his. She holds him tightly in her arms until his body seems more relaxed. Tea loosens her grip on Todd's body and begins caressing his chest and stomach slightly. Todd's hand latches onto Tea's leg that is spread out to his side. Slowly, Todd's hand begins to massage Tea's leg as his body turns slightly toward her.
Their faces nuzzle together until their lips meet in a kiss that begins soft and slow but quickly increases in passion until their tongues are playfully battling each other. As they continue to kiss, Todd's body continues to turn more toward Tea until their bodies are almost facing each other.
Their hands explore their upper bodies in a desperate need to make up for every time they wanted to touch each other in the past but didn't. When Todd pulls away from their kiss they both are breathing heavily. Todd tries to move away from Tea's body and get off the bed but Tea tightens her grip on his back, refusing to let him go. Todd gently pulls her arms away from his body and stands up.
Tea keeps her eyes down. She knows it's over, that Todd went as far as he could. She still hopes that she can spend the night in Todd's arms even if they don't make love and have to be fully clothed. She doesn't care, she just wants to finally spend the night in his arms.
When Tea finally looks up she sees Todd standing next to the bed facing her. He hasn't covered his body with layers of clothing like she expected but is standing there completely exposed to her gaze. She looks at his face for almost an entire minute before Todd finally allows himself to make eye contact with her.
Tea tries to read his thoughts...she knows there's a reason he got off the bed and that there must be a reason he would stand naked in front of her like this. As she discerns the insecurity in his eyes, she understands. Very slowly, Tea allows her eyes to wander down his body and then back up again until she's looking into his eyes again. Todd waits anxiously for her reaction.
chapter 52:
[After taking in the breathtaking beauty of Todd's body, Tea stares into his eyes. Todd had watched her expression carefully while she looked over his body. He waits for the laughter and ridicule that he knows in his heart would never come from Tea but that he still fears could happen. Instead, when Tea's eyes meet his again he sees that same look he has seen so many times before in Tea's eyes...a look of love...compassion...understanding...and hardest of all for Todd to comprehend...desire.
Tea is uncertain about what to do. She wants to go to him and show him how much he excites her but she doesn't want to pressure him. She doesn't know if she can wait for him to come to her though...she needs him so much right now.
They continue to stare at each other for several minutes.]
Todd (speaking softly): I don't understand.
Tea: I like what I see, Todd.
Todd: Why?
Tea: Because I do. You have a great body.
Todd (looking away): Shut up.
Tea: I'm not lying to you. Your body is very appealing to me. I'm attracted to you.
[Todd shakes his head not believing her words.]
Tea: If you come back to bed I'll show you how much I want to be with you.
Todd: It doesn't make any sense.
Tea: What doesn't?
Todd (looking back into her eyes again): I've made your life miserable.
Tea: Some of the worst moments of my life have been with you...(as tears come to her eyes)...and all of the best moments.
Todd: No. Don't.
Tea: Don't what? Don't acknowledge how much you've given me? Just remember the bad moments and none of the good ones?
Todd: There were no good moments.
Tea (hurt): Maybe there weren't for you but there were some great moments for me. Some of my moments with you were the happiest times in my life.
Todd: That makes no sense.
Tea: Come back to bed.
[Todd doesn't move. Tea's eyes move down his body. She can clearly see that his body wants to be there with her. Todd follows her eyes down his own body and noticing what she's staring at he becomes even more uncomfortable standing there naked in front of her.]
Tea (making eye contact with him again): Come back to bed.
chapter 53:
[Todd turns away from Tea and walks toward the window. He stares silently out the window for several minutes before speaking.]
Todd: Tea?
Tea: Yes?
Todd: Touch me.
[Tea immediately gets off the bed and approaches Todd. While she had been watching him pensively staring out the window she had wanted to touch him, to embrace him, but she let him take the time he needed, knowing that this night was different for both of them. What they are contemplating doing is more than sex, more than lust or loneliness, it is about feelings so deep it scares both of them.
Standing facing his side, Tea lightly touches his hair before sliding her hand slowly down his bare back. Tea's touch is what Todd expected -- gentle and loving. After moving her hand up and down his back several times, Tea places her other hand in front of him and very slowly caresses his chest for several pleasurable minutes. When she moves her hand down and begins touching his stomach she doesn't linger long before moving her hand further down his body. She kisses his arm and moves her body closer to his as her hand begins to stroke him.
After enjoying her touch for a moment, Todd places his arm around Tea's body and pulls her closer to him as he turns his body more toward her. Tea uses both hands to stroke him as Todd's hands begin to explore her body.
Todd tries to create in Tea's body the same level of pleasure she's causing in his own. When Todd reaches the point where he doesn't think he can handle another moment of Tea's touch he pulls on her arms causing her hands to leave his body.]
Todd: That's enough of that.
[Tea looks into his eyes and finds an intense desire there. Todd pulls her body tightly against his and kisses her more deeply than he ever has before. Tea enjoys the feeling of him against her body but she desperately wants him inside of her. When Tea pulls away from the kiss, Todd grunts slightly, not wanting her lips to leave his.]
Tea: I want you, Todd. Right now. Against the window, against the wall, on the chair, on the bed...I don't care. I need you.
Todd: Sure?
[Tea brings her lips back to Todd's in answer to his question. They kiss passionately, their bodies still pressed together, as they awkwardly move in unison toward the bed. When Tea finally feels the bed against the back of her legs she removes her body from Todd's as she climb onto the bed and positions herself with her head on the pillows. Todd quickly follows and positions himself above her. They both maintain eye contact until he starts to enter her. As he slowly moves deeper they both close their eyes at the pleasure of their bodies connecting.]
chapter 54:
In the past when Tea and Todd had made love they pretended that it was just sex to the other person and even to themselves at times. They also tried to hide how much they both enjoyed what they were doing. They were both afraid to let the other know how much they wanted to be with each other, how much they needed to be physically connected.
This time they make no secret of their affection, or desire, for each other. At times their eyes are closed as they savor the sensations possessing their bodies. Other times their eyes are opened and taking in their partner's body with deep admiration but only briefly since their eyes always migrate back to the other person's eyes...to the looks that only they can share.
Todd is silent, except for the heavy sound of his breathing and occasional moans that unconsciously escape from deep within him. Tea makes similar noises but as the passion mounts and she gets closer and closer to bliss she begins to speak softly to Todd in Spanish. Todd doesn't know the precise meaning of the words but he understands completely what she's saying to him.
As Tea's utterances become louder and more frequent, Todd knows that she's getting close. He pays attention to the signals her body is giving him and does everything he can to maximize her pleasure.
As her orgasm reaches it's peak, Tea repeats Todd's name numerous times, each time getting progressively louder until she's practically screaming his name in pleasure. When her fingers no longer press hard into the flesh of his back Todd stops his body and stays still inside Tea, letting her come down from the natural high she's experiencing.
Tea has her eyes closed and is lost in the incredible feelings that Todd has created within her. After what feels like several minutes have passed, Tea feels Todd's lips softly touch hers. She opens her eyes as his lips lift off of hers.
They make eye contact...pleasure, desire and love flowing from both sets of eyes. Todd brings his lips back down to Tea's as Tea encourages his body to move within her again. Todd stops kissing Tea as he builds up his rhythm again. Tea studies his face as it hangs slightly above her. His eyes are closed, his facial features serious with concentration until he unleashes inside of her. She notices his face soften and the muscles under her hands lose their tension as his body collapses on top of her...his body, mind and emotions exhausted.
chapter 55:
[Tea enjoys the feeling of Todd's weight on top of her while he recovers from his orgasm. When he rolls over and lies next to her on the bed she misses the feeling of his body pressed against hers. She rolls over and cuddles against him. A feeling she's never had before envelops her being. It's a feeling she could never put into words...a peacefulness...a feeling of being precisely where she belongs.
The lateness of the evening, along with the physical and emotional exhaustion that Tea feels, overtake her as she begins to fall asleep with her head resting near Todd's heart...a heart she's always wanted to be closer too. Tea smiles slightly knowing that Todd has let her touch his heart. For so long she questioned if his heart belonged to her and now she knows that it does...that it has all along, even when he tried to hide it from her. For the first time in her life, Tea is feeling what it feels like to fall asleep with her body pressed against the body of the man she loves, knowing that he loves her too. She knows that their making love together won't make all the problems go away. She knows that it will never be easy spending her life with Todd but she wants it more than anything. They'll face every challenge they encounter together...finally, together.
Todd lies there with Tea's naked body against his...her breathing noticeably changing as she begins to fall asleep. His mind is racing so fast and is quickly becoming very confused. He enjoyed being with her...touching her...kissing her...making love to her. That's what it was...making love. Sex was a hell of a lot easier, he realizes. Now she's going to expect things from him...things he's not sure he can give her. Now she knows how he feels. She knows that he loves her. What happens when she wakes up? What will she expect from him? He can't give her what she wants...what she needs. She deserves better than being stuck with him for the rest of her life. She deserves to be happy.
Todd waits a few moments before doing what he knows he has to do. He waits so he can feel what it feels like to be here with Tea like this for just a little bit longer. He knows that he'll never feel it again. He knows that he's about to ensure that he never feels this loved again. Tea will get over him...if he forces her to. She'll move on to something better. He knows that he's never doing this again. He will never allow himself to ever feel this way about someone again...he gets hurt and the other person gets hurt so he's never doing it again. No more romantic entanglements. No more letting go of his heart. No more. That's it. He's determined...no more.
Before speaking, Todd convinces himself that he's doing the right thing for Tea...he's protecting her, which he knows is the best way that he can show his love for her.]
Todd: Tea?
[Tea moans slightly and tries to press her body even tighter against his as she tries to avoid waking completely. She feels so comfortable as she drifts off to sleep, she doesn't want to wake up now.]
Todd: Tea?
[Todd stops for a moment to convince himself again that he's doing what's best for Tea.]
Todd: Tea? Now that we're done here you should go to your own room before you fall asleep.
[Tea instantly awakens as her heart breaks completely. She had been so certain that it had meant something to him, that they had been making love, but it was just sex or another game that he had been playing with her. It meant nothing to him. He doesn't love her, he never did.
Tea pulls her body away from Todd's and gets out of the bed without looking at him. She doesn't bother to pick up her clothes as she quickly leaves the room.
As soon as Tea makes it to the hallway, Todd can hear her beginning to cry. He doesn't move as he listens to her, his own heart breaking. This is the right thing to do for her. It has to be.]
chapter 56:
Tea tried to make it to her room before the tears fell but she barely made it to the hallway before sobs from deep within her soul began. In her room she sits on her bed for a few minutes trying to comprehend what had just happened.
She was so certain that Todd loved her, she had felt it, but clearly she had been wrong...again. He doesn't love her. He never loved her. He just used her and is probably in his room right now laughing at her for falling for his game again.
Tea considers marching into his room and causing him a severe injury. Instead, she decides to take a shower and heads for the bathroom.
Todd lies naked on his bed for several minutes as he listens to the muffled cries coming from her room. When he hears the shower turn on he closes his eyes and pictures her standing there, the water running down her body, wetting her hair and sliding down her chest, down her stomach, down her legs. As he feels his body respond to the image of Tea naked, he determines that he will put aside every fear, every doubt about himself, that he has and join the woman he loves. He'll press himself against her and enter the comfort of her body. He knows that at least for a little while everything would feel okay again.
Todd makes it to his bedroom door before changing his mind. He reminds himself that he made the right decision for Tea. If he left it up to her she would choose to waste her life on him. He's convinced that the most precious gift that he can give her is a lifetime free of him. Besides, he knows Tea, right now if she saw him she'd probably try to do serious harm to him. Todd gets dressed and stays in his room.
When Tea finishes her shower she returns to her unbearably empty bedroom. The shower didn't really help any. Her heart is still breaking, her mind is still numb. She knows it was unrealistic but she had hoped that when she returned to her room that Todd would be there waiting for her. Seeing that he isn't makes her heart ache even more.
Tea is so exhausted she doesn't feel like packing right away. She knows she has to leave, she should leave, but she knows walking out of the penthouse this time will be harder than all of the previous times she walked out the door, out of her marriage to Todd. She decides to wait until she wakes up in the morning before making the final decision to leave. She tries not to hold out any hope for her relationship with Todd to work out but she can't help but hold onto a speck of trust that she still has in Todd to come through for her in the end...and tomorrow morning will definitely, absolutely, positively be the end...or maybe the next day. Tea smiles slightly at her own delusions about Todd as she lays down in the bed. She's too tired to even change her clothes and lies down with just a towel wrapped around her body.
Todd waits in his room until he hasn't heard any noise in Tea's room for many minutes. He consoles himself that at least she didn't pack her bags and take off. He knows that he'll have to get her to leave, to keep her safe from himself, but he doesn't want her to leave yet...he's not ready for her to leave the penthouse, or his life, yet.
Quietly, Todd enters Tea's bedroom. He finds her lying on her bed wearing only a bath towel. As his gaze follows her legs up her body he realizes that he can see under her towel...he quickly looks away, not wanting to be tempted by her body again. When he looks back at her his eyes move up her body to her face. At least while she's asleep there aren't any tears. He couldn't take it if he had to watch her cry right now. It would cause him too much pain.
Todd picks up a blanket at the foot of the bed and gently covers Tea's body with it. He lightly touches her hair, wishing things were different, that he could just crawl into bed with her and spend his life making her happy. He knows that can never happen, that it would never work out because of him, so he turns and leaves the room.
chapter 57:
[Minutes later...
Tea, now dressed, pauses in front of Todd's bedroom door. She knows that this won't be easy, that Todd won't allow it to be easy, but she knows that she has to do it. She'll regret it if she doesn't.
Tea doesn't knock. She just takes a few deep breaths and pushes the door open. She finds Todd sitting on the bed, his back against the headboard, his eyes closed.]
Tea: Todd?
[Todd doesn't respond or open his eyes.]
Tea: Todd? (still no response) Would it be okay if I slept in here? It would help me sleep. (pause) Maybe it would help you sleep, too. (pause) Todd? I know you're not asleep. Todd?
[Tea pauses for a moment trying not to let herself get too angry and frustrated by Todd's refusal to acknowledge her presence.]
Tea: I know you were in my room a few minutes ago. I was awake. I know that you covered my body with that blanket. I know that you touched my hair. I felt it. That wasn't the way you touch someone that means nothing to you. This could still be okay, Todd. Just look at me. You don't have to say anything. I know the words are difficult for you. I know they're painful. They're painful for me too. It hurts when you let someone that close to you, doesn't it? (pause) Well, I know it hurts me but I'm willing to try anyway. Are you? We could be scared together. Remember when you said that to me, that you wanted to be scared with me? I want to be scared with you, Todd. I want to be here with you. I...I...
[Tea stops speaking. Her heart is hurting even more as she stands in front of the man she loves who won't even open his eyes and look at her. He could show her affection when he thought she was asleep but he refuses to even try now that he knows she's awake.
Tea understands why it's so difficult for Todd, why he sometimes feels he needs to shutdown, but she also knows that she can't keep doing this. Every time she allows herself to believe that he has genuine feelings for her he does something to make their being together impossible but then when she's convinced there will never be anything between them again he does something sweet and thoughtful that makes her hope for a relationship with him again. It's a painful cycle that she feels she's been trapped in for too long...unable to have the love that she needs but also unable to break away completely.]
Tea: Open your eyes. Look at me. Damn you! Why do you do this to me? You know how much it hurts, don't you? You don't care. You'd rather protect your own heart than protect mine. I've risked my heart so many times for you. If I thought there was a chance, hell, I'm stupid enough that I'd probably risk it again and keep risking it for the rest of my life. I'm risking it right now. (pause) I can't stay here like this. I won't be your platonic housemate again. I want to share your bed with you. I want to share my life, I want to share my heart, with you and for you to share yours with me. I want you to touch me again like you did tonight. I want that. I can't stay here waiting and hoping that one day you'll let it happen again. I can't come in here and have sex with you and then go back to my room anymore. Do you understand that? Do you understand why I can't do that?
[Tea pauses to gather her courage and lay her heart on the line one more time in the hopes that it will touch something in Todd and he will allow them to have a chance at a life together.]
Tea: I...love you...Todd. (pause) I didn't stop when you broke my heart on our wedding night. I didn't stop when you left town without bothering to say good-bye to me. I didn't stop all that time you were gone. I didn't stop. I never stopped loving you and I probably never will but I have to stop this. I need to have a relationship with you and if you aren't interested in that then I have to go. Todd? Say something...anything.
[Tea gives up.]
Tea: I want to have a life with you. I really do but not like this. I'll leave. You can have your precious penthouse to yourself again. You can be here all alone wallowing in misery. I'm leaving.
[Tea turns and storms out of the room.]
chapter 58:
After Todd is certain that Tea is out of the room he opens his eyes again. If Tea could see his eyes she would know how much pain he's in. Todd knew that, knew that she would see everything in his eyes the same way he sees everything in her eyes, that's why he kept his eyes closed when Tea was in the room. He couldn't let her see how deeply she could get to him. He couldn't let her see how much he needs her...how much he loves her.
Thinking about Tea leaving makes his chest ache but Todd knows that he's doing the right thing. She has to get passed him so that she can have a decent life. He wants that for her. He wants her to be happy. He wishes it could be with him but he knows that his life wasn't meant to have lasting happiness in it.
Todd opens the drawer of his nightstand and takes out the picture of Tea that he had taken with him when he left town. Like so many lonely nights before, he stares at her image as his finger traces the outline of her face. He knows that she'll be leaving soon but he also knows that she'll always be with him...always on his mind...always in his heart.
In the master bedroom, Tea is pulling items of clothing out of drawers and tossing them wildly into an opened suitcase. As she frantically packs she hurls vulgar words at Todd in Spanish. If he didn't care about her, didn't want to be with her, she could accept that. It wouldn't surprise her since she never expects anyone to genuinely care about her. She had hoped that Todd did care but she feels like her instincts must have been completely wrong about him. He wouldn't speak to her or even look at her. He treated her like she wasn't worth the effort to even open his eyes. He made her feel like she was nothing. If he had cared about her, even just as a human being, he wouldn't have done that to her.
Unless...
Maybe he was scared. Maybe that's why he wouldn't open his eyes. Maybe that's why he couldn't look at her. Maybe...
No...no...no. Tea will not allow herself to think like that again. He doesn't love her...he doesn't. If she thinks that he does she'll just get hurt again. She can't allow that. Not anymore. She's not risking her heart again. She will not stand in front of him and bare her soul again. No. Never again.
Tea carries her suitcase down the stairs. Most of her things are still upstairs but she has enough clothes to last her for several days wherever she ends up. She determined long ago she was never going back to The Palace Hotel. She had spent enough time living there during her marriage to Todd. When she moved out of the hotel and back to the penthouse she had promised herself she would never go back. In a different time, and under different circumstances, she would have considered seeking comfort at Carlotta's house but since she's not in the mood to hear how wrong she was to trust Todd again she knows that she can't go there.
Even though she still doesn't know where she'll go, Tea stands at the front door, her hand on the lock, prepared to leave. Nothing is stopping her. Certainly, no one is stopping her. Before she can force herself to leave she remembers something that she doesn't want to leave without.
Tea leaves her suitcase at the front door as she quickly runs up the stairs.
chapter 59:
Tea quickly enters the master bedroom and takes a framed photograph off the dresser. It's a posed picture of herself with Todd and Starr. They had posed for it at the beginning of their pretend marriage in an effort to look like a real family. Even though they weren't a genuine family when the picture was taken Tea had kept the photo anyway.
Tea starts to leave the room but slowly turns around and looks at the room that she had only shared with Todd one night, fully clothed, only their hands touching. Tea had spent many nights lying in the same bed remembering that night and also dreaming about someday sharing more nights with Todd in this room...sharing more than childhood memories...their bodies connecting in more places than just their hands. At the time, Tea could only imagine what it would be like to feel Todd's bare body against her...to feel him inside her. Now she knows what it feels like but she also knows that she will never feel it again.
Slowly, Tea walks toward the bed. Her hand moves across the comforter, for a moment lost in a combination of her memories of being with Todd sexually and her fantasies of being loved by Todd. After a moment, Tea moves down to her knees and pulls a box out from under the bed.
After her second wedding to Todd...after the disastrous wedding night...after her recovery from the smoke inhalation and her release from the hospital...after learning that Todd had left town and left her life, Tea had determined that she would forget about Todd...move on...release herself from the past...but it didn't work for long. If she had been honest with herself at the time she would have had to admit that it didn't work at all, not even for a few minutes, since Todd's presence was with her at all times, in all places, in everything she did, every choice she made.
Opening up the box, Tea is reminded of when she stopped deluding herself...when she gave up on pretending to herself that she was getting over Todd. She continued trying to fool everyone else around her but when the contents of this box arrived Tea couldn't pretend with herself anymore.
Todd's nephew, Joey, had waited until his uncle had been gone for months before he approached his former aunt. He wasn't sure if he should remind her of what he knew must have been a very painful experience for her. He even considered destroying the visual evidence of that night but ultimately he determined that it should be Tea's decision what became of all of the photographs he had taken at the wedding and reception.
When Joey had left and Tea was left alone with her memories and with all the photographs she initially tried to ignore them, to pretend they weren't there, that they didn't matter to her. When that didn't work she stared at the box that Joey had brought which sat across the room from her. When she finally approached the box she was determined to throw it in the trash but she thought that she would just take a peek first...just to remind herself of what she didn't want anymore.
From the moment she had opened the box and looked at the first photograph she knew that she could never part with any of them. It was painful for her to look through all of the pictures. She cried a lot while the pictures carried her back to that night but she also, surprisingly, caught herself laughing and smiling at the images. Several pictures in particular became favorites instantly...exchanging vows...kissing...dancing...a picture of Todd in a quiet moment alone with Starr.
Tea spent many hours looking through the pictures the first night and many nights after that she found that she preferred to be alone with pictures and memories to being with John Sykes, whom she was dating at the time. Todd had a way of filling Tea with his memory more than the detective could with his live presence.
As Tea looks through the pictures that she never could bring herself to put into a photo album, she tries to find just one that she can take with her but it seems so impossible to pick just one image...just one memory.
After several minutes, Tea picks up the box and carries it out of the room.
chapter 60:
[Todd is sitting on the bed staring at Tea's picture when she suddenly bursts into the room. He quickly places the photograph of Tea in the nightstand and slams the drawer shut.]
Todd: I thought you were leaving?
Tea: I am.
Todd: Then, get the hell out.
Tea: What did you just put in that drawer?
Todd: Nothing.
Tea: Another secret?
Todd: It's none of your business.
Tea (as she walks toward the nightstand): What is it?
[Todd stands up and blocks her path.]
Todd: It's nothing. It's private.
Tea: Why don't you want me to know what's in there?
Todd: Because I don't. If I wanted people to know my stuff I wouldn't be keeping it in a drawer, now would I?
Tea: People? Yeah, that's all I am, right? Just another person? No one of value to you.
Todd: What do you want, Tea? Why aren't you gone yet?
Tea: Don't worry. I'm on my way out. (gesturing to the box she's carrying) I just wanted to give you this.
Todd: A bomb?
Tea: That's your specialty.
Todd: What is it?
Tea: Open it and find out.
[When Todd doesn't move, Tea takes the cover off the box and dumps the photographs onto the bed. Todd is surprised to see pictures of himself and Tea on their wedding day.]
Todd: Why are you showing these to me? That was a long time ago.
Tea: They don't have any value to me anymore.
Todd: Then why did you keep them?
Tea: Because I was stupid enough to think that... Never mind. It doesn't matter now, does it? I thought maybe you would enjoy destroying them. You've destroyed everything else.
[Todd continues to stare at the pictures as Tea slowly moves so his back is facing her. With Todd distracted by the wedding photos, Tea quietly opens the drawer of the nightstand and sees a picture frame lying face down in the drawer. She recognizes it as one of the picture frames she noticed Todd take out of his bag when he was unpacking on his first night back at the penthouse. As she picks up the frame and begins to turn it over she expects to see Starr's picture and wonders why Todd would be so aggressive about hiding it from her. When Tea sees her own image encased in the frame she gasps in surprise. When Todd turns around and sees what she's holding he quickly grabs it from her angrily.]
Todd: What the hell are you doing?
Tea (in shock): Why do you have my picture?
[Todd doesn't answer, uncertain of what to say.]
Tea: I saw you unpack that when you came back. You took my picture with you? Why?
[Todd avoids eye contact as Tea stares at him trying to make sense out of this new information she's uncovered.]
Tea (gently touching his arm): Todd?
[Todd pulls away from Tea, tosses her picture on top of the wedding pictures and quickly leaves the room.]
to be continued...
