The Florencia Lozano Homepage - Fan Fiction
| NEVER AGAIN BY TIMA |
CHAPTER 18 |
chapter 18:
Tea: I need to leave.
Todd: You want to stay.
Tea: I want what you can't give me...what you have never been able to give me.
Todd: What's that?
Tea: Love.
[Tea turns and walks away from Todd.
After she exits the hotel, Tea pauses, trying to will herself to continue her journey away from him, despite her desire to return to him, even if only for one night.
Todd stands alone in the lobby for several moments, wanting to go after her, but uncertain if this time he'll be able to openly love her the way she's always wanted. When he finally moves, he slowly follows her trail out of the hotel. He doesn't expect to find her. He just wants to continue to feel close to her for a little longer. He hates the empty feeling he's always left with when she's away from him.
As he steps into the cool evening air, Todd is surprised to find Tea standing outside the entrance. Noticing her ex-husband, Tea turns from him and begins walking down the street. He walks alongside her.]
Tea: Go away, Todd.
Todd: Where are we going?
[Tea suddenly stops and stares at him with disbelief.]
Tea: We are not going anywhere together. Is that clear?
Todd: The only thing that's clear to me is that you're stalking me.
Tea: Excuse me?
Todd: You were standing in front of the hotel, waiting for me. You were hanging around my room, waiting for me.
Tea: Stalking is your preferred method of relaxation, not mine.
Todd: It can be really relaxing, when you do it right.
[Tea continues her walk. Todd continues to join her.]
Tea: Please, no more lessons about Todd Manning's bizarre methods of rest and relaxation. I suffered enough while we were together in the past.
Todd: You were the one who was always asking me to share everything with you. I was willing to go on keeping you in the dark about a lot of stuff.
Tea: Go back to doing that. While you're at it, go back to pretending I don't exist, too.
Todd: That only worked before you nudged your way into my life.
Tea: I did not nudge my way into your life.
Todd: You bulldozed your way in.
Tea: I was invited. More and more, I wish I had declined that invitation.
Todd: No, you don't.
[Tea again stops walking and faces him.]
Tea: Yes, I do.
Todd: That's a lousy thing to say. It's a good thing I know you're lying.
Tea: Do you have any idea how many times I have wished that I never met you?
Todd: Everything you have is because of me.
Tea: Everything I have is because I worked my ass off. My career, my home, my friendships... I earned all of it. None of it came from you.
Todd: You forgot about your boy toy again. You keep doing that whenever you're around me. Why is that?
Tea: Because, my personal life is none of your business. I won't discuss it with you.
Todd: You tossed that hair ball, didn't you? You don't have a personal life anymore.
Tea: I most certainly do have a personal life. I have a wonderful, full life right now...one that has no room for you.
Todd: What kind of life do you have without me?
Tea: A satisfying one. A joyful one. My life is wonderfully fulfilling, now that I've rid myself of you. I have a successful career that challenges me. I have family and friends I adore spending time with. I have fascinating hobbies.
Todd: Next you'll be telling me you're the fucking president of some stupid Parcheesi club.
Tea: Next I'll be telling you to go away...again!
Todd: You came to me for a reason.
Tea: Temporary insanity?
Todd: You need me.
Tea: For what exactly?
Todd: Your life is a bore without me. Everyone in your life is boring, especially Mr. Hairplugs.
Tea: I'm beginning to think you're jealous of Kip's hair more than his relationship with me.
Todd: His relationship with you is over.
Tea: Yeah, but he still has better hair.
Todd: You dumped him?
Tea: Does it matter?
Todd: You dumped him because of me?
Tea: Because everything must revolve around you, is that it?
Todd: Everything does revolve around me...when it comes to you.
Tea: That's not true.
Todd: You're a lousy liar.
Tea: Why are you so convinced that I'm lying?
Todd: Because I know you. I know that you want to go back to that hotel right now. I know you want to get into my room. I know you want to get into my bed.
Tea: Why do you want that?
Todd: I never said I did.
[Tea again turns from him and resumes walking. Todd allows her to walk half a block and cross an intersection before his heart forces him to speak.]
Todd (raising his voice): Okay. I want that.
[Tea continues walking.]
Todd: Did you hear me, Delgado? You win!
[Tea turns and approaches the intersection. She stops on one side of the street while Todd remains on the other.]
Tea: What have I won exactly?
Todd: Something that no one else wants.
Tea: I don't want you to be with me just because no one else is currently willing to put up with you.
Todd: Get your ass back over here so we don't have to yell.
Tea: You get your ass over here if you want something from me.
[Todd delays for too many seconds, causing Tea to give up and walk away again. This time she's determined not to stop, not to give him another chance. The sound of his footsteps following her only make her more determined to escape this never ending game he's always played with her. He pleads with her to return to him, only to push her away after she agrees. He moves two steps closer to her, only to leap ten steps away from her in the next instant. It's an exhausting game and she's too tired to play with him anymore.]
to be continued...
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