Note I have no connections to JER or NBC or anything else to do with
Passions. I just borrowed the Passions charters for this story.
I'm Australian and we're over a year behind so anything I refer to came from a couple of sites with episode guides. Mainly Dustin's Passions Page archive.
Breaking loose
Beth sat in the chair in her office at the book cafe waiting for Luis. He had told her on the phone that he had something very important to tell her and would be right over.
Against her better judgement Beth believed that this could finally be the day that Luis told her that he was ready to move on with his life and maybe even ask her out on a date. She knew he wouldn't fully be over Sheridan, but felt given time he'd fall back in love with her and return to the way it use to be in high school.
Beth was snapped out of her thinking when the door opened and Luis entered with a huge grin on his face. "Beth I have the greatest news." He said as he walked in with a spring in his step that Beth hadn't seen since Sheridan died.
"What is it Luis? I haven't seen you like this in a long time." Beth replied, standing up to meet him with a friendly kiss on the cheek.
"Sheridan, she's alive." Luis said happily as he grabbed her hands and spun the two of them in circles.
Beth felt her heart drop and stomach rise at his words. She broke from his grip and quickly sat down before the she fainted or the spinning and the feeling in her stomach made her throw up.
"Beth are you O.K." He asked. "I know it's a shock and I was stunned at first too. But isn't it wonderful."
"But, But. How?" she managed to stammer out.
"It's amazing. She was blown off the ship when the bomb exploded and was rescued by a passing boat. You'll never guess who the person on the boat was." He looked at her and she just shrugged. "It was Antonio, my long lost brother saved his future sister in-law's life can you believe that. Anyway it turns out that she had amnesia and that's why she didn't try to contact us. She received a blow to the head early today and it caused her to remember everything and she called me straight away. The funny thing is it turns out that we just missed running into each other dozens of times. She even came to Harmony with my brother before she could remember."
"Whoa, that's great so when is Sheridan coming home." Beth asked. She hadn't really heard anything after Luis had mentioned that Sheridan was his fiancee and realised that wouldn't have changed.
"I'm going down to the Island on the next flight and we will return to Harmony in a few days." He said with a goofy smile. "Thanks Beth for the help throughout this ordeal, you're a great friend." He added giving her a big hug.
"No problem. Now get out of here or you'll miss your plane." She said jokingly as her heart continued to break.
"You're right again. I'll see you in a few days." Luis said as he looked at his watch and then quickly headed for the door.
It had been ½ an hour since Luis left to go see Sheridan. Beth had closed the book cafe early because she just couldn't hold her emotions in check any longer.
Beth was sitting on the couch with most of the lighting off and the blues playing on the CD player. Placed on the table was the bottle of Bourbon and glass from her office, she mostly only brought them out when really depressed and today had turned out to be a real bad day.
"Why can't I find love?" Beth asked sadly out loud. Before taking a shot of Bourbon.
"LOVE'S A BITCH." Reese huffed from the bookstand were he was leaning, watching Beth.
Beth whipped her head round to face him. She was both surprised and shocked, surprised that she wasn't alone and that it was Reese standing there. But shocked that he swore, of all the time she'd known him she had never heard him swear or even say anything remotely bad.
"Reese, you scared me. How did you get in?"
"I've been here for hours." He replied a little meekly to her surprise of not being alone.
"I'm sorry I guess I didn't see you when closing up."
"Don't worry about it. It seems a lot of people don't see me, even when I'm standing right in front of them." He replied bitterly with a bitter half smile as he walked over to her.
This wasn't the Reese Beth knew and wondered what was wrong. "Reese what's wrong, you seem to be angry at something."
"Let's just say I've seen a different side of love. The one that rips your heart out and grinds it in to the ground with the heel of a size 12 Army boot." The sadness and resentment was clear on his face.
"Don't suppose you have an extra glass." He enquired, picking up the bottle of Bourbon.
"I don't think that would be a good Idea, your upset and it might be a little strong for you." Beth told him as she stood.
Reese just burst out laughing, he was laughing so hard that Beth could see he was almost in tiers. She didn't know what was so funny.
"What's so funny Reese?" She asked with a slight agitation in her voice.
After he calmed down and took a few deep breaths he answered. "Beth I've been drinking for years." He could see the surprise her face and then continued. "It started with a little wine my parents gave me with dinner when I was 14 and it's at the stage where I have a few drinks quite often. But I hardly ever go over broad and if I did push it I would easily drink you under the table." He grinned smugly.
"Besides, it's always more fun to drink with company." He added.
Beth thought about it for a moment. She had wanted to be alone, but was interested in why Reese was acting so differently and what his love story was.
"OK I'll get an other glass on the condition you answer some questions I have." She told him.
"Deal. And if you have any Scotch back there I wouldn't mind cracking into it." Reese replied as she walked to the office.
After a few drinks and some mindless chit chat Beth finally asked the serious questions. "Would you mind telling me why you were upset."
"I guess if we're going to continue drinking you're going to get it out of me sooner or later, so it might as well be now." He said before downing a shot and then telling her.
**Flash back**
Reese walked up the Bennetts' front path and was about to knock when the door swung open and Jessica flew out into him.
Jessica was late for volunteer work at the hospital and raced out the door and into something as solid as a brick wall. She felt herself falling back when suddenly someone grabbed her and held her up.
"Whoa there." Reese said when he caught Jessica as she rebounded off of him. "Are you OK." He added with some concern.
"Yeah, thanks Reese." She replied before she remembered why she was running and forgetting to ask what she run into. "I'm late for the hospital so I have to go, but Kay's up in her room if that's who you're looking for. See Yah." She said giving him a smile as she raced off again.
"See Yah." He called out with a happy smile as she raced out the gate and waved back at him.
Since the door was still opened Reese just entered and headed up the stairs to Kay's room. When he was three steps from her room he heard a conversation that made him freeze to the spot.
"I love Miguel and he's going to be mine very soon Simone." Kay said loudly.
"Kay I know he's having problems with Charity but that doesn't mean they'll break up." Simone retorted.
"But I caught him checking me out when I'm not looking. As for the problems they're having Charity broke up with him and has moved on. Miguel won't be far behind and when he does I'll be right there to help him forget about her, I can guarantee that after a few dates with me he'll be saying Charity who?"
"What about Reese? Miguel won't go after the girl his friend thinks he's dating."
"I have not nor ever would date that stupid geek. Gees just because of a few mistaken identities when I've been trying it seduce Miguel or covering up for something he deliriously believes we're dating. He makes my skin crawl whenever he touches me, there is noway he is going to get between Miguel and me. I'm going to be brutally honest with him as soon as Miguel's ready to ask me out because the Idiot has never pick up on the subtle hints I put out." Kay said annoyed
Reese felt his heart shatter. All this time and Kay hadn't liked him, in fact she was totally repulsed by him. He thought she was a kind person and could see people's inner beauty but now he knew the truth, she was a mean manipulative bitch who couldn't see anything below the surface.
He knew he should confront her but he was just too shaken up by it to do so. Quietly he turned around, went back down the stairs and left the house and heart behind.
** End Flashback**
"Oh God, Reese I'm so sorry." Beth said giving him a hug when she heard the despair in his voice near the end. She now knew that her story was nothing compared to his, at least she could have a friendship with Luis and he'd be there if she needed him.
"It's OK Beth. I guess it's better to find out now than waste the rest of my life trying to woo her or a least thinking she was my friend. And if what she said about Miguel being interested in her too I don't know if I should call him a friend either."
"Reese, Simone's right. Miguel would never do anything with her if he thought you two were dating. He and Luis would never betray a friend's trust like that."
"Yeah I know you're right I just want to be angry at more than one person." He told her. "Thanks you're a good friend."
Reese took his big black rimmed glasses off and placed them on the table before massaging his noise and wiping his eyes. He then picked up the glass and golloped the contents down like it was water. "Maybe I should do a complete image change, turn into someone no one would recognise. Go from the kind geek to the sleazy bastard, you know, get a Jyckell and Hide thing going."
"I don't think you would have to go that far, but an image change could help." As she looked at him she noticed something. "You have great eyes you should start by getting contacts."
"Thanks but it's not just my image that's the problem it's my communication skills with the opposite sex that really lets me down."
"You seem alright at the moment." She stated.
"That's because I've got a few drinks in me, there's not a hint of sexual tension and don't forget we're comparing having our hearts crushed. What I really need is someone who could teach me how to charm the women and build up my confidence."
Beth didn't know if it was the alcohol or the story he'd told her but she knew what she had and wanted to do. "I'm probable going to regret this tomorrow but if you want I'll help you with it."
Reese looked at her with surprise. "You'd do that for me?" she gave a slight nod and he gave her a big hug. "I don't know how to thank you, but since you've been so good to me I'll let you in on a secret. Meet me tomorrow at this address and we'll start then if it's OK with you." He handed her a card.
"Actually tomorrow is great, I have the whole day off."
"Good. Well it's getting late so I better be going. You alright to walk home by yourself." He asked.
"Yeah I'm fine. See yah."
"Bye." He replied with a smile as he left.
Once he was gone Beth began to wonder what she'd gotten she self into but knew she'd find out soon.
I'm Australian and we're over a year behind so anything I refer to came from a couple of sites with episode guides. Mainly Dustin's Passions Page archive.
Breaking loose
Beth sat in the chair in her office at the book cafe waiting for Luis. He had told her on the phone that he had something very important to tell her and would be right over.
Against her better judgement Beth believed that this could finally be the day that Luis told her that he was ready to move on with his life and maybe even ask her out on a date. She knew he wouldn't fully be over Sheridan, but felt given time he'd fall back in love with her and return to the way it use to be in high school.
Beth was snapped out of her thinking when the door opened and Luis entered with a huge grin on his face. "Beth I have the greatest news." He said as he walked in with a spring in his step that Beth hadn't seen since Sheridan died.
"What is it Luis? I haven't seen you like this in a long time." Beth replied, standing up to meet him with a friendly kiss on the cheek.
"Sheridan, she's alive." Luis said happily as he grabbed her hands and spun the two of them in circles.
Beth felt her heart drop and stomach rise at his words. She broke from his grip and quickly sat down before the she fainted or the spinning and the feeling in her stomach made her throw up.
"Beth are you O.K." He asked. "I know it's a shock and I was stunned at first too. But isn't it wonderful."
"But, But. How?" she managed to stammer out.
"It's amazing. She was blown off the ship when the bomb exploded and was rescued by a passing boat. You'll never guess who the person on the boat was." He looked at her and she just shrugged. "It was Antonio, my long lost brother saved his future sister in-law's life can you believe that. Anyway it turns out that she had amnesia and that's why she didn't try to contact us. She received a blow to the head early today and it caused her to remember everything and she called me straight away. The funny thing is it turns out that we just missed running into each other dozens of times. She even came to Harmony with my brother before she could remember."
"Whoa, that's great so when is Sheridan coming home." Beth asked. She hadn't really heard anything after Luis had mentioned that Sheridan was his fiancee and realised that wouldn't have changed.
"I'm going down to the Island on the next flight and we will return to Harmony in a few days." He said with a goofy smile. "Thanks Beth for the help throughout this ordeal, you're a great friend." He added giving her a big hug.
"No problem. Now get out of here or you'll miss your plane." She said jokingly as her heart continued to break.
"You're right again. I'll see you in a few days." Luis said as he looked at his watch and then quickly headed for the door.
It had been ½ an hour since Luis left to go see Sheridan. Beth had closed the book cafe early because she just couldn't hold her emotions in check any longer.
Beth was sitting on the couch with most of the lighting off and the blues playing on the CD player. Placed on the table was the bottle of Bourbon and glass from her office, she mostly only brought them out when really depressed and today had turned out to be a real bad day.
"Why can't I find love?" Beth asked sadly out loud. Before taking a shot of Bourbon.
"LOVE'S A BITCH." Reese huffed from the bookstand were he was leaning, watching Beth.
Beth whipped her head round to face him. She was both surprised and shocked, surprised that she wasn't alone and that it was Reese standing there. But shocked that he swore, of all the time she'd known him she had never heard him swear or even say anything remotely bad.
"Reese, you scared me. How did you get in?"
"I've been here for hours." He replied a little meekly to her surprise of not being alone.
"I'm sorry I guess I didn't see you when closing up."
"Don't worry about it. It seems a lot of people don't see me, even when I'm standing right in front of them." He replied bitterly with a bitter half smile as he walked over to her.
This wasn't the Reese Beth knew and wondered what was wrong. "Reese what's wrong, you seem to be angry at something."
"Let's just say I've seen a different side of love. The one that rips your heart out and grinds it in to the ground with the heel of a size 12 Army boot." The sadness and resentment was clear on his face.
"Don't suppose you have an extra glass." He enquired, picking up the bottle of Bourbon.
"I don't think that would be a good Idea, your upset and it might be a little strong for you." Beth told him as she stood.
Reese just burst out laughing, he was laughing so hard that Beth could see he was almost in tiers. She didn't know what was so funny.
"What's so funny Reese?" She asked with a slight agitation in her voice.
After he calmed down and took a few deep breaths he answered. "Beth I've been drinking for years." He could see the surprise her face and then continued. "It started with a little wine my parents gave me with dinner when I was 14 and it's at the stage where I have a few drinks quite often. But I hardly ever go over broad and if I did push it I would easily drink you under the table." He grinned smugly.
"Besides, it's always more fun to drink with company." He added.
Beth thought about it for a moment. She had wanted to be alone, but was interested in why Reese was acting so differently and what his love story was.
"OK I'll get an other glass on the condition you answer some questions I have." She told him.
"Deal. And if you have any Scotch back there I wouldn't mind cracking into it." Reese replied as she walked to the office.
After a few drinks and some mindless chit chat Beth finally asked the serious questions. "Would you mind telling me why you were upset."
"I guess if we're going to continue drinking you're going to get it out of me sooner or later, so it might as well be now." He said before downing a shot and then telling her.
**Flash back**
Reese walked up the Bennetts' front path and was about to knock when the door swung open and Jessica flew out into him.
Jessica was late for volunteer work at the hospital and raced out the door and into something as solid as a brick wall. She felt herself falling back when suddenly someone grabbed her and held her up.
"Whoa there." Reese said when he caught Jessica as she rebounded off of him. "Are you OK." He added with some concern.
"Yeah, thanks Reese." She replied before she remembered why she was running and forgetting to ask what she run into. "I'm late for the hospital so I have to go, but Kay's up in her room if that's who you're looking for. See Yah." She said giving him a smile as she raced off again.
"See Yah." He called out with a happy smile as she raced out the gate and waved back at him.
Since the door was still opened Reese just entered and headed up the stairs to Kay's room. When he was three steps from her room he heard a conversation that made him freeze to the spot.
"I love Miguel and he's going to be mine very soon Simone." Kay said loudly.
"Kay I know he's having problems with Charity but that doesn't mean they'll break up." Simone retorted.
"But I caught him checking me out when I'm not looking. As for the problems they're having Charity broke up with him and has moved on. Miguel won't be far behind and when he does I'll be right there to help him forget about her, I can guarantee that after a few dates with me he'll be saying Charity who?"
"What about Reese? Miguel won't go after the girl his friend thinks he's dating."
"I have not nor ever would date that stupid geek. Gees just because of a few mistaken identities when I've been trying it seduce Miguel or covering up for something he deliriously believes we're dating. He makes my skin crawl whenever he touches me, there is noway he is going to get between Miguel and me. I'm going to be brutally honest with him as soon as Miguel's ready to ask me out because the Idiot has never pick up on the subtle hints I put out." Kay said annoyed
Reese felt his heart shatter. All this time and Kay hadn't liked him, in fact she was totally repulsed by him. He thought she was a kind person and could see people's inner beauty but now he knew the truth, she was a mean manipulative bitch who couldn't see anything below the surface.
He knew he should confront her but he was just too shaken up by it to do so. Quietly he turned around, went back down the stairs and left the house and heart behind.
** End Flashback**
"Oh God, Reese I'm so sorry." Beth said giving him a hug when she heard the despair in his voice near the end. She now knew that her story was nothing compared to his, at least she could have a friendship with Luis and he'd be there if she needed him.
"It's OK Beth. I guess it's better to find out now than waste the rest of my life trying to woo her or a least thinking she was my friend. And if what she said about Miguel being interested in her too I don't know if I should call him a friend either."
"Reese, Simone's right. Miguel would never do anything with her if he thought you two were dating. He and Luis would never betray a friend's trust like that."
"Yeah I know you're right I just want to be angry at more than one person." He told her. "Thanks you're a good friend."
Reese took his big black rimmed glasses off and placed them on the table before massaging his noise and wiping his eyes. He then picked up the glass and golloped the contents down like it was water. "Maybe I should do a complete image change, turn into someone no one would recognise. Go from the kind geek to the sleazy bastard, you know, get a Jyckell and Hide thing going."
"I don't think you would have to go that far, but an image change could help." As she looked at him she noticed something. "You have great eyes you should start by getting contacts."
"Thanks but it's not just my image that's the problem it's my communication skills with the opposite sex that really lets me down."
"You seem alright at the moment." She stated.
"That's because I've got a few drinks in me, there's not a hint of sexual tension and don't forget we're comparing having our hearts crushed. What I really need is someone who could teach me how to charm the women and build up my confidence."
Beth didn't know if it was the alcohol or the story he'd told her but she knew what she had and wanted to do. "I'm probable going to regret this tomorrow but if you want I'll help you with it."
Reese looked at her with surprise. "You'd do that for me?" she gave a slight nod and he gave her a big hug. "I don't know how to thank you, but since you've been so good to me I'll let you in on a secret. Meet me tomorrow at this address and we'll start then if it's OK with you." He handed her a card.
"Actually tomorrow is great, I have the whole day off."
"Good. Well it's getting late so I better be going. You alright to walk home by yourself." He asked.
"Yeah I'm fine. See yah."
"Bye." He replied with a smile as he left.
Once he was gone Beth began to wonder what she'd gotten she self into but knew she'd find out soon.