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| NEVER AGAIN BY TIMA |
CHAPTER 12 |
NEVER AGAIN
chapter 12:
[One week later...
Todd is slouched in a booth at Carlotta Vega's diner, drowning his sorrows in flan. He expected Tea to come to him immediately after she found out that he lied to her live-in boyfriend about having an affair with her. He was prepared to face her initial anger. He wasn't prepared to face nothing at all as Tea hasn't made any attempt to contact him, not even to curse him out in Spanish.
Todd's position, with his back to the door, doesn't allow him to see the newest entrant to the diner but somehow he senses a need to turn around just as his beloved Tea enters.
Todd smirks. Tea groans. Todd quickly removes himself from his booth as Tea moves away from him, toward the counter.]
Todd: I knew you'd come.
Tea: Go away, Todd. I didn't come to see you.
Todd: Sure you did.
Tea: You've always had difficulty believing my life doesn't revolve solely around you.
Todd: I know you won that case you cared so much about. We'll celebrate! We'll go out tonight and have dinner at one of those places I hate with the real napkins. You can tell me all about your work. I'll pretend I care. We'll have a good evening.
Tea: Why would I want to have dinner with you?
Todd: Because you missed me.
Tea: Why would I miss someone who purposely tried to ruin my life?
Todd: I didn't try to ruin your life.
Tea: You lied to Kip.
Todd: He lied to me first.
Tea: I see you're still incapable of behaving beyond a third grade level.
Todd: The guy's a loser. You deserved better.
Tea: We're still together.
Todd: You're sticking with him just to get back at me?
Tea: I am with him because he's considerate, and handsome, and understanding, and generous, and loving, and...
Todd: And, fictional. No guy is that great.
Tea: Every man isn't you. Every man doesn't fly into a rage at every little disappointment in his life.
Todd: You cheated on him!
Tea: Only in your imagination.
Todd: It's in his, too. He'll never stop thinking about it. Every time you're out of his sight he'll know that you're somewhere getting sweaty with me.
Tea: He trusts me.
Todd: If that's true, he's a fool, since you came back to me.
Tea: My reason for being in Llanview has nothing to do with you.
Todd: It has everything to do with me.
Tea: When did you become so overly confident?
Todd: When I figured out that no matter what, you never stop giving a damn about me. You knew I needed you, so you came.
[Tea's determination to resist him is threatened by the vulnerability she sense from him. She struggles within herself to fight the draw she always feels toward him whenever they're in the same room together.]
Tea: I came to see Carlotta. She must not be here.
Todd: She split after I came in.
Tea: What did you say to her?
Todd: The usual! I'm glad she's gone. If she were here, she'd be telling you to stay away from me.
Tea: That's good advice.
Todd: That advice sucks!
Tea: I should leave.
Todd: Come with me.
Tea: To the home you shared with your other ex-wife? No thank you.
Todd: I lost the penthouse, and Dorian's. I lost a hell of a lot of money, too. You already know I lost The Sun...and my kids.
Tea: Trying to make me feel sorry for you for the losses you brought on yourself...
Todd: None of this is my fault.
Tea: You took Blair's baby and told her he was dead.
Todd: I brought him back.
Tea: You tried to kidnap Starr and Jack in Hawaii. Because of you, I lost months of my life that I'll never get back.
Todd: You got a tan out of it.
Tea: You are impossible!
Todd: Besides, Skippy told me it was your being on that island that got him to want into your pants. If everything really worked out, the way you're pretending it did, you owe me.
Tea: I don't owe you a damn thing. If you're looking for an attorney...look somewhere else. If you're looking for another chance at a romantic relationship with me...go to hell.
Todd: He dumped you, didn't he? That's why you're in such a lousy mood.
Tea: I'm in a lousy mood because I was hoping I wouldn't have to deal with you on this trip.
Todd: Liar!
Tea: I have more important things than Todd Manning to focus on right now.
Todd: What's more important than Todd Manning?
Tea: I am. For once in my life, I'm putting myself first. Deal with it and move on, because I certainly have.
[Tea breezes passed Todd and exits the diner. She enters her car and quickly speeds away. Todd follows her.
Tea is aware of Todd following her as she makes her way to her next destination. As frustrated as she is with him, and as much as she hates herself for feeling this way, she does feel comforted knowing that he'll be along on this difficult journey she's chosen.
As Tea parks in front of her former sister-in-law's home, Todd pulls up alongside her. Without acknowledging him, Tea exits her car and walks toward the house, with Todd at her side.
As they reach the front door of the stately home, Todd begins pounding obnoxiously on the door.]
Tea: There is a doorbell.
Todd: I'm just letting Viki know I'm here. She hates surprises.
Tea: So do I.
Todd: You love them.
Tea: Not anymore.
[Viki opens the door with a smile on her face. She quickly embraces Tea.]
Viki: Tea! It's wonderful to see you again.
[Viki steps aside, allowing her brother and his ex-wife to enter her home.]
Viki: I wasn't aware you would be escorting Tea today.
Tea: Neither was I.
Todd: Someone has to protect her from your meddling.
Tea: Her meddling kept me in your life on more than one occasion.
Todd: Okay, go ahead...meddle.
[Viki gestures for them to enter the living room. Viki and Tea sit opposite each other as Todd approaches the bar and pours himself a drink.]
Viki: Should I be congratulating you both? Are you back together?
Tea: No.
Todd: Yes.
Tea: No.
Todd: Yes.
Viki: Would you like a few minutes alone to come to agreement?
Tea: There's no need. We're not back together.
Todd: We will be.
Tea: Not this time.
Viki: When you called to arrange this meeting, it sounded urgent.
Tea: It is.
Viki: How can I help you?
Tea: I need to see Mitch Lawrence.
to be continued...
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2003 COPYRIGHT BY TIMA
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