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| LAST CHANCE BY TIMA |
CHAPTERS 131- 140 |
PREVIOUSLY...
Tea: I swear, you have me right at the edge of this incredible feeling. I'm torn because I want you to keep me right here where I am with this feeling for as long as possible but I also want you to send me flying over the edge.
Todd: The edge, huh? That's where you are?
[Tea confirms her pleasure with another sensual moan as Todd continues to massage her back and sides.]
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
chapter 131:
[Todd continues massaging Tea's back for a few more minutes.]
Todd: Tea?
[Tea moans slightly in response.]
Todd: Did you...did you...well...did you want...I mean, need...me to...uh...massage anywhere else?
[Tea rolls onto her side and opens her eyes. Todd can tell from the peculiar expression on her face that she is in a state of complete bliss. Todd places his hand on her side and lightly moves it across her skin.]
Tea: If you're uncomfortable...
Todd: I'm okay.
Tea: You don't have to.
Todd: Do you want me to?
Tea: Yes.
[Todd gently positions Tea onto her back. He caress her neck and shoulders before moving his hands down and lightly moving them around her chest, barely touching her. After a few moments of teasing her with his touch, he places both of his hands on one of her breasts and begins to knead her flesh gently.
Tea's hand finds the front of his pants and begins to caress him. Todd stops what he's doing and removes her hand from his body. Tea opens her eyes and looks at him.]
Tea: I want to.
Todd: Last night you helped me. Let me help you.
Tea: We could help each other.
Todd: Just relax and let me do this. Maybe later we could do other stuff, if you want.
Tea: Stuff that will require me to have another massage tomorrow?
Todd: I don't want to hurt you again.
Tea: You didn't hurt me. When I exercise sometimes my back hurts the next day. That doesn't mean that I shouldn't exercise anymore. Besides, I really like...uh...exercising with you, Todd.
Todd: Well, exercise is supposed to be good for you.
Tea: Exactly.
[Tea places her hand on his pants again.]
Todd: I thought you didn't want to, uh, exercise in bed until I can stay after the exercising ends.
Tea: Then let's go downstairs. Let's go anywhere. I really need this.
Todd: Why?
Tea: I need you to show me.
Todd: What?
Tea: How you feel about me.
Todd: I thought I was by making you feel better.
Tea: You're making me feel great.
[Tea sits up and begins caressing his chest.]
Tea: I need you to make love to me...really slow this time. Show me that you love me, Todd. I need you to show me.
Todd: I don't have to be...inside you...for that, do I?
Tea (lying back down and trying to turn away from him): Forget it.
Todd (rolling her back toward him): Is there a difference between having sex and making love?
chapter 132:
[Tea doesn't respond to Todd's question and refuses to look at him.]
Todd: Well, Tea? Is there a difference?
Tea: Is there for you?
Todd: I asked you first.
[Tea is silent.]
Todd: Last night, on the dock, did you feel like I was showing you that I loved you?
[Tea doesn't respond.]
Todd: Come on, Tea, answer me. Did you feel like I loved you?
Tea: It felt like you wanted me...or someone, anyway.
Todd: It was you, Tea. You're the only person that I want.
Tea: Why don't you want me now?
Todd: Tea, you felt me through my pants. You know the situation inside there.
Tea: Then why are we talking? Let's do it.
Todd: Last night you took care of me so I could sleep but I didn't do anything for you. Now, I want to do this for you. I'm actually having an unselfish moment here so take advantage of it.
Tea: Todd...
Todd (interrupting): Tea, just relax and let me do this. I want to make you feel the way you made me feel last night. Let me try.
Tea: You've been succeeding so far.
Todd: Well, stop interrupting and let me finish.
[Tea lays back and closes her eyes again, allowing Todd to pleasure her in whatever way he chooses.
Todd returns his hands to Tea's body, allowing himself the luxury of exploring her flesh slowly, without the rush to move ahead. He wants his hands, and what they're doing, to be the complete focus for Tea's mind and body.
His slow pace allows Tea to anticipate every move his hands will make but he varies his movements enough to continuously surprise her.
After touching her with nothing but his hands for numerous minutes, Todd decides to add an additional sensation. He straddles her body, surprising her. His hands caress her stomach for another minute before Tea feels him shift his body. She's tempted to open her eyes to see what he's doing but decides to allow him to continue to surprise her.
Todd removes his hands from her stomach and places them on either side of her so he can lean his weight on the bed. Tea feels him do this and can sense that his face is near hers. She expects to be kissed and Todd knows it so he decides to surprise her with a different sensation instead.]
chapter 133:
[As Tea anticipates that his lips will make contact with her mouth, Todd teases her by moving his mouth around near her face, allowing her to feel his breath on her skin but no direct contact.
Tea is about to grab the back of his head and initiate the kiss herself when she feels him shift his body again. She's disappointed, as she assumes that he is removing himself from his position atop her body.
Instead, Todd slowly lowers himself down her body until his mouth is positioned above her chest. Without giving Tea any time to anticipate what he will do, Todd's tongue suddenly flicks at one of Tea's nipples. Tea's body jumps slightly at the surprise sensation.
Todd's mouth descends on her breast, taking in as much of her flesh as he can. Tea moans her approval as her hands enter his hair, encouraging him to continue what he's doing.
Todd needs no encouragement as he enjoys her breast in his mouth. When he finally releases her flesh from his mouth his tongue licks her nipple one final time before he moves his mouth to her other breast.
Tea's moaning spurs Todd on. After devoting his attention to Tea's chest for several minutes, Todd moves back up her body and buries his face in her neck, kissing her flesh.
Tea seeks his mouth out with her own, needing to kiss him...needing him to kiss her. Their lips connect in a deep, hungry kiss. Neither is aware of their own unconscious moaning.
As their kiss ends, they both are breathing heavily and more turned on than either can recall being before. Todd's face lingers slightly above Tea's as they both catch their breaths.]
Todd (smiling slightly): You know, what I've been doing the last few minutes isn't the only way I can use my mouth...and these aren't the only parts of your body I can use it on.
[Todd gently strokes Tea's cheek and mouth with his finger.]
Todd: Do you want me to?
Tea: Yes.
[Tea's senses feel overwhelmed with Todd's presence. She's somewhat surprised at how overt his sensuality is in this moment. No other man has ever made her feel so sexually charged while keeping all of his clothes on before.]
Todd: Are you sure?
[Tea's hands caress Todd's head through his hair.]
Tea: First, I want you to kiss me again. Then, I want you to do whatever you have in mind. I'm ready for anything you want to do.
[Tea raises her head slightly while she applies pressure to the back of Todd's head, wanting his mouth to engage hers again. Todd doesn't disappoint her as their mouths meet again and his weight presses into her more firmly.
The kiss lasts for what feels like several minutes to both of them. Even as their kiss ends, Todd's lips don't pull away from her body. He kisses her lower lip, slides his lips slightly lower and kisses her chin, then slowly proceeds down her neck. His lips never leave her as he journeys down her body, stopping continuously to kiss her flesh.]
chapter 134:
[Todd has been positioned between Tea's legs, giving her incredible pleasure, for longer than either realizes or cares about. They both are enjoying their current positions too much to think about how long it's been.
Tea stopped counting her orgasms after the first few. If her mind wasn't so distracted by her body right now and she were able to coherently form thoughts, she would be shocked at her body's reaction to Todd since no other man has ever had the same effect on her body that Todd currently is causing.
Tea has been moaning continuously and muttering words in Spanish that Todd doesn't comprehend the meaning of but yet has no problem understanding clearly. He pays close attention to Tea's reaction to each new sensation he attempts. He listens to her body and does everything he can to maximize her pleasure.
After each orgasm, he lessens his movements and contact with her flesh but doesn't allow her to lose her heightened state of arousal. After allowing her a few moments of rest, he begins moving her toward her next orgasm, enjoying the feeling of giving her such intense pleasure.
Finally, Tea's body signals that it's overloading and needs a longer rest than Todd has been allowing it.]
Tea (reluctantly): Todd?
[Todd moans his response into her, sending even more pleasure through her body.]
Tea: Todd?
[Todd releases his mouth from her for a brief moment.]
Todd: What?
[Todd's mouth returns to her instantly, sending more waves of pleasure through her. She feels like she may pass out soon if she doesn't stop him.]
Tea: Todd... (his tongue hits one of her favorite spots) Oh! Todd!
[More than a minute passes before Tea is able to speak again.]
Tea: Todd, we have to stop.
Todd (looking up at her): Why?
[Tea doesn't respond since even though she knows that her body needs to stop, she doesn't want to.]
Todd: Did I hurt you?
Tea: No.
Todd: Are you getting sore?
Tea: Um...
Todd: I should have stopped a long time ago.
Tea: I didn't want you to. I don't want you to stop now but I think my body needs a break.
[As Todd lifts himself up and begins to stretch his muscles, Tea's body noticeably shudders.]
Todd: Tea?
Tea (a look of bliss upon her face): Wow! I've never had that happen before. You're good, Todd. You can make it happen even after you stop touching me.
[Todd is about to make a sarcastic remark when he looks toward Tea and finds himself speechless. She is lying on her back in the same position she's been in while Todd has been pleasuring her.
Suddenly, a realization hits Todd. He sits up on the edge of the bed in almost a state of panic. It takes only a few moments for Tea to realize that something's wrong.]
chapter 135:
Tea (in a comforting voice): Todd? What's wrong?
Todd (jumping off the bed): Uh, nothing. Everything's fine. I'm going to go and...uh...get some breakfast or something.
[Todd quickly moves toward the door of Tea's bedroom.]
Tea: You don't have to run, Todd.
Todd: Run? I'm not running.
Tea: Well, you're walking briskly. You're desperate to get out of here. You don't have to be.
Todd: I'm hungry. I haven't eaten yet today.
[Todd looks toward Tea briefly and sees that she's still lying naked on the bed. He quickly looks away again.]
Tea: What is it? Did I say or do something wrong?
Todd: No, of course not.
Tea: Neither did you. If you're embarrassed or if you regret...
Todd (interrupting): No. No. That's not it.
Tea: Then tell me what it is.
[Todd doesn't speak and continues to avoid eye contact.]
Tea: You were enjoying yourself and then we stopped and instantly you slammed those walls up again. Why?
Todd: Because.
Tea: I would appreciate more of an answer than that, Todd.
[Todd returns his gaze to Tea's naked body.]
Todd (gesturing toward her): Because of that.
Tea: What?
Todd: You.
Tea: Me?
Todd: Yeah, you. Now can I leave?
Tea: What about me? What did I do or say that made your defenses go up again.
Todd: Nothing.
Tea: It must have been something.
Todd: No.
[Tea lays her head back on the pillow and closes her eyes, frustrated at trying to maneuver through the maze of Todd's thoughts.
Todd waits a moment before slowly walking toward the bed. Tea opens her eyes and tries to read the expression on his face as he stands over her. Silently, Todd sits beside her.]
Todd: You really want to know?
Tea: Yes.
Todd (gesturing toward her lower body while continuing to look in her eyes): It's that.
Tea: What you were doing?
Todd: No.
Tea: Todd, I really need you to tell me because I don't understand. Whatever it is, I need to know because I don't want to do it again if it makes you uncomfortable...if you feel like you have to get away from me because of it.
Todd: There's nothing you can do, Tea.
Tea: I can try.
Todd: Can you stop trusting me?
Tea: I don't think so.
Todd: Then, there's nothing you can do.
[Todd turns his gaze away from her again and lowers his voice as he forces himself to speak.]
Todd: It was okay until I stopped and realized...
Tea: What did you realize?
Todd: You were just lying there. Your body... You didn't try to cover up. You were okay with me seeing you. And, the whole time I was doing what I was doing, you just let me. I could have hurt you but you just closed your eyes and you trusted me the whole time not to hurt you.
Tea: Of course I trust you, Todd. I love you.
Todd: There aren't too many women that would just leave their bodies unguarded like that...not around me.
Tea: This one will.
Todd: I swear, there are some women who hold their purses tighter when they see me walk into a room. I don't know if they think I'm going to swipe their purse or if they're just preparing themselves in case they need a weapon to use against me.
[Todd returns his gaze to Tea's eyes.]
Todd: But you...you're just lying there totally open...unprotected...and you're not even scared.
Tea: No, I'm not. I trust you, Todd.
Todd: I know. I hate that. I don't trust it that you trust me so much.
Tea: You think it's a trick?
Todd: It could be.
Tea: You've known that I trusted you before, haven't you? Why did it have this effect this time?
Todd: You looked vulnerable. You didn't feel vulnerable, right?
Tea: No. Not with you. I'll admit, it is a bit embarrassing right now being the only one in the room without any clothing on but other than that it doesn't bother me to expose myself to you. What you did, the way you made me feel, was incredible, Todd. Very pleasurable.
Todd: Yeah?
Tea (smiling): Yeah.
Todd: I still feel like I need to get out of here.
Tea: Okay. I'm going to take a shower and then I wouldn't mind some breakfast, myself. Do you think we could eat together? I'll put clothes on and everything.
Todd: Okay.
[Todd stands up and walks toward the door.]
Tea: Todd?
Todd (turning toward her): Yeah?
Tea: Thank you for helping with my back and for everything else. This is the best morning I've ever had in my life.
Todd: So far.
[Todd leaves. Tea lies back on the bed again, allowing herself a few extra minutes of reveling in the joy Todd gave her body before getting up to take her shower.]
chapter 136:
[When Tea finishes with her shower she gets dressed and goes downstairs. She knows that Todd is still upstairs after taking a shower himself so she enters the kitchen and begins cooking for the two of them.
Several minutes later, Tea is standing by the sink, rinsing lettuce, when Todd suddenly appears behind her. Tea gasps with surprise when his arms suddenly enfold her from behind.]
Todd: Did I scare you?
Tea: You startled me. I didn't hear you come in. I thought you were still upstairs.
Todd: I'm very good at being quiet when I want to be.
Tea: Why would you want to be quiet right now?
Todd: I wanted to surprise you.
Tea: You did.
[Tea is leaning back against his body and can't help but notice his scent.]
Tea: Todd, you smell great.
Todd: I took a shower.
Tea: I think it's more than that.
Todd: Oh, I put this stuff on that's supposed to make chicks go wild. I don't use it very often. I don't want to cause any mass hysteria.
Tea: That's very considerate. It does smell great.
Todd: Does it make you wild?
Tea: I don't know if it's how great you smell, having your arms around me, what you did to and for me earlier or feeling you pressed against me but I think I feel something rising.
Todd: You want to explore that?
Tea: Maybe we should eat first.
[Todd looks at the lettuce that Tea was rinsing before he entered.]
Todd: We're having lettuce for breakfast?
Tea (gesturing toward the clock): Look how late it is. I guess we both got so engrossed in what we were doing upstairs neither of us realized how much time had passed.
Todd: I'm surprised you didn't pass out, with the way you were acting.
Tea: That was no act.
[Todd releases Tea from his arms and pulls his body away from her.]
Todd: Okay. I guess we can do the food thing first before we resume.
Tea (turning toward him): But we will be resuming?
Todd: The way I figure it, you owe me.
Tea: How?
Todd: I spent a lot more time on you than you spent on me.
Tea: We're keeping track? Is this a contest? Besides, I could have gone longer. You were the one who wanted to rush to the finish last night.
Todd: You still owe me. Speaking of owing...
[Todd tosses a piece of paper down on the counter. Tea looks closely at it. When she realizes what it is, she's devastated. Tears instantly come to her eyes as pain engulfs her heart.]
chapter 137:
[Tea continues to stare at the check made out to her that Todd so casually tossed on the counter. Tears slide down her face at the thought of Todd trying to buy her yet again. When she finally turns toward Todd, he's surprised by the hurt and anger he sees reflected on her face.]
Tea: How could you?
Todd (not understanding): What?
[Tea shakes her head in frustration and silently walks out of the room. Todd grabs the slip of paper off the counter and shoves it back into his pocket before following Tea out of the kitchen.
As Todd enters the living room, he hears the front door close. He follows Tea's path still not understanding why she's so upset with him.
Tea stands in front of the elevator for a moment before she hears the door to the penthouse opening. She quickly moves toward the stairwell, wanting desperately to get as far away from Todd as quickly as she can.]
Todd: Delgado? Hey, wait. Delgado?
[Todd follows Tea into the stairwell, barely catching a glimpse of her as she disappears around the corner on the next flight of stairs. Todd walks down a couple of steps and leans over the railing.]
Todd (yelling down at Tea): So, you're just going to desert me again without even telling me why?
[Tea stops. For a moment she can't even speak as the anger floods through her.]
Tea: How dare you?
Todd: Good. You are still speaking to me. Now, get back up here and tell me what the hell your problem is this time.
Tea: Go to hell!
Todd: Come on, Tea, you can be more original than that.
Tea (a tinge of sadness clearly mixed in with her anger): Good-bye, Todd.
Todd (his voice lowering): You're not going to leave me, Delgado.
[Tea notices the difference in his tone...quieter...more serious...more emotional. Despite her anger she can't stop herself from being touched by the need that she can hear in his voice. Almost immediately, she wonders if she's just projecting the emotions that she wants to hear in his voice but that perhaps aren't truly there. She takes a deep breath and decides to give him a chance to explain.]
Tea: What was the check for?
Todd: What do you think?
Tea (sarcastically): Services rendered, perhaps.
Todd: Did you notice the amount?
Tea: You can't buy me, Todd.
Todd: Since when?
Tea: I don't care what the amount was...I'm worth more...and I won't settle for a man who thinks...
[Tea's anger fades as the pain becomes overwhelming again and the tears again cascade down her cheeks.]
Tea (clearly crying): ...who thinks...
[Todd slowly walks down each step until he sees Tea slumped down against the wall, sitting on one of the steps, her body shaking from her sobs.]
Todd (emotion clearly in his voice): What do you think I think?
[Tea turns quickly in his direction, at the sound of his voice so near. Seeing him so close, she stands up and again tries to retreat but this time Todd catches her on the next landing and takes hold of her arm.
As much as Tea wants to get away from him in this moment, the feeling of Todd's gentle grasp on her arm keeps her in place. His touch offers her an odd sense of comfort in a moment when she's hurting so much because of him.]
chapter 138:
[Tea and Todd continue to silently stand in the stairwell together for several moments, neither making eye contact with the other.]
Todd: So...uh...are you going to answer me? What do you think I think? I know that services rendered crack isn't what you really think that check is for.
[Tea finally allows herself to make eye contact with Todd. Even through the anger blazing in her eyes, Todd can also see the pain that she's in.]
Tea: That's exactly what I think it was for. Do you have your checkbook with you? Maybe if you give me a bonus payment I'll give you a bonus sex act. Just so you know, I charge more for sex in stairwells.
[Todd lets go of Tea's arm and walks away from her. Tea waits until he returns his gaze to her and then starts unbuttoning several buttons on her shirt.]
Tea: Come on, Todd, let's do it fast and furious. I have other...clients...I need to service today.
Todd: Shut the hell up!
Tea: You shut up! How dare you! You treat me like a whore. You...(tears in her eyes again)...you...
Todd: What about me?
[The anger leaves Tea's voice as new tears escape her eyes.]
Tea: I thought you would be the one person who wouldn't treat me like that. I really thought that. I'm such an idiot. Nothing new there, right? You just have a way of bringing that out in me. You make me think that it's real, that you feel something for me, maybe even love me, and then every time you prove me wrong. The next time, though, I'm right back in there, expecting you to love me again. You hurt me over and over and I keep coming back, thinking that this time will be different, this time I know that I'm not mistaken when I think I see love in your eyes. Every time I'm wrong.
Todd: Tea...
Tea: Other people have always treated me like I was less, like they were too good for me. Men have treated me like I was just a body in front of them that was there for their pleasure...their gratification. You had me going this morning, Todd. All that time you spent giving me all those orgasms really had me thinking that you wanted to give me pleasure just because you wanted me to feel that incredible feeling. Now I know that you only did it for your own pleasure. This is a part of that pleasure, isn't it? You took me to that incredible height knowing that when you tossed that check in front of me it would make me crash down even harder. Congratulations, Todd. You succeeded.
Todd: Tea, sit down.
Tea: I'm through, Todd. Find someone else. It shouldn't be too hard. Just wave your bank statement in the air and I'm sure you'll find someone else willing to put up with anything for the money.
Todd: Tea, sit down.
Tea (defiantly): No.
[Todd steps into Tea's personal space, unnerving her.]
Todd: Tea, you have to stay and you have to listen.
Tea: Why?
Todd: I'll tell you why you have to take that money and it has nothing to do with sex.
Tea: Then what?
[Todd pauses for almost a minute. Tea notices the pain on his face and feels sympathy for him, despite her previous anger and sense of humiliation.]
Todd (speaking softly): My childhood.
chapter 139:
[Tea stares intently into Todd's eyes, trying to determine if he's just using his childhood to play on her sympathies or if he's being sincere.
Tea removes her gaze from his, turns and slowly steps away from Todd's body. Todd watches her carefully as she approaches the stairs and takes a seat on one of the lower steps.
Tea waits for several minutes for Todd to speak. When he turns away from her and leans his head against one of the walls, she stares at him, studying his body language, trying to read his thoughts...his emotions.]
Tea: Todd?
[Todd doesn't respond or even look in her direction.]
Tea: Are you still hungry? We could talk over lunch. Or, we could eat and then talk.
Todd (still not looking at her): You'll take the money?
Tea: I need to know why, Todd. It's really important to me. I can't...I won't allow you to buy me.
Todd: I told you...
Tea: You haven't told me anything...not really. I need you to tell me. Actually, I needed you to tell me before you put that check in front of me. You knew that it would hurt me when you did it that way, didn't you?
Todd: I thought that maybe you knew enough now that you would try to understand.
Tea: I am trying to understand but can't you see that it's impossible for me to be understanding when I don't know what I'm being understanding about? How can I help you if you won't tell me what's bothering you? And, I refuse to take money if you are giving it to me because you think that's the only thing that I want from you. You know that it isn't, don't you? You know that I would be with you in every way for the rest of my life even if all of your money suddenly disappeared. I've turned down millions of dollars from you in the past, haven't I?
Todd: You could have just been holding out for more.
Tea: Do you believe that?
Todd: No.
Tea: Look at me, Todd.
[Todd doesn't move.]
Tea: Look at me.
[Todd slowly turns his head slightly until their eyes meet.]
Tea: I need you to tell me what this is about. When I saw that check, it hurt. It really did. If you tell me why, though, maybe it will stop hurting. If you tell me what's wrong then maybe it will help...maybe I can help...and you can stop hurting, too.
Todd: Not a chance.
Tea: Try anyway.
[Todd slowly walks toward Tea and sits next to her. He pulls the check out of his pocket and holds it in front of both of them.]
chapter 140:
[As they sit together on the stairs, Todd continues to hold the check out in front of himself and Tea.]
Todd: Do you see it?
Tea: I recognize the check, Todd...unfortunately.
Todd: But do you see the most obvious part of it?
[Tea looks more closely at the check, not understanding what he's referring to.]
Tea: No, clearly I don't. You'll have to tell me.
Todd: The amount.
Tea: What about the amount?
Todd: Three million dollars.
Tea (still not understanding): Yes?
Todd: That's how much I owe you.
Tea: What are you talking about? You don't owe me money, certainly not three million dollars.
Todd: I heard you tell Viki that I did.
Tea: What?
Todd: When you got drunk at the Country Club, remember?
Tea: I remember but...
Todd: I was listening outside the door and I heard you tell Viki...
Tea: I wasn't complaining, Todd. I certainly don't want to be paid for that part of our contract now. I don't want your money. I didn't want it then, either. That's why I didn't say anything when you forgot to pay me the final three million of that stupid marriage contract we had. I wanted to be with you because of you, not because of your money. That's still how I feel.
Todd: It doesn't matter. You have to take it.
Tea: No, I don't.
Todd: You do if you want this thing to keep happening between us.
Tea: This thing is a relationship, Todd.
Todd: Whatever. You have to take the money or we have to stop.
Tea: Would you really end things between us if I refused to take this check?
[Todd doesn't respond as he thinks about Tea's question.]
Tea: Be honest, Todd. Would you walk away from this, from us, if I refuse that check?
Todd: I don't know. (pause) Maybe. (pause) Probably not. (pause) I'd try but...you know...
Tea: What do I know?
Todd: The same thing that I do?
Tea: Which is?
Todd: We're stuck...hooked...whatever.
Tea (laughing lightly): Yeah. I guess we are.
Todd: So, you'll take the check?
Tea: Only if you convince me to.
Todd: It's not enough that I'm telling you to take it?
Tea: No.
Todd: That figures. You've never been good at doing what I tell you to do.
Tea: Explain it to me, Todd. That's the only way I'll be able to accept it. I have to know what the reason is...and what it isn't.
Todd: I'm not trying to buy you. And, it doesn't have anything to do with the...uh...stuff...that we've been doing.
Tea: Then what is it? Why is it so important to you that I have this money?
Todd: So I'll know that you're safe. I need to know that. I need to know that you have an out.
Tea: I don't want an out. You know that, don't you? I want this...I want you...more than anything.
Todd: But someday...
Tea: Someday...every day...for the rest of my life...
[Todd turns his body so he's facing Tea and leans his back against the wall.]
Todd: I know you're not really that stupid. I know you're smarter than that.
Tea: I'm smart enough to know that you make me happy...infuriated, frustrated, confused and hundreds of other emotions, certainly...but most definitely, Todd, you do make me happy.
Todd: You're nuts.
Tea: I'm in love with you.
Todd: You're in worse shape than I thought.
Tea: Seriously, if it's really important for you that I take this money, I will.
Todd: Good.
[Todd tries to hand her the check but she refuses to take it.]
Tea: First, I need you to tell me why. Share that with me. Trust me enough to let me know what's going on inside you. Let me be a part of whatever it is. You don't need to carry everything alone inside of yourself anymore. You can tell me what this is. You can tell me anything. I promise I'll do the best I can to understand your reasons.
Todd: You'll take the money?
Tea: Since it's so important to you, yes, I'll take the money. I just need you to help me understand.
Todd: The check...
Tea: Yes?
Todd: You have to take it because...because...
[Todd pauses for a moment and takes a deep breath, forcing himself to speak.]
Todd: ...because of my mother.
to be continued...
