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| NEVER AGAIN BY TIMA |
CHAPTER 2 |
NEVER AGAIN
chapter 2:
[Hours later...
Todd awakens feeling miserable. He sits up on the sofa and groans his displeasure at realizing that he's still alive and all the pain he carried with him into sleep is still present and stabbing away at him with each breath. The physical discomfort of his current hang-over is nothing compared to the emotional agony he's suffering. The only thing that lessens his pain slightly is realizing where he is as he takes in his surroundings. He has flashes of memories of seeing his ex-wife in this very room. It wasn't the ex-wife that revels in giving him pain, but the one that always manages to lessen his pain in some magical way he's never been able to comprehend.
Todd combs his fingers through his hair, uncertain if he should stay and ask Tea for the help he needs from her, or leave without seeing her again. The last time he left her, he was going toward something...not something better, certainly, just something less dangerous to his heart than being anywhere near Tea.
Todd looks toward the staircase. He knows that what he came for is waiting for him upstairs. She's certainly not what he deserves, but she is what he needs. He hates talking, but that's exactly what he needs right now. He needs to talk to someone before the agony inside him bursts out and he does something irrevocable to end his own agony. He's been drinking himself into a stupor for days trying to find the courage to face her. Now that he's here, he's determined to follow through on his reason for coming.
Minutes later...upstairs...
Todd stands before a closed door that he knows must lead to Tea's bedroom. He tries the doorknob and is surprised to find that it's locked.]
Todd: Delgado! Wake up! I need to talk to you.
[Todd nervously waits as he hears the sound of footsteps approaching the door. As the door begins to open, he clears his throat, no longer certain he made the right decision not to run from this moment.
As the door fully opens, Todd stares in disbelief at the man standing before him wearing nothing but boxer shorts.]
Todd: Who the hell are you?
Kip: Kip Cassidy.
Todd: Kip? What the hell kind of name is Kip?
Kip: What kind of name is Todd?
Todd: How the hell do you know my name?
Kip: Did you think Tea wouldn't tell me the name of the stranger passed out on our couch?
Todd: I'm not a stranger, you are. Wait! Our couch?
Kip: We picked it out together. We bought it together. It's in our living room, in our home. I'd say that makes it ours. Wouldn't you?
[Todd angrily pushes his way into the bedroom.]
Todd: Where is she?
Kip: She's in court. She's working on a high profile case. You must have read about it in the newspaper.
Todd: I don't read newspapers anymore since mine got devoured by a she-wolf.
Kip: I have to work again tonight. I need to get some sleep.
Todd: You work nights? What are you...a stripper?
Kip: Is that a compliment?
Todd (mumbling): Tea's got herself a dumb one this time.
Kip: I happen to have an MBA.
Todd: So? I have a BMW.
Kip: I have a Porshe. Maybe we could talk cars another time. Right now, I need to get my beauty sleep. You know how it is for us strippers.
Todd: I thought you girls preferred to be called exotic dancers.
Kip: I have a feeling you know a lot about that.
Todd: What do you really do?
Kip: I'm an executive at a department store. What do you do?
Todd: Mostly make fun of people who couldn't do better than a stupid retail job.
Kip: I bet I earn more money than you do.
Todd: You would lose that bet.
Kip: Tea told me all about you. I know you inherited millions of dollars. I didn't. I put myself through school and earned every break I got. Tea respects that about me.
Todd: Like I care.
Kip: I care...about Tea. I don't know what your reason is for disrupting our life this time...
Todd: This time?
Kip: I was really worried when she disappeared and I didn't hear from her for all those months. I know you're the reason she was stranded on that island.
Todd: She wasn't exactly alone. You know that, right?
Kip: Whatever happened on that island is in the past. I should thank you, though. It was my concern for her during those months that convinced me that I wanted to be more than just friends with Tea. I owe you my happiness.
Todd: You're nothing but a rebound guy.
Kip: Rebound from you? I'm not worried.
Todd: You should be. Tea and I have something.
Kip: Something disturbing, perhaps.
Todd: All I have to do is snap my fingers and Tea will back at my side, not yours.
Kip: Give it your best shot. I know which of us actually makes her happy.
Todd: I'm bored. I'm leaving.
[Todd turns and walks away. Kip follows him downstairs and locks the door behind him before returning to the bedroom and resuming his sleep.
That evening...
Kip leaves for work. Minutes later, the doorbell rings. Tea's not surprised to see Todd standing outside her door. She opens the door and gestures for him to enter. He does and promptly plops himself down on the sofa and puts his feet up on the coffee table. Tea sits in a near-by chair.]
Tea: Were you out there spying for long?
Todd: How could you marry a guy named Kip?
Tea: We're not married. I tried marriage once...
Todd: Twice.
Tea: ...I realized it wasn't for me.
Todd: It depends on the guy.
Tea: Please tell me you didn't come here expecting me to throw away my life on you again.
Todd: You enjoyed it the other times I took you away from the boredom of your dull existence without me. Admit it.
Tea: I admit no such thing. Why are you here?
Todd: Did your hubby tell you about our little chat?
Tea: Kip told me you claimed you could snap your fingers and make me come running. I'd like to see you try this time.
Todd: Nothing has changed between us.
Tea: Everything has changed.
Todd: Nothing ever does.
Tea: I see one thing hasn't changed. You still ignore me when I speak to you.
Todd: Did you say something?
Tea: I don't have time to play games with you. Are you ready to tell me why you're here?
Todd: What kind of case are you working on?
Tea: Why do you care?
Todd: I read that chicks go wild when guys pretend they're interested in whatever the chick is doing.
Tea: You're barking up the wrong tree if you think I'll go wild over anything you say or do now.
Todd: Speaking of dogs... You could do a hell of a lot better than some loser named Kip.
Tea: Like, a loser named Todd. I'm sorry. That was a low blow.
Todd: I deserved it.
Tea: I agree. I'm surprised you do, though.
Todd: I never claimed to be a great guy. You're the one who was always seeing stuff about me that wasn't there.
Tea: It was there...buried beneath a lot of rubble.
Todd: I guess you got exhausted trying to dig through the rubble and that's why you dumped me.
Tea: You left me...on a deserted island, remember?
Todd: It's not like I left you there alone. You had nature boy to keep you warm. Whatever happened to him?
Tea: He was arrested when we were rescued.
Todd: He's doing hard time?
Tea: I defended him. That, of course, means he was acquitted.
Todd: You never did tell me what kind of case you're working on now.
Tea: Self defense. I'm defending a battered wife who took her husband's life to save her own.
[Todd is silent, not knowing how to respond, given his own violent history towards women, including his wives.]
Tea: I need to get some sleep. If you're not ready to tell me the reason for your re-appearance in my life, maybe we could put this off until another day.
Todd: Like tomorrow?
Tea: Actually, after I finish in court tomorrow, Kip and I are going away for the weekend.
Todd: Where to?
Tea: No where that I want you to follow us to. Allow me to have my life, Todd. I've certainly allowed you to have yours.
Todd: Some life.
to be continued...
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2002 COPYRIGHT BY TIMA
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