The Florencia Lozano Homepage - Fan Fiction
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CHAPTER 34 |
PREVIOUSLY:[As Todd walks through her doorway, leaving her room, Tea raises her voice to ensure that he hears her.]
Tea: Oh, yes, we will.
[Todd continues walking, hoping that after Tea spends her day in what he assumes will be shrink hell, she won't feel like talking anymore and won't bring up the subject of his own depression, and suicidal thoughts, since he knows that she read his mind too well several minutes ago and knows what he was thinking about.]
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chapter 34:
[With Todd gone to get breakfast, Tea returns her attention to her brother.]
Tea: Del...
Del: Save your energy. I'm not leaving you while you need me.
Tea: I'll be fine.
Del: That's what you told me the last time you convinced me to leave and look what happened.
Tea: Nothing happened. I didn't do anything.
Del: You thought about taking your own life.
Tea: But, I haven't done anything. Besides, I'm not alone anymore. Todd's here.
Del: That's even more reason for me to stay and make sure you're safe.
Tea: I don't need you playing over-protective big brother. I can handle Todd.
Del: That's what you thought the last time you wrestled with Manning...and the time before that...and the time before that. I forget, was there another time before that?
Tea: Stop making fun of me.
Del: Stop throwing your heart away on a loser who will never do anything but break your heart.
Tea: If that's how you feel about him, why did you let him in last night?
Del: I know you. I know that you've already allowed him back into your heart. I knew it would make you feel better if he was here when you woke up. It worked, didn't it?
Tea: I don't know. Maybe. It doesn't change the fact that today will be a difficult day. I told Todd that he should spend it with you.
Del: That must have gone over well.
Tea: About as well as I'm sure it will go over with you. I want you to do it, though...for me.
Del: In case you haven't figured it out, we don't like each other.
Tea: I know. Maybe if you get to know each other better...
Del: Don't expect us to ever be pals. We may manage to be civil to each other, for your sake, just as long as he keeps his filthy comments to himself from now on.
Tea: I would really appreciate it if you found something for both of you to do together, just for today.
Del: Let him entertain himself. Or, is that what you're worried about? You're afraid that if he's let loose, he'll find someone else to entertain him?
Tea: Todd wouldn't do that.
Del: You think something's still going on with his ex-wife, don't you?
Tea: She's not here. Todd assured me that it's over between them, anyway.
Del: He told me the same thing.
Tea: When did you talk about that?
Del: Last night, when he showed up at your window. I have to admit, the guy does seem to have it bad for you.
Tea: I'm not ready for a relationship.
Del: He seems determined.
Tea: So am I.
Del: You won't be living with him?
Tea: No, I won't.
Del: Does he know that?
Tea: I told him.
Del: That didn't stop him from being persistent before.
Tea: He'll have to accept it, because I'm just not ready.
Del: I don't want you throwing your life away on that guy again, you know that, but I don't think you should hold it against him that he told me what's been going on with you. That was probably the first time in his life that he did the right thing.
Tea: I understand why he did it. Right now I need to focus on getting through this day. I'll deal with Todd later. I want you to take him somewhere and keep him away from here, at least until tonight.
Del: You don't have to do this alone.
Tea: Neither of you will be in my therapy session. I don't want to have to think about both of you sitting here waiting for me. Go out and do something fun. Show Todd Puerto Rico.
Del: You want me to be a tour guide for your ex-husband?
Tea: Go to several movies. Go play golf. I don't care what you do, just fill the day somehow.
Del: Your therapy won't last all day. Why do you really want both of us gone for so many hours?
Tea: I need some time to think. It's hard to do that with both of you hovering over me.
Del: I guess I can try. But, if he gets out of hand, he's walking back on his own. Maybe I'll take him to the other side of the island.
Tea: Behave.
Del: It's that bastard of yours that you should be telling that to.
Tea: Stop calling him that.
Del: We'll bring dinner, okay?
Tea: I'll let the staff know. And, just so you know, neither of you will be spending the night here again.
Del: You want Manning spending the night in the bushes? Because, I assume that's where he'll be if you don't let him stay.
Tea: He has a hotel room.
Del: But, will you be able to convince him to go there? As much as I hate it, I have to respect the guy for showing up last night. I thought he would take off and stay gone until things were less complicated. He actually admitted to me that he still loves you.
Tea: He did?
Del: Maybe I shouldn't have told you, but I thought you should know.
Tea: He already told me.
Del: Do you believe him?
Tea: I'm not ready to believe him.
Del: Because of what a creep he was to you in the past? Or, because you're not ready to feel those emotions right now?
Tea: Could we change the subject?
Del: To what?
Tea: You. Are you still dating the same woman?
Del: Yes.
Tea: Is this a record for you?
Del: I'm not that bad.
Tea: You change your women more often than you change your toothbrush.
Del: Are you trying to tell me to change my toothbrush more often.
Tea: I'm telling you that I'm happy for you if you've finally found someone that you want to settle down with.
Del: I didn't say that.
Tea: Why are you so afraid to make a commitment to a woman?
Del: Maybe because I watched my sister give her heart away and it led to nothing but agony for her.
Tea: Oh, please! You've been afraid since that first bimbo you brought home.
Del: She wasn't a bimbo.
Tea: Papi thought she was. I don't blame him, considering the way she flashed your entire family the first time she met us.
Del: That was an accident.
Tea: You really have horrible taste in women.
Del: You shouldn't talk. What do you think Papi would say about that bastard of yours?
Tea: At least I know Todd would never have flashed my family at the dinner table.
Del: She was reaching for something. She didn't plan for anything to pop out like that.
Tea: The expression on Papi's face was priceless. And, Jose...I think that was the first time he had seen breasts.
[Del feels relief as he watches his sister laugh. He wasn't sure if he would see her with a smile on her face again for a long time. Del adds his laughter to hers as they continue to reminisce, both preferring to spend at least a few minutes traveling back to a less difficult time, rather than focusing on the painful present.]
to be continued...
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